Patents Examined by Lowell A. Larson
  • Patent number: 7150222
    Abstract: A strapping apparatus includes a conveyor for moving the pack to a strapping station containing, a strap guide duct and a tautening and sealing head. The strap guide duct is mounted laterally offset from the direction of conveyance and being curved and twisted toward this conveyance direction in order to subtend a clear inside space for the pack which thereby can be moved unhampered into and out of the strapping station. A guidance element is associated with the strap guide duct to center the strap being released from the strap guide duct on the pack in the strap in the strapping station. The strap guide duct includes corner deflection elements, duct segments which guide the strap always at its outwardly facing side in merely supporting manner, strap twisting segments inserted between the corner deflection elements and guide ducts and imparting a twist to the strap about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Signode Bernpak GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Schuttler, Jorg Ozga, Ingrid Schneider-Pfaffenberger
  • Patent number: 7150300
    Abstract: A stump grinding machine for cutting and grinding a stump in the ground includes a mounting frame attachable to a powered vehicle and is a disc mount that is pivotally mounted to the mounting frame. The disc mount rotatably mounts or supports a grinding disc, such that the grinding disc may be pivoted about a generally horizontal pivot axis to move a face of the grinding disc into engagement with the stump to cut and grind the stump. The grinding disc may include a plurality of depth guides for limiting the depth of cut of teeth or blades on the face of the grinding disc. The support frame may be entirely supported at the powered vehicle, such that no support arms or legs or outriggers are positioned at an outer end of the support frame to support the grinding disc above the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Bay Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale R Peterson
  • Patent number: 7150172
    Abstract: A burring device is provided which can efficiently perform continuous burring. The burring device has a work holder which has a burring hole and which holds a work object, a pusher rod which rotatably supports the base end of a metal core which has a processing part on the tip end thereof, and a guide rod which is positioned to the front of the extended axis of the pusher rod and which has a guide surface on the tip end thereof which guides the tip end of the metal core towards the burring hole of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Sanoh Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Nakazato
  • Patent number: 7150175
    Abstract: A clamping assembly for use with a bend arm of a tube bending machine. The assembly comprises a force multiplier linkage that applies a controlled and variable force to a workpiece. In one embodiment, the force multiplier linkage comprises a bearing member pivoted by an actuator acting on one end of a force multiplier arm that is attached to the bearing member. A pivot member supporting a drive link is fixedly attached to the bearing member at a location offset from the bearing member's pivot axis. The drive link pivots about the pivot member axis so that in cooperation with additional links it moves a bend arm slider. The drive link also pivots about the bearing member axis. As the bearing member is pivoted about its axis by the force multiplier arm, the drive link also pivots about the bearing member's axis providing the required force for application to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Leonard Robolix, Inc.
    Inventor: Zeno P. Traub
  • Patent number: 7150176
    Abstract: A vehicle frame attachment apparatus encompasses a vehicle frame and efficiently distributes the holding or pulling forces involved in aligning a vehicle frame. The frame attachment apparatus includes a vise and a containment mechanism that secures the vehicle frame within the vise. In one embodiment, the vise includes an opposable member and a set of grasping digits that conform to bends in the vehicle frame. An alignment device may be connected to the vise to exert a pulling force and thereby align the vehicle frame. The disclosed vehicle frame alignment apparatus is easy to deploy, and reduces the risk of damaging a vehicle or injuring an alignment technician.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Inventor: Desmond R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7146838
    Abstract: A punch fixed to a body assembly is inserted into a hole in a workpiece, and the workpiece is pressed by an upper die to press a splining segment of the punch into the hole in the workpiece, thereby forming spline slots in the inner circumferential surface of the hole in the workpiece. After the spline slots have been formed, the lower surface of the workpiece around the hole is held on a second lower die, and the upper surface of an outer circumferential edge portion of the workpiece is pressed by the upper die to cause the hole in the workpiece to have desired dimensional accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kihara, Yoichi Uehara
  • Patent number: 7146839
    Abstract: A press tool for pressing a receiving part of a fitting onto a pipe is provided. The press tool includes two elastically-deformable press elements, each having a first end, a pressing region, assigned to the sealing section, having an inner shape that at least partially departs from a constant curvature in a circumferential direction, and a second end having a force input region and a stop surface. A hinge couples the press elements together at the first end of each press element. When the press tool is closed, the stop surfaces of the press elements abut one another, and when the press tool is closed and a pressing force is applied to the force input regions of the press elements, the press elements elastically deform such that the inner shapes of the pressing regions are substantially constantly curved in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ridge Tool Company
