Patents Issued in December 12, 2000
  • Patent number: 6158302
    Abstract: A torque support, especially for wheel blocks, is arranged between a gear unit housing with a drive shaft and a driven unit housing. The torque support includes a plate-shaped base body which is detachably fastened to the gear unit housing with fastening elements. The plate-shaped base plate has at least two fastening locations comprising through openings for fastening the torque support to the driven unit housing. To keep the shearing forces resulting from the torque support and acting on the gear shaft small while the torsional moment is simultaneously absorbed with low play and in such a way that load peaks are damped, a corresponding plastic ring body is inserted into each through-opening in a positive-locking engagement. A side of the plastic ring body facing the driven unit housing has an edge area which widens radially outward forms an elastic disk element arranged between the driven unit housing and the torque support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Becker, Thomas Dullmann, Heinz Flaig, Winfried Gievers, Gregor Jansen, Hans-Hermann Osthoff, Josef Paul Saeftel, Roland Staggl, Jan-Helge Steinkopf, Manfred Stober
  • Patent number: 6158303
    Abstract: In a transfer case for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a front wheel drive axle assembly which includes a first wheel drive axle shaft arranged in parallel to the engine output shaft and connected to a transmission output shaft through a first helical ring gear meshed with the transmission output gear and a second wheel drive axle assembly which includes a second wheel drive axle arranged in parallel to the engine output shaft and connected to a transfer case through a transfer shaft arranged in parallel to the engine output shaft and equipped with a transfer input gear meshed with a second helical ring gear, the first and second helical ring gears are integrally formed as an integral ring gear and bolted to a differential housing as one whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Shiraishi, Hiroaki Hayashi, Ichirou Itou, Yoichi Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 6158304
    Abstract: A center cutting or plunging end mill or ball nose end mill has one or more spiral grooves and flutes in the walls of a mill body of cemented tungsten carbide. Each groove includes polycrystalline diamond or cubic boron nitride formed in situ along a leading edge of each flute. Such a groove extends across the cutting end of the mill so that the mill can be used for center cutting or plunging. The vein of diamond-like material may extend to the center of the mill body or may extend almost all of the way to the center, leaving an area of tungsten carbide exposed at the center of the mill body. A high temperature-high pressure press is used for forming the polycrystalline diamond-like veins in situ within the grooves in the mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Packer, Arturo A. Rodriguez, Ronald B. Crockett
  • Patent number: 6158305
    Abstract: A bottle cap remover used to separate a cap from a bottle wherein the cap has an upper section and a lower section, and at least a portion of the upper section of the cap protrudes radially outwardly beyond the lower section of the cap. The cap remover includes a first grip member and a second grip member. The first grip member is rigidly mounted to a stop plate in a position where the first grip member is spaced from the stop plate to define a gap between the first grip member and the stop plate. The first grip member includes a cap engaging edge which at least partially corresponds to an outside surface of the cap. The second grip member is positioned in opposed relationship to the first grip member and has a grip surface positioned a predetermined distance from the cap engaging edge of the first grip member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Blackhawk Molding Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Frank J. Slepicka
  • Patent number: 6158306
    Abstract: A flexible mounted jar holder tightly holds a jar upon a flat base while a user loosens a tightened cap therefrom. The jar holder includes a resilient, ribbed gripping first retaining strap which encircles and locks the jar in place therebetween. A locking member includes a pair of upwardly extending fixed posts, and a third locking cam post, which includes an ellipsoid cross sectional diameter. A further retaining means includes at least one further flexible strap which is urged against a portion of the outer circumference of the jar to be held at a point opposite to where the first retaining strap is urged against the outer circumference of the jar to be held. This further flexible retaining strap is stretched linearly between the pair of fixed posts. Preferably the further flexible retaining strap includes a pair of further retaining straps having respective looped ends insertable over each respective fixed post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Pasquale Gasparre
  • Patent number: 6158307
    Abstract: A system for absorbing shock including a resilient member positioned between a portion of the head and a portion of the shaft of the tool. The resilient member dampens and absorbs vibration travelling from the head to the shaft and reverberations travelling through the tool. The system also includes a shock-absorbing member having an internal portion positioned within a cavity in the head of the tool and an external portion positioned on an upper surface of the head that dampens and absorbs vibration travelling within the head and reverberations travelling through the tool. The system further includes a bonding material filling spaces with the cavity and a channel within the head that further dampens and absorbs vibration travelling from the head to the shaft and reverberations travelling through the tool. The system includes a handle portion that has a soft elastomeric outer coating that provides a comfortable grip to the user and hinders vibration from travelling from the shaft to the hand of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: General Housewares Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Lamond, Bert D. Heinzelman, Christopher Claypool, Jose L. Correa, David L. French
