By Stretching Patents (Class 83/18)
  • Patent number: 11045967
    Abstract: A front end feeding device 23 between a cutter 10 and a fixed-length feeding hand 30 that feeds a strip member 5 on an upstream side of the cutter 10 feeds a front end of the strip member 5 a short distance to a downstream side of the cutter 10, a front end grasping hand 60 on the downstream of the cutter 10 holds the front end of the strip member 5 fed the short distance, the fixed-length feeding hand 30 holds a part of the strip member 5 fed the short distance on the upstream side of the cutter 10, the front end grasping hand 60 and the fixed-length feeding hand 30 synchronously feed the strip member 5 a long distance to the downstream side, and the cutter 10 cuts the strip member 5 having been fed the long distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuji Ogose, Hiroaki Morino, Yu Hatayama
  • Patent number: 11026537
    Abstract: A friction activated ground coffee dispenser comprising a ground coffee reservoir, a dispensing base and a dispenser. The dispenser may be a rotary dispenser or a slide dispenser. The dispenser further comprises a reservoir that may be scaled to dispense ground coffee into a single serve pod, filter, or other grounds holding devices such as an espresso portafilter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: John Patton Wallis
  • Patent number: 10807772
    Abstract: An improved bag clamp comprises a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member has an opening in a clamping surface thereof and the second jaw member a blade reciprocatingly mounted therein. A hinge couples the first jaw member and the second jaw member. The clamp is moveable between an open configuration in which the first jaw member and second jaw member are angularly spaced and a closed configuration in which the opening in the first jaw member is aligned with the blade of the second jaw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory Roy Ruddell, Robert J. Halas
  • Patent number: 10383479
    Abstract: A friction active ground coffee dispenser comprising a ground coffee reservoir, a dispensing base and a dispenser. The dispenser may be a rotary dispenser or a slide dispenser. The dispenser further comprises a reservoir that may be scaled to dispense ground coffee into a single serve pod, filter, or other grounds holding devices such as an espresso portafilter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Inventor: John Patton Wallis
  • Patent number: 9126251
    Abstract: A method for making a device includes providing a tubular member which will be formed into the device, masking at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular member with a removable sacrificial material, selectively removing a portion of the tubular member and sacrificial material using a laser device, and mechanically removing the sacrificial material from the inner surface of the tubular member. Ultrasonic energy could be applied to a workpiece which is being laser cut to prevent any generated slag from welding itself to an exposed surface of the workpiece. A compressed fluid or gas, such as air, could be used to clean the surface of the laser-cut workpiece to remove slag formation which adheres to the surface of the cut workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Bialas, Robert P. Barbier, David Strauss, David Mackiewicz, Pius Kienzle, Mihaela Baldi
  • Publication number: 20150128776
    Abstract: A shaver comprises a skin engaging portion and a cutting element, wherein the skin engaging portion comprises a force-generating member that can be selectively activated during use to increase or decrease a force of attraction to the skin of a user. The force-generating members may be electro-adhesive elements. A controller may be provided to selectively activate these elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Jasper Zuidervaart, Robert Godlieb
  • Patent number: 8739670
    Abstract: Unattached elastic portions of an elasticised web are grasped and raised above a support surface for feeding the elasticised web. The raised portions are brought into contact with a knife blade that is positioned to protrude through the thickness of the raised elastic layer into free space so as to remain spaced from the support surface that is moving beneath the blade in a direction normal to the support surface. The raised elastic layer is held raised during trimming with the knife blade by an elevation element over which the elastic layer runs. A grasping device holds the unattached portion being cut in a taut state in the cross machine direction. The elastic layer thus spans across the elevation element and the grasping device. The knife blade extends through the thickness of the elastic layer along the spanned part of the elastic layer into free space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Benoit Coulombe
  • Publication number: 20140130647
    Abstract: A sheet cutting apparatus and a sheet cutting method using the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the sheet cutting apparatus includes a holder for rotatably supporting a sheet roll, a lamination unit for pulling and unwinding a front end of the sheet unwound from the sheet roll, a table on which the sheet unwound by the lamination parts is attached, and a tension unit for giving tension to the sheet attached on the table. Since the sheet cutting apparatus may cut the sheet consistently and stably, product quality and production efficiency should increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Sik Yun, Choong-Ho Lee, Tong-Jin Park, Doh-Hyoung Lee
  • Publication number: 20140069244
