Patents Examined by Brenda A. Lamb
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Patent number: 7429305Abstract: A machine and a process for producing lightweight thermoplastic composite products in a continuous manner is disclosed. An oven is provided for heating a dry unconsolidated fabric sheet of commingled fibers of thermoplastic and re-enforcing fibers or carbon fibers to a temperature sufficient to ensure melting and flow of the resin in the voids of the commingled fibers. The unconsolidated composite sheet is conveyed through the oven and then through a first pair of heated rollers at an outlet of the oven whereby to maintain the fabric sheet heated to prevent abrupt cooling at the surfaces while compressing it under pressure. A further pair of rollers at a further reduced temperature is provided whereby the heated sheet is gradually lowered in temperature and the pressure is maintained thereon during consolidation of the commingled fibers to ensure complete flow of the resin in the voids between the reinforcing fibers.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2004Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Inventor: Hossein Borazghi
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Patent number: 7416608Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for block type extrusion coating, and a process for forming block coating or grid-type coating on a substrate. The present invention uses a die set composed of an upper mold, a lower mold and a shim therebetween, which can be used to form a plurality of coated stripes. The present invention further uses several control valves, pumps and a controller to intermittently extrude a coating solution from the die set, so that the stripe coating is converted to a block coating. The block coated substrate can be rotated 90 degrees, followed by a stripe coating process to form a grid-type coating on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: National Tsing Hua UniversityInventors: Ta-Jo Liu, E-Ron Chang
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Patent number: 7407551Abstract: The present invention has several plausible embodiments. In one embodiment an apparatus for coating a medical device is provided. This apparatus includes a coating chamber, a vibrating structure within the coating chamber the vibrating structure capable of suspending a medical device positioned in the coating chamber, and a coating source, the coating source positioned to introduce coating into the coating chamber. In another embodiment a method of coating a medical device is provided. This method includes moving a medical device into a predetermined coating area, vibrating a structure below the medical device, the vibration of the structure forcing the medical device away from the vibrating structure, and coating at least a portion of the medical device that has moved away from the vibrating structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2003Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Marlene C. Schwarz, Stanley Tocker
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Patent number: 7387683Abstract: A coating apparatus includes support for supporting a mother substrate including unit substrates, a coater for coating the unit substrate with photosensitive materials, a detector for detecting foreign matters, a remover for removing the foreign matters from the unit substrate, and a controller for controlling the coater, detector, and remover. The coater includes a body containing the photosensitive materials, and inlet and outlet portions for inputting and outputting the photosensitive materials to/from the body. A width of the outlet portion is the same as that of the unit substrate. The detector is positioned at front of the coater to detect the foreign matters before the coating process. The remover removes the foreign matters. The coater discharges the photosensitive material only onto the unit substrate. Discharging of the photosensitive material is interrupted when the foreign matters are found.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2004Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Inventors: Seong-Bong Kim, Dong-Uk Choi
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Patent number: 7384483Abstract: In a stator core having a plurality of teeth, which elongate in an inner radial direction and slots, which are configured among the teeth, powder is caused to adhere to the stator core, the powder adhering to an inner peripheral face of the stator core is removed, and the stator core is heated to melt and harden the powder.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Syuuichi Tamura, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Shuji Tohyama, Yoshihiro Kazuha, Atsushi Oohashi, Katsuya Kinoshita
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Patent number: 7384482Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coating system for pre-coating a vehicle chassis, comprising a coating station and a curing oven, the coating station being upstream from said curing oven along a travel path, the coating station to deliver a layer of coating material thereon, the chassis having a number of sites, each of which is known to be source for accumulating excess coating to cause unwanted drips thereof during curing, further comprising a plurality of nozzles, each being in a nozzle group of one or more, where each group is arranged to deliver a flow of air sufficient to remove the excess coating.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2004Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Honda of Canada Manufacturing, a division of Honda Canada Inc.Inventor: Ryuichi Hosokawa
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Patent number: 7381273Abstract: Apparatus and methods for coating elongated medical devices, such as guidewires and catheters, incorporating infrared (IR) heating tools for curing the coating while the medical devices are still in place on the coating apparatus. Coating and curing may be accomplished evenly in a dipping machine by utilizing IR heaters having heating heads with openings, the heating heads being mounted for the extension of such elongated medical devices through their openings so that the heating heads are in generally surrounding juxtaposition to the elongated medical devices. The voltage supply to the IR heaters may be selectively adjusted so as to match the wavelength of the generated IR heat to the energy absorbing capability of the particular coating solution being utilized for proper timed absorption of the infrared energy.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: CuringSolutions, LLCInventor: Timothy Collins
