Patents Examined by Debra M Wolfe
  • Patent number: 7500376
    Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus and forming process to manufacture container end closures with improved internal buckle strength. The present invention provides greater material and dimensional control during the forming process by utilizing a pressure sleeve to provide support to at least a portion of an end closure chuck wall and seaming panel radius while placing an end closure countersink in compression during the forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Jess N. Bathurst, James D. Traphagen
  • Patent number: 7497105
    Abstract: A machine and method for parallel production of similar products by wires, wire rods, tubes, or other material of prismatic cross section, which is characterized by existence of more than one production lines, which operate in parallel and which may comprise similar mechanisms for straightening and bending of the material, similar mechanisms for changing of the bending plane, and for cutting of the final parts. All the straightening mechanisms may be driven by a common motor, through a common driving mechanism; all the bending mechanisms may be driven by a common motor, through a common driving mechanism; all the mechanisms for the changing of the bending plane may also be driven by a common motor, through a common driving mechanism; and all the cutters may be driven by a common power source. All the operation of the motors and of the driving mechanisms may be controlled and programmed by one common controlling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventor: Antonios Anagnostopoulos
  • Patent number: 7493789
    Abstract: A rescue tool includes an elongate body and a pair of opposing arms. The arms include a first arm and a second arm that extend outwardly from the body. At least one of the first arm and the second arm is slidably coupled to the body. Each of the arms includes an inner face and an outer face, wherein at least one of the arm inner and outer faces includes a plurality of teeth. At least one of the first arm outer face and the second arm outer face includes a plurality of grooves defined therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Jason Cerrano
  • Patent number: 7490504
    Abstract: A connector and crimping/splicing tool includes a connector that has tubular sleeves monolithically formed with each other and registered in parallel. Each sleeve has an outer casing, a conductive inner casing mated to the outer casing, and conductive knurls protruding towards the sleeve center. A tool includes first and second jaws and first and second handles monolithically formed therewith. A mechanism is included for articulating the handles to an equilibrium position after the jaws are pivoted to an open position. The resilient articulating mechanism includes a helical spring that has opposed ends conjoined to the first and second handles. The connector is intercalated between the jaws such that a first set of wires can be inserted from one connector end while a second set of wires is inserted through another connector end, thereby allowing the jaws to crush the sleeves and bridge a conductive path therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventors: Albert L. Hirsch, Harold Perla
  • Patent number: 7487659
    Abstract: The machine (20) comprises: a supporting structure (24, 26); a movable unit (28) mounted on the supporting structure (24, 26) so that it can translate along a first working direction (Z) and along a second direction (X) towards and away from a stationary workpiece-carrying structure (88); a tool-carrying unit (10, 11, 12) carried by the movable unit (28); and a driving system for controlling the movement of the movable unit (28) in the working direction (Z). The driving system includes a first motor unit (60) for controlling the rotation of a driving shaft (62) and a mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the shaft (62) into the translational movement of the movable unit (28). The motion conversion mechanism comprises a cam member (76), which is rotatably mounted on the movable unit (28) and the rotation of which is controlled by the driving shaft (62), and a roller member (78) which is rotatably mounted on the supporting structure (24, 26) and on which the cam member (76) rests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: O.L.C.I. Engineering S.r.l.
