Patents Examined by Robert Davis
  • Patent number: 7293975
    Abstract: A calibration device for calibrating extruded continuous profiles includes successively arranged segment rings comprised of individual segments whose internal surfaces jointly form a calibration opening. Successively axially arranged segments are assembled in the form of a segment block. The segments of each segment block are arranged on a support structure and the segment blocks are arranged, in an essentially circular form, in a housing such that the axially adjacent segments partially overlap. Each support structure is connected to a mounting and operating device by which the individual segment blocks are fixed to the housing. Adjustment of each segment block is carried out in axial direction. The mounting and operating device is divided into two parts, wherein a first part is connected to the support structure, and a second part is received in the housing, and the two parts are connected with one another in a separable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Henning Stieglitz
  • Patent number: 7291002
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods for producing three-dimensional objects and auxiliary systems used in conjunction with the aforementioned apparatus and methods. The apparatus and methods involve continuously printing radially about a circular and/or rotating build table using multiple printheads. The apparatus and methods also include optionally using multiple build tables. The auxiliary systems relate to build material supply printhead cleaning diagnostics, and monitoring operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Z Corporation
    Inventors: David Russell, Andres Hernandez, Joshua Kinsley, Andrew Berlin
  • Patent number: 7290751
    Abstract: A composite mold comprising a main body, a molding layer formed on the main body, and a protective layer formed on the molding layer, the protective layer being made from diamond-like carbon. A method for manufacturing the composite mold comprising the following steps: providing a main body; forming a molding layer on the main body; and forming a protective layer on the molding layer, the protective layer being comprised of diamond-like carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7290998
    Abstract: The invention relates to a quick set-up system for calibration devices located downstream from an extruder, in particular one for synthetic profiles. With this quick set-up system, a dry gauge and the vacuum tank(s) are mounted on two horizontally positioned tubes that are positively connected to the calibration stage, such that they can be moved and adjusted horizontally and vertically, which enables an exact advance adjustment of the gliding device, and with it, of the vacuum tanks and calibration device, thus eliminating a subsequent alignment. In addition, by installing a central water disposal system, the required replacement of hoses with different lengths when moving the vacuum tanks is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Thyssen Polymer GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Hofmann, Gerhard Macht, Peter Landes
  • Patent number: 7291001
    Abstract: A device for the preparation of plastics material, in particular thermoplastic plastics material, has a receiving container (1) for the material, the interior of the receiving container (1) having tools (21) provided therein which are arranged on a carrier disc (9). The tools are driven by a shaft (4) for rotation about the, in particular vertical, axis (8) of the shaft (4). At least one screw (17) is provided for the removal of the material out of the receiving container (1). The screw housing (16) has a feed opening (27) which is connected with respect to flow to a discharge opening (15) in the container (1), which discharge opening (15) is situated at a lower level than the carrier disc (9) and the tools (21) carried by it. Further moved tools (12), which convey the material into the discharge opening (15), are provided in the receiving container (1) below the carrier disc (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: EREMA Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Helmut Bacher, Helmuth Schulz, Georg Wendelin, Klaus Feichtinger
  • Patent number: 7284975
    Abstract: A technique and apparatus for effectively constructing a cover for covering a vehicle airbag is provided. An ultrasonic machine is used that includes an ultrasonic machining blade for machining a tear line in the cover rear surface of the airbag cover. First and second transmitting displacement sensors are disposed on the opposite side of the cover rear surface of the airbag cover so as to be opposed to a cutting edge of the ultrasonic machining blade with the airbag cover interposed therebetween. The sensors directly sense the distance between the cutting edge of the machining blade and each of the first and second displacement sensors and through the airbag cover. A control section controls the relative position of the cutting edge with respect to the airbag cover, based on the sensed results by the first and second displacement sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Morita
  • Patent number: 7278844
