Endless Conveyer For Work Patents (Class 118/322)
  • Patent number: 9920991
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and devices for drying coated stents in an oven are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC., ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Sidney Watterodt, Sang joon Park, David Rego, Anthony S. Andreacchi, Yung-Ming Chen, Arnoldo M. Currlin, Antonio Garcia, Jason Van Sciver, Bryan D. Glenn, Matthew J. Gillick, John E. Papp
  • Patent number: 9500409
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and devices for drying coated stents in an oven are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney Watterodt, Sang joon Park, David Rego, Anthony S. Andreacchi, Yung-Ming Chen, Arnoldo M. Currlin, Antonio Garcia, Jason Van Sciver, Bryan D. Glenn, Matthew J. Gillick, John E. Papp
  • Patent number: 8985051
    Abstract: A coating apparatus produces a spray of charged droplets and controls the spray angle of travel of the spray toward the object to be coated. Electrically charging droplets minimizes the amount of coating material required to uniformly coat a surface as compared to conventional web coating techniques such as blade coating. An inductive ring guides the spray charged droplets as they exit the nozzle of a spray device. The electrostatic repulsion between the charged droplets insures that a uniform coating of liquid formulation can be applied to a web surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell ASCa Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Crawford
  • Publication number: 20130042806
    Abstract: A coating apparatus for coating an associated product includes a conveyor mechanism for advancing the associated product, and an indexing system configured to index the associated product as it is advanced by the conveyor mechanism. The indexing system includes a product support member coupled to the conveyor mechanism for supporting the associated product during movement through the coating apparatus. The product support member includes a rotatable spindle shaft and an indexing member rotationally interlocked with the rotatable spindle shaft. The indexing member is configured to engage a guide surface of an adjacent first guide member as the product support member is advanced by the conveyor mechanism past the guide member to change an orientation of the rotatable spindle shaft. A locking mechanism is also included for locking rotation of the rotatable spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: BUSCHMAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Westlake David BUSCHMAN, Thomas Westlake BUSCHMAN
  • Patent number: 7958840
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatuses that reduce problems encountered during coating of a device, such as a medical device having a cylindrical shape. In an embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus including a bi-directional rotation member. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method with a bi-directional indexing movement. In an embodiment, the invention includes a coating solution supply member having a major axis oriented parallel to a gap between rollers on a coating apparatus. In an embodiment, the invention includes a device retaining member. In an embodiment, the invention includes an air nozzle or an air knife. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method including removing a static charge from a small diameter medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: SurModics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph A. Chappa
  • Publication number: 20090053418
    Abstract: According to the coating method of the present invention, the uneven portion on the land of the upstream side makes it possible to increase a contact area between the coating solution and the land, thereby improving the stability of a bead. In other words, according to the coating method of the present invention, it is possible to improve the stability of a bead on the upstream side, the stability having been reduced by the overbite shape of the die. Thus, even when a coating solution having a low viscosity of 10 cp or less is applied with a small coating amount of 10 cc/m2 or less, it is possible to increase the speed of the web without causing an uneven coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nojo, Youichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7418920
    Abstract: A device for coating a food product with a particulate coating material comprises at least one essentially horizontal, rotary drum, at least one feed line for feeding food products to be coated to one end of the drum, at least one removal line for removing coated food products at the opposite end of the drum, as well as feed means for feeding the coating material to the food products, such that when the drum rotates the food products are tumbled and move from the end of the drum that is oriented towards the feed line to the opposite end. At least one further rotary drum is provided, the width of the feed line and the removal line being greater than the diameter of a drum and said lines extending over at least two drums in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: CFS Bakel B.V.
