Including Means To Adjust Relative Position Of A Roll Patents (Class 425/367)
  • Patent number: 7426843
    Abstract: A roll assembly and a pipe extrusion plant for producing pipes with a variable diameter, includes an extruder, an adjustable calibration device, and a cooling device, whereby a pipe to be produced is guided at least in part during the production process. In order to be able to provide a guide that is suited to different pipe diameters, a roll assembly is provided to include a row of rolls which are placed one behind the other in a take-off direction, with each roll mounted in a bracket and supported to allow vertical positioning thereof in dependence on the pipe diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Herbert Ulrich
  • Patent number: 7426886
    Abstract: An embossing device having a first embossing unit for satin finishing a strip of packing material, and a second embossing unit for impressing graphics on the strip of packing material; the second embossing unit has two embossing rollers, at least one of which only has embossing pins in areas for impressing the graphics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: G.D Societa'Per Azioni
    Inventor: Mario Spatafora
  • Patent number: 7427372
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a thermoplastic synthetic resin sheet or film has a casting mechanism having support rollers each mounted to undergo rotation about a corresponding rotational axis and one of which is mounted to undergo non-rotational displacement relative to the other support rollers. A casting sleeve is entrained around the support rollers for rotation therewith. A casting roller is mounted for undergoing rotation relative to the casting sleeve. A synthetic resin material is fed between opposite and confronting outer peripheral surfaces of the casting sleeve and the casting roller while rotating the casting sleeve and the casting roller and while effecting non-rotational displacement of one of the support rollers to holdingly press the synthetic resin material between the casting sleeve and the casting roller and thereby form the synthetic resin material into a thermoplastic synthetic resin sheet or film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: CTE Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keita Morita
  • Publication number: 20080067717
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a roller apparatus for creating texture in concrete surfaces. The roller apparatus may include a roller body that is operably connected to an attachment mechanism. The roller body may include an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface may include at least one generally inward depression. Portions of the outer surface adjacent to the depressions may be relatively smooth. In one embodiment, the roller body may not be formed with, or operably connected to, outwardly extending protrusions that are intended to imprint textures into the concrete surface. The depressions may have a variety of shapes or provide information. The depressions may also be oriented in the roller body so as to create a desired pattern. The attachment mechanism may include hubs or spindles that may be operably attached to an attachment bracket by an axle or pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Lampignano
  • Patent number: 7229681
    Abstract: The device for satinizing and embossing flat materials comprises an embossing roll and at least one mating roll, said rolls being connected to a driving system and adapted to be driven individually or in common and to be resiliently pressed against one another while the individual teeth are flattened, and the embossing teeth being designed such as to produce in the corresponding locations of said flat material during its passage embossed marks whose appearance varies according to the viewing angle of the observer and/or the kind and/or the position of the lighting source, the embossing teeth which produce said variable marks having a different geometrical shape and/or surface than the satinizing teeth intended for satinizing. To this end, the surfaces of said embossing teeth and/or portions of the tooth space bottom are provided with microstructures. These microstructures allow producing largely forgery-proof marks which may furthermore provide a very decorative effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Boegli-Gravures S.A.
