Patents Examined by Barbara J. Musser
  • Patent number: 11540954
    Abstract: An elastic resin material having a thermoplastic elastic resin as a main component is heated and melted, and the elastic resin material is discharged in a film or a linear shape from a discharge mechanism to form a film-shape or a linear-shape intermediate product. At a temperature above the temperature region at which the elastic resin material elastically deforms, extending is performed until the thickness or width of the film-shape intermediate product or the thickness of the linear-shape intermediate product assumes a prescribed value; with a cooling roller, the intermediate product is cooled to the temperature region at which the elastic resin material elastically deforms, and the intermediate product is hardened, forming a film-shape or linear-shape elastic member. The elastic member is stretched with a stretch roller to a prescribed stretching ratio, and the stretched elastic member is laminated on and bonded to a first base material sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Nakamura, Yukihiko Fujita, Miwa Koshijima
  • Patent number: 11534989
    Abstract: A forming module for forming a composite laminate part over a tool is provided. The forming module comprises a base, a ply carrier control assembly adapted for controlling the position of a flexible ply carrier on which composite resin plies are mounted, and a head section mounted on the base and adapted for automatically forming the composite resin plies from the ply carrier onto the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James N. Buttrick, Dennis Wayne Stewart, Andrew E. Modin, David Paul Banks, Edoardo Depase, Jesus Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11510823
    Abstract: The current invention concerns a method and apparatus for stretching and repitching an elastic member for attachment to a moving substrate, the elastic member being stretchable in at least a longitudinal direction and said elastic member in an essential non-stretched condition comprising an initial length along said longitudinal direction, the method comprising the steps of: (1) providing the elastic member in essentially non-stretched condition to a set of repitching members with an initial supply pitch, said set of repitching members comprising at least a first repitching member and a second repitching member, and optionally one or more repitching members arranged between said first and said second repitching member; (2) receiving said elastic members arranged in non-stretched condition between said set of repitching members, whereby the distance between the first and the second repitching member corresponds to the initial length of the elastic member; (3) moving at least said first and said second repitchi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: ONTEX BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventors: Thomas Heege, Michael Hochhausen
  • Patent number: 11510824
    Abstract: A rotary device for welding a continuous web comprises a rotary unit rotating about a respective axis and welding units for welding the web mounted, angularly spaced, on the rotary unit. A movement device varies a radial position of the welding units. First and second supporting elements supporting the web are disposed, respectively, upstream and downstream of respective ones of the welding units, to keep the web tensioned when the respective welding unit is at an operating position. The first and second supporting elements are supported by a load-bearing structure connected to the welding units in such a way that a radial movement of the welding units corresponds to a movement of the first and second supporting elements towards and away from the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: GDM S.P.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Duchini, Aldo Fusar Poli, Matteo Piantoni, Gabriele Resmini, Marco Rosani, Maurizio Spatti
  • Patent number: 11504900
    Abstract: A method of folding edges of trim parts includes the following steps. Place an inner surface of a substrate against a panel support so that an upper end of the substrate is disposed above a top end of the panel support. Press a backup blade against an outer surface of the substrate beneath the upper end of the substrate. A folder tool of an edge folding apparatus is urged against the inner surface of the upper end of the substrate in a horizontal direction which laterally folds the upper end 96 of the substrate. Remove the backup blade from the outer surface of the substrate. Then urge the folder tool of the edge folding apparatus against the inner surface of the substrate in a vertical direction and downwardly folding the upper end 96 of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Richard Rahm
  • Patent number: 11498289
    Abstract: A method for molding a composite material obtained by laying up a fiber-reinforced base material includes: disposing a lay-up in which the fiber-reinforced base material is laid up, on a molding surface of a molding jig; covering the lay-up with a film to hermetically seal the lay-up; supplying resin toward the lay-up from a resin supplying unit; sucking atmosphere in the film from a degassing waterproof unit while blocking the resin in the film from passing to impregnate the lay-up with the resin; and discharging the resin in the film from a resin discharging unit after the lay-up is impregnated with the resin. The resin supplying unit is provided on the film side. The degassing waterproof unit is provided on the molding surface side and along one direction in a plane perpendicular to a laying-up direction of the lay-up. The resin discharging unit is provided at the film side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kodai Shimono, Hiroshi Tokutomi
  • Patent number: 11497655
    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: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Jones, James R. Niedt, Robert W. Scholl, Kirk J. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 11497660
