Patents Examined by Stephen Kenny
  • Patent number: 6722015
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for progressively cutting, piercing, bending, stacking, and interlocking lamination assemblies from a strip of laminate. The stacked laminations are mechanically interlocked with a staple-style interlock that secures all the laminations in the stack together. All the steps in the process of forming, stacking and interlocking are done within the tool and die assembly, eliminating the need for additional equipment to stack and interlock assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Sirois, James J. Holich, Dennis P. Bobay, Robert K. Hollenbeck, David Erdman
  • Patent number: 6718611
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a perforated metal cover (1) includes steps of: step (60), successively punching holes in a piece of metal sheet at a plurality of workstations and cutting the metal sheet into a plurality of metal bases; step (62), stamping the metal bases into three dimensions; step (64), grinding the metal bases; and step (66), anodizing the metal bases to produce the finished covers. Each workstation includes at least one punch, and each punch includes a die having a plurality of punch heads, which number and arrangement are predetermined according to the holes (3) to be formed in the perforated cover. Different arrays of holes are punched in the metal sheet in different punches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wente Lai
  • Patent number: 6711802
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-core ferrule, in which method a plurality of flat-surface metal sheets 2 containing a plurality of apertures 1 of the same size are laminated and fixed together. The plurality of apertures 1 before subjected to lamination and fixing are designed to be in positions and to have diameters such that they communicate with one another to be capable of forming a cavity, whereby the resulting ferrule is highly accurate in diameter and positions of the pores and is applicable to multi-core connectors, devices and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hikari Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6701601
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a body, preferrably an automotive vehicle body, to have a plurality of coating layers, starts with assembling the body out of parts made from pre-coated metal. A pretreatment step provides for paint adhesion and/or corrosion protection for cut edges, weld spots or metal finished areas. A powder paint base coat is then applied onto the pre-coated metal of the vehicle body. The pre-coat layer is one of the plurality of coating layers and the powder paint base coat is another one of the plurality of coating layers. In another embodiment, the powder paint base coat is applied in two steps, a first powder paint base coat and a color powder paint base coat. The first powder paint base coat is applied to a first portion of the vehicle body and the color powder paint base coat is applied to a second portion of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis D Davidson, John C Hess, Tommy L Anderson, Rodney L Briggs, Robert J Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6701600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing or machining a work piece in the form of a cylindrical hollow body, especially a container (an outer wall of a container), a barrel or a cask. According to the inventive method, the work piece is held so that the longitudinal axis thereof is oriented vertically and is then machined, especially formed, edged and provided with beads, a bottom and a lid. The method is characterised in that the work piece is moved at the transfer level and is lowered into a working area of a machining device, especially a shaping machine, for machining. The machining device is arranged underneath the transfer level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Hans-Jürgen Beierling
  • Patent number: 6698083
    Abstract: A winding on a stator of a rotary electric machine is constructed by welding end portions of a plurality of segments. A plurality of pairs arranged on an end of the stator are welded by a welder. In a welding stage, the pairs are held by a plurality of insertion rods of a circumferential side holding tool. The insertion rods are radially disposed. The insertion rods are movable in a radial direction. The insertion rods are moved back toward a radial outside to release a holding of the pairs after ball-shaped welding marks are formed. Holding is released without damage on the welding mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tokizawa, Mitsuru Kato, Mitsuaki Taira
  • Patent number: 6694598
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stator of a rotary electric machine includes: a step of forming a plurality of conductor segments each having at least a straight leg; a step of inserting the plurality of conductor segments into each of the slots in a plurality of radially aligned layers so that the straight legs can extend outside an end of the stator core; a step of stratifying the straight legs in radially aligned layers to correspond to the layers in the slots; a step of holding each of the stratified portions at grip portions; a step of circumferentially shifting each of the grip portions in a prescribed circumferential direction of the stator core; and a step of axially shifting each of the grip portions separately from another in an axial direction of the stator core to locate those of the grip portions to be connected adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Takahashi, Youichi Kamakura, Masaru Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6694607
