Patents Examined by Scott Haugland
  • Patent number: 8944305
    Abstract: A web conveying apparatus that conveys a web, includes: a transverse position displacement detection unit that detects a transverse position displacement of the web; a transverse position correction unit that corrects a transverse position of the web by a guide roller; width detection units that detect a width size in a left-right direction of the web; and a control unit that controls the transverse position correction unit in accordance with the transverse position displacement detected by the transverse position displacement detection unit and performs feedback control to position the web in a target position. The control unit changes a correction amount in the feedback control in accordance with the width size of the web detected by the width detection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Sugie, Masato Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8925850
    Abstract: A webbing retractor includes a retracting shaft; a lock member regulating the rotation of the retracting shaft in the pulled-out direction; a rotating body connected to the retracting shaft; a rotation detecting member that is relatively displaced with respect to the rotating body by inertial force, by which rotation of the rotating body in the pulled-out direction is regulated, and by which the lock member is actuated; and a regulating member having an engaging portion that engages with the rotation detecting member because of the rotation of the rotating body in the retraction direction. The engagement of the engaging portion with the rotation detecting member is released as the engaging portion is displaced toward a radial direction inside of the rotating body by the rotation of the rotating body in the pulled-out direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Atsushi Tatsuma, Akira Sumiyashiki
  • Patent number: 8893761
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes a first portion having a length substantially the same as a length of a gap of a slot of a free link of a reel feeder. The device is configured to be placed in the gap to limit movement of a take-up arm along the slot. In another aspect, a method includes placing a device in a gap of a slot of a free link of a reel feeder to limit movement of a take-up arm along the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: W. Royce Taylor, IV, Ryan J. Koller
  • Patent number: 8893998
    Abstract: A spindle (2) of a seat belt retractor is rotationally driven when required by a motor (5) to the webbing take-up direction side through a power transmission mechanism section (6). Further, the spindle (2) is always connected to a take-up spring (7) and is always subjected to rotational power acting to the webbing take-up side. The structure enables a user wearing a seat belt to be restrained even in failure, realizing a safer and more reliable restraining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yukinori Midorikawa, Hiroshi Yamada, Masuo Matsuki, Kiyoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8887343
    Abstract: A system and method for propelling a hose, including: a system housing and a tractor element disposed in the housing. The tractor element includes: a tractor housing with a through-bore; and a protrusion extending into the through-bore. The system includes: a hose assembly including a substantially helical coil disposed about a hose; and an actuator for rotating the tractor housing with respect to the system housing. The tractor element is fixed in the system housing with respect to axial movement; and the hose assembly can be disposed in the through-bore so that the protrusion contacts a portion of the coil. As the tractor housing is rotated in a rotational direction: the protrusion exerts a displacement force on the coil; and the hose assembly reacts to the displacement force by displacing in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald P. Zink
  • Patent number: 8887978
    Abstract: A conveyor system pre-inserts a portion of the web into a first belt before the portion is gripped between the first belt and a second belt. In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of lips of a web are inserted into a corresponding first pair of belts and then the pair of lips are secured in the first pair of belts by inserting a second pair of belts into the first pair of belts over the pair of lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Chuba
  • Patent number: 8827196
    Abstract: When a gas generating member of a pretensioner mechanism is activated in case of vehicle collision, a piston inside a pipe cylinder is moved from normal state and a pinion gear body is rotated. Thus, the teeth of the pinion gear portion come in contact with a push block and pushes it in outward direction in conjunction with a force of a block urging spring, whereby a rotating lever is rotated by the push block and the lower end portion of the rotating lever gets disengaged from the tip end portion of a gear-side arm. As a result, the gear-side arm is rotated by an urging spring in outer direction and rotates a mechanical arm through a coupling shaft to make the pawl engage a ratchet gear of a take-up drum unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakaoka, Shinya Kaneko, Eri Yamane
  • Patent number: 8814074
