Preliminary Weakener Patents (Class 225/96)
  • Patent number: 4819848
    Abstract: A perforated web-like bituminous roofing material comprising a perforated, bituminized carrier, at the side facing, in the condition of use, the roof area to be coated, is provided with a metal foil leaving clear the perforations in the bituminized carrier. The roofing material can be manufactured by finishing one side of a perforated bituminized carrier with fine sprinkling material and coating the other side with an imperforate metal foil, and subsequently removing the metal foil at the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: B.V. Asphalt-en Chemise Fabrieken Smid & Hollander
    Inventor: Jan Hollander
  • Patent number: 4817839
    Abstract: A rotary table saw for sectioning dental models having a housing with a base portion and a working table mounted on the base portion. The working table is controllably depressible so as to be moved upward and downward with respect to the base. The motor housed in the base drives a rotary blade oriented in a vertical direction. A slit in the work table permits the blade to emerge therethrough as the work table is depressed. The vacuum outlet is placed in flow communication with the surface of the work table during depression of the work table to remove saw dust from the work table. The dental model is first marked and scored on the occlusal surface and then its base is placed on the work table with the blade hidden beneath the work table. The work table is depressed to permit emerging of the rotary blade cutting from the underside of the dental model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: IPCO Corporation
    Inventor: Bernard Weissman
  • Patent number: 4790464
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for cutting optical fibres, whereby said optical fibres provided with at least one protective covering, are caused to be cut by the transveral movement of two blades rigidly connected to one another and forming an angle of less than 45.degree. between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Societa' Cavi Pirelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Bortolin, Enrico Dotti
  • Patent number: 4790465
    Abstract: Cleaving of an optical fibre (2) is achieved by bringing a fibre cleaving blade (3) into lateral contact with such a fibre. Undue intrusion of the blade into the fibre during prior art cleaving processes can damage the fibre so as to detract from the quality of the resulting cleaved fibre end surfaces. Improvemets in the quality of the resulting end surfaces can be obtained in relation to prior art techniques by superimposing a relatively small amplitude vibratory component on a relatively steady movement of the blade towards the fibre. This can also enable the conventional use of a backing anvil at the cleaving location to be dispensed with, thereby removing danger of contamination from the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: York Technology Limited
    Inventors: Andrew T. Fellows, Nicholas D. Channon
  • Patent number: 4786134
    Abstract: A quick connector for optical fibers of the type comprising a first and second tubular bodies through which passes an optical fiber, which are aligned axially and joined together by means of a nut which partially envelops the second body and is screwed about the first body. The connector further comprises means for fixing and centering the fiber by clamping, this means being formed more particularly by a rigid sleeve and a deformable sleeve intended to be fitted on the optical fiber and to be housed end to end inside said second body.Furthermore, the connector cooperates with a tool intended to carry out the circular cutting or cleavage of the proximal end of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Fort, Fibres Optiques Recherche et Technologie
    Inventors: Francois Fort, Michel Maindron
  • Patent number: 4785701
    Abstract: Optical fiber is scribed to produce a notch by the use of a fiber holder, a circular scribing edge which is spaced from the fiber holder by a first distance, a fiber deflector which is spaced from the fiber holder by a second distance and which is movable laterally to deflect the fiber by a third distance. When the fiber is deflected by the fiber holder, the fiber is brought into contact with the circular scribing edge and is moved along the edge for a short distance. The first, second, and third distances are selected to produce a scribing force which is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Edvardus F. A. ten Berge, Marinus H. J. Krevveld
  • Patent number: 4744550
    Abstract: A vacuum wafer expander apparatus and method of wafers for use in electrical circuitry. A plurality of electronic semiconductor devices being connected to a flexible member means suitable for are mounted on a brace or bracket frame member means. The brace or bracket frame member means is suitable for being removably mounted on a bracket mounting means having a groove therearound for accommodating a vacuum therein to allow an abutting portion of the flexible material to be pushed in said groove; thus expanding the flexible member means as well as the plurality of electronic semiconductor devices thereon. The electronic semiconductor devices can thereafter be optically inspected and individually picked up from the flexible member means for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivan W. Oglesbee
  • Patent number: 4739555
    Abstract: There is provided a laminated glass cutter. The cutter includes a rectangular body frame and a pair of opposed cutting members associated therewith. In use the laminated glass cutter may cut a laminated sheet into two adjacent separate components upon a single pass of the body over the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Inventor: Werner Jurgens