    Abstract: Systems and processes for die-cutting stretched base films are disclosed. In some examples, the systems can include fixed or adjustable die-cut heads that are offset from one another based on an amount of distortion of the base film. Systems and processes for reducing the amount of distortion or shrinking of base films are also disclosed. In some examples, the processes can include pre-shrinking the base film by exposing the film to elevated temperatures sufficient to shrink the film. The pre-shrinking can be performed on the base film material alone, or can be applied during subsequent annealing stages. The pre-shrinking can be used alone or in combination with the offset die-cutters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Siddharth Mohapatra, Sunggu Kang, John Z. Zhong
  • Publication number: 20130216851
    Abstract: The method serves for producing network-like metal mats from metallic strip material, for which purpose the strip material is first provided with notches (2), running parallel to one another, for the forming of metal wires (1), by means of notching rollers. The notches (2) are thereby formed to such depths, depending on the material, that as far as possible no sliding fractures are formed. The notches (2) are interrupted by unnotched regions—the mutual spacing of which in the respective notch (2) determines the later possible mesh width—at least in such a way that they later form network nodes (4). The network nodes (4) are offset by approximately half a network node spacing in the respectively adjacent notches (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Karl-Hermann Stahl
  • Publication number: 20130098214
    Abstract: Cutting device, method and use are for cutting of a line extending from a floating vessel. The cutting device is structured for placement on the vessel. The cutting device comprises: at least one guide structured for directional steering of the line past a cutting area for the line; and at least one of the following cutting-promoting devices: at least one induction coil device directed inwards toward the cutting area and structured for heating, hence weakening, of the line within the cutting area; and at least one moveable cutting knife with an opposite contact surface directed inwards toward the cutting area and also structured for cutting of the line within the cutting area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Petter Birkeland
  • Publication number: 20130090718
    Abstract: Polymeric stents having fracture toughness and resistance to recoil after deployment are disclosed along with methods of manufacturing such stents. Improvements to mechanical characteristics and other improvements may be achieved by having polymer chains within individual stent struts oriented in a direction that is closer to or in line with the axis of the individual stent struts. The struts are connected to each other by hinge elements that are configured to bend during crimping and deployment of the stent. Ring struts form ring structures. A ring structure can have an overall curvilinear length from about 12 mm to about 15 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120270003
    Abstract: The invention provides a polyolefin pre-stretched packaging film comprising perforations arranged in a series of columns along a longitudinal direction of the film, wherein each adjacent column of said perforations is separated by a column without perforations along the longitudinal direction, and the perforations are staggered in a transverse direction across the film, wherein said film comprises an inherent cling surface on at least one of its surfaces; wherein the perforations cover at least 25% of the total surface area of the film, and the film has an inside/inside cling property of 5 to 22 gr, and a weight of no more than 13 g/m2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: MEGAPLAST S.A. PACKAGING MATERIALS INDUSTRY
    Inventors: Michalis Apostolakis, Konstantinos G. Gatos, Anthony G. Karandinos
  • Patent number: 8117733
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for removing a film (2) of a package (3) of objects having an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis comprises two pairs of rollers (7 and 12) suitable for pressing on the film (2) externally to hold the package (3) in place in a removal station (8); the two pairs of rollers are operatively connected to respective motor drives so as to apply a mechanical stretching to portions (13 and 14) of the film (2) in order to tear them, thus enabling the first pair (7) of rollers to remove the film (2) and free the objects from the package. Known film removal apparatus require a device for cutting the packaging film longitudinally, so that the speed of the apparatus is limited according to the length of the package and there is a risk of objects being damaged during cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Clevertech S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Reggiani, Cesare Corradi
  • Publication number: 20110203430
