Patents Examined by William E. Dondero
  • Patent number: 11278981
    Abstract: A device for imparting a torsional force onto a wire has a base and a support mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to the base around an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation coincides with a wire path extending through the base and the support. Further, a wire clutching device is mounted on the support and adapted to engage at a wire guided along the wire path, and a rotation mechanism is provided which is adapted for rotating the support with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventors: Carlo Gelmetti, Filippo Corradini
  • Patent number: 11267673
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a mobile carrier operable for transporting a reel of oilfield tubing across ground. The mobile carrier comprises a frame comprising a first frame portion, a second frame portion, and a central frame portion extending between the first and second frame portions. The first, second, and central frame portions define an opening for receiving the reel. The mobile carrier also comprises a locking mechanism operable to engage and rotate the reel within the opening, and a plurality of wheels supporting the frame on the ground. The plurality of wheels comprises a plurality of first wheels operably connected to the first frame portion and a plurality of second wheels operably connected to the second frame portion. The opening interposes the plurality of first wheels and the plurality of second wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Devin Rock, Pedro Rangel, Eddie R. Burrell
  • Patent number: 11267672
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a reusable yarn carrier tube around which yarn may be wound at high speeds (e.g., within winding machines). The yarn carrier tube may include a pick-up groove having structural features configured to better snag yarn to initiate winding of the yarn around the cylindrical body of the yarn carrier tube. The structural features may include an adaptable snagging feature that is adaptable to many different yarn types (e.g., diameter, denier, texture, material). The structural features may include projections (e.g., teeth) with incremental narrowing therebetween in the direction opposite to the rotational winding direction. The teeth may increase in sharpness (e.g., decreasing radii of curvature) as the yarn moves further into the pick-up groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Couchey, Edmond Fratianni
  • Patent number: 11261130
    Abstract: A method may include (1) coating a segment of fiber optic cable with an adhesive substance, (2) forming a coil of the segment of fiber optic cable, (3) deforming the coil into a noncircular shape defining a slot external to the coil while obeying a minimum bend radius requirement for the segment of fiber optic cable, and (4) activating the adhesive substance to stabilize the noncircular shape of the coil. Various other methods and apparatuses, such as those for performing the deforming operation, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventors: Karthik Yogeeswaran, Wayne Michael Kachmar, James A. Mass, Nelson Todd
  • Patent number: 11248931
    Abstract: An optical fiber winding mechanism feeds an optical fiber from raw material bobbins and winds the optical fiber around a winding bobbin, and includes a first raw material bobbin-side unit to mount the first raw material bobbin thereon, a second raw material bobbin-side unit to mount the second raw material bobbin thereon, a winding bobbin-side unit to mount the winding bobbin thereon, and a controller to control each of the units. The first raw material bobbin-side unit includes a body device, a head capable of rotating with respect to the body device, a rotation assist device capable of engaging with the head, a rotation mechanism capable of rotating the body device around a Z direction, and a slide mechanism capable of moving the rotation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: KAWAMASA INDUSTRY INC.
    Inventors: Isao Nakase, Masatoshi Hara
  • Patent number: 11247868
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, system, and method for a low tension application spooler and or coiler system that positively drives the material into the coil and or reel so that the tension is minimum during the winding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Reel Power Licensing Corp.
    Inventors: Joe Henry, Lance Collier, Carl Parker
  • Patent number: 11242215
    Abstract: The apparatus and methods disclosed herein are directed to detecting the presence of a whipping tail when using a fiber winding system to wind a fiber onto a rotating spool. The fiber is guided onto the rotating spool through a containment region between the spool and a whip shield to create the wound fiber. The whipping tail outwardly extends from the wound fiber and periodically or quasi-periodically passes through a light beam to create a series intensity dips in the light beam, thereby forming a modulated light beam. The modulated light beam is converted into a digital electrical signal made up of electrical pulses having a timing defined by the intensity dips. The measured timing of the electrical pulses is compared to an estimated timing based on the rotating spool to ascertain the presence of a whipping tail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Kirk Patton Bumgarner, James Robert Lechleider, Dustin Michael Skinner, William Joseph Stokes
  • Patent number: 11235944
    Abstract: Each of a pair of spool-supporting struts for a spool-holding rack having two pairs of vertical posts between which the struts are mounted utilizes an axle assembly having rotatable end portions for resting upon the struts and a beam having two opposite end portions. The beam includes an upwardly-opening pocket which is adapted to accept a rotatable end portion of the axle assembly directed downwardly therein, and there is associated with each end portion of the beam a platen portion which is positionable outboard of the pair of vertical posts. In addition, an abutment surface is associated with the upwardly-opening pocket for aiding in the locating of an end portion of the axle assembly in vertical registry with the upwardly-opening pocket, and the upwardly-opening pocket includes a pair of spool-centering guide plates along the side opening thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: iTool Equipment Holding LLC
    Inventors: David S. Jordan, Michael C. Jordan, Scott M. Jordan
  • Patent number: 11225392
    Abstract: There is provided a wound thread package that is unlikely to cause problems such as cob-webbing and collapse at the time of unwinding even when the wound thread is a multi-filament thread or tape-like thread, and a manufacturing method for the same. To manufacture a wound thread package 1 by winding a plurality of multi-filament threads or tape-like threads having a total fineness of 100 to 6400 dtex per thread around a bobbin 2 by a traverse method, the threads constituting a thread layer 3 are arranged at intervals therebetween and wound with the same in traverse width w and at different traverse reverse positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: UBE EXSYMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Tanaka, Yasushi Kato, Kousuke Kanno, Kazuyoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11203508
