Patents Examined by Galen H Hauth
  • Patent number: 11970418
    Abstract: Methods for producing glass articles from glass tube includes securing a glass tube in a holder of a converter; rotating the glass tube; and passing the glass tube through processing stations, which include at least a heating station and a forming station, to form one or more features at a working end of the glass tube. An active time is an amount of time the glass tube is engaged with a heating element or a forming tool while in a processing station, and an exposure index for the processing station is the rotational speed of the glass tube multiplied by a number of heating elements or forming tools in the processing station multiplied by the active time. An absolute difference between the exposure index and a nearest integer is less than or equal to 0.30, which reduces temperature and dimensional inhomogeneity around a circumference of the glass tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Olivier Fournel, Kevin Patrick McNelis
  • Patent number: 11969006
    Abstract: A heated aerosol-generating article including a rod of aerosol-generating substrate is provided, the rod of aerosol-generating substrate including: a first plug of homogenised tobacco material including an aerosol former; and a second plug of homogenised tobacco material including an aerosol former, where the first plug and the second plug are coaxially aligned in an abutting end-to-end relationship, the first plug being disposed downstream of the second plug, where the first plug and the second plug differ from each other in at least one of density and composition of aerosol former, such that the first plug has a lower activation temperature than the second plug, and where, upon heating of the aerosol-generating substrate, the first plug releases aerosol after a shorter time than the second plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Tony Reevell
  • Patent number: 11964899
    Abstract: A method of making an optical fibre preform comprising providing a hollow outer tube of glass, providing a hollow primary capillary tube of glass with an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the outer tube, positioning the primary capillary tube inside the outer tube such that an outer surface of the primary capillary tube lies against an inner surface of the outer tube along a contact line parallel to the longitudinal axes of the primary capillary tube and the outer tube, and bonding the primary capillary tube into its position inside the outer tube by directing a laser beam onto a surface of the outer tube or the primary capillary at one or more locations aligned with the contact line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: University of Southampton
    Inventors: Natalie Wheeler, Peter Shardlow, Francesco Poletti
  • Patent number: 11958258
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a fiber-reinforced component, comprising the step of providing a fiber material (2) impregnated with resin, having rovings (4) extending alongside one another at least in one direction. The object of the present invention is to provide a method, with which irregularities in the fiber material impregnated with resin can be reduced or even eliminated. The method is characterized by a step of stretching the fiber material (2), so that the rovings (4) align in their longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the method according to the invention and to a fiber-reinforced component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: UBC COMPOSITES GMBH
    Inventor: Ulf Bräutigam
  • Patent number: 11957160
    Abstract: An aerosol generating material is disclosed containing a blend of at least two plant fibers or aerosol generating materials. The reconstituted material can contain at least one of extracted cannabis fibers and extracted cocoa husk fibers, in combination with at least one of extracted tobacco fibers, tobacco materials, extracted herbal plant fibers, and aerosol generating herbal plant materials. The reconstituted plant fiber material is capable of generating an aerosol, such as a smoke, that has a very mild and neutral or natural taste without any harsh components. The reconstituted plant fiber material contains no nicotine, low or no amounts of other active compounds, such as THC, and contains low to no amounts of harsh combustible compounds, such as tar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Mativ Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric Rousseau, Cedric Jardin, Doriane Bigot
  • Patent number: 11952162
    Abstract: A label dispenser coupled to product-transporting carts at retail facilities includes a label roll support arm supporting multiple label rolls thereon, a label guide arm including openings that permit a leading portion of the backing substrate of a label roll to pass therethrough, and a side wall interconnecting the label roll support arm and the label guide arm. The label guide arm also includes an upper portion located above the openings and configured to support the backing substrates of the label rolls thereon. The label guide arm further includes an edge configured to facilitate separation of a leading peelable label from the backing substrate in response to a force applied by the user when pulling the leading portion of the backing substrate of the label roll through the opening of the label guide arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventor: Scott L. Lopez
  • Patent number: 11952302