    Inventor: Charles Boegli
  • Patent number: 7217382
    Abstract: An improved dough sheeting system and method which allow for improved selection of sheeter gap size and which provide a quick release mechanism to prevent damage to sheeter rollers. Hydraulic actuators, attached to a movable roller, hold the roller in a fixed position relative to an opposing roller. The actuators are engaged with a closing force in excess of the force exerted by the sheeted material against the rollers thereby ensuring that the rollers maintain a gap of fixed width. Thermal expansion blocks mounted to the frame or housing of the opposing roller provide a means for fine adjustments in the sheeter gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Alan Graham, Andrew Cecil Harvey, Ponnattu Kurian Joseph, Edward Leon Ouellette
  • Patent number: 7205017
    Abstract: A plurality of rolling rollers move sequentially upstream from downstream or downstream from upstream along the food dough belt, while each rolling roller rotates on its own axis. The moving direction of the rolling roller is changed according to technical requirements. The number of beats is regulated by changing the moving speed V1 of the rolling roller. Further, the peripheral speed of the rolling roller is made to be equal to or almost equal to the surface speed of the food dough belt by changing the rotating speed V2 of the rolling roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Torahiko Hayashi, Michio Morikawa
  • Patent number: 7165962
    Abstract: A telescoping roll stand for use in an extrusion line includes a linkage connecting one or more auxiliary rolls in a spatial relationship relative to each other and other auxiliary web processing components, including conveyors, load cell rolls, draw rolls, and other web handling components, when one of the auxiliary rolls is shifted in relation to a primary roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Inventor: Dana R. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7156644
    Abstract: A saddle for a sheeting head includes a pair of semi-circular concave edges configured to seal a pair of rollers. The oppositely facing concave edges each include a tongue that fits in a corresponding groove in the roller and a retracted concave edge adapted to wrap around half the roller surface. The saddle includes a top portion wherein the concave edges downwardly converge, and a bottom portion wherein the concave edges downwardly diverge. A narrow waist is provided at the proximal-most position of the concave edges and adapted to fit in a pinch point between the rollers. A sheeting head assembly incorporating the saddle may include a sidewall to which the saddle need not be fastened. The self-locking characteristics of the saddle enable an assembly to omit sidewalls altogether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Casa Herrera, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Herrera
  • Patent number: 7147453
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for embossing and/or glazing films. The device for embossing includes a first and second embossing roll, through which flat material can be fed under pressure, in order to create a pattern. An additional embossing roll is connected downstream of the second embossing roll, this additional embossing roll interacting with the first or preceding embossing roll. The patterned flat material may be fed between these embossing rolls, in order to be embossed again with essentially the same pattern. In a simplified embodiment, only a total of two rolls are used. In order to achieve as precise an embossing as possible, with special effects, the first driven embossing roll is provided with teeth, while at least one other embossing roll comprises rings or longitudinal ribs, or is smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Boegli-Gravures SA
    Inventor: Charles Boegli
  • Patent number: 7048527
    Abstract: An apparatus for capping a stem web including a cooled roll, a first heated nip roll positioned to form a first nip with the cooled roll, and a second heated nip roll positioned to form a second nip with the cooled roll. The cooled roll has a diameter that is at least 30% larger than a diameter of the first or second heated nip roll. In an embodiment, the two nips are on opposite sides of a larger central cooled roll positioned between the heated rolls. In an embodiment, the reaction forces between the rolls are measured and controlled at each end of each of the heated rolls. The invention is particularly adapted to making abrasive particles that are attached to a driving mechanism via headed stem fasteners formed by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Randy S. Bay, Cristina U. Thomas, David F. Slama, Richard T. Paxton, Gary L. Curtis, Jonathan J. Mattson
  • Patent number: 7044727
    Abstract: An improved end seal for a sheeting apparatus. A sealing material is formed into a more effective sealing element which locks out doughy material out of associated side sealing parts near the sheeting nip. Such an improved end seal provides improved wiping and sealing functions. Such a seal also reduces wear thus reducing the frequency of seal replacement. Such a seal reduces the amount of installation time and amount of error associated with manual adjustment ordinarily required to replace end seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Cuellar, Paul Hartman, Edward Leon Ouellette
  • Patent number: 6955533
