Patents Examined by Sonya Mazumdar
  • Patent number: 8864927
    Abstract: A method for making a carbon nanotube film is provided. First, a carbon nanotube array is formed on a grown substrate. The carbon nanotube array is pressed with a first substrate using a first pressing force to form a carbon nanotube film precursor. Then the first substrate and the grown substrate are separated, and the carbon nanotube film precursor is transferred onto the first substrate. After that, the carbon nanotube film precursor is pressed using a second substrate with a second pressing force. Lastly, the first substrate and the second substrate is separated, with part of the carbon nanotube precursor transferred to the second substrate to form the carbon nanotube film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gang Zheng, Qun-Qing Li, Jing Xie, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8852377
    Abstract: An insulative label is provided for a beverage container to reduce heat transfer, particularly heat transfer by conduction from a consumer's hand to the beverage container. The label comprises a dual-ply construction, with a grid pattern placed between the layered materials. Preferably, the label comprises a film base layer secured to the container, the grid pattern comprising an ink and varnish mixture printed over the film base layer, and a laminate top layer secured to the film base layer. Air is trapped in the gaps or spaces between the protrusions created by the grid pattern, and the trapped air insulates the container. The label has a very thin profile, thereby not perceptibly changing the appearance of the label or the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Millercoors, LLC
    Inventor: Ray Alan Toms
  • Patent number: 8840745
    Abstract: A method of printing foil images upon textiles is provided. Advantageously, a digital inkjet printer can be utilized to apply an adhesive for affixing a foil embellishment. The method of printing foil images upon textiles includes applying a pretreatment solution upon a textile. After the pretreatment solution has dried, a white underbase in the form of a fanciful design is printed upon the textile using a digital inkjet printer. A heavy color layer of color ink is then digitally inkjet printed upon the white underbase. Thereafter, the textile is removed from the inkjet printer and positioned upon a heat press table. Foil transfer paper is positioned upon the textile so as to cover the white underbase and heavy color layer. The heat press is activated so as to adhere the foil, but only to those regions where the white underbase and color ink has been printed. Once cool to the touch, the foil is slowly peeled from the textile so as to leave a fanciful foil design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Paul Green
  • Patent number: 8840744
    Abstract: A method of preventing a handheld electronic device from slipping in relation to a smooth hard surface having a low coefficient of friction is disclosed. The method includes forming a decorative layer from a label stock; forming a contoured surface on an anti-slip layer; bonding the decorative layer and the anti-slip layer together to form an anti-slip skin; and adhering the anti-slip skin to the handheld electronic device. The contoured surface prevents the handheld device from slipping on the hard surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Fred A. Antonini
  • Patent number: 8834659
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to improve the supply of transfer foil in a coating module in which the image-forming layers of a transfer foil are transferred to a printing material. To achieve this, a partial pressing surface is located in the coating module for transferring the layers of the transfer foil. This permits targeted control of the foil feed. The transfer foil can be fed past a pressure cylinder in an approximately tangential manner and with a limited width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: manroland sheetfed GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Preisner, Michael Zinke
  • Patent number: 8826960
    Abstract: A system for applying labels to cable or conduit including at least one label and a label applicator. The label applicator including at least one guide roller, at least one tamping device comprising at least one tamping pad for applying at least one label onto the moving cable or conduit, and a guide shoe assembly. The guide shoe assembly comprises a guide shoe, the guide shoe comprises a rounding member, a plurality of springs for providing flexibility to the rounding member when the moving cable or conduit passes the at least one guide shoe, a support mount for supporting the at least one guide shoe, a plurality of pivots disposed between the rounding member and the rounding member support for adjusting the set of springs, and a fitted member for providing an anchor for the at least one guide shoe to connect with the support mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Bennett, William Thomas Bigbee, Jr., Steve Griffin
  • Patent number: 8808486
