Patents Examined by Allen Ostrager
  • Patent number: 6807901
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging a bale from a baler including a bale ramp that is capable of moving a formed cylindrical bale away from the bale-forming machine. The bale ramp is capable of supporting the formed bale, and utilizing power from a linkage to the bale discharge gate to provide initial horizontal travel of the bale prior to the bale losing significant potential energy. The linkage between the bale discharge gate and the bale ramp includes a lost motion device including a spring that allows energy to be stored from the hydraulic system that powers the bale discharge gate open. That stored energy is applied to the bale, at the appropriate time, as it is able to move. A second stage is provided, which utilizes a traditional spring-loaded ramp. As the bale drops a portion of its potential energy is translated into horizontal momentum and the bale will be caused to move away from the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Rustin V. Bentzinger, Kent L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6807903
    Abstract: A truss assembly apparatus for use in assembling a truss. The apparatus has a truss table and a roller assembly movable relative to the truss table for pressing connectors into truss members. A wheel guide directs movement of the roller assembly relative to the truss table. The roller assembly automatically reduces speed when approaching an end of the wheel guide. A wear strip is removably secured to the guide so that the wear strip may be replaced with a different wear strip without replacement of the guide. The table is supported on legs which are telescopically adjustable in height to adjust the table to a level orientation. A support of the roller assembly is formed of a one piece plate to inhibit deflections. A roller is formed with a collar attached by interference fit to improve strength and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: MiTek Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: William W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6807991
    Abstract: A wood planing machine includes a base, a plurality of mounting posts extending uprightly from the base, and a cutter carriage mounted slidably on the mounting posts. A workpiece-supporting table is pivoted to a front side of the base, and is movable between a position of use, and an idle position, in which the workpiece-supporting table is perpendicular to the base. A retaining unit includes a first magnetic unit fixed on the workpiece-supporting table, and a second magnetic unit mounted on the cutter carriage and disposed to magnetically attract the first magnetic unit when the table is disposed at the idle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Pei-Lieh Chiang
  • Patent number: 6805045
    Abstract: In a press production series for massive forming with a toggle drive for driving a ram, varying stroke speeds of the ram motion are attached by adjustment of cogwheels of an planetary gear system having fixed connecting dimensions. Uniform machine frames can thus be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Schuler Pressen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ekkehard Körner, Rainer Güthle
  • Patent number: 6804983
    Abstract: A gas cushion apparatus with a support member to hold a blank, gas pressure cylinders that push the support member upwards, a hydraulic cylinder whose upper rod is connected to the support member, a pneumo-hydraulic converter for secondary lifting with a piston that partitions the interior into an oil chamber communicating with the oil chamber on the side of the rod of the hydraulic cylinder and a gas chamber, a check valve that allows oil to flow from the oil chamber on the side opposite to the above-mentioned rod to the oil chamber on the side of the aforementioned rod, and a drain port communicating with the oil chamber on the side of the above-mentioned rod of the hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Mori, Shinkichi Nagami
  • Patent number: 6799615
    Abstract: A stand is made up of two channel shaped sides. There is a removable top that has holes drilled in it so a router with router bits of different diameters and shapes, such as round-nosed and straight router bits or heads, can be attached. There is a removable wood guide having a front with two wood guide sides attached to it. The electric router is the power source for the cutter. The round nose bit cuts the wood ends to form tenons of different diameters and shapes, such as radius, chamfered (tapered) or square-shouldered tenons. The top will be a flat surface with holes that will support a router and attach to the sides. The two channel shaped sides will include holes for attaching a top, securing it to a work bench, and attaching wood guides. The fronts will have different diameter holes, and will attach to wood guide sides. The wood guide sides will have a slot where a bolt can pass through to attach wood guides to channel sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Leslie G. Smith
  • Patent number: 6796225
    Abstract: An apparatus for compacting objects such as plastic bottles and cans whose material is to be recycled includes a detector device, two discharge openings and a compactor device. The detector device has at least one code reader for distinguishing approved from rejected objects. One of the two discharge openings is intended for approved objects and the other for rejected objects. The compactor device compacts the approved objects and has continuous, non-cyclic operation. As a result, waiting times are avoided between the discharge of an approved object and the commencement of the compaction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tomra Systems ASA
    Inventor: Leif Henrysson
  • Patent number: 6792984
    Abstract: Devices and systems for adjustably positioning a router on a work surface such as a router table are disclosed. A router lift in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a top plate having an opening therethrough adapted to receive a router bit, one or more columns extending from the bottom surface of the top plate, a router housing operatively coupled to the one or more columns, and a power screw threadably connected through the top plate and housing. The housing may include a generally circular portion defining a cylindrical aperture that can be adjusted to accommodate for various router sizes. The housing may also include cooling fins to dissipate heat generated from the router. A calibration dial having a scale that can be used to measure elevation of the router and router bit relative to the top plate may also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Bench Dog, Inc.
