Patents Examined by Maria Veronica D. Ewald
  • Patent number: 7789656
    Abstract: An injection molding device for thermosetting molding materials includes a male mold portion, and a female mold portion. The male mold portion includes an injection aperture and a sprue communicated with the injection aperture. The female mold portion is mated with the male mold portion to define a parting face therebetween and includes a cold slug well and a main runner. The cold slug well is disposed at an opposite end of the sprue relative to the injection aperture and has at least two inner sidewalls perpendicular to each other. The main runner is defined in the parting face and commutating with the sprue. The refractive index of the products molded using the injection molding device may be obtained via directly measuring that of the cold slug after molding. Therefore, the time spent to measure the refractive index of the products is less than the conventional method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignees: Premier Image Technology(China) Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lan Xiao
  • Patent number: 7789653
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, an imprinting apparatus is provided with: a mount to support a subject body; a movable body capable of moving away from and close to the mount; a support swingably attached to the movable body; a template being attached to the support and including an imprinting face, the imprinting face being patterned to make an impression on the subject body; and a regulator intervening between the movable body and the support and including at least three actuators, the actuators being independently controllably driven so as to regulate an orientation of the imprinting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Iimura, Masakazu Kanemoto, Mitsunori Kokubo
  • Patent number: 7789647
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for transferring a relief pattern on a mold to a resist on a substrate through a compression of the mold against the resist, and an irradiation of light for exposing the resist onto the resist includes a mold chuck for holding the mold and for compressing the mold against the resist, and a deformation reducing part for reducing a deformation of the mold when the mold chuck applies a compression force to the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eigo Kawakami, Hirohisa Ota, Takashi Nakamura, Kazuyuki Kasumi, Toshinobu Tokita
  • Patent number: 7784765
    Abstract: There is provided a mold which contains at least two electroforming layers, wherein the mold has a concavo-convex pattern on a surface thereof, and the electroforming layers include at least two adjacent layers having the same crystal orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Ichikawa, Seiji Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7785093
    Abstract: An improved stereolithography apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects using multiple chambered resin vats and a quick disconnect mounting system to permit concurrent use of multiple photopolymer build materials and easy change over of resin vats is disclosed. The apparatus permits easy change over from multiple chambered vat use to single chamber vat use and vice versa or change over between multiple chambered vats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott B. Holmboe, Gary L. Reynolds, Matthew K. Stonesmith, Charles W. Hull, Abraham N. Reichental
  • Patent number: 7785091
    Abstract: A processing apparatus configured to transfer a pattern of a mold onto a target member by pressing the mold against a resin applied to the target member includes a driver configured to move the mold and the target member relative to each other, and a controller configured to control the driver so that a changing rate of a load generated between the mold and the resin in a first state is smaller than that in a second state, and the first state being a state in which the mold that adheres to the resin starts moving in a direction separating from the resin, and the second state being a state in which the mold that moves in the direction separating from the resin is about to separate from the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kasumi, Eigo Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7785096
    Abstract: An imprint lithography system operable for imprinting a pattern into a material deposited between an imprint mold and a substrate, the system including, inter alia, a first set of imaging units positioned at a first angle relative to normal of the substrate; and a second set of imaging units positioned at a second angle relative to normal of the substrate, wherein the first and second angles are not equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Molecular Imprints, Inc.
    Inventors: Pawan Kumar Nimmakayala, Byung-Jin Choi, Tom H. Rafferty, Philip D. Schumaker
  • Patent number: 7775790
    Abstract: A food molding mechanism for a patty-forming machine that uses a servomotor to drive a crank arrangement. The crank arrangement drives a mold plate. The mechanism uses a reducer with a replaceable output shaft. The reducer engages a servomotor utilizing a double enveloping worm gear providing gear enmeshment across an arc portion of the servomotor main gear. A servomotor driven knockout apparatus comprises a cam and lever arrangement. Oil reservoirs for the knock-out cams are substantially sealed in the mold cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Formax, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Paul Taylor, Glenn Sandberg
  • Patent number: 7775785
    Abstract: A contact planarization apparatus includes a lower membrane assembly, an upper membrane assembly, a differential pressure assembly, and a curing or reflowing assembly. The lower membrane assembly supports a substrate to be planarized and biases it toward the upper membrane assembly under the influence of the pressure differential assembly. The upper membrane assembly planarizes the coating on the substrate under the influence of the differential pressure assembly and includes a flexible sheet which is supported above the substrate stage and below the curing or reflowing assembly via a vacuum force applied by the differential pressure assembly. The differential pressure assembly moves the lower and upper membrane assemblies relative to one another to planarize the coating on the substrate entirely through the application of vacuum and pressure forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Brewer Science Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy W. McCutcheon, Robert D. Brown
  • Patent number: 7771183
    Abstract: Solid imaging apparatus and methods for use are disclosed that reduce the amount of uncured solid imaging build material remaining on a completed build object following the completion of the solid imaging build process. The amount of uncured build material is reduced through the use of either an uncoating web that removes excess build material from the build object during the course of the building process or an ink jet source of build material that uses only as much build material as is necessary for the fabrication of the build part. Also disclosed is an imager assembly for use with such a solid imaging apparatus that incorporates two or more individual imagers in an array and accounts for variations in the intensity and alignment of adjacent imagers. The apparatus can be modified for semi-continuous operation and for integrating into a manufacturing operation, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: 3D Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Hull, Jouni Partanen, Ray Soliz, William J. Pappas