    Abstract: Nip rollers 11 and 12 each including a pair of upper and lower rollers are disposed on an upstream side and a downstream side with a portion to be cut of an optical film F located therebetween. In the nip roller 12, a center axis C of the upper roller 12b is displaced relative to a center axis L of the drive roller 12a in a direction away from the portion to be cut. Upon cutting of the polarizing film F, the upper rollers 11b and 12b are simultaneously moved downward, so that a timing at which the downstream nip roller 12 nips the polarizing film F is delayed. Further, the nip roller 12 pulls the polarizing film F in the direction away from the portion to be cut, so that tension is applied to the polarizing film F. In this state, the polarizing film F is cut by a laser device 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Kouta Nakai, Junpei Kozasa, Yoshio Takahashi, Masahiro Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7955467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for producing a groove near an intended edge part of a conveyor belt, which groove is intended to be filled with a filler having sealing properties, in which the groove is formed by removing conveyor belt material from one of the surfaces of the conveyor belt and in which, during the step of removing conveyor belt material, the conveyor belt is bent at the position of the groove to be formed near the intended edge part, and also to a conveyor belt in which a groove is produced in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Joannes Stefanus van't Schip
  • Patent number: 7811399
    Abstract: A method of cutting an elastomeric strip of material is described. The method includes the step of advancing a strip of material 2 a predetermined distance by a conveyor means 30. Resisting reverse movement of the strip 2; tensioning the strip 2; and cutting simultaneously across the entire width of the strip 2 through the thickness of the strip 2 on a skive angle of 45 degrees or less preferably about 28 degrees to form a cut length of material thereby relaxing the tension in the strip as the skive cut ends 3 and 4 move apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Robert Albert Lammlein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7240595
    Abstract: A process for producing a magnetic tape is provided, in which a web is extended in the width direction immediately before it is cut by a slitter when the web is supplied to the slitter to be cut into several magnetic tapes. The extension of the web is performed by an extension roller apparatus comprises a backup roller for rolling the web and a pair of horizontally disposed extension rollers which elastically push the web WB at portions near both sides thereof to allow the web for extending in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Kato, Tadashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7138026
    Abstract: A method of preventing crown hydration of a golf green by providing a polyethylene tube, stretching the tube to form a stretched tube, cutting the tube in a spiral fashion to form a first sheet with force striations at an acute angle to an edge of the sheet, forming a second sheet in a similar manner as the first sheet with a force striations at an acute angle, securing a surface of the first sheet to a surface of the second sheet with the force striations of the first sheet at a relative angle to the force striation of the second sheet to form a layered sheets, providing a plurality of layered sheets, securing the edges of the layered sheets to form a golf green cover, and applying a holding means through a reinforced section to hold the cover in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventor: James E. Stoller
  • Patent number: 7047852
    Abstract: A process for providing feedforward control to control the feed rate of an elastic material. The process involves measuring the distance between registration marks on the elastic material prior to cut-off. These measurements are compared to a target cut length. The feed rate of a feed roll is adjusted, based on the target cut length and the distance between the registration marks, to maintain the cut length of the elastic material at the target cut length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Allan Franklin, Aaron Dee Schilpp, Douglas N. Duehring
  • Patent number: 6800231
    Abstract: A method for cuffing suture, including: feeding the suture to a drawing axis for drawing and cutting thereof; heating the suture to stiffen a small length; gripping the suture and alternately drawing it along the drawing axis by first and second grippers; cutting the suture to provide uniform lengths; and providing a predetermined length of suture travel between the heating step and the cutting step, which is a discrete number, two or more, times the uniform length of suture being cut by the apparatus, to provide a discrete number, two or more, of apparatus cutting cycles between heating of the suture and cutting of the suture, whereby after heating of a small length of suture, the suture is cooled to allow setting and hardening of the suture material prior to cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Demarest, John F. Blanch, William F. Smith
  • Patent number: 6715387
    Abstract: A film is made of an elastic material. The film is stretched in at least one direction in parallel to a surface of the film. Then, through-holes are punched in the film be means of needles, in a state the film is stretched. After the punching is completed, the stretching is terminated, so that the film recovers its original shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6684744
    Abstract: A film is made of an elastic material. The film is stretched in at least one direction in parallel to a surface of the film. Then, through-holes are punched in the film be means of needles, in a state the film is stretched. After the punching is completed, the stretching is terminated, so that the film recovers its original shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6439090