    Inventor: Norston Fontaine
  • Patent number: 6789469
    Abstract: A bundling assembly for use with a strapping machine that is configured to position a strap material around a load and tension the strap material around the load includes first and second moving belts positioned at the strapping machine entrance in opposing relation to one another. The belts each have a paddle mounted thereto and define a pathway through the bundling assembly. A movable stop is positioned at the exit of the strapping machine and is movable between a stop position and a convey position. The moving belts rotate to contact the paddles with the load, urging the load into the entrance of the strapping machine and into an area under the chute. The belts stop rotation, thus stopping movement of the load upon contact of the load with the stop. The movable stop then moves to the convey position and the moving belts rotate such that the paddles move the load out of the exit of the strapping machine. A stabilizing assembly applies a slight pressure on the load during the strapping cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Allison D. Tipton, Richard G. Newman
  • Patent number: 6786828
    Abstract: The present invention is for a method of fastening a tool holder. The tool (2) has a front side (6) shaped for use in cold forming of metal wire into nails, screws, etc. The tool holder (4) has a recess (8) shaped for receiving the tool (2). When the tool (2) is fastened in the tool holder (4), compressive stresses are initially present in the tool (2). The tool (2) is subjected to tensile stresses caused by the nail making process when in the tool holder (4). In order to reduce the resulting tensile stresses, the two opposite and wedge-shaped sides (10, 12) of the tool (2) are compressed against corresponding sides (14, 16) in the recess (8) by applying and maintaining pressure on the back side (18) of the tool with fastening means (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Svend-Helge Sell Sørensen
  • Patent number: 6786143
    Abstract: A baler is described which has a collection chamber or duct and a baling chamber. Crop material enters the duct until a pre-determined level has been reached at which time a stuffer transfers the pre-compressed crop to the baling chamber. A control system is provided for calculating the ratio between the amount of crop material which should be formed into bales under optimal conditions and the rate of flow of crop material entering the duct. This ratio can be displayed and used to control the speed of the towing vehicle. The present invention uses the duct as a kind of measuring cylinder to determine the rate at which crop material is entering the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk G. C. Leupe, Christiaan A. C. Lippens
  • Patent number: 6786145
    Abstract: The invention describes a safety device (45), in particular a beam-emitting and beam-receiving system for a production machine (1), e.g. an edging press, with a retaining mechanism (51) for the safety device (45) on a press beam (16) to which bending and/or pressing tools can be attached. The retaining mechanism (51) has at least one retaining means (52) designed to be received in a tool holder device (35). A detection system (66) wired to the machine control system of the production machine (1) is provided between the tool holding device (35) and the retaining means (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co., KG.
