Patents Examined by William E. Dondero
  • Patent number: 10781069
    Abstract: A stackable apparatus for mounting and feeding coiled or spooled wire or cable includes a turntable having a plurality of posts that are length adjustable and positioned in a track, respectively, and configured to guide a coil or receive the spool. Each post includes a post slide portion correspondingly shaped to slide along the track. The apparatus includes a base having a pair of support members each having a longitudinal configuration fixedly attached to one another in a transverse arrangement so as to form conjoined members, the conjoined members defining a bore. A hub in the form of a lazy susan is received in the bore and operable to receive a post depending from the turntable for providing freewheeling rotation of the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventor: William Bookland
  • Patent number: 10766196
    Abstract: A filament feeder for use in an additive manufacturing system, comprising a main feeder body having mounted thereon a first biasing roller and a driven first gripper roller arranged at an adjustable first roller distance from each other allowing a filament material to be received between the first biasing roller and the first gripper roller. The filament feeder further comprises a second biasing roller and a driven second gripper roller arranged at an adjustable second roller distance from each other for receiving the filament material. A biasing assembly is provided in resilient engagement with the first and second biasing rollers and configured to bias the first and second biasing rollers toward the first and second gripper rollers, respectively, during an additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ultimaker B.V.
    Inventor: Kornelis Hermanus Welling
  • Patent number: 10766735
    Abstract: A flange for use on a reel, a flange adapter, and a flange stand are provided. The flange may include an outer circumference, a hub assembly, and an arbor hole adapter that is adapted to engage an arbor hole to secure the flange to the reel. The arbor hole adapter may include an expandable portion that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. First and second expansion plates may be coupled to the arbor hole adapter and connected by shoulder bolts that guide movement of the plates between an abutting configuration and a spaced-apart configuration, allowing movement of the expandable portion relative to the reel for modified engagement. The flange stand may include a base, a support portion, and a coupler for engaging a central extension of the flange to allow the flange to be supported in an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Southwire Company, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Mike Temblador, Myron Dale Deese, Harry William Kent, Jr., Juan Alberto Galindo Gonzalez, James Phillip Tuggle, Franklin Clarence Calhoun
  • Patent number: 10766733
    Abstract: An electric wire processing apparatus includes a gripping mechanism that grips a part of an electric wire, a driving mechanism that drives the gripping mechanism, an electric wire winding mechanism that winds the electric wire, and a rotating mechanism that rotates and drives the electric wire winding mechanism. The electric wire winding mechanism includes a winding drum, an electric wire clip provided on the winding drum to hold a leading end of the electric wire, and a holding member that holds an electric wire bundle. The driving mechanism moves the gripping mechanism toward the electric wire clip to hold the leading end on the electric wire clip, the rotating mechanism rotates the winding drum so that the electric wire is wound around the winding drum, and the holding member holds the electric wire bundle wound around the winding drum in the annular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takada
  • Patent number: 10759630
    Abstract: A tool for a cable winding machine includes a plate and at least one clamp assembly mounted to the plate. The clamp assembly includes a clamp pad movable toward and away from the plate between a clamped position and a released position. A shaft is secured to the center of the plate. The tool can be part of a cable winding machine that secures to a spool. The end of the cable can be releasably clamped between the clamp pad and the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
    Inventors: David E. Sigmon, Ricky Rathbone, Andrew C. Robinson
  • Patent number: 10757850
    Abstract: A tape feeder includes a magnet that rotates as one with a sprocket driven by a motor, two magnetic field detecting elements that detect signals in accordance with a magnetic field from the magnet and that are arranged at positions opposite the rotation region of the magnet, and a rotation angle detecting circuit that detects the rotation angle of the magnet and the rotation angle of the sprocket by processing output signals of the magnetic field detecting elements. A control section of the tape feeder reads the detection information of the rotation angle detecting circuit from immediately after the motor is started, recognizes the rotation angle of the sprocket, detects the position of tooth of the sprocket of the tooth engaged with a feeding hole of component supply tape based on the recognition results of the rotation angle of the sprocket for each pitch feeding operation of the sprocket, and corrects the pitch feeding amount of the motor by a pitch error correcting amount set for the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Tanaka, Junro Takakuwa
  • Patent number: 10743723
