Steven R Lord

US Patent:

51257904, Jun 30, 1992

Filed:

Jan 4, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/638179

Inventors:

Richard F. Foulke - Carlisle MA
Steven M. Lord - Malden MA

Assignee:

Proconics International, Inc. - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

B65G 6500

US Classification:

414752

Abstract:

Apparatus for inserting a semiconductor wafer in a slot of a holding post including a wafer support member or paddle for supporting the wafer and inserting it into a slot and rotation device for rotating the support member by the angle necessary to cause edges of the wafer to be received at the centers of the slots.

US Patent:

49830937, Jan 8, 1991

Filed:

Jan 29, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/471703

Inventors:

Richard F. Foulke - Carlisle MA
Steven M. Lord - Malden MA

Assignee:

Proconics International, Inc. - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

B65G 6502

US Classification:

414416

Abstract:

Wafer transfer apparatus including a wafer-pickup element having suction openings closer to the edge of wafer than the wafer's center so that the wafer can be picked up with greater certainty as to the locations of the wafer edges, the openings being surrounded by raised portions so that the region of the wafer-pickup element between the opening is at a lower elevation than the raised portions so as to facilitate picking up warped wafers.

US Patent:

46829288, Jul 28, 1987

Filed:

Nov 2, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/667550

Inventors:

Richard F. Foulke - Carlisle MA
Steven M. Lord - Malden MA

Assignee:

Proconics International, Inc. - Woburn MA

International Classification:

B65G 6500

US Classification:

414416

Abstract:

Wafer transfer apparatus including a wafer-pickup element having suction openings closer to the edge of wafer than the wafer's center so that the wafer can be picked up with greater certainty as to the locations of the wafer edges, the pickup element being thin and made of a structural layer of rigid structural material having grooves and a TEFLON layer laminated to the structural layer and having suction openings, the grooves and covering portions of TEFLON defining vacuum passages.

US Patent:

44936060, Jan 15, 1985

Filed:

May 24, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/381292

Inventors:

Richard F. Foulke - Carlisle MA
Steven M. Lord - Malden MA

Assignee:

Proconics International, Inc. - Woburn MA

International Classification:

B65G 1732

US Classification:

414787

Abstract:

Apparatus for placing a first element at a receptacle location on a second element, there being associated with the precise receptacle location some known variation in the shape of the second element, the apparatus comprising a support member for supporting the first element while the member is translated toward the second element along a placement direction, a first transport device for moving the support member or the second element along a direction transverse to the placement direction, and a sensing device located on the support member for sensing the relative alignment along the transverse direction of the support member and the variation in shape, the sensing device comprising an energy-beam source adapted and positioned to direct an energy beam along a path that interacts with the variation in shape at least when the support member and receptacle location are aligned so that more of the beam is transmitted along the path when the member and receptacle location are aligned than when the member and receptacle are not aligned and an energy beam sensor adapted and positioned to detect the difference in the amount of the beam transmitted along the path.

US Patent:

43697259, Jan 25, 1983

Filed:

Dec 5, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/213641

Inventors:

Steven M. Lord - Stoneham MA
Hiroshi Tabuchi - Tokyo, JP

Assignee:

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. - Tokyo

International Classification:

B63B 3510

US Classification:

114 40

Abstract:

The disclosed method for increasing the maneuverability of a ship in ice-covered waters is comprised of bringing generally vertical ice-crushing surfaces on one side of a ship into contact with an ice covering in order to create an imbalance of forces between that side of the ship and the ice covering in comparison with the forces between the other side of the ship and the ice covering in order to assist in turning the ship. The generally vertical ice-crushing surfaces are positioned on both a starboard and port side of the hull of the ship in such a manner that they remain out of contact with the ice covering normal straight forward travel. A particular positioning mechanism is utilized in order to bring a generally vertically oriented ice-crushing wall portion into contact with the ice covering. Contact between the generally vertically oriented ice-crushing wall portion and the ice creates a crushing force between the two surfaces, while the other side of the ship contacts the ice at a different angle applying a bending force to the ice covering. The different forces applied to the sides of the ship create a horizontal force inbalance which forces the ship away from the side where the ice-crushing forces are created between the ice and the generally vertically oriented wall portions, thus turning the ship away from that side.