    Abstract: A method of removing waste material from an annular, elastomeric article 10. The method includes the steps of: securing at least a portion of the annular, elastomeric article 10; securing at least a portion of the waste material; penetrating the waste material with a cutting tool 52; and guiding the cutting tool 52 through the waste material. The method is characterized by the step of stretching the waste material prior to guiding the cutting tool 52. In the preferred method, the waste material is stretched a distance sufficient to simultaneously apply some degree of tension to the unsecured portions of the waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Brian Joseph Wilson, Kenneth Dean Conger, Scott Richard Harshbarger, William Allen Rex
  • Patent number: 6382061
    Abstract: A method of cutting a resilient workpiece having sides in opposition to one another to form at least one cut in the workpiece includes the steps of stretching the workpiece, maintaining the workpiece in stretched condition by applying clamping forces to the sides of the workpiece after the workpiece has been stretched, cutting the workpiece while it is clamped and stretched to form a cut in and extending through the workpiece, and unclamping the workpiece after the cut has been formed to allow the workpiece to return to unstretched condition and the cut to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph Paczonay
  • Patent number: 6244145
    Abstract: An apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web being carried on a fabric. The apparatus including a penetrating device and an air flow that separates a portion of the sheet material web from the fabric adjacent the penetrating device so as to bring the web into contact with the penetrating device. In one embodiment, a vacuum lifts a portion of the sheet material web into contact with a slitting member such that it continuously slits the sheet material web longitudinally along its length as the fabric carries the sheet material web beneath it. In an alternative embodiment, a pressurized air stream is directed to a bottom portion of the sheet material web so as to separate the web from the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Hada, Lowell E. Thoms
  • Patent number: 6212982
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing slot-shaped openings on hollow sections is disclosed in which the openings are produced by a piercing cutting operation by means of a blade-type cutting tool by the displacement of material in a cutout-free manner. During the slotting operation, the hollow sections are supported from the inside around the openings to be formed. In order to produce slot-shaped openings in a simple manner while maintaining the shape of the hollow section on arbitrarily constructed hollow sections in a reliable process free of positional tolerances, the hollow section is inserted in a recess of an internal high pressure forming tool. The hollow section is slotted by the interaction of the cutting action of a cutting tool integrated in the internal high pressure forming tool and an internal high pressure generated inside the hollow section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Helmut Augustin, Thomas Hülsberg
  • Patent number: 6128816
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting an indefinite length suture strand to uniform lengths for subsequent threading and swaging to a surgical needle includes a drawing tower having at least one guide member defining a drawing axis parallel thereto. First and second gripping devices are provided to grip the indefinite length suture strand and draw it along the drawing axis; each gripping device mounted for reciprocal movement on at least one guide member. A retractable cutter for cutting the indefinite length suture strand is also provided for cutting the strand at a start position along the drawing axis. The indefinite length suture strand is fed to the drawing axis and drawn a predetermined distance beyond the location of the retractable cutter for positioning within a suture receiving opening formed in the surgical needle, while the second gripping device reciprocates to a start position along the drawing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: David Demarest, Timothy Lenihan, William Rattan
  • Patent number: 6070507
    Abstract: A package is provided with a lid and container that are heat sealed together. A multi-ply sheet material is provided for being thermoformed to define the container which has a tapering wall and bulge-resistant bottom end. Prior to thermoforming the container from the sheet, the sheet is heated with oval pads on a plurality of plates which are arranged in a configuration to facilitate control of the sheet temperature. A plug is used in the thermoforming process to contact the sheet and position the sheet within a die. A lid sheet is heat sealed to the container sheet over the thermoformed containers so as to produce a pair of spaced-apart, annular bead heat seals. The package is completed by severing the sealed-together sheets at the periphery of the container with a punch and die set that produces and clean, smooth cut surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Lori J. Mihalov, Lewis H. Sita, Todd A. Stevens, David C. Ulstad, W. George Zeitler
  • Patent number: 5878489
    Abstract: An inexpensive flat electric wire for a wire harness and an inexpensive wire harness utilizing the flat electric wire can be produced. A flat electric wire (P) is produced by juxtaposing a plurality of insulator-sheathed electric wire elements (a), each having a single core, on a plane; and by applying a reinforcing tape (51) on the juxtaposed wire elements (a) at a desired position over the width of the elements (a), whereby the wire elements (a) are secured together to each other by the tape (51) to form the flat electric wire (P) for a wire harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Harness System Technologies Research, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryousuke Shioda, Yosinobu Ohta
