Patents Examined by David M. Maiorana
  • Patent number: 5622752
    Abstract: A printed circuit board ("PCB") is moved on a conveyor towards an ultrasonic spray head ("head") that is mounted below the PCB on a guide rail. The guide rail and the direction of motion of the PCB define an acute angle. When the PCB reaches a predetermined position, the head begins a motion across the PCB, spraying a rectangular swatch of soldering flux. The velocity of the head is controlled such that the swatch of flux is substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the PCB. After spraying, the head deactivates and reciprocates back across the PCB such that no flux is sprayed. The cycle repeats after a predetermined delay whereby adjacent swatches of flux do not substantially overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart Erickson, Drew Erickson
  • Patent number: 5620743
    Abstract: Solid particles are coated in a fluidized bed by application of a gaseous coating agent from a plasma, wherein the plasma is generated outside the fluidized bed under 0.01-500 mbar, and the plasma-activated gas is passed into the fluidized bed, which is operated under 0.1-500 mbar, wherea. the plasma is generated from the total amount of gaseous coating agent with or without another gas, orb. the plasma is generated from a portion of the gaseous coating agent with or without another gas, and the remaining portion is introduced directly into the fluidized bed, orc. the plasma is generated from another gas, and the total amount of gaseous coating agent is introduced directly into the fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Harth, Hartmut Hibst, Wolfgang Mattmann
  • Patent number: 5620750
    Abstract: The disclosed present invention relates to a method of applying a metallic coating, such as a finish paint coating to an automobile. This method comprises two processes or stages using a bell-shaped rotary atomizer and a metallic paint. The amount of paint ejected from the rotary atomizer, shaping air pressure, and coating speed are maintained at approximately the same values during both the first and second processes. In the first process, the peripheral speed of the bell-shaped atomizing head is set within a range of 39 to 65 m/s. In the subsequent second process, the peripheral speed of the bell-shaped atomizing head is set to a lower value than in the first process, that is, within the range of 21 to 39 m/s, and the reduction rate of the nonvolatile (NV) value is set to 3% or more. This method improves the orientation of a bright pigment, enabling the automobile to appear high-grade, and providing a quality metallic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuji Minoura, Kazuo Nakagawa, Daisuke Nakazono
  • Patent number: 5618587
    Abstract: A vacuum rig apparatus for introducing a liquid into a space defined by a shaped article, which apparatus comprises a series of interconnected vessels attached through a port to a vacuum line, wherein one of the vessels is adapted to hold the shaped article and the apparatus is tiltable about a point midway along the vessel so that liquid from a reservoir flows into the vessel to surround the shaped article and fill the space therein when a vacuum is applied to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Biomedical Sensors, Ltd.
    Inventors: David R. Markle, Barry C. Crane, Michael P. Irvine, Stuart P. Hendry, William Paterson
  • Patent number: 5618580
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing ceramic fine particles comprising the steps of supplying gaseous starting materials or starting material droplets to a reaction space arranged in an annular portion between inner and outer cylinders of a coaxial, double-cylinder reaction apparatus, the reaction apparatus having a stationary outer cylinder and a rotatable inner cylinder; and subjecting the gaseous starting materials or the starting material droplets to reaction in the reaction space while rotating the inner cylinder. Also, the present invention provides a production apparatus used therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Oshima, Toshiharu Numata, Toru Nishimura, Sachiko Kokubo, Keiichi Tsuto
  • Patent number: 5616365
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for coating a substrate having an end region including: (a) positioning the substrate within a coating vessel to define a space between the vessel and the substrate and providing a downwardly inclined surface contiguous to the outer surface at the end region of the substrate; (b) filling at least a portion of the space with a coating solution; and (c) withdrawing the coating solution from the space, thereby depositing a layer of the coating solution on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Richard H. Nealey
  • Patent number: 5614264
    Abstract: A fluid delivery apparatus and method is provided wherein either liquid or gaseous fluid is provided from fluid dispenser manifolds, via nozzle plates associated therewith, on each side of a path of travel of articles being treated by the fluid, and wherein nozzle openings in a nozzle plates cooperate with transverse groove(s) to provide a screen flow of fluid extending transversely of the path of travel of articles, and directed toward the articles. In the case of the fluid being a liquid, the nozzle openings provide cylindrical filament-like columns of liquid which are rendered by the associated grooves into generally flat, transversely disposed semen spray of liquid. In the case of the fluid being a gas, the nozzle openings and transverse grooves cooperate to deliver the gas in transversely spaced apart, transverse, planar zones of gas directed toward the path of article travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Atotech USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Ricky A. Himes
  • Patent number: 5614266
