Thickness Patents (Class 425/141)
  • Patent number: 6863517
    Abstract: Heating and extruding a polymeric sheet having a predetermined thickness and introducing it into and through a gap between cooling rolls, measuring directly by laser beam and without reflection the gap between the cooling rolls, and controlling the gap to control minimal pressure on the softened and heat-plastified sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Welex Incorporated
    Inventor: Frank R. Nissel
  • Patent number: 6841100
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for casting a concrete product, in which method the concrete product is cast in an essentially horizontal slipform casting process during which the top surface height and profile of the concrete product being cast is measured continually. Based on the measurement results, the relative proportion of the concrete mix flowing to the upper layer or lower layer of the concrete product is controlled by way of moving or tilting a feed trough (12) located below the concrete mix feed means (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Consolis Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Aimo Seppänen
  • Publication number: 20040247723
    Abstract: A die assembly (10) having a first die part (12), which includes a first lip (16) that, in combination with a second lip (18), defines a feed gap (20). The first die part (12) also includes a rear portion (22), a front portion (24), a slot (26) between these portions (22,24), and a gap-setting device (28) that is mechanically movable within the slot (26) so as to enable the movement of the front portion (24) relative to the rear portion (22). The first lip (16) is carried by the front portion (24), whereby movement of the front portion (24) in one direction moves the first lip (16) relative to the second lip (18), thereby adjusting the feed gap (20). The geometries of the slot (26) and the gap-setting device (28) are such that movement in a second opposite direction is limited to a known position, thereby providing a registration position for the front portion (24) of the first die part (12) and thereby providing a registration position for the first lip (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Mark Wyatt
  • Patent number: 6802995
    Abstract: An internal bubble cooling air control system in a blown film apparatus has sensors arranged to increase response time and reduce interference, and includes a high speed valve for fast actuation of air flow from a controller in response to signals received from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Addex, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Cree
  • Patent number: 6799961
    Abstract: The application relates to a device for adjusting the gap of a die arrangement using a thermopin, which is connected to the die lip (10) without any play by means of a clamp-type socket (7), where the clamp-type socket (7) engages on the one had in a lip nose (11) and on the other hand in a groove (5) of the thermopin (1), where the lip nose (11) is an integral part of the die lip (10) and the clamp-type socket (7) has a bore (8), and the thermopin (1) has a bore (4) and a fixing means is passed through the bores (8) and (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Trespaphan GmbH
    Inventors: Albrecht Freynhofer, Helmut Kremp, Dieter Mathieu, Wolfgang Rasp
  • Patent number: 6793865
    Abstract: A measuring gage for determining the thickness of a non-metallic material utilizes an inductive sensor positioned on one side of the material to be measured and a metallic object placed on the opposite side. The output of the sensor is used to determine the distance between the sensor and the metallic object, and hence the thickness of the material. The movement of the sensor and the metallic object can be computer controlled to map the thickness of the material along a predetermined path and produce a cross-sectional thickness profile. The output of the sensor can be used in conjunction with a computer controller responsible for adjusting the size of a score line to prepare an airbag deployment section in a vehicle trim panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Textron Automotive Company Inc.
    Inventors: Kelvin L. Kapteyn, James Michler
  • Patent number: 6783344
    Abstract: A device for controlling thickness of film in a blown film extruder has a blow head, a main cooling ring and an additional cooling ring. The additional cooling ring supplies separate additional air streams. A measuring and controlling device controls the thickness profile of a blown film. The measuring and controlling device scans the thickness of the blown film above a freezing zone. The device controls the additional air streams as a function of the measured blown film thicknesses. The additional cooling ring is a segmented ring arranged at the blow head of a blown film extruder adjacent the main cooling ring. A method utilizing device is likewise disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Kdesign GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Rudolf
  • Patent number: 6773249
    Abstract: The invention relates to an extrusion head for producing a tubular parison (22) in order to manufacture large-volume, blow molded plastic hollow bodies. The inventive extrusion head has an adjustable ring-shaped tube outlet nozzle for selectively adjusting the nozzle opening (20) in order to alter the wall thickness of the exiting parison (22). In order to provide a multiple adjustability of the extruded tube cross section, the invention provides that the extrusion head comprises at least three separate nozzle/mandrel gap adjustment elements (D 0=mandrel, DS I, DS II, DS III) which are differently profiled and exchangeable. The elements can be individually and/or simultaneously brought into working contact with the exiting parison (22) in the mandrel gap (20) from inside and/or outside, whereby at least two of the adjustment elements (D 0=mandrel, DS I, DS II, DS III) are configured such that they can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mauser-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Przytulla, Peter Langos
  • Publication number: 20040113330
    Abstract: Film die (10) for the production of tubular film (3) made of thermoplastic synthetics with at least one feed channel for the synthetic fused material, which ends in a ring-shaped discharge nozzle and is divided into sectors (30) with an interior and/or exterior cooling ring (1) that is adjusted to the diameter of the extruded synthetic tube (3), in which physical parameters of the air blown onto the extruded film tube (3) can be variably changed sector by sector,
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Herbert Fischer
  • Patent number: 6739855
    Abstract: A plastic resin extrusion line for the production of blown film includes an external thickness control device that provides a controllable amount of air from an inlet side through an annular region to one or two sets of lips. Barriers that can be manually or automatically controlled are provided in the annular region for localized control of air flow and thus for localized thickness control. The pressure drop across the barriers is significant relative to that in the lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Addex, Inc.
