Patents Examined by Barbara J. Musser
  • Patent number: 11806956
    Abstract: A method of repairing a sandwich structure includes: removing a damaged portion of a core and a damaged portion of a first facesheet to form an open volume; filling the open volume with an ultraviolet-curable photomonomer; partially curing the ultraviolet-curable photomonomer to form a plurality of photopolymer waveguides by utilizing ultraviolet light; and arranging a replacement facesheet on the damaged portion of the first facesheet and over the photopolymer waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob M. Hundley, Eric C. Clough, Zak C. Eckel, David Page, Sophia S. Yang
  • Patent number: 11801655
    Abstract: The invention relates to a corrugated board system, comprising at least one intermediate web dispensing device for dispensing at least one intermediate web, at least one cover web dispensing device for dispensing at least one cover web, at least one corrugated board production device arranged downstream of the at least one intermediate web dispensing device and cover web dispensing device for producing at least one corrugated board web laminated on one side from the at least one cover web and intermediate web, a laminating web dispensing device for dispensing a laminating web, a connecting device for connecting the at least one corrugated board web laminated on one side and the laminating web to one another upon formation of a corrugated board web laminated on both sides, at least one transport carriage for transporting at least one material roll along at least one movement path between at least one material roll store and the at least one intermediate web dispensing device, cover web dispensing device and/or
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: BHS Intralogistics GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Ruhland, Karl Ruhland
  • Patent number: 11793681
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent core includes: a dispenser for dispensing a fiber; a fiber-stacking drum for stacking the dispensed fiber on the outer circumferential surface while sucking the fiber toward an inside; and a fixed frame for rotatably supporting the fiber-stacking drum. The fiber-stacking drum includes: a rotation shaft; a wheel attached to the distal end of the rotation shaft; and a fiber-stacking ring provided on an outer circumference portion of the wheel for stacking the fiber A suction chamber is fixed to the fixed frame The suction chamber is arranged on an inner side of the fiber-stacking ring and produces a suction force toward an inner circumference of the fiber-stacking ring. The fiber-stacking drum is supported by the fixed frame so as to be slidable in an axial direction of the rotation shaft; and the wheel is removably attached to the distal end of the rotation shaft via a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Utani, Daisuke Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11786695
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are expandable introducer sheaths and methods of making and using the same. The sheaths minimize trauma to a patient's vasculature by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the sheath to accommodate passage of a delivery system for a cardiovascular device, then return to a non-expanded state after the passage of the device. The sheath includes an elongated annular member through which the cardiovascular device and its delivery system pass. In an embodiment, the annular inner member can be formed by coextruding a first and second material. The first material includes a fold, and the second material radially spaces the different parts of the fold from each other during fabrication and provides support for maintaining the tubular structure. The second material is removed once the coextrusion process is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Erik Bulman, Duy Nguyen, Kim D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11779494
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for making tampons including primary and secondary absorbent members. During assembly, primary absorbent members, a continuous length of secondary absorbent members, and a continuous cord are advanced in a machine direction. Leading edges of the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance. Discrete secondary absorbent members are cut from the continuous length of secondary absorbent members. Leading edges of the discrete secondary absorbent members are also separated from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance. The continuous cord is positioned on a first surface of the secondary absorbent members. And a second surface of a secondary absorbent member is positioned in contact with and in a facing relationship with a primary absorbent member. A thread is sewn through the continuous cord, the secondary absorbent member, and the primary absorbent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kevin Charles Strong, Evan Joseph Durling, Hinrich Knuth, Khalid Qureshi
  • Patent number: 11767705
    Abstract: A glass panel unit manufacturing method includes a bonding step, an insertion step, an evacuation step, and a sealing step. The bonding step includes bonding a first substrate having an evacuation port and a second substrate together with a bonding material provided between the first substrate and the second substrate and having a frame shape to form an internal space. The insertion step includes inserting a sealing material into the evacuation port. The evacuation step includes evacuating the internal space through the exhaust passage. The sealing step includes deforming the sealing material by heating while an evacuated state in the internal space is maintained. In a state where the sealing material blocks ventilation between the evacuation port and the internal space, gas is supplied through the exhaust passage toward the evacuation port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shimizu, Masataka Nonaka, Haruhiko Ishikawa, Eiichi Uriu, Kazuya Hasegawa, Tasuku Ishibashi, Hiroyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 11766840
