Product Mover Including Gripper Means Patents (Class 83/151)
  • Patent number: 11292688
    Abstract: A sheet body is gripped (bound) by grip conveyance units, and conveyed as the grip conveyance units are displaced in this state. At the same time as this conveyance, the sheet body is held by delivering units, and delivered by a predetermined amount by the delivering units. After that, the sheet body is cut in predetermined size and shape by cutting molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Matsunaga, Daigo Mukasa
  • Patent number: 10273109
    Abstract: A processing apparatus comprises: a conveyance part for conveying a sheet; a processing part including a processing member that is installed in a manner of being movable in an intersecting direction of intersecting with a conveyance direction of the conveyance part and that performs predetermined processing at a predetermined position of the sheet under conveyance; a stacker part for accumulating processing articles obtained by the processing of the processing part; and a control part for controlling the stacker part such as to sort a predetermined amount of precedently ejected ones of the processing articles from the subsequent ones of the processing articles among the processing articles ejected to the stacker part by the conveyance part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Duplo Seiko Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhito Oguri, Akihiko Toki, Kazuya Takitani, Tomoyuki Nagayama, Akane Tokutake
  • Patent number: 9985404
    Abstract: A method for producing a crimp connection includes initially guiding a cable end of a cable with a gripper to a crimping press. For this feed movement the gripper is moved by an actuator in an axial direction along the cable axis. The cable end is thereafter connected with a crimp contact. During the crimping process the gripper is, for compensation for length extension of the cable during crimping, moved along the cable axis in a return movement in an opposite direction to the feed movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: KOAX HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Fries, Kurt Ulrich, Stefan Viviroli
  • Patent number: 9550307
    Abstract: A method of discharging workpieces cut from a planar material on a processing machine. A workpiece discharge device has several holding elements to receive and carry respective workpieces. After receiving a cut workpiece, the discharge device is moved to a waiting position outside and adjacent a processing region of the machine, and may then be moved back into the processing region to receive a subsequently cut workpiece before being moved to an unloading station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Buettner, Stefan Kerscher, Wolfgang Laib
  • Publication number: 20140360324
    Abstract: A feed vise is configured to position a work material on a pass line. A band saw blade has zero twisting, and is configured to cut the work material into a length smaller than a diameter of a driving wheel. A product discharge vise has product discharge vise jaws. The product discharge vise jaws clamp the work material, and the band saw blade is configured to be lowered and cut the work material. After the cutting is completed, the product discharge vise is configured to discharge a product, which is obtained by cutting the work material, below the pass line, while the product discharge vise clamps the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicants: AMADA MACHINE TOOLS COMPANY, LTD., AMADA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Toru Tokiwa, Masataka Kitai
  • Publication number: 20140290453
    Abstract: A method of discharging workpieces cut from a planar material on a processing machine. A workpiece discharge device has several holding elements to receive and carry respective workpieces. After receiving a cut workpiece, the discharge device is moved to a waiting position outside and adjacent a processing region of the machine, and may then be moved back into the processing region to receive a subsequently cut workpiece before being moved to an unloading station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Buettner, Stefan Kerschner, Wolfgang Laib
  • Publication number: 20140053698
    Abstract: A media feeder system for use with a media cutting system having a cutting table includes an upper out-feed tray and a lower in-feed tray bins are disposed laterally adjacent one side of the cutting system table. A bi-directional media transport system transports media in an in-feed direction from the in-feed tray to the cutting table surface and removes media from the cutting table surface in an out-feed direction from the cutting table surface to the out-feed tray. The media transport system includes a sheet acquisition system having gripping apparatus that adjust for a height of the media held in the bins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Linn C. Hoover, Barry P. Mandel, Robert A. Clark, William W. Nowak
  • Publication number: 20140047963
    Abstract: At the time of transfer of a strip-shaped rubber member (15) onto a belt conveyor (12) by a transfer unit, support members (61), each of which is provided on one width-direction side of a corresponding belt (51) and is projectable from a conveying surface of the belt (51), are lifted by a lifting/lowering unit (71) to project from the conveying surface of the belts (51), so that the strip-shaped rubber member (15) is raised from the conveying surface of the belts (51). Therefore, the strip-shaped rubber member (15) is not in sliding contact with the conveying surface of the belts (51) at the time of transfer. As a result, a situation whereby the belts (51) are dragged by the strip-shaped rubber member (15) so that one width-direction edge portion thereof is turned up can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuzo Kuroki
  • Publication number: 20140041498