  • Patent number: 6158308
    Abstract: A double sided ratchet wrench having a one-way reversing mechanism is provided. The wrench includes a handle, a ring integrated with on end of the handle having an inner flange extending inward from a middle inner periphery on the underside of which forms a first ratchet, a first tip head having a hollow interior body inserted into the ring, a first outer flange and a thru hole in a side wall above the first outer flange, a second tip head having a solid body including a narrow upper portion inserted into the hollow interior body and a first spring biased steel ball in a lateral side engaged into the thru hole of the first tip head, a thick lower portion including a second spring biased steel ball in a lateral side for engaging with additional fastening tools, a second outer flange between the upper and lower portions having a second ratchet on the top engageable with the first ratchet of the ring and a compression spring disposed between the first tip head and the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Hsien-Tu Huang
  • Patent number: 6158309
    Abstract: An ratcheting-type wrench for use in driving a hexagonal nut having a wrench head. The wrench head has upper and lower jaw portions that are rigidly joined by at least one web. The jaws have several faces that allow the wrench to be ratcheted about the nut to different drive positions without removing the wrench from the nut. The jaws have two drive faces that allow the wrench to drive the nut with the wrench tips in an open-ended embodiment, and in both an open-ended and a box-ended embodiment allow the wrench to ratchet in 30 degree increments. The faces are configured to prevent corner contact with the nut so that the corners are not rounded off. A lock face is provided to prevent the removal of the wrench from the nut while applying torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: David Baker, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Baker
  • Patent number: 6158310
    Abstract: A novel drive system includes a body, such as a threaded fastener body or a drive tool body, a tapered transitional portion at an end of the body, and a drive head at the end of the transitional portion, such that the transitional portion is between the drive head and the body. The transitional portion has structure thereon, such as a plurality of alternating curved lobes and flutes, for engagement with a corresponding socket. At least a portion of the lobes are threaded in the transitional portion. The drive head also has structure thereon for engagement with the socket, such as a plurality of alternating curved lobes and flutes. The flutes on the transitional portion are axially aligned with the flutes on the drive head and the lobes on the transitional portion are axially aligned with the lobes on the drive head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Goss, Terry A. Crissinger
  • Patent number: 6158311
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a support mounted for rotation about a machining axis, a first motor operable to rotate the support about the machining axis, a tool holder mounted on the support for rotation about a tool positioning axis which is parallel to and off-set from the machining axis, a second motor operable to rotate the tool holder about the tool positioning axis, and control means. For a constant diameter machining circle, the support and the tool holder are rotated about their respective axes at equal angular velocities so that they rotate as a unit. To adjust the diameter of the machining circle, one of the motors operates for a period at a different angular velocity to the other motor, thereby altering the position of the tool holder relative to the support about the tool positioning axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Technology Limited
    Inventors: Adrian Howard Watkins, Colin Wyatt
  • Patent number: 6158312
    Abstract: In order to improve a machine tool comprising a machine frame, a drum arranged for rotation about a drum axis within a maximum angular range in relation to the machine frame and having a plurality of machining devices held on it and drives rotatable with the drum and associated with the machining devices, a stationary control and supply device for the drives and a rotary supply unit which has line systems connected, on the one hand, to the rotatable drum as well as, on the other hand, held so as to be stationary in relation to the machine frame, these line systems being free from interruptions, deformable as a result of rotation of the drum and extending in the direction of the drum axis, in such a manner that the spatial requirements for the twistable line systems in the direction of the drum axis are as small as possible it is suggested that the line systems extend into a passage in the drum close to the drum axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Index-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Hahn & Tessky
    Inventors: Helmut Friedrich Link, Guenther Heinrich Trautmann
  • Patent number: 6158313
    Abstract: Thick matter and solids are conveyed together and substantially continuously through a conveyor pipeline. The thick matter is forced by a conveyor piston driven by a piston pump from a feed container into a conveyer cylinder. A forward face of the piston has a cutting crown with a cutting edge cooperating with an annular cutting ring to cut off solids projecting beyond an inlet in the conveyer pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Putzmeister Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl Schlecht, Ulrich Schuster, Wolfgang Zey
  • Patent number: 6158314
