Patents by Inventor Gerrit Mulder

Gerrit Mulder 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: 20240083086
    Abstract: Disclosed is a festooner and a method for buffering a strip, wherein the festooner includes a first holder and a second holder which are oppositely movable towards and away from each other in a buffer direction to vary a buffer capacity of the festooner, and a first set of buffer rollers and a second set of buffer rollers held by the first holder and the second holder, respectively, wherein the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers define a meandering buffer path between them. The festooner further includes an endless drive element for driving each buffer roller, wherein the festooner further includes an overlength collector for collecting and paying out an overlength of the endless drive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Gerrit Roy NIJLAND, Teunis Johannes VERBRUGGEN, Jochem Johannes VAN STEENIS, Gerrit MULDER
  • Publication number: 20210370607
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a system for identifying a printed object is provided. The system may include an imaging device configured to image a three-dimensional (3D) printed object and a processor coupled to the imaging device. The processor may be configured to receive information generated as a result of imaging the 3D printed object with the imaging device, identify a set of features for the 3D printed object using the received information, compare the set of features with multiple reference sets of features, each of the multiple reference sets of features being associated with a respective 3D object in a plurality of 3D objects, and identify, based at least in part on results of the comparison, a 3D object from the plurality of 3D objects that matches the 3D printed object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Shapeways, Inc.
    Inventors: Daphne Marlies Laméris, Jop Antonius Van Rooij, Thomas de Wolf, Laurus Augustinus Hilte, Tiago André Costa São José, Sebastien Boutard, Elena Korina Koutsiota, Jelmer Johan Siekmans, Maarten van Dijk, Matthew Philip Boyle, Zachary Hansen Dillon, Edward Kurt Summers, Bram van Zandvoort, Fábio Martins Moreira, Lucia Henriëtta Petronella Leenders, Jules Witte, Hans Louis Robert Lambermont, Stefan Rink, Daniël Gerrit Mulder
  • Publication number: 20210245465
    Abstract: A tire building method, in particular for strip-winding, includes the step of: providing a choice between a production mode for building a tire component and a test mode for obtaining test measurements, wherein the choice is provided prior to executing the test mode; wherein at least one or more building parameters is set prior to the building of the tire component based on test measurements performed on a test strip during the test mode. Also disclosed is a tyre building system and a measurement tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Maarten Reinoud VAN DER MADE, Cees Johan VAN VOSKUILEN, Gerrit MULDER
  • Patent number: 11040491
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a system for identifying a printed object is provided. The system may include an imaging device configured to image a three-dimensional (3D) printed object and a processor coupled to the imaging device. The processor may be configured to receive information generated as a result of imaging the 3D printed object with the imaging device, identify a set of features for the 3D printed object using the received information, compare the set of features with multiple reference sets of features, each of the multiple reference sets of features being associated with a respective 3D object in a plurality of 3D objects, and identify, based at least in part on results of the comparison, a 3D object from the plurality of 3D objects that matches the 3D printed object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Shapeways, Inc.