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite sheet includes a first step of, in a state that a curved part of a first sheet whose one surface rises and whose another surface is recessed and that a second sheet is overlaid on the first sheet, revolving a first roller to convey the first sheet and the second sheet; a second step of passing the sheets between the first roller and a second roller revolving so that a pressing part protruding outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the second roller is inserted into the recess of the first roller; forming, in a region within the second sheet opposing the curved part, a protruding part which is surrounded by a flat part; and a third step of joining a boundary part of the first sheet to the second sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 11498293
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tacking and trimming a thermoplastic tow. A thermoplastic tow is received from a braiding system over a braided structure on a surface. The thermoplastic tow is tack welded to the braided structure. A portion of the thermoplastic tow is trimmed to thereby trim the thermoplastic tow received over the braided structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffery Lee Marcoe, Marc R. Matsen
  • Patent number: 11498290
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for molding, using a honeycomb core, a composite material structure that is high-quality, low cost, and leaves less voids. The present disclosure addresses the problem of providing a method for molding, using a honeycomb core, a composite material structure with which it is possible to reduce dimples in a composite material skin at low cost. According to a method for molding a composite material structure of the present disclosure, an uncured composite material honeycomb sandwich panel in which prepreg is laminated on upper and lower surfaces of a honeycomb core via an adhesive is covered with a vacuum bag and placed in an autoclave. After that, the vacuum bag is evacuated and, while the evacuation is being continued, is heated and pressurized by the autoclave to cure a matrix resin of the prepreg and achieve adhesion to the honeycomb core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Noma, Hiromichi Akiyama, Toshio Kozasa, Masayuki Kanemasu, Shunichi Morishima
  • Patent number: 11484446
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for making patterned apertured substrates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. During the manufacturing processes, a precursor substrate advances in a machine direction between a pattern roll and an anvil roll. The pattern roll rotates about an axis of rotation and includes a plurality of pattern surfaces, wherein the substrate is compressed between the anvil roll and the pattern surfaces of the pattern roll to form discrete bond regions in the substrate. The pattern surfaces on the pattern roll are formed on continuous threads extending circumferentially around the axis of rotation along helical paths parallel with each other. As such, the pattern surfaces press the substrate against the outer circumferential surface of the anvil roll in the different axial locations along the cross direction as the pattern roll rotates when forming the discrete bond regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Uwe Schneider
  • Patent number: 11485104
    Abstract: The invention relates to a material roll preparation arrangement. The material roll preparation arrangement comprises a receiving apparatus for receiving a material roll to be prepared with a wound material web, and at least one material roll preparation apparatus which is assigned to the receiving apparatus for the preparation of the material roll which is received in the receiving apparatus for further processing, in particular in a corrugator plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: BHS Intralogistics GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Ruhland, Martin Ruhland, Thomas Huber, Tobias Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11479002
    Abstract: An assembly for forming a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a layup tool including a main body extending along a longitudinal axis and a flange extending radially from the main body, the flange defining an edge face slopes towards the main body to an axial face. At least one compression tool has a tool body having a first tool section and a second tool section extending transversely from the first tool section. The first tool section is translatable along a retention member in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the edge face such that relative movement causes the second tool section to apply a first compressive force on a composite article trapped between the axial face of the flange and the second tool section. A method of forming a gas turbine engine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonas S. Banhos, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Michael Parkin
  • Patent number: 11472138
    Abstract: Described are methods and systems for identifying processing locations in composite layups. An optical magnetic marker is magnetically supported by a layup tool at a target position, such that a portion of the marker protrudes above the tool processing surface. When a composite layup is placed onto that surface, the protruding portion extends into the layup at a processing location. When the layup is cured, the marker is permanently embedded into the layup. Separating the cured layup from the tool removes the marker from the tool and allows an additional marker to advance into the target position for processing another layup. The embedded marker or, more specifically, marker's reflective surface is used during optical inspection of the layup surface to precisely determine the processing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jerald A. Hull
  • Patent number: 11465386
