Patents Examined by Lowell Larson
  • Patent number: 7243867
    Abstract: A coffee grinder with a coffee bean container 9 divided into at least two compartments 13, 14, with a bottom-side output shaft 20 common to both compartments 13, 14. The coffee bean container has a grinding mill 10 disposed beneath the output shaft 20 and a closure element 22 for the optional closing of the output 17, 18 of the compartment(s) 13, 14. The closure element 22 forms with the grinding mill 10 a concrete unit and the coffee bean container 9 is disposed rotatably relative to the unit formed of the closure element 22 and the grinding mill 10. Such a coffee bean container 9 could also be used on an automatic coffee maker with a coffee grinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: WIK Far East, Ltd
    Inventor: Markus Steckhan
  • Patent number: 7243520
    Abstract: A stripping assembly for removal of a can body from a punch in a can bodymaker in which an actuator lifts stripper fingers clear of the can carried on the punch in the forward stroke to avoid damage to the can or can coating. On the return stroke, the actuator piston is disabled so that the fingers close around the punch for stripping the can from the punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William Woulds
  • Patent number: 7237415
    Abstract: An improved method for producing slide seat and manufacture device, in which, one metal bar passes through the tamping drum groups arranged in tandem, apply the progressive model of slide seat mounted on the middle section of tamping drum to tamp gradually, meanwhile, the tamped metal bar is extruded so that the material is extruded towards the back section of the not extruded molding and is extended naturally, then apply one protruding edge that is similar to the inner mold of this embryonic form at the back section of molded embryonic form of slide seat, the protruding edge of this inner mold can extrude the inward concave track at inward side of slide seat when slide seat passes through this extending mold, as this slide seat is molded, this inward concave track is molded as well, the sliding faces of inner mold of this extending mold may smooth all edges of slide seat correspondingly so as to make smooth face without processing with milling cutter and roll-wheel-type-cutting knife, therefore, this improve
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Lei-Jui Wu
  • Patent number: 7237414
    Abstract: A coiler drum of a reversing rolling mill includes a work portion that engages a strip of metal being processed in the reversing rolling mill. The work portion includes an inner base surface and engaging strips that extend radially outward from the base surface. When the metal strip is engaged by the work portion, the metal strip does not contact the inner base surface, which has a surface area greater than 35 percent of the work surface. The engaging strips can be formed on the coiler drum by using weld overlays, inserts into slots, or by casting the engaging strips onto the coiler drum at the time the coiler drum is cast. The engaging strips may be laterally offset from one another and have a length less than 50 percent of the axial length of the work portion. The engaging strips may also be formed from a different material than the material of the work surface of the coiler drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: IPSCO Steel, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Acquaviva, Andrew P. Goodman
  • Patent number: 7237999
    Abstract: A system for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form easy opening lift-tab can ends comprises a first frame, a second frame and a tab press for forming a lift-tab. The system also includes a drive roller adapted to move the strip of metal stock material through the tab press. The system further includes a conversion press for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end, a conveyor, a power source, and a crank shaft operatively connected to the power source. The crank shaft is adapted to transmit power for operating either or both of the tab press and the conversion press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Donald Artrip
  • Patent number: 7237423
    Abstract: A blank is stretch formed into a formed piece by bending the blank over a stationary punch. A draw ring has a step that cooperates with a pad ledge to create a step-ledge. The blank is bent with a reverse bend at the step-ledge. Subsequently, the step-ledge travels a short distance relative to the punch to stretch the blank material. Step-ledge travel is achieved by pre-charged cylinders that travel slightly in response to a force exerted on the draw ring and step-ledge by the press ram after the blank is bent into the reverse bend. The formed piece is cut along a plane through a wall thereof to make a finished piece. The finished piece free edge remains stable and in the same position as when in the press. Consequently, the free edge can be readily aligned with and welded to the free edge of a second finished piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Miller Tool and Die Company Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Nagel, Robert Riehbrandt
  • Patent number: 7237998
