Patents Examined by James J. Engel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5275685
    Abstract: The gluing apparatus has several carrier arms attached to a rotating organ, which carry holders at their free ends. Each holder picks up an attachment slip at the supply point, transports it past an adhesive-applicator apparatus whereby adhesive is applied to the attachment slips, and on to the printed products to which the slips are then attached. The printed products are transported on supports placed perpendicular to the feed direction (A), the holders enter between consecutive pairs of supports and have means of control to move them against supports, in order to glue the attachment slips on the printed products and press them firmly into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Hans-Ulrich Stauber
  • Patent number: 5271793
    Abstract: Apparatus for transporting containers having circular portions with any one of a number of different diameters first along an adhesive applying unit and thereupon past one or more units which apply labels all the way around the circular portions of the containers has a rotary turntable with a set of depending rotary supporting elements for discrete containers. The supporting elements are rotated about their own axes, while orbiting about the axis of rotation of the turntable, by two arcuate cams which are adjacent the path of orbital movement of the supporting elements and are tracked by roller followers provided on disc-shaped holders at the upper ends of the supporting elements. Adjustment of the apparatus for the transport of containers having circular portions of different diameters is effected by moving the cams in the circumferential direction of the turntable. The positions of the various treating units remain unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Alfill Getranketechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Seifert, Gerd-Reiner Israel
  • Patent number: 5271783
    Abstract: Labeling machine for applying labels of heat softenable material to containers comprising a rotating cylindrical vacuum drum which picks up labels in succession at a label receiving station as it rotates, transports each label to a label applying station at which the leading end of each label is applied to a container; means to rotate each container to which the leading end of a label has been applied to wrap the label around the container and to lap the trailing end of the label over the leading end and while so doing to apply pressure to the lapped junction of the leading and trailing ends, and means in the form of a heat applicator located within the drum, extensible through an opening in the drum to bring a head or nozzle into close proximity to the trailing end of a label during most of the travel of such trailing end between the label receiving and label applying positions and to apply heat during such period to the trailing end to soften the trailing end so that it can be welded by pressure to the lead
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: B & H Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Terry C. Potter
  • Patent number: 5266142
    Abstract: A piston with piston skirt dry film lubricant coat applied by the transfer pad process to lessen the stresses associated with reciprocating engine parts and method for applying such a coat to the skirt of a piston. Wetted dry film lubricants are diluted with volatile solvents to create a wetted dry film lubricant of liquid consistency in order to make the dry film lubricants adaptable to the transfer pad coating process. Application of the wetted dry film lubricant to the piston by the transfer pad coating process provides for the precise and discriminant application of dry film lubricants to piston skirts thereby providing a less costly coated piston by avoiding the time-consuming task of masking the pistons prior to application of a wetted dry film lubricant by the currently used spray method and eliminating the waste and pollution problems associated with the spray method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignees: DECC Technology Partnership a limited partnership
    Inventor: Thomas J. Penrice
  • Patent number: 5259913
    Abstract: A rotary decorating machine for bottles having an alignment structure formed adjacent their bottom periphery, wherein the machine has at least one decorating station. A rotating table is provided with a plurality of independently rotatable bottle receiving cups spaced from one another adjacent the outer periphery of the table. The rotating table is driven by a first motor, and the bottle receiving cups are independently rotatable by pinion gears attached thereto for enabling planetary rotation of the bottles relative to the rotating table. A lower gear is provided with a second drive motor for rotation independent of the rotating table, and the pinion gears attached to individual bottle receiving cups are intermeshed with that gear. Rotation of the lower gear independently effects the rotation speed and direction of the bottle receiving cups independent of the planetary rotation resulting from movement of the rotating table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Spear, Incorporated
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Stover
  • Patent number: 5259912
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for continuous in-line labeling of flexible walled bottles of predetermined height, having a pair of substantially continuous lower and upper conveyor members substantially longitudinally aligned to provide an inlet end and an outlet end. The upper conveyor member includes a substantially endless chain supporting a plurality of downwardly depending compression wedges spaced therealong, whereby successive bottles to be labeled are received at the inlet end in partially compressed relationship between the top surface of the lower conveyor and the compression wedge. The apparatus can be selectively adjusted such that the vertical spacing between the top surface of the lower conveyor and the wedges of the upper conveyor appropriately compressively accommodate bottles of various heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Spear, Incorporated
    Inventor: Carl L. Cline
  • Patent number: 5256201
    Abstract: A filter unit (12) or a cyclone unit (22) can alternately be attached to a cabin (2) to draw powder out of the cabin. The units move on wheels. In an operating position adjacent to the cabin (2), they are automatically aligned with flow connections and can be connected. A common fan (52) for both units is connected with the filter unit (12) via a compressed air cleaning device (42) in terms of flow, if the former is in the operating position, and at the same time it closes off the inlet to a post-filter unit (32), while when the filter unit (12) is removed and the cyclone unit (22) is in the operating position, this cyclone unit (22) is connected with the fan (52) via the post-filter (32), and the cyclone unit (22) closes off a flow inlet of the compressed air cleaning unit (42). In this way, color changes can be carried out in a short period of time, and good exhaust cleaning is achieved by the filter unit (12) during extended operation with the same color, without a color change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Gema Volstatic AG
    Inventors: Silvano Gelain, Bernhard Dinkel, Markus Beerli
  • Patent number: 5256239
    Abstract: A continuously moving web pressure-sensitive labeler applies pressure-sensitive labels to articles moving in a given direction past a label applying station. The labels are initially carried by the moving web and the labeler includes a label applying mechanism such as a peel plate and a vacuum drum for stripping labels from the moving web and delivering the stripped labels in the given direction onto articles as they pass the label applying station in the given direction. The labeler also has mechanism which generates a timing signal for timing the placing of labels in register on the label applying mechanism. In a first embodiment, the timing signal generating mechanism includes an encoder driven by the drum and also includes a rotary vacuum valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: New Jersey Machine Inc.
