Patents Examined by Hana C Page
  • Patent number: 11926105
    Abstract: According to some aspects, techniques are described for generating support structures that may be easily removed after fabrication yet provide sufficient structural support during fabrication. In some cases, the techniques may include tuning an extent to which pillars of a support structure are interconnected to one another in regions proximate to the part. In some cases, the techniques may include fabricating very small contact structures, referred to herein as “hair” supports, in regions of a support structure where it connects with the part. In some cases, the techniques may include generating support structures that comprise obliquely-angled tips, which allow forces during fabrication to be applied in a preferred direction even when the support structure does not make a connection to the part in the preferred direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Formlabs, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin FrantzDale
  • Patent number: 11919260
    Abstract: A process for shaping, by compaction, a fibrous structure obtained by three-dimensional or multilayer weaving between a plurality of layers of warp yarns and a plurality of layers of weft yarns. The yarns of each plurality of layers of warp yarns and layers of weft yarns are coated with a sizing composition. The shaping includes a pre-compaction stage followed by a stage of final compaction of the fibrous structure. During pre-compaction and final compaction, the fibrous structure is at a temperature greater than or equal to the softening temperature of the sizing composition. The process further includes the cooling of the fibrous preform obtained after final compaction of the fibrous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN
    Inventors: Christophe Ravey, Olivier Foussard, Nicolas Pierre Lanfant, Didier Payen, Adrien Touze, Romain Venat
  • Patent number: 11919238
    Abstract: A method of printing a 3D part with an additive manufacturing system includes printing a first portion of the part and pre-heating the first portion of the part along an upcoming tool path to a temperature at or above a material-specific bonding temperature and below a degradation temperature of the material. Material is extruding material onto the first portion along the pre-heated tool path while the temperature along the part surface remains at or above a material-specific bonding temperature and below the degradation temperature of the material thereby forming a newly extruded road. The method includes cooling the newly extruded road along the pre-heated tool path to remove heat imparted by the preheating step such that a thermally stable temperature is reached, wherein the preheating, extruding and cooling is performed in less than ten seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: Clint Newell, Jason Robert Nixon, Timothy Diekmann
  • Patent number: 11890824
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic part from a blank part having a first moulding member and a second moulding member which are configured to cooperate together. A first heating body configured to heat the first moulding member and conductively heat the blank part. Two thermal insulation members are configured to cooperatively define a closed cavity in which at least the moulding members and the first heating body are arranged. A casing defining an internal volume in which at least the moulding members, the first heating body and the thermal insulation members are arranged, and a suction member is configured to lower the internal pressure in the internal volume to compress the preform part between the moulding members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS ATLANTIC
    Inventor: Romain Deruelle
  • Patent number: 11883983
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for mixing parts of a thermoset resin during impregnation of a composite preform. One embodiment is a method that includes positioning a composite preform at a forming tool, flowing a first part of the thermoset resin into a mixing chamber at the forming tool, flowing a second part of the thermoset resin that is chemically distinct from the first part of the thermoset resin into the mixing chamber, mixing the first part and the second part to form the thermoset resin within the mixing chamber, and infusing the thermoset resin from the mixing chamber into the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Max Osborne
  • Patent number: 11872722
    Abstract: In a preform shaping method, a fiber stack is manufactured by stacking a sheet-form fibrous component, at least one of a subsidiary material and a component part that have flexibility is placed on the fiber sack, and a preform that has a shaped configuration is manufactured by pressing and pressurizing, against a mold, the fiber stack provided with the at least one of the subsidiary material or the component part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Sekine, Yuta Inoue
  • Patent number: 11865747
    Abstract: In general, this disclosure relates to an apparatus that compresses lightweight plastic waste (e.g., used grocery bags, empty trash bags, food wrappers, etc.), and then applies a limited amount of heat to “bake” the compressed plastic into a “brick” of plastic. The plastic is compressed, and then heated enough to cause it to retain its compressed shape, without melting or substantial outgassing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Ivan Arbouzov
