Patents Examined by Robert B. Davis
  • Patent number: 7473087
    Abstract: Device for exchanging an extrusion cylinder of an extruder, the extrusion cylinder consisting of several cylinder sections and at least one screw element, which is in the interior of the cylinder and is coupled with the driving unit of the extruder for the purpose of extruding, a frame-like carrier being provided, which carries the extrusion cylinder and over which the extrusion cylinder can be held at accommodating means, which are provided at the extruder, as well as at mobile transporting means, a movement mechanism being provided at the accommodating means and/or at the transporting means and enabling the extrusion cylinder to be moved in a direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis for exchanging the complete extrusion cylinder from the accommodating means to the transporting means and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Leistritz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Richard Steiner
  • Patent number: 7465159
    Abstract: A fiber spinning apparatus for charging a polymer-containing liquid stream, having at least one electrically charged, point-electrode positioned adjacent the intended path of said liquid stream and creating an ion flow by corona discharge to impart electrical charge to the polymer-containing liquid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Jack Eugene Armantrout, Benjamin Scott Johnson, Colby Abraham Rude, Michael Allen Bryner
  • Patent number: 7458798
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding balloon catheters is disclosed. The balloon may be molded by providing a polymeric tube within a mold having an interior cavity in the shape of the desired balloon. Microwave energy, which may be generated by a gyrotron, may then be directed toward the mold, to heat the polymeric material without heating the mold. Once heated, pressurized fluid may be injected into the tube to blow the polymeric material against the interior cavity whereupon the material can cool to form the balloon or can be further heatset by additional microwave energy and be cooled to form the balloon. In accordance with one embodiment, microwave energy can also be used without a mold to form a medical device. A polymer extrusion apparatus is disclosed utilizing a microwave energy for heating polymer feedstock material within the extruder tip and die unit just prior to formation of the extrudate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Weber, Scott Schewe
  • Patent number: 7458799
    Abstract: An extrusion mold head is provided having outer mold tapered cams that form an automatically contracting or expanding mold surface during extrusion of the poles, allowing the formation of tapered outer diameter on each pole. The extrusion mold head also has an inner mold tapered mandrel that is advanced or withdrawn in concert with the movement of the outer mold head pieces. The inner mold surface thereby automatically contracts or expands as required during extrusion of the poles to form either a uniform thickness or a tapering thickness of the wall of each pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Glen DeFreitas
  • Patent number: 7448864
    Abstract: An extruder head for extrusion blow-molding plastic containers includes a ring gap nozzle with a mandrel and a ring-shaped nozzle body. An elastically deformable sleeve is arranged on an end of the nozzle outlet side and defines a gap width which can be varied by axial setting movements of the mandrel and/or the nozzle body. The geometry of the nozzle gap can be influenced by radially deforming the sleeve with setting devices during the extrusion of a hose-shaped preformed blank. The sleeve may be moved in a radial direction and is guided on sliding surfaces which support it in upward and downward directions. The sleeve may be in the form of a cylinder or tube. A lower edge of the sleeve shapes a cross-section of a melt stream exiting from the ring gap nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventor: Harald Feuerherm
  • Patent number: 7445442
    Abstract: An artificial firelog and firestarter chip producing apparatus comprising a cutting assembly, a compression conveyor auger assembly and a die. The apparatus converts standard waxed corrugated cardboard boxes into artificial firelogs by first slicing cardboard sheets into cardboard strips, then chopping the cardboard strips into cardboard segments in the cutting assembly. The cardboard segments are horizontally disposed between the rifling and compressed in the compression conveyor auger assembly and extruded in the die to form generally horizontally disposed, circular, longitudinally-shaped sections of a firelog. Firestarter chips are fabricated by the cutting assembly, which slices waxed cardboard sheets in conjunction with paper sheets into waxed cardboard and paper strips, then chopping the waxed cardboard strips into waxed cardboard segments and the paper strips into paper segments and waxed cardboard segments mix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventors: Gregory J. Peterson, Gary M. Flint
  • Patent number: 7438550
    Abstract: A material processing plant comprises a first screw-type extruding machine and a second screw-type extruding machine downstream thereof. The screw-type extruding machines are connected to one another by means of a function casing which is embodied for displacement substantially to the side of a direction of flow out of a position of operation in a push-out direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer Munz
  • Patent number: 7438544