    Inventors: Daphne Marlies Laméris, Jop Antonius Van Rooij, Thomas de Wolf, Laurus Augustinus Hilte, Tiago André Costa São José, Sebastien Boutard, Elena Korina Koutsiota, Jelmer Johan Siekmans, Maarten van Dijk, Matthew Philip Boyle, Zachary Hansen Dillon, Edward Kurt Summers, Bram van Zandvoort, Fábio Martins Moreira, Lucia Henriëtta Petronella Leenders, Jules Witte, Hans Louis Robert Lambermont, Stefan Rink, Daniël Gerrit Mulder
  • Patent number: 10857750
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cutting device and a method for cutting a continuous strip into tire components. The cutting device includes a knife for cutting the continuous strip along a cutting line in a working plane and a feeding assembly with a feeding member for feeding the continuous strip in the working plane to the knife in a feeding direction that intersects with the cutting line at a cutting angle. The feeding member, and the knife are rotatable with respect to each other about a rotation axis perpendicular to the working plane for adjusting the cutting angle. The feeding assembly further includes an input member for receiving the continuous strip in an input direction into the cutting device and one or more guide members for guiding the continuous strip from the input member to the feeding member, wherein the input member is placed in line with or substantially in line with the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventors: Aart Jan Schouten, Teunis Johannes Verbruggen, Gerrit Mulder
  • Patent number: 10457004
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and centering assembly (1) for centering a tire component (9), wherein the method comprises the steps of placing the tire component on and conveying it from a first conveyor (2) towards a second conveyor (3), determining the position of a first longitudinal edge (91), transversely moving the first conveyor (2) and thereby aligning the first longitudinal edge (91) along a first reference on the second conveyor (3), conveying the tire component from the first conveyor (2) onto the second conveyor (3) while determining the position of a second longitudinal edge (92), wherein the tire component has a center between the first longitudinal edge (91) and the second longitudinal edge (92), conveying the tire component from the second conveyor (3) towards a drum (4), laterally moving the drum (4) to align the center of the tire component with a center of a desired application position of the tire component on the drum, and conveying the tire component from the second conveyor (3) onto
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis W. Janszen, Gerrit Mulder
  • Publication number: 20190270266
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cutting device and a method for cutting a continuous strip into tire components. The cutting device includes a knife for cutting the continuous strip along a cutting line in a working plane and a feeding assembly with a feeding member for feeding the continuous strip in the working plane to the knife in a feeding direction that intersects with the cutting line at a cutting angle. The feeding member and the knife are rotatable with respect to each other about a rotation axis perpendicular to the working plane for adjusting the cutting angle. The feeding assembly further includes an input member for receiving the continuous strip in an input direction into the cutting device and one or more guide members for guiding the continuous strip from the input member to the feeding member, wherein the input member is placed in line with or substantially in line with the rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Aart Jan SCHOUTEN, Teunis Johannes VERBRUGGEN, Gerrit MULDER
  • Publication number: 20180104898
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a system for identifying a printed object is provided. The system may include an imaging device configured to image a three-dimensional (3D) printed object and a processor coupled to the imaging device. The processor may be configured to receive information generated as a result of imaging the 3D printed object with the imaging device, identify a set of features for the 3D printed object using the received information, compare the set of features with multiple reference sets of features, each of the multiple reference sets of features being associated with a respective 3D object in a plurality of 3D objects, and identify, based at least in part on results of the comparison, a 3D object from the plurality of 3D objects that matches the 3D printed object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Shapeways, Inc.
    Inventors: Daphne Marlies Laméris, Jop Antonius Van Rooij, Thomas de Wolf, Laurus Augustinus Hilte, Tiago André Costa São José, Sebastien Boutard, Elena Korina Koutsiota, Jelmer Johan Siekmans, Maarten van Dijk, Matthew Philip Boyle, Zachary Hansen Dillon, Edward Kurt Summers, Bram van Zandvoort, Fábio Martins Moreira, Lucia Henriëtta Petronella Leenders, Jules Witte, Hans Louis Robert Lambermont, Stefan Rink, Daniël Gerrit Mulder
  • Publication number: 20160263847
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and centering assembly (1) for centering a tire component (9), wherein the method comprises the steps of placing the tire component on and conveying it from a first conveyor (2) towards a second conveyor (3), determining the position of a first longitudinal edge (91), transversely moving the first conveyor (2) and thereby aligning the first longitudinal edge (91) along a first reference on the second conveyor (3), conveying the tire component from the first conveyor (2) onto the second conveyor (3) while determining the position of a second longitudinal edge (92), wherein the tire component has a center between the first longitudinal edge (91) and the second longitudinal edge (92), conveying the tire component from the second conveyor (3) towards a drum (4), laterally moving the drum (4) to align the center of the tire component with a center of a desired application position of the tire component on the drum, and conveying the tire component from the second conveyor (3) onto
