Patents Examined by Michael N Orlando
  • Patent number: 11685130
    Abstract: There is provided a method that includes directing one or more infrared cameras at a compaction roller of a composite laying head of a composite layup machine. The one or more infrared cameras are mounted aft of the compaction roller. The method includes applying heat to a substrate by a heater. The heater is mounted forward of the compaction roller. The method further includes using the one or more infrared cameras, to obtain one or more infrared images of the compaction roller, during laying down of one or more composite tows of a composite layup onto the substrate by the compaction roller. The method further includes identifying, based on the one or more infrared images, one or more temperature profiles of the compaction roller, and analyzing identified temperature profiles, to determine one or more of, a layup quality of the composite layup, and a heat history of the composite layup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Tyler M. Holmes, Brice A. Johnson, Sayata Ghose
  • Patent number: 11685146
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a film sticking device, stand and membrane module. When apply the mobile phone film, the outer protective film of the mobile phone film is pulled out from the film pulling port, and the static electricity generated by the friction after the protective film is separated from the main film and will absorb the dust, so that the final cleaning of the dust can be achieved; Then, directly touch the mobile phone film toward the mobile phone screen through the pressing port of the main cover body to make it stick to the mobile phone screen, which saves time and energy, greatly meets the needs of users, and can be used repeatedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventors: Kaipeng Zhang, Huansheng Xie
  • Patent number: 11679534
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for processing cups (2), adapted to be filled with coffee or other products, whether solid or liquid, and to be closed with respective lids to form corresponding capsules, comprises: a plurality of pockets (50) for housing the cups (2); an infeed station (4) for receiving the cups (2) and placing them in respective pockets (50) of the plurality of pockets (50); at least one tool (31) for applying a process to a rear face (23B) of an annular flange (23) of a cup (2) housed a respective pocket (50), to form a sealing profile (230); an outfeed station (6) configured to release the cups (2) with the sealing profile (230) formed on them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa
    Inventors: Fabrizio Pucci, Fiorenzo Parrinello
  • Patent number: 11673382
    Abstract: A lamination apparatus, system, and method. The apparatus, system and method are for a lamination press for laminating at least one laminating film to a subject, which may include: an upper press comprising a gel plate, an upper vacuum chamber, and tooling suitable to apply the laminating film; a lower press suitable to maintain the subject to receive the laminating film, and comprising a lower vacuum chamber, an air bearing stage, and servo-positioned tooling; and an aligner that applies the servo-positioned tooling to maintain positional balance and alignment of the subject by the air bearing stage during the laminating while enabling vertical flexure of the lower press, wherein the positional balance and alignment is substantially continuously monitored by a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: JABIL INC.
    Inventors: Jeroen Bosboom, Michael McKenney, George Kovatchev
  • Patent number: 11667403
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for placing preforms onto a mandrel. One illustrative method includes moving a mandrel in a process direction relative to a station(s) that comprises multiple pick-and-place machine(s), identifying a tray that stores a preform comprising an unhardened fiber-reinforced material, placing the strong back at the preform via at least one of the pick-and-place machine(s), applying a vacuum to hold the preform in contact with the strong back, transporting the preform to a mandrel via the pick-and-place machine(s), and placing the preform onto the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Darrell D. Jones, Daniel R. Smith, Robert William Whiting, Allen James Halbritter
  • Patent number: 11660851
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for leveling a bonding device and anvil in an assembly via a closed-loop control system is provided. The assembly includes an anvil, a bonding device positioned adjacent the anvil and configured to interact with the anvil to form the bonds on the web, and an actuator that enables adjustment of an orientation between the bonding device and the anvil. The assembly also includes a closed-loop control system configured to control operation of the actuator, with the closed-loop control system configured to monitor an operational parameter of the assembly indicative of interaction of the bonding device with the anvil, determine whether the bonding device is parallel or substantially parallel with the anvil based on the operational parameter, and when the bonding device is not parallel or substantially parallel with the anvil, cause the actuator to adjust the orientation between the bonding device and the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: CURT G. JOA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin M. Lafferty, David E. Schuette
  • Patent number: 11660831
    Abstract: A lamination head for laying up a composite laminate includes a material supply drum supporting roll of layup material backed by a backing layer, a first and second separation device respectively having a first and second horn, and a first and second compaction device. When the first separation device is extended, the first horn is in close proximity to the first compaction device, causing a layup material to separate from the backing layer and move underneath the first compaction device as the lamination head moves along a first direction of travel. When the second separation device is extended, the second horn is in close proximity to the second compaction device, causing the layup material to separate from the backing layer and move underneath the second compaction device as the lamination head moves along a second direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ths Boeing Company
