Patents by Inventor Mircea Sofronie

Mircea Sofronie 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: 7845935
    Abstract: A die assembly for producing paperboard pressware includes a lightweight knockout assembly having a long and narrow ejection member positioned within a slotted adapter plate. The provision of a lightweight knockout assembly reduces frictional wear-related maintenance and downtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Albert D. Johns, Stephen K. Milligan, Mircea Sofronie
  • Publication number: 20090215599
    Abstract: Disposable containers include peripheral tabs which are useful for positioning and processing the containers and operate as separators. In a preferred embodiment, the tabs correspond to tabs on a paperboard blank where the tabs are useful for controlling the orientation of the blanks so that printed and shape features may be kept in registration during manufacturing of a disposable servingware container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Albert D. Johns, Mark B. Littlejohn, Jay S. Lester, Mircea Sofronie, Thomas W. Zelinski, William R. Pucci, Richard J. Rogers, Erik J. Sjogren
  • Patent number: 7540833
    Abstract: Disposable containers include peripheral tabs which are useful for positioning and processing the containers and operate as separators. In a preferred embodiment, the tabs correspond to tabs on a paperboard blank where the tabs are useful for controlling the orientation of the blanks so that printed and shape features may be kept in registration during manufacturing of a disposable servingware container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Albert D. Johns, Mark B. Littlejohn, Jay S. Lester, Mircea Sofronie, Thomas W. Zelinski, William R. Pucci, Richard J. Rogers, Erik J. Sjogren
  • Publication number: 20080242525
    Abstract: A die assembly for producing paperboard pressware includes an obliquely angled, continuous ring, and/or annular stop member between an inner die member and an outer die ring. Increased surface area of contact between stop components provides greater wear resistance, and the angled contact face maintains alignment of the die components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Johns, Mircea Sofronie
  • Publication number: 20080124421
    Abstract: A die assembly for producing paperboard pressware includes a lightweight knockout assembly having a long and narrow ejection member positioned within a slotted adapter plate. The provision of a lightweight knockout assembly reduces frictional wear-related maintenance and downtime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Albert D. Johns, Stephen K. Milligan, Mircea Sofronie
  • Publication number: 20080119342
    Abstract: Disposable containers include peripheral tabs which are useful for positioning and processing the containers and operate as separators. In a preferred embodiment, the tabs correspond to tabs on a paperboard blank where the tabs are useful for controlling the orientation of the blanks so that printed and shape features may be kept in registration during manufacturing of a disposable servingware container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Albert Johns, Mark Littlejohn, Jay Lester, Mircea Sofronie, Thomas Zelinski, William Pucci, Richard Rogers, Erik Sjogren
  • Patent number: 7337943
    Abstract: Disposable containers include peripheral tabs which are useful for positioning and processing the containers and operate as separators. In a preferred embodiment, the tabs correspond to tabs on a paperboard blank where the tabs are useful for controlling the orientation of the blanks so that printed and shape features may be kept in registration during manufacturing of a disposable servingware container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Dixie Consumer Products LLC
    Inventors: Albert D. Johns, Mark B. Littlejohn, Jay S. Lester, Mircea Sofronie, Thomas W. Zelinski, William R. Pucci, Richard J. Rogers, Erik J. Sjogren
  • Publication number: 20070042887
    Abstract: A die assembly for producing paperboard pressware includes an obliquely angled, continuous ring, and/or annular stop member between an inner die member and an outer die ring. Increased surface area of contact between stop components provides greater wear resistance, and the angled contact face maintains alignment of the die components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Applicant: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Johns, Mircea Sofronie
  • Publication number: 20050233024
    Abstract: A tooling system in a press for forming a product from a blank of material disposed between a punch assembly and a die assembly and a method of using the same. The tooling system comprises a knockout and a bushing. The knockout further comprises a shaft having opposed ends, a plate fixed to one opposed end, and a tapered portion. The bushing is supported by one of the punch and die assemblies and defines a lumen configured to slidably receive the shaft for axial movement between an extended position and a retracted position. The lumen has a tapered receiving section at one end thereof configured to mate with the tapered portion of the knockout when the shaft is in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Albert Johns, Mircea Sofronie
  • Patent number: 6932753
    Abstract: A pressing apparatus for producing a food service paperboard container from a paperboard blank so that the paperboard container possesses an overturned rim provided with folds includes a first die and a second die that are movable relative to one another. The first die includes a first base and a first platform that is movable with respect to the first base, with the first base having a curved surface for engaging the outer periphery of the paperboard blank. The second die is positioned in opposing relation to the first die and includes a second base and a second platform that is movable with respect to the second base. The second die is movable with respect to the first die and the second base has a curved surface for engaging the outer periphery of the paperboard blank so that the outer periphery of the paperboard blank is pressed between the curved surface of the first base and the curved surface of the second base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce R. Smith, Albert D. Johns, Mircea Sofronie, Mark B. Littlejohn, Thomas W. Zelinski
  • Publication number: 20050159284
    Abstract: A pressing apparatus for producing a food service paperboard container from a paperboard blank so that the paperboard container possesses an overturned rim provided with folds includes a first die and a second die that are movable relative to one another. The first die includes a first base and a first platform that is movable with respect to the first base, with the first base having a curved surface for engaging the outer periphery of the paperboard blank. The second die is positioned in opposing relation to the first die and includes a second base and a second platform that is movable with respect to the second base. The second die is movable with respect to the first die and the second base has a curved surface for engaging the outer periphery of the paperboard blank so that the outer periphery of the paperboard blank is pressed between the curved surface of the first base and the curved surface of the second base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Publication date: July 21, 2005
    Inventors: Bruce Smith, Albert Johns, Mircea Sofronie, Mark Littlejohn, Thomas Zelinski
  • Publication number: 20040069788
    Abstract: Disposable containers include peripheral tabs which are useful for positioning and processing the containers and operate as separators. In a preferred embodiment, the tabs correspond to tabs on a paperboard blank where the tabs are useful for controlling the orientation of the blanks so that printed and shape features may be kept in registration during manufacturing of a disposable servingware container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Albert D. Johns, Mark B. Littlejohn, Jay S. Lester, Mircea Sofronie, Thomas W. Zelinski, William R. Pucci, Richard J. Rogers, Erik J. Sjogren