Patents Examined by Thukhanh T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6116887
    Abstract: The present invention provides foam molding equipment which has an advantage in performing exchange of a molding dies within a short time period and in improving productivity thereof, and which is most suitable, in particular, to the case of using upsized molding dies. The equipment is provided with a fixed die base 21, movable die base 8, a die opening/closing mechanism to move the movable die base 8 together with a movable die 12, and a base frame 1. The fixed die base 21 is detachable from the base frame 1. Molding dies comprising a stationary die 11 and a movable die 12 is preliminarily attached to the fixed die base 21 to form a unit 20. The base frame 1 is provided with a loading surface 4 to load the unit 20 and a unit connector 27 to fix the unit loaded on the loading surface 4 to the base frame 1. The unit 20 is loaded on the loading surface 4 in a detachable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Takaoka Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Yamada, Osamu Shimomura, Masaki Yonezawa, Hirozi Kamiya, Ken Ohshima
  • Patent number: 6116884
    Abstract: A mold core is provided for producing an overmolded flexible valve. The mold core comprises a mold body, a piston assembly, a piston retaining means, a collet bit positioning means and at least two collet bits. The mold core has a cylindrical void in a distal end and has a pressure means communicated with the cylindrical void. The piston assembly has a piston head sized and adapted for axial movement in the cylindrical void, with a piston shaft extending axially from the head. The shaft is tapered from a larger first diameter at one end to a smaller second diameter at the other end. The piston retaining means has a bore through it to allow insertion of the piston shaft. Each of the at least two collet bits has an inner cylindrical tapered surface segment, the taper of the surface segment being essentially the same as the taper in the piston shaft, and an outer cylindrical surface segment, sized and adapted to be inserted inside the flexible valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventors: William W. Rowley, Richard T. Seman
  • Patent number: 6109905
    Abstract: An apparatus for granulation of fine, light powder by mixing a powder and a mist of binder with a fluidizing air flow. The apparatus includes a container and a filter, provided along an inner peripheral surface of the container, for forming a high density powder layer thereon. A space, formed between the container and the filter, is divided into a plurality of ring-shaped zones. Also, a backwash mechanism and an exhaust mechanism are connected to the container so as to be selectively communicated with the ring-shaped zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Fujisaki Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osami Watanabe, Katsushi Kawashima, Koji Nagao, Masahiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6106749
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making concrete pipe with a packerhead concrete pipe making machine having a lift operable to selectively raise and lower the packerhead during the forming of a concrete pipe in a mold while a conveyor delivers a constant supply of concrete to the mold. The operating speed of the conveyor only increases or decreases when the motor load signal which is proportional to the load on the motor that turns the packerhead falls below or goes above lower and upper motor load reference limits. The lift speed of the packerhead varies with the vertical positions of the packerhead relative to the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Tarek A. Adly
  • Patent number: 6106759
    Abstract: A magnet molding tool for controlling the orientation of magnetic particles in a polymer bonded magnet during injection molding. The tool has magnet mold having a mold cavity. A flux generator is connected to the magnet mold. The flux generator applies a magnetic field in the cavity. A non-magnetic cap is attached to the magnet mold and is dimensioned to modify the magnetic field in the cavity such that the orientation of the magnetic particles in the cavity varies proportionally to the dimensions of the non-magnetic cap. In an alternative embodiment, a slot is formed in the magnet mold and dimensioned to modify the magnetic field in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventor: Craig A. Jarrard
  • Patent number: 6099288
    Abstract: A pellet-forming apparatus is provided for extruding high moisture materials in a low-pressure extrusion apparatus having an extruding cylinder and a cooperative extruding rotor. The rotor extends axially through the elongated cylinder and is formed with multi-tier extruding surfaces that are configured and positioned to be radially spaced with respect to the interior surface of the cylinder and form a pressure zone to effect radial displacement of the material through passages formed in the cylinder wall and be extruded exteriorly of the cylinder. The rotor preferably consists of a series of configured plates arranged along a common axis to form a combined auger-shaped extruding rotor. A feed conveyor comprising a helical flight auger is provided in preceding axial relationship to the extruding cylinder for feeding of material into the cylinder without substantial pressure buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: MP6, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David H. Long
  • Patent number: 6099283