    Abstract: A coating control system is provided enabling continuous operations, free of interruption for coating control purposes, while achieving desired coating weight and thickness profile for the various gages, widths and coating specifications encountered on a given continuous strip production line. In each of a pair of elongated pneumatic dies, a pressurized gas jet is controllably shaped and directed by flow-control means internally-mounted of each pneumatic die to impinge against its respective substrate coated surface with its major directional component of force being controlled to be perpendicularly transverse to the travel path of the coated strip across its full width. Adjustment of such internally-mounted means is coordinated with control of gas pressure supply and/or adjustment of die positioning means to maintain desired coating weight and coating profile across the width of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy L. Cox, John L. Loth, Anthony J. Santilli, Howard Snyder, Walter A. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5614265
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a coating to a continuous length of tubing. A coating chamber having entry and exit ports substantially encloses a portion of the tubing while permitting the tubing to pass continuously therethrough. Airflow into the coating chamber through the exit port strips excess coating material from the tubing surface. Air is withdrawn from the coating chamber by vacuum pumps through one or more separation chambers which separate entrained particles or droplets of coating material from the air. The coating chamber is preferably disposed at a distance from the separation chamber(s). The vacuum line connecting the coating chamber with the separation chamber(s) is preferably flexible or breakable. The separation chambers are preferably capable of being operated in series or in parallel. Adjustable masks are preferably provided at the entry and exit ports of the coating chamber. A seal is preferably provided at the entry port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Allied Tube & Conduit Corporation
    Inventors: Manzoor A. Chaudhry, Jeffrey L. Lamber, Bruce E. Laumann, Edward E. Mild, Brian G. Muick, Stephen T. Norvilas, David S. Pliner, Stephen E. Seilheimer
  • Patent number: 5614255
    Abstract: Proposed is an efficient method for the preparation of vitreous hollow microspheres from particles of a vitreous volcanic deposit by a heat treatment to effect expansion of the particles by foaming. The inventive method comprises a step, prior to the heat treatment for expansion of the particles, in which the starting particles are dispersed in an aqueous medium containing aluminum sulfate and urea each in a specified concentration followed by a heating treatment of the dispersion so as to deposit a coating layer of aluminum hydroxide on the particle surface so that the efficiency of foaming can be greatly improved without the disadvantage of particle agglomeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Japan as represented by Director General of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Kunio Kimura, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Yukiyoshi Tamoto, Junichi Kimoto, Hiromi Okada
  • Patent number: 5609911
    Abstract: Powder of ceramic materials is produced by mixing a powder of a basic ceramic composition, a solvent and a surfactant to prepare a slurry, adding at least one unsaturated fatty acid salt containing an additive metal element to the resultant slurry, polymerizing the at least one unsaturated fatty acid salt with a polymerization initiator to form a polymer of at least one unsaturated fatty acid salt, drying the resultant slurry to form a layer of the resultant polymer on particle surfaces of the basic ceramic composition, and then calcining the resultant coated powder of the basic ceramic composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinsei Okabe, Shunsuke Nakaya, Yukio Hamaji, Masami Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 5609920
    Abstract: A method of coating at least one liquid medium onto a moving material web, in particular of paper or cardboard, in which method the material web is led either in a first mode of operation along a first treatment path or, in a second mode of operation, along a second treatment path, the material web being led along the first treatment path through a roll gap formed by a primary roll and a secondary roll for indirect coating of the liquid medium via the shell surface of the primary roll, or along the second treatment path over a region of the shell surface of the primary roll remote from the roll gap for directly coating the liquid medium onto the material web in the mentioned region of the shell surface of the primary roll, wherein the primary roll is driven in the one rotational direction in the first mode of operation and in the other rotational direction in the second mode of operation, and the respective general run-in and run-out direction for the material webs is substantially the same in the region of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Riepenhausen
  • Patent number: 5607531
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel filament coating process. Useful filaments include high strength, reinforcing fiber such as fiberglass. By the process, a filament bundle is transversely spread and individual filaments are coated. In a particular application, pultruded rod may be advantageously made from the coated filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Polyplus, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald G. Needham, William Kinzie, James H. Harris
  • Patent number: 5607728
