Patents Examined by J. Sells
  • Patent number: 5439546
    Abstract: A method for welding a first member and a second plastic member, the first member having a first surface and the second member having a second surface which are to be welded to each other, the surfaces having different shape configurations nonconforming to each other includes positioning the first member transversely with respect to the second member with the nonconforming surfaces facing each other, heating the first surface at a welding temperature and transforming the shape of the first surface such as to at least partially conform it to the shape of the second surface, heating the second surface at a welding temperature at the surface area corresponding in size and contour configuration to the first surface and at the location where the first surface is to be welded to the second surface, and welding the first and second heated surface together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Wolf-Jurgen Brickenstein
  • Patent number: 5439720
    Abstract: A multi-tubing ribbon wherein the side-by-side lengths of plastic tubing are ultrasonically welded together at spaced intervals along the length of the ribbon whereby to provide a multi-tubing ribbon having non-welded sections spaced along its length which renders it very adaptable for use in a variety of situations and a process and apparatus for fabricating same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventor: Hrishikesh Choudhury
  • Patent number: 5439521
    Abstract: A dispensing container for moist toilet tissue includes an elongated housing having a circumferential wall and a pair of endwalls. A dispensing opening for discharging tissue from said housing is provided and means for resisting full rotation of said housing about its longitudinal axis is provided. A solution which may include cleansing and medicinal constituents as well as others, is provided within the housing. In one embodiment a tubular portion defines a passageway for receipt of a toilet tissue roll holder rod. In one embodiment the housing has a hinged opening for permitting access to the interior thereof. In another embodiment the container is sealed and disposable and in another embodiment two sections are mechanically separable and rejoinable so as to facilitate refilling the solution and the toilet tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Muralidhara S. Rao
  • Patent number: 5437760
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid applicator system, which can be used to apply or remove fluids from the press belts associated with a continuous belt press. The present invention provides for applying a uniformly thick layer of fluid to a press belt with one or more rollers, and the use of those or other rollers to remove liquid from a press belt. The applicator system of the present invention can be self-cleaning, and the rollers temperature regulated to facilitate the application and removal of liquids. The present invention also provides a ventilation system for removing any dangerous vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frank J. Benkowski, Morris Cordova, E. Scott DelliGatti, Timothy A. Holder
  • Patent number: 5433816
    Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method for forming individual pillowed chips of light lock material are provided. An ultrasonic horn and ultrasonic anvil are used to form pillows in a composite web of light lock material. The pillowed web material is then notched and cut to produce individual chips of light lock material. Each individual chip has one pillowed edge and one non-pillowed, notched edge. The pillowing and notching facilitate placement of the individual chips of light lock material into a film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wallace S. Stewart, Gary E. Merz, Dale C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5431763
    Abstract: A linerless labeling system which utilizes a transparent or opaque paper or plastic film substrate. The substrate is provided in web roll form and is printed on one side with an image overcoated with an adhesive. The opposite surface has release characteristics. When applied, the web is fed across an anvil plate. A die engages the anvil plate, cuts the label from the web which label is then transferred to the surface of an item such as a plastic container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Boss Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Franklin C. Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 5425823
    Abstract: A combined label printer and application device is provided for labeling a plurality of individual product units with customized labels. The individual product units are conveyed through a data determining mechanism, such as a checkweigher or electric eye in order to identify data to be imprinted on the label. The information is conveyed to a microprocessor which converts the data into commands for a label printer. The printer in turn prints either alpha-numeric indicia, bar codes or other desired visual indicia on the label. The movement of the individual product units is coordinated with a corresponding label, and the label is applied to the product unit by means of a combined vacuum and air jet head. The individual labels, in a preferred embodiment, are coated with pressure sensitive adhesive, and are fixed on rolls to releasible backing strip. The individual labels are stripped from the backing strip and held temporarily on a vacuum head until the desired product unit is located below the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: B.C.E. Technologies
