Patents Examined by Cheryl N. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 6662844
    Abstract: An adhesive tape dispenser is comprised of a dispensing body that provides for the loading of a roll of tape at its rear portion and a blade mounted on the dispensing body. A roller, a guide wheel, and a pawl are respectively pivotally mounted in the dispensing body. The roller has a plurality of protrusions arranged around one end thereof. The pawl has a pressing member capable of positioning against the circumferential face of the roller as well as an engaging portion capable of becoming engaged between two protrusions of the roller, and the pawl is postured to the rear by an elastic member. Tape is inserted between the roller and the pawl and then routed pass the guide wheel to the area of the blade and when it is applied forward, the roller correspondingly rotates forward in the same direction and the protrusions allow the engaging portion to slide over them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Harrison Huang
  • Patent number: 6656310
    Abstract: A heat sealing jaw assembly for effecting a heat seal of at least two juxtaposed heat sealable sheet materials is described. Preferably, but not exclusively, the heat sealing jaw assembly is adapted for use in a form, fill and seal machine forming thermoplastic bags. The heat sealing jaw assembly comprises a first and a second metal jaw member, each having a heating element for heating the jaw members. Each of the jaw members has an end face disposed in facial alignment with one another. A ribbon member is secured to each of the end faces and disposed in planar alignment with one another. The ribbon member is made of soft material having rubber-like properties and capable of conducting heat from the sealing jaw to a fusing temperature to melt the heat sealable sheet materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Glopak Inc.
    Inventor: Roland Basque
  • Patent number: 6651717
    Abstract: Provided is a taping machine which enables shortening the time length for bonding to each other a Fresnel lens sheet and a lenticular lens sheet and for the inspection process as well as reducing the space occupied by apparatuses used for the both processes. The taping machine includes a table part that has placed thereon a Fresnel lens sheet and a lenticular lens sheet with the end surfaces thereof being regularly arranged and superposed over upon the other, and a tape-applying mechanism that bonds the end surfaces to each other by means of a tape. The table part has a black-colored opaque plate on which a transparent plate is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Matsumoto, Takashi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6651718
    Abstract: A hand-held tape dispenser with tape positioning structure mainly includes a tape reel from which a length of tape is dispensed and applied onto a surface, and a holding-down plate adapted to push a blade below it to cut the dispensed tape. The tape positioning structure includes two L-shaped plates fixed to two sides of the blade. Each of the two L-shaped plates has a hooked front end exposed from one side of a front plate located below the blade. When the blade is pushed forward to cut the dispensed tape, the hooked front ends of the L-shaped plates move forward at the same time to hook up a free end of the cut tape, and when the holding-down plate is released and the blade retracts, the cut tape is held by the retracted hooked front ends to the front plate for use next time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Wei-Hsiu Hua
  • Patent number: 6649017
    Abstract: A method of detaching an article (B) from a laminate unit (C), the laminate unit (C) comprising a support plate (A) and, fixed thereto, the article (B), the fixing effected through a pressure sensitive adhesive double coated sheet (1) deformable by heating to thereby exert a peeling effect, which method comprises heating at least one outer part of the laminate unit so that at least part of an outer region of the laminate unit is initially heated up, with other regions heated up later, and detaching the article (B) from the pressure sensitive adhesive double coated sheet (1) in a direction from the outer region toward the other regions. Thus, there are provided a detaching method and a detacher apparatus which enable efficiently detaching an article, such as an extremely thin wafer, having been fixed through a heat shrinkable pressure sensitive adhesive double coated sheet without cracking of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 6648044
    Abstract: A method for simultaneously sealing and creating a thermal perforation between two thermoplastic layers that comprises providing two thermoplastic layers. A drum is provided that has at least one sealbar and perforation assembly. The two thermoplastic layers are contacted to the sealbar and perforation assembly. The thermoplastic layers are sealed with two generally opposing parallel seals and simultaneously create a thermal perforation in the thermoplastic layers generally parallel to the opposing seals. The thermal perforation is located between the two opposing seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Bohn, William P. Belias
  • Patent number: 6641691
    Abstract: Display information is revealed from behind a metal film that can be cleared upon effective contact with a clearing agent. The metal film, while opaque, is generally less than 1000 Angstroms thick and can be cleared by exposure to innocuous agents including food or other household products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Timer Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Shadle, David M. Good, Gerrit L. Verschuur, Chauncey T. Mitchell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6641696