    Inventor: Hendrikus Antonius Jacobus Kuenen
  • Patent number: 7045036
    Abstract: A method and assembly is disclosed for manufacturing a sized web of paper or paperboard, the method comprising the steps of first forming the web at a headbox (1) from a stock comprising at least water and fiber, then pressing the web for water drainage, and finally drying the web by heating. Size furnish is added to the web so that at least a portion of the overall amount of size is added to the web prior to initiating the drying of the web by heating, and at least a portion of the overall amount of size is applied to the web after initiating the drying of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Juha Lipponen, Johan Grön, Sami Anttilainen, Juha S. Kinnunen
  • Patent number: 6978115
    Abstract: A learning method and system are disclosed that assess a learner's understanding of the subject matter and the learner's preferred learning style by presenting and reviewing the information in various types of teaching strategies and then selecting the teaching strategies in which the student learns best. As the student responds to questions presented during the course, a learning bias model is developed for the learner based on which teaching styles provide the best level of comprehension for the learner and then presents concepts from the course within those learning strategies most suitable to the student.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: PointeCast Corporation
    Inventors: R. Alan Whitehurst, Christopher L. Powell, Roger Webb
  • Patent number: 6761126
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the application of a polymer resin to a threaded fastener, where the fastener includes a cylindrical body and the threads of the fastener are formed in a bore extending diametrically across the body. The apparatus generally comprises a conveyor, a resin application station and a fastener orientation station. The conveyor carries the fasteners along a predetermined path of travel, and includes one or more fastener support members that permit the individual fasteners to rotate about the axes of their cylindrical bodies. The application station comprises a nozzle which directs a stream of the resin toward the travel path of the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nylok Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Mahmoud Arslanouk
  • Publication number: 20030213429
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the surface treatment of workpieces (12) such as vehicle bodies. One such device has a plurality of successive treatment stations (1-9), a guiding system (16, 17) having a first guiding section (16) extending in the region of the treatment stations (1-9), and a plurality of rotational mounts (13) which can move individually on said guiding system (16, 17). Each rotational mount (13) has a holding device (14) for at least one workpiece (12) and a rotational axis (15) which is arranged in such a way that the workpeice (12) in the holding device (14) can be brought into, or taken out of, one of the treatment stations (1-9) by rotation about the rotational axis (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Bernd Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6524387
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for use with powdered resin feeders provides a continuous stream of powder to a plurality of threaded or non-threaded fasteners. In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus generates a gravity induced powder stream at the free end of a discharge conduit which is intersected by a series of fasteners carried on a conveyor. A vacuum nozzle is positioned adjacent to the powder stream and the conveyor. Both the vacuum nozzle and the free end of the discharge conduit are adjustably positionable relative to the path of the fasteners carried on the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nylon Corporation
    Inventors: Mahmoud Arslanouk, Anthony DiMaio
  • Publication number: 20020170494
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the application of a polymer resin to a threaded fastener, where the fastener includes a cylindrical body and the threads of the fastener are formed in a bore extending diametrically across the body. The apparatus generally comprises a conveyor, a resin application station and a fastener orientation station. The conveyor carries the fasteners along a predetermined path of travel, and includes one or more fastener support members that permit the individual fasteners to rotate about the axes of their cylindrical bodies. The application station comprises a nozzle which directs a stream of the resin toward the travel path of the fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Mahmoud Arslanouk
  • Patent number: 6447609
    Abstract: A paint spraying apparatus for coating an article with paint, enamel, lacquer or the like, includes a conveyor unit having an endless conveyor belt, trained over at least two drums, for transporting an article to be coated past a sprayer unit. Operatively connected to the conveyor unit is at least one cleaning unit for wiping a surface of the conveyor belt clean. The cleaning unit includes an endless wiping belt which extends obliquely relative to the conveyor belt and is so operated as to revolve at a higher speed than the conveyor belt when contacting the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Venjakob Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Potthoff
  • Patent number: 6440216
    Abstract: A method of applying blend drop granules to an asphalt coated sheet includes moving an asphalt coated sheet in a machine direction, generating vertically moving blend drops of granules and directing the vertically moving blend drops of granules into contact with a curved conveyor. The blend drops are moved along the curved conveyor to change the direction of the blend drops of granules to a generally horizontal orientation in the machine direction. The blend drops are released from the curved conveyor for contact with the asphalt coated sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David P. Aschenbeck
  • Patent number: 6436471