    Abstract: A process for the production of a fluorinated quartz glass including the steps of generating SiO2 particles in a synthesis burner; depositing the resulting SiO2 particles into a body; and vitrifying the resulting body, wherein a fluorinating agent having a boiling point greater than or equal to ?10° C. is supplied to the synthesis burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Ochs, Thomas Kayser, Martin Trommer, Andreas Langner, Sascha Pihan, Kay Schuster, Michael Hünermann
  • Patent number: 11944114
    Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product includes a plurality of orally disintegrable granules. Each granule has a lipid core and at least one layer surrounding the core. The core can also include binders, powdered tobacco carbohydrates, water soluble polymers, flavorants, salts, sweeteners, and combinations thereof. The orally disintegrable granules can provide a pleasing texture and/or flavor experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Frank Scott Atchley
  • Patent number: 11945166
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects on a rotor, the plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects via the rotor. The method can further include applying energy to the plurality of additively manufactured objects to cure a portion of each additively manufactured object while the plurality of additively manufactured objects are on the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Viswanath Meenakshisundaram, Srinivas Kaza, Chunhua Li, Lance Robert Pickens, Shawn Stromenger, Jun Sato, Siobhan O'Leary, Peter Webber, Brett E. Kelly, Jennifer Chavez
  • Patent number: 11939480
    Abstract: A sulfonated water-dispersible thermoplastic copolymer material for use as a support material in an additive manufacturing process is made by a method comprising providing a selected thermoplastic copolymer having an acid or an anhydride group; esterifying the acid group of the selected thermoplastic copolymer with a hydroxyl-functionalized sulfonate salt, or amidizing the acid group of the selected thermoplastic copolymer with an amine sulfonate salt, or imidizing the anhydride group of the selected thermoplastic copolymer with an amine sulfonate salt. The esterification, the amidization or the imidization results in a sulfonated water thermoplastic dispersible copolymer having a glass transition temperature suitable to provide an effective support during the additive manufacturing process and wherein the sulfonated water-dispersible thermoplastic copolymer will disperse in tap water in less than 1 hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Priedeman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11939182
    Abstract: A hand tool is provided for removing a secondary liner from a tape carrier of a two-sided adhesive tape where the opposing primary side of the tape carrier is attached to a surface. The hand tool includes a handle. One end of the handle may include a handle fulcrum depending from the handle. A plurality of sharp points together define a mathematical line. The plurality of sharp points also define point axes which together define a mathematical plane. The mathematical line is coincident with the mathematical plane. The mathematical plane defines an acute angle with respect to the handle and to the handle fulcrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Eurotech Distributors, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Waszkowski
  • Patent number: 11926085
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an injection molding system, which includes a mold having an inner surface defining at least two groups of cavities, each group of cavities defining precisely one cavity with one pressure sensor at the inner surface. Each group of cavities is at least partially surrounded by a tempering unit that provides an energy flow to the surrounded cavities. According to the method, a pressure is determined in each group of cavities of the at least two groups of cavities. A reference pressure is determined for each group of cavities. A difference between the reference pressure and the pressure in at least one group of cavities is determined and controlled to become minimum by manipulating the energy flow of the tempering unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventors: Robert Vaculik, Curtis Krick
  • Patent number: 11919794
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a tube of quartz glass by molding a hollow cylinder having a wall thickness of at least 20 mm, the cylinder is continuously fed under rotation about a rotational axis into a heating zone at a relative feed rate VC, softened and radially expanded under the effect of a gas pressure. A tube strand is continuously formed and is withdrawn at a withdrawal rate VT. In order to mold thick-walled initial hollow cylinders of quartz glass into tubes with larger diameter, the gas pressure is used as an actuating variable of a diameter regulation for the tube outer diameter or for a geometrical correlated parameter thereof, and in a pressure build-up phase the gas pressure is gradually increased from a lower initial value to a higher final value, and that the following applies to the ratio of VC and VT:VT=VC±0.2·VC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Söhn, Boris Gromann, Eduard Visnow
  • Patent number: 11919246
    Abstract: Methods and systems of and for using volumetric display technology including volumetric display technology to create three-dimensional objects for various industries, including, but not limited to solar, automotive and/or other technological areas that use 3D printing or additive manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel S. Clark
  • Patent number: 11897172