    Inventor: Hans-Joerg Goop
  • Patent number: 7143623
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a shell with a central panel connected to a chuckwall with a z-fold located between the central panel and the chuckwall is provided. The apparatus and method of the invention is characterized by forming the z-fold in a downstroke of the press and supporting the z-fold in an upstroke of the press. The apparatus and method take place in a triple action die contained within a shell press. The apparatus and method can also be employed in a single action press or a double action press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Dean Turnbull, Donna Rebecca Stefansic
  • Patent number: 7143690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a screw compressor for compressing matter that passes through the screw compressor. The screw compressor comprises a screw having an outer thread with a pitch that decreases in the longitudinal direction of the screw, and a casing that encases the screw. The casing has an inner side that faces the thread of the screw so that matter may be passed ahead through the screw compressor between the screw and the inner side of the casing in a direction from an inlet end of the screw compressor, where the pitch of the screw thread is greater, to an outlet end of the screw compressor, where the pitch of the screw thread is smaller. Appliances are arranged on the inner side of the casing to prevent matter that passes through the screw compressor from rotating along with the screw. Inside the screw, a conduit is arranged for introduction of liquid. The invention also relates to a method for compressing and dewatering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Mastec Stålvall Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Lennart Börjesson, Roland Eriksson
  • Patent number: 7143628
    Abstract: A vehicle straightening bench having a work platform with an inner track and an outer track. The platform has side edges and end edges with curved corners therebetween. A pulling tower assembly is movably mounted to the inner and outer tracks via a carriage having a generally triangular shaped wheel arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Inc
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Hess, Daniel R. McClellan, Jeffrey L. Dobbins, Dean L. Mish, Adam J. Koehler
  • Patent number: 7143691
    Abstract: A juice extractor includes an extractor frame, at least one pair of extractor cups relatively moveable to each other, a strainer tube that receives juice and pulp and discharges juice therefrom, and a juice manifold positioned to collect the juice discharged from the strainer tube. The strainer tube is bottom loaded on the juice manifold and includes a sealing assembly for sealing the strainer tube relative to the juice manifold. In one aspect of the present invention, the sealing assembly includes an annular beveled surface positioned on an inside surface of the juice manifold through which the strainer tube is received. A gasket is positioned between the annular beveled surface and strainer tube that is compressed and provides a seal therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Schrader, Jose Marcelo Carvalho, Andre V. R. Lucato
  • Patent number: 7143618
    Abstract: A method of making a pre-formed tubular member includes the steps of providing a tubular member extending longitudinally and providing a bending assembly having a mandrel with at least one ball and a bending die. The method also includes the steps of positioning the at least one ball inside of the tubular member. The method further includes the steps of bending the tubular member about the bend die to form a bent pre-formed tubular member having at least one curved portion having a recess therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chi-Mou Ni
  • Patent number: 7140220
    Abstract: A curling machine provided with an adjusting device for evenly winding elongated workpieces into spirals, includes a machine frame sustaining a horizontal worktable; a vertical axis mandrel for a curling tool and provided with a counteracting device for acting on elongated workpieces passing through the worktable. The counteracting device is connected to an actuator in the form of an oleodynamic cylinder which is fixed on the worktable and provided with a rod carrying a tool holder in the free end of the rod, the vertical axis mandrel being removable from the worktable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: CML International S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alessandro Caporusso
  • Patent number: 7140225
    Abstract: A movable die base (2) is moved toward a stationary die base (1). A pressing force is applied by a bending punch (21) disposed on the movable die base to a bending target portion of a pipe (A) which is placed on a die (11) provided on the stationary die base and which has inserted therein a core metal (17). At the time of this bending work, both ends of the pipe are restricted by holding them with restriction pads (22). When the pressing force is applied by the bending punch, the restriction pads are displaced to follow the pressing of the bending punch, whereby restricted state on both ends of the pipe is constantly maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Yutaka Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Takada