    Inventor: Carlo Paletto
  • Patent number: 7484396
    Abstract: A guide mechanism for use with a sheet bending brake has a clamping member having a lower leg extending therefrom, a pivot arm and a guide mechanism. The pivoting arm being pivotally supported by and extending from the clamping member to define a clamping area with the lower leg. The guide mechanism reacts between the clamping member and the pivoting arm for moving the pivoting arm between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Tapco International Corporation
    Inventor: Michael C. Clark
  • Patent number: 7475582
    Abstract: A changeover system for a metal forming mill, in particular for a tube-forming mill, comprises at least one pair of work modules, the work modules of which are adapted to be pivoted into and out of a line of work stations of the mill. Each work module has its own drive or drives. Within a pair of work modules the two work modules are arranged such, that when one work module is arranged in the line of work stations the other one is arranged off the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Scambia Industrial Development AG
    Inventor: Paul Vanleene
  • Patent number: 7469567
    Abstract: A device for machining protrusions, teeth, burrs, crimps and the like in a brake lining carrier plate has a tool unit (51; 61, 61?) with several tool elements (53; 62, 62?) with cutting teeth. During the crimping procedure, the unit is moved towards a first axis (54) and towards a second axis (55) running perpendicular thereto, whereby the first axis (54) coincides essentially with the surface normal of the brake lining carrier plate. Forced-control means arranged between the compressing part (52) and the tool unit (51; 61, 61?) move the tool unit (51; 61, 61?) towards the first axis (54). Forced-guidance means move the tool unit (51; 61, 61?) towards the second axis (55). The tool elements (53; 62, 62?) of the at least one tool unit (51; 61, 61?) are arranged in a fixed position relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: METEK Metallverarbeitungs Gesellschaft GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Jung
  • Patent number: 7467533
    Abstract: Method for changing working rolls of a roll stand provided with a roll displacement device located on the first side of the stand moving a roll along a loading axis (C, C?). Each has fastening means at a first end towards the first side and matching fastening means at a second end towards the second side of the stand opposite to the first side. Matching fastening means are on the displacement device. The substitute roll can be placed on either side of the stand. The displacement device operates by pulling when the substitute roll is on the second side simultaneously extracting the roll to be replaced towards the first side and loading the substitute roll from the second side; and, vice versa, by pushing when the substitute roll is on the first side of the stand. The various fastening means and matching fastening means are respectively coupled and decoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies SAS
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Badiou
  • Patent number: 7464575
    Abstract: A shearing method for a thin plate including forming a protruded product part having a first sagging part when the thin plate with a thickness of up to approximately 5 mm is performed with a half die cutting by pressing the half die cutting punch slightly larger than the half die cutting hole to form a shallow recessed part, fixing the product part by a fixing member, forming a second sagging part at an edge portion of the thin plate by pressurizing a scrap part by moving a pressure punch which is provided with a gap between the fixing member and the pressure punch and by being bent between the scrap part and the product part, and then separating the scrap part from the product part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Nakamura Seisakusho Kabushikigaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Miyahara
  • Patent number: 7461529
    Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for monitoring and conditioning strip material are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus receive encoder signals and sensor data to monitor a condition of a strip material. The system obtains a plurality of sensor readings associated with the condition of the strip material, converts the readings into a dimensional profile, and outputs a visual display of the dimensional profile. If an undesired material condition is detected, a material conditioner is adjusted to achieve a desired material condition. Each time the strip material passes a sensor, data associated with the strip material is recorded. The dimensional profile is additionally shown to an operator to facilitate the input of commands by the operator used to urge the material toward a desired profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: The Bradbury Company
    Inventor: John Dennis Clark
  • Patent number: 7454938
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for winding a band into a coil on a chuck driven into rotation around its axis, by means of a winding assembly including a roll (3) for applying the band (1), by an internal face (11), to the chuck (2) means (62) for pushing the roll (3) towards the chuck (2) and a bending plate (4) having a curved face (40) for guiding the band (1) along the external face (20) of the chuck (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies SAS
    Inventors: Francis Morel, Christelle Vidal, Vincent Philippaux, Jean Perret
  • Patent number: 7454937
    Abstract: An expandable and contractible coiler mandrel for coiling metal strip, including: a rotatably supported coiler mandrel shaft with a wedge surface on its outer circumference; cooperating segments, which have an outer circumference with a coiling surface for the strip, and which have an opposing wedge surface cooperating with the wedge surface of the mandrel shaft in their end region facing away from the coiling surface; a mechanism for shifting the segments relative to an axial direction of the mandrel shaft; and a supply system for conveying lubricant to coiler mandrel regions that require lubrication. The supply system is connected with a lubricant pump having an actuating element for pumping, such that the pump is connected with the shifting mechanism or with the mandrel shaft, and the actuating element is connected with the other of the mandrel shaft or the shifting mechanism whereby pumping occurs only when the shifting mechanism is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Patzelt, Franz Nosolik