    Abstract: The machine of the invention includes a cutting device, a first conveyor, a second conveyor, a first moving arm and a second moving arm. The cutting device includes a platform, a lower mold on the platform and an upper mold correspondingly over the lower mold. The first conveyor is disposed near one side of the platform for conveying boxes to be cut. The second conveyor is disposed near the other side of the platform for conveying cut boxes and remnants. The first moving arm includes a first transmission and a first robot hand driven thereby for moving the boxes to be cut to a position between the lower mold and the upper mold. The second moving arm includes a second transmission and a second robot hand driven thereby for moving the cut boxes and remnants to the second conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Chien-Kuan KUO, Chun-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 8555760
    Abstract: An apparatus is for detaching a workpiece from a cutting table. The workpiece is a cutting cut out from a flexible web made of fiber material. A raising device is displaceable relative to the cutting table receiving the web with the cutting and has a run-up surface for the workpiece ascending from the cutting table for progressively lifting the workpiece from the cutting table. A receiving device progressively receives the workpiece after the run-up surface. A lifting device is provided at a distance above the cutting table and includes a receiver which can be adjusted to the length of the boundary section of the cutting facing the raising device and which holds the received boundary section in a transfer position lifted off from the cutting table. The raising device is displaceable between the lifting device and the web resting on the cutting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: GFM-GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Heidlmayer, Rudolf Ahrer, Harald Dietachmayr
  • Patent number: 8453547
    Abstract: A device for trimming at least one side edge of a bound printed product including a trimming table to receive the printed product and a press die arranged to press the printed product against the trimming table. The press die is operative to rise and fall with respect to the trimming table and the press die includes an elastic surface in a region approximately near the side edge of the print product. The elastic surface is operable to expand in a direction approximately transverse to the pressing direction. The device also includes a trimming knife positioned to trim the side edge. The trimming knife is operable to move between a starting position away from the trimming table and an ending position at the trimming table. The device also includes counter blade or a cutting bar mounted to limit a cutting stroke of the trimming knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Hanspeter Meyer, Heinrich-Tito Mayer
  • Patent number: 8291798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing small, thin sheets from an active-ingredient film (2), in which the latter is produced by casting the film material onto a substrate material or by coating a substrate material, storing it with or without substrate material on a reel, pulling it off the reel and cutting it. It achieves the object of designing a method of this type in such a way that with this method small sheets can be produced as exactly as possible in predetermined sizes. To do this, the active-ingredient film (2) is pulled off automatically, is separated from a substrate material which, if present, and in tensioned form, is fed to a cutting station and is cut, in the feed direction, into long, narrow strips (7) of predeterminable width, and the long strips (7) are brought together in the feed direction and together are fed by a further feed device (10) to a transverse cutter (11), which cuts through the combined long strips (7) at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schäfer, Ronald Hackbarth, Detlev Neuland
  • Patent number: 8109186
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping food products such as bacon, cheese or cooked meat in a slicing machine, together with methods of operation thereof. The gripper apparatus comprises hooks for gripping one end of the food product. During slicing, the slicing machine cuts slices from the other end of the food product. Two sets of hooks are present and each set of hooks is moveable between a retracted inoperative position and an extended product-gripping position, independently of the other set. The second set of hooks, when in their extended position, projects for a distance greater than the first set of hooks. Both sets of hooks occupy their extended positions during initial stages of slicing and the second set of hooks is withdrawn to their retracted position during a final stage of slicing so that more of the remaining end of the product can be sliced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: AEW Delford Systems Limited
    Inventor: Alan Culling
  • Patent number: 8096494
    Abstract: The device to position tubular winding cores on a common supporting and rotating shaft comprises: supporting members for said shafts AS and gripping and handling members 23A, 23B of the winding cores A parallel to the axis of said shaft AS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: A. Celli Nonwovens S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giulio Simonelli, Franco Lazzerini
  • Patent number: 7946205
    Abstract: The device comprises at least a continuous movable flexible member (23) carrying a series of contact members (29, 29A, 29B) for the products (R; R1; RN) aligned with one another. A section of the movable flexible member is devoid of said contact members to allow the trimmings (Rc, Rt) to fall. At least a longitudinal supporting element (21) of the products (R; R1, RN), is also provided, parallel to the movable flexible member, the reciprocal position of said flexible member and of said longitudinal element being such that the products advance in contact with the contact members (29, 29A, 29B) of the flexible member and with the longitudinal element. A pusher (11) inserts the series of products with the respective trimmings between the flexible member and the longitudinal supporting member. The flexible member (23) is controlled with a variable speed to carry the section thereof devoid of contact members time by time to the level of the head and tail trimmings (Rc; Rt) of two consecutive series of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Fabio Perini S.p.A.