    Abstract: An apparatus for extending food dough is provided that is compact and has a relatively long conveying path for food dough that extends the food dough. Also, the apparatus can be easily cleaned and maintained. It includes a lower frame (3) having a food-conveying member to convey food dough in one direction, an upper frame (5) located above the lower frame, and a cluster of a plurality of extending rollers that are located within the upper frame. To extend the food dough the extending rollers are arranged to be endless and rotatable. The upper frame (5) can be moved up and down in relation to the lower frame (3) so that the cluster of the plurality of the extending rollers can be completely separated from the food-conveying member. Thus, the food-conveying member can be easily cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Morikawa
  • Patent number: 6939119
    Abstract: A thin wall PTFE tube is formed from an extruded green tube. The PTFE tube includes an inner tubular surface and an opposed outer tubular surface defining a tubular wall of a first thickness. The tubular wall is compressed to uniformly reduce the wall-thickness and circumferentially orient the tube. The PTFE tube is positioned over a first elongate roller with the inner tubular surface being in contact therewith. A second roller is positioned against the outer tubular surface of the PTFE tube. The pair of rollers are counter rotated so as to circumferentially compress the tubular wall between the rollers. This results in the uniform reduction in the tubular wall from the first thickness to a lesser second thickness and a circumferential orientation otherwise not occurring in an extruded PTFE paste extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason P. Hill, James R. Lininger, Brian J. Brown
  • 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: 6782933
    Abstract: A corrugator single facer of the type utilizing a large diameter bonding roll and a small diameter corrugating roll provides quick roll change capability by mounting three large diameter bonding rolls on a rotatable turret and carrying corresponding small diameter corrugating rolls in a magazine positioned laterally offset from the machine. By driving the corrugating rolls indirectly through the pressure belt arrangement which supports the lower corrugating roll, roll change is significantly simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Marquip, LLC
    Inventor: Carl R. Marschke
  • Patent number: 6565343
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing plastic film, of the type in which molten plastic is extruded through an annular die to form a tubular bubble which is expanded by air blown into the bubble, and a collapsing frame for forming the bubble into a flat tube prior to passing the tube through a nip formed between rollers, in which opposed, converging reaches of endless belts are used for the collapsing. The belts have their upstream ends held by a pair of first rollers spaced apart on opposite sides of the bubble, and have their downstream ends held by a pair of nip rollers which hold the belts together to form a nip for the collapsed tube. Pulleys and a belt, or gears, are provided which rotatably interconnect the pinch rollers and ensure that the belts entering the nip travel at the same surface speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: K & S Future Design Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Krycki
  • Publication number: 20030080453
    Abstract: A method for capping a stem web including passing the stem web through a first nip against a first heated nip roll so as to partially cap the stems; cooling the web; and passing the stem web through a second nip against a second heated nip roll to completely cap the stems to a diameter “D”. In preferred embodiments the two nips are on opposite sides of a larger central cooled roll positioned between the heated rolls. Preferably, the reaction forces between the rolls are measured and controlled at each end of each other heated rolls. The invention is particularly adapted to making abrasive particles that are attached to a driving mechanism via headed stem fasteners formed by the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Randy S. Bay, Cristina U. Thomas, David F. Slama, Richard T. Paxton, Gary L. Curtis, Jonathan J. Mattson
  • Publication number: 20030057585
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a spread fiber bundle using a fiber-spreading device composed of a group of rollers and a base body reciprocated to be repetitively brought into contact with and kept away from a running fiber bundle, and a method for producing a prepreg. Fiber bundle can be stably and efficiently spread even in the case where the fiber bundle to be spread are filaments having a high elastic modulus such as carbon filaments or where the carbon fiber bundle conveying speed is higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Kiyotsugu Tanaka, Hiroshi Ohtani, Hidetaka Matsumae, Seiji Tsuji, Daisaku Akase
  • 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: 20030031748
    Abstract: Device (1) for use in a roll frame (10) for the manufacture of a plastics film, having a continuous band (2), looped around at least two deflection rolls (3, 3′), for pressing the plastics film against a roll (9) of the roll frame (10), the two deflection rolls (3) being rotatably mounted on both sides in lateral bearing devices (5, 5′) and fastening means are provided for fixing the deflection rolls (3, 3′) in a bearing device (5) and the other bearing device (5′) is pivotably mounted for the exchange of the continuous band (2); and a process for changing a continuous band (2) for pressing a plastics film against a roll (9) and for cooling the same, which is looped at least around two deflection rolls (3) rotatably mounted in lateral bearing devices (5, 5′), the deflection rolls (3, 3′) being fixed in a bearing device (5). Fastening means of the other bearing device (5′) are released and the other bearing device (5′) is pivoted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: SML MASCHINENGESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.