    Inventors: Helmut Voltmer, Urs Reuteler
  • Patent number: 5254205
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for automatically binding a silicon wafer to a carrier plate. In the binding method of the present invention, the wafer is positioned underneath the carrier plate and then lifted and bonded to the carrier plate, at or below atmospheric pressure: once this is accomplished the process returns to the previous pressure. In addition, in the apparatus which performs this process, by means of a carrier means which supplies the carrier plate and wafer to the location where binding is to be carried out, the binding surface of the carrier plate and wafer are turned upward, transported and the carrier plate is flipped around in the interval between the carrier plate transportation apparatus and the binding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials Silicon Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Tsutsumi, Tatsumi Matsumoto, Keisuke Takahashi, Mitsuzi Koyama
  • Patent number: 5252166
    Abstract: A packaging arrangement for items to be subsequently mounted, having a pair of plastic sheets with dimensions that are greater than the item. One sheet includes an adhesive layer that adheres to the front face of the item and also adheres to portions of the other sheet so that the item is captured in between. The sheet with the adhesive layer is preferably transparent. When mounting, the sheets are separated, a mounting adhesive is applied to the back face of the item, and thereafter both the adhesive layer and the back face are urged against the mounting surface. The sheet temporarily maintains the item mounted until the mounting adhesive hardens and the sheet is thereafter removed. The item can a single unit, or a plurality of loose units, or a plurality of units attached to a backing. If a single unit or a plurality of pre-connected units, the packaging arrangement need not attach to the entire item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Inventor: Margaret M. Krawczyk
  • Patent number: 5250144
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus, for example for a friction facings and carrier plate assembly for use in a friction clutch driven plate, comprises first and second platens (22, 70) which are mountable one over the other such that a first surface on one platen faces towards a first surface on the other platen. Each said first surface has an annular recess (30, 78) therein such that when the platens are mounted one on top the other said annular recesses substantially coincide and are substantially co-axial. Each recess has a base (38, 84) with a substantially flat surface (40, 86) at the bottom of the recess, and each base has means such as apertures (92) or suction cups (104, 114) therein opening to the recess and connectable with a source of vacuum to apply vacuum to the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Automotive Products PLC
    Inventors: John F. Fitzpatrick-Ellis, John S. Bolton, Richard C. M. Cooke
  • Patent number: 5248363
    Abstract: A transfer medium is produced by capturing an image and printing heat sensitive ink solids in the form of the image by thermal means onto a receptor. The image may then be transferred from the medium to the object by applying sufficient heat to the medium to cause the heat sensitive ink to permanently bond to the object in the desired image. The heat sensitive transfer ink is printed onto the receptor to prepare the medium by thermal printing means at a temperature which will release and print the ink, but which is below the temperature which will cause the heat sensitive ink to bond permanently. The image may then be transferred from the medium onto the object at a higher temperature which will cause the sensitive ink to permanently bond to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Inventor: Nathan Hale
  • Patent number: 5246534
    Abstract: An apparatus for end face welding of plastic parts that includes two spaces clamping devices for retaining the plastic parts, a heating device movable into an operative position between the clamping devices, and a stop element for retaining the heating device in its operating position, and in which the stop element is automatically disengaged from the heating device upon a return movement of a carriage supporting one of the clamping devices after heating of the ends of the parts to enable automatic return of the heating device to its initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG
    Inventors: Ernst Tanner, Jorg Wermelinger, Theo Gassner
  • Patent number: 5246518
    Abstract: An image is permanently printed on an object having a synthetic component by capturing the image, printing the image by means of sublimation ink onto a medium, with the image then transferred from the medium to the object by applying sufficient heat to the medium to sublimate the ink, causing the ink to permanently bond to the object in the desired image. The sublimation ink is transferred to the medium by a printer from a ribbon, and/or by a means having a wax component which will bond the sublimation ink to the medium in precisely the desired design, yielding excellent resolution and bright, vivid colors in the final printing of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Inventor: Nathan Hale
  • Patent number: 5242526