    Inventors: Angelo Benvenuti, Mario Gioni Chiocchetti, Mauro Gelli
  • Publication number: 20100224042
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing small, thin sheets from an active-ingredient film (2), in which the latter is produced by casting the film material onto a substrate material or by coating a substrate material, storing it with or without substrate material on a reel, pulling it off the reel and cutting it. It achieves the object of designing a method of this type in such a way that with this method small sheets can be produced as exactly as possible in predetermined sizes. To do this, the active-ingredient film (2) is pulled off automatically, is separated from a substrate material which, if present, and in tensioned form, is fed to a cutting station and is cut, in the feed direction, into long, narrow strips (7) of predeterminable width, and the long strips (7) are brought together in the feed direction and together are fed by a further feed device (10) to a transverse cutter (11), which cuts through the combined long strips (7) at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schäfer, Ronald Hackbarth, Detlev Neuland
  • Publication number: 20090260497
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for detaching a workpiece from a cutting table (1), which workpiece comprises a cutting (6) cut out from a flexible web (10) made of fiber material, comprising a raising device (4) which is displaceable relative to the cutting table (1) receiving the web (10) with the cutting (6) and which comprises a run-up surface (8) for the workpiece ascending from the cutting table (1) for progressively lifting the workpiece from the cutting table (1), a receiving device (7) progressively receiving the workpiece after the run-up surface (8) and a lifting device (14) for the edge of the workpiece facing the raising device (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Franz Heidlmayer, Rudolf Ahrer, Harald Dietachmayr
  • Publication number: 20090229434
    Abstract: A method and a device for trimming printed products (100) on the front edges (104) (frontal trimming) and/or on the lateral edges (106, 108) (head-foot-trimming). The products (100) are inserted into moved receiving compartments along a closed circuit (U), the compartments being open on at least one side, preferably on three sides and include blades (32, 42) moved along in this region, which act together with stationary counter blades (34, 44). The depth of insertion of the products (100) is restricted by a support (50) such that the front edges (104) of the products (100) are in the direct vicinity of the open side of the compartments (10), advantageously protruding with their front edges (104) over the moved along blades (32) for the frontal trimming. The edges (106, 108) of the products (100) extending perpendicular to the folded edge (102) are fixed prior to carrying out a trimming by means of a clamping and moving arrangement (20) and only released for the passing on of the printed product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Hans Ulrich Stauber
  • Publication number: 20080264221
    Abstract: The present invention provides a work sheet processing system that can compactly collect a plurality of product work sheets cut by a work sheet processing machine, allowing the product work sheets to be easily transported to a next process. A work sheet processing system includes a work sheet processing machine 1 that cuts a plurality of product work sheets from a material work sheet W0, a work sheet collecting vehicle 3 on which the product work sheets cut by the work sheet processing machine are loaded, and a work sheet carry-out device 2 that carries out the product work sheets from the work sheet processing machine 1 to the work sheet collecting vehicle 3. The work sheet collecting vehicle 3 has a planar placing portion 32 on which the product work sheets are loaded so as to be laid on top of one another like a stack, and a leaning-against portion 31 on which the product work sheets are loaded so as to lean against the leaning-against portion 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke KATSUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20080196566
    Abstract: A food slicing machine is provided which includes restraining apparatus operative to engage the sides of a food product (4) to be sliced to produce lateral location of the food product. The restraining apparatus comprises a moveable member (8) operative to push a food product to be sliced against a guide (10). The machine is arranged to cause gripping apparatus (5) to engage one end of the food product when the food product is pressed by the moveable member against the guide, after which the moveable member moves away from the food product and thereby releases the lateral pressure on the food product prior to slicing thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: AEW DELFORD SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Alan Culling
  • Publication number: 20080163732
    Abstract: Apparatus for moving logs (2) within cutting-off machines. The apparatus includes a platform (1) with one or more longitudinal channels (10) inside which the logs to be cut are disposed, and a pusher device (3) acting in correspondence of the platform (1) and intended for acting on the back of the logs (2) to push them, along respective guide channels (10), toward a cutting device (4) disposed downstream. The apparatus includes a clamping device (5) disposed intermediate between the pusher device (3) and the cutting device (4) and intended for engaging the logs (2) which are pushed along the channels (10) of platform (1) by the pusher device (3) and driving them along up to the cutting device (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Fabio PERINI
