Patents Examined by Robert Muromoto
  • Patent number: 7415993
    Abstract: A composite forming fabric (10) comprising a paper side layer (12) having a paper side surface, a machine side layer (14) having a bottom wear side surface, and a plurality of pairs of first and second intrinsic, interchanging weft binder yarns (16,18,20, . . . 34) for binding together the paper side layer (12) and the machine side layer (14). At least of said plurality of pairs of first and second intrinsic, interchanging weft binder yarns have at least four segments (S1-S4) in the paper side layer (12) within each repeat of the weave pattern in the fabric, and these segments provide an unbroken weft path in the paper side surface. Each of the first and second intrinsic, interchanging weft binder yarns (16,18,20, . . . 34) of each binder pair having at least four segments (S1-S4) in the paper side layer (12) within each repeat of the weave pattern binds to at least one warp yarn (2-20) in the machine side layer (14) vertically underlying one of the segments (S1-S4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Stewart Lister Hay, Scott Quigley
  • Patent number: 7360560
    Abstract: A single layer papermakers fabric comprises machine direction (MD) warp yarns interwoven with cross-machine direction (CD) weft yarns to a repeating weave pattern requiring N sheds in the loom, N being an integer and at least 4. Each warp yarn follows a path in the paper side surface comprising four segments in each pattern repeat. In each of the first and third segments, the warp yarn interweaves with three consecutive weft yarns to form a double warp knuckle, and in the second and fourth segments, the warp yarn forms respectively a first and second MD float having unequal float lengths, at least one of the MD floats being over at least N consecutive weft yarns. The fabrics provide high air permeability, and increased surface contact area, stability and seam strength, and are particularly suitable for use as forming fabrics and through air dryer fabrics for tissue and towel products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Barrett, Rae Patel
  • Patent number: 7357155
    Abstract: A multi-layer fabric which may be utilized in a papermaking process. The fabric layers are bound together by plural pairs of weft binder yarns. Each binder yarn within a pair weaves a different contour pattern and combines with the other binder yarn in that pair to form a plain weave pattern in the top layer. Each of the plural pairs is comprised of binding yarns that weave different contour patterns from the next pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Ernest Fahrer, Monique Fagon
  • Patent number: 7357156
    Abstract: An industrial two-layer fabric having eight upper side warps and eight lower warps are stacked vertically forming upper and lower layers which are bound by a warp binding yarn of these warps. In a repeating unit of the upper layer, one of the warps has repetition of a design in which it passes over one upper side weft, passes under four successive upper side wefts, passes over one upper side weft, and passes under two upper side wefts, and an upper side weft has a design in which it passes over three upper side warps and then passes under one upper side warp to form, on the upper side, a weft long crimp corresponding to three warps, whereby forming an industrial fabric excellent in running stability, surface property and wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Filcon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Ueda, Masakazu Murakami
  • Patent number: 7350542
    Abstract: Blowing nozzle for supporting a weft thread in a weaving machine, provided with a flow-through canalisation (17) for a fluid tracing a bend (20) near the free end of the blowing nozzle (3) to subsequently flow into the environment via at least one outlet opening (18), wherein a jet pipe (21) is formed in this flow-through canalisation (17), and the jet pipe (21) is integrated in the bend (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Picanol N.V. naamloze vennootschap
    Inventors: Jozef Peeters, Hendrik Hiemstra
  • Patent number: 7284280
    Abstract: An energy weapon protection device to be worn by a live potential target includes a generally flexible main panel having three main elements, a generally flexible, generally planar electrically non-conductive outer insulator panel, an electrically conductive inner conductive panel and an electrically non-conductive insulating backing panel. The inner conductive panel is mounted on the insulating back panel in generally parallel alignment and the outer insulator panel is mounted on the inner conductive panel in generally parallel alignment thereby forming the main panel, and the main panel is operative to receive an electrical pulse from an energy weapon through the outer insulator panel into the inner conductive panel which completes the electric circuit for the energy weapon and the insulating backing panel generally preventing electric current from passing therethrough from the inner conductive panel such that the live potential target is protected from the electrical pulse generated by the energy weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Inventor: Gregory Russell Schultz
