Patents Examined by W. Donald Bray
  • Patent number: 6655428
    Abstract: A dowel hole and slot cutter comprise a motor having a base slidably mounted on a track and a cylindrical cutting bit mounted at one end of the motor and extending outwardly therefrom. A support includes a pair of arms with one arm extending upwardly from each side of the track and a cross-portion joining the arms and having an aperture extending therethrough for movement of the cylindrical cutting bit. A flat member having an aperture therethrough includes a track at its upper and lower end which engages the cross portion of the bracket for movement transverse to the cross portion. In operation, the cutter may be used to drill holes, dowel holes, or slots in a fast efficient manner. A polycarbonate member having a elongated slot for the cylindrical cutting bit is mounted between the flat member and a adjustable support member, which includes a perpendicular portion extending outwardly therefrom and two portions extending downwardly from the perpendicular portion therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Keith Kornhoff
  • Patent number: 6655427
    Abstract: A wood planing machine includes a carriage having four corners mounted on a base via four hollow posts. Four screw rods are disposed rotatably in the posts. Four tubular threaded members are secured to the corners of the carriage, and are disposed within the posts, respectively. Each of the threaded members defines a threaded bore for engaging the respective screw rod, and has an internally threaded portion, and a circumferential slot formed through the internally threaded portion to divide the same into upper and lower parts. The upper part has a bottom surface confining a top end of the slot. The lower part is formed with a threaded bore therethrough. A locking bolt engages the threaded bore in the lower part, and presses against the bottom surface of the upper part such that threads on the upper parts press upwardly against the screw rods and that threads on the lower parts press downwardly against the screw rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventor: Pei-Lieh Chiang
  • Patent number: 6655616
    Abstract: The invention relates to a manual grinder for mounting on the neck (C) of a receptacle for foodstuffs in the form of grains, the grinder being characterized in that it comprises firstly a fixed ring (1) provided with a flange (11) for supporting it on the receptacle, which flange is downwardly extended by an inner sleeve (12) that is engaged in said neck (C) and that presents a toothed inner side wall (12a), and secondly a cap (2) rotatably mounted on said neck (C) covering said ring (1) and including a peripheral skirt (21) radially connected to a central bushing (22) having a toothed outer side wall (22a) that is engaged coaxially in said sleeve (12), so as to define between them a peripheral grinding zone (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: L & M Services B.V.
    Inventor: Armand Wagner
  • Patent number: 6648037
    Abstract: Five processes for cutting teak wood timber so that the resulting logs have at least one straight-line grain surface and minimal surface area showing buds. Logs or thin sections thereof when aligned and glued together form boards or planks with straight-line grain surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Wutipong Chaisang
  • Patent number: 6648254
    Abstract: The crop material processor for disintegrating baled crop material comprises a housing for receiving and containing the baled crop material. The housing has a front wall, a back wall, a left side wall, a right side wall and a bottom, wherein each of the left and right side walls includes a fixed lower section and a pivotably mounted upper section forming a movable wing. The processor further includes a disintegrator having a roller positioned along the length of the housing, manipulator rollers mounted inside the housing, and a discharge opening at the bottom of one of the side walls to discharge crop material from the processor. Each of the fixed side walls sections may have a protrusion projecting into the housing substantially level with and parallel to the manipulator roller. Each wing, which rotates about an axis positioned generally at the same level as the manipulator roller, comprises a back panel having one edge fixed to an axle for rotating the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgeview Mfg. Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Hruska
  • Patent number: 6648036
    Abstract: A veneer lathe that can provide a veneer produced by cutting out a log, which is substantially free from surface scratches, and thus can be used as a surface sheet for plywood. A roller bar drives a log while pushing its peripheral surface on the upstream side of a knife fixed to a knife carriage for cutting the rotating log in a log rotating direction. The roller bar 3 has a large number of grooves defined in a peripheral surface thereof. The shape of the grooves 5a in a section crossing the shaft centerline of the roller bar 3 is set so that an angle between a tangent at a corner portion 3e constituted by a line 3d of an outer periphery of the roller bar 3 and a line 3b extending outward from an upstream side face of the grooves 5a is 130 to 160 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenzo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6644370
