Patents Examined by Willmon Fridie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7347130
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting spinal implants to a desired length is disclosed. The spinal implant is supported on a mandrel that rotates while a cutting blade cuts the spinal implant. The apparatus and method accurately size and cut spinal implants to the desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Stryker Spine
    Inventors: Tan-Loc Pham, Francois Paponneau, Cedric De Conninck, Jerome Despiau
  • Patent number: 7347640
    Abstract: A binder for releasably retaining loose-leaves. The binder has a front cover that lies flatly beneath its back cover when the binder is open 360 degrees. The rings of the binder can rotate around an edge of the flatly-folded cover to enable loose-leaves to lie flat above and below the cover. The binder also has a skeleton with a minimal cross-section spine which may be partially or completely embedded in a cover and rotates in relation to parallel front and back covers when the binder is open 360 degrees. The front cover, middle cover and back cover are connected in a way so that they do not interfere with the rotation of the rings. Mechanisms to open and close the rings of the skeleton to allow addition or removal of loose-leafs, and ring shapes to optimize or stabilize the capacity of the binder during operation are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: James S. Chizmar
  • Patent number: 7344160
    Abstract: Anti-counterfeiting and counterfeit detection devices and procedures are provided particularly usable in connection with vouchers issued by coin discriminator or coin counting machines. Paper stock may be preprinted with inks which are not readily photocopied without apparent alteration. Preprinting is preferably in two or more orientations such as longitudinal and lateral and preferably some preprinting is positioned closer to the paper stock edge than can typically be achieved using ordinarily available laser printers or inkjet printers. A pattern of perforations, preferably micro perforations, are provided in a curved, preferably tightly radiused shape or configuration. Serial numbers or other identifiers may be preprinted on portions of the paper stock and matching or correlatable numbers printed on such preprinted paper stock substantially at the time of printing the voucher value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Coinstar, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Geiger, David J. Brown, Timothy J. Manion, Scott J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 7343839
    Abstract: A bar feeder includes a feeder tube mounted on a machine base, a transmission mechanism, a driving mechanism having a rotary shaft, a projecting rod connected to the driving mechanism and rotatable with the rotary shaft to engage or disengage from the transmission mechanism, a pushing rod, and a driven mechanism rotatable with the rotary shaft to move the pushing rod into engagement or away from the transmission mechanism. When the pushing rod and the transmission mechanism are coupled together, the pushing rod is movable along the feeder tube, and the projecting rod is disengaged from the transmission mechanism and moved away from the feeder tube. When the pushing rod and the transmission mechanism are disconnected, the pushing rod is not movable along the feeder tube, and the projecting rod is coupled to the transmission mechanism and movable along the feeder tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Barload Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fang-Chin Lu
  • Patent number: 7341407
    Abstract: A tire rasp blade made with an arcuate shape having a planar body with cutting teeth at the outer working edge. The cutting teeth extend laterally relative to the planar body in alternating sets of curved sections. The curved sections preferably form a sinusoidal curve along the outer working edge. The tire rasp blade is made by initially forming an arcuate blade of planar material that has an outer periphery of varying radii from a center point of the arcuate blade; then cutting teeth are formed at the varying radii of the working edge of the planar material; and then an outer portion of the planar material is deformed laterally in opposite directions to form alternating, oppositely curved sections, with the cutting teeth all lying approximately at the same circumferential radius so that they all contact the tire to be buffed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Pincott International Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Noel Harold Boorer
  • Patent number: 7341433
    Abstract: A cutting insert includes a plurality of consecutively disposed, interlinked individual cutting inserts that can be brought into use successively through a respectively interposed predetermined breaking point by detaching a respectively preceding individual cutting insert in cutting use. The cutting insert has a blade-shaped construction with lower and upper bearing surfaces for being held in an elongated cutout with lower and upper opposing surfaces in a basic tool body of a grooving and cut-off tool or disk milling cutter. Each individual cutting insert is provided with a positioning device that cooperates with a complementary positioning device of the basic tool body. A grooving and cut-off tool or disk milling cutter and a wrench for the cutting insert, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ceratizit Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Dietmar Berger, Christian Göberl, Uwe Schleinkofer, Remus Venturini