  • Patent number: 7249615
    Abstract: Paper machine clothing, such as a forming fabric formed by a large number of repeating units, wherein each repeat unit includes a paper-side woven structure having paper-side warp and weft threads and a machine-side woven structure having machine-side warp and weft threads, such that the paper side and the machine side woven structures are connected to each other by binding threads, and each repeat unit being formed by at least 26 warp threads and the paper machine clothing having a total thickness of 0.78 mm and less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Voith Fabrics Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Arved Westerkamp, Johann Boeck
  • Patent number: 7168455
    Abstract: A member for guiding harness cords of a Jacquard loom harness wherein the member is substantially planar and is provided with holes defining passages for the cords. At least one of these passages extends in a direction that is oblique with respect to a principal plane of the member. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce frictional forces undergone by the harness cords, particularly at the upper and lower edges of the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Staubli Lyon
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Froment
  • Patent number: 7168456
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the removal of one or more lateral yarns from a woven industrial textile to prepare it for seaming. The apparatus consists of a movable table, a clamping device to hold the fabric, and a yarn removal device, consisting of a cutter and a combined hooked needle & thread catcher. In operation, the yarn removal device moves both vertically into and out of the fabric plane, and horizontally parallel to the longitudinal yarns. The yarn removal device pierces the fabric at two locations, cuts one or more yarns, and then grasps the cut section(s) to pull them down and out of the fabric plane. The cycle is repeated to form a longitudinal channel of desired length; the device is then moved laterally and the cycle repeated until an open channel parallel with the lateral fabric edge is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: North Rocky Robot Technology, Inc. (NORTEC)
    Inventors: Heinz (Heikki) Kuster, Raymond Lee Seeman
  • Patent number: 7168454
    Abstract: A harness device for a weaving machine is made with partial apertured boards of synthetic material that can be manufactured by injection moulding. Each small partial apertured board has threading openings for pulling through harness cords, provisions to carry connecting elements and positioning means to position the connecting elements. Connecting elements connect one or several harness cords to one or several tackle cords or hooks. The threading openings or the connecting elements are provided with a spring-mounted retaining element and the connecting elements are provided with an opening through which one or several spindles may be passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: N.V. Michel Van de Wiele
    Inventor: Bram Vanderjeugt
  • Patent number: 7147009
    Abstract: A process for weaving that can be implemented using just the hands as the loom and shuttle, a weaving material such as yarn, an instrument for cutting like nail clippers or a small pair of scissors, and an object for intermissions in the process such as a paper clip. The weaving process is simplified to the most basic concepts of weaving that can be enjoyed by any age group, such as, but not limited to, from five-year-old children to adults. The absence of barriers like cumbersome weaving looms permits the process to be practiced in a multitude of settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: Diana Lynn Murcar
  • Patent number: 7140399
    Abstract: A novel shaft gear for harmonious engagement and disengagement of individual heddle shafts and for deriving their motion from the rotary motion of a single input shaft has a coupling system with two input elements. While one of the input elements serves to drive the output element of the coupling system permanently, the other input element serves solely to synchronize the output element briefly with the first input element. The switchover takes place in the brief synchronous phases, in selected angular regions that correspond to the top or bottom reversal point of the heddle shaft. For the switchover, such novel shaft drive mechanisms do not require any stoppage of motion for the input shaft or the shaft drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
    Inventors: Johannes Bruske, Bernhard Münster, Armin Fäller
  • Patent number: 7137416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for weaving a fabric containing, at least partly, glass-fibres as warp threads and/or weft threads, which are treated in such a way that they enable light to be diffused in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the threads. The method includes a weaving of a Jacquard pattern forming a matrix for separating and identifying the feeding ends of a predetermined number of glass fibres, which are to be rearranged in bundles and connected to the same light source. The fabric produced according said method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Cédric Brochier Soieries