    Abstract: A device for enlarging a machine table of a machine tool has a rectangular table plate having an end face which can be attached to an edge of the machine table via a retaining device. The retaining device includes a supporting strip which can be fixed to the machine table edge and bears against the latter essentially over the entire length of the supporting strip. Two cap screws project from the supporting strip. Two suspension slots are defined on an underside of the table plate. The suspension slots are open at the bottom for receiving the cap screws in a positive-locking engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Georg Aigner
  • Patent number: 6644369
    Abstract: A cutter unit includes two positioning bars mounted securely in a retaining groove of a rotating axle to define a cutter-receiving chamber therebetween. A cutter positioning block is disposed in the chamber. A first side face of the cutter positioning block is formed with a cutter-holding recess to receive a cutter. The recess is defined by a recess-confining wall with two opposing wall portions abutting against two end faces of the cutter. A side face of the cutter is disposed outwardly of the recess. An adjusting unit is disposed between and abuts against a second side face of the cutter positioning block and one of two wall portions of the retaining groove, and is adjustable to move the cutter positioning block and the cutter so as to press the cutter against the other one of the wall portions of the retaining groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Pei-Lieh Chiang
  • Patent number: 6640852
    Abstract: A device for handling and splitting logs is characterized by a unique mechanism for holding logs while they are cut into sections of a desired length and then simultaneously splitting the cut sections into quarters. The log holding apparatus is arranged on a portable frame and inclined bed for the logs, the entire apparatus being easily transported to the log handling site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Dennis Rogers
  • Patent number: 6640853
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wood-milling cutter. A circular cutter head includes a plurality of semicircular engaging grooves at the rim thereof for receiving a plurality of hilts with corresponding arched surface. A semicircular screw hole is formed in the middle of the top rim of the semicircular engaging grooves. A blade is received at the bottom of said hilt. A semicircular cavity corresponding to the semicircular screw hole of the cutter head is provided in the middle of the top of the hilt and equipped with an annular flange. Therefore, the semicircular screw hole and the semicircular cavity form a full circular hole to receive a trimming screw with an annular groove in the middle thereof. The annular flange of the semicircular cavity is engaged in the annular groove of the trimming screw while the threaded member of the trimming screw joins the semicircular screw hole of the semicircular engaging grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Hui-Ming Sun
  • Patent number: 6640854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a treatment unit with a cutting tool (1) for treating wood, plastic or the like. Said treatment unit comprises a suction hood (6) with a ring (17) that encircles the tool (1) completely in the circumferential direction and at least partially in the axial direction. The suction hood (6) is located on the side of the drive spindle of the tool (1). A chip receiving opening (10) is provided in the tool (1) in the vicinity of the blade (4), said opening traversing the tool (1) in both the axial and the radial direction. A chip formed at the blade (4) is transported through the chip receiving opening (10) to the suction hood (6) from where the chip is removed by air suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Ledermann GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Kalmbach, Wilhelm Kalmbach, Hans-Jürgen Gittel, Ewald Westfal
  • Patent number: 6640850
    Abstract: A tree harvesting apparatus is provided. The harvesting apparatus comprises a frame member, a cutting device mounted to the frame member, and at least one cutting member attached to the cutting device. A base member partially overlays the cutting device. A tree accumulation member is positioned adjacent the base member and is co-planar therewith and extends over at least a portion of the cutting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Keith B. Hicks
  • Patent number: 6640855
    Abstract: A log processing machine and associate method employs one or more log guides to make joinery cuts in a processed log which has at opposed edges of the processed log the raw log's natural external contour. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each log guide includes a straight edge and is attached to the processed log to create an artificial straight edge for guiding the processed log through the joinery machine. Prior to attachment, centerlines are marked on the log guide and the processed log, and the centerlines are aligned when the log guide is attached to the processed log. The processed log, with the log guide attached, is then moved through the machine with the aid of computer control while the straight edge of the log guide follows a fence. In this manner, the position of the processed log and its centerline are always known so that the computer can make the programmed joinery cuts with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Hearthstone, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy K. Giles
  • Patent number: 6640851
