Patents Examined by Donald R. Schran
  • Patent number: 4738174
    Abstract: A fluid jet cutting system is described having a nozzle (12) through which a fluid jet is directed for cutting a workpiece (15). The workpiece (15) is supported using pins (17) each of which is provided with an alignment device in the form of a generally tubular body (104) provided with a through hole (106). The relative positions of the nozzle and workpiece (15) can be adjusted until the fluid jet passes through the through hole (106) with minimum disturbance.In alternative embodiments, the alignment device may be provided by a cap permanently affixed in an alignment plate, or it may be constituted by the pin (17) itself.The alignment system provides a simple method for visually verifying the jet alignment to a reference point before controlled cutting is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Flow Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Bloomquist
  • Patent number: 4738176
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing paper towels of predetermined length includes a case, a supply roll of a continuous paper web, a mechanism for advancing the paper web outside the case, a mechanism for at least partially cutting the paper web protruding from the case, and a motor for driving both mechanisms, the motor shaft being rotated in a first direction until a paper web of predetermined length is advanced outside the case and then reversed so that the paper advancement is stopped and the paper web is cut. A first unidirectional coupler is arranged between the motor and the advancing mechanism and a second unidirectional coupler is arranged between the motor and the cutting mechanism to selectively actuate either of the advancing or cutting mechanisms according to the rotational direction of the motor shaft. The length of the dispensed towel is an integral multiple of an elementary length and the number of elementary lengths by which the paper web is advanced before being cut is switch selectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Inventor: Antonio M. Cassia
  • Patent number: 4737331
    Abstract: Clamps mounted on a reciprocal frame grip a web of connected molded fibrous articles and move toward a cutter a distance equal to one article length, thereby presenting to the cutter the connecting portion between adjacent articles and also pulling the next portion of uncured fibrous material into the mold press for shaping and curing. After the cutting operation the clamps open and move toward the mold into position to again grip and feed the web toward the cutter. Connected rows of webs can also be handled by slitting the rows as they move toward the cutter. The articles, which can be quite deep compared to the thickness of the connecting portions between articles, are supported during travel and while stationary by support plates separate from the reciprocal frame. The various components which contact or cause movement or cycling of the apparatus can be adjusted to permit handling of articles and webs of different dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Manville Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene L. Moore
  • Patent number: 4736660
    Abstract: A rotary die-cut apparatus, in which a die roll cooperates with a resiliently covered anvil roll for die-cutting carton blanks passed therebetween, incorporates a constant mesh gear train between the die roll and the anvil roll for providing an infinite hunting ratio between the rolls. This provides more uniform wear of the anvil roll cover and prolongs its effective life. Preferably, this gear train includes a harmonic drive having a wave generator cam rotatable by a trim motor. An arrangement for sensing changes in diameter of the anvil roll due to wear of its cover may provide an input for determining the speed of the trim motor. A resurfacing mechanism for removing the outer surface of the cover when worn may provide this input. A pulse generator is preferably incorporated in a controller of the trim motor for periodically making random changes in the speed of the trim motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: The Ward Machinery Company
    Inventors: Douglas T. Benach, John R. Van Noy, Michael W. Millard
  • Patent number: 4735122
    Abstract: A precision pin gauging system for a sheet metal shearing machine, wherein the pin gauging system comprises a horizontal mounting bar secured to the front of the shearing machine and a pair of pin gauge devices. Each pin gauge device includes clamping means for releasably securing it to the mounting bar as desired. Each pin gauge device also includes a spring loaded, pivoting gauging arm for releasably engaging the gauging holes in the work piece. Each pin gauge further includes a micrometer adjustment screw for precisely setting the exact desired distance between the gauging arm and the shearing means in the shearing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Robert O. Chabot
    Inventor: Robert O. Chabot
  • Patent number: 4732068
    Abstract: A cutting device is provided for use with a printer having a plurality of movable blades which are disposed in side-by-side relationship and driven in a direction perpendicular to the length of the blade. A plurality of solenoids are provided for driving each movable blade. A spring, which is arranged to be depressed by the movement of the movable blade, applies a pressure to the paper to fix the paper in position before the movable blade reaches the cutting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Yasuda, Kazutoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 4730527
    Abstract: A fuel element bundle cutter that has horizontal rod bundle feed. A portion f the radioactive dust that is produced when a rod bundle is cut is picked up by scavenging air and is withdrawn with the latter via the chute for the cut-off rod pieces. The bottom of the lower part of the cutter housing, between the housing wall that faces the rod bundle feed and the side walls of the housing, is embodied as a grating, on the bottom side of which is disposed a base plate to which is connected a withdrawal mechanism that includes at least one collecting funnel and withdrawal channel for the remainder of the radioactive dust, which is conveyed by a portion of the scavenging air from the cutter housing. Each withdrawal channel communicates with the chute for the cut-off rod pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignees: Thyssen Industrie AG, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Wiederaufarbeitung von Kernbrennstoffen mbH
