Patents Represented by Law Firm Sixbey, Friedman & Leedom
  • Patent number: 5979311
    Abstract: A stencil printer includes a rotary printing drum around which the stencil master is wrapped, a main motor which rotates the printing drum, a press roller which is rotatable in parallel to the printing drum in contact with the printing drum, and a pair of opposed conveyor rollers which feed a printing paper between the printing drum and the press roller so that the leading end of the printing paper meets the printing drum in a predetermined position of the printing drum. A conveyor roller motor is provided separately from the main motor and drives the conveyor rollers. A reference position sensor detects a reference position on the printing drum, a printing drum rotation detector detects rotation of the printing drum on the basis of the reference position, and a conveyor roller rotation detector detects rotation of at least one of the conveyor rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kakurai, Masao Suzuki, Makoto Miyaki, Hiroyuki Sunagawa
  • Patent number: 5977662
    Abstract: An electronic proximity switching device with a proximity indicator and with an electronic switch which can be controlled by the proximity indicator. A plurality of these switching devices can be series connected without an unacceptable voltage drop occurring on the series connection when the switching devices are conductive, by the electronic switch of each switching device being connected to one input (2) of an AND element (3), another input (4) of the AND element (3) representing a control input (5) of the switching device, the output (6) of the AND element (3) representing the output (7) of the switching device, and load current flowing via the AND element (3) in the conductive state of the switching device. In other words there is AND element (3) in addition to an inductive proximity switch (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: i f m electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Lamarche, Karl Herrmann, Manfred Strobel
  • Patent number: 5975281
    Abstract: A scraper constituting a blade which is yieldingly deformable in such a manner as to be curved from a linear state to an arch shape is held by a holding groove of a holder. The holding groove of the holder is formed by a substantially parallel rail like holding groove which is gradually apart from an axis extending to a transverse direction of the belt as the holding wall goes from both ends of the belt to a central portion thereof. The scraper comprises a leg portion inserted into the holding groove of the holder, an extended standing portion projecting from the holding groove so as to be in contact with the surface of the belt and a head portion formed by thickening a thickness of said extended standing portion more than a thickness of the leg portion toward a returning direction of the belt, in which a jaw portion projecting beyond a side surface of the leg portion is formed by a lower portion of said head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Tsusho Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kageyoshi Yoshizako, Yasuhiro Atari
  • Patent number: 5975817
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tool holder which realizes an improved applicability to tools with different diameters and attains high sealability and is capable of efficiently supplying a fluid at a predetermined position even when a fluid of high pressure is supplied. The tool holder comprises: an engaging member 4 provided on the top end side of a tool holding portion of a holder body 2 and comprising an inclined face 15 constructed in a manner such that the inside diameter becomes smaller toward the top end of the tool 10 held by the holder body 2; and an elastic member 5 as a stopper provided between the inclined face 15 and the outside periphery of the tool 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Big Alpha Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Komine
  • Patent number: 5977709
    Abstract: A mercury lamp of the short arc type with a high degree of maintenance of irradiance is achieved in a mercury lamp of the short arc type by the cathode containing thorium oxide and having a tungsten carbide layer on its surface except at tip end area, by at least one of the cathode or anode being provided with metallic tantalum, and by the condition 1.56.ltoreq.VT/SC being satisfied, where SC is the area of the tungsten carbide layer (cm.sup.2) and VT is the volume of the metallic tantalum (mm.sup.3). Alternatively, a high degree of maintenance of irradiance can be achieved in a mercury lamp of the short arc type by the condition 0.043.ltoreq.VT/VW being satisfied, where VW is the volume of the anode (cm.sup.3) and VT is the volume of the tantalum in the lamp bulb (mm.sup.3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Yasuda, Masanori Sugihara
  • Patent number: 5975297
    Abstract: A device for holding sockets includes a body with two rails formed to two sides thereof and a plurality of connecting members are slidably mounted to the rails. A head member is disengagably engaged to the body so as to attach the device to a user's belt. Each of the connecting members has a socket mounted thereto. The body further has a retaining member formed thereto so that a ratchet tool is removably retained by the retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Jui-Chien Kao