    Abstract: A stump grinding apparatus of the type adapted to be mounted in a frame on the end of a boom is described. The apparatus comprises a grinding wheel mounted between hubs keyed to a shaft that is connected though belts and gears to a source of motive power, such as a diesel engine. A pair of non-adjustable roller bearings are used to provide relative movement of the shaft and grinding wheel in the frame. The apparatus includes means for providing lubrication between relatively moving parts so that the life of the bearings and other component parts can exceed 5000 hours of use without failure. The shaft assembly includes dimensional tolerances that protect the moving parts from the ingress of dirt and other debris. The materials of construction are selected to also enhance trouble-free operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: John T. Bennington
  • Patent number: 6637482
    Abstract: The innovation concerns a wood harvesting method and a harvester head. The method is used to harvest all sizes of trees without to take the harvester to the site more than once. The method consists of placing the harvester head against the first tree, closing all grapples around the tree, cutting the tree with the cutting device, lifting the cut tree a little by holding it with the grapples fastened to the telescopic boom and using the stroke cylinder to move the telescopic boom in relation to the main body, moving to the next tree, opening the rigid grapples and holding the first tree in an upright position with the articulated grapples, closing the rigid grapples around the tree, opening the articulated grapples, so that their turning tips slide away from between the trees, closing the articulated grapples around all the trees, cutting the tree with the cutting device, and continuing the work in the above described order by collecting more trees and cutting them, until the grapples are full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Outokummun Matalli Oy
    Inventor: Kari Koponen
  • Patent number: 6637483
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for profiling a log. In a profiler having first and second knives disposed on a rotating disc, a mounting member is adapted to mountably receive both the first and second knives so that each blade has a point on its cutting edge that is proximate a point that is on the cutting edge of the other knives. Preferably, the points are end most points and abut one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Key Knife, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Stager, John S. Luecke
  • Patent number: 6637681
    Abstract: The invention is related to an electrical appliance from the type blender of food processor, comprising a base including an electric motor, a container able to be removably secured on said base, said container having a cylindrical open top, a food processing tool mounted in the bottom of said container and able to be driven by said motor, a lid able to close said container, means for limiting axial movement of the lid, means for limiting rotational movement of the lid, a safety device including a pin mounted on the container and a switch mounted on the base, the lid including means for actuating the pin to operate the switch in order to enable motor operation when the lid occupies a closed operating position on the container, wherein a locking button is provided on the container, said button being able to actuate a lock able to bear against an abutment or to enter a notch, said notch or said abutment being provide on the lid, to lock the lid on the container in the closed operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Arno S.A.
    Inventors: Rinaldo Planca, José Carlos Veneziano
  • Patent number: 6637686
    Abstract: A refiner including a rotor and a stator defining a cylindrical or conical refining gap therebetween. A pulp feed channel extends in a radial direction from an inlet pipe to the refining gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Andritz AG
    Inventors: Peter Antensteiner, Helmuth Gabl, Andreas Gorton-Hülgerth, Gerald Schadler
  • Patent number: 6634284
    Abstract: A round bale baling apparatus includes an accumulator for rolling crop material into a round bale, a twine dispenser adapted to hold and dispense twine, and a twine tensioner. The twine tensioner is adjustable and includes an energizable actuator and switch for operating the actuator to adjust the twine tension. Specifically, the switch can be manipulated to selectively decrease tension on the twine during initial gripping of the free end of the twine by a rolling loose bale, and to selectively increase tension on the twine once the twine is sufficiently wrapped onto the bale to provide a secure pulling force. The actuator can be electric, such as a reversible DC motor or solenoid, or can be another energizable device actuable from a remote position. Methods related to the above are also defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Donald R. Parker
  • Patent number: 6629548
    Abstract: A sawdust collecting device includes a flexible sleeve having a tapered top section with an open top end, and a bottom section having an open bottom end. A truncated cone-shaped coil spring is disposed in the tapered top section of the flexible sleeve, and abuts against an inner wall of the tapered top section of the flexible sleeve so as to expand the tapered top section of the flexible sleeve. A sawdust collector is disposed below the flexible sleeve, and has an open top end connected to the open bottom end of the flexible sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventor: Pei-Lieh Chiang