    Abstract: A system for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form easy opening lift-tab can ends comprises a frame and a tab press for forming a lift-tab. The system also includes a drive roller adapted to move the strip of metal stock material through the tab press. The system further includes a conversion press for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end. The system also includes a conveyor, a power source, and a crank shaft operatively connected to the power source. The crank shaft is adapted to transmit power for operating either or both of the tab press and the conversion press. The tab press is adapted to operate independent of the conversion press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Inventor: Donald Artrip
  • Patent number: 7234656
    Abstract: A paper shredder paper feed mechanism, characterized in having a paper insert opening structured from two movable paper feed tubes, which are configured above paper shredding cutters. Two ends of each of the paper feed tubes are respectively positioned in W-shaped embed grooves of positioning plates of a frame. The two paper feed tubes are ordinarily closed together, thereby enhancing safety and preventing dust and miscellaneous objects from falling into the paper shredder. When paper is inserted into the paper insert opening, the thickness of the paper opens the two paper feed tubes, thereby guiding the paper smoothly guided into the paper shredding cutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Emily Lo
  • Patent number: 7234907
    Abstract: A system for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form easy opening lift-tab can ends comprises a frame and a tab press for forming a lift-tab. The system also includes a drive roller adapted to move the strip of metal stock material through the tab press. The system further includes a conversion press for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end, a conveyor, a power source including a tab press power source, and a crank shaft operatively connected to the tab press power source. The crank shaft is adapted to transmit power for operating either or both of the tab press and the conversion press. The tab press crank shaft and the conversion press crank shaft are connected to each other by a drive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Donald Artrip
  • Patent number: 7234333
    Abstract: On a machine for bending rod-shaped or tubular workpieces, which includes a bending head having a bending mandrel mounted on a rotational axis and rotatable by means of a rotary drive, and having a clamping device for pressing the workpiece to be bent against a forming groove on the bending mandrel and also a feeding device for the workpiece to be processed, whereby the clamping device is positionable relative to the bending mandrel and can is also pivotable concentrically to the rotational axis of the bending mandrel, the clamping device is attached to two mutually independent rotary drives, one of which performs its pivoting movement about the rotational axis of the bending mandrel, and via the other of which it can be moved with respect to the bending mandrel by using an interposed conversion transmission that converts a rotary motion to a linear motion, whereby the bending head includes three concentrically nested rotary shafts for transmitting the drive of the three rotary drives to the bending mandrel,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Wafios Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Maier, Jurgen Wolf, Frank Hacker, Patrick Schlund, Dieter Geisel, Dietmar Sautter
  • Patent number: 7231792
    Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing UOE steel pipes, wherein, when an opening width of the U-can obtained by U-ing press is larger than the die-diameter in an O-press of later step, while said opening is narrowed from the front end by the closing rolls disposed before said O-press and/or at least at the entrance portion of the O-press to be smaller than the die-diameter of said O-press, the U-can is simultaneously conveyed into the O-press, and then, after charging into the O-press, undergoes O-ing press to yield an O-can. The device is preferably configured to have the closing rolls disposed in a roll stand and consisted of multiple pairs, to have a mechanism to prevent the U-can from moving upward during narrowing the opening width, and to have the function of conveying the U-can. Thus, UOE steel pipes for high-strength application corresponding to X80 grade can be efficiently manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidenori Shitamoto, Tetsuya Fukuba, Yoshimasa Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7231944
    Abstract: The tension and anti-recoil mechanism of the present invention is connected to a tool handle of a cable tie tool. The tool handle has a barrel and a grip depending therefrom. The tension and anti-recoil mechanism includes a regulator grip supported in the barrel. A one-piece cutter actuator is supported in the regulator grip for longitudinal displacement relative to the barrel. A tension limiting mechanism directs a retaining force against the cutter actuator to resist longitudinal displacement thereof relative to the barrel. The retaining force may be controlled to limit the tension produced in a cable tie prior to severing the strap thereof. Recoil of the cable tie tool which may result from the severing is substantially limited by the tension and anti-recoil mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joey D. Magno, Jr., Johan Tapper, Anders Fahlen, Joakim Norin, Goran Paulsson, Sven Wadling
  • Patent number: 7228722
