Hollow Cylinder Article Patents (Class 156/218)
  • Patent number: 6364981
    Abstract: Forming a tubular tire ply from a flat sheet of wire reinforced material, cutting the ply to length and applying the ply to a drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Michael Wallace Smith, Donald Chester Kubinski, Bruce Thomas Choate
  • Patent number: 6358347
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing large quantities of seamed belts for printing systems with controlled imageable seams, which belts require a defined circumference and width, from suitable belt material in a large roll thereof, by feeding a continuous web of that belt material from the roll in (or cut to) a width that is at least as wide as the defined circumference of the finished seamed belt into a seam cutting station, where the opposing side edges of the continuous web of belt material are cut as they move through the seam cutting station into opposing seam-forming mating edge patterns, preferably mating puzzle-cut patterns cut by small movement laser beams on each side of the moving web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Constance J. Thornton, Joseph A. Swift, Edward L. Schlueter, Jr., Theodore Lovallo
  • Patent number: 6350340
    Abstract: Methods, an apparatus and a system in which reclosable bags and components thereof are formed are disclosed. The reclosable bags are made from base web material that has transversely applied fastener tape segments thereon. The web material is used in a vertical form, fill and seal bag forming method. The method includes the steps of supplying across the web a continuous strip of tape, having male and female fastener profiles thereon, for sealing thereto. In one embodiment a continuous strip of barrier material, and a continuous strip of fastener having first and second interlocked fastener profile strips are positioned on the continuous strip of tape; and secured thereon, the barrier tape is folded to obtain a fold and two opposing barrier tape fastener strip connecting portions; and, the fold is slit to form two separate continuous strips of barrier material strips and two continuous strips of tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20020001689
    Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a tubular film having a high film thickness uniformity and suitable for a fixing film of an image forming apparatus. To achieve this object, a thermoplastic sheet film is so wound that the leading and trailing ends of the film partially overlap each other to form overlapping portions, and the wound film is heated between a core member and a tubular molding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Kazutaka Takeuchi, Shoichi Shimura
  • Patent number: 6322652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a substantially cylindrical tool from a substantially planar substrate, wherein the tooling has at least one patterned surface. The resulting tooling includes a patterned surface with a sufficiently strong weld that is capable of producing an article having a pattern surface that has a relatively narrow and preferably cosmetically pleasing seam line. Such articles include retroreflective sheeting, structured abrasive articles, adhesive articles suitable for use in personal care products, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Verlyn H. Paulson, Gary J. Geissler, Gerald M. Benson, Chester A. Bacon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6312543
    Abstract: A process for producing a tubular article is provided which, comprising winding a first thermoplastic sheet film on a cylindrical member with the wind-starting portion and the wind-ending portion thereof overlapped, placing a metal tube outside the above wound film either (a) by winding a metal sheet with both of the sheet ends thereof abutted or (b) by fitting a metal tube, winding a second thermoplastic sheet film on the metal tube with the wind-starting portion and the wind-ending portion thereof overlapped, fitting a tubular member outside the wound second thermoplastic sheet film, and heating at least the first and second thermoplastic films to bond the overlapped portions of the thermoplastic sheet films. The tubular article produced according to the present invention has significantly improved film properties such as heat resistance (thermal expansion, break strength at high temperatures, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Takeuchi, Yasuhiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6296729
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pipe liner bag is provided for reliably sealing a seam of a resin absorbent material with simple operations without forming pin holes through the resin absorbent material. The pipe liner bag comprises a tubular resin absorbent material having an outer surface covered with a highly air-tight plastic film and a hardenable resin impregnated in the tubular resin absorbent material. A plastic film is welded on a surface of a strip-like resin absorbent material. The plastic film has a width smaller than the resin absorbent material which has sewing margins in both end portions in a width direction. The resin absorbent material is folded such that the plastic film is exposed. Both edges of the resin absorbent material in the width direction are laid one on top of the other. The overlapping portions of the resin absorbent material is lock sewed to form a tubular resin absorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignees: Shonan Gosei-Jushi Seisakusho K.K., Yokoshima & Company, GET Inc., OAR Company