    Inventor: James Woodside, III
  • Patent number: 5425838
    Abstract: A tape has a plurality of pockets longitudinally spaced with transverse bridges for carrying electronic microchips. Each pocket has a bottom wall having ridges surrounding the center of the pocket. The ridges engage the microchip to center the microchip within the recess and space leads connected to the microchip from the side walls and end walls of the pocket. Support members extending angularly between the ridge ends are adapted to elevate the microchip above the bottom wall of the pocket and space the leads from the bottom wall. A cover is releasably attached to side flanges and bridges of the tape to close the top of the pockets and retain the positions of the microchips in the pockets. A hole in the bottom wall of the tape allows optical readings to verify the position of the microchip. A heat sealing apparatus has movable shoes with ribs and heaters to heat seal side edges of the cover to the side flanges of the tape and middle portions of the cover to the bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Advantek, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean B. Chenoweth, Timothy B. Zbikowski
  • Patent number: 5421924
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transversely sealing multi-ply diaper webs including an ultrasonic horn assembly above the web and an anvil assembly below the web, and including orbiting the two assemblies with points of orbit intersection at two spaced apart points on the web and with one of the assemblies being resiliently mounted so as to yield when the two assemblies come in contact during sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventors: Paul Ziegelhoffer, Gary E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5421947
    Abstract: Disclosed is a laminating machine for applying a protective laminate to the edge of any paper or paperboard product such as an index or paperboard card. The machine includes grippers for retaining opposed edges of a cut laminate and an elongate crimping mechanism for engaging the laminate between the grippers and for pressing the laminate against the nip of a pair of pressure rollers. The elongate crimping mechanism is withdrawn and an edge of the paper or paperboard product is fed to the elongate crimp created in the laminate. The paper and laminate are then fed between heated pressure rollers to effect lamination. The above steps can be repeated to apply a laminate to two or more edges of a paper or paperboard product. When two or more adjacent edges are to be laminated, a cutting mechanism cuts the laminate at angles to form miter joints at the corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventor: Diane Green
  • Patent number: 5421945
    Abstract: The mass preservation of archives by melting on them a binder combination reinforced with a nonwoven or woven fabric, in which a woven or nonwoven fabric on a supporting belt or supporting roller is impregnated with an aqueous, pollutant-free, self-cross-linking and/or not self-cross-linkable and/or pre-cross-linked dispersion, free of volatile solvents, of a thermoplastic binder with a high film-forming temperature above 60.degree. C., into which dispersion waxes or paraffins, with a concentration--based on the solids portion of the dispersion--of 3 to 10% by weight have been incorporated by hot precipitation, dried and, in conjunction with the substrate that is to be preserved, fused under the action of pressure and temperature by a brief temperature shock at a temperature appreciably exceeding the film-forming temperature to a substrate-sealing film with embedded nonwoven or woven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventor: Gunther Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5421925
    Abstract: The invention is directed to securing rigid foams to a plastic panel through linear welding. The foam is vibrated linearly sufficiently to heat the interface between the foam and panel. The surface of the panel softens and becomes partially molten. The foam is urged into the panel and molten plastic material flows into the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Leonard J. Kulaszewicz, Dale S. Crombez
  • Patent number: 5421923
    Abstract: An ultrasonic welding horn is provided that has an insert connected to the body of the horn proximal to the welding edge, the insert being dampened from the ultrasonic operating frequency by attaching it to the horn body at a nodal point that has little or no vibration during the operational vibrational mode of the horn. During a welding operation, the insert is positioned to secure living cell tissue that is between two plastic layers, preventing undesirable vibration of the cell tissue. The welding edge, which extends around the periphery of the insert, contacts the plastic layers around the cell tissue, welding a seal between the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Baxter International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Clarke, Steven Neuenfeldt