    Abstract: A cartridge positioning and holding mechanism has a fixed guide for positioning a single-open-ended cartridge when the single-open-ended cartridge is inserted in an axial direction thereof with a cap positioned ahead, and a movable chuck openable and closable for forming and holding the single-open-ended cartridge after a film coil is inserted into the single-open-ended cartridge in an axial direction of the spool of the film coil. The film coil can be inserted into the single-open-ended cartridge highly accurately and efficiently with a simple and small arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiaki Suzuki, Susumu Sato, Takayuki Kambara
  • Patent number: 6687970
    Abstract: A device and method for severing fasteners securing deck boards to pallet runners. A band saw extends across a table recess. The band saw is spaced above the tabletop aligning the saw between the deck boards and runners. The recess includes stop surfaces enabling the pallet to be pivoted from a horizontal position through a vertical position and then to an upside down position while the saw blade remains within the pallet for severing fasteners securing the opposite top deck board from the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventors: Ronald L. Waechter, Thomas A. Waechter
  • Patent number: 6687974
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an alternator includes preparing a wire-strand group formed by bending strands of wire so as to have straight portions which fit into slots, forming a base core by laminating plate-shaped magnetic members formed with the slots, stacking the wire-strand group on the base core and pressing the wire-strand group such that the straight portions enter the slots, and forming the stator core by bending the base core into a cylindrical shape and abutting end surfaces of the base core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihito Asao, Katsumi Adachi, Akira Morishita
  • Patent number: 6684492
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cotter-mounting apparatus that, by engaging a pair of cotters with engagement grooves provided on the outer circumferential surface of an axial member, mounts the pair of cotters that fix a retainer for holding a spring to exert a pressing force to the axial member in a compressed state, wherein the cotter-mounting apparatus includes a retainer holding mechanism that holds a retainer having a pair of cotters incorporated, and is driven to be relatively elevated and lowered on the upper side in the axial line direction of the axial member; a cotter separating mechanism for separating the pair of cotters from each other over the outer diameter of the axial member roughly in the horizontal direction while pushing up the pair of cotters from downward and for holding the pair of cotters; and a cotter pressing mechanism for pressing the pair of cotters separated by the cotter separating mechanism from the outside roughly in the horizontal direction and causing the cotters to be en
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hirata Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Tachibana, Hiroshi Yoshida, Yoshio Kikukawa, Satoshi Ogata
  • Patent number: 6684480
    Abstract: A method for making a through opening in a high-pressure fuel reservoir that has an elongated, tubular jacket body, which body is provided in the longitudinal direction with a continuous recess, open on at least one end, that forms the interior of the high-pressure fuel reservoir, and the through opening is made in the jacket body in the form of a bore by a machining tool in such a way that this opening discharges into the continuous recess. In order to avoid burrs, before the through opening is made, a pressure part is pressed against the inner wall of the jacket body in the region of the expected outlet of the through opening, and with the machine an tool, drilling is done through the jacket body some distance into the pressure part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wolf-Ruediger Conrad
  • Patent number: 6684477
    Abstract: A prestressed concrete fence post assembly, including 1) a main fence post body constructed of a high-strength, concrete grout material; 2) a prestressed high-strength steel tendon member positioned centrally and extended longitudinally of the main fence post body; and 3) a plurality of spaced, parallel concentric connector grooves used with wire tie members to secure fence wire strands against outer surfaces of the main fence post body. Forms, equipment, and method steps for economically casting prestressed concrete post assemblies, poles, towers, or the like. A fence post mold assembly consists of two mating fence post mold half sections, each having an inner plastic material liner to form the desired concrete product. Prestressing is accomplished by pretensioning a centrally located high-strength steel tendon member held at each end by anchor jaw assemblies. A hydraulic tensioning apparatus is connected to one of the anchor jaw assemblies and tension is applied to the tendon member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Merrill E. Crissey
  • Patent number: 6684478