  • Patent number: 4732306
    Abstract: A stop mechanism for a feed roller associated with a cutter in a dispenser for flexible rolled web material has a stop lever mounted to pivot in a plane normal to a feed roller rotational axis, such lever having a slot with lift and stop flanges disposed on opposite sides of the slot, respectively. A feed wheel rotatable with the feed roller has a control tab to successively engage with the lift and stop flanges so that as the feed roller rotates by web material being pulled from the dispenser, the control tab first lifts the stop lever by means of the lift flange and then abuttingly frictionally engages with the stop flange to retain the stop lever in its lifted position and stop feed roller rotation until the frictional engagement is relieved by pulling tension on the web being terminated whereupon the lever drops until the tab can pass over the upper end of the stop flange to free the feed roller for further rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventor: Paul W. Jesperson
  • Patent number: 4730761
    Abstract: A method for cutting flexible formed shell product from a flexible plastic foam sheet. In the method, a foam shell formed in the sheet is drawn into and positioned in a die unit lower cavity and the die assembly is clamped together. A cutting die unit having dual curved serrated knife elements then descends and severs the formed shell from the sheet at all locations except for two short segments located at opposite ends of the formed shell. Then as a separate step, the partly severed formed shell is punched out from the flexible foam sheet, so as to provide multiple formed products. The products are usually formed as multiple units oriented in an end-to-end relationship in the foam sheet and which are simultaneously severed from the sheet. Cutting die apparatus adapted for cutting the formed products from the foam sheet is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Personal Products Company
    Inventor: John D. Spano
  • Patent number: 4730763
    Abstract: An optical fiber is scored for severing by placing the fiber on a pad in contact with a surface of the pad and engaging the fiber with a scoring body having a rounded obtuse scoring surface in such manner as to urge said scoring surface into scoring contact with fiber and score the fiber without rotation of the fiber about its longitudinal axis relative to the scoring surface, whereby the scoring contact creates a local flaw in the fiber at which the fiber may be parted by stressing the fiber in tension. The scoring surface of the body is rounded to a curvature such that parting of the fiber at the flaw by stressing of the fiber in tension produces mirror smooth fiber end surfaces at the part. The scoring body may be a blade having a blunt edge providing the obtuse scoring surface or a filament such as an optical fiber positioned across the fiber between the pad and a second pad that are moved together to grip the fiber and simultaneously urge the filament into scoring contact with the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Charles T. Smith
  • Patent number: 4710158
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for producing a deckle edge on paper which involves applying a stream of liquid to a paper to form a wetted line thereon and applying a shearing force sufficient to cause the paper to separate into two parts along the wetted line thereby producing a deckle edge on the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated
    Inventors: Randall S. Knipp, Lewis Loyd
  • Patent number: 4694722
    Abstract: A conveyor table is provided on a floor mounted support frame and a pair of tool guides are disposed horizontally and laterally above and below the conveyor table. Several readily removable tool and cutter assemblies, each having a freely rotatable, circular blade with teeth, are slidably mounted on the tool guides. Setscrews are provided on the tool and cutter assemblies to secure them on the tool guides in relatively opposing, vertically aligned pairs. Electrically powered drive units are disposed upstream and downstream of the tool and cutter assemblies to engage a sheet of wallboard, hold it against the conveyor table and move it between the opposing pairs of tool and cutter assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Cardinal Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald T. Collier, Robert E. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4674666
    Abstract: This invention relates to optical fiber cleaving tools where the optical fiber is held in a first clamping device, a portion of said fiber is passed through and elongated open which is coaxial with the long axis of said fiber, and through a second coaxial clamping device, which places said fiber in tension. A sharp pointed means is positioned between the exit of said elongated opening and said second clamping device, adjusted to score the circumferential periphery of said fiber. The tension on said fiber causes it to cleave in a mirror-surface plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said fiber. Herein, the cleaving tool of this invention produces mirror-surface ends, at least about 1.degree. of the desired 90.degree., and even essentially 90.degree.. In this invention the second clamping device is distinguished in that one clamping face is an arc of a defined circular circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Inventor: Marik Balyasny
  • Patent number: 4667862