  • Patent number: 5802938
    Abstract: A slitting machine for cutting rolled material is disclosed which is maintained in position through use of a support frame. A support cylinder is unmovably connected to the support frame at one end. An expansion rod is centered within the support cylinder with one end extending through the frame and affixed to a lever. A rigid sleeve, preferably having a slick surface, is over the support cylinder. A motor is incorporated with a receiving channel receive the support cylinder is attached to the support frame. A flexible expansion ring is placed in contact with the motor, to allow it to revolve with the motor. A bearing and washer, with diameters greater than than the base leg of the rigid sleeve are placed between the connector affixed to the expansion rod and the support cylinder. The lever is equipped with a gear which, when the lever is placed in a locked position, shortens the distance between the connector and the support frame. A cutting device is movable horizontally along a blade support rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventors: Emile Fournier, David Markevich
  • Patent number: 5782735
    Abstract: An expanded paper cylinder formed from a spiral is disclosed as a void fill. A delivery system is provided for manual and automatic delivery of the expanded paper from a continuous, unextended wound roll of an extendible sheet material. The cushioning material formed by the expander can be used as a expanded sheet around an article or as void fill, or can be formed into spiral cylinders for use as void fill. The manual dispensing system includes a support member supporting a rotatable feed roll. A restraining restraining device slows the free delivery of the wound feed roll of unextended sheet material, so that the sheet material expands while it is being drawn, under tension from the feed roll. An automatic system uses expander rollers to expand the slit paper and can be coordinated with apparatus which cuts and forms the spiral cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Geopax, Ltd.
    Inventors: David P. Goodrich, Michael C. Hurwitz, Roger E. Jester, James P. Devine
  • Patent number: 5709138
    Abstract: An apparatus for precision cutting of fiber tow is provided which includes a structure for securing a taut length of fiber tow between two points, a movable cutter, and a structure for guiding a cutting edge of the cutter substantially perpendicularly against the taut length of fiber tow at a predetermined point between the two points. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventor: Paul D. Rimer
  • Patent number: 5699706
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a non-metallic magnetic component from a strip of non-metallic magnetic material useable on a rotor or the like includes a pair of blocks placeable in juxtaposed position to form a support frame having a predetermined length. Each of the strip of non-metallic magnetic material is placed on the support frame and secured by, for example, wedges to each of the blocks. The block is moved by, for example, a cam to extend the length of the support frame so that the length of a strip of non-metallic magnetic material placed on the support frame and secured to the blocks may be stretch to a desired length and cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Temper Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Rode
  • Patent number: 5662759
    Abstract: A strip of resilient material is clamped uniformly across the width of the material at a first position by vertically spaced clamps which are separated to stretch a section of the material beyond the elastic limit. The stretched section of material is released and transported on a horizontal conveyor to a second position where the stretched section is cut by a cutter providing edges of reduced thickness which are suitable for overlapping other stretched edges of reduced thickness for splicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Francis Cornet, Robert Albert Lammlein, Jr., Roger Marthoz, John Kolbjorn Roedseth
  • Patent number: 5639506
    Abstract: A rotary suture cutting apparatus includes a base having an upper resilient layer, and a cutting assembly. The cutting assembly includes a frame and a rotary cutting tool having a disk shaped circular blade. The cutting tool is slidably mounted to the frame and when moved from one end to the other of the frame, cleanly slices suture material clamped between the base and the cutting assembly without brooming, fraying or otherwise disporting the cut suture tip. A method of preparing cut suture lengths is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. Smyth
  • Patent number: 5529005
    Abstract: A towel cloth drawing-out device comprises a pair of working tables facing each other with a gap therebetween, a towel cloth drawing unit for drawing out the towel cloth from the towel material to hang the same in the gap, a towel cloth clamp member which is provided in the gap and is able to reciprocate in the drawing direction of the towel cloth, a driving unit for reciprocating the towel cloth clamp member and a vertical wall which is provided on the side of one of the working tables, the working table being disposed on the drawing side of the towel cloth, for clamping the same between the towel cloth clamp member and itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: The Singer Company N.V.