    Abstract: A belt retractor (10) comprising a frame, a belt reel, a first force limiting means (30) coupled to the belt reel and a second force limiting means (32), wherein the second force limiting means (32) can be locked and the first force limiting means (30) is arranged functionally in series with the second force limiting means (32), is characterized in that the second force limiting means (32) includes a deformation element (52) and at least one deforming member (26, 54) fixed to the frame, the deformation element (52) being adapted to be rotated relative to the deforming member (26, 54) when the second force limiting means (32) is activated, whereby the deformation element (52) is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Moedinger, Martin Roehrle, Wolfgang Holbein
  • Patent number: 8800833
    Abstract: A web meandering correction system (1) includes: an edge detector (2) that detects an edge position signal of a web; an HPF processing unit (3) that executes a high-pass filtering process on the edge position signal using a predetermined lower limit frequency as a reference; a high-frequency noise analyzing unit (4) that analyzes high-frequency noise that has passed through the HPF processing unit (3); an LPF processing unit (5) that executes a low-pass filtering process on the edge position signal using a predetermined upper limit frequency as a reference; a coefficient setting unit (6) that sets a coefficient that determines the characteristics of the low-pass filtering process on the basis of a result of analysis by the high-frequency noise analyzing unit (4); and a meandering correction unit (7) that corrects meandering of the web on the basis of information acquired by the LPF processing unit (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Fuwa
  • Patent number: 8770506
    Abstract: A pretensioner assembly for motor vehicle belt restraint systems is provided. The pretensioner assembly includes a tube in fluid communication with a gas generator. An elastic piston disposed within the tube is operable to drive a plurality of balls upon receiving pressurized gas discharged from the gas generator. The piston includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end includes a flexible rim that expands upon receiving pressurized gas from the gas generator, and the distal end includes a flexible rim that expands in response to backpressure from the plurality of balls. The expansion of the flexible rims at the proximal and distal ends of the piston provides a tight seal between the piston and the inner peripheral wall of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Burrow, Gerald Keller
  • Patent number: 8752781
    Abstract: A safety belt retractor for motor vehicles having a locking system controllable in a belt webbing-sensitive and/or vehicle-sensitive manner, a locking pawl (12) mounted on the belt shaft (1) which locking pawl can be moved into engagement with a housing-fixed tooth, wherein the locking system can be deactivated at least within a range of a predetermined belt extraction length, wherein a locking element (10) is provided for deactivating the locking system which locking element can be moved depending on the belt extraction length from a first position releasing the locking pawl (12) to a second position fixing the locking pawl (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Guillem Aranda, Volkmar Heine
  • Patent number: 8740126
    Abstract: A webbing take-up device comprising a spool and a locking unit having a locking unit main body having a rotational acceleration detecting unit, wherein the rotational acceleration detecting unit comprises a second rotating body; a rotation transmission member provided at the second rotating body; an inertial mass body having a pressing portion and provided at the second rotating body; a biasing means provided at the second rotating body; and a retaining portion provided at the second rotating body to pinch the rotation transmission member together with the inertial mass body biased by the biasing means, thereby retaining the rotation transmission member in a state in which the rotation transmission member does not engage with the first rotating body, and to release retention of the rotation transmission member when relative rotation is produced between the second rotating body and the inertial mass body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Atsushi Tatsuma, Akira Sumiyashiki, Hitoshi Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 8727196
    Abstract: A feeder apparatus for a metal strip includes: a reciprocating block reciprocally moved by a driving means of a press apparatus when conveying the metal strip in which through-holes are formed in a predetermined direction; a moving block disposed above the reciprocating block and connected to a connecting member that moves in the direction of movement of the reciprocating block; a pin block that moves with the moving block and is provided with conveying pins whose front ends are inserted inside the through-holes; and an upper-lower cam portion that raises and lowers the pin block. The moving block is not pulled by the reciprocating block, and the feeder apparatus further includes a moving block driving means for reciprocally moving the moving block separately to movement of the reciprocating block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hidaka Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiichi Morishita
  • Patent number: 8727669
    Abstract: A cable bolt lifting and feeding device that is a lightweight unit that mounts into a drill rig rotation unit. The device uses the mechanical power provided in the rotation unit to drive a set of wheels that engage with the cable bolt, causing the cable bolt to be pushed through the device and into a pre-drilled hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Will Eddowes, Brant Wright, Michael Georgiou