    Inventors: William Randolph, Robert E. Cree
  • Patent number: 6663375
    Abstract: An extrusion apparatus includes first and second die body portions each having a main body and a lip interconnected with the main body wherein the die body portions are joined such that a die outlet is formed between the lips. The apparatus also includes at least one pivoting link coupled to one of the lips and a sliding member coupled to the pivoting link whereby movement of the sliding member causes the pivoting link to pivot and move the one lip relative to the other lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Extrusion Dies, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ulcej
  • Patent number: 6663376
    Abstract: A system for molding optical attenuators that have a lens portion and a supporting portion includes a molding machine containing a mold, an extractor robot and optical inspection portion, and a controller that assesses the inspection information and send control signals to the molding machine and mold. The mold includes a cavity and a core which define a space in which the supporting portion and the attenuator are formed. The mold also includes a core pin, movably located in the core element. The core pin has a proximal end defining a surface of the lens portion and a distal end remote from the molding space. A core pin motor is coupled to the core pin, through a number of intermediate elements, so that the core pin can be moved relative to the core element to adjust a thickness of the lens portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: L.L. Culmat L.P.
    Inventors: Ricky W. Tumlin, J. Larry Underwood
  • Publication number: 20030201557
    Abstract: An internal bubble cooling air control system in a blown film apparatus has sensors arranged to increase response time and reduce interference, and includes a high speed valve for fast actuation of air flow from a controller in response to signals received from the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Addex Inc..
    Inventor: Robert E. Cree
  • Publication number: 20030141617
    Abstract: The invention concerns a continuous manufacturing method which consists in producing a blank (E) by extrusion, bringing said blank to a temperature for molecular orientation, passing said blank around a radial expansion mandrel (12); gauging and cooling while subjecting the blank to axial traction. The radial expansion produced on the mandrel (12) is partial so that the internal diameter (B) of the blank (E), when it leaves the mandrel, is less than the nominal internal diameter (D) of the finished tube, performing an additional radial expansion of the blank, up to its nominal diameter, by internal fluid pressure. In permanent operating conditions, the inner surface of the blank (E) is no longer in contact with the mandrel (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Bernard Prevotat, Guillaume Duval
  • Patent number: 6562263
    Abstract: An internal bubble cooling air control system in a blown film apparatus has sensors arranged to increase response time and reduce interference, and includes a high speed valve for fast actuation of air flow from a controller in response to signals received from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Addex, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Cree
  • Publication number: 20030041957
    Abstract: Improvements are disclosed for an apparatus for continuously molding small fastener elements integral with a base web from a flowable resin. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical mold roll rotatable about an axis and defining small fastener element-shaped mold cavities in the surface thereof, and pressure-applying means to apply operating pressure to force the resin into the cavities at a pressure zone. The pressure-applying means and mold roll define a mold gap therebetween for forming the base web. The advantageous use of relatively long mold rolls, to produce a correspondingly wide web, and the use of higher molding pressures, e.g. to form very small fastener elements, is enabled by various improvements, including means to maintain the mold gap at a desired thickness profile across the length of the molding region of the mold roll under operating pressure. In some cases the pressure-applying means includes a pressure roll, in other cases it includes a resin nozzle assembly or pressure head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Velcro Industries B.V., a Netherlands corporation
    Inventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Stephen C. Jens, Howard A. Kingsford, J. Scott Neumann, Richard M. Formato
  • Publication number: 20030038391