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for disabling and disposing of a single-use hypodermic syringe from re-use by severing the syringe barrel above the syringe needle and collecting the severed portion of the barrel, including the syringe needle directly in an associated, puncture-resistant receiving receptacle. The apparatus includes a severing means having an opening for receiving at least that end of the syringe having a needle attached thereto and a syringe stop for delimiting the passage of the syringe into the opening and stabilizing the syringe in the opening as the syringe barrel is severed from the syringe above the syringe needle, and a collection receptacle having an open end adapted for receiving the severing means and for collecting the severed portion of the syringe barrel including the syringe needle directly therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Post Medical
    Inventors: William H. Thead, David R. Thead, John C. Evans
  • Patent number: 6158315
    Abstract: Method for producing individual dough pieces from a continuous line of dough, in which a row of separate, individually complete contours running diagonally or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the line is cut out of the end section of the line of dough, which correspond to the dough pieces, these contours or dough pieces lying in a row next to one another are removed from the end of the line and delivered rotated or pivoted or otherwise positioned for further processing, with the cutting devices that are used to cut out the row of dough pieces at the end of the line being used as a whole or in part to remove and deliver or otherwise position, guide, hold, rotate, and/or displace the cut-out dough pieces, and with the cutting devices being returned to the end of the line after delivery for another cutting-out process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: A. Fritsch GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Nowotny, Udo Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 6158316
    Abstract: Pressure working on each support mechanism or on a clearance adjusting mechanism disposed on opposite end portions of a knife rotor and a plain rotor while a sheet material being cut is measured. The clearance adjusting mechanism is actuated to adjust the contact pressure of the knife based on the measured pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignees: Maysun Co., Ltd., Asahi Machinery Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Ichikawa, Yoshiharu Okahashi
  • Patent number: 6158317
    Abstract: An apparatus for trimming the neck of a blow molded plastic bottle in which a reverse punch is mounted on an end of a shaft. A knife is also mounted to the shaft adjacent to the reverse punch and includes a cutting edge recessed from the cutting edge of the reverse punch. A stripper arm is mounted on the shaft and axially moves with the shaft. The stripper arm's distal end is adjacent to the reverse punch and recessed from the cutting edge of the reverse punch. An actuator causes the distal end of the stripper arm to move to a position located radially outward from the cutting surface when a trimmer ring from the neck of a bottle is to be removed from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Uniloy Milacron Inc.
    Inventors: A. Dale Maddox, James E. Thompson, Thomas A. Shapler
  • Patent number: 6158318
    Abstract: A sawing device for sawing a long object to a fixed size, said sawing device comprising a conveyor (1) for conveying the object to be sawn and blades (3, 4) rotated by a first power unit (2) for cutting the object. The sawing device comprises a rotatable frame (6) rotated by a second power unit (5), the blades (3, 4) being supported by said rotatable frame, a third power unit (7) and guide bars (8, 9) in the rotatable frame to allow the blades (3, 4) to be moved back and forth by the third power unit along the guide bars in the longitudinal direction of the object to be sawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Ahti Niemela
  • Patent number: 6158319
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for detecting a bag that has been subjected to a process, such as illumination, wherein the contents of the bag require processing before subsequent use. The system (1) has a drawer (10) on which one or more bags may be placed and properly oriented. Punches (22) are provided for punching slugs from the bag indicative of a status of the processing of the bag. The punches (22) are aligned with die apertures (26) of a die (24) and corresponding punch apertures (20) through the drawer (10). The bag may include polarizing materials (50) such that the status of the processing of the bag (52) may be sensed. To this end, a rotating polarizing piece (70) is provided as well as a light source (34) and a sensor (38). The polarities between the polarizing piece (50) of the bag and the rotating polarizing piece (70) is monitored by the sensor (38) to indicate a condition or status of the processing of the bag and/or to further indicate tampering taking place in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventor: Edmund D. D'Silva
  • Patent number: 6158320
    Abstract: A saw arbor formed of a mandrel and a cylindrically apertured sleeve. Circumferentially spaced splines are provided around the mandrel's outer circumference and around the inner circumference of the sleeve aperture. The mandrel splines and the sleeve aperture splines are shaped and sized for slidable mating engagement of the mandrel splines with the aperture splines. Circumferentially spaced splines are also provided around the sleeve's outer circumference. The sleeve outer circumference splines are shaped and sized for slidable mating engagement with further splines spaced circumferentially around a saw blade eye. Equal numbers of equally spaced involute splines are preferably provided around the mandrel, around the inner circumference of the sleeve aperture and around the sleeve's outer circumference. The splines can be formed to achieve backlash tolerance engagement in the range of 0.001" to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Vancouver Gear Works Ltd.
