The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 26, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 09, 1998
Robert L Baan, Wallkill, NY (US);
Joseph P DeGeorge, Wappingers Falls, NY (US);
John R Lankard, Jr, Poughkeepsie, NY (US);
Raymond H Turcotte, Hopewell Junction, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An article handler having a plurality of compartments in a frame with each compartment having a plurality of ribs extending across the compartments. The ribs in adjacent compartments extend perpendicularly to each other to provide resistance against warping of the frame in both directions, thereby maintaining the frame flat. The compartments are covered by filters. Suction is distributed throughout each compartment. When the filters are positioned in proximity to articles, the suction in the compartments is effective to lift the articles.