    Inventors: Darrell D. Jones, Raviendra S. Suriyaarachchi, James R. Kendall, Paul D. Shaw, Sergio Urzainqui, Manuel Motilva
  • Patent number: 11654637
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining a first film portion and a second film portion together along a seal line. The apparatus includes a horn and anvil. The anvil is positioned close to the horn. The horn or anvil has a face that is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a raised profile, and a height thereof has a dimension corresponding to 50% to 150% of a thickness of the first film portion or the second film portion. The face is positioned such that the raised profile extends along the circumference such that continuous running contact is provided between the raised profile and the other of the one of the horn or the anvil when rotated about the rotation axis, to form the seal line without any external structure to control a distance between the horn/anvil. A tapered bonding profile, a traction pattern, and a cut-and-seal feature are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Dukane IAS, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Germaine, Patrick Sean McNichols, Petr Vasko, Robert Edward Aldaz
  • Patent number: 11654641
    Abstract: A system for placing a composite ply includes a transfer end effector that is movable relative to a carrier transfer device, configured to convey a ply carrier that supports the composite ply, and a placement end effector that is movable relative to the transfer end effector and to a forming tool. The transfer end effector is configured to remove the ply carrier, supporting the composite ply, from the carrier transfer device and to position the ply carrier for removal by the placement end effector. The placement end effector is configured to remove the ply carrier from the transfer end effector and to apply the composite ply to the forming tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Long Ly, Scott Krajca, Darrell Jones, Chace Wilcoxson, Mark Bunker, Joel Crain, Keegan Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 11648764
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a bent component. The present disclosure moreover relates to a shaping tool for manufacturing a bent component. The shaping tool comprises a first tool half, a second tool half and at least one movable cylinder pin. The first tool half of the shaping tool is arranged opposite the second half of the shaping tool. An outer end of the at least one cylinder pin herein points in the direction of the second half of the shaping tool. A holding element for receiving a flat bendable element is assembled on this outer end of the at least one cylinder pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
    Inventor: Othmane Faik
  • Patent number: 11645432
    Abstract: A method for designing fiber-composite parts in which part performance and manufacturing efficiency can be traded-off against one another to provide an “optimized” design for a desired use case. In some embodiments, the method involves generating an idealized fiber map, wherein the orientation of fibers throughout the prospective part align with the anticipated load conditions throughout the part, and then modifying the idealized fiber map by various fabrication constraints to generate a process-compensated preform map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Arris Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Escowitz, J. Scott Perkins, Riley Reese, Erick Davidson, Sean Hennessee
  • Patent number: 11639050
    Abstract: According to the utility model, there is provided a film laminator for cell phones, useful for film lamination on a surface of a cell phone, including: a cell phone fixing plate, on which a through hole for receiving the cell phone is established, and a top surface of which is a horizontal face; with at least one position limiting plate for abutting the cell phone within the through hole being also fixed on the top surface. The film laminator for cell phones further includes: a film laminating plate for fixing a cell phone film; one end of which is hinged to the cell phone fixing plate, and the other end of which is movable freely so that the film laminating plate is bonded with the top surface of the cell phone fixing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Alpha Comm Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Qiang Xiong, Shaoyu Lin, Lingbin Kong
  • Patent number: 11633947
    Abstract: A method of removing a backing layer from a panel, made of an uncured pre-impregnated fiber-reinforced polymer, comprises a step of orienting the panel into a backing-separation orientation relative to an edge-engagement tool. The method also comprises a step of positioning the panel into a backing-separation position relative to the edge-engagement tool. The method further comprises a step of moving the edge-engagement tool, when the panel is in the backing-separation orientation and the backing-separation position, so that backing-engagement features of the edge-engagement tool engage the backing layer, at only an edge portion of the backing layer, and just the edge portion of the backing layer separates from the panel. The method additionally comprises a step of gripping the edge portion of the backing layer, and, when gripped, moving the backing layer relative to the panel so that an entirety of the backing layer separates from the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Greaney, Todd Beach, Stephen Kraus, Connie Hsiao, Tyson Hsiao, Pei-yao Lin
  • Patent number: 11628659