    Abstract: Apparatus for cleaving an optical fibre (115) under axial tension, is provided with a cleaver blade (116) which is mounted as part of a rotatable cleaver assembly. The assembly is balanced about its axis of rotation and, as described, comprises a wheel (117) mounted on an axle (138). The cleaver blade (116) is attached to an arm which extends radially from the wheel (117). A hair spring (304) drives the assembly. The cleaving apparatus finds particular application in cleaving monomode fibres under normal working, rather than laboratory, conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: British Telecommunications plc
    Inventors: Colin A. Millar, David Talbott, David J. Potter, Thomas D. S. Wood
  • Patent number: 4644647
    Abstract: An optical fiber cleaving tool is disclosed wherein a housing insertably receives an optical fiber extending from a fiber optic ferrule. A cleaving module is contained in a housing for scoring the extending fiber. The cleaving module is moveably supported for movement upon insertion of the ferrule to move in response to such insertion. Movement of the cleaving module in the housing provides proper alignment of the fiber prior to cleaving and prevents damage to the optical fiber ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Tadeusz Szostak, Anthony F. Kuklo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4635837
    Abstract: In a paper towel dispenser of the type in which a user grasps a piece of the towel web projecting from a dispenser to pull out a section, which is thereupon automatically severed from the web, the improvement of belting together an internal drum which is driven by the web to sever the web and a safety roller, located at the slot through which the web is dispensed, in such an arrangement that the web is guided by the belt in its transit from the internal drum to the safety roller at the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Inventor: Maurice Granger
  • Patent number: 4630765
    Abstract: A tape dispenser for pressure sensitive adhesive coated tape having a stretchable backing. The dispenser includes a housing comprising a base portion having a cavity in which a roll of the tape is mounted, and a slotted land area spaced from the hub against which tape from said roll may be releasably adhered; and a cover portion on the base portion for movement from an open position with teeth on the cover spaced from the slot toward a closed position so that the teeth enter the slot and cut tape on the land area. The cover includes walls defining a socket adapted to receive a portion of a user's thumb so that the user may grasp the dispenser in one hand with his fingers around the base portion and his thumb in the socket and with one hand alone move the cover and base portions between their open and closed positions leaving his other hand free to pull tape from the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Minnesota Minning and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Samuelson, John T. Rueb
  • Patent number: 4627561
    Abstract: A bare optical fiber is located within the interstice of three cylindrical pins with the fiber end extending outwardly of the contact assembly. The contact is located within an axial opening of a rotatable drum member with the bare optical fiber end extending outwardly. The drum member is interconnected via bearings to an outer rotatable portion of the drum member. A pretensioning clamp is arranged to receive the bare end of the fiber to secure it between clamp heads which applies an axial tension to the bare fiber with respect to the contact. A cutter blade mounted on the rotatable portion of the drum is adjustable to move a knife edge angularly toward the bear fiber to contact the bare fiber at a point closely adjacent the contact pin ends. Rotation of the outer portion of the drum member scores the fiber, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: G&H Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marik Balyasny, Kenneth B. Baldwin, William E. Lovell
  • Patent number: 4621754
    Abstract: An optical fiber cleaving tool comprising a base supporting a sled which is biased to carry an optical fiber clamp thereon away from an inner surface of an orthogonal end wall having extending through it in alignment with the clamp an aperture disposed to receive a fiber optic connector end portion. The connector has a terminal end surface provided with a central aperture through which an optical fiber end portion extends to the clamp on the sled for axial tensioning. Aligned with the aperture in the wall is a recess having an end surface chordally disposed with respect to the aperture for abutting engagement with the terminal end surface of the connector and serving as a reference plane. A cutter rotatably mounted above the recess end surface has a peripheral portion from which protrudes resiliently a diamond-tipped end portion of a wafer-like blade which is slidably disposed in a slot extending diametrically of the disc and having a thickness greater than the thickness of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Switchcraft, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric L. Long, Anton Brey
  • Patent number: 4621755
    Abstract: The object of the invention relates to the technical branch of dispensing means for lengths of materials rolled up on reels. The device is remarkable because the pinked cutting hinged device (4) elastically returned into the drum (3) is connected through a roller (18) or a similar free-running component to a part (16) assuming the shape of a cam (16b), the double profile (16c-16e) of which is designed so as to allow, in addition to the projection of the blade (4a) outside the drum for the purpose of cutting the material pulled manually, spinning the drum after the cut without any slamming of the blade holder, and in order to facilitate the braking, stopping and repositioning functions of the drum for a new cut, in cooperation with shock-protecting or buffing devices (19), stops (22-23-24), and ratchet (21) suitably associated, arranged on the drum and shock protector. The invention relates to dispensers of paper, cotton wool and similar wiping materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Inventor: Maurice Granger