    Abstract: A blow head for extruding a tubular plastic preform from an outlet gap between a fixed die core and a die body allows a change of the width of the outlet gap as a function of the circumference using light and small actuating devices, e.g., double-acting actuator cylinders, if the die body has its upper end, facing away from the outlet gap, pivotably mounted in the blow head and a pressure ring is positioned in the outlet gap, on which the actuating devices act.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Thermo-Technik-Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Claus-Dieter Koetke, Matthias Schindler
  • Patent number: 7278843
    Abstract: Improved methods for forming fine particles of a material have been developed, wherein the method steps include dissolving the material in a solvent to form a dilute solution, immobilizing the dilution solution, and then removing the solvent to yield particles of the material. Methods of immobilizing the dilute solution include freezing, gelation, and chelation. In a preferred embodiment, the immobilized solvent is removed by lyophilization, i.e. reducing the ambient pressure while avoiding application of sufficient heat to power a phase transition. Essentially any material and solvent for the material can be used in the methods described herein. Proteins and peptides in an aqueous solvent are the preferred systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Feldstein, Solomon S. Steiner
  • Patent number: 7275928
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for forming a chemical mechanical polishing pad, comprising a tank with polymeric materials, a storage silo with microspheres and a curative storage tank with curing agents. The apparatus further provides a premix prep tank for forming a pre-mixture of the polymeric materials and the microspheres and a recirculation loop in the premix prep tank for recirculating the pre-mixture until a desired bulk density is reached. The apparatus further provides a premix run tank for storing the pre-mixture, a mixer for forming a mixture of the pre-mixture and the curing agents and a mold for molding the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Kolesar, Robert L. Post, Alan H. Saikin, Aaron Sarafinas
  • Patent number: 7275924
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a toy container having an integrated extruder for extruding a quantity of a deformable molding compound. The toy may include a container having a storage portion configured to receive and store components of a molding compound extrusion set, and an extruder portion having an extrusion opening and a receiving chamber configured to receive a quantity of the modeling compound. The toy may further include a lid moveably attached to the container and moveable between an open position and a closed position. The lid may have a plunger extending therefrom, and the receiving chamber may be configured to receive the plunger when the lid moves from the open position to the closed position. The plunger may engage a quantity of modeling compound disposed in the receiving chamber to force the modeling compound through the extruder opening as the lid moves from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventor: Jared Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 7273365
    Abstract: The invention relates to a granulator for producing granulate from molten plastic with a cutter head displaceable over an adjustment range, said cutter head cooperating with a die plate dispensing the plastic strands, said cutter head being connected to a drive shaft of a drive motor containing a stator and a drive rotor and being axially displaceable with respect to the die plate. The drive rotor is axially displaceable over the adjustment range by means of a linear adjustment element and is fixable in said range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Rieter Automatik GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhardt-Karsten Murb
  • Patent number: 7270531
    Abstract: An assembly for use in continuously forming a plurality of lengths of flexible noise attenuating cutting line for use in rotary vegetation trimmers. The assembly includes a breaker plate having a conically shaped inner portion and a planar outer portion. A plurality of extrusion dies are disposed in the outer portion wherein each die defines a die hold configuration at its lower end for the extrusion of one or more monofilament polymer strands therethrough, and a drive assembly is provided for rotating each of the dies at a predetermined speed such that upon directing a flow of molten monofilament polymer material onto the breaker plate, the material is directed from the inclined central portion onto the planar outer portion where it is extruded through the rotating dies to create a plurality of twisted strands of polymer material that upon cooling, stretching and heating, define lengths of flexible noise attenuating cutting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Proulx Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Proulx, William P. Conley, Rodger D. Thomason
  • Patent number: 7270527