    Inventors: Friedrich Kilian, Gerhard Sperrer
  • Patent number: 6782808
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid heating of calender rolls 350, 352 for a calendering apparatus 200 is disclosed. At a heating area 800, the rolls 350, 352 are preheated, reheated, or maintained at any temperature prior to the rolls 350, 352 being placed into the calendering apparatus 300. The preferred method of heating is by induction heating. The rolls 350, 352 may be delivered to the heating apparatus 802 from an initial storage area 420 or the calendering apparatus 300. The rolls 350, 352 are transported by an overhead transfer mechanism 400. The disclosed method and apparatus greatly facilitate formation of multi-layered laminates and is particularly useful in the tire building art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Daniel Ray Downing, David Thomas Reese
  • Patent number: 6782809
    Abstract: The device for compressing a load of particulate material in an open-top trailer includes a frame mounted or mountable on a support so as to be elevated over the load of particulate material in the open-top trailer, a drum roller rotatably mounted or mountable to the frame, and a windrower mounted or mountable to the frame adjacent the drum roller. The windrower is for windrowing a heaped portion of the load of particulate material so as to heap the heaped portion above upper edges of sides of the trailer. The windrower windrows the heaped portion into a windrow of particulate material generally centrally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the trailer as the trailer and the windrower are translated relative to one another along the longitudinal axis. The drum roller is disposed on the frame so as to roll over and thereby compress the windrow of particulate material as the trailer and the roller translate relative to one another along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas F. Bodecker
  • Patent number: 6782929
    Abstract: A process for increasing the strength of plywood. The process includes pressing the piece of plywood between two hard faces which have parallel ridges contacting the two outer sides of the plywood to be strengthened. The plywood is subjected to pressure which permanently impresses a series of parallel grooves in the two outer faces of the piece of plywood. This strengthens the piece of plywood so that it takes more force to break it than the same piece of plywood without such parallel grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey Madrid
  • Patent number: 6782811
    Abstract: Extended-nip roll press for dewatering a material web comprises a rotating mating roll and an extended-nip press roll. The extended-nip press roll has a stationary support and a flexible roll cover which rotates about the support. A press shoe is arranged on the support, and the roll cover has end sections which are clamped firmly on rotatable end walls on the support. End wall clamping rings respond to a first actuating device and clamp a resilient spreader ring radially against an outer ring that can be connected firmly to the end walls. A sealing ring is arranged on each end wall adjacent the clamping ring and can be deformed radially against the outer ring by means of a second actuating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Eduard Küsters Maschinefabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Brendel
  • Patent number: 6782807
    Abstract: A twine tensioner includes upper and lower ribbed rollers biased together so as to enlarge a length of twine passing between them so as to cause a predetermined tension to be required for advancing the length of twine through the rollers. The upper roller is mounted for movement relative to the lower roller and is guided such that, as it moves away from the lower roller, the twine tension first increases and then does not undergo any appreciable increase or spike as a knot in the length of twine through the nip of the rollers. The tensioner is constructed such that the upper roller may be easily manually moved away from the lower roller so as to permit twine to be threaded through the tensioner without requiring any additional tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: David Vincent Rotole
  • Patent number: 6779570
    Abstract: The wood gathering and compaction vehicle comprises a vehicle frame movable over ground, a storage bin removably installed on the vehicle frame, with the storage bin having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The vehicle further comprises a releasable bin attachment device for releasably attaching the storage bin to the vehicle frame, and a compactor fixedly installed on the vehicle frame, the compactor having an inner chamber, an opened inlet port for allowing wood to be inserted into the compactor inner chamber, an outlet port communicating with the storage bin inlet opening when the storage bin is installed on the vehicle frame, and a compaction device for allowing wood located in the compactor inner chamber to be forcibly moved from the compactor inner chamber into the storage bin through the compactor outlet port and the storage bin inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel Tardif
  • Patent number: 6779440
    Abstract: In the method for calendering a paper or paperboard web, the properties of a paper or paperboard web (W) are modified by changing the vapour pressure inside a moist paper or paperboard web. The device for calendering a paper or paperboard web comprises means for changing the vapour pressure inside the moist paper or paperboard web (W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Koivukunnas Pekka, Hannamari Härkönen, Risto Talja
  • Patent number: 6776202
    Abstract: A log-peeling machine for removing bark from logs to simulate hand peeled logs. A log is held in position on a pair of movable log support frames, each having multiple adjustable log support and drive roller assemblies. An independent high-speed cutting head is movable along the length of the log removing bark in longitudinal strips by adjustably following the log surface which is raised and lowered and rotated for engagement with the cutting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: W.G. Benjey, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Chester Dziesinski, Randy William Patterson