    Abstract: A plant and a process for coating a multi-sided mineral fiber base layer with a surface coating in the form of a fibrous non-woven fabric formed of a thermoplastic polymer material on at least part of at least two sides of the base layer to form a mineral fiber element, wherein the plant comprises two or more coating devices, means for melting a thermoplastic polymer material, means for supplying the polymer melt obtained to the coating devices, wherein each coating device comprises a number of dispensing units comprising a number of orifices, means for extruding the polymer melt obtained through the orifices and distributing the extruded polymer material on the surface of the mineral fiber base layer, and means for directing one or more high pressure gas streams closely past the orifices in order to elongate the extruded polymer material so as to form thin filaments and/or fibers, and wherein the coating devices are arranged in separate successive coating stations in such a manner that the coating of individ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Rockwool International A/S
    Inventor: Conny Petersen
  • Patent number: 6436189
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for applying a protective coating to the surfaces of air vents in a vented brake rotor wherein the method include the steps of rotating the rotor, directing coating material along with a stream of air toward the inlets of the vents to flood the vents with coating material to the surface, applying a suction to the outlets of the vents to remove and recover the excess material, and curing the coating. The apparatus includes fixtures for mounting the rotors that are driven to rotate the rotors during the coating operation, and for automatic operation a conveyer for advancing the rotors through a vent coating station, an exterior coating station for coating exterior rotor surfaces, and a curing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Craig J. Reuscher
  • Patent number: 6419983
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of introducing and removing workpieces, particularly vehicle bodies, into and out of a treatment area (20, 70) suitable for the surface treatment of the workpieces (1), wherein the workpieces (1) are detachably secured to mounting frames (7) that each have a rotary axis (13, 41, 61) aligned transverse to the direction of movement of the workpieces (1), the rotary axes (13, 41, 61) are continuously moved translationally and at a constant speed, and the workpieces (1) at the start and end of the treatment area (20, 70) are simultaneously rotated through about 180° around one of these rotary axes (13, 41, 61) in a controlled and always guided manner in the direction of the translational movement. The invention also relates to a device for the surface treatment of workpieces and a system for the surface treatment of vehicle bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Fläkt Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Bernd Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 6358319
    Abstract: A method of applying blend drop granules to an asphalt coated sheet includes moving an asphalt coated sheet in a machine direction, and depositing blend drops of granules on a blend drop conveyor that is positioned above the asphalt coated sheet. The blend drop conveyor has an upper flight moving in a direction opposite the machine direction and a lower flight moving in the machine direction. The blend drops are moved from the upper flight to the lower flight of the blend drop conveyor while retaining the blend drops in contact with the blend drop conveyor by magnetic force. Finally. The blend drops are released from the blend drop conveyor for contact with the asphalt coated sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglass Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Huykman, David P. Aschenbeck, John D. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6322628
    Abstract: A powder coating apparatus and method feeds fine powdered coating material such as thermoplastic type material to a succession of discrete articles passing by the apparatus which includes a vibratory feeder bowl and a spiral track for delivering a substantially constant supply of powder coating material to the articles. A sensor is also used to regulate an amount of powdered coating material supplied to an auger to the vibratory feeder. The invention also provides a powder feed system that deposits an excess of powdered coating material than that required to form the coating and provides for recirculation of the powder not ultimately used to form the coating back to the powder feeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: ND Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 6024795
    Abstract: A resin coating system includes a coating station for applying resin to dynamo-electric machine components such as electric motor armatures, one or more other stations adjacent to the coating station, a conveyor for transporting components through the coating station where the components are carried by holders holding at least one end of the components without touching the body portion of the components, another conveyor for transporting components through the other stations where the components are carried by holders supporting the body portion of the components, and a transfer device for transferring uncoated and coated components between the two conveyors. The holders attached to the conveyor in the coating station are capable of rotating the components about the longitudinal axis of each component during the coating operation for an even application of the resin to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Axis USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Rossano Galassi, Romano Lozzi, Sabatino Luciani, Federico Sbalchiero
  • Patent number: 5919308
