Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8186661 | Wafer holder for supporting a semiconductor wafer during a thermal treatment process A wafer holder for holding a semiconductor wafer during a thermal wafer treatment process. The wafer holder includes at least three wafer supports. Each wafer support includes an upright shaft and a plurality of flexible fibers supported by the shaft in positions su... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8128077 | Reconfigurable tooling system for supporting a workpiece This invention relates to a tooling system comprising a plurality of elements (22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) having tessellating sides arranged in an array. The elements of the array being movable betw... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8091875 | Gripping jig for assembling, assembling device, and producing method of assembled body A gripping jig for assembling whereby a force is applied to a molded body in a direction perpendicular to an assembling direction. When an assembling load is applied to the molded body, the force is adjustable with an adjustment screw such that the molded body is gu... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8042794 | Workbench with saw horse A workbench with a collapsible frame and a plurality of top members. The collapsible frame can include a first set of legs and a second set of legs can be coupled to one of the top members. The frame and top members can be positioned and supported by the first and s... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8020843 | Clamping fixture A clamping fixture is provided for mounting work pieces. The clamping fixture includes a base, a supporting member, a covering member, and a positioning member. The supporting member and the positioning member are attached to the base. The work piece is clamped by t... | 09/20/2011 |
| 7980539 | Fixture for automatically positioning workpiece An exemplary fixture includes a holder, a moving transfer unit, a clamping arm, and a driving unit. The moving transfer unit is located on the holder, and includes a pushing block. The pushing block has a urging element on an upper surface thereof. The clamping arm ... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7942394 | Locking support fixture A pin locking apparatus (1) includes a housing, at least one pin (40) and at least one locking piston (11). The housing includes at least one locking bore (12) and at least one pin bore (14). The at least one pin is slidably contai... | 05/17/2011 |
| 7735815 | Holding device for generating a retaining pressure on an airplane component A holding device produces a retaining pressure on a contoured airplane component (40) for holding the component in place when work is performed on the component. For this purpose the holding device (10) comprises a support (11) and at least one ... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7726637 | Reconfigurable clamp and method of use thereof A reconfigurable clamp is provided, where the clamp includes: a clamp body including a plurality of through holes formed within the clamp body; a plurality of movable pins which slidably fit within the through holes in the clamp body; wherein the movable pins incorp... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7416176 | Process and device for localized gripping and holding of a thin, flexible panel, in particular having a complex shape A method for locally gripping and holding a thin, flexible panel having a complex, nondevelopable shape. The method includes placing a first surface of the panel against a three-point support system without deforming the surface; applying a plurality of suction cups... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7367252 | Integrated circuit package separators An integrated circuit package separator. A base having a plurality of pins extending upwardly therefrom is provided. A support is provided over the base. The support has an upper surface and a plurality of holes. The pins extend through the holes and upwardly beyond... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7364147 | Workpiece support device A projection amount of rod can be adjusted, and workpiece with various shapes or easily deformable workpiece can be stably supported. When an opening/closing valve is switched to an opening position and a working medium flows and is injected from one medium chamber ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7346998 | Foot measuring method There is provided a foot measuring system that includes a support surface for a foot, a plurality of movable measurement structures, an inflatable diaphragm for contacting the first end of each structure and forcing a movement of each structure from an initial posit... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7328924 | Adjustable tip assembly A clamp having an adjustable tip assembly is provided. The adjustable tip assembly includes a finger, wedge and spreader. The finger is configured to engage the workpiece. The wedge is configured to engage the finger. The spreader is configured to engage the wedge, ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7311302 | Substrate support system An improved substrate support system for clamping spring loaded pins that support substrates, such as printed circuit boards, which have even profiles, and uneven profiles due to components being installed on one side during manufacturing operations to the opposite ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7293687 | Apparatus for manufacturing tubes An apparatus (1) for manufacturing tubes made from thin-walled material, especially made from sheet metal, with a welding machine for longitudinal-seam welding, as well as with a clamping device (2), which has clamping jaws, which are arranged on oppos... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7290761 | Multi-purpose flexible jaw universal vise with removable clamp feature A multi-purpose clamping device that stabilizes and holds a wide variety of irregularly shaped objects through the use of a stationary and a movable jaw, a linear ratchet and a rotary power cam; both used to engage the work piece, a pair of conformable jaw faces con... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7282665 | Method and apparatus for processing articles with a laser beam A method for joining workpieces by welding with laser light, in which a plurality of workpieces are arranged between a lower pressure plate and a translucent upper pressure plate on a multiplicity of supporting segments movable in a vertical direction, whereby the w... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7276397 | Integrated circuit package separator methods An integrated circuit package separator method for separating integrated circuit packages from a board having a plurality of integrated circuits. The method includes providing a base having a plurality of pins, providing a support over the base and having a pluralit... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7259833 | Substrate support method The present invention includes a method for supporting a substrate that features a chuck body having a body surface with a pin extending therefrom having a contact surface lying in a plane, with the pin being movably coupled to the chuck body to move with respect to... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7249548 | Apparatus for cutting corrugated metal sheet An apparatus for cutting a corrugated metal sheet is disclosed. The apparatus includes a table, a clamp assembly, and a cutting tool. The clamp assembly has a lower frame and an upper frame. A lower vibration absorbing pad is supported by the lower frame, and an upp... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7245358 | Substrate support system The present invention includes a substrate support system that features a chuck body having a body surface with a pin extending therefrom having a contact surface lying in a plane, with the pin being movably coupled to the chuck body to move with respect to the plan... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7225732 | Screen printer In a screen printer for printing paste to the substrate through a pattern hole by abutting a mask plate on the substrate, the end face of a side end portion of the substrate is nipped and held from its both sides by a clamper. A warp correcting portion mounting a wa... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7213684 | Device for holding a load on a load support of an industrial truck Device for holding a load on a load support of an industrial truck with the following characteristics: a support construction, adjustable in its height by a lifting drive, is mounted above the load support the supp... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7204481 | Magnetorheological reconfigurable clamp for a flexible manufacturing system A reconfigurable clamp for a flexible manufacturing system comprises a body portion, a plurality of pins slidably engaged within sleeves formed in the body portion, a compression spring attached to each shaft of the plurality of pins, a reservoir comprising a magnet... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7175024 | Configurable insert for a manufacturing carrier A manufacturing carrier has an insert that can be configured and reconfigured for a wide variety components. The carrier has a frame configured to be transported by a conveyor, an insert and at least one positioner. The insert has pin holes arranged in a matrix. The... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7168898 | Process and device for machining by windowing of non-deformable thin panels An apparatus and method for machining of thin panels, in particular, panels having a complex shape, specifically non-deformable panels, in which the panel to be machined is placed beforehand in an isostatic position, characterized by: one defines one or more areas o... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7169346 | Rotating inertial pin blank stops for pressware die sets In an apparatus for manufacturing pressware containers from container blanks there is provided a plurality of inertial blank stop pins disposed so as to position a container blank prior to press forming. The stop pins are rotatable in order to absorb the kinetic ene... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7162793 | Apparatus for clamping printed circuit boards inside an electronic module housing Reflow soldering of a variety of circuit boards (9, 11, 15) in a variety of sizes and shapes to assigned locations on the base or carrier (13) of the electronic module housing (3) is simplified by eliminating custom made metal blocks previously ... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7155866 | Cementitious exterior sheathing product having improved interlaminar bond strength The present invention provides exterior building products, such as roofing and siding, shake, shingles, siding, sheathing, panels, planks, vertical siding, soffit panels, fencing, decking, fascia, corner posts, column corners and trim boards in which a plurality of ... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7125010 | Work piece holding arrangement A work piece holding arrangement (10) includes an array of engagement elements (12) for engaging a work piece. The arrangement (10) also includes an actuator (34) for moving a plurality of the engagement elements (12) into engageme... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7107670 | System for assembling a hard disk drive A system for enabling a reliable, motor-to-base merge process is designed for motors that are attached to a base with screws that mount from outside of the base. An assembly fixture receives the motor, which has a tooling hole for circumferentially locating the moto... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7089073 | Component mounting apparatus and component mounting method, and recognition apparatus for a component mount panel, component mounting apparatus for a liquid crystal panel, and component mounting method for a liquid crystal panel Transfer of liquid crystal panels to subsequent processes is performed with the panels placed on transfer arms and held by suction pads. A small suction force can be sufficient, and a suction irregularity is prevented. The transfer arms are arranged at a lower side ... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7073252 | Method for maintaining operability of a flexible, self conforming, workpiece support system A method is disclosed for maintaining a reliable operation of a flexible, self-conforming support system. The self-conforming support system utilizes a plurality of pins that move vertically within a series of apertures. The motion of the pins can be hindered with u... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7028391 | Method and apparatus for supporting a substrate An apparatus for performing operations on at least one surface of an electronic substrate having a first surface and a second surface includes a frame, a transportation system that moves the substrate through the apparatus, a substrate support system, coupled to the... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7013545 | Compact duct corner installation tool A compact handheld tool for installing corner pieces in ductwork is disclosed. The tool has V-shaped jaws that surround a duct corner. A corner piece to be installed on a flange of the duct is placed against a first of the jaws, and a second jaw closes against the a... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6968608 | Method and apparatus to decrease combustor emissions A method for securing a component for manufacture. The method includes fixedly coupling a first clamping member and a biasing mechanism to a tool that includes a fixture. The fixture includes a first clamping member, a second clamping member, and a biasing mechanism... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6966551 | Unloading apparatus for plate-like workpiece cutting machine An improved unloading apparatus for a plate-like workpiece cutting machine includes a platform, a faceplate, a lift device, and an intermediate member. The platform is provided with a channel recessed downwards from a top side thereof. The faceplate is mounted on th... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6962248 | Printed circuit board support A printed circuit board conveying and processing system. In accordance with the present invention, a printed circuit board conveying system is provided comprising a pair of conveyor rails and a printed circuit board support. The conveyor rails are positioned to enga... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6953188 | Flexible jaw universal vise A vise used for holding and stabilizing a wide variety of work object shapes by means of conformable spring action jaw faces. The jaw faces are designed to be interchangeable to accommodate delicate or heavy-duty work. Dual ratchet mechanisms and a cam-driven piston... | 10/11/2005 |