    Inventors: Kenichi Saotome, Yuji Ohoshima
  • Patent number: 5484247
    Abstract: A separation system tears apart trash bags in a manner that will ensure that the trash and recyclable material inside the bag will fall out onto a conveyer while at the same time maintaining the bag in substantially one piece. The bag is dropped onto two cylinders that rotate in opposite directions. The first cylinder hooks the container with a set of fins and then presents the bag to a second set of fins protruding from the second cylinder. The second set of fins have relatively dull tips that pull the bag apart allowing the contents inside the bag to drop down onto a conveyer. A set of steel fingers are attached between adjacent fins to prevent small bags from slipping though the system without first being broken. The fins automatically push the empty bags out of the system in substantially one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Bulk Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Clark, Roy R. Miller
  • Patent number: 5455389
    Abstract: By applying a tension to the conductor to be cut off, and locally heating the intended cutting position to provide a temperature difference of 20.degree. to 300.degree. from other parts, the cutting position is lowered in tensile force as compared with other parts, and by applying a tension, the concentrated stress is added, and a large distortion is generated to cut off, so that the cutting position may be stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tosiaki Hirose, Saburo Koresawa, Kazunori Nishida
  • Patent number: 5402697
    Abstract: A depilatory applicating razor includes a handle with a cutting head mounted to the handle. The cutting head includes at least one cutting blade. The cutting head also includes a depilatory applicator through which a depilatory substance may be discharged in the general area of the cutting blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Inventor: Shirley E. Brooks
  • Patent number: 5386751
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming and gripping a beginning of a web of a replacement roll. At least one suction ledge is placed on an outer layer of the roll in a position in which the suction ledge extends parallel to the axis of the roll. The outer layer is raised by the suction ledge so that the outer layer is tensioned. The tensioned outer layer is cut parallel to and on the waste paper side of the suction ledge. Finally, the web beginning is lifted off by the suction ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Norbert Dylla, Michael Worner
  • Patent number: 5386752
    Abstract: A perforating device for punching pores in shrink-wrap film as the film moves along a film path is described. A biasing apparatus is used to bias the film towards a tension-creating apparatus and a microperforator apparatus so that pores can be punched in the film. An embodiment of the invention uses microperforator pin wheels, having a plurality of conically-shaped pins, and gripper wheels connected to a microperforator shaft. A rotary brush is connected to a rotary brush shaft. Shrink-wrap film is threaded between the microperforator shaft and the rotary brush shaft, and then pulled by an operator to wrap a package. The rotary brush biases the film towards the microperforator pin wheels and the gripper wheels, so that the pins on the micoperforator pin wheels puncture the film as it is being pulled. The rotary brush shaft can be adjusted to permit film to be threaded, and to control the size of the pores to be punched into the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Weldotron of Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Siegel
  • Patent number: 5372672
    Abstract: Apparatus for mechanically removing circumferentially complete labels from cylindrical external surfaces of successive containers, such as bottles, which are transported in upright or horizontal position past a removing station has a mechanical or pneumatic device which withdraws a portion of the label from the external surface of a container at the removing station. This establishes a clearance for a distancing element at the leading end of a knife which is moved axially of the external surface at the removing station to sever the label from one marginal portion all the way to the other marginal portion of the label. The thus split labels are attracted by an evacuating conveyor as soon as the respective containers advance beyond the removing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Alfill Getranketecnik GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Seifert, Jens Naecker
  • Patent number: 5344506
    Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator predeformed in compression actuates a cable cutter mechanism. A cable or other item to be cut is placed between an anvil and a movable blade affixed to the SMA element. The SMA element is heated by an electrical resistance heater to cause it to return to its undeformed elongated state, thereby moving the blade against the anvil to compress and sever the cable or other item. Ones of the shape memory alloy actuator have a plurality of parallelly arranged SMA elements, every other one of which is predeformed in compression and intermediate ones of which are predeformed in tension. The elements are coupled end-to-end so that, when they are heated to cause them to return to their undeformed states, their respective elongations and shrinkages combine at the output to produce an actuation that is the cumulation in the same direction of the changes of all the elements. The plurality of elements may be in a side-by-side or concentric arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
