Patents Examined by Kimberly A Stewart
  • Patent number: 8920691
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a production method capable of efficiently producing a carbonized film wound into a roll without the occurrence of fusion bonding between the layers of the film. The method includes a carbonization step in which a polymer film wound around a core is placed in a heating furnace and carbonized by heat treatment to obtain a carbonized film wound around the core. The carbonization step is performed by increasing a temperature of the heat treatment from an initial temperature through a pyrolysis onset temperature to a pyrolysis end temperature. In the carbonization step, the heating furnace is decompressed when the temperature of the heat treatment is lower than the pyrolysis onset temperature, and after the temperature of the heat treatment reaches the pyrolysis onset temperature, the heating furnace is not decompressed or the heating furnace is decompressed so that an absolute pressure in the heating furnace is in a range of 21.3 kPa to 101.29 kPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Mishiro, Yasushi Nishikawa, Yusuke Ohta, Takashi Inada
  • Patent number: 8900502
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a shaped product constituted by a fiber-reinforced composite material including reinforcing fibers and a thermoplastic resin, the shaped product with maintained isotropy of the fibers to the end thereof even if press-molded under conditions in which charge ratio of a prepreg to a die is low. Specifically, the method includes using a specific prepreg obtained by impregnating the reinforcing fibers with thermoplastic resin, and molding-processing the prepreg under specific conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Michiharu Taniguchi, Motoomi Arakawa, Yasunori Nagakura, Tsukasa Arai, Akihiko Obata
  • Patent number: 8900500
    Abstract: A die roller and method for making a die roller for use in manufacturing Fresnel lens angular segments or sub-segments, the die roller having one or more segment dies and curvilinear Fresnel facet dies, the Fresnel facet dies having a collar, a peak, and a base, the collar being sloped, the peak being rounded, and the base being rounded, according to a die algorithm based upon one or more facet factors, in order to reduce the deformation of Fresnel lens angular segments or sub-segments extruded with the die roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Black Night Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Neldon P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8883052
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a polyvinyl butyral resin pellet is provided that gives off little odor when produced and handled, as well as has a high apparent density and favorable handleability. The present invention includes a method for producing a polyvinyl butyral resin pellet including the steps of: melting polyvinyl butyral resin powder with a water content of 0.01 to 6 wt % by means of a melt extruder that has at least one vent portion for devolatilization equipped with vacuum means, and cutting the melt of the polyvinyl butyral resin after extrusion of it from the melt extruder. The present invention further includes a polyvinyl butyral resin pellet having a total content of butyl aldehyde and 2-ethyl-2-hexenal of 100 ppm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuhi Shimazumi, Koichiro Isoue, Seiji Tanimoto
  • Patent number: 8883068
    Abstract: When a raw material graphite film bad in flatness is laminated onto another material, creases and other defects may be caused. In particular, when a graphite film having a large area is laminated, defects such as creases may be often caused. In order to solve such defects, a flatness correction treatment step is performed wherein a raw material graphite film is subjected to heat treatment up to 2000° C. or higher while a pressure is applied thereto. This flatness correction treatment gives a graphite film good in flatness. Furthermore, when the flatness of the raw material graphite film is corrected by use of a thermal expansion of a core, a graphite film small in sagging can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Ohta, Takashi Inada, Makoto Mishiro, Takashi Inada, Yasushi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8877107
    Abstract: The present invention relates to increasing the molecular weight during a thermal treatment of polyester in combination with a latent heat granulation. With the newly-developed method, an SSP (Solid State Postcondensation) can be directly combined with an underwater granulation. The method differs from a conventional solid state postcondensation by an increase in the molecular weight being possible without additional heat input and hence only by using the residual heat and the crystallization heat present. A characterizing element is improved water separation and dehumidification during the granulation. Only in this way is an increase in viscosity possible even with a small granulate of an average particle weight less than 20 mg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Uhde Inventa-Fischer GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Hanimann, Rainer Schaller, Eike Schulz Van Endert
  • Patent number: 8865043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for making oxidation resistant medical devices that comprise polymeric materials, for example, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The invention also provides methods of making antioxidant-doped medical implants, for example, doping of medical devices containing cross-linked UHMWPE with vitamin E by diffusion, post-doping annealing, and materials used therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: The General Hospital Corporation, Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Orhun K. Muratoglu, Stephen H. Spiegelberg
