Patents Examined by Andy Falik
  • Patent number: 6418977
    Abstract: A yarn processing system including a feeding device, a power loom, a controllable yarn tension device which is situated downstream from the feeding device, and a tensiometer which supplies a signal that represents the yarn tension and which is arranged downstream from the yarn tension device. The tensiometer includes a separating device which can be adjusted between a passive position and a separating position and with which a temporary separation between the tensiometer and the weft yarn can be effected in order to generate a zero yarn tension signal for a signal analysis device. In addition, the weft yarn is temporarily separated from the tensiometer probe during the interval between successive insertion operations, and a calibration is carried out for a future control operation by using the zero yarn tension signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: IRO Patent AG
    Inventor: Lars Helge Gottfrid Tholander
  • Patent number: 6418975
    Abstract: A slide fastener stringer having a plurality of coupling elements molded from synthetic resin monofilament woven in a fastener tape in succession along a longitudinal edge thereof, at the same time when the fastener tape is woven, with a plurality of element row binding warp yarns running in parallel to each other. At least two adjacent element row binding yarns disposed on a side toward coupling heads of the coupling elements run over upper and lower leg portions of the coupling elements in the longitudinal direction of the tape, and then run under a foundation weft yarn running below an adjacent coupling element and that adjacent coupling element. Each of the two adjacent element binding warp yarns is woven in this repeating pattern, which suppresses floating of the binding warp yarns after a space portion is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Muchiji Shimono
  • Patent number: 6418972
    Abstract: A reed in a loom is driven or oscillated back and forth to perform the beat-up motion by a direct reed drive that avoids using the main loom drive for operating the reed. The direct drive is an electromagnetic motor which uses as one of its components a reed support shaft (4) either as a rotor or as a stator. The reed support shaft acting as a rotor carries a reed slay which mounts the reed to the rotor. When the reed support shaft acts as a stator, the reed slay is mounted to separate rotor elements. In both instances the reed support shaft is part of a rotary or linear electromagnetic direct drive motor construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Valentin Krumm, Heinz-Peter Loehr, Hans-Joachim Holz
  • Patent number: 6418976
    Abstract: At least one of two flexible leaf springs that form a thread gap is controlled by a linearly moveable element of a linear motor or drive. Multi-thread brakes are formed by assembling a plurality of such brakes on a common support whereby a single stator may cooperate with a plurality of linearly moveable armatures forming a corresponding plurality of thread brakes or each thread brake may have its own stator and its own armature arranged in a row either linearly or along a curved support, whereby a compact structure is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Heinz-Peter Loehr, Rainer Schuster
  • Patent number: 6418705
    Abstract: To improve the breaking of a roving between a pressing finger bed and a fully wound bobbin preliminary to a bobbin change, the roving is initially wound around the tube above the upper cone and an unwound roving reserve is formed from at least a half turn on the upper winding cone and the body. A false twist is generated to provide a weakened region so that the roving has a first segment extending from the upper edge of the upper winding cone to the lower edge thereof, a second segment extending to the weakened zone and a third segment extending from the weakened zone to the pressing finger bed. The false twist increases the number of twists per unit length in the first segment and decreases the number of twists per unit length in the second and third segments. The pressing finger is moved along the bobbin periphery and the roving is broken at the weak spot by further movement of the pressing finger relative to the bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Zinser Textilmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Machnik
  • Patent number: 6414217
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a pair of fasteners located on the laterally opposed side edges in one of the waist sections of the absorbent article. The outer cover can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein. The outer cover can further define a water vapor transmission rate of at least about 800 g/m2/24 hr. The permanent deformation of the outer cover in use can result in a lateral breathability gradient ratio between the outer cover in the waist section and the crotch or intermediate section of the article of at least about 1.25 according to the Product Deformation Test set forth herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Girard Uitenbroek, Yung Hsiang Huang, Thomas Harold Roessler, Paul Theodore VanGompel, John Philip Vukos, Michael Tod Morman
  • Patent number: 6405667