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Patent number: 7364622Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for fabricating a device, in which a high operation efficiency is maintained in a drying treatment for a multilayer-interconnection device. The device can also be fabricated inexpensively. An apparatus for fabricating a device has an inkjet unit that can dispose a liquid material on a substrate, and a preparatory dryer to blow a gas heated at a predetermined temperature to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2003Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hironori Hasei, Toshimitsu Hirai
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Patent number: 7361225Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid tank which has a compact construction comprising a process bath, an agitation service bath, an agitation room, a liquid supply tunnel, and a liquid supply outlet.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Yamamoto-MS Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wataru Yamamoto
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Patent number: 7361224Abstract: The invention relates to a device for hot dip coating metal strands (1), particularly strip steel, in which the metal strand (1) can be vertically guided through a reservoir (3), which accommodates the molten coating metal (2), and though a guide channel (4) connected upstream therefrom. An electromagnetic inductor (5) is mounted in the area of the guide channel (4) and in order to retain the coating metal (2) inside the reservoir (3), can induce induction currents in the coating metal (2) by means of an electromagnetic blocking field. While interacting with the electromagnetic blocking field, said induction currents exert an electromagnetic force. In order to prevent an intense heating of the metal strand caused by the electromagnetic inductor, the invention provides that the inductor (5, 5a, 5b) is connected to electric power supply means (6) that supply the inductor with an alternating current whose frequency (f) is less than 500 Hz. In particular, a mains frequency of 50 Hz is intended.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2003Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: SMS Demag AGInventors: Walter Trakowski, Olaf Norman Jepsen, Eckart Schunk, Klaus Frommann, Rolf Brisberger, Holger Behrens, Michael Zielenbach
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Patent number: 7361226Abstract: A method of designing and the resulting thermally stable heated coating die apparatus, the die apparatus including a die having a die geometry and a heating system with heaters and temperature sensors. The method and resultant apparatus provides minimized temperature gradients, flat die lip faces in a die to roll plane and a flat die in a plane perpendicular to die flat lip faces and parallel to substrate width. The method optimizes simultaneously: die geometry, placement of the heaters, placement of temperature sensors, and shielding from operating conditions, using heat transfer and structural numerical modeling and statistical analysis while considering die functionality characteristics, minimum increment of temperature measurement and control accuracy related to minimum acceptable deviation from flatness, coating die material of construction relative to thermo-structural material properties, and desirable coating die material properties.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2005Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventors: Mark James Wyatt, Erik Martin Pedersen, Luigi Sartor
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Patent number: 7357841Abstract: An applicator for applying liquid media to a material strip that can be moved relative to the applicator includes a housing having a drum chamber, a drum gate supported within the drum chamber and adapted to rotate therein, and a nozzle block spring-mounted to the housing. The nozzle block includes an inner surface communicating with the drum gate and a linear nozzle adapted to apply the liquid media to the material strip.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventor: Wolfgang Puffe
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Patent number: 7354479Abstract: A coating device is provided which has a bar which coats a coating liquid on a strip-shaped body conveyed in a given direction, and a dam-shaped member disposed at an upstream side of the bar so as to face the bar. Also provided is a coating method which, in the coating device, supplies the coating liquid from between the dam-shaped member and the bar so as to carry out coating. A flow rate of the coating liquid passing through a gap between the strip-shaped body and the dam-shaped member is set to be 3 m/min or more. A flow rate of the coating liquid passing through a gap between the bar and the dam-shaped member is set to be 5 mm/sec or more.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2003Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Kazuki Ichikawa
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Patent number: 7347898Abstract: The present coating system (100) provides a multilayer coating apparatus for coating an object (112). The multilayer coating apparatus includes a slide hopper (116, 140). The slide hopper includes a main body (116, 140), the main body essentially including a plurality of separate cavities (118, 120, 122) for receiving coating materials, a plurality of separate slots (124, 126, 128) in communication with the corresponding cavities, and a plurality of separate projection portions (130, 132, 134) formed on the slide hopper, the projection portions each having a substantially sloping slide surface (131, 133, 135) configured for allowing the particular coating material exiting from the slot to directly flow onto the object.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jhy-Chain Lin