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing dope for the manufacture of microporous phase inversion membrane having any one of a plurality of different pore sizes from a single master dope batch is disclosed. The systems and methods include formulating a single master batch of dope preferably maximizing the non-solvent to solvent ratio for a given weight percentage of polymer for use in a microporous phase inversion membrane casting operation to produce phase inversion membranes having one of a plurality of different predetermined pore sizes. The master dope batch is controllably formulated in a vessel such that the temperature of the dope does not exceed a predetermined maximum mixing temperature and is maintained at a relatively low temperature (lower than the mixing temperature) suitable for storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Mark T. Meyering, William R. Kelly, Joseph G. Wallace
  • Publication number: 20030026865
    Abstract: A system for molding optical attenuators that have a lens portion and a supporting portion includes a molding machine containing a mold, an extractor robot and optical inspection portion, and a controller that assesses the inspection information and send control signals to the molding machine and mold. The mold includes a cavity and a core which define a space in which the supporting portion and the attenuator are formed. The cavity and core are separable from each other by an actuating motor of the molding machine subsequent to each injection cycle to permit removal of each molded optical attenuator. The mold also includes a core pin, movably located in the core element. The core pin has a proximal end defining a surface of the lens portion and a distal end remote from the molding space. A core pin motor is coupled to the core pin, through a number of intermediate elements, so that the core pin can be moved relative to the core element to adjust a thickness of the lens portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Ricky W. Tumlin, J. Larry Underwood
  • Patent number: 6511620
    Abstract: A method of producing semiconductor devices which have an excellent separability from a metal mold after resin encapsulation and thus eliminates the need to clean the metal mold. A metal mold for producing such semiconductor devices is also provided. According to the method of the present invention, the metal mold is first opened, and two separation sheets are disposed on dividing surfaces including cavity forming surfaces of a first metal mold and a second metal mold. A substrate is then placed on one of the separation sheets, with its semiconductor chip formed surface facing the second metal mold. An encapsulation resin is provided on the substrate placed on one of the separation sheets. The metal mold in a heated state is closed and pressed to form a resin layer for encapsulating electrodes formed on the substrate. The metal mold is again opened, and the resin-encapsulated substrate is taken out of the metal mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Automation Limited
    Inventors: Toshimi Kawahara, Hirohisa Matsuki, Yasuhiro Shinma, Yoshiyuki Yoneda, Norio Fukasawa, Yuzo Hamanaka, Kenichi Nagashige, Takashi Hozumi
  • Publication number: 20020158360
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for startup of extruded film tubes. A controller member is utilized to provide control signals to a supply blower which supplies air to the extruded film tube in an amount corresponding to a supply control signal, and an exhaust blower which exhausts air from the extruded film tube in an amount corresponding to an exhaust control signal. The controller member executes program instructions which define at least one control routine for automatic and coordinated control of the supply blower and the exhaust blower during starting of the extruded film tube, by directing a series of supply control signals to the supply blower and exhaust control signals to the exhaust blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Daniel R. Joseph
  • Publication number: 20020153624
    Abstract: A system for molding optical attenuators that have a lens portion and a supporting portion includes a molding machine containing a mold, an extractor robot and optical inspection portion, and a controller that assesses the inspection information and send control signals to the molding machine and mold. The mold includes a cavity and a core which define a space in which the supporting portion and the attenuator are formed. The cavity and core are separable from each other by an actuating motor of the molding machine subsequent to each injection cycle to permit removal of each molded optical attenuator. The mold also includes a core pin, movably located in the core element. The core pin has a proximal end defining a surface of the lens portion and a distal end remote from the molding space. A core pin motor is coupled to the core pin, through a number of intermediate elements, so that the core pin can be moved relative to the core element to adjust a thickness of the lens portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: L. L. Culmat, L.P.