    Inventors: Cédric Brochier, Jean Piton
  • Patent number: 7137415
    Abstract: A heddle shaft (1) has shaft rods (2, 3), which are embodied as profile bodies (12) having at least one hollow chamber (14). The shaft rods (2, 3) are joined together by lateral bracing posts (4, 5) and at least one center connector (11). For securing the latter, retaining pieces (23) are disposed in the hollow chambers and are accessible through windows (22). The retaining pieces (23) are preferably glued into the hollow chamber (14) and have one or more threaded bores for securing the center connector (11) by means of screws (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
    Inventors: Andre Olbing, Karl-Heinz Gesing
  • Patent number: 7128097
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a seam for use in joining a first end and a second end of a papermakers' fabric. The seam may include a first seaming spiral element attachable to the first end and a second seaming spiral element attachable to the second end. At least one of the first or second spiral seaming elements is transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Stefan Axelsson, Lars Jansson
  • Patent number: 7128098
    Abstract: A thread section of a weft thread is held precisely ready for a receiving rapier in a feed rapier on a rapier loom despite the effects of retarding forces. Deflections of the thread section by the head of a receiving gripper are compensated for, whereby the feed rapier is provided with a thread clamp on the side facing the feed device for the weft thread, which releases on tension forces occurring in the thread section and permits a deflection of the thread section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventor: Eddy Verclyte
  • Patent number: 7117898
    Abstract: A guide rod assembly for a Jacquard loom is described which is narrower (10 mm or less), instead of 13 mm of conventional guide rods. This reduction in width is attained reducing the overall height of the magnet system integrated in the guide rod. The magnet system has a support member in the form of an iron core with an elongated or oval cross-section, with an excitation coil wound around the iron core. Pole strips are in contact with both front faces of the iron core. The respective top surfaces of the pole strips are spaced apart by less than 13 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Michel Van de Wiele NV Carpet and Velvet Machinery
    Inventors: Norbert Irmer, Peter Wahl
  • Patent number: 7108020
    Abstract: A forming fabric having a paper side layer and a machine side layer comprises a first set of paper side layer wefts, a second set of machine side layer wefts and a single set of warp yarn triplets. In the fabric weave pattern, each member of each triplet set of warp yarns interweaves with the paper side weft yarns to occupy in sequence segments of an unbroken warp path in the paper side surface, and each triplet in each set of warp yarns interlaces alone with at least one single machine side layer weft yarn. Each segment in the unbroken warp path is separated by at least one paper side layer weft yarn. The machine side layer interlacing points are regularly spaced. After heat setting, the fabrics typically have an air permeability typically from about 7,500 to about 10,500 m3/m2/hr. Paper products made using these fabrics have enhanced printability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Stone
  • Patent number: 7107622
    Abstract: The disclosure describes vapor permeable retroreflective material for use on protective garments. The material may be formed in a non-continuous pattern that provides a high-level of retroreflective brightness, yet also provides adequate permeability to prevent exposure to trapped thermal energy and heated moisture. The non-continuous retroreflective pattern may include retroreflective regions and non-retroreflective regions arranged such that thermal decay through the protective garment is not substantially decreased in the regions corresponding to the retroreflective material. Rather, vapor permeation and thermal decay through the garment may be substantially the same as if the retroreflective material was not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rino A. Feduzi, Robert L. Jensen, Jr., Jeanine M. Shusta
  • Patent number: RE39655
    Abstract: A process for the air conditioning of a weaving machine includes generating, for the weaving machine, at least one conditioning air stream spaced from a warp of the weaving machine and directed towards the warp, and distributing the conditioning air stream in stages so as to form a downwardly directed displacement-type flow towards threads of the warp. The displacement-type flow is a non-turbulent, uniform flow over a cross-sectional profile of the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Zellweger Luwa AG
    Inventors: Pavel Verner, Walter Bollier