Patents Examined by Horace M. Culver
  • Patent number: 5743066
    Abstract: A longitudinal sealer for a bag maker-packaging machine is controlled such that when an abnormal condition is detected and the operation of the machine is stopped temporarily and then restarted after the abnormal condition is removed, the mechanism for moving the film and the heater for heating edge parts of the film to seal them together are deactivated and reactivated, but not both at the same time. Deactivation of the heater is delayed after that of the mechanism for moving the fill and/or reactivation of the movement of the film is delayed after that of the heater such that the film is certain to be longitudinally well sealed in spite of the interruption of the sealing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Fukuda, Yukio Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5743069
    Abstract: A metering machine for filling capsules, each capsule having a hollow bottom shell and a hollow lid fitting one inside the other; the machine having a filling assembly for filling the capsules; the filling assembly having, successively in a preferred traveling direction of the capsules, an opening device for opening the capsules, a metering device, and a closing device for closing the capsules; the filling assembly also having a control device for ascertaining opening of the capsules, and a cleaning device for cleaning first and second seats respectively housing the bottom shells and the lids; and the control and cleaning devices cooperating with each other via a central control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: MG2 S.p.A.
    Inventor: Angelo Ansaloni
  • Patent number: 5743070
    Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hershey Lerner, Dana J. Liebhart
  • Patent number: 5740603
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing multiple circuit board for mounting LIS elements and general electronic elements, and which is direcdted to provide a method for manufacturing a porous multiple layer ceramic circuit board in which a granularity of lead-zinc-borate glass (Pb--Zn--B glass) powder mixed together with ceramic powder is classified into two kinds and then the powders classified with granularity is used, so that closed pores of suitable magnitude and quantity are formed within interior even without addition of high molecular open gap type raw material whereby an insulation property and wetproof property are excellent and dielectric constant is low. The invention is made such that only A green sheets are piled by printing a conductor electrode to A green sheet manufactured by mixing 30-70 wt % of ceramic powder and Pb--Zn--B glass powder made of 50-90 wt % of powder being 9-20 wt % in average granular diameter and 10-50 wt % of powder being less than 3 .mu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chul-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 5740663
    Abstract: An inserting apparatus comprises an envelope holder for holding an envelope in a filling position, a document feed path and a flap holder for holding a flap of an envelope in an open position. On the side of the document supply path where the flap holder is also located, the most downstream roller is formed by a return pulley of a conveyor belt. Owing to a conveyor belt being trained over the most downstream roller on that side of the document feed path where the flap holder is also located, a small roller can be used without this leading to run-in problems. The documents are moreover forcefully advanced at the end of the document feed path into a nip between two rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Hadewe B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Andries de Haan, Christiaan Antoon Munneke
  • Patent number: 5740605
    Abstract: A method of forming a z-axis interface with a device having a first electrically conductive pad thereon wherein a layer of resilient electrically insulating material, capable of being made rigid, preferably a thermoplastic polymer or a b-stage thermosetting polymer, is formed over the first pad. A via is then formed in the electrically insulating material extending to the first pad. A layer of electrically conductive material, preferably gold, is then formed on the sidewalls extending to the pad and out of the via. A second electrically conductive pad is then applied under pressure to the electrically conductive material extending out of the via to deform the electrically conductive material into the resilient electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material is then caused to become rigid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert K. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5740660
    Abstract: Rotary die apparatus for producing filled gelatin capsules comprises two cylindrical rollers mounted with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel and defining a nip therebetween, with at least one roller having a plurality of recesses on its outer surface; and means for feeding gelatin ribbon to each roller surface and thereby to the nip. The apparatus includes a metering system for delivering particulate material between gelatin ribbons at the nip; and means for rotating the rollers in synchronism with the metering system such that particulate material is supplied over a recess in said at least one roller, and the juxtaposed ribbon sections close over the particulate material to form a capsule. Air mechanisms may be used to shape the gelatin ribbon into the roller recesses, and such mechanisms can also be used to facilitate the flow of particulate material in the metering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: R.P. Scherer Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Rowe
  • Patent number: 5737834
    Abstract: A process and a means for automatic assembly of the top and bottom sides of circuitboards with SMDs is described. The SMD assembly machine in this means has two parallel pickup stations for conveyor belts for the circuitboards for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Blaupunkt-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Sabotke, Ansgar Graen, Hans-Walter Heinrich
  • Patent number: 5735106
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, products are contained within a continuous cylindrical sleeve in a low- or no-tension condition. Products are captured within the sleeve during its formation. The sleeve forms a continuous path encircling the product(s) in at least one plane through the products and package, defining an axial direction normal to the plane and a circumferential direction around the product(s) within the plane. One or more axially-extending pleats are unitarily formed from the material comprising the cylindrical wall of the sleeve, such that the circumference of the cylindrical sleeve is reduced. By reducing the circumference of the cylinder the interior volume of the sleeve, and thus the finished package, is reduced, thus subjecting the products within the package to a compressive force. The compressive force is imparted by a uniform reduction in circumference resulting in a uniform inwardly-directed product compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble company
    Inventors: Timothy Paul Burda, William Scott Andes
  • Patent number: 5732532
