Patents Examined by Jan H. Silbaugh
  • Patent number: 6547550
    Abstract: This specification discloses a method and apparatus for forming and extruding ceramic materials. The apparatus utilizes a vacuum chamber mounted within a heating chamber or element; and the ceramic forming chamber is mounted within the vacuum chamber. A press is slidably mounted within vacuum and forming chambers in order to apply pressure to the ceramic materials during the heating step and subsequently during the ceramics extrusion step. The heating chamber applies heat to the vacuum chamber and forming chamber during the sintering and extrusion step. The forming chamber preferably remains in position within the vacuum chamber during the entire ceramic article manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Ross Guenther
  • Patent number: 6547552
    Abstract: Improved apparatus are diclosed for stepwise, layer by layer fabrication of three-dimensional objects by irradiation of radiation-curable materials, in which the critical steps of fast and efficient deposition of thin, flat layers of material covered with a radiation-transmitting film, as well as careful separation of the film upon irradiation, are achieved by using a reciprocating carriage that during its motion changes the elevation of the film. When the carriage is moving in one direction, the film is being laid down forming a layer, and when upon irradiation the carriage is returning, it is peeling the film off without distorting the formed layer. Improved apparatus are provided that build the whole object on an open platform without using a container or form each layer above container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Efrem V. Fudim
  • Patent number: 6547549
    Abstract: A pelletizing die for a pelletizer comprises a base body with holes for melt to pass through; the holes are disposed in rows. Allocated to the holes are wearing-protection inserts, having holes which are in alignment with the holes in the base body. The inserts which are disposed to adjoin each other in a row have a chordal surface where they are turned toward an adjoining insert and are provided with at least one surface of an arcuate segment of a cylinder laterally of the chordal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Krupp, Werner & Pfeiderer GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Schneider, Ulrich Wiesner, Jürgen Bartl
  • Patent number: 6548007
    Abstract: The device comprises a moving assembly (24) designed to be placed in an operating position in which said assembly (24) is over the opening (12e) of a receptacle (12) filled with a viscous material, first motor means (32) and a first guide system (30a, 34a, 42) serve to impart vertical translation movement to said assembly (24) relative to said receptacle (12), and variable-speed, second motor means (48) and a second guide system (54) serve to impart rotary motion to a moving subassembly (26) belonging to said assembly (24). Said subassembly (26) has a vertical shaft whose top portion (46a) is secured to said second motor means (48), and a rule (22) connected to the bottom portion (46b) of said shaft, the length of the rule being substantially equal to the radius of said opening (12e) and the rule having a bottom surface presenting a horizontal longitudinal portion designed to level the top surface (14a) of the viscous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: Roger Deloris, Jean-Claude Dumont, Thierry Duquesnoy
  • Patent number: 6547547
    Abstract: Apparatus for integrally molding articles with a foam member, including a charger for supplying raw material beads made of resin to a die cavity containing articles for integral molding with foam, a plurality of work piece nozzles each having a nozzle opening in fluid communication with the cavity. At least one of the workpiece nozzles is located at a position corresponding to an opening located in an article located in the die. A plurality of exhaust nozzles for exhausting air from the cavity, the exhausting air beginning with a group of exhaust nozzles at locations maximally distant from the raw material charging port, and groups of exhaust nozzles located successively closer to the raw material charging port, each group in turn for sequentially exhausting air from the cavity, while the port is charging the cavity with raw material beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Daisen Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Iwao Nohara, Shigeki Yoshimura, Kiyotaka Ida
  • Patent number: 6548002
    Abstract: A resorbable interbody fusion device for use in spinal fixation is disclosed. The device is composed of 25-100% bioresorbable or resorbable material. The interbody fusion device of the invention can be in any convenient form, such as a wedge, screw or cage. Preferably, the resorbable device of the invention is in the shape of a tapered wedge or cone, which further desirably incorporates structural features such as serrations or threads better to anchor the device in the adjoining vertebrae. The preferred device further comprises a plurality of peripheral voids and more desirably a central void space therein, which may desirably be filled with a grafting material for facilitating bony development and/or spinal fusion, such as an autologous grafting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Cambridge Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Gresser, Debra J. Trantolo, Robert S. Langer, Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, Alexander M. Klibanov, Donald L. Wise
