Patents by Inventor Dirk Maes

Dirk Maes 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).

  • Publication number: 20020157782
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laminating roller for laminating presses. The laminating roller has a rigid roller core (20) and a friction layer (24), preferably composed of elastomeric material, which is arranged on the roller core (20). It can be heated by means of a heating element. To simplify the structure of the laminating press, the invention proposes that the heating unit (18) should be arranged between the roller core (20) and the friction layer (24). It is expediently in the form of a heating-resistance element track applied by a thick-film technique with an insulating layer in between.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Dirk Maes
  • Publication number: 20020033235
    Abstract: A roller arrangement suitable for use in a laminating machine. The roller arrangement comprises: a laminating roller of substantially cylindrical shape; a curved plate disposed around at least a part of the outer cylindrical surface of the laminating roller, the curved plate having a shape generally in conformance with that of the outer cylindrical surface of the laminating roller; and a heating layer integral with at least a part of the outer surface of the plate. When the heating layer is activated the laminating roller is heated by the curved plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventor: Dirk Maes
  • Patent number: 6000895
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for opening a binding element for receiving perforated sheets, the binding element comprising a spine and a plurality of relatively spaced ring elements arranged side by side, with the free ends of the ring elements resiliently engaging the binder spine when closed. A low-cost device for opening a binding element is provided. The device includes a front section, a rear section having at least the same length as the binding element and being dimensioned such that, when the device is inserted into the binding element, the ring elements successively come into contact with the outer areas of the rear section, and that the free ends of the ring elements are spaced at least up to a specified distance from the spine, and a curved surface area provided at least in the rear section and being partly engaged by the inner surfaces of the ring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Esselte N.V.
    Inventor: Dirk Maes
  • Patent number: 5988969
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for limiting the force exerted on an actuating mechanism for a binding device and/or a perforating/punching device, with the actuating mechanism being comprised of a rotary shaft coupled to the corresponding movable part of the binding and/or perforating/punching device, such that a rotary motion of the shaft is converted into a translational motion of the corresponding movable part of the binding and/or perforating device. There; is provided in the actuating mechanism a coupling mechanism which performs a decoupling function automatically when the force exerted on the actuating mechanism exceeds a maximum permissible value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignees: Esselte N.V., Attalus High Tech Industry SA
    Inventor: Dirk Maes
  • Patent number: 5775864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamping device for positioning of a sheaf of documents during the heating and/or cooling phase in a thermal binding apparatus, whereby the thermal binding apparatus at its (upper) cover portion is provided with an opening which extents into the interior of the thermal binding apparatus and which consists of a base plate, two side walls and at least one front and/or rear wall. One of the clamping elements is provided having an at least partially curved surface, the clamping element is designed in such a way that clamping area of its curved surface is in contact with the sheaf of documents during the working phase and presses it against the rear and/or front wall of the opening and that it at least partly covers the base plate of the opening during the stand by phase of the binding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Esselte N.V.
    Inventor: Dirk Maes
  • Patent number: 4794958
    Abstract: An auxiliary nozzle for an air jet loom is configured as straight tubule closed and tapered blade-like at its free end and moveable with the loom batten into and out of the formed sheds. At least one blow aperture near the closed end of the tubule is provided in the shape of a slot extending essentially transverse to the tubule axis. The slot has a width not exceeding 0.8 mm and lateral walls configured so that the least or critical cross-section is bounded at least on one side by an edge having a thickness not exceeding 0.2 mm. If one edge is provided, it is located on the lower side of the slot toward the air supply and away from the closed end of the tubule. Various aperture configurations are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk Maes, Patrick Nuytten, Marnick Cardoen, Philippe Van Bogaert, Jozef Verhulst, Gilbert Dejonghe, Jozef Trioen
  • Patent number: 4759392
    Abstract: A method for the control of auxiliary nozzles or blowers for the insertion of a weft thread in air jet weaving looms wherein several auxiliary blowers and/or groups of auxiliary blowers (1-9; 45; 46; 47; 50) are distributed along the shed (10) of the weaving loom comprising controlling a first row of auxiliary blowers and/or groups of auxiliary blowers (1-6; 45; 47) in such a way that these auxiliary blowers and/or groups of auxiliary blowers (1-6; 45; 47) create a basic air stream which achieves the guiding of the weft thread along the shed (10) and the control of a second row of auxiliary blowers and/or groups of auxiliary blowers (7-9; 46; 50) in such a way that these auxiliary blowers and/or groups of auxiliary blowers 7-9; 46; 50) create an additional air stream which mainly creates a pulling force of the weft threads along the shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Picanol N.V.
    Inventors: Philippe van Bogaert, Dirk Maes