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Cornelis W. JANSZEN, Gerrit MULDER
  • Patent number: 8932420
    Abstract: Method for transferring and placing beads for tires, providing: a bead storage unit in which a number of beads are vertically stacked placing spacers between them, a collection unit for empty spacers, a tire building machine for receiving the beads thereon, a bead retaining provided with engagement jaws that are arranged at equal angular distance in a circumferential direction on the bead retaining means, wherein the engagement jaws are driven or withdrawn in radial direction, a spacer retaining means for picking up and retaining a spacer, and arranging the bead retaining means and the spacer retaining means on a common transfer means. The spacer retaining means acts in a radial direction and is provided with at least two spacer engagement jaws that are arranged circumferentially at equal angular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Wouteres Janszen, Gerrit Mulder, Wubbo Pieter De Vries, Pieter Cornelis Meijers, Ronald Theodoor Noppers
  • Patent number: 8881785
    Abstract: Tire building drum having a turn-up mechanism for use in building an unvulcanized tire using rubber tire components, having two sets of turn-up arms (14), wherein each set of arms is connected to an axially shiftable arm support (17). The tire building drum is provided with means on the one hand for shifting the arm supports in a first direction to move the sets of turn-up arms axially towards each other, wherein the arras are tiltable in radial planes from a starting position to a tilting position, and on the other hand for in a second direction, opposite the first direction, shifting the arm supports to move the arms axially apart from the tilting position into the starting position. The tire building drum is provided with a pneumatic detection device (20) (23) for detecting whether at least one of the moving parts, such as the arms or the clamping device, are in the starting position, and for giving a detection signal indicating whether or not the arms are in the starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Martin De Graaf, Antonie Slots, Gerrit Mulder, Gerrit Rodijk, Jan Kornelis Grashuis
  • Patent number: 8794288
    Abstract: Method for transferring and placing beads for tires, providing: a bead storage unit in which a number of beads are vertically stacked placing spacers in between them, a collection unit for empty spacers, placed in the vicinity of the bead storage unit, a tire building machine for receiving the beads thereon, a bead retaining means for picking up and retaining a bead, wherein the bead retaining means is provided with engagement jaws that are arranged at equal angular distance in a circumferential direction on the bead retaining means, wherein the engagement jaws are driven or withdrawn in radial direction, a spacer retaining means for picking up and retaining a spacer, and arranging the bead retaining means and the spacer retaining means on a common transfer means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Wouteres Janszen, Gerrit Mulder, Wubbo Pieter De Vries, Pieter Cornelis Meijers, Ronald Theodoor Noppers
  • Patent number: 8770251
    Abstract: Tire building drum having a drum shaft and two drum halves arranged around the drum shaft. In the drum shaft one threaded spindle is arranged. On either side of the center of the tire building drum a driving nut is arranged on the spindle. Each driving nut is fixedly connected to the drum half in question via a connection part. Each drum half has a folding arm unit that is connected to the drum half in question so as to swing. The folding arm unit is movable in axial direction of the tire building drum. Each drum half further has a bead ring core clamping unit intended for supporting and clamping a bead ring core. The bead ring core clamping unit is arranged on a cylindrical part. The cylindrical part is provided with a cylinder slot for accommodating the connection part and with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can be brought into engagement with the drum shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Martin De Graaf, Antonie Slots, Gerrit Mulder
  • Publication number: 20130294881
    Abstract: Method for transferring and placing beads for tyres, providing: a bead storage unit in which a number of beads are vertically stacked placing spacers between them, a collection unit for empty spacers, a tyre building machine for receiving the beads thereon, a bead retaining provided with engagement jaws that are arranged at equal angular distance in a circumferential direction on the bead retaining means, wherein the engagement jaws are driven or withdrawn in radial direction, a spacer retaining means for picking up and retaining a spacer, and arranging the bead retaining means and the spacer retaining means on a common transfer means. The spacer retaining means acts in a radial direction and is provided with at least two spacer engagement jaws that are arranged circumferentially at equal angular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Cornelis Wouteres JANSZEN, Gerrit MULDER, Wubbo Pieter DE VRIES, Pieter Cornelis MEIJERS, Ronald Theodoor NOPPERS
  • Patent number: 8512494
