Patents by Inventor Shozo Horikawa

Shozo Horikawa 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: 6719239
    Abstract: An automatic splicing system is provided that includes a motor (20a) for rotating an active roll (R1) while a web (P1) is drawn from the roll (R1) toward a cigarette rod-manufacturing machine, a motor (20b) for rotating a standby roll (R2) when a residual of the roll (R1) reaches a predetermined amount or less so that a web (P2) is fed from the roll (R2), a splicing section (70) splicing the webs (P1; P2) and changing over the feeding of web from the roll (R1) to the roll (R2) when feed speeds of the webs match each other, and suction casings (42) disposed on feed paths of the webs, respectively, the suction casings drawing the webs thereinto temporarily. The rotational speeds of the motors (20a and 20b) are controlled so as to maintain drawn amounts of the webs in the respective suction casings (42) within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Hisao Suzuki, Fumio Kubo, Shozo Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20030173450
    Abstract: There is provided an automatic splicing system comprising a motor (20a) for rotating an active roll (R1) while a web (P1) is drawn from the roll (R1) toward a cigarette rod-manufacturing machine, a motor (20b) for rotating a standby roll (R2) when a residual of the roll (R1) reaches a predetermined amount or less so that a web (P2) is fed from the roll (R2), a splicing section (70) splicing the webs (P1; P2) and changing over the feeding of web from the roll (R1) to the roll (R2) when feed speeds of the webs match each other, and suction casings (42) disposed on feed paths of the webs, respectively, the suction casings drawing the webs thereinto temporarily; wherein rotational speeds of the motors (20a and 20b) are controlled so as to maintain drawn amounts of the webs in the respective suction casings (42) within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Hisao Suzuki, Fumio Kubo, Shozo Horikawa
  • Patent number: 6024148
    Abstract: An apparatus for sticking a double-sided adhesive tape in a predetermined position on a web, including an adhesive tape roll holding mechanism for tape roll, an adhesive tape delivery mechanism for delivering an adhesive tape laminate from the tape roll, and a pressing member for pressing the adhesive tape laminate against the web. The delivered adhesive tape laminate is held under pressure between the pressing member and the web, whereupon each of tape pieces on a seal of the laminate is stuck on the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Saitoh, Shigenobu Kushihashi, Shozo Horikawa
  • Patent number: 5538587
    Abstract: A device for connecting a trailing end of a previously drawn-out web from a first web roll to a leading end portion of a newly drawn-out web from a second web roll has a vertical guide unit, a drawing-out unit, a feeding unit, an adhesive tape supplying unit and cutting members. The previously drawn-out web which is running vertically downward is guided by the vertical guide unit. The leading end portion of a web is drawn out from a new web roll by the drawing-out unit and moved vertically downward by the feeding unit in the vicinity of and along the previously drawn-out web. An adhesive tape is attached to the leading end portion of the newly drawn-out web by the adhesive tape supplying unit. The leading end of the newly drawn-out web is connected to the trailing end of the previously drawn-out web by the adhesive tape. After the previously and newly drawn-out webs have been connected together, the excess portions of both webs are removed by the cutting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Sakano, Shuitiro Oku, Shozo Horikawa, Mituhalu Ikeda, Yoshihiko Mashiko
  • Patent number: 5381983
    Abstract: An apparatus for drawing out the leading end portion of the web from a web roll is provided with hubs rotatable in a vertical plane, and a drawing-out arm provided under the web roll, rotatable in a vertical plane and having a distal end portion abutting against the lowest portion of the web on the web roll. On the distal end portion of the drawing-out arm are provided a sucking unit for sucking the lowest portion of the web on the web roll, a leading end portion detector for detecting the leading end portion of the web and a chuck for holding the leading end portion of the web. The leading end portion of the web is separated under its own weight and a negative pressure from the body of the portion of the web, detected by the leading end portion detector and held by the chuck so as to be pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Sakano, Shuitiro Oku, Shozo Horikawa
  • Patent number: 5285978
    Abstract: An automatic web roll changing device is adapted to automatically and continuously supply web rolls to a web supply-connection apparatus on which are replaceably mounted two web rolls from which webs are alternately and continuously drawn out and which connects the trailing end portion of the preceding web to the leading end portion of the following web. This device includes a rotary arm pivoted to the web supply-connection apparatus having, at both ends, hubs carrying the above-mentioned two web rolls, and a web roll storage-mounting unit provided opposite to the web supply-connection apparatus. The web supply-connection apparatus has a rotary head which is rotatable about a vertical axis. From the rotary head horizontally extend a plurality of web roll storing shafts for holding a plurality of web rolls so as to be slidable axially of the shafts. The web rolls on the storing shafts are moved toward the distal ends of the web roll storing shaft by driving units so as to be mounted on the hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Sakano, Shozo Horikawa, Shuji Wada