  • Patent number: 11865749
    Abstract: This process for manufacturing a plastic part (1) having a first technical face and a second face, in a mold comprising a first shell intended to form the first face endowed with impressions intended to form technical members of the technical face and a second shell intended to form the second face, the first shell and the second shell delimiting a cavity that forms the part (1), comprises the following steps:—providing a porous reinforcing element (3);—draping the reinforcing element (3) over the first shell by covering the surface of the first shell and the impressions intended to form the technical members;—retaining the reinforcing element (3) on the first shell by retaining means;—bringing the first shell and the second shell together;—injecting a plastic in order to fill the cavity, the plastic passing through the porous reinforcing element (3) in order to fill impressions intended to form the technical members;—moving the first and second shells apart;—ejecting the plastic part (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NOVARES FRANCE
    Inventors: François Bacelos, Alain Mevil-Blanche, Louis Asensio
  • Patent number: 11858213
    Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing a build part. The system includes a build platform configured for disposition within a resin tank, and a light source configured to cure a layer of resin. The layer of resin is disposed adjacent to a pre-cure build surface of the build part. The system also includes a constrained surface located between the build platform and the light source and configured to form a boundary for the layer of resin disposed between the constrained surface and the pre-cure build surface. The constrained surface is configured to vibrate to reduce a separation force required to separate the constrained surface from a post-cure build surface of the build part. The system also includes a vibratory source configured to vibrate the constrained surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Yong Chen, Jie Jin
  • Patent number: 11858226
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic device in which an electronic component coupled to a lead is covered with a mold cover, includes: a coupling step of coupling the electronic component to the lead, a bending step of bending the lead to adjust a posture of the electronic component, and a molding step of molding the electronic component with a resin material to form the mold cover, and the bending step includes a lead bending step of bending the lead by pressing a pressing member against the lead without pressing the pressing member against the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masataka Kazuno, Kenji Yamamoto, Ryosuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11833768
    Abstract: Liquid shim injection devices and methods for injecting liquid shim material into a gap between adjacent components of an assembly. The liquid shim injection devices comprise a body, which comprises an injection shaft, a liquid shim conduit defined within the body and configured to channel liquid shim material within the injection shaft, and a fluid-permeable region formed along the injection shaft, an actuated fluid seal operably coupled to the injection shaft and configured to be selectively conformed among a plurality of conformations, and a fluid seal actuator assembly configured to transition the actuated fluid seal among the plurality of conformations. Methods comprise inserting the injection shaft into a bore that extends through the adjacent components of the assembly, forming a fluid seal between the liquid shim injection device and an interior component of the assembly, and flowing the liquid shim material from the liquid shim injection device into the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard Dean Widdle
  • Patent number: 11828730
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhanced vacuum bags. One embodiment is a method that includes placing a laminate comprising uncured fiber reinforced polymer onto a mandrel, laying up a vacuum bag, which includes integral ultrasonic transducers within a gas-impermeable layer, atop the laminate, and sealing the vacuum bag to the mandrel. The method also includes drawing a vacuum on the laminate via the vacuum bag, removing gas between the integral ultrasonic transducers and the laminate, and interrogating the laminate with the integral ultrasonic transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith Daniel Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 11826632
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing individualized protective gear such as pads based on a body scan, and the resulting pads, are disclosed herein. A body scan is taken of a wearer-defined area for a desired set of pads. The scan is converted to a mesh model. The mesh model is used to define a first surface of the pad shell and then translationally or orthogonally offset to provide a second surface of the pad shell. The mesh is also flattened to provide a liner for the pad. The shell may be manufactured using additive printing technology. The shell and the liner are then attached, such as by adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Michael Edgar Zabala, Vitale Kyle Castellano, Jacob Stuart Larson, Austin J. Harris
  • Patent number: 11806899