  • Patent number: 7454940
    Abstract: A press forming method includes the following steps: (a) approaching an upper die to a lower die to form a space having a shape corresponding to at least one of concave and convex, the upper die having at least one of convex and concave, the lower die having at least one of concave and convex corresponding to at least one of convex and concave of the upper die; (b) forcing a workpiece disposed between the upper and lower dies, into the space so as to form at least one of preliminary concave and convex in the workpiece; (c) striking the upper die against the lower die so as to form at least one of concave and convex in the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventor: Kazumi Saitou
  • Patent number: 7454941
    Abstract: The invention relates to an upsetting method for working a metal slug having a determined slenderness, characterized by the fact that the slug is at least partly positioned in the direction of its length, in an upsetting pot in a cylindrical housing provided for this purpose, and pressure is exerted on the slug in the direction of its length by means of a punch, until the slug fills the whole section of the housing, so as to reduce its slenderness, and to obtain a cylindrical slug with a section equal to that of the housing, in preparation for a forging operation. By this method, it is possible to upset slugs with large slenderness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Serge Bergue, Michel Breton, Philippe Francois Christian Sagot, Patrice Rene Sagne
  • Patent number: 7448246
    Abstract: Method and Apparatus for fabricating a spacer frame for use in an insulating glass unit. A roll former bends a strip of material to form a spacer frame having side walls to which an adhesive is applied during fabrication of an insulated glass unit. Alternately a plastic frame is formed by extrusion. A notching apparatus forms notches at locations that extend into the side walls to weaken the side walls for bending of said elongated channel into a closed structure. A downstream workstation predisposes specified locations of the sidewalls to facilitate bending of the spacer frame. The workstation forces the specified locations of the sidewalls inwardly toward each other at the predetermined bend locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: GED Integrated Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Briese, Robert S. Galosi, John Grismer
  • Patent number: 7448247
    Abstract: In a deep drawing method, a sheet metal blank is positioned between two dies of a deep drawing machine and then shaped into a hollow article, whereby the dies, at least during a partial stroke phase, undergo a controlled non-rectilinear relative movement and one of the dies is shifted by a transverse displacement mechanism in a direction transversely to a stroke direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Jürgen Knaup
  • Patent number: 7444850
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a shaping machine (1) having a tool (2), in particular a shaping machine having a shaping tool, in which the workpiece is handled by means of a handling device (3) during the manufacturing process. To improve the production process, the invention provides that before machining of workpieces on the shaping machine (1), the position and/or orientation of the tool (2) is/are determined by approaching at least one reference surface (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) on the tool (2) with a handling device (3) equipped with at least one sensor (4, 4?), transmitting the determined positions of the reference surfaces (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) to an evaluating means (11), and determining in the evaluating means (11) the position and orientation of the tool (2). The invention further relates to a shaping machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Langenstein & Schemann GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Bauersachs, Harald Barnickel
  • Patent number: 7434441
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pair of pressing jaws for hydraulic or electric pressing tools for pressing fittings onto pipes or for the press connection of electric cables, the two pressing jaws being disposed for rotation about a common axis and each pressing jaw forming a bearing eye for this purpose. In order to configure a pair of pressing jaws of the type in question in a more functionally advantageous manner, it is proposed that each pressing jaw forms two bearing eyes with coaxial bearing openings, and the bearing eyes are disposed in an interengaging manner in the assembled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Gustav Klauke GmbH
    Inventor: Egbert Frenken
  • Patent number: 7434433
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a curling assembly for curling metal shells. The curling assembly has a shell support member having a flange extending from a foundation of the shell support member with the flange having a first aperture and a second aperture passing through the flange. An outer curler segment is coupled to the shell support member. An adjustment screw passes through the first aperture of the flange with the adjustment screw being structured to engage the outer curler segment. Actuation of the adjustment screw would position the outer curler segment. The second aperture of the flange is structured to receive a fastener for coupling the shell support member to a base of a curling unit. A curling unit for curling metal shells is also provided. A press in combination with a curling unit for curling metal shells is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventor: David Aaron Holmes