Patents Examined by Paul Spiel
  • Patent number: 10974442
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the field of advanced manufacturing technology and relates to one set-up and method of electrohydrodynamic jet 3D printing based on resultant effect of electric field and thermal field. This method is used to fabricate micro/nano 3D structure, under the resultant effects of electro hydrodynamic force and thermal field. First of all, the ink reaches needle orifice at a constant speed under the resultant effect of fluid field and gravity field. Then a high voltage electric field is applied between needle and substrate. And the ink is dragged to form stable micro/nano scale jet which is far smaller than the needle size using the electric field shear force generated at needle orifice. The solvent evaporation rate of ink increases combined with the radiation of thermal field at the same time. Finally, the micro/nano scale 3D structure is fabricated on substrate with the accumulation of jet layer by layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Dalian University of Technology
    Inventors: Dazhi Wang, Kai Li, Tongqun Ren, Junsheng Liang
  • Patent number: 10953605
    Abstract: Described are methods for making three dimensional objects. A nozzle is positioned within a gel inside a container of gel. The position of the nozzle within the gel is changed while depositing solidifying material through the nozzle. The gel supports the solidifying material at the position at which the solidifying material is deposited. The solidifying material is solidified to form a solid material, which is a three-dimensional object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Steeicase Incorporated
    Inventors: Skylar J. E. Tibbits, Christophe Guberan, Jared Smith Laucks, Schendy G. Kernizan, Kathleen Sofia Hajash, Bjorn Eric Sparrman, Paul Noll
  • Patent number: 10953583
    Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity, whereupon a cure profile is commenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC.
    Inventors: Richard Lewis Montague, II, Rick Alan Pollard, Chow-Chi Huang, Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Aaron Timothy Neate
  • Patent number: 10935062
    Abstract: A method for producing an assembly including at least three components includes producing an intermediate assembly from a first component, a second component, and a third component, where the three components are arranged in a predefined position relative to each other. A first adhesive connection is produced between the second component and the third component. A second adhesive connection is produced between the first component and the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nathanael Sutter, Andreas Luger
  • Patent number: 10919193
    Abstract: A method for producing textile composite material preforms, particularly with or from one or more textile semi-finished products, includes compression molding a planar structure of one or more textile composite materials. The planar structure is cut laterally into textile composite material sections prior to compression molding and these cut textile composite material sections undergo compression molding individually or collectively and particularly with one or more other textile composite material sections such that as a result one or more textile composite material preforms are fully or partially formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Mai, Eva Honickel, Joerg Baderschneider, Mirko Schade
  • Patent number: 10913833
    Abstract: A prepreg having at least one layer of fibres and a curable thermosetting resin system at least partly impregnating the at least one layer of fibres, wherein the curable thermosetting resin system includes a curable thermosetting resin including at least two epoxide groups, a curing agent that includes at least one amine group, and an accelerator that includes an azole group; wherein the curable thermosetting resin, the curing agent and the accelerator are provided in respective concentrations in the prepreg to provide that, after curing the thermosetting resin at a cure temperature of at least 140° C. for a period of from 1 to 6 minutes, (i) the cured thermosetting resin has a glass transition temperature Tg which is greater than the cure temperature and is within the range of from 150° C. to 180° C. and (ii) the cured thermosetting resin is at least 90% cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Gurit (UK) Ltd.
    Inventors: Paul Spencer, Laura Jane Slade
  • Patent number: 10903001
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing a radially aligned magnetorheological elastomer molded body containing a matrix resin and a magnetic filler are provided. The method includes the following: placing a permanent magnet 11 in at least one position selected from positions that are spaced from a metal mold 14a having a cavity 14b and located above and below the center of the metal mold 14a; providing a closed magnetic circuit that allows a magnetic flux 19a generated by the permanent magnet 11 to pass through the metal mold 14a from a side thereof, filling the cavity 14b with a composition containing the matrix resin and the magnetic filler; and molding the composition while the magnetic filler is radially aligned. With this configuration, the elastomer material is molded while the magnetic filler is radially aligned by using the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Fuji Polymer Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shingo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10899061
    Abstract: A calibration and cooling tank of an extrusion line, which connects to an extrusion tool, wherein a vacuum can be applied to the calibration and cooling tank for calibrating the plastic melt emerging from the extrusion tool, wherein the calibration and cooling tank extends along an extrusion axis. The calibration and cooling tank is modularly structured, wherein at least one module forms a calibration and cooling section and the module has a connection region on both sides to which an additional module can be attached. The connection region includes a flange that extends from the base element of the calibration and cooling tank to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: BATTENFELD-CINCINNATI GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Heinrich Dohmann, Joerg Droege
  • Patent number: 10894348
    Abstract: Method of making golf ball comprising aligning thermoformed depressions with dimpled mold cups and applying sufficient heat and suction to the thermoformed depressions without exposing any preselected subassembly to the heat and suction to soften the polymeric material of each thermoformed depression and draw air outward from a volume located between an inner surface of the dimpled mold cup and an outer surface of the thermoformed depression to form a thermoformed pre-form half-shell having an outer surface with the size, shape and contour of the inner surface of the dimpled mold cup(s) and an inner surface with the size, shape and contour of the outer surface of a preselected subassembly. Afterwards, a preselected subassembly is loaded between a pair of thermoformed pre-form half-shells and molded under sufficient short-term heat and suction to form the golf ball. The thickness of each thermoformed depression and thermoformed pre-form half-shell may be tapered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Ajay Vora
  • Patent number: 10875215