  • Patent number: 4618084
    Abstract: A hand tool for providing an optical fibre with an end face which is flat and lies in a plane radial to the fibre axis comprises four elongate members extending side by side. The first member is of tubular form and surrounds the other three members and has, mounted near one of its ends, jaws of two pairs of jaws transversely spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the member and, between the jaws, a table having a curved surface. The second member is pivotally connected to the first member at its end remote from the table about an axis extending transversely of the members, is urged away from an internal surface of the first member by a leaf spring and carries, near its other end, the other jaws of the transversely spaced pairs of jaws. The jaws of one pair of jaws are mounted to exert a tensile force on the fibre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: BICC Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Patrick V. Andrews, Edward Z. Kaczmarski
  • Patent number: 4601692
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing paper sheets having an appearance of being hand-made, the method comprising the steps of forming watermarks on a continuous web along longitudinal and transverse zones spaced according to the width and length of the paper sheets, drying the continuous web, crushing longitudinal and transverse regions of the dried continuous web within the watermarked longitudinal and transverse zones, respectively, tearing and separating the dried continuous web along the longitudinal and transverse crushed regions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: Suecia Antiqua Limited
    Inventors: Hans Rausing, Ingvar Nilsson
  • Patent number: 4591082
    Abstract: An optical fiber severing device comprising a support for retaining a plurality of optical glass fibers in spaced relationship, scoring device for inflicting a flaw on the glass surface of each of the optical fibers providing each of the fibers with first and second portions on opposite sides of its flaw, a pressure mechanism for slidably engaging each of the fibers and applying pressure to a contacted area of each of the fibers, and a motive mechanism for applying respective tension forces between the first portions of the fiber and the pressure means and concurrently moving each of the fibers with respect to the pressure mechanism so that the contacted areas pass over the flaws as they move along the surface of the fibers from the first portions to the second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm H. Hodge
  • Patent number: 4577539
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting sheets of plate glass, particularly for making automobile windows, according to a profile programmed in a digital control unit the control output of which is coupled to electrohydraulic amplifiers, each of which controls the movements of a hydrodynamic cylinder moving on a fixed piston rod. A cutting head is fixed to one of the cylinders, while a table to bring the sheet of glass to be cut into contact with the cutting head is fixed to the other cylinder. The two cylinders move in perpendicular directions, and their coordinated movements cause the glass to be cut in a programmed profile. A belt conveyor is incorporated in the machine to carry the glass to the table, and may assume a raised position for transport and a lowered position at rest (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Societa Italiana Vetro SIV S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Bonacci
  • Patent number: 4573617
    Abstract: Tool means for severing an optical fiber which comprises first and second members joined together by pivotal connecting means for movement between opened and closed terminal positions. The members each have first portions spaced opposite to each other for providing handle means for moving the members between their opened and closed terminal positions and second portions which are spaced opposite to each other and move closer as the members assume their closed terminal position. The surface of a resilient element carried by the second portion of the first member supports thereon an optical fiber which is to be severed, and a blade means secured with its second portion of the second member has a cutting edge for engaging and inflicting a flaw on the optical fiber when the members are actuated by the handle means to assume their closed terminal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Carl J. Durkow
  • Patent number: 4568008
    Abstract: A device is provided for producing a large number of fibres, generally from a thin wire, in which a cutting mechanism imparts a high initial speed to the cut wire lengths, which are then oriented in the same alignment by being passed through a funnel-shaped opening into a pipe whose diameter is less than the length of the fibres; a method is provided for using the thin oriented and aligned fibres to bond and reinforce materials, for example, concrete, and to manufacture sandwich panels, in which the concrete is applied to the fibres shot into the sandwich panels in accordance with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Ekebro AB
    Inventors: Stig E. A. Hasselqvist, Anders V. Thoreson
  • Patent number: 4565310
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting light waveguides by clamping the waveguides into clamping devices, stressing the clamped waveguides and then notching the stressed waveguides to initiate the cutting operation. The method and apparatus include an actuation element which opens the two clamping devices, releases the tensioning device and withdraws the notching device in a particular sequence and on release of the actuation element first allows the clamping devices to grip the waveguide, then has the tensioning device pivot one of the clamping devices to apply an axial tension on the waveguide and subsequently allows the notching device to notch the waveguide to initiate the cutting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dieter Krause