    Abstract: There is provided an optical recording medium-manufacturing apparatus that is capable of avoiding breakage of a substrate while avoiding formation of a central hole off-center with respect to the substrate. A control section causes the vertical movement section to move an ultrasonic horn in directions toward and away from the cutting edge of a punching blade section to thereby cause the ultrasonic horn to press the disk-shaped substrate and at the same cause an ultrasonic generator to perform ultrasonic vibration at least from a time point at which the disk-shaped substrate is brought into contact with the cutting edge of the punching blade section to a time point at which the punching of the central hole is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Ide, Haruhiko Yamaguchi, Futoshi Kobayashi, Takeshi Umega, Tsuyoshi Itoh, Yoshimi Yodogawa, Mamoru Usami
  • Patent number: 7267540
    Abstract: A cutter hub and blade assembly for cutting polymer strands extruded from a die face in a pelletizer has cutter blades mounted on the cutter hub at a steep angle. The blades are beveled along a portion of their leading edge to form a blunt cutting edge or surface to the blades which is generally perpendicular to the die face. By beveling the leading edge of a blade supported at a steep angle to form a blunt cutting edge, the bottom surface area of the blade in contact with the die face can be significantly reduced. The reduced contact area provides several advantages including a clean cut of the pellets and a faster blade grinding when seating the blades to the die face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Gala Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Fridley, J. Wayne Martin, Tsung (Daniel) Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 7267535
    Abstract: An extruding apparatus which extrudes continuous length of hollow plastic product has an extruder (3) which feeds molten plastic through die equipment (5) to a mold tunnel (7) formed by side by side moving mold blocks (9). The apparatus includes air turbulence internally of the product within the mold tunnel to assist in setting shape of the product. The air turbulence is provided by an air moving member (17) located internally of the product within the mold tunnel and a power source for the air moving member. The power source is located externally of the mold tunnel and a power transfer is provided to feed power from the power source through the die equipment to the air moving member without cooling of the die equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Inventors: Manfred A. Lupke, Stefan A. Lupke
  • Patent number: 7267541
    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: September 11, 2007
    Inventor: Harald Feuerherm
  • Patent number: 7267788
    Abstract: A tool creates a fastener-receiving cavity within a foam-filled structure that includes a panel with a slot for receiving the fastener and foam backing that is cast in place against on the underside of the panel. The tool includes a clip and a plunger. The clip is inserted into the slot and has legs joined by a hinge. The plunger is inserted between the legs to spread the legs and fills the space between the spread-apart legs that would otherwise become filled with foam. After the foam is cast, the plunger is removed so that the legs can be returned to a closely spaced relationship and the clip is removed from the slot, leaving a cavity for subsequently receiving a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Vella, Paul F. Zelazny
  • Patent number: 7264457
    Abstract: Equipment (1) used in the molding or plastic pipe includes die tooling (3) provided with a plastic flow distributor (25) at the upper end of the die tooling. The plastic flow distributor has adjustable flow to provide an even distribution of plastic from an extruder into at least one die passage (9) within the die tooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventors: Manfred A. A. Lupke, Stefan A. Lupke
  • Patent number: 7264460
    Abstract: A material processing plant comprises a first screw-type extruding machine (1) and a second screw-type extruding machine (2) which is disposed downstream thereof. Between the two screw-type extruding machines (1, 2), provision is made for a delivery zone (28) where a delivery orifice is provided, extending radially of the axes (12a, 13a) of the casing bores (12, 13) of the first screw-type extruding machine (1) and being directed towards the second screw-type extruding machine (2). The at least one casing bore (12, 13) of the first screw-type extruding machine (1) is lockable in the direction of its axis (12a, 13a) by means of a sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Munz, Jürgen Strecker
  • Patent number: 7261546
    Abstract: An apparatus for severing mold charges of molten plastic exiting an orifice along an orifice axis includes a motor system that provides a rotary output around an axis offset from the orifice axis. A blade arm is eccentrically coupled to the rotary output of the motor system for motion in a plane at an angle to the orifice axis, preferably perpendicular to the orifice axis. A knife blade is coupled to the blade arm and disposed to oscillate in a closed path, preferably an elliptical path, that intersects the orifice axis so that the knife blade engages and severs molten plastic exiting the orifice along the orifice axis. A control arm preferably is pivotally coupled to the blade arm and to a point that is fixed with respect to the orifice axis to control motion of the blade arm and the knife blade. The motor system preferably is mounted on a base, and has an output shaft that extends through the base and a hub coupled to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell D. Willingham, Daniel L. Mattice, David C. Thompson