    Inventors: Ricky W. Tumlin, J. Larry Underwood
  • Publication number: 20020130431
    Abstract: A plastic resin extrusion line for the production of blown film includes an external thickness control device that provides a controllable amount of air from an inlet side through an annular region to one or two sets of lips. Barriers that can be manually or automatically controlled are provided in the annular region for localized control of air flow and thus for localized thickness control. The pressure drop across the barriers is significant relative to that in the lips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: William Randolph, Robert E. Cree
  • Patent number: 6428301
    Abstract: A lens molding apparatus basically includes a lens molding tool in which a pair of lens forming molds for forming outer shapes of both surfaces of a molded lens are oppositely arranged on both sides of an annular forming frame in the thickness direction to form a target space therebetween, and a molding resin is injected in the target space to form an unhardened molded lens, wherein the unhardened molded lens is hardened by irradiating the unhardened molded lens with ultraviolet rays, to form a hardened molded lens. This lens molding apparatus is characterized in that optical characteristics of the unhardened molded lens are measured by a measuring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Yasufumi Fukuma, Takeyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 6423261
    Abstract: A blown film extrusion apparatus and method is provided including a tube position transducer transmits interrogating pulses to the extruded film tube and produces a position signal corresponding to a detected position under the extruded film tube. A bubble position control system is provided for receiving and processing the position signal. The apparatus further includes a collapsing frame assembly for receiving the extruded film tube and collapsing it. A position transducer is provided for detecting the position of at least one of the frame boards. At least one board position actuator is provided for adjusting the position of at least one of the boards. A board control system is provided for receiving the board position information from the board position transducer and for providing control signals to the board position actuator to maintain at least one of the boards in a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventors: Daniel R. Joseph, Ulrich Buttel
  • Publication number: 20020076459
    Abstract: A system for starting up an extruded film tube in a blown film extrusion apparatus includes a subsystem for varying a quantity of air in the extruded film and a subsystem for executing program instructions which control the operation of the subsystem for varying a quantity of air. The subsystem for varying a quantity of air in the extruded film tube includes a supply blower and an exhaust blower. The program instructions include at least one routine for the automatic and coordinated control of the subsystem for varying a quantity of air in the extruded film tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Daniel R. Joseph
  • Patent number: 6406285
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating and extruding a polymeric sheet having a predetermined thickness and introducing it into and through a gap between cooling rolls, measuring directly by laser beam and without reflection the gap between the cooling rolls, and controlling the gap to control minimal pressure on the softened and heat-plastified sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Welex Incorporated
    Inventor: Frank R. Nissel
  • Patent number: 6408217
    Abstract: An injection mold design system for correcting a profile of a product to be fabricated into a releasable profile from a mold to design an injection mold based on a corrected product shape, comprising storing information of product shape and mold profile, displaying the product shape or the mold profile on a screen based on the information read from the storing, inputting designation information necessary for correction of the product shape or the mold profile, and unloading information of lines or planes being obstructive to correction of the product shape and the mold profile into the storing in response to the designation information input removing the lines or the planes from the screen, and replotting the line or the planes on the screen in terms of the information of lines or planes unloaded into the storing after the correction operation of the product shape or the mold profile is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shusaku Nishiyama, Naoki Asano, Shingo Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20020070478
    Abstract: Heating and extruding a polymeric sheet having a predetermined thickness and introducing it into and through a gap between cooling rolls, measuring directly by laser beam and without reflection the gap between the cooling rolls, and controlling the gap to control minimal pressure on the softened and heat-plastified sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Welex Incorporated
    Inventor: Frank R. Nissel
  • Publication number: 20020041056
    Abstract: Heating and extruding a polymeric sheet having a predetermined thickness and introducing it into and through a gap between cooling rolls, measuring directly by laser beam and without reflection the gap between the cooling rolls, and controlling the gap to control minimal pressure on the softened and heat-plastified sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventor: FRANK R. NISSEL
  • Patent number: 6364649