    Inventors: Takao Kamiyama, Yasuhiro Yokoshima, Shigeru Endoh, Hiroyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 6270609
    Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a shaped sorbent filter preferably having a three dimensional shape. The method generally entails: a) providing porous flexible tubular web structure having two open ends; b) sealing a first end of the tubular web structure; c) filling the sealed tubular web structure with flowable filter material of sorbent material and binder; d) sealing the opposite open end of the tubular web material; and e) heating the tubular web structure to active the binder and form a shaped sorbent filter. The tubular web structure preferably is deformed while it is heated so that there is provided at least one permanently deformed bending portion. The invention method provides a simple effective process for forming complex overwrapped shaped small sorbent filters for use in the electronics industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig G. Markell, David J. Andrews
  • Patent number: 6217689
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing packing material from a web material includes a folding member that folds the web material into a folded web, a longitudinal sealing assembly for sealing the longitudinal ends of the folded web material forming a continuous tube, and a lateral sealing assembly including a pair of lateral sealing rollers that effect staged lateral sealing of the continuous tube of the web material. Pressurized air is outlet after the longitudinal seal is formed and prior to forming the lateral seal. With this arrangement, air-filled pockets suitable for packing material can be readily formed for immediate use. The arrangement is compact in size and capable of producing packing material on demand and at a sufficient rate to satisfy immediate packing material needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Norcen Industries
    Inventor: Joseph B. Gehret
  • Patent number: 6197143
    Abstract: A method of making a bioprosthetic conduit, comprises the steps of: (a) taking a cylindrical mould, having circumferentially spaced protuberances which extend radially from the axis; (b) curving a layer of a biocompatible sheet material around the cylindrical mould, and joining the opposed edges of the layer together along a longitudinal axis, parallel to the axis of the mould to form a tubular layer; and (c) removing the tubular layer from the mould and turning it inside out to form a cylindrical conduit with sinuses, the conduit being fully fixed by a chemical means; after removal or while still on the mould.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Endre Bodnar
  • Patent number: 6193830
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a filter insert, configured as a folding pack and made of thermoplastically bondable nonwoven material, such that a planar filter medium is first folded and then immobilized in a permanent form at a preset fold spacing by delivery of energy and subsequent cooling, such that after the process step of creating a defined fold spacing, the two outer edges of the folded pack are positively clamped into comb-like profiles, substantially corresponding to the fold geometry and dimensions of the folded pack and engaging in toothed fashion into the top and bottom of the folds, the spacing between which is chosen to be the same as or slightly less than the thickness of the nonwoven fiber fabric, wherein the folded filter material projects beyond the comb-like profiles at each outer edge a distance less than 1 times the fold spacing, wherein a sealing band, corresponding in width substantially to the height of the folds, is laid on the outer edges on the long sides, and in each case compressed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Dieter Unrath
  • Patent number: 6183584
    Abstract: A splicing coupling and a method using a splicing coupling is provided for splicing a pair of drip irrigation hoses. The splicing coupling has an inner and outer member. Each member has a heat activatable bondable surface opposite a non-bondable surface. Each member is circuitous. The inner member is formed with the bondable surface on the outside and the non-bondable surface on the inside, while the outer member is formed with the bondable surface on the inside and the non-bondable surface on the outside. Typically, the inner member is preferably bonded to the outer member along a bond line midway between the members and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the members. To form a splice, an end of a first hose is slid over the inner member but under the outer member until it abuts against the bond line. An end of a second hose to be spliced is slid over the other end of the inner member and underneath the outer member until it abuts the bond line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: T-Systems International, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott K. Avenell
  • Patent number: 6171426