    Inventors: Heinz Eisenacher, Peter Kunze, Werner Kirsch
  • Patent number: 4729273
    Abstract: In a notching machine using a blade assembly of upper and lower knives mounted respectively on a vertically moving ram and a machine table and each comprising two individual blades forming with their cutting edges a coinciding vertex angle which may be changed by turning the blades relative to each other around a vertical axis of rotation that extends in parallel with the ram near the noses of the knives, a third blade component is provided at least for the upper knife for forming its nose portion with a unitary cutting edge that complements the cutting edges of the two other blades of the upper knife for confining its vertex angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Ludwig Boschert GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Harald Fazis
  • Patent number: 4727784
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for piling a plurality of cut blanks of a flexible material in overlapped and shingled or stacked relationship. After being cut each blank is accelerated to increase its lineal speed to thereby produce a gap between the blank and an immediately succeeding blank. After acceleration, each blank is deflected, preferably by a plate, away from and out of its accelerated path of travel toward an underlying receiving surface such as a conveyor or platform. After being deflected, the trailing portion of each blank is displaced preferably by rotating cams so that when rapidly decelerated, an immediately succeeding blank passes into and is deposited in overlapping relationship with such blank. To deposit the blanks is stacked relationship with their leading edges substantially aligned, they are decelerated from their forward travel to a complete stop preferably by striking a positive stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Bernal Rotary Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Sarka, Jerry L. Bell
  • Patent number: 4724735
    Abstract: A blade tensioning mechanism for use with a parallel arm saw. A bolt extends between one end of the arms which are pivotably mounted along their length to the supporting framework of the saw and a saw blade is held between the other ends of the arms. A camming device is coupled with one end of the bolt and exerts a camming force on one of the arms when the device is rotated in one direction. This force caused the ends of the arms coupled with the bolt to move together and causes the other ends of the arms to spread apart, and securely hold the saw blade by tension. Rotation of the camming device in the other direction relaxes the tension force for removal and replacement of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Inventor: Verle L. Rice
  • Patent number: 4724732
    Abstract: A method of controlling a rotary cutter in which material of long size such as steel plate or corrugated cardboard moving between a pair of rotating shears each having a shearing edge on its peripheral surface is cut in a predetermined cut length by controlling a motor for driving the shears, wherein the provision of steps of calculating an optimum shear position with minimum energy on the basis of moving quantity of the material, calculating minimum optimum shear velocity and optimum motor current on the basis of the moving quantity of the material and moving velocity of the material, and rotating the shears so that the calculated condition is realized. The shear position and the shear velocity of the rotary cutter and the drive motor current are selected to the optimum condition with minimum energy and operation can be made under the condition of minimum energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reizo Miyauchi, Kenji Kuwahara, Isao Takami, Yujiro Shimizu, Kenji Fujiwara, Hiroshi Kuromaru
  • Patent number: 4724734
    Abstract: A multipurpose puncher includes a pair of opposed stationary punch units positioned separately on a base, and a movable punch unit mounted slidably between the stationary punch units on the base. A press lever assembly is arranged so that it always associates with the movable punch unit and one of the stationary punch units to form a two-hole puncher while the other of the stationary punch units can be used as a single hole puncher. Furthermore, as desired, the press lever assembly can be adjusted to associate with all of the three punch units to form a three-hole puncher. When the two-hole puncher is formed, the distance between the axes of the punch members can be adjusted to be 78.5 mm. In addition, when the three-hole puncher is formed, the distance between any two adjacent punch members is preferably 108.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Inventor: Park-Son Hse
  • Patent number: 4724733
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting an elongated workpiece of indefinite length into articles of predetermined length, in continuous fashion. The apparatus includes drive rollers to feed the workpiece, horizontal and vertical straightener rollers, and a movable carriage assembly which moves in a parallel path of travel to the workpiece. The free end of the workpiece contacts the carriage assembly and imparts movement to the assembly. The carriage assembly includes a cutter assembly for severing the workpiece, a stripper assembly for breaking the article from the workpiece, and a kick-out for sending the article to a storage bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Dixie Numerics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rod A. Suarez, William F. Prater, Robert Astin
  • Patent number: 4722258