    Abstract: A resin coating system includes a coating station for applying resin to dynamo-electric machine components such as electric motor armatures, one or more other stations adjacent to the coating station, a conveyor for transporting components through the coating station where the components are carried by holders holding at least one end of the components without touching the body portion of the components, another conveyor for transporting components through the other stations where the components are carried by holders supporting the body portion of the components, and a transfer device for transferring uncoated and coated components between the two conveyors. The holders attached to the conveyor in the coating station are capable of rotating the components about the longitudinal axis of each component during the coating operation for an even application of the resin to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Axis USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Rossano Galassi, Romano Lozzi, Sabatino Luciani
  • Patent number: 5830274
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for controlling the spray of positively-charged coating particles towards a grounded or negatively-charged dielectric material having a dielectric constant less than 4.0 and in the form of a hollow container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald B. Jones, Leland H. Carlblom, Ken W. Niederst, Paul S. Chirgott
  • Patent number: 5795389
    Abstract: A device is provided for placing sharply demarcated patches on roofing products such as shingles or sheeting without the need for a double layer of asphalt. After the base sheet has been covered with a layer of coating asphalt, granules to form the patch are dropped on the base sheet through a hole in a belt which moves parallel to and just above the base sheet. The moving hole in the belt ensures that the patches will have sharp leading and trailing edges. The belt can have several holes for different size patches, and/or different blends of granules can be applied through the same or different holes. After the patches have been applied, the remainder of the sheet is covered with granules. Alternatively, the granules which drop on the spaces on the belt between the belt openings can be applied to the base sheet to form sharp edged patches, while the granules dropping through the holes in the belt can be removed and collected for re-use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Iko Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Henry Koschitzky
  • Patent number: 5772125
    Abstract: A machine with an on-board supply tank for spraying a coating material. In one embodiment, the spraying machine includes a carriage (3) supporting an arm (4) with an end-mounted holder containing a tank (6) for supplying a spray nozzle (8). The arm further includes a coating material changing assembly (9) which is translatably movable towards the holder (5) to effect mutual engagement between quick connection units (12, 13) during cleaning/filling of the tank (6). The machine is useful for forming coatings consisting of an electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Sames S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Ehinger, Djamel Merabot
  • Patent number: 5743962
    Abstract: A work is applied with a solvent-containing thermosetting coating composition to a thickness larger than a limit thickness over which the coating composition on a surface of the work extending in a vertical direction will normally run or sag in a coating zone. After applied with the coating composition, the work is rotated about a substantially horizontal axis to prevent the coating composition on the vertical surface of the work from running or sagging and is conveyed through a heat-hardening zone for hardening the coating composition applied to the work by heating by a conveyor line. The conveyor line includes a pair of conveyors which are separated from each other upstream of a position where the coating composition is applied to the work to a thickness larger than said limit thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Ogasawara, Shinji Katayama
  • Patent number: 5686148
    Abstract: A body of a vehicle, that is supported by a carrier or conveyor is rotated about a rotational axis extending in an approximately horizontal direction of the carrier or conveyor. When the body is supported in a normally standing position with its roof at the top of the body and its floor at the bottom thereof, the center of gravity of a rotary member containing the body is set to be at a position underneath the rotational axis in a vertically extending plane containing the rotational axis. The body is locked by a clamping unit so as to prevent rotation when the body is coated in the coating station. In the drying station, the locking by the clamping unit is released and the body is then displaced at a given angle so as to cause rotation on account of inertia on the basis of its own weight. After the drying station, the forcible rotation is shifted to free rotation which in turn is caused to be converged into a rest or normally standing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5674570
    Abstract: A process for spraying a coating product composed of: mounting a sprayer on a movable support member of a spraying machine; providing an object having a plurality of surfaces which surfaces include first and second surfaces which are oriented at least approximately vertically during spraying and are angled relative to one another, and a third surface which is oriented at least approximately horizontally during spraying; in a first spraying step, spraying the product onto at least the first surface from a sprayer while displacing the sprayer past the first one of the surfaces and while the first surface is oriented at least approximately vertically; rotating the object about a vertical axis after the first spraying step; and, in a second spraying step, after the rotating step, spraying the product onto at least the second surface from the sprayer while displacing the sprayer past the second one of the surfaces and while the second surface is oriented at least approximately vertically, wherein the product is sp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Sames S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Fouvet
  • Patent number: 5651820