  • Patent number: 7389716
    Abstract: Apparatus and processes for producing paper roll products with spaced core sections. A core substrate is arranged on a mandrel, and then divided into a plurality of core sections. The core sections are then separated from each other on the mandrel to form gaps between the core sections. Paper web material can then be wound onto the separated core sections to form a log of rolls. The log is then cut into final paper roll products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Wausau Paper Towel & Tissue, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Blume, James Vincent Holzem, Steve J. Jansen
  • Publication number: 20070157777
    Abstract: A gripper which can hold the adhesive tape between its branches is mounted on a chain driven in a loop. In a gripping area at the start of the outgoing portion, the gripper is closed around the adhesive tape unwound from the reel. The gripper which is kept closed is then moved along the outgoing portion, thus pulling the adhesive tape up to a release area where it is stopped. The adhesive tape is then cut across by a cutting system designed to hold the adhesive tape on both the upstream and the downstream sides. The gripper is then opened, and the cut piece is transferred to a user station. The gripper is then returned to the gripping area by driving the chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: CEFMA
    Inventor: Pierre Talou
  • Patent number: 7127974
    Abstract: Apparatus and processes for producing paper roll products with spaced core sections. A core substrate is arranged on a mandrel, and then divided into a plurality of core sections. The core sections are then separated from each other on the mandrel to form gaps between the core sections. Paper web material can then be wound onto the separated core sections to form a log of rolls. The log is then cut into final paper roll products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Bay West Paper Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Blume, James Vincent Holzem, Steve J. Jansen
  • Patent number: 7121310
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting wooden piles underwater and a method of use are disclosed. The apparatus has a frame and brace configured for engaging a pile. A pressure medium activated cutting device is connected to the frame and oriented at an angle such that a pile can be cut at a point below the bottom surface. The frame and brace are placed on opposite sides of the pile and connected to each other with a chain or cable. The apparatus has lines attached thereto and the other ends of the lines are attached to a boat or other flotation device. Using the disclosed apparatus to remove pilings causes significantly less turbidity than devices or methods currently available. Additionally, using the disclosed device also eliminates the need to decontaminate silt removed from the water using the currently available methods or devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventors: Wilbur L. Clark, Michael T. Clark, Keith Cronin
  • Patent number: 6918586
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing positive control of a printable medium in a printing system such that high speed processing of the printable medium can be achieved without damage to the product (e.g., printed signatures). Exemplary embodiments are directed to a carrier system which contacts (e.g., grips) the printable medium from both sides to provide positive control over the printable medium as it is transported from one area of positive constraint (e.g., a folding mechanism of a folder device) to another area of positive constraint (e.g., transport tapes and/or a signature deceleration device located downstream of the cutting cylinders).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Goss International Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Lauren Cote, Richard Daniel Curley
  • Patent number: 6862969
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of fiber bundles and an apparatus for the performance of the method. A continuous process routine and the reduction of fiber losses is permitted by a method with process steps including taking up and transportation of a fiber bundle strand using one or more feed elements, cutting of the fiber bundle strand into partial bundles of a suitable length, releasing the partial bundles from the feed elements, gripping of the partial bundles using one or more gripping elements and releasing the partial bundles from the gripping elements. The present invention further relates to an apparatus for the performance of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Graf, Josef Herrmann, Klaus Heilmann
  • Publication number: 20040154151
    Abstract: An automated de-banding machine which can perform by scanning the surface of the pallet to determine the number and position of bands to be removed. The machine also is capable of analyzing to determine the overlay bands from underlay bands. The overlay bands are removed first and typically fed individually to a chopper which chops the bands into pieces for recycling. The band information may be recorded and used to facilitate handling of a similar type of pallet in future operations to eliminate any stoppage for determination of retooling or adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicant: R. A, Pearson Company