    Abstract: A single axis application unit for processing a glass workpiece includes a workpiece supporting table, an applicator movable on a traveler shiftable along a first linear axis and a central suction unit that is activateable to grip the glass workpiece that travels along a second linear axis oriented generally perpendicular to the first linear axis. A central suction unit brake selectively secures the central suction unit both rotationally and translationally. The central suction unit is freely moveable both translationally and rotationally when the central suction unit brake is released. A mid-peripheral suction unit is located at a fixed location remote from the central suction unit and selectively activateable to grip the glass workpiece to hold the glass workpiece in a fixed orientation. A corner suction gripper is movable with the applicator parallel to the first linear axis, and is selectively activateable to grip the glass workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Erdman Automation Corporation
    Inventor: Morgan Donohue
  • Patent number: 11628655
    Abstract: A laminator for high-precision solvent-bonding of retardation films is disclosed. The laminator is capable of producing laminates with high orientation repeatability and low in-plane stress which can otherwise create gaps between optimum theoretical performance and that which is physically realizable. Batch-mode laminators are scalable to large area mother-sheets and are suited to high-throughput manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D Sharp, David A Coleman
  • Patent number: 11623385
    Abstract: There is provided a polymer fabrication method for forming 3-dimensional shapes from a sheet polymer blank (10) by machining at least one re-entrant, elongate groove forming a reduced thickness portion (25) permitting the blank to be folded and having opposed edges (12) at the surface, folding the blank about the groove to form at least a portion of the 3-dimensional shape, the re-entrant of the groove forming an elongate chamber (21) adjacent the reduced thickness portion and opening through an elongate gap (20) between the opposed edges, hot air welding the opposed edges across the gap with filler rod (22), and heating the reduced thickness portion to a selected thermo-reforming temperature via the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: CONSTRUCTION SERVICES QUEENSLAND PTY LTD
    Inventor: Stephen Mark Gallehawk
  • Patent number: 11623776
    Abstract: A binding machine that binds objects with a tape, the binding machine includes a staple magazine unit configured to accommodate a plurality of staples, a main handle, a clincher arm configured to approach a leading staple of the plurality of staples and a clincher configured to bend the leading staple. The clincher has, on a surface thereof, a first groove that extends in an acute angle direction with respect to an axial direction of a rotation shaft of the clincher arm and has a first groove length and a first groove width, and a second groove that extends in an acute angle direction with respect to the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the clincher arm and has a second groove length and a second groove width. The second groove is disposed offset with respect to the first groove in a width direction of the first groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MAX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11623379
    Abstract: A clamping device (14) comprises a pressure receiving platen (24), a stationary platen (20), a movable platen (22), a toggle mechanism (28), and a drive device (37). A first position detector (38a) detects the operation amount of the movable platen (22) based on the position of a crosshead (26); a pressure detector (35) detects the actual clamping force of a mold (19); and a second position detector (43) detects the actual position of the movable platen (22). A control portion (50) has first correction means correcting the operation amount of the movable platen (22) at the time of a minute mold opening operation based on the actual clamping force and on the set clamping force, and second correction means correcting the operation amount of the movable platen (22) at the time of the minute mold opening operation based on the operation amount of the movable platen (22) and on the position of the movable platen (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nagami, Hiroyuki Onuma
  • Patent number: 11623386
    Abstract: The subject of the invention relates to a laminating method consisting: in disposing in series on the horizontal path of a first face of the part, several first application units (Ua1, Ua2, . . . ) and in series on the horizontal path of the second face of the part, several second application units (Ub1, Ub2, . . . ) each positioned facing a first application unit located on the first face; in placing the first application units (Ua1, Ua2, . . . ) and the second application units (Ub1, Ub2, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: ASIDIUM
    Inventor: Stéphane Milioti
  • Patent number: 11623439
    Abstract: A roll forming device for plastic flooring utilizes a printed layer unwinding mechanism, a wear-resisting unwinding mechanism and a calender to laminate a substrate layer formed by an extruder, a printed layer and a wear-resisting layer into a whole. The calender includes a gauging roller group, a pre-bonding roller group and a laminating roller group disposed on a rack. The gauging roller group, which is disposed at one side of the pre-bonding roller group and linearly opposite to a discharge port of the extruder. The pre-bonding roller group includes a large roller and a plurality of guide rollers disposed around the large roller, and at least one first heating unit is disposed in the large roller or a position corresponding to an outer edge of the roller surface. The laminating roller group, which is disposed at the other side of the pre-bonding roller group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: WUXI BOYU PLASTIC MACHINERY Co Ltd.
    Inventors: Ding-Yi Lu, Pei-Dong Zhao