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a 3D printing method and a 3D printing apparatus using the same. The 3D printing method includes the following steps: feeding a material using a printing parameter, wherein the printing parameter includes a target temperature and a target feeding rate; adjusting the printing parameter to change the heat energy provided to the printing filament per unit length; determining whether the target feeding rate matches the actual feeding rate according to the adjusted printing parameter to obtain a determination result; obtaining a correspondence relationship between the plurality of target temperatures and the plurality of target feeding rates according to the adjusted printing parameters and the determination results; and setting the printing parameter to print according to the obtained correspondence relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: XYZprinting, Inc., Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Jie Yang
  • Patent number: 10870240
    Abstract: The present invention describes a prepreg for the manufacture of fibre reinforced resin matrix composite materials, the prepreg comprising: a surface film comprising a thermosetting resin and a particulate filler material dispersed therein, and a fibrous layer on which the surface film is disposed, the fibrous layer comprising a plurality of non-woven carbon fibres which are substantially randomly oriented, wherein the fibrous layer has interstices between the carbon fibres dimensioned for absorbing at least a portion of the thermosetting resin during a resin infusion step and filtering at least a portion of the particulate filler material in the surface film to remain in the surface film during the resin infusion step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Gurit (UK) Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Thomas Jones
  • Patent number: 10866509
    Abstract: A mold includes a rugged pattern layer, an inorganic sheet layer, and an elastic sheet layer. The inorganic sheet layer is formed of an inorganic material and supports the rugged pattern layer. The elastic sheet layer supports the inorganic sheet layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Ishikawa, Tosihiko Wada, Teppei Iwase
  • Patent number: 10843387
    Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing a press molding by molding a molding material comprising reinforced fibers and a thermoplastic resin by a cold press method. The method of manufacturing a press molding comprising reinforced fibers and a thermoplastic resin, includes the steps of: holding the molding material heated at a temperature not lower than the softening temperature with a plurality of grippers installed on a carrier; carrying the molding material between the upper mold and the lower mold of a mold for molding; pushing the molding material with pushers to preform it at a predetermined preforming rate; and press molding the preformed molding by closing the upper mold and the lower mold and applying pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: TEIJIN LIMITED, SHIBAURA MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hodaka Yokomizo, Tetsuya Yoneda, Akihiko Obata, Kazuhito Sato, Chiaki Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 10831098
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imprint apparatus which forms a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold, the apparatus comprising: a deformation device configured to deform the mold to a convex shape; a detector configured to detect interference fringes for light reflected from the mold and light reflected from the substrate; and a controller configured to control the deformation device to deform the mold to the convex shape, and control a pressing process so that a contact area between the mold and the imprint material on the substrate gradually increases, wherein the controller, in the pressing process, estimates an error for a pressing direction between the mold and the imprint material based on the interference fringes detected by the detector, and corrects the pressing direction so that the error is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Norikazu Baba
  • Patent number: 10828809
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a composite body. A first longitudinal portion of a continuous length of prepreg material is shaped using a first die of a compression molding tool to provide a shaped first longitudinal portion of the continuous length of prepreg material. The shaped first longitudinal portion is consolidated using the compression molding tool to provide a first portion of the composite body. The first portion of the composite body is moved out of the compression molding tool. The first die is swapped for a replacement first die. A second longitudinal portion of the continuous length of prepreg material is shaped using the replacement first die of the compression molding tool to provide a shaped second longitudinal portion of the continuous length of prepreg material. The shaped second longitudinal portion is consolidated using the compression molding tool to provide a second portion of the composite body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew S. Gurney
  • Patent number: 10821640
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of virtual three-dimensional patterns in mouldings, in particular to an injection-moulding process for the production of mouldings having a virtual three-dimensional pattern which is formed by flake-form effect pigments, to the mouldings produced by means of this process, and to the use thereof, in particular for decorative purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Schum
  • Patent number: 10814526
    Abstract: A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Timothy J. Luchini, Bret A. Voss, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Patent number: 10807278
    Abstract: In a method for producing a fiber-reinforced composite material, the fiber-reinforced composite material is formed by impregnating a reinforcing fiber sheet with a resin and curing the resin. The method includes: storing the reinforcing fiber sheet in a cavity of a forming mold; and impregnating the reinforcing fiber sheet with the resin by injecting the resin into the cavity of the forming mold, and curing the resin. In the impregnating and curing, the resin containing a magnetic powder is injected into the cavity, and a magnetic field is generated in the cavity to cause the resin containing the magnetic powder to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu Kajiyama
  • Patent number: 10807311
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing device may include a material supply, a robot, and a printing head coupled to a distal end of the robot and configured to receive printing material from the material supply. The additive manufacturing device may have an IR holographic device configured to generate a targeting hologram, an IR sensor, and a controller coupled to the robot, the printing head, the IR holographic device, and the IR sensor. The controller may be configured to cause the printing head to dispense the printing material to form an object based upon the targeting hologram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventor: Rebecca Metcalf
  • Patent number: 10807318
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hydraulic accumulator bladder includes the following steps: bonding a rubber sheet to the gas-filled air bladder to form a bladder blank; placing the bladder blank in a vulcanization device for vulcanization to form an initial bladder product; and releasing the gas in the gas-filled air bladder of the initial bladder product, taking the air bladder out, and naturally cooling the initial bladder product to a room temperature to form a finished bladder product. The bladder manufactured by the manufacturing method is integrally formed by one-step vulcanization, and has the advantages of uniform wall thickness, smooth inner and outer surfaces, long fatigue lifetime, a simplified process, high quality and good stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventors: Huijiang Zhao, Tengyu Zhao