  • Patent number: 4562628
    Abstract: A method and a device for manufacturing multilayer ceramic capacitors, in which a plate of ceramic material composed of several layers is subdivided in the green non-sintered state into separate capacitor elements. For this purpose, by means of notching members, notches of a given depth are provided simultaneously on both sides of the plate in such a manner that spontaneous ruptures are obtained through the remaining thickness of the plate. Due to this method, the contamination of the exposed electrode layers and delamination are avoided. By the use of a frame with resilient walls, the already separated capacitor elements are held together until the notching process has been carried out completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Antonius C. Marneffe, Frederik G. A. Persoon, Gerard J. Scholten
  • Patent number: 4561579
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for slitting an endless strip of material having substantially planar surfaces by forming a pair of adjacent grooves in each surface of the material with corresponding grooves in each surface of the material being orthogonally aligned and applying a force normal to the planar surfaces of the material and between adjacent grooves and of sufficient magnitude to shear the material along a line connecting corresponding grooves. For this purpose a pair of scoring knives for each slit are mounted in relative orthogonal alignment with respect to the planar surfaces of the material with one on each side of the material. The knives form the adjacent grooves in each surface of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: RJR Archer, Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Fleming, III, Roger D. Jones
  • Patent number: 4557049
    Abstract: A hand tool for cleaving optical fibers including an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise thereof. A fiber support surface is attached to the body and extends in a plane which is transverse to such longitudinal axis. Fiber clamping means are provided which are pivotally attached to the body for clamping or holding the optical fiber in place upon the fiber support surface and for subjecting the optical fiber to tension. Cutting means are also attached to the body and are moveable in the general direction of such longitudinal axis towards the fiber support surface for severing such optical fiber such that the end face of the fiber is smooth and lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Doyle E. Cribbs, James R. Weckerly
  • Patent number: 4552290
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaving optical fibers includes a fiber support fixed to a housing for supporting an extent of the fiber for scoring by a cleaving element. Pulling means grasp the end of fiber and offsets such fiber end relative to the fixed fiber support thereby bending the fiber about the scored location, and pulls the fiber longitudinally away from the scored location to effect a sever thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventor: Tadeusz Szostak
  • Patent number: 4542842
    Abstract: A method for conveying a web using inner and outer pairs of elongated side jet nozzles employing the Coanda effect to propel the web while preventing undue distortion or folding thereof. Conveying is accomplished by flowing pressurized air through a plurality of apertures formed in the nozzles and attaching air flow to Coanda flow attachment surfaces slanting away from the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: Crown Zellerbach Corporation
    Inventor: Imants Reba
  • Patent number: 4530452
    Abstract: A hand-held optical fiber cleaving tool has a shaft for receiving a fiber which has had the end portion of the protective cover removed. A reduced diameter section in the shaft acts as an abutment, and the exposed end of the fiber is held in a V-block clamp. The clamp is spring-biased to place the fiber in tension during a circumferential scoring by a pointed scoring tool which is journaled about the shaft. The applied tension causes the fiber to break upon completion of the scoring. In an alternate embodiment which is not hand-held, support is provided for the fiber opposite the scoring tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: Automation Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Marik Balyasny, William F. Lovell
  • Patent number: 4524894
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming patterns from sheet material employs a castered cutting bit that is guided along a closed cutting path defined by the shape of the desired pattern. The bit is mounted fixedly in a presser foot and projects a predetermined amount below the surface of the foot to control the depth of cut into the material. Frangible materials are cut to depth less than the thickness of the material, and thereafter complete severance of the pattern from the sheet material is accomplished by fracturing the material along the line of cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Gerber Garment Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Claude W. Leblond
  • Patent number: 4505412
    Abstract: A system for conveying a web using inner and outer pairs of elongated side jet nozzles employing the Coanda effect to propel the web while preventing undue distortion or folding thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Crown Zellerbach Corporation
    Inventor: Imants Reba
  • Patent number: 4503744