    Inventors: Richard R. Lile, Daniel V. Brown
  • Patent number: 6729216
    Abstract: A sheet processing machine receives sheets from a sheet feeder. The sheets are inspected and their trailing ends are trimmed. Subsequently, the sheets are turned and are split into a plurality of partial sheets or sheet pieces. The now trailing ends of the sheet pieces are trimmed. The sheet pieces are separated axially and are delivered to a sheet receiving device where the individual sheet pieces are deposited in various stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johannes Georg Schaede
  • Publication number: 20030226434
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for the manufacture of perforated plaster boards, provision is made for the operations of punching and cutting the sides to take place one directly after the other with the boards being held in position by grabbing and conveying equipments during the entire working time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventor: Erich R. Vogl
  • Publication number: 20030089205
    Abstract: An improved rotary die cutting apparatus and method for removing scrap material from work pieces such as paperboard blanks. One of the dies of a pair of rotary cutting dies is provided with gripper elements that extend over at least a portion of the area of the die corresponding to the areas over which the scrap portions are generated. The gripper elements grip, without piercing completely through, the scrap portions generated by the cutting operation of the dies. A stripping knife extends across the die carrying the scrap portions at a height above the gripper elements that provides clearance between the gripper elements and the stripping knife but contacts the scrap portions retained on the gripper elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Alan R. Pfaff,
  • Publication number: 20020152859
    Abstract: A method to remove pieces (14) cut off from bar-shaped workpiece material (5) by a cutting machine (1) is provided as well as an apparatus to carry out this process, wherein the piece (14) of the material (5) to be cut lies on a machine table (7) during cutting behind the cutting plane (8) in the direction of feed (9) of the material (5), is gripped between gripping jaws (12, 13) from behind the cutting plane (8) only. At the end of the cut, the cut off piece (14) is moved away from the cutting plane (8) by the gripping jaws (12, 13) in the material feed direction (9) and is tilted about an axis perpendicular to the material feed direction (9) such that its most recently cut surface is essentially horizontal and directed downward and that the piece (14) is then discharged by the gripping jaws (12, 13) by means of an essentially vertical motion downward onto an offload table (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: KEURO Besitz GmbH & Co. EDV-Dienstleistungs KG
    Inventor: Armin Stolzer
  • Publication number: 20020134210
    Abstract: A bilge drainage system for a boat having a through-transom drainage passageway has a through-transom pipe connected to an externally-mounted flange and connected internally to a manually or electronically operated stopcock located near the bottom of the bilge such that the stopcock may be opened, and bilge water drained to the sea, when the boat is traveling through the water on a plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: David L. Carlberg, Ford Garratt, Ted Meigs
  • Patent number: 6397714
    Abstract: The cutting cylinder of a rotary cutting machine has at least one radial needle for retaining waste projecting radially from its surface. A waste ejector has a rectilinear part parallel to the generatrix of the said cylinder and traversed by at least one slot coinciding with the trajectory of said radial needle for the passage thereof. A support has a first part secured to the frame of the rotary cutting machine, a second part secured to said ejector and connected to the first part by a guide defining a transverse trajectory relative to the edge of said ejector and intersecting said cylinder. An adjustment device moves the said second part along the transverse trajectory and an elastic connection exerts a prestressing of the second part on the adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Bobst SA
    Inventor: Edouard Borel
  • Publication number: 20010007216
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting an indefinite length suture to different lengths for subsequent threading and swaging to surgical needles includes a drawing tower having first and second guide members defining a drawing axis parallel thereto. First and second grippers are provided to grip the indefinite length suture and to alternately draw it along the drawing axis, with each gripper being mounted for reciprocal movement along a guide member. Each gripper alternately grips the suture and draws it a distance beyond the location of a cutter assembly while the other gripper reciprocates to a start position before the cutter assembly. A tipping assembly heats a predetermined small length of the suture to stiffen the suture thereat after subsequent cooling, in preparation for cutting the suture thereat and inserting a stiffened lead cut end of the suture into an end of a needle for swaging thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 12, 2001
    Applicant: ETHICON, INC.
