Patents Examined by Andrea H. Evans
  • Patent number: 7027360
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece with date display function reduces power consumption in conjunction with the user adjusting the date, and makes it easier for the user to set the date. A displayed date detection unit H has a day detector H1 for detecting the displayed day, a month detector H2 for detecting the displayed month, and a year detector H3 for detecting the displayed year. A control unit A controls a calendar mechanism drive unit F according to the date detected by detectors H1 to H3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Joji Kitahara, Jun Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7024994
    Abstract: A hand stamp is disclosed. The hand stamp comprises a frame including dove-tailed ribs which flare outwardly along at least one side thereof. The dove-tailed ribs of the frame are arranged within corresponding shaped grooves of a case, thus obtaining secure mounting of the case on the frame while facilitating relative slidable movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: M&R Marking Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick W. Dour
  • Patent number: 7021213
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printing method comprising the steps of mounting an underlay sheet on a plate cylinder of a printing press, and providing, on the underlay sheet, a printing plate material comprising a plastic sheet support, and provided thereon, a hydrophilic layer, an image formation layer and a backing layer, the backing layer being provided on the side of the support opposite the image formation layer, so that the backing layer side surface of the printing plate material contacts the underlay sheet surface, wherein a coefficient of dynamic friction of the backing layer side surface of the printing plate material to the underlay sheet surface is from 0.1 to 0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Sampei
  • Patent number: 7011026
    Abstract: A method for engaging and disengaging cylinders, and particularly cylinders which are disposed in a line, is disclosed. In addition to the displacement required to engage and to disengage the cylinders, steps are taken to at least reduce the relative tangential speed between the working outer surfaces of the cylinders that are to be engaged against one another or against an intermediate web. This is accomplished by the reduction of, or the impression upon the cylinders of a specific rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Christel, Oliver Frank Hahn
  • Patent number: 7000540
    Abstract: In a method of operating a machine processing printing material sheets and having a sheet transport drum in various operating modes, drum circumferential shells are kept fixed on the sheet transport drum in an outer position in a first of the operating modes and in an inner position in a second of the operating modes. During a drum conversion to be carried out before the start of a third of the operating modes, the drum circumferential shells are removed from the sheet transport drum and, in this third operating mode, the sheet transport drum is rotated without the drum circumferential shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Daniel Conzelmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter
  • Patent number: 6987712
    Abstract: An analog chronograph timepiece has a main plate and a setting stem for correcting time information. Defined at the main plate are a reference vertical axis line passing through the rotational center of the main plate and disposed parallel to a central axis line of the setting stem, and a reference horizontal axis line passing through the rotational center of the main plate and disposed orthogonal to the main plate reference vertical axis line. The main plate has regions disposed relative to the reference vertical and horizontal lines and in which a time coil block and first and second chronograph coil blocks are selectively arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Ono, Mamoru Watanabe, Yuichi Shino, Kei Hirano
  • Patent number: 6983696
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for cooling material to be printed and printing machine elements at sheet-fed rotary printing machines by means of cooled compressed air. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which requires little space, is able to cool effectively the material to be printed as well as the machine elements, which are undesirably heated by the dryers. Pursuant to the present invention, this objective is accomplished by providing an apparatus wherein cooled, compressed air is supplied over one or more sheet-guiding devices for guiding the sheets pneumatically along the sheet-guiding path, and a cooling device is disposed in the cross section of flow of the compressed air or the sheet-guiding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer AG
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Tilo Steinborn
  • Patent number: 6971789
    Abstract: A thin timepiece having a module stably fixed therein has a case integrated with a wrist band and a case back, the case having an opening portion on a front surface side thereof, a module having a housing formed of a resin and a timepiece movement held by the housing, the module being removable retained in the opening portion of the case, and a cover glass for covering the opening portion of the case. The housing has at least one two-sided supporting beam integrally formed in a side surface therof and being deformable in a planar direction of the housing, and a fitting projection protruding from each two-side suporting beam, and the module is fixed in the opening portion of the case by inserting the fitting projection into a corresponding engaging recess formed in an inner side face of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Hisao Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6968780
    Abstract: A hand accent stencil applicator system for positioning a design on a surface is provided. The applicator system comprises an applicator handle and a compression housing mounted to the applicator housing. A bladder is positioned within the compression housing for holding a texture material. A design template is mounted to the compression housing wherein the applicator handle exerts forces into the compression housing causing a texture flow from the bladder through the design template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: University of Wyoming
    Inventor: Shane D. Birch
  • Patent number: 6964229
    Abstract: A method for recording multi-event athletic meet information on skin comprises the steps of printing an array on an athlete's skin and then populating the array with competition information, which may include such information categories as event description, heat number and lane number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventor: Terri Chassay “T. C.” Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6958953
    Abstract: Under the present invention a real time clock circuit, within a set-top box, is provided with an internal clock generator for generating multiple clock signals. Once generated, a first clock signal is divided into an initial set of values representing time and optionally day/date intervals, and then communicated to a set of clock registers. The initial set of values can then be communicated (directly or via a set of DCR registers) to a display component within the set-top box. Updated clock signals are received by the set of DCR registers from an external source such as a satellite or the like thus making the clock very accurate, and are communicated to the display component. Similar to the initial set of values, the updated set of values could be communicated to the display component directly from the set of DCR registers, or via the set of clock registers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric E. Retter, John M. Sutton
  • Patent number: 6958954
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for indicating the state of watch batteries. Said device comprises, in combination: a circuit for determining (34) at least a physical characteristic of the cell (10) which varies when it is nearly discharged, a circuit for metering (36) the power consumed by the watch, a circuit for assessing (40) the capacity rating of the battery, connected to the determining (34) and metering (36) circuits and designed to process data and select the most relevant information derived either from the determining circuit (34), or from the metering circuit (36), means for displaying the state of the battery (38,40,42), and a circuit controlling (39) the display means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: ISA France S.A.