    Abstract: An assembly for supporting a roll of sheet product with respect to a sheet product dispenser is provided including a mandrel configured to be positioned within a housing of the dispenser and a spindle. The spindle includes a spindle body positioned over the mandrel and configured to be received within a central opening of the roll. The spindle includes first and second sets of friction elements extending away from respective ends of the spindle body. Each friction element is configured to extend radially inward from the spindle body so as to provide a contact force against the mandrel when the spindle is installed on the mandrel. The contact forces applied against the mandrel may be designed to be constant irrespective of whether the roll of sheet product is installed on the spindle and/or if the inner surface of the central opening of the roll of sheet product has any inconsistencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Roy J. Rozek
  • Patent number: 10745230
    Abstract: A winding device for a substantially electrically insulating web material having a winding roller on which the web material can be wound, characterized in that an apparatus exists for transferring an electric charge to the web material on the winding roller, and/or when deflecting to the winding roller, and the apparatus for transferring an electric charge is connected to at least one electrical high-voltage source with a positive or negative polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventors: Hubertus Dettke, Christa Dettke, Christoph Dettke
  • Patent number: 10737895
    Abstract: A film transport device for transporting a stretchable film includes: at least one belt conveyor, the belt conveyor having two opposing transport belts for transporting the film and a first and a second deflection roller, each of which guides one of the transport belts in continuous circulation and is arranged at an end in a respective transport belt. An end portion of the first deflection roller projects past an associated transport belt, the first deflection roller having a first transport ring at the end portion along its periphery. An end portion of the second deflection roller projects past an associated transport belt, the second deflection roller at the end portion along its periphery having a second transport ring. A first contact surface of the first transport ring extends with mechanical friction along a circumference of the first deflection roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: BIZERBA SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Franz Heller, Sascha Kirsch
  • Patent number: 10718071
    Abstract: A spinning-mill machine includes a plurality of cross-winding devices arranged next to each other and in sections in a longitudinal direction along opposite machine sides of the spinning-mill machine, each cross-winding device configured to wind yarn onto a sleeve. A plurality of sleeve stacks are arranged with each machine side and are configured to stockpile empty sleeves. A plurality of sleeve transport devices are configured alongside the cross-winding devices of the machine side, wherein each of the sleeve stacks has one of the sleeve transport devices operationally associated therewith to deliver the sleeves from the sleeve stack to the cross-winding devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: MASCHINENFABRIK RIETER AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Brandl, Adalbert Stephan, Harald Widner, Martin Zipperer, Helmut Haunschild, Christian Kettner, Alexander Holzheimer
  • Patent number: 10710839
    Abstract: A high efficiency bobbin winding device with adjustability has a housing that encloses at least one motor and associated circuitry and mechanism that allows a user to selectively wind a bobbin with a selected amount of thread. The motor is mounted on a hinged support that rotates to move the motor which has a shaft that spins the bobbin. An adjustment knob is rotated to selectively move the motor support. A sensor detects the amount of thread wound on the bobbin and stops further winding when the proper amount of thread is wound on the bobbin. The housing also has indicator lights to indicate power and other settings. A spool is placed on a rod and is thread through a guide and a tension adjustment and then on the bobbin where it is wound to a selected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Pamela Ruff
  • Patent number: 10710837
    Abstract: The guide apparatus for a long object comprises: a movable portion that is capable of reciprocal movement in a reciprocal direction; a fixed portion; a pair of sheets that have flexibility; and a guide member. The fixed portion is fixed so that the movement in the reciprocal direction is not possible. The pair of sheets, with a curved part formed at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction, couple the movable portion and the fixed portion. The guide member reciprocates in the reciprocal direction while guiding the movable portion and the pair of sheets so that the pair of sheets reciprocate in the reciprocal direction as the curved part is shifted in accordance with the reciprocal movement of the movable portion. The guide member forms, together with the pair of sheets, a storage chamber for storing a long object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Takayuki Tetsuka
  • Patent number: 10702908
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a molded body for heat exchanger fins is capable of realizing high-speed conveying of the molded body for heat exchanger fins, of preventing the generation of noise during conveying, and of miniaturization. As a solution, an apparatus for conveying a molded body for heat exchanger fins has a plurality of conveying units, which each include a rotating conveyor driving unit and a rotating conveyor with a rotating shaft and rotating discs on which a plurality of protrusions that advance into the tube insertion portions of a heat exchanger fin are formed, disposed along a conveying direction of the metal strip, has a drive belt suspended between the rotating shafts of adjacent conveying units, and has an operation control unit that synchronizes rotational driving operations of the rotating shafts of the respective rotating conveyor driving units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: HIDAKA SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Nishizawa, Keiichi Morishita