    Abstract: Sewing apparatus, especially a contour sewing machine for a sewing unit, comprising a vertically reciprocating needle (2) and a sewing material holder (7, 7′) which moves relative to the needle. This apparatus produces a seam having a predetermined shape. The holder (7, 7′) is moveable in directions (X, Y) extending at an angle to one another in a plane, the movements being generated by two independent motors (24, 40) and the holder (7, 7′) being releasably connectable to a bearer (14) driven in one direction (Y) and engaging a drive operative in the other direction (X). The holder (7, 7′) is mountable on a guide rod (5, 5′) rigidly connected to the bearer (14) and is connectable via at least one connecting element (12) to the drive for the other direction (X).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Dürkopp Adler AG
    Inventor: Horst Fenzel
  • Patent number: 6401444
    Abstract: An open-end spinning apparatus has a spin rotor (1) which, by means of its shaft (11) is supported by support plates (4), wherein as an abutment for the axially directed force on the spin rotor (1), an aerostatic axial bearing (6) is provided. The bearing surface (115) of the spin rotor (1) operates together with a bearing plate (63) of the axial bearing (6). The bearing surface (115) or the bearing plate (63) are comprised of a construction material of polyimide. Advantageously, the polyimide is combined with an additive, namely graphite, for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Manfred Knabel, Edmund Schuller, Erich Bock
  • Patent number: 6401762
    Abstract: A reed (60) for a weaving machine. The reed includes juxtaposed reed dents (61), the ends of which are held in a lower profiled bar (62) and in an upper profiled bar (8). The reed dents in at least a sub-segment projecting from the lower profiled bar have a width of about 6 mm and in an upper segment exhibit a width of about 4 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Jozef Peeters
  • Patent number: 6401763
    Abstract: A woven slide fastener stringer comprising a fastener tape comprising a plurality of foundation weft yarns, a plurality of warp yarns, and a plurality of coupling element portions, which are continuously formed of synthetic resin monofilament, woven successively along a side edge of the fastener tape with a plurality of element fixing warp yarns arranged in parallel at the same time when the fastener tape woven. The coupling element portions have such a weaving structure such that a pair of upper and lower leg portions are tightened by the fixing warp yarns and the tightening force on a coupling-head side of the upper and lower leg portions is smaller than the tightening force to a connecting-portion side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Muchiji Shimono
  • Patent number: 6397898
    Abstract: A regulator works with a thread or yarn supply which is intended to provide a draw-out length of the thread or the yarn which is dependent on the one hand on the size of the supply and on the other hand on an assumed or adjusted thread tension in the draw-out thread or the draw-out yarn. A load cell is arranged so as to sense the actual thread tension in the drawn-out thread and to, supply to the regulator information for changing the size of the thread stock when the actual thread tension deviates from the assumed or previously adjusted thread tension (the desired value). The load cell can also function as a pick monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Texo AB
    Inventor: Bo Lindblom
  • Patent number: 6397899
    Abstract: A transfer fabric for conveying wet paper from a sheet forming part to a hydro-extracting part and a papermaking machine using the same are disclosed. A transfer fabric for receiving from a paper forming fabric the wet paper formed by a sheet forming part and delivering the wet paper into a hydro-extracting part as the subsequent step. The transfer fabric is a clothed net produced by preparing as wefts such yarns having both monofilaments and plain threads of a small diameter so bound as to interpose water absorbing gaps therebetween on the running side face side and plain threads of a small diameter so bound as to interpose water absorbing gaps therebetween on the wet paper receiving face side, and as warps monofilaments or twisted monofilaments, laying the wefts in a plurality of layers and the warps in a single layer, and weaving the wefts and said warps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignees: Kobayashi Engineering Works Ltd., Nippon Filcon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shogo Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Nagura
  • Patent number: 6397443
    Abstract: A device feeds harness elements to a separation station of a drawing-in machine. The device includes at least one feed rail. The harness elements are arranged on the one feed rail. The feed rail has an inclination relative to a horizontal to generate a slope descending force for pressing a respective foremost harness element onto the separating station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Stäubli AG Pfäffikon
    Inventors: Thomas Good, Plazi Wenzin, Justus Mullis, Andreas Erhard, Martin Hunziker
  • Patent number: 6397897
    Abstract: A device for connecting a heddle frame to a reciprocating lever in a weaving loom which device includes a hook defining a housing in which a ring is selectively seated. The ring is mounted to either the heddle frame or the lever and includes surfaces for cooperatively engaging bearing surfaces defined by the housing of the hook. A lock is provided which is pivotally mounted to the hook and is engageable to retain the ring within the housing of the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventor: André Fumex