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a color electrophoretic display device includes the following steps. First, a substrate having a displaying region and a circuit region around the displaying region is provided. Next, a driving array is formed in the displaying region. Subsequently, an electrophoretic display layer is formed on the driving array. Afterwards, a thermal transfer process is performed so that a color filter layer is formed on the electrophoretic display layer. The method can increase the production eligibility rate of the color electrophoretic display device, thereby improving the display quality of the color electrophoretic display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: E Ink Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Ching Wang, Po-Wen Hsiao, Kai-Cheng Chuang, Yao-Chou Tsai, Ted-Hong Shinn
  • Patent number: 8801888
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a production process for a decorative sheet comprising a step in which a primer layer is formed on a releasing film having a smooth surface, a step in which a design layer is formed on the above primer layer, a step in which the primer layer and the design layer are transferred on a base material, a step in which the releasing film on the base material is peeled off, a step in which an ionizing radiation curable resin composition is laminated on the primer layer formed on the base material and a step in which the above ionizing radiation curable resin composition is cross-linked and cured to form a surface protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Saitou
  • Patent number: 8794293
    Abstract: An applicator, related applicator system, and a method for delivering a self-adhesive material are provided. The applicator includes an outer surface, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The inner surface of the applicator defines a void that is operable to receive the self-adhesive material. At least a portion of the inner surface releasably adhere the applicator side of the self-adhesive material where the adhesive force between the portion of the inner surface and the applicator side being less than adhesive force between the substrate and the substrate side. The applicator is used by placing the applicator in contact with a substrate, pressing the applicator against the substrate such that the self-adhesive material adheres to the substrate, and releasing the applicator from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Rice, Thomas W. Otis, Michael E. Klinkhammer
  • Patent number: 8790478
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer printing method and a system using the method for printing images on a workpiece with supercritical fluid. The method includes disposing the workpiece inside the first mold and disposing a transfer film above the workpiece, closing the first mold with a second mold and injecting pressured gas, whose pressure is greater than a critical pressure, into the first mold and the second mold, ensuring a temperature of the pressured gas being greater than a critical temperature so as to convert into supercritical fluid, softening the transfer film with the supercritical fluid, transferring an adhesive layer, a print layer and a hardening layer of the transfer film onto the workpiece, and opening the first mold and the second mold to take out the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Wei Chen, Ching-Fu Hsu
  • Patent number: 8784599
    Abstract: A laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) apparatus includes a stage configured to support an acceptor substrate and a supporting portion configured to support a donor film and to move the donor film up and down relative to the stage so as to adjust a distance between the acceptor substrate and the donor film. The donor film includes a thin film to be disposed on the acceptor substrate. The stage includes a discharging outlet through which gas between the acceptor substrate and the donor film is discharged to the outside. The LITI apparatus may be used to laminate a film on an acceptor substrate including an organic light emitting display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Won Sun, Sok-Won Noh
  • Patent number: 8778122
    Abstract: Methods of adhering graphic film on an irregular substrate are disclosed. The methods includes providing a polymer film composite having two or more layers with at least one layer having a glass transition temperature of at least about 40° C., the polymer film composite having a first side and a second side, and an adhesive layer disposed on the second side. Then the method includes, positioning the adhesive layer against the irregular substrate, heating the polymer film composite, and pressing the heated polymer film against the irregular substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald S. Steelman, John A. Nielsen, Frank T. Sher
  • Patent number: 8757235
    Abstract: A machine for labeling containers, especially bottles or the like, with a stationary machine rack on which a rotary table for conveying containers is supported, and at least one labeling module, arranged to be interchangeable at or on a machine rack, for labeling the containers being guided past the labeling module by the rotary table wherein its own motor is assigned respectively to the rotary table and at least one labeling module. In order to simplify a change or replacement of a labeling module, the motor is located on the machine rack and remains there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Rupert Meinzinger
  • Patent number: 8753468