    Inventor: Rupert Becker
  • Patent number: 6474966
    Abstract: A slot die for producing webs of a foamed plastics material, into which die plastics material which has been plasticized under elevated pressure in an extruder and charged with a blowing agent enters, and through the die gap of which the plastics material is extruded by foaming. The die gap is formed by a pair of rollers mounted in a laterally sealed manner in the slot die. This achieves the effect that an advantageous formation of outer layers already occurs ahead of the die gap before the start of foaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Berstorff GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich-Otto Behrens
  • Publication number: 20020117779
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing camber from zipper with profiles having interlocking elements and or webs. The zipper is stretched longitudinally in a manner so that the interlocking elements stretch relative to each other. To this end, the zipper is fed to an idler wheel that may be spring loaded. From a set of first drive wheels and fed from the idler wheel by a set of second drive wheels. The second drive wheels are driven faster than the first drive wheels to effect the stretching. Alternately only the second set of drive wheels are driven and the stretch is provided by the spring loaded idler wheel or the zipper is driven around a static curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Zdenek Machacek
  • Patent number: 6406283
    Abstract: A drawing device for handling a wide range of drawable thermoplastic resin materials including a first pressurizing tank and first buffer tank on an upstream side, and a second pressurizing tank and second buffer tank on a downstream side are disposed along a drawing tank having pressurized steam and a discharge unit connected to it. A medium supply and discharge may be connected to each of the first and second pressurizing tanks, and the first and second buffer tanks. Opening members may be disposed on respective upstream and downstream ports along the drawing tank. Small amounts of pressurizing medium may then be allowed to flow into the drawing tank through upstream and downstream ports. Next, material may be supplied from the upstream port into the drawing tank where pressurized steam may be introduced in airtight conditions, and then drawn to the downstream port, thereby producing a drawable thermoplastic resin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Ube-Nitto Kasei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Nomura, Kazuyuki Kawasaki, Shinji Ota, Hirofumi Yashiro, Youichi Fujita
  • 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
  • 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: 6368097
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for capping a headed stem fasteners. The precursor web having a backing with a rear surface, a front surface, and a multiplicity of polymeric stems projecting distally from the front surface of the backing is fed into a variable nip between a heated member opposite a support surface. The support surface has a shape generally conforming to the contour of the heated member. The variable nip compressively engages the polymeric stems between the heated member and the support surface so that distal ends of the polymeric stems are deformed. The heated member can be a heated roll or a heated belt. The support surface may be a curved capping shoe or a belt shaped to create a particular nip profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Philip Miller, Thomas R. LaLiberte
  • Patent number: 6368539
    Abstract: A method of utilizing a single engraved embossing roll to emboss different expanses of material with different patterns. The single engraved embossing roll has at least two projections projecting therefrom. A first of the projections projects to a greater height from the roll than a second of the projections. In another aspect, the invention encompasses an apparatus for embossing different expanses of material with different patterns. The apparatus includes an engraved surface having at least two projections projecting therefrom. A first of the projections projects to a greater height than a second of the projections. The apparatus also includes a backing surface configured to receive the projections of the engraved surface. The backing surface and engraved surface are together configured to receive an expanse of material between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Potlatch Corporation
    Inventors: Steven H. Greenfield, Carl Ingalls
  • 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: 6336804
    Abstract: An adjustable roller assembly for producing sheeted food products of an accurate thickness which includes an adjustable roller positioned adjacent a second roller. The adjustable roller is held in bearings which are eccentrically mounted in a pair of turnable members which are supported by a first bearing. The axis of rotation of the adjustable roller is offset from the axis of rotation of the turnable members. The polar orientation of the turnable members is continuously adjustable to provide the desired thickness of the sheeted food product. Preferably, the orientation of the turnable member at one end of the adjustable roller is adjustable independently of the roller orientation of the other turnable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Barry F. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6325960