    Abstract: There is provided a forming apparatus for forming a high contour composite structure. The forming apparatus includes an upper die and a lower die between which a composite charge is formed. The forming apparatus further includes a plurality of load cells, a control system, and an overlay tool assembly coupled to the upper die. The overlay tool assembly has scalloped sections positioned between pairs of the plurality of load cells, and positioned against portion(s) of the composite charge. The composite charge has ply discontinuity features through the one or more portions. The overlay tool assembly denies pressure and a through thickness compaction to the one or more portions of the composite charge during a forming process, to allow one or more plies in the one or more portions to move after the forming process, and to enable in-plane bending of the high contour composite structure in post-forming operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James R. Kendall, Raviendra S. Suriyaarachchi, Andrew E. Modin
  • Patent number: 11760074
    Abstract: This mold for prepreg lamination includes a first surface only having a surface flat along one direction; second surfaces having a surface flat along the one direction and disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the first surface; and a third surface with a cross-sectional shape, which is a surface yielded from a cut in an orthogonal direction to the one direction, that is an arc, and with one end side connected to the first surface and the other end side connected to the second surface. First bend sections having a protruding shape are formed on the second surface and the third surface and serve as boundaries, and one of the surfaces is slanted relative to the other surfaces. On the third surface, the diameter of the arc on the other surface becomes gradually smaller as further away from the first bend section along the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Ishida, Masahiko Shimizu, Kohei Muto, Akihito Suzuki, Kenji Murakami, Tsuyoshi Okawara
  • Patent number: 11760040
    Abstract: A tool for making contoured composite hat stringers allows control of stringer wrinkling. The tool includes a set of first openings that allow the tool to flex during contouring of the stringer, and a set of second openings into which portions of the composite charge may strain during the contouring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven Joseph Plummer, Kurtis Shuldberg Willden, Andrew Elmer Modin, Paul Chace Wilcoxson
  • Patent number: 11759991
    Abstract: In a production apparatus, a pass line for conveying a film is formed in parts of both belts wound on common rolls and in contact with each other across the film, a discharge port of a discharger is so provided that the molten resin reaches one first roll, out of a group of first rolls, on a side upstream of the pass line, and the common rolls include a cooling roll for cooling and solidifying the molten resin discharged from the discharge port and having reached the first roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11752712
    Abstract: Disclosed is a holding system for supporting a wafer having a first surface, a second surface and a third surface joining the first and second surfaces, and an optical element having a first surface, a second surface and a third surface joining the first and second surfaces, the holding system including: a support including first support unit configured to support the second and/or third surface of the wafer and second support unit configured to support the second and/or third surface of the optical element; a positioning unit configured to position the second surface of the wafer relative to the first surface of the optical element; and a mechanical unit configured to move the first and second support units one relative to the other so as to move the second surface of the wafer and the first surface of the optical element to form an optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Ludovic Jouard, Sira Uhalte Nogues, Mathieu Meynen
  • Patent number: 11752042
    Abstract: Absorbent articles having curved elasticized laminates and apparatuses and methods for forming such articles are disclosed. In one embodiment a method of forming an article may comprise moving absorbent assemblies and elasticized laminates in the machine direction. The method may further comprise oscillating the elasticized laminates in the cross-machine direction to impart a curvature, bonding the elasticized laminates to the absorbent assemblies while maintaining the imparted curvature such that at least a portion of the elasticized laminates are disposed outboard of longitudinal side edges of the absorbent assemblies, and finally separating the absorbent assemblies into individual absorbent articles, where the elasticized laminates extend in a curving manner throughout the absorbent articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Jones, James R. Niedt, Robert W. Scholl, Kirk J. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 11745446
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade includes the use of an apparatus having an engagement part. The engagement part has: a support element having a first support edge and a second support edge, a belt extending around the support element and forming a primary engagement edge of the engagement part along the first support edge of the support element. The method includes: providing one or more pre-shaped elements, including a first pre-shaped element, in a first element position, positioning the engagement part in a first position, moving the support element in a first direction with a first velocity to extend underneath the first pre-shaped element, and at the same time moving the belt relative to the support element around the first support edge in a primary direction from below the first support edge to above the first support edge with a primary velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: BLADE DYNAMICS LIMITED
