Abstract: The disclosure relates to a personal electronic vaporizer configured to receive a selected oven assembly and heat the medium therein in accordance with a heating profile associate with the selected oven assembly. The personal electronic vaporizer may define a pathway entirely surrounded by a material. The material is preferably an inert material such as glass or a material otherwise desirable to channel the vapors emitted by the heated medium to the user. The user may swap or select a different oven assembly associated with a different heating profile. The first oven assembly is thereafter removed from the personal electronic vaporizer and replaced with the newly selected oven assembly. The personal electronic vaporizer may automatically recognize the particular selected oven assembly and heat the substance therein according to a predefined heating profile associate with the oven assembly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 2, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 6, 2018
Assignee:
Intrepid Brands, LLC
Inventors:
David M. Johnson, Charles H. Melander, Michael G. Terry, Curtis R. Berry, Trent Edward Grantz
Abstract: A protective case for housing a vaporizer or modified electronic cigarette has an elongate body with a valve at its proximal end that may be opened to provide fluid access to the mouthpiece of a vaporizer housed within it. The elongate body may include a transparent and deformable region having a valve. The actuating button on a vaporizer housed within the body may be depressed by depressing the deformable region of the housing adjacent to the actuation button. The valve in the deformable region opens when the actuating button is depressed, providing fluid access to the intake valves of the modified electronic cigarette. The interior of the case includes padding around the interior of its distal region and a piston biased by a spring to hold a housed modified electronic cigarette in a proper orientation within the case.
Abstract: Methods for aligning a pair of calibrated lasers of a laser additive manufacturing system in an overlap region in which the pair of calibrated lasers selectively operate are provided. Respective first and second plurality of layers of a test structure are formed in the overlap region of the pair of calibrated lasers solely using a first calibrated laser of the pair of calibrated lasers and then solely using a second calibrated laser of the pair of calibrated lasers. The test structure forming creates an outer surface of the test structure corresponding to the overlap region. A dimension(s) of an offset step(s) created between the first plurality of layers and the second plurality of lasers in the outer surface of the test structure is/are measured. The lasers are aligned by applying the dimension(s) of the offset step(s) as an alignment correction(s) to at least one of the pair of calibrated lasers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 20, 2016
Date of Patent:
October 30, 2018
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Donnell Eugene Crear, David Edward Schick, Archie Lee Swanner, Jr.
Abstract: Labeling apparatuses for labeling moving items are disclosed having a label release mechanism for releasing labels from a backing, a plate having a support surface with at least one opening through the plate, a fan positioned to create a negative pressure effect at the support surface of the plate, and a free-spinning roller positioned at a downstream end of the support surface for receiving labels that pass along the support surface. The roller has an outer surface portion that includes a nip zone for contacting a moving item application surface to which the label will be applied. A method of applying a label using the disclosed labeling apparatuses is also disclosed and includes utilizing a label support surface and a free-spinning roller, receiving a label, generating a negative pressure effect, supporting the label as it travels to the nip zone, and adhering the label to the moving item.
Abstract: An additive manufacturing method produces a 3D part utilizes electrophotography-based additive manufacturing and molding processes. A layered structure having a cavity is printed on a build platform using at least one electrophotographic (EP) engine to develop imaged layers of powder material, and a transfusion assembly to stack and fuse the imaged layers on the build platform. Molding material is deposited into the cavity as the layered structure is printed, using a deposition unit. The molding material solidifies to form at least a portion of the 3D part, which may also include portions formed from imaged powder material.
Abstract: An acceleration distance for acceleration at a set acceleration rate, required for an ejection start position passing speed in an ejection start position, is obtained, and a position behind the ejection start position by the acceleration distance is set as an advance start position of an ejector. Thus, an ejector plate can start to move at an optimal speed.
Abstract: 3-D printing transfers build material and support from an intermediate transfer belt (ITB) to a platen. The build material is the same as the support material, except that the build material includes a photoinitiator and the support material does not. The platen moves to make contact with the ITB, and the ITB transfers successive layers of build material and support material each time the platen contacts the ITB. The platen and a portion of the ITB that is adjacent the platen are heated prior to the platen contacting the ITB, and the same is exposed so as to crosslink polymers of build material, without crosslinking polymers of support material. The polymers of build material being crosslinked and the polymers of support material not being crosslinked makes the support material selectively soluble in a solvent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 12, 2016
Date of Patent:
October 16, 2018
Assignee:
Xerox Corporation
Inventors:
John S. Facci, David C. Craig, David S. Derleth, Eliud Robles Flores, Varun Sambhy
Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods for non-contact printing on comestible products. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a slab of an edible substrate and a non-contact printing device for printing an edible ink on the slab. The apparatus provides versatility as the printing device may be placed anywhere along the apparatus. The printing device may be positioned along the apparatus as desired to operate in cooperation with other components of the apparatus.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 1, 2015
Date of Patent:
October 9, 2018
Assignee:
WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
Inventors:
Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, Dennis W. Rybolt, William R. Gleffe
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for pressing at least one dough part, such as a croissant, comprising a conveyor, for conveying dough parts in a direction of movement; at least one press stamp, arranged movable with at least a component in a direction towards a surface of the conveyor for pressing the dough part and wherein the press stamp is further arranged movable with at least a component in the direction of movement of the dough part.