    Abstract: A hydraulically powered treelength log sawing apparatus has a log support lined with teeth opposing the outwardly-directed sawing force generated by its driveshaft-pivoted chainsaw. The chainsaw is driven by a hydraulic motor whose fluid exhaust flows through a conduit to an adjustable restriction which creates a backpressure in the fluid in the conduit. The magnitude of the backpressure is directly related to the speed of the motor and the saw, and the backpressure is directed to a hydraulic cylinder which forces the chainsaw into sawing engagement with logs on the support, thereby prevent stalling of the saw and in general causing the saw speed and engagement force respectively to be self-compensating and requiring no attention from the operator during sawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Inventor: Calvin S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4722257
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting threaded rods.This apparatus essentially comprises a frame (1) to which a square (2) is fixed by a bolt (6), the said square having a semicylindrical threaded nest (2a) at the top, and to which a moving part (3) is jointed, the said moving part being provided at the bottom with another semicylindrical threaded nest (3a) arranged opposite the one (2a) located in the fixed part (2). The moving part (3) is actuated by a force-multiplying lever (4).The threaded nests (2a and 3a) come to bear against the threaded rod (5) at the moment when cutting takes place, so as to preserve the integrity of the thread of the threaded rod (5).Application: building industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Applications Industrielles de Champagne S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Deon, Michel Gerard
  • Patent number: 4716802
    Abstract: A rotary die cutter system the amount of scrap between successive blanks cut from web material by holding the web against backward movement at a position spaced upstream from the nip defined by the die and anvil cylinders, retracting the cut leading end of the web through a predetermined distance in response to release of the web by the cut-off knife at the trailing edge of the die on the die cylinder such that on the next cycle, the leading edge of the die will engage the web at a position spaced close to the leading end of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Corfine Inc.
    Inventors: Barry J. O'Connor, Robert B. Vigder
  • Patent number: 4712459
    Abstract: A wrapping film severing apparatus is disclosed for use in severing sheets of film from a roll of plastic film. The roll of film is supported so that it may rotate about its axis of rotation while film is being withdrawn from the roll. A braking force is applied to the roll so that the film is under tension as it is being withdrawn from the roll. An electrically heated cutoff element is located forwardly of the roll for use in severing a sheet of film from the roll as a length of film is withdrawn under tension from the roll and then brought into contact with the cutoff element. The film is threaded through a pair of pinch rollers extending transversely of the film path and located intermediate the film roll and the cutoff element for guiding movement of the film from the roll to the cutoff element. A one-way clutch is associated with at least one of the rollers permitting forward movement of the film toward the cutoff element while restricting backward movement toward the film roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Clamco Corporation
    Inventors: Zigmunt J. Walkiewicz, Jr., William C. Lynch
  • Patent number: 4712460
    Abstract: An automatic drug tape dispensing and metering device and a roll of drug tape housed in a small portable dispenser unit. The dispenser contains a measurement device for carefully measuring the length of tape as it is dispensed from the dispenser. A counter monitors the remaining doses of drug tape remaining within the dispenser. A timer device may be provided to alert the patient that it is time for the medicament to be dispensed. As the lid of the dispenser unit is opened, the measured length of drug tape is severed from the roll by a cutter blade incorporated into the lid. The device permits a physician to accurately customize the dosage and administration of the medicament to be givne a patient by adjusting the tape length released for each single dose and selecting the time intervals between dosages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Biotrack, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy D. Allen, Michael E. Cobb, Robert S. Hillman, Dennis R. Mungall, Vladimir E. Ostoich, Gary H. Stroy
  • Patent number: 4709607
    Abstract: A holder for mounting a knife blade in a rotating roll. The holder comprises a plural pairs of clamp members for holding a knife blade with its interior edge against a reference in a rotating roll so as to adjustably position the cutting edge of the blade along the length of the roll. Each clamp member has opposed planar surfaces for contacting a segment of the blade and each clamp member is adjustable to position its planar surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the blade. Each clamp member is also adaptable to align its planar surface to the blade direction along the length of the roll as a clamping force is applied. When clamped, the blade contacting surface of at least one of each pair of clamp members has a fixed angle so as to resist a cutting force acting perpendicular to the plane of the blade at its cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Inventor: Eric S. Buhayar
  • Patent number: 4709605
    Abstract: An automatic material loading, positioning and unloading system is disclosed in connection with a machine tool turret punch. The device includes a loader which receives a stack of sheets to be fed to the punch machine. The loader includes means for lifting the sheets one at a time from a storage area, means for transporting the sheets to a loading area of the punch worktable and means for unloading the sheets at the worktable area. The punch machine includes automatically controlled workpiece grippers which receive the sheets from the loader, properly position them with respect to the machine tool, move them in a predesired sequence through the machine and transport them to an unload area of the worktable. The unload area of the worktable is effective to discharge the punched sheets from the machine to an unload stacker. The unload stacker receives and stacks completed sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Strippit/Di-Acro-Houdaille, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Clark