    Abstract: An optical fiber cleaving device having a movable scoring element mounted between a movable arm and a fiber support member. The scoring element is responsive to the movement of the movable arm to move relative to both the movable arm and the fiber support member. This relative movement permits regulation of the force at which the scoring element scores the fiber supported on the support member. Such regulation provides for a more precise depth of score reducing adverse effects thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Garner, Nicholas T. Stancati, Tadeusz Szostak
  • Patent number: 4502620
    Abstract: The method comprises the steps of (a) inflicting a flaw on the glass surface of an optical glass fiber to be severed, (b) contacting an area about the fiber for applying pressure thereto which compresses the fiber, and (c) moving the contacted area along the fiber while applying sufficient pressure to produce frictional force which severs the fiber as the contacted area moves over the flaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: John J. Leiby
  • Patent number: 4474319
    Abstract: A hand held tool for cleaving optical fibers including an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise thereof. A fiber support surface is attached to the body and extends in a plane which is transverse to such longitudinal axis. Fiber cutting means are attached to the body and are selectively moveable in the general direction of the longitudinal axis away from the fiber support surface, and towards the fiber support surface for severing an optical fiber extending across the fiber support surface such that the end face of the fiber is smooth and lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the fiber. Tension means for subjecting the optical fiber to tension during the cleaving operation are provided including a first tension arm and a second tension arm each arm being pivotally attached to the body for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the tension arms being spring biased away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventor: Richard P. Walker
  • Patent number: 4459746
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of forming a terminal for an optical fiber cable consisting of an optical fiber, a plastic buffer and at least a protective sheath. Also there is disclosed a tool for scribing the projecting end of the optical fiber so that the projecting end can be simply separated from the cable and the line of separation will be normal to the end of the terminal or connector. In a preferred embodiment the scribing tool has an equilateral triangular scribing element which selectively presents six active scribing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Assignee: Optelecom, Incorporated
    Inventor: Jack E. Goodman
  • Patent number: 4427143
    Abstract: Damage-free scores are initiated by engaging a scoring wheel to the surface of a refractory piece with the plane of rotation of the scoring wheel forming an oblique angle to the desired path of damage-free scoring. An aligning force generated by the interaction of the scoring wheel and the refractory piece during relative movement along the desired scoring path pivots the scoring wheel into alignment with the desired path of scoring, which pivoting creates a zone of surface damage which serves to initiate a damage-free score. Facilities are provided to urge the scoring wheel out of alignment with the desired path of scoring, with a magnitude of force less than the aligning force, such that the scoring wheel automatically returns to a pivotally offset initiating position when it is disengaged from the surface of the refractory piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Hyatt
  • Patent number: 4426901
    Abstract: A cutter employing two heated eccentrically mounted rollers adapted to coact with each other in order to sever a material by means of a crushing action is utilized in conjunction with a transport member to cut predetermined lengths of material from a continuous roll of said material. The cutting action of the heated rollers provides cut ends of the material which may be readily spliced together without the use of gum strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: James E. Hogan, George M. Camplair
  • Patent number: 4427142
    Abstract: A damage-free score is initiated in a moving ribbon of glass by projecting grit material toward the surface of the ribbon in a controlled manner to create a selected zone of surface damage thereon. The selected zone of surface damage is then advanced under a scoring wheel sized, shaped, and loaded to generate the damage-free score upon encountering an appropriate zone of surface damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Hyatt
  • Patent number: 4424925
    Abstract: A process and machine, as a separate or integral part of a process and machine for manufacturing glassware, plastic or similar articles, adapted for the specific purpose of simultaneously cutting off excess ends of hollow glass, plastic or similar articles such as tubes enlarged at their mid-portion, comprising means for rotationally supporting the mid-portion of said articles either vertically or horizontally; thermal, electromagnetic or mechanical cutting means movable into and out of cutting relation with the excess ends of the article, rotatable grippers synchronized with the supporting means for rotationally gripping one or both excess ends during cutting of same and being adapted to exert a slight outward axial force at a predetermined rate on said excess ends until the cutting action is completed, and to release the excess ends to gravitate to a scrap collector before or after removal of the finished article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Cristaleria, S.A.