  • Patent number: 8684298
    Abstract: A turn-bar for adjusting orientation of a web includes a plurality of roll bars. Positions of at least two bars of the plurality of roll bars are movable with respect to a direction of travel of the web. An orientation of the web passing through the bars may be changed by adjusting a position of the at least two bars without removal of the web from the turn-bar. A method of selectively inverting or not inverting a web includes changing a position of at least two roll bars of a turn-bar apparatus with respect to a direction of travel of the web, where the web is not inverted by the turn-bar apparatus when the at least two roll bars are in a first position, and the web is inverted by the turn-bar apparatus when the at least two roll bars are in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Shamai Opfer, Avi Namer, Eyal Peleg
  • Patent number: 8662435
    Abstract: Assembling performance of a torsion bar to a spool is improved. When a webbing take-up device is assembled, the torsion bar is inserted into the spool while catch projections of a serration pillar of the torsion bar are corresponded to insertion grooves of an insertion hole of the spool. Subsequently, in a state where the serration pillar of the torsion bar arrives at an catch hole of the spool, the torsion bar is rotated in a winding direction with respect to the spool, so that the catch projections are caught by catch surfaces of catch grooves of the catch hole, whereby the torsion bar is made non-removable from the spool. Therefore, a direction in which the torsion bar is assembled to the spool is made to be only an axial direction of the spool, and assembling performance of the torsion bar to the spool can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Maekubo, Seiji Hori
  • Patent number: 8640982
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing strip materials onto one or more moving substrates includes a frame extending transversally of the substrate path that supports guide arms. Each guide arm includes pulleys for dispensing strip materials and is able to be moved along the frame by a friction drive system, which includes crank shafts, pulleys, and cables. Each guide arm can be held in position by a friction braking system, which includes members that are pressed against components of the drive system to frictionally prevent motion. A position feedback system measures and displays the location of the guide arms. A substrate tracking and adjustment system tracks the position of the substrate as it moves side to side from a normal path and automatically adjusts the position of the frame along a guide track to maintain the guide arms in a desired position in relation to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Adalis Corp.
    Inventors: Jorge A. Nash, Orion A. Cavins, Neil S. Schwinler, Thomas J. Barron
  • Patent number: 8636239
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor for winding up and unwinding a safety belt, with at least one force transmission element which is held by a first part of the belt retractor and which can be connected to a second part of the belt retractor, the force transmission element being held in a recess of the first part in such a way that it can be pressed axially into the recess of the first part, with the result that the connection to the second part is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventors: Robert Fleischmann, Andreas Maunz, Hans-Jürgen Divo, Gerhard Klingauf, Robert Hofer, Hermann Hasse, Wolfgang Schrade, Armin Toth
  • Patent number: 8602281
    Abstract: The present invention provides two counter-rotating rollers having substantially parallel axes of rotation which are provided to grip the web(s) between them and to cause the web(s) to move along as a result of their rotation, each roller having two spaced cylindrical support surfaces each defining a zone for gripping the web(s) with a corresponding, opposing, support surface of the other roller. The rollers are displaceable relative to each other in the direction of the axes of rotation and a displacement of one of the rollers relative to the other in the direction of the axes of rotation modifies a distance between the gripping zones. A rotary press is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Goss Systemes Graphiques Nantes
    Inventors: Cyrille Belleculee, Michel Griffon
  • Patent number: 8596509
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate alignment apparatus capable of performing coarse and fine alignments of a substrate in a progressing route to remove or reduce an alignment error between the substrate and a pattern roll. The coarse alignment may be performed by moving a frame using a stage when the alignment error is relatively large, and the fine alignment may be performed by moving subsidiary rollers of a roller unit relative to a main roller of a roller unit when the alignment error is relatively small. An example substrate alignment apparatus may include a frame and a roller unit rotatably fixed to the frame to support a substrate, wherein the roller unit includes a main roller, and at least one subsidiary roller fixed to the main roller such that the at least one subsidiary roller can move relative to the main roller to align the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Min Kim, Sin Kwon, Young Tae Cho, Jung Woo Seo, Ki Keon Yeom, Ki Hyun Kim