    Abstract: Calender for a fibrous material web and method of operating a calender for a fibrous material web. The calender includes a first roll stack and a second roll stack each arranged in a common plane on a stanchion, each roll stack having a top deflection adjustment roll having a sleeve, a bottom deflection adjustment roll having a sleeve, and three intermediate rolls disposed between the top deflection adjustment roll and the bottom deflection adjustment roll, the uppermost the intermediate roll being fixedly mounted to the stanchion. The calender further has a deflection adjustment device having a sleeve lift supporting each sleeve, at least one deflection adjustment device facing the first roll stack in a first operative position and facing the second roll stack in a second operative position. A nonrotatable bracket supporting each deflection adjustment device and fixedly mounted to the stanchion is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Kayser, Joachim Hinz, Mathias Helmus, Gerhard Stock
  • Patent number: 6322345
    Abstract: An apparatus for extruding edible paste which includes a supporting framework; a hopper for feeding paste to be extruded; at least one pair of sizing or lamination cylinders arranged in sequence downstream of the hopper; a belt conveyor which is suitable for receiving and removing the extruded and laminated paste that leaves the lamination cylinders; motor assembly for the lamination cylinders; one or more pairs of extraction and dosage elements which are arranged directly below the hopper and are suitable for extracting, in a uniform and pulsed manner, paste from the hopper to feed it to the lamination cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Doge Food Processing Machinery S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giampietro Zaltron
  • Patent number: 6250904
    Abstract: Closed loop control apparatus and methods for reducing ripples in an extruded plastic sheet include, for example, a closed loop speed control system having a roll speed sensor, a roll speed controller, and a roll drive. The roll speed sensor is communicatively coupled to the active extruder roll and configured to determine an actual roll speed of the active extruder roll. The roll speed controller is communicatively coupled to the roll speed sensor and utilizes the actual roll speed and desired roll speed to generate a command signal and transmit such signal to the roll drive. The roll drive is communicatively coupled between the roll speed controller and the active extruder roll, and utilizes the command signal to drive the active extruder roll, through its controllers and power electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Suresh Baddam Reddy, John Arthur York, Charles Ray Vickers, Donald Bruce Sorensen, Larry David Sarver
  • Patent number: 6238198
    Abstract: A corrugating roller unit is moved smoothly between a first reference plane and a second reference plane at different heights by a roll-out apparatus having a set of moving support device. A first moving support device supports the corrugating roller unit when the corrugating roller unit is in contact with the first reference plane. A second moving support device supports the corrugating roller unit when the corrugating roller unit is in contact with the second reference plane. A positioning device keeps the second moving support device in contact with the second reference plane when the second moving support device is providing the support for the corrugating roller unit. When the second moving support device moves the second reference plane to the first reference plane, the positioning device prevents the second moving support device from restricting movement of the corrugating roller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Isowa
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hatasa, Yuuji Yamazaki, Katsuya Sugino
  • 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: 6210145
    Abstract: A calender for thermoplastic material sheets has a frame (1) with rolls (8, 9, 14) for smoothing and cooling the thermoplastic material sheets. The rolls (8, 9, 14) are coupled with the frame (1). The roll (8) is held rotatably stationary. The rotatable roll (9) is radially adjustable with respect to the stationary roll (8). Additionally, the adjustable roll (14) is circumferenitially adjustable around the axis of rotation (X) of the stationary roll by guide cars (15, 16). The guide cars (15, 16) are provided at both ends on circular running paths of guide rails (2′, 2″, 3′, 3″). The guide rails (2′, 2″, 3′, 3″) are connected to the frame or are part of it. Accordingly, a rigid support is achieved for the adjustable roll (14). Furthermore, an advantageous ease of access to the area of intake of the material sheet from the sheet die (B) into the calender is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Adolf Seide
  • Patent number: 6203307