    Inventors: Urs Haeni, Laurent Boillod
  • Patent number: 6948425
    Abstract: A printer machine for printing on articles, includes a plurality of article-carriers suitable for moving in indexed manner in a plane around a circular path. Each article-carrier is stationary in an indexed position and mobile between the indexed positions, and a plurality of print stations distributed around the path in register with indexed positions of the article-carriers. Each article-carrier is fitted with an inlet shaft turnable about its own axis by drive elements, and with at least one outlet shaft for carrying an article and adapted to turn when the inlet shaft is turned. The inlet shaft of each article-carrier is adapted to turn in register with an indexed position, and to conserve the same angular orientation between print stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Machines Dubuit
    Inventor: François Dumenil
  • Patent number: 6945169
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing printing plates in particular a blank sleeve-like printing plate, includes a cylinder carrier for receiving a printing plate, the cylinder carrier being held in cantilever fashion at one end in a frame in a mounting and is driven by a motor, it being possible for the printing plate to be pushed onto the carrier cylinder at an opposite side of the latter which faces away from the mounting and is, therefore, more accessible for making printing plate exchange. An image-setting device is moved along the carrier cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Josef Göttling, Thomas Hartmann, Godber Petersen
  • Patent number: 6931990
    Abstract: A stamper with a metal plate positioned between a platen and a stamp die is disclosed. The metal plate results in an improved imprint by providing better support to the stamp die. The stamper further comprises a removable ink pad and a rotatably reversible platen with cam mechanism. The metal platen plate with it's adjoining stamp die face downwards when the stamper is in an imprint position and the metal platen plate with it's adjoining stamp die face upwards when the stamper is in a re-inking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Coast Merchandise Corp.
    Inventor: Chen Hui Wei
  • Patent number: 6934220
    Abstract: A portable programmable medical alert device can be used to program multiple events, each of which will be signaled by an audible and a visual alarm. The user can program and reprogram medication schedules using only the portable alert device. The device, including a battery powered microcontroller, can be programmed by manipulation of two input switches, a push button switch and a two position to prevent inadvertent programming. Each programmed event will be signaled at the same time of day at which the alarm was originally set. When the alarms are transmitted to a user, the alert or reminder can be acknowledged by pressing the push button switch. The user can also activate the device prior to the next scheduled alarm without affecting subsequent alarms or alerts. Outputs can be audible and/or visible outputs, including an LCD. Inputs can be alternatively programmed by computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: ALR Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley L. Cruitt, Sidney Chan, Jaroslav V. Tichy
  • Patent number: 6930959
    Abstract: An information handling apparatus comprises a scrolling wheel; a platform comprising at least one pivot well; a pivot pin attaching the rolling wheel to the platform and allowing rolling movement of the wheel in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Chandrasekhar Narayanaswami
  • Patent number: 6925931
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for making e.g. boardlike objects (11) arranged in a pile (12), in which method the objects are marked with a marking printed by a print head (26) and containing e.g. information about the object. To improve the marking quality, the objects are pressed together to reduce or eliminate gaps between them in the direction of compression, and the marking is made on an edge of the object that is parallel to the direction of compression of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Panelboard Oy
    Inventor: Antti Korhonen
  • Patent number: 6921550
    Abstract: The present invention provides a printer and an inexpensive method for producing a printed circuit board using a printer configured to facilitate printing at least directly on a copper-clad substrate. The method includes the steps of feeding a copper-clad substrate into the printer, printing an inverse circuit image on the copper-clad substrate, allowing the inverse circuit image to dry, metalizing the copper-clad substrate to adhere a resist mask to exposed, uninked copper to form a metalized circuit image, and etching the copper-clad substrate that has been metalized to remove copper that forms the inverse circuit image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Maxwell S. DeHaven
  • Patent number: 6916130
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a plurality of printed and activated time dependent labels. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a web having a plurality of inked substrates thereon. Each substrate has a migrating ink pattern printed on a surface of the substrate. A transfer printer is provided that has a first ribbon means for applying a timing layer through which the migrating ink bleeds after a predetermined period of time. A second ribbon means is provided for printing variable data. The web of inked substrates is continuously fed through the printer, each inked substrate passing sequentially under the first ribbon means and then the second ribbon means. The first ribbon means is activated to apply the timing layer to a portion of the printed surface of each inked substrate thereunder to produce a coated substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Holt, David J. Haas, Brenda J. Anderson, Michael J. Schmit