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:
Aug. 31, 2010
Filed:
Jan. 05, 2005
Kellar Autumn, Portland, OR (US);
Wendy R. Hansen, Berkeley, CA (US);
Kellar Autumn, Portland, OR (US);
Wendy R. Hansen, Berkeley, CA (US);
Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for transporting an object from one workstation to another, where the object or workstations may be contaminated with unwanted dirt or dust particles, are disclosed. The object is gripped at one work station with a movable transfer arm. The movable transfer arm has an end effector including an array of nano-scale projections, where each projection provides one or more distal contact ends. The density of the contact ends is such as to grip a surface of the object with an intermolecular force sufficient to hold the object for movement After moving the gripped object to the workstation, the end effector is manipulated to release the gripped object. Before, during or after transport of the object, the arm's end effector is brought into contact with a cleaning surface.