    Abstract: A work is applied with a solvent-containing thermosetting coating composition to a thickness larger than a limit thickness over which the coating composition on a surface of the work extending in a vertical direction will normally run or sag in a coating zone. After applied with the coating composition, the work is rotated about a substantially horizontal axis to prevent the coating composition on the vertical surface of the work from running or sagging and is conveyed through a heat-hardening zone for hardening the coating composition applied to the work by heating by a conveyor line. The conveyor line includes a pair of conveyors which are separated from each other upstream of a position where the coating composition is applied to the work to a thickness larger than said limit thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Ogasawara, Shinji Katayama
  • Patent number: 5587018
    Abstract: A fast spot gluing machine for screws is disclosed, having a vibrating body, a horizontal conveyor, a support board, a rubber wheel, a spot gluing plate, a speed-adjustable motor, a control circuit and a glue compressor. A spiral slope is disposed on an inner wall of the vibrating body, extending to a top of the vibrating body to connect with the horizontal conveyor. The support board is disposed at a rear portion of the horizontal conveyor and includes a base board and first and second upright boards. The control circuit is used to control rotational speed of the motor. The motor has a rotary shaft on which the rubber wheel is fitted. The first upright board is formed with an arcuate notch for partially receiving the rubber wheel and the second upright board is formed with an elongated adjusting slot. An adjusting screw formed with a through hole is disposed through elongated slot to engage the spot gluing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Jiuh Yih Hardware Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fa-Chih Chung
  • Patent number: 5518543
    Abstract: A spraying apparatus having a continuously moving conveyor belt which brings a vessel rim down to a spraying station, arrests movement of the vessel and aligns it with a vacuum gripping head, grips the vessel bottom and lifts and presents the vessel to a sprayer, rotates the vacuum gripped vessel rapidly to apply a plurality of thin layers of coating, and returns the coated vessel to the conveyor and releases the grip on the vessel so that the continuously moving conveyor can discharge the coated vessel from the spraying station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Anchor Hocking Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Pietrowski, Gordon D. Norlin, Thomas J. Mohr, Charles R. Williams, Thomas J. Haug, John W. Herrmann
  • Patent number: 5415898
    Abstract: A method of blasting IC frames as electronic components with a suitable apparatus, which prevents the frames from being caught by position restriction means during transfer, and eleiminates necessity for particular operations even if frames of different widths are continuously fed.The blasting is carried out by turning a conveyor belt (8), which has support plate members (11) juxtaposed thereon and has a support groove (D) of an inverted triangular sectional shape formed thereon, jetting slurry onto the IC frames (F) merely placed on the slope surfaces inside the support support groove from a nozzles (2), turning then the frames by a reversion device (3) so as to place them on other slope surfaces, and jetting the slurry from other nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Kabushiki Gaisha Ishii Hyoki
    Inventors: Mineo Ishii, Teruyuki Nakano
  • Patent number: 5306346
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a fastener with head and shank portions is disclosed. The invention includes the steps of and apparatus for transferring the fasteners from a feed mechanism such that the fasteners are positioned for coating. The fasteners are then conveyed through a plurality of operating stations, beginning with a heating station where the shank portions of the fasteners are heated. Subsequently, at a material applying station, a coating material is applied to the heated shank portions. A preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention includes using a magnetic holder to carry the fasteners horizontally by their head portions, where fasteners are centered by a rotating wheel, heating the shank portion to a temperature above the melting point of the applied material and applying the material to the heated shank portion to form a coating thereon. The magnetic holders are part of an endless traveling belt that rotates continually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Richard J. Duffy, Eugene Sessa
  • Patent number: 5284238
    Abstract: A rolling can conveyor includes an endless belt path and a flexible belt defining a plurality of openings therein for fluid communication therethrough. The flexible belt is operatively associated with the endless belt path such that the flexible belt is vertically oriented for at least a portion of the belt path. The bottom of the can body is held in contact with the flexible belt during transport by negative pressure. A guide rail extends along the vertically disposed flexible belt so as to support the can body. A plenum is operatively associated with the endless path proximate the guide rail. A vacuum is coupled to the plenum for applying a negative pressure sufficient to rotatably retain the can body in contact with the flexible belt and the guide rail, which imparts rotational motion to the can body about its longitudinal axis during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ingraham
  • Patent number: 5258073
    Abstract: A system and method for preventing a deposition of a coating medium on at least a predetermined area of workpieces to be at least partially spray coated with the coating medium during a continuous spray coating operation. A covering arrangement is applied to the at least one predetermined area of the respective workpieces upon which the deposition of the coating medium is to be prevented prior to the continuous spray coating operation. The covering arrangement and the workpieces are simultaneously and synchronously advanced to the spray coating station so as to enable the continuous spray coating operation of the workpieces, with the predetermined areas covered by the covering arrangement being protected from deposition and/or contamination by the coating medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Precision Tool, Ltd.