  • Patent number: 8865035
    Abstract: Each platform mounted mold assembly for plastic tubing includes a circuit board containing parameters defining elements of the forming, molding, tipping or welding operation to be undertaken on the tubing. A control unit includes an RF generator for providing the RF energy to effect the forming, molding, tipping or welding process, a source of air under pressure to operate the mechanical elements attendant each mold assembly, various sensors and a multiplex unit. In operation, the control unit serially addresses each of the mold assemblies, senses the parameters attendant the mold and applies the appropriate power level of RF energy for a specific duration and temperature while activating the mechanical aspects of the mold assembly. The mold assemblies may be serially activated through a multiplex unit or in a particular sequence that may be operator controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Vante Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Minney, Tulsie P. Sumeer, Yee Chin Wong, Joseph G. Augustine
  • Patent number: 8858847
    Abstract: In a method for producing a carbonaceous film in which a polymer film is wrapped around a core and is subjected to a heat treatment, material film surfaces during the carbonization step are prevented from fusion, whereby a long carbonaceous having a large area film is obtained. Fusion can be prevented by subjecting a polymer film to a heat treatment under a reduced pressure, and under a reduced pressure while allowing an inert gas to flow. The range of the pressure reduction is preferably ?0.08 MPa to ?0.01 kPa. It is preferred to carry out carbonization with the pressure reduced in the range of from ?0.08 MPa to ?0.01 kPa while allowing an inert gas to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Inada, Yasushi Nishikawa, Makoto Mishiro
  • Patent number: 8852495
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a piece made of composite material including a fiber preform that is embedded in a matrix, includes placing the preform in a first chamber that is delimited by a first semi-sealed wall, i.e., permeable to gas and impermeable to a product that is able to form the matrix, extracting the gases in a second chamber that is delimited by a second gas-tight wall and the first semi-sealed wall so as to obtain the diffusion of the product that is able to form the matrix in the preform, characterized in that it consists in using—as a first semi-sealed wall—at least one plate with a number of pipes of tapered shape that empty on either side of the at least one plate and at least one semi-sealed membrane that is superposed on the at least one plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Blot, Sébastien Gohier, Mathieu Lannuzel
  • Patent number: 8852482
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which uses activation members for incrementally stretching a web at a low strain rate. The activation members include an activation belt and a single activation member wherein the activation belt and single activation member comprise a plurality of teeth and grooves that complement and engage one another at a depth of engagement in a deformation zone. The depth of engagement can be controlled to increase linearly over at least a portion of the deformation zone such that a web interposed between the activation belt and the single activation member in the deformation zone is incrementally stretched at a low rate of strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Curro, John Brian Strube, Timothy Ian Mullane, Jill Marlene Orr
  • Patent number: 8828300
    Abstract: A die for manufacturing CVJ boot by injection molding includes a central core, and a plurality of divisional molds for molding an inner peripheral surface of the CVJ boot, respectively. The divisional molds move diametrically toward the central core. Moreover, the divisional molds not only approach one another diametrically, but also get away from each other axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kurimoto, Takuya Ueno, Akira Maeda, Junya Miyazawa, Shinjiro Tomida
  • Patent number: 8815129
    Abstract: In order to realize a device and a method each capable of forming a lens with high accuracy and low costs, a lens forming device of the present invention includes a metal mold, an insulating substrate, a stage, a power source, a switch, and a UV radiating device. Dielectric resin is supplied onto the insulating substrate and a transfer surface of the metal mold is pressed to the dielectric resin so as to transfer a lens shape to the dielectric resin. At that time, the power source applies a voltage on the metal mold to generate an electric field between the metal mold and the insulating substrate so that an electrostatic attraction causes the dielectric resin to be attracted toward the transfer surface of the metal mold while the top of the dielectric resin has a sharp cuspate shape. Consequently, bubbles are less likely to be invade between the transfer surface and the dielectric resin, allowing transferring a highly accurate lens shape to the dielectric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Nakahashi, Hiroyuki Hanato, Kenji Hirano, Norimichi Shigemitsu
  • Patent number: 8808601