  • Patent number: 7771187
    Abstract: An embossed carrier tape manufacturing apparatus includes features for integrating with other processing equipment so that other processes such as forming, filling, and sealing the tape can be performed sequentially in one integrated process. The apparatus includes retractable contact spot heaters for heating the tape prior to embossing, along with a unique heat shield arrangement that is interposable between the heaters and the tape so that the process may be paused. Also, a synchronizing apparatus is integrated so that the carrier tape embossing process may be automatically paused for adjusting to the input rate of other carrier tape processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Adaptsys Limited
    Inventors: Barry L. Gregerson, James E. Spitzer
  • Patent number: 7766641
    Abstract: A printer system is provided for developing a three dimensional (3D) printed structure. The system includes a plurality of spaced apart sets of printing devices. A conveyor system is arranged to serially convey a print medium operatively with respect to each set so that printed voxels from each successive set can form successive layers of the 3D printed structure upon the print medium. A placement mechanism is configured to place an object upon layers of the 3D printed structure. The placement mechanism includes a translation mechanism configured to translate the object at substantially the same velocity as the conveyance of the print medium during placement of the object. A plurality of curing mechanisms is interleaved between the sets of printing devices and is configured to cure the printed voxels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7758791
    Abstract: A fine mold comprises a regeneration target film forming a convex part of a formation surface, and a light shielding unit that is configured deeper than a bottom of the formation surface and that regenerates the regeneration target film. A manufacturing cost of a product having a three-dimensional structure can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Atsuo Hattori
  • Patent number: 7748971
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for use in dispensing fluids especially particulate matter on to a surface to be coated, comprising a blade traversing along said surface, whereby the fluid is dispensed in front of said blade on to said surface, whereafter said blade is swept across the dispensed fluid such that it imparts vibrations. The fluid (5) is fed on to said surface through the bottom outlet of a container (3) vibrated cooperatively with the blade (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Voxeljet Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Höchsmann, Alexander Kudernatsch
  • Patent number: 7744364
    Abstract: A tip cleaning assembly for use with an extrusion head of an extrusion-based layered deposition system, the tip cleaning assembly comprising a support component, a purge ledge assembly mounted on the support component, at least one set block mounted on the support component adjacent the purge ledge assembly, and at least one contact head removably mounted on the first set block, where the at least one contact head is configured to engage at least one extrusion tip of the extrusion head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick W. Turley, Thomas L. Taatjes
  • Patent number: 7740472
    Abstract: A device for flowing a liquid on a surface comprises: a flow path. A first port supplies the liquid to one end of the flow path and applies a first port pressure for retaining the liquid when the flow path is remote from the surface. A second port receives the liquid from the other end of the flow path and applies a second port pressure such that the difference between the first and second negative port pressures is oriented to promote flow of the liquid from the first port to the second port via the flow path in response to the flow path being located proximal to the surface and the liquid in the device contacting the surface. The first and second port pressures are such that the liquid is drawn towards at least the second port in response to withdrawal of the flow path from the surface. Such devices may employ microfluidic technology and find application in surface patterning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emmanuel Delamarche, David Juncker, Bruno Michel, Heinz Schmid
  • Patent number: 7731150
    Abstract: A mold device including a body having a hollow, three-dimensional shape with at least one opening therein; the body being made from a material having a malleable characteristic, and having an axis extending vertically there through, wherein the inner surface of the body is, optionally, topographically contoured, with an upper limit of about five hundred (500) thousands of inch, has a reusable means for releasably positioning a wick stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Bruce M. Campbell
  • Patent number: 7726964
    Abstract: A molding apparatus for patterning a workpiece includes a first support member for supporting the mold, a second support member arranged opposite to the first support member, and a pressing mechanism for pressing the mold and the work together using the support members to pattern the workpiece. In this structure, either the surface of the first support member for supporting the mold or the surface of the second support member for supporting the workpiece is smaller in area than both surfaces of the mold and the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Seki
  • Patent number: 7722347
    Abstract: Apparatus (100, 101, 102) and die cartridge assembly (18, 44, 45, 47) adapted for use with same for producing fibrous material (212). The apparatus (100) comprises a removably attachable die cartridge assembly (18) that adapts to conventional spunmelt equipment. The die cartridge assembly (18) is removably positionable beneath an extrusion body (10) for effecting formation of fibrous material by fibrillation of polymer films. The cartridge assembly (18) includes at least one polymer passage (19) communicating with a molten polymer source (10) for directing molten polymer onto at least one film forming surface (20, 28) defined by the cartridge assembly (18), and also defines at least one gas passage (222, 22, 30) communicating with a gas source (16) for directing pressurized gas (220) against the molten polymer (210) in the form of a film for effecting formation of the fibrous material (212).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Krause, Michael H. Johnson, Richard Ferencz
  • Patent number: 7722350
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for imprinting and/or embossing substrates (7), in particular semiconductor substrates or wafers, having: a receiving unit (5) for receiving the substrate (7) in a working space (13), an adjusting device (2, 3, 4) for adjusting the substrate (7) in relation to an embossing and/or printing punch (10), whereby for a process that is as contamination-free as possible and for a manufacture of the apparatus that is as favorable as possible the receiving unit (5) is designed so as to separate the working space (13) from the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Erich Thallner