    Abstract: A hot soft nip calender apparatus is provided for a paper mill. The apparatus includes at least one heated calender roller and a finishing belt which is moved in proximity to the heated calender roller by a plurality of drive rollers and at least one pressure roller. Thus, a heated calender nip is defined between the heated calender roller and the finishing belt. A web of paper is passed through the nip, such that one surface of the web of paper is contacted by the heated calender roller, while the opposed surface of the web is contacted by the finishing belt. The finishing belt has an extremely smooth surface for contacting the web of paper so as to impart appropriate smoothness and gloss characteristics to that surface. The finishing belt can readily be changed when worn or damaged or to alter the characteristics being imparted to a web of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Champion International Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Neider, Robert J. Rudt
  • Patent number: 6203308
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming reinforced recessed side edges in a polyurethane-felt strip utilized to make a resilient handle grip by urging the strip between heated upper rollers and a lower roller to compress the side portions of the polyurethane layer so as to increase the density and strength of such side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Ben Huang
  • 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: 6155814
    Abstract: An apparatus including oppositely positioned rollers located at the bottom of a hopper containing dough. A gap between the rollers is periodically increased and decreased to avoid any concentrated stress in the dough and to facilitate the production of a continuous uniform sheet of dough. Alternatively, a plurality of pairs of oppositely and horizontally positioned rollers are mounted on pivoting or swinging arms located at the bottom of a dough-feeding hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Torahiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6129539
    Abstract: A material transfer arrangement having a pair of generally cylindrical adjacent rolls which are counter-rotatable about their respective cylindrical axes and which define therebetween a nip between which material passes is disclosed. There is a corresponding pair of spaced apart doctor blades, each in close proximity to a corresponding one of the rolls so that material may be conveyed between the roll nip and the space between the doctor blades. In one form, the nip passes material to the space between the doctor blades and that space has a downstream restriction which causes the material to compress in an accordion-like way forming a corrugated material web. In another form, the doctor blades function to deliver thermoplastic extrudate to the nip between the rolls to form elongated sheets or webs of plastic material of improved uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Materials Research Innovations Corporation
    Inventor: Rexford H. Bradt
  • Patent number: 6129537
    Abstract: In order to easily convert a lip rolling apparatus to different cup diameters, without involving a change of the phase relation of the roll feeds (1) relative to one another, two roll feed pairs are arranged oppositely, the roll feeds (1) of each pair being arranged at a fixed spacing (D1), individually, relative to one another, and the mutual spacing of the roll feed pairs is variable. The drive gears (10a,b, 11a,b) are adapted to be driven by a common drive belt (12) traveling over at least one deflection sheave (13a,b) arranged so as to be movable along the line of symmetry (40) between the drive gear pairs (10a,b, 11a,b). The drive gears (10a,b, 11a,b) have the same diameter as the deflection sheaves (13a, 13b) on a compensating knuckle (30a, 30b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Bellaform Extrusionstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Merz
  • Patent number: 6129882
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing multifilament threads with at least one hot-air module 6 for drawing or relaxing the thread Y. To manufacture multifilaments with particularly high strength and to avoid the problems of the bearings of the rollers 9, 10 in the hot-air modules 6, at least one apparatus is provided for screening the hot stream of air from the rollers 9, 10, 10' of the or each hot-air module 6. Such apparatus may, for example, take the form of divider sheets 12. To facilitate the introduction of the thread Y into the hot-air module 6, it may be furthermore provided according to the invention that two rows of rollers 9, 10 facing each other are arranged in the or each hot-air module 6, at least the rollers 10 of one row being arranged in the direction of the rollers 9 of the other row and movable beyond these so that a meander-shaped arrangement of the thread Y can be achieved automatically in the hot-air modules 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: SML Maschinengesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Bruno Haider
  • Patent number: 6126431