    Abstract: Honeycomb ceramic wall flow filters exhibiting reduced plug depth variability, produced by introducing flowable ceramic plugging cements into the ends of selected channels in the honeycombs and wherein the ceramic plugging cements consist of shear-conditioned mixtures exhibiting reduced viscosity differentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael C Brown, Luiz Eduardo Ferri, Ralph Henry Hagg, Robert Daniel Parker
  • Patent number: 8807984
    Abstract: A tire tread extractor used in the manufacture of treads includes a frame, a first nip roller rotatably associated with the frame, and a second nip roller rotatably associated with the frame. The first and second nip rollers are adapted to engage a tire tread at least partially resident in a mold. A driving mechanism associated with the first and/or second nip rollers operates to impart rotational motion thereto. The frame is configured for longitudinal movement along a substantial portion of a longitudinal length of the mold while maintaining the first and second nip rollers in a spaced relation to the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Bandag, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Len Gridley, Troy Allen Kost
  • Patent number: 8784722
    Abstract: Apparatus and process are described for forming projections on a substrate for use as hook-type fasteners in touch fastening systems, wherein vibration energy may be used to soften a substrate which may be positioned between a mold and a source of vibration. The mold may include a plurality of cavities into which the softened substrate may be forced to form the projections. The substrate may comprise a film, sheet, web, composite, laminate, etc. and be useful as an attachment strip for temporary or permanent fastening. The source of vibration may be an ultrasonic horn. The process to form such projections may be operated in a continuous, semi-continuous or intermittent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Gerald Rocha
  • Patent number: 8770962
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for moulding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, in particular a meat mass. The method comprises the steps of filling a mould cavity, which is open on one side, with the mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, which mould cavity is defined by a boundary comprising walls and base, in order to mould a moulded three-dimensional product, and the removal of the moulded three-dimensional product from the mould cavity. In the method according to the invention, during removal the adhesion forces between the moulded product and the boundary are eliminated virtually simultaneously along all the interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Stork Titan B.V.
    Inventors: Hendricus Franciscus Jacobus Maria van der Eerden, Barend Jacobus Emmanuel Beijaard, Cornelis Laurentius Bernardus Verhoeven, Dirk Meskendahl
  • Patent number: 8728375
    Abstract: A laminated rotor core (36) wherein permanent magnets (47) are inserted in respective magnet insertion holes (46) is disposed between and pressed by an upper die (37) and a lower die (29). The upper die (37) has resin reservoir pots (50) provided above the laminated rotor core (36) and at positions corresponding to the respective magnet insertion holes (46). Raw resin material put in the resin reservoir pots (50) is heated by the upper die (37). Subsequently, the resin material in a liquefied state is ejected from the resin reservoir pots (50) by plungers (52) that are inserted and moves vertically in the resin reservoir pots (50) and is directly filled in the magnet insertion holes (46). Consequently, the respective magnet insertion holes (46) are filled with the resin material more evenly and highly reliable products can be supplied at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsui High-Tec, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsubayashi, Hirotoshi Mabu, Katsumi Amano, Atsushi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8714513
    Abstract: Embodiments of a mold insert assembly and methods of use are disclosed herein. A mold insert assembly includes, but is not limited to a driving member that moves between a retracting position and an extending position, a plurality of first-segment members engaging the driving member and moving between a first retracted position and a first extended position and a plurality of second-segment members proximate the plurality of first-segment members and configured to move between a second retracted position and a second extended position as the driving member moves to the extending position. The plurality of first-segment members and second-segment members cooperate to form a substantially liquid-tight periphery when the driving member is in the extending position. The plurality of first-segment members second-segment members are configured to move towards the first and second retracted positions, respectively when the driving member moves towards the retracting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Walker, Mark A. Kramarczyk
  • Patent number: 8690561
    Abstract: A method for a vacuum process of isostatic pressing of powder material comprises preparing an explosive charged rubber bag by charging a rubber bag with powder, forming a vacuum environment by putting the explosive charged rubber bag in a vacuum box, sealing an inlet of the explosive charged rubber bag which is in a vacuum state, and maintaining the vacuum state by putting the explosive charged rubber bag in a fluid contained in a reservoir by a predetermined depth in a state that the inlet of the explosive charged rubber bag has been sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Agency for Defense Development
    Inventors: Jin Sung Lee, Hee Duk Park, Hee Sul Sa