    Abstract: A roll forming apparatus for rolling selected materials around a cylindrical core. The apparatus comprises a core support, a roll support device, and a material supply device. The core support is used to support the cylindrical core. The core support has an associated core rotation device for rotating the core about a core rotation axis at a controllable rotation rate. The roll support device supports a plurality of forming rolls positioned to surround the core about the core rotation axis. The roll support device has a roll control mechanism operable to both radially position the plurality of forming rolls relative to the core rotation axis and to constrain the plurality of forming rolls to be equally spaced from the core rotation axis in order to provide integrated adjustment of the plurality of forming rolls to control a radial dimension of a substantially symmetrical forming space defined by the plurality of forming rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Fibrex Insulations, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey H. Moore
  • Patent number: 6344088
    Abstract: A stripe coating applicator for coating at least two stripes having a plurality of slit outlets provided at a nozzle edge and a pair of block edges forming said slit outlets. Stripe partitions partition and define the plurality of slit outlets formed at the pair of block edges. Notches are formed on at least one of said block edges toward a direction of the coating fluid to be discharged and correspond to the positions of the stripe partitions. Movable parts are formed at the at least one of said block edges where the notches are provided. The notches and thin parts form the movable parts. A slit gap adjustment means is provided for adjusting slit gaps by moving the movable parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kamikihara, Masaru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6336803
    Abstract: A device for treating a continuously advancing material web with ultrasound includes an ultrasound generator and a sonotrode, rigidly connected with the former in a manner so as to transmit ultrasound. The sonotrode has a face which lies opposite a counter-tool. The material web is passed through the gap. The module composed of the ultrasound generator and the sonotrode is connected with the machine frame via a piezoelectric actuator, by means of which small displacements of the face of the sonotrode relative to the circumference surface of the counter-roller can be balanced out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Eduard Kusters Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernhard Funger, Peter Hader, Klaus Kubik
  • Patent number: 6325609
    Abstract: A compression molding machine for powdered material is provided with a measuring means which samples a product automatically and measures weight and thickness of the sampled product, a position adjusting means for adjusting a predetermined distance between compressing components, a weight control means which is used alternatively to a basic control means and controls an amount adjusting means so that the measured weight of the product measured by the measuring means becomes approximate to a predetermined reference value of weight, a thickness control means which is used alternatively to the basic control means and controls position adjusting means so that the measured thickness of the product measured by the measuring means becomes approximate to a predetermined reference value of thickness. The compression molding machine also comprises a reference pressure calibration means which calibrates the reference value of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Kikusui Seisakusyo Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Shimada
  • Patent number: 6309201
    Abstract: The die includes a central core and an annular ring arranged around the core, so as to define an annular slit for extruding a material, as well as a multiple number of inserts peripherally arranged around the ring and mechanically tied to the same, and device for heating the inserts independently from each other, so as to be able to change by thermal deformation of the inserts, the thickness of the annular slit. The inserts are radially arranged around the ring and attached to the structure of the machine on the inner side, next to the ring, while their free opposite extremities are free to radially slide so as to expand toward the out. Devices mechanically tie the inserts to the ring and devices heat and/or cool the inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Tecno Coating Engineering S.R.L.
    Inventor: Claudio Gini
  • Patent number: 6294124
    Abstract: A process for preweakening the inside of an automotive trim piece cover layer of various constructions by use of a laser beam so as to enable formation of an air bag deployment opening in the trim piece formed at the time the air bag deploys. The laser beam impinges the inside surface of the cover to form a groove scoring or spaced perforations to form a preweakening pattern. A robot arm may be used to move a laser generator so as to form the preweakening pattern. The laser beam can be controlled in accordance with sensed conditions to achieve accurate preweakening, and may also be used to trim substrate panels and to perform other cutting operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: TIP Engineering Group, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Bauer
  • Patent number: 6293778
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for startup of extruded film tubes. A controller member is utilized to provide control signals to a supply blower which supplies air to the extruded film tube in an amount corresponding to a supply control signal, and an exhaust blower which exhausts air from the extruded film tube in an amount corresponding to an exhaust control signal. The controller member executes program instructions which define at least one control routine for automatic and coordinated control of the supply blower and the exhaust blower during starting of the extruded film tube, by directing a series of supply control signals to the supply blower and exhaust control signals to the exhaust blower. When a valve is utilized to control the flow of air from the supply blower to the extruded film tube, the controller is also utilized to adjust the supply blower and the exhaust blower in order to optimize operation of the valve by placing the valve in a substantially linear operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventor: Daniel R. Joseph
  • Patent number: 6273701
