Patents Examined by Raymond D. Woods
  • Patent number: 5842622
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and conversion kit for curved-angle cleaving of optical fibers, and a curved-angle end-face of a resulting optical fiber. The method requires fixing first and second portions of the optical fiber and introducing a flaw into the optical fiber between the first and second portions. Then, a substantially concentrated force is applied to the optical fiber between the flaw and the first portion of the optical fiber, on a side of the optical fiber opposite the flaw, in order to cause the optical fiber to cleave with a curved-angle cleave. Another embodiment of the method applies a substantially concentrated force to the fiber before introduction of the flaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Charles M. Mansfield, Gordon Wiegand, Martin G. Afflerbaugh, Suzanne T. Zochowski
  • Patent number: 5697835
    Abstract: Multifunctional blade designs for rotational oscillating cutting include, in one aspect, different cutting teeth segments and cutting agent segments arranged along separate portions of a common cutting edge to carry out various cutting tasks. In another aspect, non-circular cutting blades have separate cutting edge segments, each segment having different cutting teeth or cutting agents. The blade edge may include one portion having grit bonded to the cutting edge to cut hard objects, and another portion having cutting teeth for cutting softer objects. Likewise, the blade edge may include two portions, each having cutting teeth of differing size and pitch to cut differing materials. Another embodiment comprises a triangular blade, the sides of the triangle provided with cutting grit bonded to the edges. Alternatively, at least one side of the triangle may include cutting teeth, so that each side of the triangle is adapted to cut different types of materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventors: Joseph W. Nitz, Donald Bruce Gordon
  • Patent number: 5678467
    Abstract: An exchangeable handle for wooden pushers which handle includes a grip having a base plate which is L-shaped in cross section, this base plate having a long leg and a short leg in which spikes are provided for driving into the wooden pusher. The spikes attached to the short leg project at right angles from the short leg and extend parallel to the long leg. The spikes provided at the free end of the long leg are attached to a swivel lever which is rotatable about a shaft. The spikes which project out of the long leg through openings therein can be swiveled by an actuating lever from a direction substantially parallel to the sort leg into an engagement position at an angle thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: Georg Aigner
  • Patent number: 5673485
    Abstract: A safety razor has a handle, a head on the handle on which a razor blade or blade holder is mountable, a reservoir for water or other suitable lubricating liquid for shaving and an outlet for supplying the liquid from the reservoir to the blade, whereby the liquid is available for the skin during shaving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventor: John Hill
  • Patent number: 5673837
    Abstract: Apparatus for high speed stacking and cutting of resilient materials to form individual sheets wherein the resilient material is moved through the apparatus towards a stacking plane and is guided past a tear separator actuatable to effect a tear separation along a transverse prepunched line. The tear separator comprises two pairs of respectively upper and lower rollers for friction contact with the sheets. One roller of the upper rollers is provided with a planar beveled portion and the lower rollers are essentially cylindrical, and at least one of the lower rollers is driven into rotation with a speed higher than that of the upper rollers. The lower rollers are spaced from each other in a rest condition when the beveled portion is parallely positioned in front of a plane of the connected sheets in the rest condition of the upper rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Industria Grafica Meschi SRL
    Inventor: Luciano Meschi
  • Patent number: 5651297
    Abstract: A combination mitre and bevel saw 10 includes an elongate fence guide 74 operatively connected to the saw blade assembly 20 and pivotable between a retracted position and an extended position in the plan of the saw blade 26. A spring 72 biases the fence guide 74 into its retracted position. The fence guide 74 may be pulled down by the saw operator into its extended position so as to indicate the position at which the saw blade 36 will impinge upon the workpiece and so as to allow the setting of two fence members 17a, 17b accordingly. The fence guide 74 includes a leading edge 78, which indicates the width of cut which the saw blade will make in the workpiece and a wider portion 80, trailing the leading edge 78, which indicates the optimum spacing of the fence members 17a, 17b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Andrea Garuglieri
  • Patent number: 5651298