Abstract: A distributed printing method of a powder-bed type 3D printer is present. The method first generates, for each printing layer of a 3D model file, a color image which is applied to print an outer contour part and a non-color image which is applied to print an internal structure part. The method then calculates replacing information according to a default adjusting module, and adjusts color information of the color image and adhesive information of the non-color image based on the replacing information. Finally, the method combines the adjusted color image and non-color image for generating a final printing image, and executes printing according to the final printing image.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 18, 2016
Date of Patent:
September 25, 2018
Assignees:
XYZPRINTING, INC., KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a medicament dosage form which consists of at least one piece which in each case comprises at least one medicament and at least one additive, the medicament and the additive being mixed and extruded from a die as a strand and the strand being cut into pieces of precise weight. The invention additionally relates to a device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 11, 2014
Date of Patent:
September 25, 2018
Assignee:
GRÜNENTHAL GMBH
Inventors:
Elisabeth Arkenau-Marić, Johannes Bartholomäus, Dieter Schateikis, Kai-Uwe Ustorf
Abstract: A surface portion modification apparatus is provided which is co-operable with a 3D printer. It includes a head nozzle follower assembly. The follower assembly is co-operable with a 3D printer head nozzle assembly and is operable for modifying at least a portion of a surface of the material of a 3D object printed by the head nozzle assembly of the 3D printer. It may be used to smooth the surface of an object printed by the 3D printer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 10, 2014
Date of Patent:
September 25, 2018
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Abstract: A forming apparatus and method of using the apparatus with a concave mandrel to form composite materials is presented where the apparatus has a forming head with an outer surface having a contour that matches the interior surface of the concave cavity of a matching mandrel. A handle and a grip surface to allow an operator to use the forming apparatus to exert a compaction force to successive plies of prepreg to conform the laminate of plies to the interior surface of the concave cavity. Each ply is heated before contact with the forming head of the apparatus.
Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) printer includes build and support material development stations positioned to transfer layers of build and support materials to an intermediate transfer surface. A platen having a flat surface is positioned to contact the intermediate transfer surface. The intermediate transfer surface transfers a layer of the build and support materials to the flat surface of the platen as the platen contacts one of the layers on the intermediate transfer surface. A dispenser is positioned to deposit a leveling material on the layer on the platen, and a mechanical planer is positioned to contact and level the leveling material on the layer on the platen to make the top of the leveling material parallel to the flat surface of the platen.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 2016
Date of Patent:
September 18, 2018
Assignee:
Xerox Corporation
Inventors:
Chu-heng Liu, Paul J. McConville, William J. Nowak, Michael F. Zona, Robert A. Clark, Jorge A. Alvarez
Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include the formation of an article of manufacture by a process in which vibrations are generated in a bulk material disposed within a build chamber. The vibrations are focused within a section of the base material, and the focusing is controlled to cause the section of the base material to undergo a physical transformation to form at least a portion of the article of manufacture.
Abstract: A core (14) which is typically held in front of the mold (13) is required for producing hollow plastic objects (10). This does not allow for a transverse reinforcement (11) which is formed from a prefabricated reinforcement tube to be pulled over the core (14). A method and device is provided for the core (14) to be held behind the mold (14) when viewed in the production direction (17). In this case, the front end (15) of the core (14), which is located in front of the mold (13), remains free, such that a transverse reinforcement (11) that has been formed from a prefabricated reinforcement tube can be pulled over the free front end (15) of the core (14).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 2013
Date of Patent:
August 21, 2018
Assignee:
Thomas GmbH + Co. Technik + Innovation KG
Abstract: Embodiments regard a scanning UV (ultra violet) light source utilizing semiconductor heterostructures. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a substrate with a film of light producing material on a first surface of the substrate, wherein the film includes one or more semiconductor heterostructures; and an electron beam apparatus, the electron beam apparatus to generate an electron beam and direct the electron beam to a location on the film of light producing material to generate a light beam.
Abstract: An apparatus for producing biobased carriers for dispersal of biological and chemical molecules includes a premixer having a first inlet, a first outlet, a cavity configured for receiving a wet coproduct and a binder through the first inlet, and a stirring apparatus within the cavity for premixing the wet coproduct and binder into a substantially homogeneous mixture; a high shear mixer having a housing, a drive apparatus and a high shear apparatus, the housing defining an opening, the drive apparatus being within the housing and for forcing the substantially homogeneous mixture from the premixer into the high shear apparatus, and the high shear apparatus including a rotor, a stator and a screen covering the opening and being for shear mixing the mixture including forcing the mixture through the screen and out of the housing in the form of nucleation enhanced particles; and an agglomerator having an interior chamber sized and configured to receive the nucleation enhanced particles from the high shear mixer and
Abstract: A molded concrete U-wall construction block including a molded concrete U-wall construction block structure formed from cured concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material during a block manufacturing process. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 30, 2017
Date of Patent:
August 21, 2018
Assignees:
Stable Concrete Structures, Inc., Concrete Systems, Inc.
Abstract: An electronic cigarette includes a shell and a mouthpiece. The external wall of the shell has an air inlet. An atomizer and a liquid-supply are in contact with each other. The air inlet, atomizer, and an aerosol passage are interconnected.