    Abstract: Melt-blow head with a rectilinear row of nozzle bores arranged in a nozzle bar of a nozzle assembly, the nozzle bores serving to produce endless filaments formed from a melt, the nozzle bores being associated with blowing slots, in the form of longitudinal slots, to which nozzle bores the melt is fed, via melt feed pipes from one or more distribution bars and via melt pipes in a distribution block of the nozzle assembly. The blowing slots are supplied with the blow air through blow-air feed pipes in a blow-air feed element via blow-air distribution bores. A spinning width of the melt-blow head is variable, wherein only those blow-air distribution bores associated with the nozzle bores to be fed are connected to the blowing slots via blow-air pipes in the distribution block and, where appropriate, the other blow-air distribution bores are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventors: Erwin Glawion, Georg Harwarth, Burkard Kampfmann
  • Patent number: 7435072
    Abstract: A method of producing an object through solid freeform fabrication, the method including fabricating a support structure about at least a portion of the object by applying a binder or focused energy to a build material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David C Collins, Shawn D Hunter, Jeffrey Allen Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7431583
    Abstract: The invention provides an injection molding capable of adjusting a detection level with a simple structure and detecting a deposit level of the resin pellets near a plasticizing screw. A cooling jacket is mounted so that a resin supplying hole of the cooling jacket communicates with a resin supplying hole of a heating cylinder. A sensor head mounted on a sensor mounting plate is inserted into the resin supplying hole through a sensor insertion port provided on a hopper plate and a resin inlet and detects the deposit level of the resin pellets deposited in the resin supplying hole. Changing the extent of insertion of the sensor head enables the resin pellets deposit detection level to be changed, and further, enables the deposit level near the outer periphery of the screw to be detected. Setting the sensor detection direction perpendicular to the resin deposit direction enables dirtying of the sensor detection surface by the resin pellets to be reduced, thus enabling erroneous detection readings to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Satoshi Takatsugi, Wataru Shiraishi, Hiroyasu Asaoka, Toshio Ishikuro, Hiroshi Imamura
  • Patent number: 7416753
    Abstract: A breather air and food product fines pumping system for a reciprocating mold plate food product forming machine pumps air and fines to a collection area. A pumping surface is provided by a rearward facing surface of the mold plate. A pumping chamber is arranged between the pumping surface and a food product fines collection area. The rearward facing surface of the mold plate defines a movable limit of the pumping chamber. A valve element of a first valve is arranged between the pumping chamber and the collection area to create suction in the pumping chamber when the rearward facing surface of the mold plate is moving forward, and to allow the pumping chamber to pump air and fines into the collection area when the rearward facing surface of the mold plate is moving rearward. Breather holes in a breather plate are in communication with a breather passage that is in communication with the pumping chamber and with outside air through further valve arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Formax, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, David Hansen, David Hancock
  • Patent number: 7404708
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus, methods, and processes for making solid dosage forms comprising at least one active ingredient, a core and shell configuration, wherein the shell comprises a hardenable material, such as a thermal-gelling polymer, for example gelatin; and the shell is provided with at least one opening. The opening(s) are formed while the shell is still in a softened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry S. Sowden
  • Patent number: 7399444
    Abstract: The invention is directed to adjustable length mold assemblies for forming inflatable members and methods for using adjustable length mold assemblies for forming inflatable members, such as, for example, balloons for use with balloon catheters and stent delivery systems. The adjustable length mold assemblies comprise at least two mold pieces adapted to fit together, one mold piece having a surface configured to be slidably received by a bore of the other mold piece, the placement of one piece within the other defining a chamber of variable length which forms the mold. Each adjustable length mold assembly of the present invention is effective to form balloons, where if desired different balloons formed by a single mold may have different lengths. The adjustable length mold assemblies may also comprise a positioner to put a mold piece in a desired position relative to the other, and a locking mechanism to secure a mold piece in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Cardivascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann J. Skinner, Kerry J. Williams, Jonathan P. Durcan
  • Patent number: 7396223