    Abstract: A portable saw table comprising a saw track pivotally supported on a saw table. An improved lightweight plastic protractor and indexer plate are rotatably mounted with respect to each other by an improved pivot mount. The pivot mount comprises a plurality of lobes received in a complementary recess in the indexer plate in a spline-like engagement providing strength and rigidity to prevent flexing to ensure accurate pivotal movement. The improved protractor is guided by a gib mounted on the indexer plate for smooth pivotal movement. The plastic protractor includes indicia to indicate the degree of angular movement and the plastic indexer plate includes a window for viewing the indicia. In one form, the protractor has an angled portion with indicia and the indexer plate has an angled magnifying sight lens for easy viewing of the adjustment angle. A hollow material stop is provided to accommodate workpieces of varying thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Tapco Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Break, Arthur B. Chubb, Daniel J. Spencer, James E. Suyak
  • Patent number: 5644962
    Abstract: An arrangement for cutting the leader of the web in a paper or board machine in the dryer section of the machine by a jet of pressurized water. The web is placed against the drying wire when it is being cut, and the jet is directed at the web from the free side of the web. The water jet pressure used is from about 40 bar to about 400 bar, preferably from about 100 bar to about 350 bar, which is produced by an ordinary pressure washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Ismo Koponen, Iimari Rintasalo, Jari Vainio, Juha Kaihovirta
  • Patent number: 5634385
    Abstract: An electric cable guiding device includes a fixed guide block and a movable guide block. A projected round surface is formed in the fixed guide block, and an indented round surface is formed in the movable guide block. In addition, a groove is formed in the indented round surface. At the time of guiding an electric cable, the movable guide block is fitted in the fixed guide block. In this state, the indented round surface and the groove constitute an electric cable guide path. The electric cable is fed into the electric cable guide path by rollers. Consequently, the electric cable is guided in a U shape along the electric cable guide path. The front end of the electric cable drawn out of the electric cable guide path is clamped. Thereafter, the movable guide block is moved to an electric cable measuring position that is spaced apart from the fixed guide block by a predetermined distance. In this state, the electric cable is fed by a required length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ohta, Nobuyuki Itaya
  • Patent number: 5623765
    Abstract: An improved flail release mechanism in rotary mowers heads, to be used for all kinds of vegetation, has a head of which has a flattened part to improve the engagement with the ground, and a release mechanism which comprises a ring member so designed to enable the release of different lengths of flail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Shimon Ner-Gaon
  • Patent number: 5619897
    Abstract: A cutter for cutting helical vegetable strips comprising a circular disk-like plate having an upstream surface and an axis of rotation. The cutter has a knife blade extending radially from the axis of rotation, the blade edge being axially displaced from the upstream surface. The cutter also includes a plurality of slitter blades spaced apart and located at different distances from the axis of rotation and extending substantially perpendicular to the upstream surface. The slitter blades have different lengths and, therefore, extend to different heights above the upstream surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Inventors: Jocelyn A. Dube, James D. Arbeau, Micheal D. Ryder, Derek J. Penney, Layton D. McInnis, Jean L. Lebel
  • Patent number: 5604985
    Abstract: A handheld appliance including a housing including a surface area, a moveable member moveable relative to the surface of the housing, and a latch for releasably preventing and permitting movement of the moveable member relative to the housing and including a series of indentations in the surface area of the housing, and a latch member movably carried on the moveable member for movement between a latch position preventing movement of the moveable member relative to the housing and a release position permitting movement of the moveable member relative to the housing, the latch member including a generally planar base portion, and a flange portion which is received in a selected one of the indentations when the latch member is in the latch position and free of the indentations when the latch member is in the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Andis Company
    Inventors: Matthew L. Andis, John M. Piwaron
  • Patent number: 5605086
    Abstract: A compound miter saw comprises a base, an arm rotatingly connected thereto about a horizontal plane, and a pair of adjustable vertical saw supporting members on either end thereof. The improvement thereof comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned rows of projections formed on the support surface of the base. A workpiece can be supported at an elevated angle along the support surface wherein one side thereof rests against a guide plate along one side of the base and an adjoining corner portion is ensconced between a selected pair of adjacent rows. Each pin of adjacent rows of projections provides a unique elevation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventors: Hsieh Huang-Mo, Mary Wang
  • Patent number: 5605087
    Abstract: A tape cutting apparatus which provides for cutting a multi-layered tape through only one layer of the tape. The apparatus includes a cutting device with a cutting blade wherein the cutting device is actuated by a drive mechanism and the position of the cutting device is controlled by a position controller. The apparatus further provides a braking mechanism to ensure that the cut is terminated at the proper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Esselte N.V.