    Abstract: A tampon applicator member can be made from a roll of sheet-like material. A flowable material is applied to one surface of the sheet-like material and is transformed into a solid polymeric layer. The coated material is separated into a plurality of applicator blanks. A first surface of each blank, corresponding to the first surface of the individual sheet-like web, has an uncoated portion adjacent a first side edge, parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a coated portion. An adhesive is applied to the uncoated portion of the first surface of a blank, and the blank is rolled to form a tubular member having a longitudinal seam. The seam has a first edge of the inner surface of the structural member superposed over and adhered to an uncoated opposite edge of the outer surface of the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: McNeill-PPC, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 6123797
    Abstract: A method of coating a fluidizable material onto a surface of a substrate, wherein the substrate is not wettable by the fluidizable material includes depositing a layer of powder particles on the surface of the substrate, the powder particles being wettable by the fluidizable material; contacting the fluidizable material to the layer of powder particles; and allowing the fluidizable material to wick between the powder particles and to contact the surface of the substrate.The method of the invention provides a method which requires little or no binders or organic solvents, is applicable to many different ceramic-metal formulations, allows easy control of the thickness of the tape, forms fairly dense tapes so that little or no shrinkage occurs upon densification at elevated temperatures, and does not require undesirably high processing temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Aleksander J. Pyzik, Jack J. Ott, Harold E. Rossow, Uday V. Deshmukh
  • Patent number: 6120634
    Abstract: A process for forming irrigation drip tape includes, broadly, the steps of a) supplying a longitudinally continuous strip of flexible plastic material in a first direction; b) heating a narrow band of the strip along a longitudinal axis thereof; c) depositing a continuous bead of material on an upper surface of the strip, along the narrow band, while the strip moves in the one direction; d) cooling the strip and the bead; e) folding the strip longitudinally so that the longitudinal edges overlap; and f) sealing said longitudinal edges to form a tubular drip tape with a longitudinal, overlapped seam, with the bead extending parallel to the seam and in opposed, facing relationship thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Micro Irrigation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Harrold, Theodore J. Bren, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6110314
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an ultrasonic transducer array a plurality of discrete transducer elements are formed on an initially flat flexible substrate together with electrically conductive tracks, through which the transducer elements will be energized in use, the flexible substrate with the discrete transducer elements and conductive tracks mounted thereon then being formed into a cylinder and mounted on the end of a catheter tube, the substrate being radially outwardly of the transducer elements so that it is in a position to act also as an acoustic matching layer between the material of the transducer elements and the human tissues or blood when in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Intravascular Research Limited
    Inventors: Elvin Leonard Nix, George Woodrow Keilman, Robert Julian Dickinson
  • Patent number: 6071366
    Abstract: A paper container for a liquid including a base material including: a paper layer, a polyolefin type resin layer disposed on one side of the paper layer, for providing an outer surface, and a saturated polyester resin layer disposed on the other side of the paper layer by the medium of a polyolefin type resin layer, for providing an inner surface; the paper container being formed from the base material so that the polyolefin type resin layer for providing the outer surface provides an outer peripheral surface of the container, wherein the saturated polyester resin layer for providing the inner surface comprises an amorphous or low crystallinity saturated polyester resin having a glass transition point of not lower than 40.degree. C., and a portion of the base material to be disposed on the inner side of the paper container with respect to the paper layer has a water vapor permeability of not higher than 25 g/m.sup.2 .multidot.24 hr.multidot.1 atm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Yamada, Hirotaka Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 6068723
    Abstract: A separator cartridge comprises a support screen comprising a substantially rigid reinforced plastic cylinder including an inner first major surface and an outer second major surface, a first nonwoven polymer layer adhered to the inner first major surface of the support screen, a second nonwoven polymer layer adhered to the outer second major surface of the support screen, and a polymeric screen contacting and frictionally engaging the second nonwoven polymer layer, the polymeric screen including a hydrophobic coating. The invention also contemplates a process for preparing the separator cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Velcon Filters, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprenger, Michael J. Gish
  • Patent number: 6065579