    Inventors: David D. Demarest, John F. Blanch, William F. Smith
  • Patent number: 6192778
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus for separating packages from a line of interconnected packages. The technical problem is to simplify the cutting apparatus and shorten the set-up times and the work cycles. This problem is achieved with a lower knife (4) capable of being moved in between the packages in the vertical direction from below and with an upper roll (12) capable of being moved, together with a discharge gripper (11) for the separated packages, parallel to the conveying section while being pressed against the lower knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Thies Eggers
  • Patent number: 6131496
    Abstract: A sheet processing machine utilizes chain conveyors, each of which are provided with a plurality of chain gripper devices, to convey sheets. As each sheet is conveyed, it is cut by a transverse cutting device and is inspected. Each cut and inspected sheet may then be separated into several partial sheets which are then conveyed independently of each other to selectable stacks in a sheet delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Albert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johannes Georg Schaede
  • Patent number: 6116126
    Abstract: A method for use in making profile pieces. The method has the steps of feeding a profile into a work station, clamping the profile in the work station, and cutting it into a profile piece and a profile remainder. The profile piece is repositioned in the work station for further work by operably connecting it to the profile remainder while both the profile piece and the profile remainder are clamped, and moving the profile remainder. The invention also covers a machine for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventors: Marc Van Den Bulcke, Hartmut Federhenn
  • Patent number: 6098373
    Abstract: The strap processing apparatus comprises a first carrying conveyer for carrying a bundle of a predetermined number of layered valuable papers sealed with a sealing strap, a second carrying conveyer and an upper conveyer for bending the bundle of layered valuable papers carried by the carrying means thereby to form a clearance between the upper surface portion of the layered valuable papers and the sealing strap, a pair of strap catchers for clamping a portion of the sealing strap lifted apart from the upper surface portion of the layered valuable papers with a predetermined distance maintained between the pair of strap catchers each other, and a cutter for cutting an intermediate portion of the sealing strap clamped by the pair of strap catchers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Ashikawa, Hideki Matsumoto, Toshiyuki Miyano, Toshinori Utsugi
  • Patent number: 6055896
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a stacking machine which cuts a multiply rope into bundles, clamps the lead ends of the bundles against a conveyor which moves the bundles to stacking stations where the bundles are collected in stacks. Completed stacks are transferred to a takeaway conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Elsner Engineering Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Molison
  • Patent number: 6024524
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing book blocks from various printed sheets composed of a plurality of quarto sheets which are inserted into one another, wherein the printed sheets are successively pulled fold first along a conveying path from a stack of printed sheets by a gripping unit of a feeder and are subsequently gathered with their flat sides placed against each other into book blocks. The gripping unit which grasps the printed sheets approximately at the fold thereof produces a deformation or injury which extends at least partially through the quarto sheets, so that the respective quarto sheets are secured relative to each other and displacements relative to each other are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Grapha-Holding AG
    Inventors: Arnold Braker, Wilfried Weibel
  • Patent number: 5970833
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a stacking machine which cuts a multiply rope into bundles, clamps the lead ends of the bundles against a conveyor which moves the bundles to stacking stations where the bundles are collected in stacks. Completed stacks are transferred to a takeaway conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Elsner Engineering Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Molison
  • Patent number: 5901626
    Abstract: An apparatus for severing fiber bale ties and removing cut ties from a fiber bale includes a tie cutter for severing a metal tie surrounding the bale at a bale location; and a first metal sensor for responding to a presence of a metal tie around the bale. The first metal sensor is situated ahead of the tie cutter, whereby the first metal sensor passes by the bale tie prior to being severed by the tie cutter. There is further provided a second metal sensor for responding to a presence of a metal tie in engagement with the bale. The second metal sensor is situated after the tie cutter, whereby the second metal sensor trails the tie cutter relative to the fiber bale. The apparatus further has a device for displacing the bale and the first and second metal sensors relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Josef Temburg
  • Patent number: 5823081