    Abstract: A winding device and associated method for swiveling a bobbin in the winding device during an interruption of a winding operation are provided, wherein the bobbin rests on a backing roller and is formed on a bobbin tube onto which a thread is wound. The bobbin tube is rotatably held between holders on two retaining arms mounted on a common swivel arm having a swivel axis. With force measurement unit, one of intrinsic weight of the bobbin or a force effect that acts on the retaining arms due to contact of the bobbin with the backing roller is measured. A manual force is transmitted into at least one of the retaining arms in a force direction that is determined by evaluating the force measurement unit. With a drive that is operably configured with the swivel arm, the swivel arm is swiveled in the force direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SSM Schärer Schweiter Mettler AG
    Inventor: Marcel Christe
  • Patent number: 11186461
    Abstract: A reel apparatus and method comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and a bearing assembly coupled to the inner flange assemblies. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is spooled from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Bigbee, Jr., John L. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 11180335
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for unrolling a strip (10) for a stamping machine (1) that allows an accumulation of the strip to be stamped (2) under a pre-unrolled form between at least one stamping spool (3) and a plate press (310) of the stamping machine (1), so characterized in that the device for unrolling a strip (10) comprises: a central drum (11) configured to be led in rotation at a variable advance speed, united in rotation with an axis of the device for unrolling the strip (10), a satellite roller (14) presenting an axis (11) constructed parallel to the axis of the central drum (11), where the satellite roller (14) can be turned around the central drum (11), and the pre-unrolled strip may be rolled around the central drum (11) due to the movement of the satellite roller (14), and a planetary leading device (15) to move the satellite roller (14) around the central drum (11) as a function of the difference of the rotation speeds of the central drum (11) and of an exterior ring (13) of the planeta
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: BOBST MEX SA
    Inventors: Christophe De Gaillande, Bernard Jaquet
  • Patent number: 11180340
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus, system and method for providing pay-out head utilized in unwrapping elongated materials with adjustable pintle flanges that allows for keeping a coil pack stay concentric on the head during the unwrapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Reel Power Licensing Corp.
    Inventor: Brent S. Lim
  • Patent number: 11174121
    Abstract: A device for imparting a torsional force onto a wire has a base and a support mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to the base around an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation coincides with a wire path extending through the base and the support. Further, a wire clutching device is mounted on the support and adapted to engage at a wire guided along the wire path, and a rotation mechanism is provided which is adapted for rotating the support with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventors: Carlo Gelmetti, Filippo Corradini
  • Patent number: 11177637
    Abstract: An item and an associated method utilizing an elongated core defining an outer surface having a series of axially-disposed regions about which windable materials can be wound involves anchoring locations at which the terminal ends of windable materials are anchorable. The series of regions are arranged along the core of the item in a sequential fashion with a first region being disposed adjacent a first end of the core, and the anchoring location of each subsequent region in the series of regions subsequent to the first region is circumferentially spaced about the outer surface of the core from the anchoring location of the region which immediately precedes the subsequent region by a predetermined distance and in a circumferential direction therealong which is opposite the direction in which the item is rotated during a material unwinding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: iTool Equipment Holding LLC
    Inventors: David S. Jordan, Michael C. Jordan
  • Patent number: 11167333
    Abstract: A laying head assembly for the formation of coils is disclosed and can include a laying head configured to rotate about an axis, a pathway defining an enclosed conduit configured to contain an elongated material, the pathway extending in a helical path around the laying head, and at least one support structure coupling the pathway to the laying head, wherein at least one of the one or more couplings have an asymmetrical cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: RUSSULA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keith Fiorucci
  • Patent number: 11161712
    Abstract: A spool of optical fibre comprises a spool axis and a length of optical fibre wound around the spool axis to form a plurality of wrap segments arranged axially along the spool axis, wherein adjacent wrap segments partially overlap in the axial direction. Each wrap segment comprises a first wrap layer wound in a first axial direction over a first axial distance, and a second wrap layer wound over the first wrap layer in a reverse second axial direction over a second axial distance greater than the first axial distance, the optical fibre extending from the second wrap layer of one wrap segment to the first wrap layer of an adjacent wrap segment. The spool may be mounted in a device such that the optical fibre can be despooled and deployed from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Well-Sense Technology Limited
    Inventor: Daniel George Purkis
  • Patent number: 11154119
    Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a spool system that can be engaged or disengaged from a driveshaft through the use of a cam device. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensile element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Ryan Frederick, Clayton Lindsay, Austin Orand, Andrew A. Owings
  • Patent number: 11142427
    Abstract: A winding device for winding a yarn onto a package tube has a spindle that holds and rotationally drives the package tube. A support roller abuts against a peripheral surface of the yarn winding package during winding of the yarn. The spindle is supported by a pivotably mounted swivel arm so as to swivel relative to the support roller. A contact-force control device is provided and includes an actuator disposed to actuate the swivel arm, and a control device configured with the actuator. A bending beam load cell is configured on the swivel arm to determine an actual value of a contact force between the yarn package and the support roller. The contact force is regulated to a predetermined target value via control of the actuator by the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SSM Schärer Schwerter Mettler AG
    Inventor: Marcel Christe
  • Patent number: 11130651
    Abstract: A thread guiding device (100) for guiding threads. The thread guiding device (100) comprises a main element (1), at least one cover element (2) and at least one thread guide (3). The at least one thread guide (3) is, or can be, arranged in a recess (11) of the main element (1). The thread guide (3) is, or can be, removably secured to the main element (3) by the cover element (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: HEBERLEIN AG
    Inventor: Andreas Brunner