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a material for an element of a power transmission-absorption assembly and the method of making such material is disclosed. The material has a pre-selected channel configuration to permit flow of a cooling medium thereacross or therethrough. Another embodiment of the invention discloses a material and method for slotting the material and situating the material on a blocker ring to facilitate providing a plurality of spaced grooves having an open end which is substantially larger than a closed end. The material may comprises a raised rib or chamfer which facilitates controlling the fluid at an area of engagement between the material and a mating frictional member (not shown).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Select Powertrain Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Terry E. Nels
  • Patent number: 6063221
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of providing a tubing having an inner annular layer comprising a crosslinked polymeric material, and an outer annular layer comprising a non-crosslinked polymeric material, or a material that is crosslinked to a lesser extent than the material of the inner layer; longitudinally slitting the tubing to form a folded film; and reverse centerfolding the folded film to provide a folded film having a lateral slit edge, and a lateral folded edge opposite said lateral slit edge, such that the inner annular layer becomes an outer layer, and the outer annular layer becomes an inner layer. A bag can be made from the reverse centerfolded film, and an article such as food can be packaged in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Weinberg, Blaine C. Childress
  • Patent number: 6031310
    Abstract: A spindle motor comprises a rotor, which is rotatably supported by a stator, a rotor yoke, which is made up of a magnet fixed onto the rotor and a drive magnet, which is made of a bonded magnet which is adhesively fixed onto the rotor. A first metallic layer is formed onto a surface on the rotor yoke facing the drive magnet. A second metallic layer is formed on a surface of the drive magnet facing the rotor yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Sankyo Seiko Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishikawa, Shinichi Niwa
  • Patent number: 5944930
    Abstract: A tubular film having a high film thickness uniformity and suitable for a fixing film of an image forming apparatus is provided. To achieve such a film, a thermoplastic sheet film is so wound that the leading and trailing end portions of the film partially overlap each other to form overlapping portions, and the wound film is heated between a core member and a tubular molding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Takeuchi, Shoichi Shimura
  • Patent number: 5922156
    Abstract: A method of making a bent inflatable tube includes providing elements on the boundaries of the tube surfaces which contact one another, such as elements which are interengaging loops through which is passed a tension member, such as a cord, or alternatively using interengaging teeth of a zip fastener or male and female components to hold the tube in a bent condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Dunlop Beaufort Limited
    Inventor: William Sydney Merchant
  • Patent number: 5906698
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for fabricating a flexible belt comprising conveying the leading edge of a flexible web from a supply roll to a slitting station, slitting the web a predetermined distance from the leading edge to form a web segment having the leading edge at one end and a trailing edge at the opposite end, conveying the leading edge toward the trailing edge, flowing at least one stream of fluid upwardly against the web segment to form an upwardly extending bulge in the segment adjacent the leading edge, flowing at least one stream of fluid downwardly against the web segment to form the web segment into a U-shape, overlapping the leading edge and the trailing edge of the web segment to form a joint, and welding the joint to permanently join the leading edge and the trailing edge together to form a belt. Apparatus for carrying out this process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald D. House, Lester B. Plumb, Ralph M. Palazzolo, David R. Miller, Shermaine L. King, David A. Eck
  • Patent number: 5899044
    Abstract: A tubular cover or metal support members has been provided in which the tubular cover member is made of multiple layers of material such as wood veneer and in which all of the layers are severed to form a slit to extend longitudinally of the tube and in which a hinge point is formed diametrically opposite to the slit by severing all except the outer layer of material. In one embodiment, the hinge is reinforced with a sheet of inorganic material. Applying the tube to the support member entails opening the cover to place it on the support member and fastening the opposite edges of the slit to each other to make a permanent enclosure for the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Hollowood, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark G. Jarrett
  • Patent number: 5900086