  • Patent number: 5977559
    Abstract: A thin-film transistor (TFT) which has a crystalline silicon active layer of excellent reliability and characteristics, and a method of fabricating such a TFT inexpensively are provided. In a TFT which has at least two low density impurity regions and a source/drain adjacent to a channel-forming region, catalyst elements which cause amorphous silicon to crystallize are included in the source/drain, and the density of said catalyst elements in the interface between the channel-forming region and the low-density impurity regions is less than that in the source/drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Toru Takayama, Yasuhiko Takemura
  • Patent number: 5977520
    Abstract: A moist heat unit for applying heat to therapeutic moist heat packs includes a stainless steel tank for receiving water and the heat packs. The stainless steel tank is mounted in an insulating jacket having a stainless steel liner and a heat insulating outer cover, and the tank is mounted to create a continuous space between the tank and the stainless steel liner of the insulating jacket. A silastic, silicone rubber electric resistance heating assembly is bonded externally to the bottom of the stainless steel tank and is designed to provide wattage within a range of from 10 to 15 watts per square inch. The tank is closed by an insulated cover having an inner lining of stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Madson, Jr., Donald W. Stansbury
  • Patent number: 5977722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for operating a fluorescent discharge lamp of the outer electrode type. As claimed in the invention a switching device is turned on and off by driver signals with a stipulated frequency, by which on the secondary side of a transformer the periodic voltage waveform shown at A in FIG. 1 is produced. This voltage waveform is applied to the fluorescent discharge lamp of the outer electrode type, and thus operation is effected. For the above described periodic voltage waveform, with respect to repetition period t 2 Wo<t, if the width at a voltage of the waveform of 0 V which has a single maximum peak value within one period is labeled WO, its full width at half maximum (the width between a and b in FIG. 1) being set to a stipulated value (for example, to a value of less than or equal to 2.5 .mu.sec). This makes it possible to maintain stable emission even if the pressure of the gas filled in the discharge lamp is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Yokokawa, Tatuhiro Hiraoka, Masaki Inoue, Masaki Yoshioka, Tatushi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 5975486
    Abstract: A valve combination is proposed for use in plumbing applications which is suitable as a replacement for conventional solenoid valves with a plunger armature. The valve combination consists of a main valve (10), embodied as a diaphragm valve, a servo valve (14) integrated into a cable connector head (12), and a fluidic coupling (16) between the cable connector head (12) and the main valve (10). The cable connector head (12) is provided with an electrical quick connector (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Burkert Werke GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Heinrich Dettmann
  • Patent number: 5975060
    Abstract: The present invention provides an internal combustion engine drive train actuating assembly which includes a dual overhead cam shaft arrangement wherein a pair of cam shafts is supported in the head section of the engine. One cam shaft is positioned to actuate the intake and exhaust valves. The other cam shaft is dedicated to actuating only the unit fuel injectors and is positioned relative to the injector actuating rocker levers to contact only these rocker levers during engine operation. The rocker lever-contacting lobes on the dedicated injector-actuating cam shaft are dimensionally wider than has heretofore been possible, which allows the high fuel injection pressures required to achieve optimum fuel economy and emissions while minimizing hertz stresses on the cam shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Stover, Andrew P. Perr
  • Patent number: 5976259
    Abstract: An improved semiconductor device manufacturing system and method is shown. In the system, undesirable sputtering effect can be averted by virtue of a combination of an ECR system and a CVD system. Prior to the deposition according to the above combination, a sub-layer can be pre-formed on a substrate in a reaction chamber and transported to another chamber in which deposition is made according to the combination without making contact with air, so that a junction thus formed has good characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5971472
    Abstract: A wind deflector for reducing noise at a vehicle roof opening has a wind deflector blade (1) which is pivotally mounted by at least one pivot bearing to pivot about a pivot axis C extending crosswise to the direction of travel. The pivot bearing has two partial bearing shafts (6, 7) which are spaced apart axially on a longitudinal edge (8) of the wind deflector blade and are mounted in bearing blocks (12, 13) on the roof which, for axial insertion of the partial shaft (6, 7), are open at their respective axial ends and are closed at the opposite ends (14, 15) for axial supporting of an end of the partial shafts (6, 7). Between the two partial shafts (6, 7) there is a coil spring (16) which is biased at one end on a first spring housing (17) fixed to the roof in the region of a first partial shaft (6) and at the other end on a second spring housing (18, 19) on the wind deflector blade side in the region of the second partial shaft (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Webasto Karosseriesysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schreiter, Michael Hanke