    Abstract: A polar plate is fabricated. The polar plate is flexible and made of a plastic graphite composite. No matter a supporting member is used for calendering or not, a thin polar plate with controllable thickness is fabricated. The polar plate is excellent in blocking the through-transmission of vanadium ions and the limit of blending ratio of conductive carbon is broken through. The longitudinal through-transmission volume resistivity (proportional resistance to thickness) is greatly improved by adjusting the blending ratio of conductive carbon for meeting the demand of conductivity. In the mean time, the present invention strengthens the rigidity required for the thin polar plate while providing large-area polar plate fabrication for industrial use and convenience and provides a cooling and pressing method for patterning a composite polar plate. An integrated mold is thus obtained to replace the conventional polar plate which needs to be processed and prepared with runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Hung-Hsien Ku, Ning-Yih Hsu, Han-Jou Lin, Tai-Feng Hung, Qiao-Ya Chen
  • Patent number: 11897805
    Abstract: A forming apparatus includes a frame, an air grid system, and a forming system; the air grid system includes a plurality of upper air grids and a plurality of lower air grids; the upper air grids are mounted at an upper part of the frame through a lifting mechanism, and the lower air grids are mounted in the forming system at a lower part of the frame; a gradual transition section is arranged at an inlet side of the forming system to enable a glass pane to be gradually arched in a transverse direction, and the gradually arched glass pane is conveyed into the forming system; and the forming system includes two groups of longitudinal forming and arching mechanisms and a plurality of transverse forming and arching mechanisms arranged in a glass pane conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Luoyang Landglass Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yan Zhao
  • Patent number: 11890800
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semi-crystalline article from at least one pseudo-amorphous polymer including a poly aryl ether ketone, such as PEKK, including a softening step, wherein the at least one pseudo-amorphous polymer is heated to a temperature above its glass transition temperature to soften the polymer, and a crystallization step, wherein the at least one pseudo-amorphous polymer is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and melting temperature, the pseudo-amorphous polymer being placed on a mold during either the softening step or the crystallization step before at least some crystallization takes place. The method results in articles demonstrating increased opacity, increased crystallinity, increased thermal resistance, improved chemical resistance, and improved mechanical properties over articles formed by traditional thermoforming processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Arkema Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Clay, Timothy A. Spahr, Philippe Bussi, Richard Audry, Jason M. Lyons, Yves Deyrail
  • Patent number: 11884570
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns to a process for manufacturing an optical element from glass, wherein a blank of glass is tempered, for example in such a way that the blank is cooler in its interior than on its exterior, wherein the tempered blank between a first mold and a second mold, which are moved towards one another to form a closed cavity, is press-molded, for example on both sides, to form the optical element, wherein the first mold and/or the second mold comprises an escape cavity slide which is compressed by the formation of a closed cavity by means of the first mold and the second mold as a function of the volume of the blank, so that, during press-molding, an additional edge which is dependent on the volume of the blank is formed with the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DOCTER OPTICS SE
    Inventors: Alexander Kuppe, Annegret Diatta
  • Patent number: 11878481
    Abstract: A bead forming system for forming a tire bead may include the following: a housing, a first bead former configured to facilitate the formation of the tire bead, and a base secured to the first bead former, where the first bead former includes a bead-receiving surface that is rotatable relative to the base. The base may be adjustable such that the first bead former is movable from a first position to a second position. The first position may be on a first side of the housing, and the second position may be on a second side of the housing. A second bead former may be located in the second position when the first bead former is located in the first position, where the second bead former is located in the first position when the first bead former is located in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Bartell Machinery Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11865796
    Abstract: A mold for manufacturing a turbomachine fan casing made of composite material, includes a main axis mandrel around which a fibrous preform of a fan casing is intended to be wound; a plurality of counter-mold angular sectors assembled on the outer contour of the mandrel which are intended to close the mold and to compact the fibrous preform wound on the mandrel; wherein a flat seal with a main elongation axis directed along the main axis is arranged between each angular sector, the flat seal being compressed between two adjacent angular sectors, a first angular sector including a sealing portion passing below a lower face of the flat seal while a second angular sector including a sealing portion passing above an upper face of the flat seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Hubert Jean Marie Fabre, Raoul Jaussaud