Patents by Inventor Alfred D. Story

Alfred D. Story has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4648428
    Abstract: A shirred tubular material comprising a plurality of outer folds which when the tubular material is opened are arranged along at least two substantially parallel, longitudinally extending helixes. A method for forming the disclosed shirred tubular material is disclosed which comprises sequentially applying shirring forces through two or more sets of shirring elements wherein each successive member of a set applies shirring forces along a different continuous line than its immediate preceding member. The tubular material may contain reinforcing fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Teepak, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred D. Story
  • Patent number: 4351549
    Abstract: This relates to a mandrel clamp assembly for supporting a mandrel of a shirring machine and for introducing liquid and air into the mandrel. Most particularly, this relates to the mounting of a sealing sleeve and the mounting of a mandrel positioning pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Assignee: Teepak, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Williams, Alfred D. Story
  • Patent number: 4339894
    Abstract: An apparatus for shirring synthetic casings wherein there is superimposed on the customary helical shirring pattern another pattern which will change the folding or shirring pleat pattern of the casing from that of the customary continuous helix so as to increase the compressibility of the casing. In its simplest form, the part cylindrical shirring surfaces of cooperating shirring wheels are machined so as cooperatively to define a cylindrical shirring surface having a center which rotates about the axis of an associated shirring mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Assignee: Teepak, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred D. Story, Dixon R. Asquith
  • Patent number: 4336632
    Abstract: This relates to a machine for shirring tubular films such as those used for sausage casings and the like. In accordance with this disclosure, the films are continuously fed onto a mandrel where they are opened from their flat state and then are fed at a selected rate through a shirring head. The shirred casing is then gripped and advanced in a manner so as to control the density thereof and to impart a spin thereto as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: Teepak, Inc.
    Inventors: Willard T. Wilson, Harold H. Martinek, Thomas W. Martinek, Alfred D. Story
  • Patent number: 4320558
    Abstract: This relates to a machine for shirring tubular films such as those used for sausage casings and the like. In accordance with this disclosure, the films are continuously fed onto a mandrel where they are opened from their flat state and then are fed at a selected rate through a shirring head. The shirred casing is then gripped and advanced in a manner so as to control the density thereof and to impart a spin thereto as desired. The shirred casing, while being spun, is gripped by a pair of cooperating units and a leading portion of the shirred casing is separated at predetermined spacings into individual strands which are then fed along the mandrel individually and are compressed and doffed from the mandrel into a strand handler which then presents each strand to an end closer and thereafter deposits the closed strand on a receiving tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignee: Teepak, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold H. Martinek, Thomas W. Martinek, Alfred D. Story
  • Patent number: 4307488
    Abstract: This relates to an apparatus for treating a separated strand of shirred casing. The strand is fed along a mandrel and a stop member is positioned transversely of the mandrel adjacent a free end thereof, after which the trailing end of the strand is engaged by a shaping device which, as it advances toward the stop to compress the strand, is oscillated or rotated also to dress the trailing end of the strand. When the stop is opened, the same member is used to doff the strand from the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Teepak, Inc.
    Inventors: William Lofland, Alfred D. Story, Harold H. Martinek
  • Patent number: 4295247
    Abstract: This relates to a gripper-separator unit for separating continuously shirred casing into individual strands. The gripper is provided with hold back blades which engage the shirred casing while the separator is provided with like blades which engage the shirred casing substantially in the same plane as the gripper blades. The separator is then rapidly moved away from the gripper so as to snap the casing at the point of engagement by the blades. Suitable drives are provided for separately reciprocating the gripper and the separator and various drives are provided for positioning the blades. When the casing is being spun, the separator and the gripper are spun in unison therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Teepak, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy L. Trimble, Alfred D. Story, Harold H. Martinek