  • Patent number: 5971568
    Abstract: An optical device and a multisurface reflector which can be used for this purpose, which has high uniformity of the illumination intensity on the entire surface of an area to be illuminated, and a small shape, and in which a high utilization factor of the light can be obtained is achieved according to the invention by there being a multisurface concave reflector which is composed of numerous mirror elements which combine to form a concave reflection surface of a generally oval shape. A light source lamp is arranged such that an emission part of it is positioned along the center axis of the multisurface reflector, and a lens plate is located in front of the multisurface reflector on a plane perpendicular to its center axis. The lens plate a plurality of lens elements which each correspond number to the number of mirror elements on the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoyuki Kabuki
  • Patent number: 5973454
    Abstract: A metal halide lamp in which the radiant efficiency is not adversely affected, in which outstanding color reproducibility is obtained, and which is suitable for a light source of an OHP or a direct projector is achieved, according to the invention, by the fact that, within an arc tube provided with a pair of electrodes, together with mercury and a starting rare gas, halides of dysprosium (Dy), yttrium (Y) and cesium (Cs) are encapsulated with the molar ratio of the encapsulated metals Dy to Y is being fixed in the range of 0.3.ltoreq.Dy/Y.ltoreq.1.0. In this way the green portion to which there is a sensitive visual reaction is reduced, the blue portion increased, and thus the color reproducibility is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masachika Ooyama, Mitsuo Horikoshi
  • Patent number: 5971194
    Abstract: A trash receptacle that both secures and conceals a plastic liner is provided that comprises a receptacle body having sidewalls that terminate in an open end, a receptacle flange having one end secured around the sidewalls of the receptacle body, and a free edge for supporting a portion of the open end of the liner that has been folded over the free edge, and a lid that both secures and covers the folded-over portion of the liner. The lid includes an upper portion having a trash receiving opening, a liner engaging portion for frictionally engaging the liner between the free edge of the receptacle flange and the lid, and a lid flange that frictionally interfits with the open end of the receptacle body to secure the lid in place. Alternatively, the flange may be removable from the receptacle and complementary in shape to the inner edge of the receptacle so that the open end of the liner is secured between the flange and the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Darryle Freedland
  • Patent number: 5972105
    Abstract: Thin-film transistors (TFTs) having characteristics comparable to those of a single-crystal silicon wafer are provided. A buffer film made from silicon oxide is formed on a first amorphous silicon film. A nickel acetate solution containing a metal element such as nickel for promoting crystallization of silicon is applied to the first amorphous silicon film. The laminate is heat-treated to form a nickel silicide layer. The nickel silicide layer is then patterned. A second amorphous silicon film is formed and heat-treated to grow crystals. Thus, monodomain regions which can be regarded as single crystals are formed. Active layers of TFTs are formed from these monodomain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Naoto Kusumoto, Satoshi Teramoto
  • Patent number: 5970869
    Abstract: In a stencil printer, a first conveyor portion conveys a stencil master toward a printing drum and includes a rotatable platen roller which rotates to convey the stencil master pinched between the platen roller and a thermal head and associates with the thermal head to thermally make a perforating image on the stencil master. A second conveyor portion which is disposed between the first conveyor portion and the printing drum and conveys the stencil master toward the printing drum. When making the perforating image on the stencil master, the first conveyor portion operates at a first speed with the second conveyor portion stopped or operated at a low speed after the leading end of the stencil master is delivered to the second conveyor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Hara, Hisashi Sanagi
  • Patent number: D416012
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: SCM Microsystems GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Neifer
  • Patent number: RE36364
    Abstract: A slide gate valve having a cementless joint between the valve and a metallurgical vessel containing molten metal is provided for facilitating the replacement of worn refractory components in the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Vesuvius France
    Inventor: Francois N. Richard