  • Patent number: 6394146
    Abstract: A split reed has a weaving reed formed by successively arranging dents respectively provided with recesses forming a weft yarn guide path having a back surface, and an auxiliary reed respectively provided with recesses forming a weft yarn guide path having a back surface. The weaving reed and the auxiliary reed are attached to a slay or the respective dents of the weaving reed and the auxiliary reed are formed so that the back surface of the weft yarn guide path of the auxiliary reed is included in a plane behind a plane including the back surface of the weaving reed with respect to the cloth fell of a fabric on the loom when the weaving reed and the auxiliary reed are attached to the slay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Tsudakoma Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Satou, Akihiko Nakada, Shigeharu Sawada
  • Patent number: 6389946
    Abstract: A method for manufacture of braided multifilament structures for an endoprosthesis for ramification of an anatomical conduit. The method includes the operation of braiding filaments, made of a matter chosen from among the biocompatible elastic, superelastic and shape-memory materials, around a first mandrel, along the length of the first mandrel whose diameter corresponds to a branch of a base element. The method further includes setting up at least one auxiliary mandrel parallel to the first mandrel. The auxiliary mandrel includes a first end and a second end, of cross-section corresponding to those of a lumen. The first end is inserted in a straight line with the braid in progress, upstream of the braiding point, and the assembly has a cross-section corresponding to that of a trunk of a base element. The method further includes continuing the braiding around the assembly along a length corresponding to at least that of the trunk of a base element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Medicorp R & D Benelux S.A.
    Inventor: Noureddine Frid
  • Patent number: 6389788
    Abstract: A method for operating a pot spinning machine which has a plurality of identical work stations each having a drafting device with a slubbing stop device, a spinning centrifuge rotating at high speed around an axis, and a tubular reciprocable guide. A slubbing emerging from the yarn guide mouth forms a rotating yarn leg which is deposited on the inner wall of the spinning centrifuge in the form of a spinning cake. At the start of a spinning cycle of the spinning machine, the individual spinning centrifuges of the spinning machine are checked for the presence of yarn cake remnants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Karl Koltze
  • Patent number: 6389787
    Abstract: A method of forming an optical fiber cable component including passing an optical fiber ribbon stack (18) through a stack guide (31), the stack guide being rotated and forming a twist in the ribbon stack, and passing the twisted ribbon stack (18′) through a cross-head (40) and extruding a material thereover. In addition, an exemplary cable component production line having a rotatable strander (12) for receiving optical fiber ribbon packages (14) thereon, a rotatable closing die (30) sized to receive the optical fiber ribbon stack, and controller (20) operatively associated with the strander and the closing die for driving the closing die, the controller being operative to effect a predetermined rotational ratio with respect to the strander and the closing die whereby a twist can be formed in the optical fiber ribbon stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Jody L. Greenwood, David H. Smith, David K. Brittain
  • Patent number: 6390144
    Abstract: Ground warp and pile warp thread sheets are supplied to a shed forming device. The ground warp and the pile warp are separately deflected over a deflecting rod upstream from the shed forming device. The deflecting rod supports the ground warp and directs the pile warp to cross and interpenetrate through the ground warp before deflecting the pile warp into the back shed. The deflecting rod is positively driven and controlled to pivot about a horizontal axis to provide a positive controlled partial compensation of the pile warp thread length variations. The pile warp also runs over a pile warp thread reserve and compensating device upstream from the thread crossing location to provide an additional passive uncontrolled compensation of the pile warp thread length variations and to provide a pile warp thread reserve during the pile loop formation and/or the shed changes in the weaving process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Lindauer Dornier Gesellschaft GmbH
    Inventors: Adnan Wahhoud, Peter Czura, Herbert Mueller, Fritz Rupflin, Thomas Laukamp
  • Patent number: 6385955
    Abstract: An adjustable height self-lubricating pulley system for use on the flyer bow of a twisting machine that twists strands. The height of the pulley can be adjusted to control the distance of the cable from the flyer bow during the cable's path along the flyer bow by selectively mounting the pulley spindle in one of a plurality of apertures in a pair of side plates of the pulley. The pulley is self-lubricating by virtue of the pulley spindle being coated with a self-lubricating liner system including polytetrafluoroethylene and other fillers in a resin system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Kamatics Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Rowlands, Scott Scranton