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating a web by contact with a transfer roll partially immersed in a reservoir of coating material and rotated into resin-transferring contact with the web on a first main web surface thereof. The web in passage away from the transfer roll is contacted on a second main surface of the web, the second main surface being opposite the first main surface of the web, by a medial main cylindrical portion of a stepped squeegee roll comprising a medial main cylindrical portion of a first relatively smaller diameter, and marginal shoulder portions each of a second relatively larger diameter in relation to the diameter of the medial main cylindrical portion. The stepped squeegee roll is tensionally biased toward, but in spaced relationship to the transfer roll, being maintained in tensionally biased relationship by spring or other tensionally biasing means, to limit the coating material thickness on the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Loctite Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan W. Bremmer, Martin C. Cosgrove, Bernard M. Malofsky
  • Patent number: 5607717
    Abstract: An applicator for seed treatment products includes an elongated, cylindrical tube having an enlarged flange at a top end for receiving a canister of treatment products. The bottom end of the tube is inserted into a seed hopper filled with seeds, the tube penetrating beneath the surface of the seeds. A canister of treatment products is opened at one end and inserted into the flange with the open side down. The canister fits snugly in the flange so the treatment products can escape only from the bottom of the tube which is within the seed pile. The user stirs the pile with the tube to distribute the treatment products evenly throughout the pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Trace Chemicals Incorporated
    Inventors: Gary Grossweiler, Timothy McArdle
  • Patent number: 5601875
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of effecting a physico-chemical reaction, in which method a crystalline or amorphous substance is crushed or ground. In the method according to the invention, as soon as a new fractured surface is formed, it is brought into immediate contact with an environment V1 the physico-chemical property of which is so selected that a firm bond or compound is formed between the fractured surface and the molecules of the environment, at least one molecule of said bond or compound being adapted to its purpose for the further treatment of the crushed or ground material in another environment V2, whereby the physico-chemical property of the environment V1 is further so selected that components disadvantageous in view of the further treatment of the crushed or ground material are prevented from getting to the fractured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Partek Concrete Ltd.
    Inventor: Carl-Olof Palm
  • Patent number: 5601881
    Abstract: The coating of bodies rotating about an axis with a reaction mixture forming a polyurethane can be improved by making use of a sheet die disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of the body at an angle .alpha., whereby the rate of reaction of the reaction mixture and the relative movement are synchronized with the circumferential speed of the rotating body in such a way that the successive convolutions overlap in the form of scales and connect together seamlessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grimm, Dirk Bruning, Klaus Recker, Hans-Dieter Ruprecht, Heinz Muller
  • Patent number: 5601873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a granulating and coating technique, and more particularly to a technique wherein powder and granules are contained in a drum rotating about a substantially horizontal axis and the rotary drum is rotated for granulation of the granules and (or) coating. There is provided a rotary drum (1) for containing the powder and granules (M) and rotating about the substantially horizontal axis, and also provided a buffle member (12) continuously or intermittently rotating or swinging at the inside of the powder and granules (M) layer in the rotary drum (1). The buffle is turned in the granules, so that the raw materials for the powder and granules can be prevented from adhering to the buffle member and the rotary drum or from peeling off therefrom, thus obtaining products of uniform coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignees: Tokyo Tanabe Company Limited, Freund Industrial Company Limited
    Inventors: Shinzo Nakazawa, Shoichi Moro, Shuri Yamada, Masanori Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5601874
    Abstract: A method for making a moisture-resistant aluminum nitride-containing powder which includes (a) coating a layer of silicate onto aluminum nitride-containing powder having aluminum nitride on at least a portion of its surface and (b) heat-treating the coated aluminum nitride-containing powder at a temperature of from 350.degree. to 1000.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to cause the silicate to react with the surface aluminum nitride thereby forming a layer of Si--Al--O--N bonded to the surface aluminum nitride. The silicate has alkyl or alkoxyalkyl radicals attached thereto. The method yields a moisture-resistant aluminum nitride-containing powder having a layer of Si--Al--O--N reaction-bonded to the surface aluminum nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kevin E. Howard, Daniel F. Carroll, Scott J. Biskupski
  • Patent number: 5599581
    Abstract: A method for dispensing or depositing particulate material includes accumulating particulate material in a nozzle having an opening at the bottom for discharging the particulate material, and applying positive air pressure to a buffer chamber positioned in communication with the accumulation of particulate material to start and control the flow of particulate material through the opening and applying negative pressure to the buffer chamber to stop the flow of particulate material. An unobstructed interface can exist between a surface of the particulate material and air in the buffer chamber. In one embodiment, roofing shingle granules are applied intermittently to a moving coated asphaltic sheet through a slot to form strip roofing shingles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Burton, Douglas E. Boyd, James S. Belt