    Abstract: A method of producing a valve metal mill form having dimensions sufficient to be divided to form a plurality of sputter targets is described. The method includes multidirectional deformation of an ingot to form a mill form having a preferred average grain size of about 100 microns or less and/or a texture substantially void of textural bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Von Spreckelsen, Christopher A. Michaluk, Robert B. Ford
  • Patent number: 7228796
    Abstract: Embodiments of subcombination and the fruit extraction device of the present invention provide for fruit juice extraction where synchronized and concentric elements press a fruit, such as an orange, without crushing the peel, by this avoiding the dispersion of acids from the peel, favoring the retention of juice having lower acid levels. Embodiments of the subcombination and the fruit extraction device of which it is a portion shear the peel in multiple slivers, at the same time compressing the fruit. In an exemplary embodiment, a subcombination comprises a fixed and a mobile peeler, each having radially extending blades that form a space within which a fruit may be positioned for juice extraction, and a perforating filtering tube within the fixed peeler, and a piston adapted to pass through the lumen of the perforating filtering tube to cyclically clean it of the residues of a compressed fruit prior to extraction of the next fruit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Carlos Mendes Neto
  • Patent number: 7226012
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved grater disc having a plurality of grater holes on a disc and at least one grater blade with an angle not less than 90 degrees protruded from the periphery of each grater hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: Chung-Jen Pai
  • Patent number: 7225660
    Abstract: A method of expanding a diameter of a tube includes the steps of positioning the tube with one end abutting a stop member, extending a mandrel through an interior passageway of the tube, and expanding a diameter of an expandable head connected to the mandrel as the mandrel is moved in a direction toward the stop member. The diameter of the tube expands in correspondence with the expansion of the diameter of the mandrel. A longitudinal axial force is applied to the tube in a direction toward the stop member as the expandable head expands the diameter of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: KW Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry C. Ledebur
  • Patent number: 7226011
    Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for handling bulk material as located at circular or linear storage site. More specifically, a reclaimer apparatus is described having a platform mounted on one or more wheel track assemblies arranged to roll on at least one rail. A pivotal reclaim conveyor assembly is made of a head shaft and a tail shaft and means to support a plurality of rakes, wherein the plurality of rakes are spaced at intervals in a continuous loop around the pivotal reclaim conveyor assembly. The fixed incline conveyor assembly having a head shaft and a tail shaft, the incline conveyor assembly having means to support a plurality of buckets, the plurality of buckets being spaced at intervals in a continuous loop around the inclined conveyor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventors: Hans J. Schlegel, Helmut Wolf
  • Patent number: 7226010
    Abstract: A system for use with a roll bowl type mill for the pulverizing of solid fuels such as coal. The system includes hardware in the form of sensors and other components and software to among other things monitor the operating condition of the mill's moving parts and predict their failure. The system can determine the diameter of the mill's rollers, or the reduction and/or depth of cup wear of each of the rollers, the thickness of the solid fuel in the mill, can by analysis determine the wear of each of the one or more roller bearings in the mill and predict their failure and can estimate the mill availability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: George Zhang, Paul C. Thulen, Zhongxue Gan
  • Patent number: 7222566
    Abstract: A rotary baler having a variable size baling chamber for the formation of a cylindrical bale. The baler is configured to measure diameter and the shape of the bale. To measure the shape of the bale, the baler is provided with at least one sensor arranged to generate information regarding the diameter of a bale formed in the baling chamber. The sensor is a non-contacting sensor and is arranged to detect the position of the outer surface of the bale or the surface of an endless conveying element located about the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Stéphane Biziorek
  • Patent number: 7222512
    Abstract: The invention concerns methods and devices for bending a cylindrical tube or the like (1) so as to obtain two consecutive sections (2, 3) of said tube forming between them a non-null angle alpha. The method is essentially characterised in that it consists in producing, in the wall (4) of the tube (1), a wave (20) defined between two flanks (22, 23) forming between them a non-null angle beta substantially centred on the separation plane (21) between the two sections, then in producing a permanent plastic deformation of the wave (20) until the value of the angle between the two sections (2, 3) is obtained. The device enables to implement said method. The invention is useful in particular but not exclusively, for producing pipes for transporting fluids in motor vehicles or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventors: Brigitte Dossmann, Robert Humbert