  • Patent number: 5419801
    Abstract: A pair of heat seal jaws (31, 32) for heat sealing together two heat sealable polymeric surfaces (33, 33'), the jaws (31, 32) including first sealing surfaces (36) which in use cooperate to produce at least one relatively strong heat seal between the said polymeric surfaces (33, 33') and second heat sealing surfaces (37, 38) which in use cooperate to produce at least one relatively weak but substantially hermetic heat seal between the polymeric surfaces, said first and second heat sealing surfaces being disposed relative to each other so that during heat sealing of the polymeric surfaces, polymer in the vicinity of the second heat sealing surfaces can flow away from the relatively weak seal to produce a substantially hermetic seal as the relatively weak seal is being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Food Machinery Design Limited
    Inventor: Ian W. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5415714
    Abstract: A method for positionally securing two components together, in which a hollow body is introduced into the two components. Once the final position of the components relative to one another has been established, the hollow body is driven directly into the second component with the application of axial pressure and sonic energy. The method is suitable for employment with thermoplastic components whose relative position to one another is known beforehand, an example being in the assembly of housing parts of a rotary adjuster for controlling a flow cross section in internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Altmann, Dieter Dick, Manfred Franz, Albert Gerhard, Uwe Hammer, Johannes Meiwes, Friedrich Wendel, Wolfgang Staudenmaier, Frank Frankenhauser, Gerhard Kirschner, Egon Waldvogel, Rolf Bald, Arno Altpeter
  • Patent number: 5415724
    Abstract: A heat sealing element and related self aligning support jaw, for sealing at least two layers of thermoplastic film is disclosed. It may be used with a vertical form, fill and seal machine for packaging flowable materials, e.g. chocolate fudge, sundae topping, in pouches. The heat sealing element has a spade end which extends from the electrical connection essentially to the edge of the thermoplastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Du Pont Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold E. Perrett
  • Patent number: 5411625
    Abstract: An apparatus for bonding a tear tape (10) to a web of material is disclosed. In the packaging art, tear tapes (10) are attached to webs of film in order to create a tear-open aid in packs made of film or with the aid of the film. The tear tape (10) is bonded to the web of material (11) by the application of heat and pressure while the web of material (11) is conveyed with the tear tape (10) over a deflecting roller or sealing roller (12). The sealing roller (12) forms a heating ring (17) which is heated for the transfer of heat and pressure to the web of material (11), but which is thermally insulated from the remaining part of the sealing roller. The sealing roller (12) is formed from several parts. In particular, it is formed from two part rollers (15, 16) and the heating ring (17) which is located between these part rollers with gaps (38, 39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Uwe Mehner, Frank J. Hill
  • Patent number: 5411616
    Abstract: A process for joining at least two ultrathin plastic pieces by an ultrasonic welding method is disclosed. The process includes providing a plurality of energy directors for enhancing weld strength, and reducing unacceptable welds. The process also includes providing a groove in a flanged attachment member to assist in properly orienting the pieces to be joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Venus D. Desai, Michael M. Austin, Steven Fischl
  • Patent number: 5405465
    Abstract: A method is provided for making a magnetic toy fish. The method comprises conformally joining two premolded plastic half-shell sections containing a magnetic member and a counterweight, and applying sonar energy across the joints to permanently join the half-shell sections together and form the fish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Masudaya Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 5405559
    Abstract: A method of attenuating a molten thermoplastic polymer stream into polymer fibers for forming a non-woven fiber mat, and the non-woven fiber mat formed thereby. The method applying a gas stream to a molten polymer stream, and inducing a cyclic pulsation in the gas stream. The cyclic pulsation further comprises a discontinuous flow of the gas stream. The application of the gas stream to the molten polymer stream causes the attenuation of the molten polymer stream into a plurality of fibers which are collected onto a receiving surface thereby forming a non-woven fiber mat. The method may be used to impart a particularly unique or otherwise desirable configuration to the fibers or to the fiber mat produced from them. The gas stream may be comprised of a primary gas flow having a first stream and a second stream. The gas stream may be further comprised of a secondary gas flow having a first stream and a second stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of The University of Oklahoma
    Inventor: Robert L. Shambaugh