    Abstract: A system and method for producing a board product characterized by having two corrugated mediums and at least one embossed medium in the board product. The board product may further include one or more facings that are adhesively coupled to either the corrugated medium, the embossed medium, or both. Generally speaking, a corrugated medium may be characterized as a paper product that exhibits flutes induced by a cross-corrugating process such that the induced flutes are perpendicular (or at least not congruent) with the machine direction of the paper product. An embossed medium may be characterized as a paper product that exhibits flutes induced by a linear-embossing process such that the induced flutes are aligned with the machine direction of the paper product. A resultant board product is stronger and more efficiently produced because of the linearly-embossed medium harnessing the natural strength of the paper in the machine direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Giles Greenfield
  • Patent number: 11458690
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for bonding first and second substrates together with tackifier free adhesives. The tackifier free adhesive may be applied to the second substrate to define an adherence zone. The first substrate is positioned on the adherence zone of the second substrate to define a first region and a second region of the adherence zone. In the first region, the tackifier free adhesive is positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate. In the second region, the tackifier free adhesive may or may not be positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate, and may not bond the first substrate with the second substrate. Thus, tackifier free adhesive may be applied to the second substrate to create an adherence zone defining a relatively large area that permits the placement of the first substrate thereon without the need to completely cover the adherence zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Uwe Schneider
  • Patent number: 11458702
    Abstract: A system and method for producing a board product characterized by having two corrugated mediums and at least one embossed medium in the board product. The board product may further include one or more facings that are adhesively coupled to either the corrugated medium, the embossed medium, or both. Generally speaking, a corrugated medium may be characterized as a paper product that exhibits flutes induced by a cross-corrugating process such that the induced flutes are perpendicular (or at least not congruent) with the machine direction of the paper product. An embossed medium may be characterized as a paper product that exhibits flutes induced by a linear-embossing process such that the induced flutes are aligned with the machine direction of the paper product. A resultant board product is stronger and more efficiently produced because of the linearly-embossed medium harnessing the natural strength of the paper in the machine direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Giles Greenfield
  • Patent number: 11440277
    Abstract: A method of repairing an aircraft component having a structural core surrounded by an exterior skin of composite material includes removing damaged material from the component to create a cavity therein that exposes an undamaged portion of the structural core, applying a septum comprising composite material to the undamaged portion of the structural core within the cavity such that an orientation of fibers in the septum matches an orientation of fibers in the exterior skin, placing a repair core onto the septum in the cavity such that cells of the repair core are in alignment with cells of the undamaged portion of the structural core, inserting a shim into the cavity along a perimeter of the repair core, applying a patch that covers the cavity to the exterior skin, and co-curing the septum, shim, and patch to bond the repair core in place within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Suvankar Mishra
  • Patent number: 11441320
    Abstract: Separating membrane of plastic material, made up of a bossed and waterproof sheet which is coupled with a permeable base layer. The bosses are of the cylindrical type with a double diameter and have such a shape and arrangement as to feature improved adhesion on both faces. The gripping of the adhesive is increased in order to obtain greater tear strength, on the upper face, and at the same time increases the area of contact with the base layer for a greater resistance to delamination on the lower face. In particular, inside each chamber there is an internal crown, which divides it like a necking into two superimposed compartments having the same diameter, wherein the first compartment has a depth amounting to at least ? of the total. A production process for obtaining the membrane is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Federico Cais, Nicola Busatta, Renato Pavan
  • Patent number: 11432729
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blood pressure information measurement apparatus includes the following steps: forming a hole in a flexible resin sheet; inserting a connecting pipe into the hole; overlaying a first end portion and a second end portion of the flexible resin sheet such that an inner side of the first end portion contacts an outer side of the second portion; welding a location at which the first end portion and the second end portion overlap to form a first welded portion, such that the flexible resin sheet forms a tube-shaped body having a first end and a second end; flattening the tube-shaped body; welding the first end and the second to form two second welded portions, such that the tube-shaped body forms a bladder having two long sides and two short sides; and welding portions of the resin sheet which overlap along a first long side to form one or more partial welded portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroko Yoshino, Naomi Matsumura, Masahiro Kobayashi, Wataru Tsunoda