    Abstract: A process produces a tubular body with at least one dividing wall extending across its length and forming longitudinal chambers disposed next to each other. A foil strip is used whereby a dividing-wall strip or a section of dividing-wall strip is cut to length and is fastened at its lateral outer edges on the foil strip or section of the foil strip, with parallel alignment with the foil strip or section of foil strip. The lateral edges of the foil strip or section of foil strip are then joined with each other thereby either directly forming a tubular body or forming an endless tube, from which tubular bodies are then cut to length. The tube is then solidly joined with a tube head having a dividing bridge conforming to the arrangement of the dividing wall in the tubular body. The tube head has a dispensing aperture closable by a closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: AISA Automation Industrielle SA
    Inventor: Gerhard Keller
  • Patent number: 5868455
    Abstract: A door panel includes a support having a formed area with opposing spaced apart structures and an elongated reinforcement spanning between the opposing spaced apart structures and spaced from the formed area. A flexible cover is positioned on the support including a main panel section covering the support and covering the formed area, and a second panel section wrapped around the reinforcement for covering the reinforcement to form a handle on the door panel. As molded, the flexible cover includes inner, middle, and outer panel sections that are spaced apart to facilitate molding. The outer panel section is convexly shaped and can be inverted so that it abuts the middle panel section. The door panel is constructed by positioning the flexible cover on the support, and flexing the outer panel section inwardly so that a handle-covering portion of the flexible cover completely surrounds the reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Rob E. Springer, Dennis J. Beard, David J. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5858143
    Abstract: A computer controlled labeling apparatus having a label applying mechanism for applying labels to containers. The labeling apparatus has a motor for driving a container transport and a sensor for providing transport status information to a controlling computer. The apparatus contains at least one labeling station. Each labeling station also has a motor and a sensor, the motor drives the labeling station and the sensor provides labeling station status information to the controlling computer. The computer is programmed to process status information in conjunction with prestored information relating to the characteristics of the labeling apparatus, containers, and desired labeling and generate suitable control signals for labeling apparatus operation. Computer control for the application of stretch type label material from a continuous web of material is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: B & H Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Lyn E. Bright, Syatoboi Otruba
  • Patent number: 5858154
    Abstract: Insulating flexible sheets and electroconductive flexible sheets having electroconductive patterns are stacked alternately into a multi-layer structure to form a laminated body. The inclining directions of the obliquely formed electroconductive patterns are varied alternately from layer to layer, and the patterns of different layers are electrically connected by electroconductive connecting parts formed on the insulating sheets. A pattern of a single line wound in the same direction is formed by rounding the laminated body so as to connect the patterns to each other and thereby form a cylindrical multi-layer coil. Further, by opening the connecting part to make it a tapping part and reducing the number of turns of the multi-layer coil, the inductance of the coil can be set as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Nozomi Toki
  • Patent number: 5827388
    Abstract: A high-strength tube fabrication method including the steps of: (a) preparing a polyester yarn gauze, (b) preparing a PVC emulsion, (c) coating the first side of the gauze with a layer of PVC emulsion, (d) steam drying the gauze, (e) coating the second side of the gauze with a layer of PVC emulsion, (e) steam drying the gauze so as to obtain a plastic cloth, (f) baking the plastic cloth to fully dryness, (g) polishing the both sides of the plastic cloth, (h) cutting the polished plastic cloth into strips subject to the size of the tube to be made, (i) sealing each plastic cloth strip into a tube, and (j) rolling up the tube thus obtained into a reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Chl Liu
  • Patent number: 5800653
    Abstract: A process for producing multi-layered tubular bodies, wherein each tubular body has at least one dividing wall extending along its length to form adjacent longitudinal chambers. The process comprises fastening a dividing strip to a foil ribbon in a parallel arrangement to the foil ribbon, and joining the longitudinal edges of the foil ribbon together to form an endless tube. This tube can then be cut to produce multi-layered tubular bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: AISA Automation Industriele SA
    Inventor: Gerhard Keller
  • Patent number: 5785785