    Abstract: Lip die structures include thrust developing elements spaced along one lip at first points for flexing those first points toward and away from the other lip and controlled by a thickness monitor spaced downstream along the web being produced from the lip die. First heating elements are carried by the one lip aligned with the thrust developing elements and are controlled by the thickness monitor to selectively heat the first heating elements responsive to monitored decreases in web thickness. Second heating elements are also carried by the first lip intermediate the first heating elements and are controlled by the thickness monitor to actuate, selectively, the second heating elements responsive to monitored decreases in thickness of said web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: J. Gregory Moriarity
  • Patent number: 6267918
    Abstract: A process for preweakening the inside of an automotive trim piece cover layer of various constructions by use of a laser beam so as to enable formation of an air bag deployment opening in the trim piece formed at the time the air bag deploys. The laser beam impinges the inside surface of the cover to form a groove scoring or spaced perforations to form a preweakening pattern. A robot arm may be used to move a laser generator so as to form the preweakening pattern. The laser beam can be controlled in accordance with sensed conditions to achieve accurate preweakening, and may also be used to trim substrate panels and to perform other cutting operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: TIP Engineering Group, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Bauer
  • Patent number: 6261487
    Abstract: In order to control and optimize, without stopping production, bowing in the outer wall of a calender roll in which bowing is produced by the action of pressure on an incompressible liquid enclosed in the roll, the invention proposes that, based on error signals generated from continuous thickness measurements and from at least one other quality characteristic, the temperature of the liquid is controlled and the nip modified to correct for deviations from the correct thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Brunckner Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Bongaerts, Dietmar Jenke
  • Patent number: 6258301
    Abstract: A process for blow-molding hollow bodies from thermoplastic synthetic resin wherein, in addition to control to accurately position an extruder thermoplastic melt preform in the blow mold and to maintain a constant weight of the extruded preform, on the program curve which itself is a superimposition of the profile curve of the preform and a base gap determined in accordance with the nozzle gap width through which the preform is extruded, there is superimposed a correction strip which can be varied depending upon material distribution changes as a result, for example, of sag of the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventors: Harald Feuerherm, Horst Deckwerth, Rolf Kappen-Feuerherm
  • Patent number: 6245369
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly for moving an extruded strand of sausage (26) from an extruding machine (10) and for coagulating the outer surface (28) of the strand (26) has first (48) and second (49) conveyor elements mounted on a frame (36). The conveyor assembly on the frame (36) moves from a point of beginning (38) to a discharge station (40) and thence back to the point of beginning (38). A brine fluid circuit is disposed on the frame above the conveyor with a plurality of discharge nozzles thereon to spray brine on a strand of sausage moving with the conveyor assembly. A pair of laser lights (88) project beams (90) on the unlinked strand (26) to determine the diameter thereof. A signal is sent from the lasers to a controller (92) who compares the diameter of the strand to a predetermined diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Townsend Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mart Kobussen, Jos Kobussen, Jaap Kobussen, David L. Davison
  • Patent number: 6214279
    Abstract: A solid freeform fabrication process and apparatus for making a three-dimensional reinforcement shape. The process comprises the steps of (1) operating a multiple-channel material deposition device for dispensing a liquid adhesive composition and selected reinforcement materials at predetermined proportions onto a work surface; (2) during the material deposition process, moving the deposition device and the work surface relative to each other in an X-Y plane defined by first and second directions and in a Z direction orthogonal to the X-Y plane so that the materials are deposited to form a first layer of the shape; (3) repeating these steps to deposit multiple layers for forming a three-dimensional preform shape; and (4) periodically hardening the adhesive to rigidize individual layers of the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Junsheng Yang, Liangwei Wu, Junhai Liu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Patent number: 6213749
    Abstract: An arrangement for refining a confectionery material includes a series of cylinders for pressing and stretching the confectionery material particles, driving devices for driving the cylinders, and heat removal devices for removing the refining heat. Between the freely swinging first cylinder and the second cylinder, a position transducer for measuring the spacing between the first two cylinders is arranged. The first cylinder is pressed against the second cylinder and a spreading-apart force transducer measures the force between the two cylinders. Temperature transducers for measuring the temperature near the confectionery material refined by the first two cylinders are moreover provided. The transducers are operatively coupled to a control device which provides a reference signal for the cylinder feedback driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Carle & Montanari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Marco Carle
  • Patent number: 6197231