  • Patent number: 10696514
    Abstract: A cable, cable component and reel arrangement includes a cable, at least one component, such as a cable component, configured to be employed in connection with the cable, and a reel, on which the cable is arranged, the reel having a barrel opening. The barrel opening includes a plurality of brackets, the brackets are arranged at spaced locations within the barrel opening and configured to support at least one component for storage and shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventor: Paul Michael Good
  • Patent number: 10696508
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes: a first roller and a second roller configured to convey a print sheet while nipping the print sheet at a nip pressure; an adjustor supporting the first roller and the second roller in a manner capable of adjusting an inter-axial distance between the first roller and the second roller, the adjustor being configured to apply a biasing force biasing the second roller toward the first roller and capable of adjusting the biasing force; and a controller configured to control the nip pressure by driving the adjustor to adjust the biasing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Kudo
  • Patent number: 10696512
    Abstract: A filament accumulator assembly is provided containing a filament inlet for receiving a continuous filament from the filament source and a filament outlet for receiving the continuous filament from the filament inlet, the continuous filament forming a filament loop between the filament exiting the filament inlet and entering the filament outlet. The filament accumulator assembly further comprises a filament track defining at least part of an inner boundary and an outer boundary of a circuitous filament route between the filament inlet and the filament outlet, and the filament loop is bound by the filament track. The filament loop has a diameter that varies across a range of potential diameters within the filament track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Arevo, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven George Manuel, Erik Sunden
  • Patent number: 10694650
    Abstract: A tape feeder includes a tape guideway that has an insertion port, a first tape transporter that transports a leading tape to a component extraction position in the tape guideway, a second tape transporter that transports the following tape from the insertion port to the first tape transporter, a following tape holder that has a first supporter that supports one side of an uninserted portion of the following tape in a width direction from a lower side, and a second supporter that supports the other side of the uninserted portion in a width direction from the lower side, and holds the uninserted portion of the following tape, and a displacer that displaces the uninserted portion of the following tape from the following tape holder. A width of one end portion of the second supporter decreases toward the insertion port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru Kitani
  • Patent number: 10689224
    Abstract: A stackable apparatus for mounting and feeding coiled or spooled wire or cable includes a turnable that includes a turntable having a top surface that includes concentric measurement circles and that defines a pair of radial channels. The turntable includes a plurality of posts that are length adjustable and positioned in the pair of radial channels, respectively, and configured to guide a coil or receive the spool. Each post includes a post slide portion correspondingly shaped to slide in a respective radial channel. The apparatus includes a base having a pair of support members each having a longitudinal configuration fixedly attached to one another in a transverse arrangement so as to form conjoined members, the conjoined members defining a bore. A hub is received in the bore and operable to receive a post depending from the turntable for providing freewheeling rotation of the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Inventor: William Bookland
  • Patent number: 10676310
    Abstract: An electrical wire dispenser includes a support member having a first distal end and a second distal end, a base member extending from the first distal end of the support member, the base member having a first distal end, a second distal end, and a bottom surface. The electrical wire dispenser further includes a first support member support leg coupled with the support member, a second support member support leg coupled with the support member, and a plurality of rods coupled with the support member. The electrical wire dispenser is moveable between an expanded first position particularly suitable for dispensing electrical wire from spools and a collapsed second position particularly suitable for transporting the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Inventor: Arsenio Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10669116
    Abstract: A quick-change height adjustment mechanism allows a reel stand to accommodate differently sized storage spools. A plate of the mechanism forms a cavity into which a post is seated and has at least one space which receive a spindle of the spool. A pin engages with the plate to hold the plate in position relative to the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GREENLEE TOOLS, INC
    Inventor: John Fenske