    Abstract: A method for reducing graphene film thickness on a donor substrate and transferring graphene films from a donor substrate to a handle substrate includes applying a bonding material to the graphene on the donor substrate, releasing the bonding material from the donor substrate thereby leaving graphene on the bonding material, applying the bonding material with graphene onto the handle substrate, and releasing the bonding material from the handle substrate thereby leaving the graphene on the handle substrate. The donor substrate may comprise SiC, metal foil or other graphene growth substrate, and the handle substrate may comprise a semiconductor or insulator crystal, semiconductor device, epitaxial layer, flexible substrate, metal film, or organic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joshua D. Caldwell, Karl D. Hobart, Travis Anderson, Francis J. Kub
  • Patent number: 8747596
    Abstract: Finishing set for a floor covering, whereby this finishing set at least consists of, on the one hand, a finishing profile and, on the other hand, a holder with at least an attachment portion for attaching said finishing profile at the holder, characterized in that the holder comprises an underlay portion, which at choice can or cannot be provided underneath the remaining portion of the holder as well as a stop-forming positioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Flooring Industries Limited, SARL
    Inventors: Benny Schacht, Pieter Buyck
  • Patent number: 8746310
    Abstract: A microassembly method and system utilizing multiple probes. Multiple manipulation actuators can be utilized for maintaining/holding one or more probes and an assembly substrate. Multiple microscope cameras can be configured to provide three distinct workspace configurations. At the center of each manipulation actuator is a die stage, which supports the assembly substrate upon which parts are assembled. A glue dispenser can also provide glue to a part prior to placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Instutute of Standards and Technology
    Inventors: John Wason, John T. Wen, Jason Gorman, Nicholas Dagalakis
  • Patent number: 8741087
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided which include providing a rotatable roller with a cylindrical surface adapted to wrap the donor element on the surface. A donor element is secured to the roller and a first portion of the donor element is wrapped onto the cylindrical surface while applying tension to the media. The tension is then decreased to alter a region of contact between the first portion of the donor element and the cylindrical surface. An additional portion of the donor element is then wrapped onto the cylindrical surface. The donor element is then transferred from the roller to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada Company
    Inventors: Jeremias Rarama, Yuri Zavorotny, Darcy T. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8741487
    Abstract: A current collector comprising a frame conductor formed as a closed undulating perimeter, and a conductive mesh formed within the frame conductor is described. The conductive mesh is comprised of a plurality of radial struts, each radial strut having a central end and an outer end. The radial struts emanate from a junction within the undulating perimeter with their outer ends connected to the undulating perimeter of the frame. The conductive mesh may include branch struts having proximal ends and distal ends, with the proximal ends connected to the radial struts. The distal ends of the branch struts may be connected to the undulating perimeter, or to adjacent radial struts. The current collector is used in an electrochemical cell, wherein a first electrode active material is contacted to at least one of first and second major sides of the current collector to provide a first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: John C. Duggan, Michael R. Blendowski, Donald F. Kaiser, Ashish Shah
  • Patent number: 8726964
    Abstract: Apparatus for decorating objects including a heating device for heating an object wrapped in a transferring support bearing a sublimable image and a conveying device for conveying the object into, and removing the object from, the heating device, the conveying device being mainly movable in a substantially vertical direction. The conveying device is provided with a supporting element such as to convey one object at a time to the heating device via inlet and outlet openings on the same side of the heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Decoral System USA Corp.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Fenzi
  • Patent number: 8702893
    Abstract: A machine that processes gift cards in an in-line process where the gift cards travel along a generally straight transport path from a card feed mechanism to a delivery end where the cards and carrier combinations are discharged. During the in-line processing, a magnetic stripe, integrated circuit chip or RFIID tag on the gift cards can be encoded with account information, a serial number or other information. In addition, the cards are transported to a print mechanism that personalizes the cards with a bar code. account information, serial number or other information. After printing, the cards are transported to a gluing system which applies adhesive to one side of the cards. The cards arc then transported to a feeding mechanism that feeds and applies a carrier to one or more cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: DataCard Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Peters, Roger Potvin