    Abstract: When sealing an insulating glass pane (51) with at least one corner in which the edges (60) of the glass panes of the insulating glass pane (51), i.e. the edges which lead to the corner, include with one another an angle, for example a right, obtuse or acute angle, the sealing nozzle (4) is moved without stopping in one pass around the corner (61) and as the sealing nozzle (4) moves around the corner the emergence of the sealing mass from the sealing nozzle (4) into the edge joint is not interrupted. When travelling around one corner (61) the path (79) of movement of the axis which is aligned perpendicular to the plane of the insulating glass pane (51) to be sealed and around which the sealing nozzle (4) can turn is guided such that it deviates from the outside contour of the insulating glass pane (51). For sealing nozzles (4) which are guided to slide externally along the edges (60) of the glass panes of the insulating glass pane (51), i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Peter Lisec
  • Patent number: 6190153
    Abstract: A drawing system in which a thickness and degree of orientation of an oriented film or the like is maintained in a uniform manner under a condition of a high speed, shortened is a time required from a time when a molding material is charged in an extruder and drawing started until a time when a film is taken up on a take-up apparatus, and a high quality film or the like is produced at a high speed and besides, a probability for a not-oriented or oriented film or the like to be broken down during drawing is reduced. A thickness and degree of orientation of a film are independently measured in thickness gauges and a film orientation measuring apparatus in a continuous manner after longitudinal drawing or lateral drawing and measured values are input to a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignees: Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Tohcello Co., Ltd., Grand Polymer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Tsuzukiyama, Masanori Motooka, Toshiyuki Fujiwara, Michio Toriumi
  • Patent number: 6171629
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining dough blocks to form a continuous dough sheet. The dough blocks are cut from a dough mass and drop into a space between first and second groups of rollers. The first and second groups of rollers include horizontally-paired rollers arranged in tiers and forming a substantially V-shaped space for receiving the dough blocks, with the uppermost pair of rollers being separated by a first horizontal gap which is wider than a second horizontal gap separating the lowermost pair of rollers. The first group of rollers are rotated in a direction (e.g., clockwise) which is opposite to that of the second group of rollers. In addition, the first group of rollers is alternately moved toward and away from the second group of rollers, thereby applying vibrations to the dough blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Morikawa
  • Patent number: 6153132
    Abstract: A method of expanding a tube of plastics material in which a longitudinally travelling tube is progressively diametrically expanded in internal fluid pressure in an expansion zone between an upstream plug and an expandable downstream plug. Expansion of the tube is controlled in response to parameters which directly or indirectly indicate variation in the relative velocity at which material is delivered to and removed from the expansion zone, such as detecting upstream velocity, early expansion diameter, axial force on a sizing device or the tube diameter just before the expansion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignees: Vinidex Tubemakers Pty. Limited, Uponor Innovation AB
    Inventors: Peter Glanville Chapman, Allan Kenneth Wallace
  • Patent number: 6116882
    Abstract: An extrusion system utilizes single or tandem extruders and a mixer-cooler to extrude a foamable extrudate through a die in a sealable chamber. The foamable extrudate is shaped and calibrated within the chamber. The die is mounted on the end of a gel tube projecting through a gland seal in a fixed bulkhead forming the upstream end of the chamber. The gel tube and mixer-cooler are mounted on a movable carriage, movement of which may be used to adjust the die with respect to shaping and calibrating equipment inside the chamber. The mixer-cooler achieves a selected narrow range of uniform viscosity of the melt at the die depending on the size of the product and density. The chamber is preferably a vacuum chamber producing low density foams. The product exits the chamber to atmosphere on a continuous basis through a submerged orifice in a water baffle immersion seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Sadinski, Robert M. Lincoln, Jr., Russell C. Woodburn
  • Patent number: RE37293
    Abstract: A thermal translator device providing improved performance and faster expansion response, is described. Also described is an extrusion apparatus including a plurality of thermal translator devices operatively arranged for thermally actuated, localized action upon the lip. The thermal translator device includes a thermal energy source disposed within a structural member. The thermal energy source and the structural member are an integral unit. Also described is an extrusion apparatus including tie rods for a support assembly otherwise without support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Cloeren Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter F. Cloeren, Richard L. Linam
  • Patent number: RE38056
    Abstract: Method of adjusting the lip opening of an extrusion die for stratiform material, with the characteristic that it consists in the combination of, on the one side, the control of the heating of bar shaped elements (9) which act upon at least one of the lips (6-7) of the lip opening (5), in function of the thickness of the formed material, and on the other hand, the common cooling of several bar shaped elements (9) by forcing a cooling medium along these elements (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Constructiewerkhuizen G. Verbruggen
    Inventor: Guillaume Van Dun