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an integrally weighted base suitable for attachment to a bottom surface of an enclosure to form an integrally weighted cabinet. The integrally weighted cabinet is able to satisfy load bearing and tip over standards without requiring the addition of separate weights. The base preferably includes a frame and fill material disposed within the frame. The frame may be metal or plastic. Fill material is poured into the frame and allowed to set. The fill material may be any suitable material having a density sufficient to act as a weight or counterbalance, such as, e.g., concrete, a concrete and fiber mixture, metal, or a concrete and metal mixture. The base may further include a plurality of openings to dissipate heat from within the interior space of the cabinet. In one implementation of the present invention, the base replaces a bottom panel of a typical PTV cabinet and further eliminates the need for attaching separate weights onto a bottom panel of a typical PTV cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Bailey Lowe
  • Patent number: 6684476
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for assembling heat sink fastening structure. Each of the components in the heat sink fastening structure is composed of elastic materials. The method includes the following steps: (A) first, forming a control lever and a relating lever in one-piece type, the control lever has an operating end, a positioning hole, two lock slots, a pressing ring, and a first gripping jaw; the relating lever has an operating end, a spring, two lock blocks, and a second gripping jaw; (B) second, pushing the two lock blocks up to two corresponding lock slots and making the spring sealed between the control lever and the relating lever; (C) finally, pushing the spring into the positioning hole and putting two lock blocks into two corresponding lock slots. Therefore, the heat sink fastening structure is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Datech Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Che-Min Yu
  • Patent number: 6684503
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a printhead assembly includes selecting a printhead sub-assembly, the printhead sub-assembly comprising a printhead chip and a film electrically connected to the printhead chip. The printhead sub-assembly is attached to a printhead molding and a cover molding to form a print module. An ink reservoir sub-assembly is formed and a plurality of the printhead modules are attached to the ink reservoir sub-assembly in end-to-end relationship. Ink is charged into the reservoir sub-assembly and the completed assembly can be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Tobin Allen King, Garry Raymond Jackson
  • Patent number: 6681475
    Abstract: A method of sealing a medical container such as a vial with a polymeric closure, wherein the polymeric enclosure includes a tubular collar portion and an integral radial portion, which includes disposing the tubular collar portion over the radial rim portion of the container to surround the reduced diameter neck portion and radially deforming the tubular collar portion adjacent its free end into the reduced diameter neck portion and against the adjacent radial rim portion and, wherein the polymer selected for the closure is sufficiently malleable to permit radial deformation, yet sufficiently rigid to retain its shape following deformation and sufficiently resistant to creep to maintain a seal between the plastic closure and the container following radial deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Thibault, Hubert Jansen, Volker Niermann
  • Patent number: 6675452
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices that enable the nesting of metal units. One method generally identifies a nesting location on the metal unit, and applies a force at the nesting location to create a nesting feature. In another embodiment, the invention is a nestable metal sheet. The nestable metal sheet is generally a metal sheet, such as a copper cathode, having a nesting feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Richard A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6675459
    Abstract: A high efficiency electric motor has a generally polyhedrally shaped bulk amorphous metal magnetic component in which a plurality of layers of amorphous metal strips are laminated together to form a generally three-dimensional part having the shape of a polyhedron. The bulk amorphous metal magnetic component may include an arcuate surface, and preferably includes two arcuate surfaces that are disposed opposite to each other. The magnetic component is operable at frequencies ranging from about 50 Hz to about 20,000 Hz. When the motor is operated at an excitation frequency “f” to a peak induction level Bmax the component exhibits a core-loss less than “L” wherein L is given by the formula L=0.0074 f (Bmax)1.3+0.000282 f1.5 (Bmax)2.4, said core loss, said excitation frequency and said peak induction level being measured in watts per kilogram, hertz, and teslas, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Metglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. DeCristofaro, Peter Joseph Stamatis, Gordon E. Fish
  • Patent number: 6671950
    Abstract: A process for fabricating a multi-layer circuit assembly is provided comprising the following steps: (a) providing a perforate electrically conductive core having a via density of 500 to 10,000 holes/square inch (75 to 1550 holes/square centimeter); (b) applying a dielectric coating onto all exposed surfaces of the electrically conductive core to form a conformal coating on all exposed surfaces of the electrically conductive core; (c) ablating the surface of the dielectric coating in a predetermined pattern to expose sections of the electrically conductive core; (d) applying a layer of metal to all surfaces to form metallized vias through the electrically conductive core; and (e) applying a resinous photosensitive layer to the metal layer. Additional processing steps such as circuitization may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance C. Sturni, Kevin C. Olson