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for forming on-site tinted and coated optical elements from a mold. The apparatus is a mold having a polymer release layer; an optical coating, such as an anti-reflective coating; a coupling agent layer to bind to the optical coating and having unreacted chemical groups; and, optionally, a tinted hard coat layer having unreacted chemical groups. The mold can be shipped to a lab that prepares optical elements, such as ophthalmic lenses, after the coupling agent layer is added or after the tinted hard coat layer is added. When using the mold with a lens resin having unreacted chemical groups, the coupling agent layer, tinted hard coat layer and optical element all crosslink as the optical element is cured to form, on-site, a durable and stable lens with chemically bound optical coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: 2C Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Soane, Theodore Lance Parker, Travis David Boone
  • Patent number: 6093010
    Abstract: A lip rolling machine for thermoformed containers in which the rim heating oven is mounted to be swingable out of its operative position for ready access to the machine components for servicing or set up. The oven is also readily detachable to be removed for convenient servicing of the oven. Guide rod adjustment mechanisms are provided for each end of the guide rods allowing the guide rod spacing at each end to be adjusted by radial in unison movement of the ends by a series of pivoting interlinked arms moved by a handle integral with one arm in each series. A stop arrangement including a threaded rod, and Bridgeport clamps positively secures each handle in an adjusted position. An adjustable transition conveyor is provided at the entrance of the machine with one end raisable by pivoting about a drive pulley axis at the other end to accommodate different sizes of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Brown Machine, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne W. Lamson
  • Patent number: 6089850
    Abstract: A molding machine with a movable molding element and at least one stationary molding element and guides to guide the movable molding element relative to the at least one stationary molding element. At least two laser light beam generators are mounted on one of the stationary or movable molding elements, and at least two laser light beam reflectors are mounted on the other of the stationary or movable molding elements at similarly spaced locations in order to receive and reflect a laser beam generated by one of the laser light beam generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Dreier Technology AG
    Inventor: Horst Dreier
  • Patent number: 6086807
    Abstract: A molding apparatus for forming a molded piece that includes a positive impression of an object, the molded piece comprising a monolithic block that is larger than the object. The apparatus comprises a container in which a negative impression of the object is formed by casting it in a fast-setting flowable compound, and a mold extension that snaps on to the container and provides an additional mold volume that is contiguous with the negative impression. The invention further comprises a mixing apparatus for mixing fast-setting compounds. In one embodiment, the mixing apparatus comprises a cylindrical jar with a screw-on lid. A rod passes through an aperture in the lid and moves axially with respect to the jar. The end of the rod external to the jar is configured as a handle, and the end of the rod internal to the jar is connected to a circular mesh. The circular mesh is oriented parallel to the bottom of the jar and has an outer diameter which is slightly less than the smallest inner diameter of the jar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Michael Thomas Wilson
  • Patent number: 6077065
    Abstract: In a process and apparatus for producing long plastic sheets by pressing molten plastic materials between the forming roller and the forming drum unit, the forming drum unit comprising a thin cylindrical sleeve supported from inside by a drum support unit and pressed against the outer surface of the forming roller to deform elastically in a curve along the outer surface of the forming roller as it rotates, thus maintaining a relatively long contact length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Chiba Machine Industry Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Sumiyoshi, Keiichi Ueba
  • Patent number: 6076797
    Abstract: An apparatus for blocking a hole, especially for blocking a passageway within a mold. The apparatus includes one or more tapered members received within recesses of an expandable sleeve. As the one or more tapered members are drawn within the sleeve by a fastener, the outer diameter of the sleeve expands so as to substantially block the hole. The apparatus also includes a surface with threads that are the opposite hand of the threads of the fastener. This second set of opposite hand threads permit holding and placing the apparatus within a location of the hole, and also for reacting the torque applied by a second tool used to tighten the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Kurt Schnautz
  • Patent number: 6074582
    Abstract: In the repair of breaks in glass with a syringe to accumulate vacuum and pressure, an improved flow regulator is engaged to protect against the contamination of the tubing, syringe and the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventors: Gerald Jacino, Anthony Jacino
  • Patent number: 6074193