    Inventor: Harry Fish
  • Patent number: 11745908
    Abstract: A labeling apparatus comprises a separation member configured to promote detachment of an adhesive label from liner web. Adhesive labels are fed to the separation member such that a surface of the facestock contacts the separation member. The separation member has a surface exhibiting a tack such that the tack force between the facestock and the separation member is greater than the release force between the release liner and the adhesive layer of the labels. The labels become associated with the separation member, and the label is applied to a surface of a substrate by contacting the exposed adhesive layer with a surface of a substrate, which causes the adhesive label to detach from the separation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
    Inventors: Kevin O. Henderson, Victor P. Holbert
  • Patent number: 11724476
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forming corrugated boards are disclosed. The system includes a single face unit configured to form a single face board having a fluted layer and an outer liner. The system also includes a single face buffer configured to store or hold a length of the single face board. The system has a glue station configured to attach a second outer liner to the single face board to form a single wall board. The system also has an ultrasonic unit configured to apply ultrasonic vibrations to the single wall board. The ultrasonic vibrations are configured to remove moisture from the single wall board, activate, heat, and/or dry an adhesive used to attach the fluted layer and the outer liners, and/or cause the fibers of the fluted layer and the outer liners to weave, intertwine, or otherwise stick together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: PACKSIZE LLC
    Inventor: Hanko Kiessner
  • Patent number: 11723814
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing elastic laminates, wherein a first continuous elastic film is stretched in a transverse direction by a spreader device and is applied on a transfer wheel on which it is cut longitudinally to form at least two parallel continuous elastic films which are transferred on a non-woven web held on an outer cylindrical surface of an anvil wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Passarella
  • Patent number: 11724468
    Abstract: Method and device for manufacturing a profile member of composite material, the cross-section of which has three branches, including the steps of: —moving together two opposite edges of a panel (2) of sheet material in such a manner that these two opposite edges are juxtapositioned in one juxtapositioning direction; translating a pair of jaws (20) in a direction perpendicular to the juxta-positioning direction in such a manner that the pair of jaws (20) is positioned on either side of the opposite juxtapositioned edges, this translational movement of the pair of jaws (20) being carried out in the direction of a base (25); —simultaneously pressing the sheet material between the two jaws (20), on the one hand, and between the jaws (20) and the base (25), on the other hand; —finishing the profile member of composite material by hardening with a matrix with which the sheet material is impregnated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: LATECOERE
    Inventors: Josef Krena, Miloslav Klisky
  • Patent number: 11725624
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides a system and method for facilitating bonding of various turbine blade components, including trailing edge inserts, or flatbacks, to the trailing edge of a wind turbine blade. The system disclosed herein ensures a consistent force is applied from root to top thereby preventing defects, e.g. paste voids, from forming. Additionally, a consistent bonding gap can be achieved due to the consistent application of force from the root to tip of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TPI Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Villar
  • Patent number: 11718339
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vehicle steering wheel, the steering wheel comprising: —a rim, —an outer sheath formed by at least one strip attached around at least one part of the rim, —at least one device passing through the outer sheath, the method comprising at least the following steps: —positioning the strip around the rim, —attaching the strip to the rim in order to form the outer sheath, —forming an opening in the outer sheath facing an internal part of the device, —folding portions of the outer sheath towards the inside of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Olivier Bertrand, Jonathan Pinaud, Hugues Doursoux, Agnes Quintard
  • Patent number: 11702309
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turning apparatus for a production plant (2) for sanitary products, in particular adult or baby diapers, the turning apparatus having a drum (12) which rotates about a geometrical drum rotational axis (11), and at least one plate (14) which is spaced apart radially from the drum rotational axis (11) and is coupled to the drum (12), which plate (14) comprises a suction face (15) for the transport of sanitary material pieces (16), which suction face (15) holds the respective sanitary material piece (16) by means of a vacuum during the transport, the plate (14) having a geometrical vertical axis (17) which runs radially with respect to the drum rotational axis (11), the plate (14) receiving the sanitary material piece (16) with a first orientation about the vertical axis (17) in a first transfer region (18), and transporting the sanitary material piece (16) from the first transfer region (18) to a second transfer region (20) along a setpoint transfer path (19) which runs in the circumf
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Winkler + Dünnebier GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Spurzem