  • Patent number: 7338236
    Abstract: A milling tool 1, in particular a tubular drill, includes a shaft 2 and a working portion 3. At least one cutting edge 8 is provided at a face of the working portion 3 and at least one bore 4 extends into the face of the working portion 3. The axis of the bore 4 extends axially parallel or in an angle, preferably between 0° and 20°, with respect to an axis 5 of the tool 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Gebr. Brasseler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Friedrich-Wilhelm Rieke, Thomas Neudeck, Andreas Koester
  • Patent number: 7337699
    Abstract: An on-car disc brake lathe system for resurfacing a brake disc of a vehicle brake assembly includes a lathe body with a driving motor, a cutting head operably attached to the lathe body, and a drive shaft. The system also includes an alignment system having an electronic controller, input and output adaptors configured to rotate with the drive shaft, one or more adjustment discs, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment disc is positioned between the input adaptor and the output adaptor, and an axial alignment of the input adaptor relative to the output adaptor may be varied based on a rotational orientation of the adjustment disc. The adjustment mechanism is configured to change the rotational orientation of the adjustment disc in response to commands from the electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Newell, John Wiggins
  • Patent number: 7337700
    Abstract: A precision tool holder for precisely positioning a single point cutting tool on 4-axis lathe, such that the center of the radius of the tool nose is aligned with the B-axis of the machine tool, so as to facilitate the machining of precision meso-scale components with complex three-dimensional shapes with sub-?m accuracy on a four-axis lathe. The device is designed to fit on a commercial diamond turning machine and can adjust the cutting tool position in three orthogonal directions with sub-micrometer resolution. In particular, the tool holder adjusts the tool position using three flexure-based mechanisms, with two flexure mechanisms adjusting the lateral position of the tool to align the tool with the B-axis, and a third flexure mechanism adjusting the height of the tool. Preferably, the flexures are driven by manual micrometer adjusters. In this manner, this tool holder simplifies the process of setting a tool with sub-?m accuracy, to substantially reduce the time required to set the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Bono, Robin L. Hibbard
  • Patent number: 7337698
    Abstract: A pipe shaving device for removing a uniform layer of material from the outer circumference of a pipe is provided. The device comprises a first frame member providing at least two support surfaces for the pipe, a second frame member slidable with respect to the first frame member so as to allow the device to engage and support a pipe, and a cutting platform mounted on the second frame member, the cutting platform providing a cutting blade for removing a uniform thickness of material from the outer diameter of the pipe when the pipe and the device are rotated relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: S & D Machine and Tool
    Inventors: Nino DiBiase, Michael Salluce
  • Patent number: 7334510
    Abstract: The present invention relates to on-car brake lathes configured for resurfacing brake rotor components, and in particular, to improved on-car brake lathes configured with a controlled variable speed drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Gerdes, Michael A. Olsen, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III, Alberto Caorle
  • Patent number: 7329072
    Abstract: There is disclosed a clamping mechanism for a cutting insert that clamps the cutting insert by inserting the cutting insert into an insert mounting seat. The insert mounting seat is formed in a tip of a holder having a pair of contacting surfaces facing each other, and the cutting insert has a pair of contact surfaces to come in contact with the pair of contacting surfaces, respectively. The tip of the holder is provided with a pair of jaws that is formed with the pair of contacting surfaces, respectively, and that can be elastically deformed relatively in a direction that the contacting surfaces contact the contact surfaces, and a clamping means that elastically deforms the pair of jaws to bring relatively the pair of contacting surfaces close to each other and to separate them relatively from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiko Nagaya, Norio Aso, Hiroaki Hayashizaki, Yasuharu Imai
  • Patent number: 7328638
    Abstract: A cutting tool assembly having a tool post capable of lateral movement along a work piece to be cut and an actuator with a tool tip. The actuator provides for control of the movement of the tool tip in an x-direction into and out of the work piece in order to make discontinuous microstructures in it. The machined work piece can be used to make microstructured articles such as films having non-adjacent lenslets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Gardiner, Alan B. Campbell, Dale L. Ehnes, Daniel S. Wertz
  • Patent number: 7326006
    Abstract: A cutting tool in which a cutting insert is retained by a retaining screw. The cutting insert comprises a rear surface and a lower surface, both of which are generally V-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Iscar Ltd.