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Patent number: 7344600Abstract: Dislocation of processing liquid pouring nozzles is prevented, smooth carrying of the processing liquid pouring nozzles is achieved, and the positional accuracy of the processing liquid pouring nozzles, processing accuracy and yield are improved. A substrate processing apparatus includes a spin chuck (50) for holding and rotating a wafer (W), a plurality of processing liquid pouring nozzles (60) for pouring processing liquids on a surface of the wafer (W), a solvent bath (70) for holding the processing liquid pouring nozzles at their home positions, and a nozzle-carrying arm (80) for detachably gripping desired one of the processing liquid pouring nozzles (60) held on the solvent bath (70) and carrying the desired processing liquid pouring nozzle (60) to a working position above the wafer (W).Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2002Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Hiroichi Inada, Naofumi Kishita
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Patent number: 7344665Abstract: An apparatus comprising a die having at least one application slot. The slot is in fluid communication with a die cavity. An expansible chamber device is disposed within the die cavity and changes volume in response to changes in pressure within the expansible chamber device. Another aspect of the invention is a method of translating a liquid through a die. A coating die is provided. The die comprises at least one applicator slot in fluid communication with a die cavity. An expansible chamber device is disposed within the cavity. The expansible chamber device is actuated by changes in the fluid pressure within the expansible chamber device. The liquid is translated through the die and delivered from the application slot at intervals corresponding to actuation of the expansible chamber device. Another aspect of the invention is a method for forming a die. An apparatus comprising a die having at least one applicator slot in fluid communication with the die cavity is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Joan M. Noyola, Scott L. Ciliske
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Patent number: 7341634Abstract: A workpiece is processed uniformly, e.g., a uniform plated film is formed on a workpiece, by a processing liquid, e.g., a plating solution, which is maintained in an optimum state while minimizing the amount of the processing liquid to be used. An apparatus for processing the workpiece has a plurality of solution supply tanks 50a, 50b for individually holding a plurality of solutions, respectively, to be mixed into a processing liquid 54 while managing the temperatures of the solutions, a plurality of mixing tanks 52a, 52b for mixing the solutions individually supplied from the solution supply tanks 50a, 50b into the processing liquid 54 while managing the temperatures of the solutions, and a processing bath 56 for introducing the processing liquid 54 therein and processing the workpiece, e.g., a substrate W, by bringing the workpiece into contact with the processing liquid 54 while managing the temperature of the processing liquid 54.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2003Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Ebara CorporationInventors: Toshio Yokoyama, Masahiko Sekimoto, Akira Ogata, Hiroaki Inoue, Seiji Katsuoka
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Patent number: 7341629Abstract: An apparatus for scraping the surface of a sink roll in a molten metal coating process comprises a support member having a pair of linearly movable arms supported thereon. The support member depends from a bridge structure spanning a continuous metal coating line, and a pair or arms, the arms being disposed on opposite sides of said support member. Each arm has a scraper assembly portion attached thereto. Each scraper assembly portion has two blades affixed thereto, a forward scraper blade and a rear scraper blade, with a connecting portion connecting the two blades. The connecting portion also has a first pivot point for attaching the connecting portion to the arm associated with the scraper assembly portion, the first pivot point being disposed between said forward and rear scraper blades for following the radial contours of the roll surface. A second pivot point permits the blades to follow the crown of the roll.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2005Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: United States Steel CorporationInventors: Erin G. Sapp, Michael D. Hickman, Scott E. Brooks, James M. Piper
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Patent number: 7338556Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a liquid crystal display includes a vessel for containing a material for a spacer, an ink-jet head for jetting the material onto a plate and a light source for pre-curing the material by radiating light onto the material as the material is jetted from the ink-jet head. A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display includes the steps of aligning an ink-jet device relative to at least one of an upper plate and a lower plate, jetting a material for a spacer from the ink-jet device and pre-curing the material by irradiating the material with light while the material is jetted from the ink-system before the material impacts upon the at least one of the upper plate and a lower plate.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2002Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong Bum Kim, Sung Hoe Yoon
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Patent number: 7332035Abstract: A multiple orifice applicator system for dispensing a plurality of rows of fluid material onto a work piece is disclosed. A source of fluid material is in fluid communication with the multiple orifice applicator. The multiple orifice applicator is mounted to a robotic arm, which positions the multiple orifice applicator relative to the work piece to enable the multiple orifice applicator to dispense fluid material onto the work piece. Fluid material is caused to flow from the source of fluid material into the multiple orifice applicator. The fluid material enters the multiple orifice applicator through an inlet duct and is dispersed and spread out into at least one dispersing chamber. The fluid material is dispensed onto the work piece through a plurality of outlet orifices in the multiple orifice applicator.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Sealant Equipment & Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Tudor, Scott Taylor, Nick Schultz