    Inventor: Christian Meier
  • Patent number: 5252364
    Abstract: Disclosed is the method for coating automotive vehicle bodies, in which the upper vehicle body section and the floor member, constituting a vehicle body of the automotive vehicle, are conveyed simultaneously by the same conveying device at least up to the undercoating step for coating them with an undercoating paint. After the undercoating step, the floor member are separated from the upper vehicle body section at an appropriate timing, followed by separate conveyance to the following step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Inoue, Naoyuki Ikemizu
  • Patent number: 5240746
    Abstract: Related operations are performed on workpieces, e.g., coating and curing circuit boards, of different types in random order in assembly line fashion on a rotary table of an apparatus under programmed control. The table is rotated stepwise to move successive sections thereof from a load-unload station at which the respective workpieces are loaded and unloaded in random order, to a sensing station at which the type and orientation of the workpiece is sensed, next to an initial work station at which initial work, e.g., coating, is performed on the workpiece in dependence upon its type and orientation previously sensed at the sensing station, then to a subsequent work station at which related subsequent work is performed on the workpiece, e.g., curing of the coating, and in turn back to the load-unload station to complete a cycle. The workpiece is either changed in orientation on the table section for a repeat cycle to perform further work thereon or is replaced by another workpiece in random order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Mary O'Connell Litteral
  • Patent number: 5221347
    Abstract: Successive plate-like substrates are transported in a horizontal plane on a first conveyor beneath a first spray coating device on their way toward an inverting device which turns successive substrates through 180.degree. and deposits them on the supporting elements of a second conveyor which advances the once coated substrates beneath a second spray coating device. The twice coated substrates are advanced through a drying zone wherein they are acted upon at both sides by infrared heaters which expel the surplus of moisture. The supporting elements are in mere linear or point contact with the coated undersides of inverted substrates above the second conveyor. Such supporting elements can engage uncoated marginal portions of the substrates or the coated portions of undersides of substrates above the second conveyor. Coating material which bypasses the substrates is intercepted and collected, and the supporting elements are cleaned at regular intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Bollhoff Verfahrenstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Werner Heine
  • Patent number: 5209181
    Abstract: A machine for precisely painting large numbers of small various sized tubular pieces. The painting machine includes a chain driven track assembly which moves the tube pieces held on paint fixtures into a paint chamber for painting and into an oven to dry the paint to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Spectra, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Flood
  • Patent number: 5169621
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a fastener with head and shank portions is disclosed. The invention includes the steps of and apparatus for transferring the fasteners from a feed mechanism such that the fasteners are positioned for coating. The fasteners are then conveyed through a plurality of operating stations, beginning with a heating station where the shank portions of the fasteners are heated. Subsequently, at a material applying station, a coating material is applied to the heated shank portions. A preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention includes using a magnetic holder to carry the fasteners horizontally by their head portions, heating the shank portion to a temperature above the melting point of the applied material and applying the material to the heated shank portion to form a coating thereon. The magnetic holders are part of an endless traveling belt that rotates continually. The fastener carriers have teeth that engage a rack to rotate the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Richard J. Duffy, Eugene Sessa
  • Patent number: 5138972
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating of solid particulate powder to the interior surface of tubular, cylindrical articles includes a conveyor for transporting the articles to and from a powder spray station whereat powder is sprayed into one open end of the articles. The conveyor includes an endless belt conveyor movable in a direction perpendicular to the spray from the nozzle and the axes of articles supported on the conveyor. The articles are supported on the conveyor by lugs in the form of rollers which support the articles in grooves defined between adjacent pairs of lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Prazisions-Werkzeuge AG
    Inventor: Kurt Glanzmann
  • Patent number: 5115758
    Abstract: A baking oven is divided into a first baking oven and a second baking oven. A conveyor line is also divided into two sections, a first conveyor line section being so disposed as to pass through the first baking oven only, and a second conveyor line section being so disposed as to pass through the second baking oven only. A substrate is coated with a paint and then conveyed through the first baking oven while being so supported by a carrier with a rotating device and being rotated about its approximately horizontal axis extending in a longitudinal direction thereof with the rotating device. The rotation of the substrate is carried out at a speed which is high enough to prevent the paint coated from sagging due to gravity yet which is low enough so as to cause no sagging as a result of centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenori Suzuki, Takahiro Mizune
  • Patent number: 5078083