    Abstract: A circular saw with a spreading mechanism employing hydraulic cylinders for opening and closing a main vise about a workpiece to be crosscut by a saw blade, and a carrier vise for spreading and for advancing the workpiece for crosscutting, the tightening and loosening of the main vise about the workpiece, and the spreading by the carrier vise is controlled by a hydraulic sequencing circuit resulting in lower manufacturing cost of the saw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Tsune Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryoichi Tsune
  • Patent number: 5584374
    Abstract: In this method for row-wise separation of rectilinear, plastic porous concrete bodies formed by longitudinal and transverse cutting of a rectilinear plastic porous concrete block preferably standing on edge. After turning back through 90.degree., the cut block is so placed with its major side surface on a plurality of parallel laminae for the separation and so that its longest side edge runs parallel to the direction of the laminae and that each row of porous concrete bodies is supported on at least one lamina. Before the separation, a clamping force is exerted from above on the upper ends of all the porous concrete bodies of the row to be separated. Independently thereof, a clamping force from above is exerted on the upper ends of all the porous concrete bodies of the stationary row in contact with the row to be separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Heber Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilfried Hartmann, Eberhard Brandt
  • Patent number: 5463921
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for nondestructively removing a cut segment of predetermined shape from a limp material sheet workpiece and transporting the cut workpiece segment to a staging area for further processing. The cut segment is picked up by a picker which may comprise an array of carding strips, each strip having a plurality of needle-like elements, arranged such that each strip can be displaced relative to its adjacent strips and the needle-like elements of each strip are angularly offset with respect to the needle-like elements of the adjacent strips. Such removal and transporting having is accomplished without distorting the shape of the cut segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Bellio, Edward Bernardon, Mark J. Condon, Robert S. Flory, Donald C. Fyler, Mitchell L. Hansberry, Tommy W. Lee, James F. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5347898
    Abstract: A method and system for assorting a number of small product pieces (G) cut off from a large work sheet (W) which is processed by a cutting machine (1) to form small product parts (G). The system includes a cutting-off device (71) for cutting off the small product parts (G) in turn from the large work sheet (W), transportation device (9) for transporting the small product pieces (G) cut off from the sheet (W) in a direction (X) and positioning the pieces (G) in desired places in the transportation device (9), and an assorting device (11) for collecting the pieces (G) at the desired places and positioning the pieces in predetermined places by every kind of the pieces (G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masaoki Ito
  • Patent number: 5315906
    Abstract: A machine for processing a workpiece is disclosed. Preferably, the machine includes a circular saw blade that may be positionable about multiple axes with respect to the workpiece. The machine is particularly suited for processing an elongated workpiece. The machine includes two gripping mechanisms and three vises that cooperate with one another to move an elongated workpiece into position, hold the workpiece while it is being processed, and remove the workpiece from the machine. The machine also includes a computer system that controls the orientation of the saw blade and the movements of the vises and gripping mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Vought Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Laszlo Ferenczi, Mark A. Turner, Gregory A. Prince
  • Patent number: 5303623
    Abstract: The common base of the comb-shaped clearing device is made of a shaft. Screws are provided for blocking pairs of parallel arms on a shaft in variable positions as a function of a longitudinal position of a series of points on the cutting cylinder (2). The two arms of each pair, which are symmetrical with respect to a symmetry vertical plane, have inner faces turned toward one another and formed in such a manner as to define therebetween an interval having a width which increases from front to rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: A.T.N. French Societe Anonyme
    Inventor: Serge Chiloff
  • Patent number: 5257568
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a saw chain for a motor-driven chain saw equipped with a guide bar and a drive motor for imparting a force to the saw chain for moving the latter around the guide bar in a predetermined running direction. The saw chain includes a plurality of side cutting links, a plurality of center driving links and a plurality of side connecting links. The links are pivotally interconnected by rivets to define the saw chain. Entrainers are formed on at least a portion of the connecting links and/or drive links to reliably hold a chip cut by a forward cutting tooth in the free space between two cutting links one directly behind the other. The chip is therefore prevented from slipping relative to the saw chain and is transported out of the kerf without affecting the cutting capacity of the next-rearward cutting link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl
    Inventor: Karl Nitschmann