    Inventors: Gil Hecht, Ehud Levanon
  • Patent number: 7322774
    Abstract: An end mill for cutting or milling objects and a method of operation thereof. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Volokh
  • Patent number: 7322775
    Abstract: A self contained, toolless quick change tool holder for cutter inserts on machine tools comprises a housing having at least one seat portion which is adapted to receive and conform to the shape of a cutter insert. A clamping arm is mounted in the insert housing. The clamping arm is movable within the insert housing and includes a a clamp portion extending over the seat portion. The clamp portion engages a cutter insert. A locking mechanism is contained within the housing and has a clamp position which forces the clamp portion to engage a cutter insert and a release position which forces the clamp portion to disengage from a cutter insert to allow removal and replacement of said cutter insert. The locking mechanism moves between the release position and the clamp position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Charles A. Van Horssen
  • Patent number: 7320564
    Abstract: A cutting insert for grooving operations having a forward main cutting edge and two opposing side cutting edges extending rearwardly and outwardly from the main cutting edge, each side cutting edge having a variable rake angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Iscar Ltd.
    Inventor: Uzi Gati
  • Patent number: 7320268
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and/or profile machining an edge of a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes a housing, a rotatable faceplate mounted on a front surface of the housing, and a tool holder mounted on the faceplate and holding a cutting tool. In a first embodiment, a cutting apparatus includes gearing that permits the tool holder to be moved relative to a surface of a pipe in a rapid-feed mode, a slow-feed mode and a rapid-return mode. In second and third embodiments, a profile machining apparatus includes a carriage having a profiling roller or shaft that advances (or retracts) relative to a pipe along a path defined by a template. The carriage to which the cutting tool is mounted is pivoted about a support shaft permitting the carriage and tool to change its angle and orientation relative to the pipe while advancing or retracting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kenichi Mori
    Inventor: Shinji Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7316173
    Abstract: Woodturners who make bowls frequently find that the unoccupied tailstock limits the path of the tool handle. The normal solution is to manually remove the tailstock from the lathe and set it on the floor or a work bench. Tailstocks can be heavy and manual removal and reinstallation might be needed several times during the production of a single piece. The invention provides a means to get the tailstock out of the turners way via a short bed extension that is pivotally mounted on the end of the lathe bed. To use it, the tail stock is slid back onto the extension, a hold down is released, and the tailstock is tilted away from the user. After tilting, a second set of ways lines up with the existing bed, allowing full use of the additional length afforded by the invention. The invention allows the tailstock to be easily returned to its normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventor: Brent W. English
  • Patent number: 7313992
    Abstract: Tube ends such as those of boiler tube banks, are prepared utilizing any of various combinations of processes which include a step of micro-diameter tube film removal from a portion of a tube end, including an area below a beveled segment, or segment to be beveled. The micro-diameter film removal step provides the tube with an exposed, clean metal surface which is conducive to a subsequent welding or bonding operation performed on the tube. In yet a further embodiment, tube film removal blades are provided having a curved or rounded edge which can be utilized in milling operations having close quarters. In a further embodiment, milling head cutting blades are provided which are adjustable. In a preferred embodiment, the milling head cutting blades and/or bevel blades are provided with elongated, slotted bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: H&S Tool, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Randall Hall