    Abstract: A constant-flow drip irrigation tape hose includes a primary flow path communicating water along the length of the hose. A secondary drip-flow path leads from the primary flow path to an emitter site outwardly of the hose. The hose is formed with a pair of variably spaced apart walls at least one of which is formed with a continuously-open channel defining part of the secondary flow path. A second variable-area part of the secondary flow path is defined by radial spacing of the pair of walls from one another. At least one of the pair of walls is responsive to internal water pressure in the primary flow path to open and close the variable-area part of the secondary flow path in response, respectively, to decreasing and increasing water pressure in the hose. A plurality of emitter sites are spaced regularly along a length of the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Drip Tape Manufacturers & Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: William Delmer, Daniel Delmer, Robert Delmer, John W. Erickson, Ray Charles Emmons
  • Patent number: 5772870
    Abstract: Tower packing blocks (10) for biological treatment particularly of waste water, comprising a bundle of tube sections (11) with net-like structured peripheral surfaces. The tube sections (11) are connected together at their end sides (20) by reflector welding. Thus there are formed at the end sides (20) of the tube sections (11) accumulations of material (21) which constrict the free internal cross-section of the tube sections (11). These constrictions render difficult the passage of water to be treated through the tower packing block (10). Thus the effectiveness of such known tower packing blocks (10) is reduced. According to the invention, the accumulations of material (21) at the end sides (20) of the tube sections (11) are of such dimensions, i.e. reduced in width, that they correspond to the cross-sections of the tube sections (11) outwith the accumulations of material (21), and thus the cross-sectional constrictions present in known tower packing blocks (10) are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke GmbH
    Inventor: Hartwig Basse
  • Patent number: 5766710
    Abstract: The biodegradable mesh and film stent for use in blood vessels is formed of a sheet of a composite mesh material formed of biodegradable high strength polymer fibers bonded together with a second biodegradable adhesive polymer, and laminated on at least one side with a thin film of a third biodegradable polymer. The biodegradable mesh and film material is formed as a sheet and cut in a shape that can be used as a stent, such as a "belt-buckle" type shape, the ends of which can be joined in a contractible, expandable loop. In the method of making the biodegradable composite mesh and film stent, the composite mesh is preferably formed from a weave formed of high strength biodegradable polymeric fibers, and a plurality of low temperature melting biodegradable polymeric fibers. In an alternate embodiment, the high strength fibers are commingled with the low temperature melting fibers. In another alternate embodiment, the high strength fibers are coated with the low temperature melting polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Hanson Turnlund, Robert Paul Eury
  • Patent number: 5755907
    Abstract: Tubular wrappings, formed from a sheet with superimposed longitudinal lateral portions and made of partly metal and partly heat-sealable material, are sealed longitudinally by successively feeding the wrappings, by means of a conveyor, in a first given direction and along a given path through a sealing station; by varying the traveling speed of the wrappings in relation to the conveyor so as to successively impart to the wrappings a pause at the sealing station; and by induction heating, for an adjustable length of time during the relative pause, the metal part of the sheet of each wrapping along the relative superimposed longitudinal lateral portions, to melt the heat-sealable part of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Andrea Berti
  • Patent number: 5746863
    Abstract: A wooden tube made up of tubular layers of wood veneer and the method of making it in which the various tubular layers are made from flat sheets of wood veneer having the grain in one layer extending longitudinally and the grain in an adjacent layer extending circumferentially of the tube so that the grain in adjacent layers extend transversely of each other with all joints extending in the direction of the wood grain being edge to edge butt joints and all joints extending transversely to the wood grain being interlocking finger joints and with adjoining tubular layers being bonded to each other to form a unitary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Hollowood, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark G. Jarrett
  • Patent number: 5711878
    Abstract: A cylindrical filter is disclosed which comprises a wound up layer of a fibrous aggregate comprising melt-adhesive composite fibers bonded each other through the melt of a melt-adhesive component in the composite fibers and a layer of non-woven fabric of glass fibers, the layer of non-woven fabric is arranged on the outer surface of the wound up layer of the fibrous aggregate, and glass fibers have a smaller diameter than that of the melt-adhesive composite fibers. The cylindrical filter has an excellent filter rating and filter life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Ogata, Shinichi Tokudome
  • Patent number: 5702603