    Abstract: A system and method for forming bags and reliably filling them with solids (such as snack food) prevent blockages of the solids during the filling process, and enable the bag forming and bag filling processes to occur continuously in an overlapping manner, thus improving production efficiency. Longitudinal openings are provided in the lower end of a hollow tubular vertical mandrel. Solids fall by gravity through the interior of the mandrel toward a bag that is formed at the bottom of the mandrel. The longitudinal openings allow solids to protrude radially outward from the mandrel if they form a blockage in the mandrel. The protruding solids that are part of the blockage are dislodged by frictional contact with a tubular film as it is forwarded snugly down the exterior of the mandrel. The film ultimately form the bag into which the solids fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: House Foods Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Fujisaki, Hiroshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 5729960
    Abstract: A method of using an assembly line and shipping container including the step of first providing the container. The container has an outer shell, a first pad element and a second pad element. The pad elements have an inside surface and an outside surface. Compressible elements are coupled to the outside surfaces of the pad elements. The inside surfaces of the pad elements are oppositely aligned with respect to each other inside the outer shell. The first and second pad elements include a first and a second longitudinal slot respectively, the slots aligned opposite each other. During use, the container is placed on an assembly line having at least one work station. A board component is inserted into the container along the longitudinal slots. The board component is removed from the container at the work station. Work then is performed on the board component. The board component is placed back into the container after performing the work and the board component is shipped inside the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Tenneco Packaging Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Davis
  • Patent number: 5727361
    Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or for forming a flower pot, comprising a sheet of material, an extension of the sheet of material attached to the sheet of material, the extension having design indicia thereon, wherein the sheet of material is sized to wrap about and substantially surround and encompass a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or contain a floral arrangement or potted plant. Methods of using the wrapping material to wrap a floral arrangement, a flower pot, and to form a flower pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Lisa A. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5727366
    Abstract: Registration system for a continuously operating machine which produces a filled package with an upper and lower seal which automatically adjusts position and the speed of the packaging material being supplied and also adjusts the speed after a preselected number of position adjustments in either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Milliken Research Corporation
    Inventor: John B. Manly, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5727362
    Abstract: A method for forming a decorative cover about a floral grouping from an optical effect material having a holographic design which constitutes at least a portion of the decor of the decorative cover. The optical effect material may include printed matter and/or embossed pattern to provide at least a portion of the decor of the decorative cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 5727369
    Abstract: Objects such as cartons (16) supported in transport holders (110), are carried on a first conveyor wheel (140) and transferred to a second conveyor wheel in respective transfer operation. Each conveyor wheel has circumferential spaced recesses for carrying such objects, each recess containing a moveable magnet (156) for holding a said object. The wheels run tangentially to one another so that each object on the first conveyor wheel during each transfer operation is momentarily simultaneously in recesses of the first conveyor wheel and of the second conveyor wheel. Transfer is triggered by the timed withdrawal of the magnet holding the object in the recess of the first conveyor wheel by a cam (170) leaving the object held by the magnet of the second conveyor wheel. Cartons may be bottom sealed, filed and top sealed on respective conveyor wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA.
    Inventor: Richard W. E. Mosse
  • Patent number: 5724792
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing bag packages which includes an oscillation generator, a bearing frame which transmits oscillations in the longitudinal and/or crosswise direction to a forming pipe. The forming pipe and a forming shoulder of the apparatus are rigidly joined to one another. A longitudinal seam sealing device is also joined to the bearing frame. The oscillations serve the purpose of both low-friction transport of a tube via the forming shoulder and the forming pipe and of compacting the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Domke, Joerg Starkmann, Christoph Lampl, Holger Lachenmaier, Wolfgang Bischet, Gerald Keicher
  • Patent number: 5724717
    Abstract: A method for making an electrical article includes: providing a conductive lead frame having a first contact section (129) adapted to be electrically and mechanically secured to a discrete second conductive member (144) and a holding section proximate the first contact section (129) adapted to hold a portion of the discrete second conductive member (144); positioning a discrete second conductive member (144) on the holding section with a first connecting end (146) in engagement with the first contact section (129)of the lead frame; terminating the second member (144) to the contact section (129), the lead frame and the second conductive member (144) defining a subassembly; overmolding the subassembly with dielectric material at least over portions of the lead frame and the second conductive member; and removing at least the holding section from the overmolded subassembly thereby defining an electrical article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Gherardini, Scott Keith Mickievicz, Richard Nicholas Whyne, John Anthony Woratyla
  • Patent number: 5722218
    Abstract: A conveyor system for gripping and transporting plastic film is disclosed in the environment of a packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. Alternate conveyor embodiments are also disclosed. The belts of each embodiment are constructed such that when force is applied to a gripped plastic film coaction of the film and belts causes the belt gripping of the film to tighten.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Hershey Lerner
  • Patent number: 5722221
    Abstract: An envelope opening apparatus for mail assembly operations which employs timed intermittent bursts of compressed air or other gas. One or more gas jets are used in association with an inserter arm, and envelopes are sequentially conveyed past the inserter arm and gas jets. As each envelope is positioned adjacent to the inserter arm and gas jets, a controller computer activates a control valve, supplying compressed air to the gas jets, which direct a blast of air at the envelope, opening the envelope to form a pocket suitable for insertion thereinto of mail materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: United States Computer Services
    Inventors: Richard D. Maltman, Robert E. Valentine, Robert J. Leitner, Gerry E. Leick
  • Patent number: 5720150
    Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or for forming a flower pot, comprising a sheet of material, an extension of the sheet of material attached to the sheet of material, the extension having design indicia thereon, wherein the sheet of material is sized to wrap about and substantially surround and encompass a floral arrangement, a flower pot, or contain a floral arrangement or potted plant. Methods of using the wrapping material to wrap a floral arrangement, a flower pot, and to form a flower pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Lisa A. Straeter