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a fastener with head and shank portions is disclosed. The invention includes the steps of and apparatus for transferring the fasteners from a feed mechanism such that the fasteners are positioned for coating. The fasteners are then conveyed through a plurality of operating stations, beginning with a heating station where the shank portions of the fasteners are heated. Subsequently, at a material applying station, a coating material is applied to the heated shank portions. A preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention includes using a magnetic holder to carry the fasteners horizontally by their portions, heating the shank portion to a temperature above the melting point of the applied material and applying the material to the heated shank portion to form a coating thereon. The magnetic holders are part of an endless traveling belt that rotates continually. The fastener carriers have teeth that engage a rack to rotate the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Richard J. Duffy, Eugene Sessa
  • Patent number: 5074776
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for coating sheet material. The apparatus includes a rotatable backing roll (4) upon which a sample of sheet material may be mounted to form a cylinder, a coating head (9) including a blade (22), an outlet (21b) for dispensing a coating composition and a supply means (18) for supplying a coating composition to the outlet (21b) in the region of the coating edge of the blade (22), and means for enabling the coating head (9) to be moved in operation parallel to the axis of rotation of the backing roll (4) and in contact with the sheet material mounted thereon whilst the backing roll (4) is rotated, whereby a strip of sheet material may be coated of resultant helical form, wherein the supply means (18) includes an element which comprises a matrix of tubular passageways (19) longitudinally disposed with respect to the flow of coating composition through the coating head (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: ECC International Limited
    Inventors: Morgan V. Hassell, Frederick J. Stephens, Ernest J. Edwards, Michael A. Ball
  • Patent number: 4969414
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating cores has an endless conveyor operable with discrete intermittent movements between a plurality of preselected positions defined in a predetermined course of the endless conveyor with a preselected dwell period between each of the discrete intermittent movements, respectively. A set of drives for the endless conveyor includes a coupler associated with each drive for engagement with the endless conveyor only during the preselected dwell periods, and means for intermittently moving the drives only when the couplers are engaged with the endless conveyor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eugene C. Bair, Frederick C. Burke
  • Patent number: 4949665
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating both sides of boards, in particular, printed circuit boards includes a conveyor and a liquid coating station. The apparatus may include a station for feeding boards to the conveyor and particularly to a movable board holder configured to grip the circuit boards at their outer edges. The coating station located in the conveyor path coats the boards one side at a time. A board rotating station is located at one end of the conveyor and a board drying station is configured to simultaneously dry both sides of the boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventor: Erich Weber
  • Patent number: 4947787
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the electrostatic lacquering of printed circuit boards formed with continuous holes as soldering places for connecting wires. The characterizing feature of the apparatus is that the printed circuit boards, continuously conveyed in a suspended position, are lacquered on one side, then turned over, lacquered on the other side, and the two layers of lacquer are then immediately dried simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Inventors: Klaus Grah, Gunter Korsten, Werner Schauf
  • Patent number: 4911099
    Abstract: A painting system for painting a finned-tube heat exchanger suspended from a conveyor line so as to be conveyed thereby, comprises: (i) means for spraying on said heat exchanger with a water-soluble paint; (ii) means for air-blowing on said heat exchanger; and (iii) means for electrostatic spraying on said heat exchanger with a solvent-soluble paint. Each of spray nozzle assemblies and air-blow nozzle assemblies of said means issues paint spray or air blow to fins of said heat exchanger in a direction parallel to said fins. This painting system further comprises a scraper means for recovering said water-soluble paint sprayed and reached a wall member during spraying and air blow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Toyo Radiator Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohmura, Isao Adachi
  • Patent number: 4881488
    Abstract: A conveyor on which tires are suspended, with sufficient travel to ensure that they dry out following treatment, for conveying them through a distribution chamber for the solution, equipped with devices for discharging jets of the solution; a movable arm is inserted in between two adjacent tires and temporarily lifts off at least one of them in order to rotate it in front of the discharge devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: CISAP S.p.A.
    Inventor: Tosco Fantacci
  • Patent number: 4809640
    Abstract: Plastic containers are given a coating of barrier or other coating material by being passed in close proximity to the lower edge of a plate curved downwardly. Liquid coating material is delivered to the back of the plate, to spread over it and fall as a curtain through which the article is passed, the article being rotated to present the whole of its recipient surface to the curtain. The articles may be tilted as they pass through the curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Metal Box Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Terence W. J. Pilley, deceased, Fred B. Pilling, Graham Ryall