Kenneth Edwin Schmidt

US Patent:

7480976, Jan 27, 2009

Filed:

Jan 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/795391

Inventors:

Wiley Zane Reed - Greenville SC, US
Bobby R. Cosper - Trenton GA, US
Kenneth G. Schmidt - Piedmont SC, US
Neil D. Bultz - Greenville SC, US
Charles E. Wickersham - Columbus OH, US
John P. Matera - Grove City OH, US

Assignee:

Tosoh SMD Etna, LLC - Grove City OH

International Classification:

B23Q 7/04
B23Q 17/20
B23Q 39/04

US Classification:

29563, 29 33 P, 409133, 901 31

Abstract:

A fixture and method is provided for gripping an article, such as a sputtering target. The fixture comprises a base, a first set of contact rollers, and a second set of contact rollers, wherein at least one of the first set and the second set are adjustably positioned relative to the other of the first set and the second set on the base. The contact rollers can be configured as v-grooved wheels that will only touch chamfered portions of an outer diameter of the sputtering target when the contact rollers are clamped against the sputtering target. At least one of the first set and the second set of contact rollers can be pivotally mounted on a slide, with the slide being adjustably positioned on the base of the fixture.

US Patent:

7561937, Jul 14, 2009

Filed:

Jan 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/795395

Inventors:

Wiley Zane Reed - Greenville SC, US
Bobby R. Cosper - Trenton GA, US
Kenneth G. Schmidt - Piedmont SC, US
Neil D. Bultz - Greenville SC, US
Charles E. Wickersham - Columbus OH, US
John P. Matera - Grove City OH, US

Assignee:

Tosoh SMD, Inc. - Grove City MO

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700109, 700159

Abstract:

A system and method are provided for manufacturing workpieces, such as metal articles like sputtering target, the system comprising: comparing one or more physical or chemical values of a respective one of a plurality of metal target blanks to one or more comparable values of at least one desired criterion; selecting one of the metal target blanks from a plurality of metal target blanks as a work-in-progress; assigning a serial route for the work-in-progress; processing the work-in-progress by translating the work-in-progress from note to node with an automated transport, after completion of the events at each node; rejecting or accepting the work-in-progress as a metal target by evaluating a result of at least one event of the one or more respective events to be completed at, at least one of the plurality of nodes.

US Patent:

20080203641, Aug 28, 2008

Filed:

Jan 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/795560

Inventors:

Wiley Zane Reed - Greenville SC, US
Bobby R. Cosper - Trenton GA, US
Kenneth G. Schmidt - Piedmont SC, US
Neil D. Bultz - Greenville SC, US
David M. Nozicka - Wellsburg IA, US

Assignee:

Tosoh SMD ETNA, LLC - Grove City OH

International Classification:

B25B 5/00
C23C 14/00

US Classification:

269282, 20429812

Abstract:

A fixture and method is provided for gripping an article, such as a sputtering target. The fixture comprises a base, a first set of contact rollers, and a second set of contact rollers, wherein at least one of the first set and the second set are adjustably positioned relative to the other of the first set and the second set on the base. The contact rollers can be configured as v-grooved wheels that will only touch chamfered portions of an outer diameter of the sputtering target when the contact rollers are clamped against the sputtering target. At least one of the first set and the second set of contact rollers can be pivotally mounted on a slide, with the slide being adjustably positioned on the base of the fixture.

US Patent:

20080271305, Nov 6, 2008

Filed:

Jan 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/795396

Inventors:

Wiley Zane Reed - Greenville SC, US
Bobby R. Cosper - Grove City OH, US
Kenneth G. Schmidt - Grove City OH, US
Neil D. Bultz - Grove City OH, US
Charles E. Wickersham - Grove City OH, US
John P. Matera - Grove City OH, US

Assignee:

Tosoh SMD ETNA, LLC - Grove City OH

International Classification:

B23Q 39/00

US Classification:

29563, 29559

Abstract:

A system and method are provided for manufacturing a sputtering target. The system is preferably automated. Sub systems of the manufacturing system include a robotic part handling sub system, a weighing sub system adapted to measure the weight of a part to be manufactured into a sputtering target, and a machining sub system adapted to finish machine a part to be manufactured into a sputtering target. The system can further include a cleaning sub system adapted to clean a part to be manufactured into a sputtering target, an inspection sub system adapted to measure dimensions of a part to be manufactured into a sputtering target, and a feedback control sub system adapted to provide control signals to one or more of the robotic handling sub system, the weighing sub system, the cleaning sub system, and the inspection sub system to control processing performed by one or more of the sub systems.