    Abstract: A forming jig comprises a rectification plate having two or more material supply holes, a drawing die installed below the rectification plate to specify the external configuration of the formed body produced from a material, and a floating die in which two or more wires float vertically in spaces in the drawing die, forming pattern passages, and stretch from an exit section of the drawing die to form a hollow hole-forming pattern. The forming jig can easily and inexpensively design or change the design of a forming pattern of hollow holes and the external configuration of a formed body, and can form fine hollow holes at a high density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Ogawa, Yoshimasa Kondo
  • Patent number: 7396225
    Abstract: A production device for performing a blow molding, charging, and sealing process for plastic containers has a first type of molding device (10) into which a tube of plasticized plastic material may be introduced. The molding device (10) of the first type may be rotated to individual spatially separate stations (22, 24, 26) about an axis (20). One station (24) performs the function of blow molding of the container. Another station (26) charges and seals the blow molded container. Simultaneously a tube of plasticized plastic material can be blow molded for production of the plastic container and a corresponding container produced in this manner at the other station can be charged with the medium, in particular one in the form of a fluid, and to seal it. The cycle times may be reduced in comparison to cycle times of production devices of the state of the art so that the rates of output of charged containers sealed under sterile conditions to be produced may be significantly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Inventor: Bernd Hansen
  • Patent number: 7393195
    Abstract: A hollow fiber spinning nozzle in which supply bores and a nozzle structure connected to these and having a mass discharge opening and a needle with a coagulation agent bore are formed in a base body. At least two plate-shaped bodies structured by means of micro-structure technology are joined together to form the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Keller, Jens-Holger Stahl
  • Patent number: 7393490
    Abstract: A molding method and apparatus includes movable die 30 and fixed die 20 which form cavity 50, and extrusion plate 40 movable in the die closing/opening direction. A die surface 32b corresponding to the undercut portion is formed by separate push-up block 32, which is fixed to push-up pin 42, which is tiltably held by extrusion plate 40, and passes through insertion hole 34 in movable die 30. A gap 34a enables push-up pin 42 to tilt in the insertion hole. Push-up block 32 releases the part from the movable die by relative movement between extrusion plate 40 and movable die 30, and, by further movement of the part, the slanted surface of the undercut portion pushes the die surface of the push-up block in a direction which intersects with the die closing/opening direction to free the undercut portion by tilting the push-up pin and push-up block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahisa Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7390186
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for fabricating structural building panels. The apparatus may be used for fabricating panels directly on the foundation for a building. The apparatus may include a support frame, a flattening frame, a press frame, drive members such as pneumatic cylinders supported by the press frame, and posts attached to the support frame and used for aligning and coupling the apparatus and panel components. In order to fabricate a structural panel using the inventive apparatus, drywall sheets having bores sized for receiving the posts therethrough are prepared and drywall ribs or spacers are cut from drywall sheets. The support frame may be located on the foundation where the structural panel is to be positioned and a first sheet and a second sheet placed onto the posts, the sheets having adhesive and drywall spacers positioned perpendicularly therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Inventor: Robert L Timbrook
  • Patent number: 7387677
    Abstract: The substrate is used for opto-electric or electrical devices and comprises a layer of nitride grown by means of vapor phase epitaxy growth wherein both main surfaces of the nitride substrate are substantially consisting of non N-polar face and N-polar face respectively and the dislocation density of the substrate is 5×105/cm2 or less. Therefore, the template type substrate has a good dislocation density and a good value of FWHM of the X-ray rocking curve from (0002) plane less than 80, so that the resulting template type substrate is very useful for the epitaxy substrate from gaseous phase such as MOCVD, MBE and HVPE, resulting in possibility of making good opto-electric devices such as Laser Diode and large-output LED and good electric devices such as MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignees: AMMONO Sp. z o.o., Nichia Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Dwilinski, Roman Doradzinski, Jerzy Garczynski, Leszek Sierzputowski, Yasuo Kanbara
  • Patent number: 7387680
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for growing silicon carbide crystals is provided. The apparatus includes a sublimation chamber with a plurality of spaced apart dividers that can direct the direction of silicon carbide crystal growth into passages between the dividers to form a plurality of silicon carbide crystal plates. The silicon carbide crystal plates can be used as seed crystals in subsequent sublimation steps in a manner that promotes the growth of silicon carbide crystals in different crystallographic directions to thereby terminate defect formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Valeri F. Tsvetkov, David P. Malta