    Abstract: There is provided a liquid filter formed of a pleated filter material or laminate where the pleat folds are closely adjacent such that they are separated by less than 6 mm. The downstream pleat tips are supported by a rigid support structure of an open porous lattic or the like. Between the downstream pleat tips and the rigid support structure is a self-sealing fibrous cover layer having an effective mean flow pore size (MFPS) greater than the effective MFPS of the pleated filter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventors: Todd W. Johnson, David G. Fabio
  • Patent number: 5699683
    Abstract: A yarn carrier is provided of the type including a substantially rigid tubular core having passageways through the sidewall thereof for the passage of dye or wet finishing bath into the yarn to be wrapped thereon. A filter sleeve is wrapped around the outer surface of the tubular core to prevent entrapment of the yarn in the passageways and for filtering the dye and/or finishing bath. The filter sleeve is formed from a filter material which is wrapped into a sleeve and abutting edges of the filter material are bonded together along a seam. The seam is contemplated to be substantially continuous and extend the length of the sleeve. The tubular sleeve is slid over or heat shrunk onto the outside surface of the tubular core prior to the winding of the yarn thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerd Rieker
  • Patent number: 5698056
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liner bag used for lining used underground pipes: (i) a long tube of a rectangular resin absorbent sheet, whose outer face is hermetically coated with a plastic film, is formed with a long cavity along the entire length of its seam by attaching a first reinforcer cover strip to the inner face of the resin absorbent sheet tube across the seam by welding only the lateral long side portions thereof; (ii) a second reinforcer strip is fixed in the long cavity by welding it to the resin absorbent sheet and the first reinforcer strip in a manner such that the second reinforcer strip is trapped between the resin absorbent sheet and the first reinforcer strip at a location underneath the seam; (iii) then, a first adhesive tape is applied to the surface of the plastic film in a manner so as to cover up the entire length of the seam and a wider second adhesive tape is applied to the surface of the plastic film over the first adhesive tape, the back of the first adhesive tape having a releasi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignees: Yokoshima & Company, Shonan Gosei-Jushi Seisakusho K.K.
    Inventors: Takao Kamiyama, Yasuhiro Yokoshima
  • Patent number: 5690765
    Abstract: A filter includes a cylindrical filter element having a longitudinal axis, first and second end surfaces, and a plurality of longitudinal pleats. Each of the pleats has a pair of legs with first and second surfaces. The pleats are in a laid-over state in which the first surface of each leg is in intimate contact with the first surface of an adjoining leg and the second surface of each leg is in intimate contact with the second surface of an adjoining leg over substantially the entire height of each leg and over a continuous region extending for at least approximately 50% of the axial length of the filter element. An impervious end cap is connected to the first end surface of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Richard C. Stoyell, Kenneth M. Williamson, Scott D. Hopkins, Stephen A. Geibel, Terry L. Wolff
  • Patent number: 5643386
    Abstract: An assembly process for inflatable fabric bag plugs used to seal low pressure pipelines. The assembly process steps include marking and cutting coated fabric elements from a predetermined woven fabric and a plurality of sealing strips. The fabric elements and sealing strips include a plug body portion, main seam cap strips and first and second end seam cap strips. The process steps further include forming a flat tubular plug body from the plug body portion and bonding sealing rib extrusions thereto. A first end closure is formed in the plug body, a first tethering assembly is bonded over the first end closure and ports are installed therethrough for receiving an inflation assembly and a gauge assembly. A second end closure is formed in the plug body and an opposing tethering assembly is formed and attached thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Cherne Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Allen D. Mathison, Randy D. Smith
  • Patent number: 5632840
    Abstract: The metal reinforced polymer stent for use in blood vessels is formed of a thin planar sheet of metal, and is laminated on at least one side with a thin film of a polymer capable of absorbing and releasing therapeutic drugs. The thin planar sheet of metal is formed as a sheet and cut in a shape that can be used as a stent, the ends of which can be joined in a contractible, expandable loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular System, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick K. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5632839