    Abstract: A method of laminating a graphic sheet of material onto a substrate material, including the steps of positioning a substrate material, having a top and sides, into a desired position, disposing (a) at least one sheet of thermo-setting adhesive on the top of the substrate material, disposing (b) at least one opaque white melamine sheet on the at least one adhesive sheet, disposing the (c) graphic sheet of material on the at least one opaque white melamine sheet, disposing a (d) at least one clear sheet of melamine on the graphic sheet of material, disposing a (e) at least one release paper sheet on the at least one clear sheet of melamine, applying heat to the sheets a, b, c, d and e, and applying pressure to force said sheets a, b, c, d and e against the substrate to thereby cause bonding of said sheets a, b, c and d together and to the substrate. A preferred product produced by the method is formed with a ceramic tile as the substrate and a printed paper sheet as the graphic sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: David A. Edgerton
  • Patent number: 6638382
    Abstract: A sheet piece (S′) that is needed to assemble wiring harnesses (W) on a harness assembling board (A) is recognized, and a recognition signal is generated. A sheet cutting apparatus (20) then cuts a sheet (S) from a sheet roll to a specified length in accordance with the recognition signal. The cut sheet piece (S′) then is dropped onto the respective harness assembling board (A). The sheet cutting apparatus (20) has a sheet feed roller (22), pressure rollers (23) that are movable toward and away from the feed roller (22) and cutters (26) for cutting the sheet (S). The feed roller (22) is rotated and the pressure rollers (23) press the sheet (S) against the feed rollers (22) in response to the recognition signal. Thus, a specified length of the sheet (S) is fed, and the cutters (26) cut the sheet (S) into a sheet piece (S′) of the specified length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Satou
  • Patent number: 6635139
    Abstract: A method for simultaneously sealing and creating a thermal perforation between two thermoplastic layers that comprises providing two thermoplastic layers. A drum is provided that has at least one sealbar and perforation assembly. The two thermoplastic layers are contacted to the sealbar and perforation assembly. The thermoplastic layers are sealed with two generally opposing parallel seals and simultaneously create a thermal perforation in the thermoplastic layers generally parallel to the opposing seals. The thermal perforation is located between the two opposing seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Bohn, William P. Belias
  • Patent number: 6630043
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a fabric product includes providing a layer of fabric; applying a liquid polymeric material to the layer of fabric in accordance with a pre-selected pattern including at least a peripheral area which corresponds to a shape of the fabric product; curing the polymeric material along the peripheral area, thereby polymeric material-strengthening the layer of fabric at least along the peripheral area; and cutting within and through the polymeric material-strengthened peripheral area to shape the layer, thereby forming a plastic seal around a peripheral edge of the shaped layer of fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Printmark Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Sloot
  • Patent number: 6627037
    Abstract: Laminate unit C obtained by fixing article B to support plate A through pressure sensitive adhesive double coated sheet 1 capable of being deformed by heating to thereby exert a detachment effect is held between a pair of sandwiching means, the sandwiching means so arranged as to enable interposition of the laminate unit C. The laminate unit C is heated by heating means 7 so that the pressure sensitive adhesive double coated sheet 1 is deformed to thereby reduce an area of contact of the pressure sensitive adhesive double coated sheet 1 with the article B with the result that the article B comes up from the pressure sensitive adhesive double coated sheet 1. Thereafter, the article B is detached from the pressure sensitive adhesive double coated sheet 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Lintec Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Kurokawa, Kenji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6622768
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a correction tape roll device to be used for correcting erroneous or omitted letters and the like wherein securing the lateral distance between shafts for at least a pair of rolls is unnecessary, so that the spatial availability can be increased and thus the size of the device can be reduced, as compared to the conventional device in which the corresponding distance was relative large and so the device became voluminous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: Kwang Ho You
  • Patent number: 6620279