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology in production of a prepreg and enhances the production efficiency, in which the technology allows the arrangement property and rectilinearity of reinforcing fibers to be well maintained and allows any resin to be applied stably at a high speed. A prepreg is produced by a method which includes: discharging a molten resin in planar form to form a resin film, and applying the resin film onto a reinforcing fiber sheet conveyed continuously, wherein the reinforcing fiber sheet is conveyed substantially in the horizontal direction, and wherein an angle made between the discharge direction of the resin and the conveyance direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet 1a is 80° or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Aoki, Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Satoshi Enzaki, Takaaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11794384
    Abstract: A protective member forming apparatus includes an ultraviolet radiation applying table that supports a workpiece on a support surface of a support plate thereof through which ultraviolet rays are transmittable, a delivery unit that holds a resin sheet to which the workpiece is fixed, to unload the workpiece from the ultraviolet radiation applying table, a resin supply unit that supplies an ultraviolet-curable liquid resin to the resin sheet placed on the support surface, a pressing unit that presses the workpiece from a reverse side thereof toward the liquid resin supplied to the resin sheet placed on the support surface, and an ionizer unit that ejects ionized air to the support surface of the ultraviolet radiation applying table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kakinuma
  • Patent number: 11794386
    Abstract: An injection molding apparatus for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens mold having a front surface comprising a lens forming portion and a rear surface, comprises a first molding tool and a second molding tool. The first and second molding tools are movable towards and away from each other between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the first mold forming portion of the first molding tool and the second mold forming portion of the second molding tool define a cavity between them corresponding in shape to the shape of the ophthalmic lens mold. The surface of the second mold forming portion, at least in a central zone thereof, has a surface roughness Sa in the range of 0.3 ?m to 2 ?m, and a surface roughness Sz in the range of 10 ?m to 50 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Tonn, Jan Bernard, Halina Heidrich, Eduard Jetzlaff, Yasin Acikgoez, Maricel Teresa Repetto, Matthias Schwab
  • Patent number: 11780188
    Abstract: According to one implementation, a preform shaping apparatus includes a rigid mold and a pressurizing jig. The rigid mold has a shape corresponding to a shape of a preform which has been shaped. The pressurizing jig presses an unshaped material of the preform to the rigid mold at different positions and different timings. Further, according to one implementation, a method of shaping a preform includes: producing the shaped preform by pressing an unshaped material of the preform to a rigid mold at different positions and different timings; and using a pressurizing jig for pressing the material. The rigid mold has a shape corresponding to a shape of the preform. The pressurizing jig is adapted to apply pressures on the material at the different positions and the different timings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Hirabayashi, Shun Honda
  • Patent number: 11772307
    Abstract: An isostatic press apparatus includes a pressure vessel for pressing a workpiece using the pressure of a pressurized liquid, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the pressurized liquid, a heating/cooling supply unit for heating or cooling a heat exchange medium that is to be supplied to the heat exchanger, a pressurized liquid circulation fan for circulating the pressurized liquid, a circulation fan motor for rotating the pressurized liquid circulation fan, a motor accommodation unit for accommodating the circulation fan motor therein, and a pressure equalization adjustment unit for increasing or decreasing the internal pressure in the motor accommodation unit to match the internal pressure in the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ENERGYN INC.
    Inventors: Jin Suk Jang, Ihn Kee Hwang
  • Patent number: 11753223
    Abstract: A bottle for holding liquids that is biodegradable and that is made from environmentally sustainable materials. The bottle includes a body, a shoulder, a neck portion, and a cap. According to one aspect, the neck portion of the bottle is made of bioplastic, and the shoulder and body of the bottle are made from thermoformed pulp. The bioplastic neck can mate with, and be adhered to, the shoulder, and the shoulder can mate with, and be adhered to, the pulp body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: LGAB LLC
    Inventors: Adam Berk, Lee Green, Fuad Khan
  • Patent number: 11745413
    Abstract: Methods of nanomanufacturing based on continuous additive nanomanufacturing at fluid interfaces (CANFI). This approach is a fabrication technique that involves, for example, photocuring or “printing” self-assembled layers. CANFI presents a fabrication capability with significant transformative potential improve (i) the spatial resolution, (ii) the speed, and (iii) the range of material compositions that can be printed. Various articles of manufacture can be made using the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tobias Hanrath, Eliad Peretz, Ben Treml