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing a green tire using a building drum and a transfer device. In the method tire components are arranged on a building drum. In one step of the method the transfer device is placed around the building drum. The method further comprises a step during which a last manufacturing process for a green tire is carried out on the building drum, and a removal step during which a removal device removes the green tire from the building drum, wherein the removal device is provided with projecting elements that can be placed up to a distance from and around the outer circumference of the green tire and which projecting elements can be placed such so as to engage the outer side of the green tire. The removal step further comprises during the step in which the transfer device is placed around the building drum, placing the projecting elements up to a distance from and around the outer circumference of the building drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Wubbo Pieter De Vries, Gerrit Mulder
  • Patent number: 8171619
    Abstract: Device for manufacturing a cut-to-length pre-assembly for a tire, wherein in the pre-assembly first and second side walls are situated on either side of an inner liner. The device comprises a supply conveyor for conveying the cut pre-assembly to the building drum. The device is provided with a first side wall measuring device for measuring the length of the first side wall of the cut pre-assembly and for giving a first side wall measuring signal indicative of the measured length of the first side wall, with a second side wall measuring device for measuring the length of the second side wall of the cut pre-assembly and for giving a second side wall measuring signal indicative of the measured length of the second side wall, and with an inner liner measuring device for measuring the length of the inner liner of the cut pre-assembly and for giving an inner liner measuring signal indicative of the measured length of the inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Antonie Slots, Gerrit Mulder
  • Publication number: 20110315322
    Abstract: Tyre building drum having a turn-up mechanism for use in building an unvulcanised tyre using rubber tyre components, having two sets of turn-up arms (14), wherein each set of arms is connected to an axially shiftable arm support (17). The tyre building drum is provided with means on the one hand for shifting the arm supports in a first direction to move the sets of turn-up arms axially towards each other, wherein the arras are tiltable in radial planes from a starting position to a tilting position, and on the other hand for in a second direction, opposite the first direction, shifting the arm supports to move the arms axially apart from the tilting position into the starting position. The tyre building drum is provided with a pneumatic detection device (20) (23) for detecting whether at least one of the moving parts, such as the arms or the clamping device, are in the starting position, and for giving a detection signal indicating whether or not the arms are in the starting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Martin De Graaf, Antonie Slots, Gerrit Mulder, Gerrit Rodijk, Jan Kornelis Grashuis
  • Publication number: 20100122775
    Abstract: Tyre building drum having a drum shaft and two drum halves arranged around the drum shaft. In the drum shaft one threaded spindle is arranged. On either side of the centre of the tyre building drum a driving nut is arranged on the spindle. Each driving nut is fixedly connected to the drum half in question via a connection part. Each drum half has a folding arm unit that is connected to the drum half in question so as to swing. The folding arm unit is movable in axial direction of the tyre building drum. Each drum half further has a bead ring core clamping unit intended for supporting and clamping a bead ring core. The bead ring core clamping unit is arranged on a cylindrical part. The cylindrical part is provided with a cylinder slot for accommodating the connection part and with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can be brought into engagement with the drum shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Martin DE GRAAF, Antonie SLOTS, Gerrit MULDER
  • Publication number: 20100043947
    Abstract: Method for transferring and placing beads for tyres, providing: a bead storage unit in which a number of beads are vertically stacked placing spacers in between them, a collection unit for empty spacers, placed in the vicinity of the bead storage unit, a tyre building machine for receiving the beads thereon, a bead retaining means for picking up and retaining a bead, wherein the bead retaining means is provided with engagement jaws that are arranged at equal angular distance in a circumferential direction on the bead retaining means, wherein the engagement jaws are driven or withdrawn in radial direction, a spacer retaining means for picking up and retaining a spacer, and arranging the bead retaining means and the spacer retaining means on a common transfer means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Cornelis Wouteres JANSZEN, Gerrit Mulder, Wubbo Pieter De Vries, Pieter Cornelis Meijers, Ronald Theodoor Noppers
  • Publication number: 20090293267
    Abstract: Device for manufacturing a cut-to-length pre-assembly for a tyre, wherein in the pre-assembly first and second side walls are situated on either side of an inner liner. The device comprises a supply conveyor for conveying the cut pre-assembly to the building drum. The device is provided with a first side wall measuring device for measuring the length of the first side wall of the cut pre-assembly and for giving a first side wall measuring signal indicative of the measured length of the first side wall, with a second side wall measuring device for measuring the length of the second side wall of the cut pre-assembly and for giving a second side wall measuring signal indicative of the measured length of the second side wall, and with an inner liner measuring device for measuring the length of the inner liner of the cut pre-assembly and for giving an inner liner measuring signal indicative of the measured length of the inner liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Antonie SLOTS, Gerrit MULDER