    Abstract: Apparatus for fabricating chip boards or fiber boards of cellulosic material, includes a press, and a press form station arranged upstream of the press and having a storage bin for retaining a material in the form of chips or fibers and a conveyor belt arrangement extending from an outlet end of the storage bin to a receiving end of the press, with the conveyor belt arrangement including a first section forming a vertical, funnel-shaped compaction zone aNd a second arcuate section arranged downstream of the first section for deflecting the material along a curved path from a vertical disposition into a horizontal disposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Firma Theodor Hymmen
    Inventors: Josef Kratky, Werner Pankoke, Steinar Storruste
  • Patent number: 6065955
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recovering flatness of a web material which comprises heating a side edge portion of the web material at a temperature in a range from a glass transition temperature minus 40.degree. C. to a melting point of the web material for a period of from 1 to 600 seconds, and an apparatus for recovering flatness of a web material which comprises a plurality of conveying rollers for conveying the web material and a side edge portion heating means which surrounds and heats the side edge portion of the web material traveling through conveying rollers. According to the method and apparatus, the side edge portion(s) elongated by the previous heat treatment is recovered to a state similar to the central portion by reheating to correct the side edge portion(s), and thereby, flatness of the web material can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Fujikura, Naoaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6062844
    Abstract: An elongated flooring member includes an array of pyramid-shaped tread members to form an anti-skid surface. Longitudinally extending features of the flooring member are formed by an extrusion process which is followed by an embossing process to cut extruded flutes into the pyramid-shaped tread members. A first version of the flooring member includes a pair of channels extending downward from an upper web on which the tread is formed, for attachment to a substrate. A second version of the flooring member has an adhesive layer fastened under the upper web for attachment to a single plank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Michael Julius Biro
  • Patent number: 6048190
    Abstract: The frame of a laminating press includes a plurality of spaced-apart fixed threaded fasteners over which an edge of a vacuum bag having apertures aligned with such fasteners is placed. Subsequently, a backing bar having aligned apertures is placed over the vacuum bag and second threaded fasteners are secured to the first-named threaded fasteners for clamping the edge of the vacuum bag between the channel and backing bar. In a preferred embodiment, the channel is substantially C-shaped providing a serpentine pathway and attachment of the edge of the vacuum bag to the laminating press frame, thereby securely holding the edge of the vacuum bag thereto. In a preferred embodiment also, a sealing pad is positioned on the lower surface of the frame to improve the vacuum seal between the vacuum bag and the lower adjacent table on which the part to be laminated is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Coachmen Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hurley, Gregory S. Rife
  • Patent number: 6048191
    Abstract: A machine which is appropriate to flatten pastry or dough and to obtain disks of different diameter size or thickness with or without peripheral edge. The machine is used for preparing typical dishes, such as: pizza pies, tarts, cakes, piadine romagnole, tigelle, montanare, etc. The characteristic feature of the machine is that of having realized a device which, by imitating manual work, flattens a pastry ball without squeezing it, starting from the center towards the periphery, without modifying the characteristic softness, uniformity and rising capacity which are typical of manually manipulated pastry or dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Lauro Beltrami
  • Patent number: 6045346
    Abstract: A composite camel structure includes an elongate hollow, rigid cylindrical core, opposite ends of the core having respective caps sealingly connected thereto, a buoyant material of cured urethane foam substantially filling the core and being sealingly enclosed therein. A cushion is thermally bonded to and sealingly surrounds the core, the cushion having a substantially unbroken outside surface, being formed of a polymeric component consisting of polyethylene being at least 80 percent low-density polyethylene, and a process additive component including an effective amount of an ultraviolet inhibitor. A pair of parallel-spaced, transversely oriented guides extend between opposite sides of the cushion in axially spaced relation to the core, each guide defining a guide opening through the cushion for receiving hawser chains whereby the camel structure rides up and down with the tide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventor: Andrew Barmakian
  • Patent number: 6039553
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding an illumination device using an open mold are provided which allow for the addition of light extraction structures to a prefabricated light guide using a curable material. A mold containing the extraction structures is first provided. Curable molding material and the prefabricated light guide are placed into the mold, and an overlay comprising light extraction structures is cured onto the light guide, providing a functional illumination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David J. Lundin, Kevin M. Eliason