    Inventors: Hugo Rumayor-Aguirre, Abel Gomez-Sanchez, Jesus Viramontes-Romo
  • Patent number: 4423836
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing a plurality of particles of grit material onto the surface of a refractory piece to be damage-free scored, whereby the entrapment of a particle of grit material between a biased scoring wheel and the surface of the refractory piece generates a zone of surface damage which initiates a damage-free score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Hyatt
  • Patent number: 4423835
    Abstract: Damage free scores are initiated in a refractory piece by advancing a pattern of grit material on the surface of the refractory piece under a properly biased scoring wheel. The grit material is preferably harder than the surface of the refractory piece but not as hard as the scoring surface of the scoring wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Hyatt, James L. Oravitz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4420106
    Abstract: A damage-free score, e.g., a subsurface score, in a moving refractory piece, e.g., glass, is initiated by imparting vibrations to a damage-free scoring wheel. The damage-free score is increased in depth by the continual impartation of the vibrations during the damage-free scoring of the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Hyatt
  • Patent number: 4418855
    Abstract: The end faces of a plurality of parallel optical fibers are all located in one plane at right angles to the general direction of the fibers after simultaneous cutting by a tool unit comprising a sliding shoe which carries a cutting-tool support. During translational displacement of the shoe, the cutting edge of the tool scores each optical fiber in turn. A flat, parallel array of fibers is stretched tangentially to the top generator-line of a bearing cylinder and held in position between two clamping members on each side of the bearing line. At the level of the notch formed in the glass fiber by scoring, each optical fiber is split in transverse cross-section by applying an abrupt tensile stress or flexural deformation to the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: SOCAPEX
    Inventors: Dominique Lamarche, Marie C. Soster
  • Patent number: 4413763
    Abstract: In a method of breaking an optical fiber, wherein the fiber is scored transversely and tensioned to cause a crack to propagate completely across the fiber, tension sufficient to cause the crack to propagate is applied after, but not during, the scoring step. During the scoring step the fiber is subjected to a controlled tension insufficient to sever the scored fiber. The resulting broken fiber ends generally are flat and perpendicular, and thus suitable for making low-loss interconnections. Preferred apparatus for breaking the fiber has a common actuator providing sequential control of individual means for locating, scoring and tensioning the fiber. The common actuator may be rotational, facilitating powered operation by a drive motor, and may be adjustable axially to enable accurate adjustment of the position at which the fiber is scored. In one, preferred, embodiment suitable for breaking a fiber at a predetermined distance from a connector already attached to it, the connector skirt screws onto a bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited
    Inventor: Helmut H. Lukas
  • Patent number: 4411179
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting metallic tubing into predetermined lengths has a stationary supporting frame on which is mounted a feeding mechanism for moving a straight length of tubing unidirectionally intermittently along a straight path in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubing. A cutoff device driven by a motor having a hollow shaft for receiving the tubing is also mounted on the frame. The feeding mechanism is in two sections each being individually reciprocable but controlled to operate oppositely and alternately to feed tubing in predetermined lengths to the cutoff device. The cutoff device is operated to cut off the tubing while it is stationary between feeding movements of the feeding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Inventor: Steven L. Stroup