    Inventor: Dominick A. DeAngelis
  • Patent number: 5299479
    Abstract: A method for providing edge-side tracks of holes in a printing belt for a rotary printing machine with at least one counter pressure cylinder and at least two printing belt cylinders around which the continuous printing belt carrying printing forms or printing pictures is led, with one printing belt cylinder being provided with radial ring of pins in the region of each of its ends, wherein the pins mesh with holes of the edge-side tracks of holes of the printing belt. The printing belt is stretched with a tension corresponding to the tension with which the printing belt is led around the printing belt cylinders in printing operation. Said state of tension is maintained during the punching of the tracks of holes such that the punched holes maintain their circular shape even in the stretched state of the printing belt in a printing machine and that the distance of the spacing of the holes of the tracks of holes exactly corresponds to the spacing of the pins of the radial rings of pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Windmoller & Holscher
    Inventors: Wilfried Wallmann, Gunter Rogge
  • Patent number: 5265506
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for fabricating a perforated film comprising the steps of pinching a film material, (3) between a cutter roll (1) with cutting edges (12) and a backing roll (2) to press the cutting edges (12) to the film material (3) and driving, to rotate least one of the cutter roll (1) and the backing roll (2), to form holes such as slits in a film material. The apparatus is decelerated by a stop command signal of an apparatus, detecting the speed of the apparatus attaining a predetermined small speed, generating an advance stop signal when the apparatus is approaching a stop a condition, and displacing the backing roll (2) so that the cutter roll is separated from the backing roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Company, Limited, Polymer Processing Research Inst., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kintaro Aihara, Tadashi Honda
  • Patent number: 5253558
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for cutting hose includes structure which allows a portion of the hose that is proximate the trailing side of a cutting blade to be angularly displaced during cutting while a portion of the hose proximate the leading side of the cutting blade is not angularly displaced. A method for cutting hose includes the step of angularly displacing a portion of the hose that is proximate the trailing side of a cutting blade during cutting while a portion of the hose proximate the leading side of the cutting blade is not angularly displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Marken Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Guddal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5156033
    Abstract: A multiplicity of cooled steel products, after having been severed from an as-rolled steel, divided into sectional bars and delivered to and accumulated on a cooling hearth, are taken from the cooling hearth, and delivered to a multi-bar straightening machine. There, simultaneously with straightening, a predetermined distance from the leading ends of the bars is measured simultaneously, the forward movement of the bars is interrupted after they have advanced by said measured distance, and said forward portions are cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignees: NKK Corporation, TOA Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Giichi Matsuo, Akio Mehara, Tsuyoshi Nakano, Daizo Kobayashi, Motosuke Sugahara
  • Patent number: 5045009
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for use in the manufacture of a tension-mask color cathode ray tube provides for mechanically severing a waste portion from the useful portion of an in-process foil mask secured to mask-support means extending from a faceplate. The apparatus comprises means for support mask-servering means adjacent ot the mask outside the mask support means, and means for translating the mask-severing means into engagement with the mask to sever the mask from the mask support means adjacent all points along the mask-support means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Lowell A. Cordingley, Lawrence W. Dougherty, Allan D. Kautz, Armando V. Marino
  • Patent number: 5033341
    Abstract: An alignment and cutting system for use with textile materials, such as terry cloth toweling fabric, to process either a single width of fabric or to simultaneously process in a side-by-side manner, a plurality of fabrics having the same or different widths. The system will also align each of that plurality of fabric regardless of whether the fabrics have the same or different lengths of nap-less bands or lanes separating the terry pile areas and can cut the same or different lengths of fabric from each of the plurality of fabrics being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Texpa Arbter Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Mussig, Martin Schnaus