    Abstract: A folding and sealing apparatus comprising a housing supporting a feed platform for feeding a supply of pre-glued forms to the folding and sealing apparatus. The housing accommodating a first roller, a second roller, a third roller and a fourth roller, and the first and second rollers forming a first nip, the second and third roller forming a second nip and the third and fourth roller forming a third nip. A motor drives at least one of the rollers via a drive mechanism. The first roller is a spring biased roller to facilitate feeding of the pre-glued form while the second, third and the fourth rollers are all fixedly mounted to the housing so that the second nip and the third nip both provide a sufficient sealing pressure to the folded form, as the folded form passes through the second and the third nips, to facilitate both folding and sealing of the folded form. A collection bin is provided adjacent the third nip for collecting the folded and sealed forms upon exiting from the folding and sealing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Bri-Lin, Incorporated
    Inventors: Wayne R. Lindsay, Brett A. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 6620281
    Abstract: An insulating label and wrap for beverage containers of various shapes is manufactured by a continuous run process using a plurality of printing stations to provide a high quality printed image on the face of the label. The label or after-market beverage container wrap produced by this process comprises a multi-layered label having a layer of ink on the face of a paper stock substrate, an adhesive layer on the backside of the stock substrate holds a thin water-proof layer of foam. The printed face of the label is protected by a clear film or coating covering the ink layer. The label can be manufactured as an after-market wrap to be applied by hand by the customer and fits containers of various sizes, or as a label that is an integral part of the container as it comes from the manufacturer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Michael N. Sommers
  • Patent number: 6613177
    Abstract: A strip joint having a required length is produced by obliquely feeding a given amount of a strip of rubberized cords onto a conveyor from a given separated distance, cutting the strip along the conveyor, moving the cut strip piece in a given moving pitch amount through the conveyor, joining a front end portion of a subsequently fed strip piece to a rear end portion of the preceding strip piece, and successively repeating these procedures, wherein the moving pitch amount is adjusted by controlling the movement of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Suda, Yasuo Mizota
  • Patent number: 6610168
    Abstract: A line slit nozzle for spraying steam is disposed along a diameter of a resist film. Steam containing a mist is sprayed onto a surface of the resist film. The film is thereby peeled off and removed. By using a change in physical properties (swelling, etc.) of the resist film by water, the film is easily and surely peeled off. Breakaway from much resources/energy consumption type techniques is realized. In other words, realized are environment-symbiosis type techniques by which resist films can be removed independently of the quantity of energy and kinds of chemical solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignees: Sipec Corporation, Ultra Clean Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Miki, Takahisa Nitta
  • Patent number: 6602377
    Abstract: In a system for constructing a three-dimensional object by selective attachment of a plurality of sheets of flexible material, each sheet being cut along at least one contour line so as to subdivide the sheet into at least one object forming region corresponding to the shape of a layer of the object bounded by a corresponding contour of the object and at least one residue region not required in the constructed object, at least part of each object forming region being attached to object forming regions of adjacent layers, a method for facilitating the removal of the residue regions including producing selective attachment of at least part of a plurality of the residue regions to the residue regions of adjacent sheets in such a manner as to form, from at least part of the residue regions of a plurality of the sheets, a plurality of residue elements non-rigidly interconnected such that manual removal of each of the residue elements initiates removal of a subsequent one of the residue elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Solidimension Ltd
    Inventors: Yossi Bar-Erez, Eyal Bar-Erez
  • Patent number: 6596112
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to composite filters and methods for preparing same. More specifically, it is directed to filter laminates of multiple discreet layers of material bonded together, with at least one of the layers being an asymmetric membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry Ditter, Richard McDonogh, Steve Lamon, Todd Benson, Rey Sarabia, Mike Gaughan, I-fan Wang, Richard Morris
  • Patent number: 6585846
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provides for rotatably cutting and/or laminating layered structures or sheet material supported by webs. A rotary converting apparatus and method of the present invention converts a web comprising a cathode layered structure and a web comprising an anode layered structure into a series of layered electrochemical cell structures supported by a release liner. Employment of a rotary converting process of the present invention provides, among other benefits, for the creation of a product having a finished size, without need for downstream or subsequent cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric J. Hanson, John R. Wheeler, Alan P. Miller, David B. Pritchard, Donald G. Peterson, John R. Jacobson, Jeffrey J. Missling, James N. Dobbs, David C. Kramlich