    Abstract: A screen for anchoring a fastener to a hollow block or brick wall which includes an elongate tubular plastic screen member having first and second opposite ends and a uniform diameter along its length. The first end is formed substantially into a frusto-conical shape that includes at least a portion thereof where the mesh of the screen is closed off. At least one reinforcement member is formed along the length of the elongate screen member that enables the elongate screen member to be inserted within a first aperture formed in a first wall of a hollow block and maintain the desired stiffness of the tubular screen member so that it can extend across an interior of the hollow block for blind insertion into a second aperture formed in a second opposite wall of the hollow block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Kish, Michael A. Rancich, Richard J. Ernst, Mark S. Timmerman
  • Patent number: 5603790
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for fabricating belts are disclosed. The process includes conveying the leading edge of a flexible web from a supply roll past a slitting station, slitting the web a predetermined distance from the leading edge to form a web segment having the leading edge at one end and a trailing edge at the opposite end, maintaining the web slack at the location where the web is slit during slitting, overlapping the leading edge and the trailing edge of the web segment to form a joint and welding the joint to permanently join the leading edge and the trailing edge together to form a belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 5597433
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method and apparatus for making clear plastic canisters, in which the canisters retain the full clarity of the clear plastic canister sidewall stock and base stock while they are being processed into canisters, the plastic sidewall stock and the base stock may be pre-labeled before being processed into canisters without any subsequent distortion of the label during such processing, and the apparatus and method can be modified to accept differently-sized canister component stock with minimal equipment modification and downtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Panoramic, Inc.
    Inventors: Bertie J. Dyble, Robert W. Dyson, deceased, William C. Foss
  • Patent number: 5593529
    Abstract: A cylindrical filter is formed from a sheet of filter material which includes two connected layers of filter media. Opposed edges of the sheet are joined to form the cylinder by separating the media adjacent the edges and then sealing together the first of the separated layers followed by sealing the second of the separated layers. The two seals are spaced inwardly of the edges and are spaced from one another. In this way, failure of one seal does not result in failure of the cylindrical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Grimes
  • Patent number: 5591293
    Abstract: A process for making low cost drip irrigation lines comprises molding a drip emitter having an elongated labyrinthine channel formed in the depth of the emitter body. Emitters of other configurations also can be used in the process. A plastic film is extruded and passed through a film die with an air injection tube at one end forming a plastic film bubble. At the bottom of the extruded plastic film bubble a pair of pressure rolls join opposite faces of the bubble to form a continuous unitary extruded plastic film sheet. The emitters are moved in series toward the nip of the pressure rolls and are inserted in sequence with their labyrinthine faces facing toward the hot bubble. The emitters are bonded to the extruded film sheet using the heat of extrusion, and the external sheet forms one face of the labyrinthine channel through each emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Agrifim Irrigation Internaional N.V.
    Inventors: David B. Miller, John M. Langa, Rodney Ruskin
  • Patent number: 5584789
    Abstract: In a non-round container forming machine having a device for receiving and delivering flat container wall blanks to a wrapping station, at which the blanks are wrapped around a non-round mandrel. The non-round mandrel has a front end facing the blank. The blank is aligned substantially tangential to the mandrel when delivered to the wrapping station. A wing slide assembly, within the wrapping station, moves linearly along opposite sides of the mandrel in a wrapping direction substantially perpendicular to the blank to fold the blank along opposite sides of the mandrel. A forward wing clamp assembly, within the wrapping station, is mounted proximate a rear end of the mandrel to move pivotally to engage and direct outermost portions of opposite ends of the blank in an overlapping relation against the mandrel to form a side seam. The containers are removed from the mandrel with an extractor plate which physically engages the containers upper edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Sealright Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Robertson
  • Patent number: 5571590
    Abstract: This invention pertains to papermaking felts, methods of making such felts, methods of using the felts, and methods of making paper using such felts. A felt of the invention contains at least one substrate web having a fuse-bonded joint extending across the width of the felt. The joint is preferably formed by superposing, onto each other, end portions of a flat-woven substrate web element, with the end portions extending away from the ends in a common direction, and concurrently severing the ends from the end portions, and fuse bonding the end portions to each other, along a common cut line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Appleton Mills
    Inventors: Gary V. Schultz, Dennis J. Le Gault