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously applying tags to rings or the like includes at least one conveyor having a series of ring carrying posts movable into registry with a tag applicator which receives a tag from a supply source, is insertable into the ring and collapsible about the ring to position the tag about the ring and then movable out of the ring. The tag applicator includes a pair of applicator arms movable between an open, coextensive position to receive the tag and a closed, juxtaposed position to place the tag about the ring. Carousel supply means are disclosed which include ring carrying posts movable to a position wherein rings may be selectively deposited on the ring carrying posts. The method includes operating the conveyor continuously, supplying rings to the ring carrying posts, supplying tags to the applicator arms, inserting the applicator arms into the rings and affixing the tags to the rings and retracting the applicator arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Sterling, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy P. Adair
  • Patent number: 5240547
    Abstract: In an apparatus for automatically wrapping a cover material about a steering wheel of a vehicle, a support arrangement is provided for supporting the steering wheel covered with the cover material, in a first plane extending perpendicularly to an axis of the steering wheel. A clamp arrangement clamps an annular strip body of the cover material to an outer peripheral section of the steering wheel supported by the support arrangement. A wiper arrangement urges one of a pair of side skirts extending respectively from side edges of the annular strip body, against an inner peripheral section of the steering wheel. In a method, the steering wheel is covered with the cover material such that free edges of the side skirts can be abutted against each other at the inner peripheral section of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Midori Anzen Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Itagaki
  • Patent number: 5238524
    Abstract: A hole masking apparatus for use in the manufacture of a printed wiring board is disclosed. The apparatus comprises first and second positioning sections provided on a conveying path of a base material at a distance apart for stopping the positioning of the base material having a plurality of through holes at respective given position; a masking device provided to respective positioning sections and having a head to paste a seal while supplying and for pasting the seal on through holes by moving the head in such a manner that the head is positioned on through holes which do not require a plugging up thereof; and a reversing section arranged between the first and the second positioning sections and for reversing face and back of the base material on the conveying path thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Nippon CMK Corp.
    Inventors: Kameharu Seki, Yasuaki Otani, Isamu Kubo
  • Patent number: 5238522
    Abstract: A device for joining a leading end of a new second strip-like material to a trailing end of a supplied first strip-like material is disclosed. This device includes a joining preparation path. A stamper base is arranged midway along the joining preparation path. The first and second strip-like materials are fed to the joining preparation path by first and second feed mechanisms, respectively. The first strip-like material passes through the stamper base, and is supplied to the next process by a convey mechanism. The leading end of the second strip-like material is aligned with a predetermined position of the stamper base, and is held in position. The device includes a stamper for holding a joining tape piece by suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Sakano, Yoshihisa Sato
  • Patent number: 5236540
    Abstract: A taping device including a member rotatably supported on a frame for supporting a tape, a roller rotatably supported on the frame, a presser including a handle extended downward through a slot formed in the bottom of the frame and including a panel engageable with the roller, and a resilient element for biasing the panel of the presser toward the roller so as to retain the tape in place, the panel can be separated from the roller when the handle of the presser is pulled against the resilient element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Inventor: Gi Shi
  • Patent number: 5236535
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved method and apparatus for the manufacture of pressure-sensitive labels or pressure-sensitive composite material components and placement thereof. The invention provides a flexible, high-speed method of accurately severing a specific component from a continuous length of pressure-sensitive label stock or composite material stock and placing the severed component at a precise location on the surface of a product. Accurately positioning a severed component of a pressure-sensitive composite material on a desired surface is achieved by imparting a precise longitudinal forward movement to the feedstock containing the severed component immediately after the component has been severed in a manner that prevents lateral movement of the carrier strip. The severed component is brought into contact with a transport means and rigidly attached to the transport means at a precise location thereon prior to separating any portion of the severed component from the carrier strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Syst-A-Matic Tool & Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Smith