  • Patent number: 6548000
    Abstract: A method of making a piece of plastic that is painted. The method consists in depositing a “peel-off” film inside a mold defining the shape of the piece, which film is suitable for being separated easily from the support to which it is fixed, in making the piece by molding over the film, in painting the piece in full, and in removing the film so as to uncover the non-painted portion of the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Companie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Patrice Gobled, Weidong Li, Denis Gille
  • Patent number: 6547209
    Abstract: A mold side system for a concrete mold, including one or more mold side parts to be removably attached to a casting bed by one or more magnet units. The magnet unit has a front face to be supported against the back face of the mold side part, which front face includes an oblique projecting member to be placed in an oblique counter-groove or hole provided in the back face of the mold side to thereby press the front face and the back face together when the magnet unit is attached to the casting bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Addtek Research & Development Oy Ab
    Inventor: Kari Vappula
  • Patent number: 6544025
    Abstract: The invention relates to a concrete compacting device for compacting plastically deformable concrete in a formwork, comprising at least one vibrating unit which is attached to the formwork and has a vibration-generating unit. The compacting device is characterized in that the vibrating unit comprises an acceleration sensor for generating a signal corresponding to a vibration generated by the vibration-generating unit at the level of the formwork, and a control unit which is impinged upon by said signal and serves to control operating parameters of the vibration-generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Steffen, Christian Glanz
  • Patent number: 6544454
    Abstract: A manufacturing process of a construction strip includes the steps of (a) evenly mixing a predetermined amount of paint, talcum powder and volatile agent to form a plaster form coating mixture; (b) gradually passing an elongated strip body through an extrusion passage of an extrusion mold, wherein a uniform surrounding clearance between an interior wall of said extrusion passage and said strip body; (c) continuously injecting said coating mixture into said extrusion passage of said extrusion mold in order to fill said surrounding clearance, so that a uniform protective coating is evenly coated on said longitudinal surfaces of said strip body while said strip body is extruded from said extrusion mold; and (d) drying said protective coating to form a hard and durable protective coating shell integrally wrapped around said strip body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 6544368
    Abstract: A decorative elastic cushion is manufactured with an elastomer having the physical properties of flexibility and compressibility in a range of flexibilities and compressibilities of stable elastomeric block polymer gels. A film is provided for encapsulating the elastomer and the film includes physical properties of flexibility to enable uninhibited flexure and compression of the elastomer by a user. Decorative printing is disposed on a film interior side facing the elastomer in order to provide photo-like logos and decorations to the cushion, while having a film exterior surface resistant to abrasion and enabling cleaning thereof without affecting the decorative pattern. Printing of the film is effected by heat contacting the film with a printed paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Paul M. Yates
  • Patent number: 6540503
    Abstract: In order to increase the output, a device for producing ground meat patties of beef and/or pork comprises a shaping plate that can be moved out of a filling position in a shaping station into an ejecting position outside the shaping station, the shaping plate having holes that are disposed offset relative to each other in moving direction in two rows, one behind the other, a device by means of which the ground meat can be supplied under pressure via filling slots associated to each hole into the holes on the underside, said holes being covered at the top by means of a ventilation plate, an antilipbar serving to reduce the excess pressure that is disposed in the delivery area of the shaping station and having a continuous longitudinal slit and an ejection device disposed outside the shaping station above the ejecting position of the shaping plate having ejection cups whose quantity and position is coordinated with the holes 24 in the shaping plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: OSI International, Inc.