    Inventor: Michael A. Beadman
  • Patent number: 5599223
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows the removal of solid material from a workpiece utilizes a high velocity stream of ice which is caused to impinge on the workpiece. A working liquid, such as water, is supplied at high pressure to a discharge nozzle with an orifice for forming the needle-like stream. The water is cooled before it reaches the nozzle to a temperature below its freezing point so that at least some of the stream is transformed to ice. Optionally, the stream is cooled after it is emitted from the orifice by flowing an envelope of cryogenic gas around the emitted stream. The apparatus includes an inner conduit that carries the working liquid through a cutting tool where the liquid is at least partially solidified by an evaporator that utilizes a cryogenic fluid to cool the working liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Gilbert L. Mains Jr.
  • Patent number: 5596917
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and cutting sheet material has an endless conveyor belt trained over rotatable end units. The endless belt defines an upper run for supporting the sheet material, a lower run spaced below the upper run, and two arcuate end sections, each extending between the upper and lower runs. A first gap is formed in the conveyor belt between one end of the upper run and the adjacent end section, and a second gap is formed in the belt between the other end of the upper run and the adjacent end section. A cutting unit is supported over the upper run for cutting the sheet material, and a vacuum is introduced in the upper run for creating a vacuum bed to hold the sheet material against the supporting surface during a cutting operation. Two end sealing assemblies are mounted between the upper and lower run, and each is located adjacent to a respective gap in the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Gerber Garment Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Joseph Gerber, Richard Kuchta
  • Patent number: 5595093
    Abstract: A method of forming a rotary cutting die includes the following steps. A curved cutting rule transfer plate including an inner surface and an outer surface is provided. A cutting rule channel is formed in the transfer plate, and defines a predetermined design. A cutting rule having a cutting edge and a support edge is placed in the cutting rule channel. The support edge of the cutting rule extends from the inner surface of the transfer plate. A translucent rotary die place is formed on the inner surface of the transfer plate. The support edge of the cutting rule extends into and is supported in the rotary die plate. The transfer plate is then removed from the rotary die plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Western Printing Machinery Company
    Inventor: Paul G. Kapolnek
  • Patent number: 5584218
    Abstract: A cutting device having blades with V-shaped cutting edges and shaped to cause the blade centers to deviate from a vertical plane. One blade is reciprocated. The outer ends of each blade have sliding projections engaging marginal portions of outer surfaces of the other blade so that the cutting edges are drawn toward and cross-over one another during cutting, whereby the blades increasingly move from their bent shape toward a planar shape. The blade edges cut a web from both outer edges toward the center, the center portion of the web being cut last. The blades resume their V-shaped configuration when moved to the open position. By limiting the stroke of the moving blade, the center portion of the web being cut remains uncut. The blades have support frames holding one end of the blades fixed while the opposite ends of the blades are permitted to slide to accommodate movement of one end of the blades which are elongated as they flatten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Hecon Corporation
    Inventor: Rudolph Schoendienst
  • Patent number: 5582086
    Abstract: A ceramic green sheet for a laminated ceramic capacitor is formed on an upper surface of a carrier film and carried onto a surface plate while maintaining adhesion between the carrier film and the ceramic green sheet. Thereafter a cutting line having a closed outline is defined in the ceramic green sheet and a sheet cut enclosed by the cutting line is taken out by a pickup apparatus having a punching edge in its periphery and provided with a suction head in a portion enclosed by the punching edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Kogame
  • Patent number: RE36154
    Abstract: A device for supplying webs of wrapping material to a cigarette making machine of the two rod type is constituted by a device for cutting a web of wrapping material into a first and a second web of identical width, and by deviation devices associated with each of the webs for the displacement thereof in a direction crosswise to that in which the webs move forward. Connected to the first and second web are detector devices provided for operating, through circuit elements, a motor for each of the three deviation devices in such a way as to cancel, moment by moment, any possible differences in width between the first web and the second web and any deflection thereof with respect to a given sliding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni
    Inventors: Riccardo Mattei, Armando Neri