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for continuously and quantitatively supplying bread dough. The apparatus comprises a pressing structure that includes two movable members, one of which includes at least one roller or one belt conveyor, and the other of which includes at least one belt conveyor, the roller being adapted to rotate about its own axis to apply a force to pull bread dough downward and the belt conveyor being adapted such that a portion of its conveying surface contacting the dough moves downward to pull the bread dough downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery, Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Torahiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6067897
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a disk of pizza dough ready for filling and baking using centrifugal force. Expanding of pizza dough under the influence of the centrifugal force is known, and the pizzaiolo applies such force by twirling a disk of dough overhead in a the room for expanding its diameter. Other known mechanical systems for this purpose provide very complicated devices equipped with radially oscillating levers which guide the dough in its radial expansion. According to the present invention the expansion of the diameter of the disk of dough under the influence of the centrifugal force is effected using an apparatus of very simple design including two plates arranged coaxial, one supported by the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Leonardo Grieco
  • Patent number: 6065392
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for manufacturing different shaped bakery products, such as hamburger and hot dog buns, includes a dough packet feeder (18) which advances to an exit station (22) in a step-wise manner rows of dough packets having a first shape. A roller gate (20) positioned at the exit station (22) to receive the rows of dough packets exiting the dough packet feeder (18) includes a first roller member (20a ) having three rows of receptacles (20b ) spaced apart from each other 120.degree. and each sized to receive an individual dough packet having the first shape. A bakery pan indexing feeder (26) advances in a step-wise manner bakery pans (60) or(62) into which the dough packets are deposited by a moving carrier member (52) positioned between the roller gate (20) and the bakery pan indexing feeder (26). The moving carrier member (52) has a receiving end onto which the rows of dough packets are deposited after leaving the roller gate (20) and an exit end where the dough packets leave the moving carrier member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Augusto Florindez
  • Patent number: 6045349
    Abstract: A wrinkleless plastic film having excellent quality without the reduction of width can be manufactured with high productivity using a rolling apparatus in which a plastic film is rolled stepwise at two rolling deformation points formed by two driving rolls and a follower roll, which rolls are brought into continuous contact with each other along the passage of the plastic film and said follower roll is driven by the rotation of said two driving rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Petrochemicals Company Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Ishida, Tadayoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 5980802
    Abstract: A method for treating a roller cover includes the steps of positioning an element with respect to a roller cover and removing a portion of the roller cover with said element to form a pattern on said roller cover. The process for treating roller covers for a paint roller may also includes the steps of providing a surface, forming a pattern on the surface, heating the surface, and contacting the roller cover with the heated surface. The heated surface is a metal. The heat is transferred from the heated metal surface to the roller cover when the heated metal surface contacts the roller cover. The heated surface sears or melts the nap of the roller cover. The surface can be provided with a pattern so that a pattern can be placed into the nap of the roller cover. An apparatus used to treat the surface of a roller cover includes a surface having a desired pattern therein. A holder for a roller cover holds or presents the roller cover to the surface. A heater is attached to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation
    Inventors: George H. Wakat, Alan Neumann
  • Patent number: 5961899
    Abstract: A vibration control apparatus (20) and method for a calender (18) for controlling vibration between two or more rolls (ex. 22, 24) which controls vibration induced thickness variations in a medium (27) exiting from the nip. The apparatus (20) includes a frame (19), a first and second rolls (22, 24) mounted relative to the frame (19), and a force generator (32), such as an electromechanical active actuator, servo-hydraulic actuator, controllable semi-active damper, Active Vibration Absorber (AVA), or Adaptive Tuned Vibration Absorber (ATVA), provides cancelling forces to control vibration between the first and second roll (22, 24) thereby, controlling such vibration induced thickness variations in the medium (27). Preferably, the apparatus (20) includes at least one sensor (ex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Dino J. Rossetti, Stephen F. Hildebrand, John J. Quinn, Mark A. Norris, Lane R. Miller