    Inventor: Johan Kugelmann
  • Patent number: 6540202
    Abstract: Mold pins for use in a mold matrix, as used in the production of electroforms, are provided with means to alter the longitudinal axis of the pins relative to that of adjacent pins so that the longitudinal axis of the pins are tapered with respect to one another towards the operative ends of the pins. In one embodiment of the invention a dowel is inserted into a sidewall of the pin and extends normal thereto to space the pin from an adjacent one. In another embodiment, a spacing member of a desired thickness is applied to the shank of the pin at a location remote from the operative end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: DBM Reflex Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Denis Vecrin, George Iatan
  • Patent number: 6540496
    Abstract: A shooting pot actuator for an injection molding machine having two plates carrying pusher rods for pushing against injection plungers within the shooting pots. The plates are mounted outside the mold and the clamp unit, and the pushers extend through bores in the stationary platen of the clamp unit to reach the injection plungers. The actuator reduces the cost and complication of mold design and production, and permits simplified adjustment of the injection plunger stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Schad, Robert Sicilia, Ronald Ing, Bruce Catoen, Robert Domodossola
  • Patent number: 6540500
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for forming a bend in a linear section of thermoplastic pipe. The apparatus comprises an anvil having a concave working surface which defines an arc of at least the bend angle of the bend to be formed in the pipe section. The anvil further includes a collar for retaining an end of the pipe section adjacent to the working surface. The apparatus also includes a flexible mandrel of substantially the same internal diameter as the pipe, with the mandrel being inserted into the pipe prior to the bending operation. A method is also disclosed using the apparatus to bend a section of thermoplastic pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Ranald John Pery-Johnston
  • Patent number: 6540502
    Abstract: In a brick molding apparatus, the improvement includes a mechanical drive assembly for indexing in predetermined incremental movements a mold adapted to receive and shape clay slugs into green bricks. The drive assembly includes a conveyor for carrying the mold in the brick molding apparatus. A drive gear is mounted on a drive shaft and defines a plurality of circumferentially-spaced teeth and radially-extending slots. The drive shaft is operatively connected to the conveyor. A drive lug is adapted for movement into and out of a selected one of the plurality of slots formed in the drive gear. A gear actuator is adapted for moving the drive lug in a rotational direction relative to the drive shaft. When the drive lug is positioned in the selected slot of the drive gear, the gear actuator causes rotation of the drive gear and drive shaft thereby indexing the conveyor and mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Anvil Iron Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip G. Butler
  • Patent number: 6540201
    Abstract: A system for tilt-up concrete panel forming for use on a casting surface comprising an elongated base strip having an elongated groove in an upper surface, having a chamfered edge, and having a bottom surface adapted to be adhesively attached to the casting surface. The base strip has a support edge on the upper surface for receiving and supporting an elongated wooden panel form. A plurality of brackets each have a bottom section for mating with the elongated groove of the base strip at spaced intervals along the base strip, and the brackets further including a support section for supporting a side of the panel forms. Suitable clips can be added to the support sections of the brackets to impart a camber to an end of the concrete panel being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: White Cap Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard B. Gagnon, James Steven Lutes
  • Patent number: 6540495
    Abstract: System for the manufacture of reinforcing preforms for structural composite products. The air flows for the manufacturing stations are optimized by providing a separate air system for each cell and providing seals between the net-edge blocks and the mold portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Dahl, Norman Gerald Chavka, Carl Frederick Johnson, Eric Daniel Kleven
  • Patent number: 6540497
    Abstract: A secondary molding apparatus includes a transfer path for a primary molded product, and an internal heating unit disposed vertically at a predetermined interval across the transfer path, the internal heating unit disposed to come into contact with a rear surface of a flat base material and to melt top portions of protrusions located on a front surface of the flat base material. The secondary molding apparatus also includes a pressing member disposed vertically at a predetermined interval across the transfer path, the pressing member configured to press and deform the top portions of the protrusion to a desired shape, the pressing member being a non-heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Fuda, Shinichi Daijyogo
  • Patent number: 6537054
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing expansion-molded articles continuously by conveying foamed beads into a heating region sandwiched between upper and lower belts. The apparatus has a belt that continuously travels along the upper inside face of a passageway, defined by structural members, whose cross-section constitutes an approximately rectangular shape and a belt that continuously travels along the lower inside face thereof. At least one of the upper and lower structural members that form the passageway is capable of movement in the vertical direction between the side-face structural members such that the thickness of the expansion-molded article can easily be varied. And at least one of the side-face structural members is capable of movement in the lateral direction between the upper and lower structural members such that the width of the expansion-molded article can easily be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kitahama, Masato Naito, Ryo Kikusawa