  • Patent number: 7140223
    Abstract: Aerosol cans, more particularly, aluminum aerosol cans made from disks of aluminum coil feedstock, are provided. A method for necking aerosol cans of a series 3000 aluminum alloy is also provided. The method prevents the cans from sticking in the necking dies and produces a can with a uniquely shaped profile. The aluminum aerosol cans that are produced have the attributes of strength and quality, while being produced at a cost that is competitive with steel aerosol cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Exal Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Chupak
  • Patent number: 7140221
    Abstract: In a system for subdividing hot rolled product lengths being delivered from a rolling mill along a first path, a first switch acts in concert with a first shear to subdivide each product length traveling along the first path into successive segments including a front end segment, a plurality of intermediate segments, and a tail end segment, and to alternately deliver the successive segments to one or the other of two adjacent downstream second paths leading to a cooling bed. Second switches on the second paths are selectively adjustable between first positions allowing the intermediate segments to continue along the second paths, and second positions diverting the front and tail end segments from the second paths to third paths. A second shear chops the front and tail end segments moving along the third paths into scrap pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Morgan Construction Company
    Inventor: T. Michael Shore
  • Patent number: 7140400
    Abstract: A reverse rotational number of a binding wire feed mechanism is set such that a binding wire is completely pulled back regardless of a boldness or flexibility of the binding wire, a diameter of a reinforcing bar or the like. A driven gear 14 having a V groove of the binding wire feed mechanism is brought into elastic contact with a main drive gear 13 having a V groove by a spring and the binding wire is fed by pinching the binding wire by the main drive gear 13 having the V groove and the driven gear 14 having the V groove. After feeding out the binding wire to form a loop around the reinforcing bar and clamping a front end of the binding wire by a twist mechanism, the binding wire feed mechanism is rotated reversely and the binding wire is pulled back to be wound around the reinforcing bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Yokochi, Ichiro Kusakari, Takahiro Nagaoka, Osamu Itagaki
  • Patent number: 7140294
    Abstract: A large round baler includes a combined tensioning and ejecting arrangement comprising a tensioning arm assembly mounted to an upper front region of the baler sidewalls. The tensioning arm assembly operates such that, after formation of a bale in the baling chamber and the discharge gate has been swung to its raised discharge position, the tensioning arm assembly pivots into a region occupied by the completed bale so as to positively eject the bale. The combined tensioning and ejecting arrangement includes front and rear arm assemblies which define a compact assembly and share a pair of double-acting tensioning actuators and a single-acting ejection actuator. The tensioning arm assembly may be used with a baler having a light weight bale discharge gate or with a baler having a discharge gate formed in part by rear sections of sidewalls forming opposite sides of the baling chamber. In an alternate embodiment, the ejection actuator is replaced with a coil extension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Henry Dennis Anstey, Daniel Eric Derscheid
  • Patent number: 7140293
    Abstract: A twine box is provided for an agricultural baler. The twine box permits ready access to twine balls housed therein because all twine balls are located on a single row or tier. The twine balls are not compartmentalized and thus relocation of twine balls within twine ball groups is facilitated. Twine ball separators are employed to secure, locate and separate twine balls when the baler is operating. The twine ball separators may serve to maintain twine balls in a staggered configuration whereby it is possible to house a greater number of twine balls in a given space. The twine ball separators do not interfere with the movement of twine balls within the twine box during reloading of twine. The single row twine box allows the baler operator to access the twine balls from the ground and permits moving of twine balls without the need to cut and retie twine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David Vincent Rotole, Stanley Ray Sumsion
  • Patent number: 7137335
    Abstract: A plastics waste processor is provided for efficiently compacting and melting plastics waste, so as to form easily disposable compact plastic units having a volume considerably smaller than the unprocessed plastics waste. The plastics waste processor has a waste containment chamber, a rotating chamber door, a jam breaker bar to facilitate opening of the door when jammed by melted plastic waste, pneumatically driven waste compaction means with plastic shedding rams, a waste containment chamber heating system, a processor temperature monitoring means, a cooling means, and a control means. Further a cable and hose management system is provided for protection of moving cables and hoses, as well as a washdown system for automatic cleaning of the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventors: Steven C. Walker, David J. Niedoba, Gary L. Alexander, Carlton W. Jones, Thomas V. Walters, Christian R. Adamoyurka, Paul J. Schwegler, Steven S. Marx, Whitfield T. Reddin, Joseph B. Lynch