    Inventors: Larry Donald Vallance, Jim Allan Mantei, Vittorio Dente
  • Patent number: 6158321
    Abstract: The present invention is an internal miter saw having an apparatus and a method for cutting multiple workpieces at the job site to predetermined correct lengths and predetermined correct mitered angles to form an inner mitered joint perimeter along an existing external frame. The internal miter saw of the invention accomplishes this by providing a frame which is adapted for mounting a movable saw blade above the frame at a fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Adam Blase Fencil
  • Patent number: 6158322
    Abstract: A saw assembly for a grip-harvester has a saw chain running around a bar and a chain sprocket; a bar holder pivotably journalled on the saw assembly stand; a saw motor driving the chain sprocket; and a device for feeding a bar out and in. The feeding-out and feeding-in device preferably is a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the stand and having a piston rod. The movements of the piston rod are transmitted to the pivotable bar holder by means of a pivotably journalled first toothed wheel which is joined to the bar holder and has a toothed wheel rim cooperating with the piston rod which is in the form of a rack. The saw assembly is also provided with a device for sensing and recording the angular position of the saw bar in relation to an initial position, which device has a smaller second toothed wheel in engagement with the first larger toothed wheel of the feeding-out and feeding-in device, and also at least one sensor which senses a tooth gap or a tooth on the second toothed wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Hultdin System AB
    Inventor: Rolf Ornberg
  • Patent number: 6158323
    Abstract: A disk cutter has an annular disk-shaped base which is composed of a first disk and a second disk spot-welded at a plurality of portions to the first disk. Each of the first and second disks has a plurality of holes formed therein. The holes are circumferentially spaced at an equal interval with the holes of the first and second disks being alternately arranged. The base has a peripheral edge with a plurality of tool receiving recesses formed therein. A plurality of hardened cutting tool inserts are fixed to the base at the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Tenryu Seikyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tanehiko Asada
  • Patent number: 6158324
    Abstract: A saw blade comprising a basic body (8) lying in a longitudinal center plane (9) and having an edge and including along its edge a group (6) of recurring teeth (1, 2, 3, . . . ), the group (6) comprising at least one unset leading tooth (1) being provided with a phase and having an effective cutting-edge section (10) and a preferably even number of trailing teeth (2, 3, . . . ). The leading tooth (1) has a larger height than all of the trailing teeth (2, 3, . . . ). All of the trailing teeth (2, 3, . . . ) have different plastic deformations at their tips (28) by displacements of material in the running direction (24) of the saw blade. Each of the trailing teeth (2, 3, . . . ) have both a positive enlarged rake angle (gamma.sub.2, gamma.sub.3, . . . ) and a reduced height (h.sub.2, h.sub.3, . . . ) with respect to the leading tooth (1) produced by different plastic deformations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: WIKUS-Sagenfabrik Wilhelm H. Kullmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jorg H. Kullmann, Manfred Fluhrer
  • Patent number: 6158325
    Abstract: A swash plate type compressor has a rotating assembly of a drive shaft, a drive plate mounted on the drive shaft and a swash plate unit linked with the drive plate through a hinge mechanism. The drive plate has a circular disk portion and a hinge supporting portion projecting from the disk portion. The drive plate is formed with an oil storage groove for improve lubrication and balance of the rotating assembly. The oil storage groove opens away from the swash plate unit, and extends so as to describe an arc of a circle at such a position that the oil storage groove extends between the axis of the drive shaft and the hinge supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Miyaji, Shinichiro Higashihara
  • Patent number: 6158326
    Abstract: In order that in a unit, which consists of an electric motor and a machine driven by the electric motor, a mounting support of the electric motor and the machine which is inexpensive and saves mounting space be achieved by simple means, the drive shaft (4) of the electric motor (1) and the supporting axle (10) of the machine (2) are separately designed and a three-ring bearing (11) including an intermediate eccentric ring (13) is arranged on the supporting axle (10), wherein the intermediate ring (13) is positively and/or operatively connected to the drive shaft (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignees: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG, FAG Automobiltechnik AG
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Heinrich Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6158327
    Abstract: The present invention provides a diaphragm for use in pump applications in which at least a predetermined portion of such diaphragm is in contact with such outer piston which would tend to abrade such diaphragm. Such diaphragm is formed from at least one layer of a preselected flexible material. Such diaphragm comprises an outer bead like portion for securing the diaphragm to a pump housing. There is a annular flexure portion having a first end and a second end, such first end and such second end being generally flat and an arcuate shaped middle portion formed contiguously with the first end and the second end. Such first end is formed contiguously with the outer bead like portion. Such annular flexure portion has a substantially uniform first predetermined thickness. An enlarged bulbous portion is formed contiguously with the second end and extends around an inner periphery thereof. Such enlarged bulbous portion has a predetermined configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Howard D. Huss
  • Patent number: 6158328
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for making drinks such as cappuccino, latte, espresso, coffee or filtered water which comprise a cold water filter system for purifying water for either direct consumption or use in extracting flavor-containing materials like coffee, a hot water filter assembly located on the brew head for removing impurities originated from both water itself and the parts of the apparatus in contact with water, and/or an automatic milk frothier for frothing the milk. The cold water filter system comprises a removable water container having at its bottom a water flow passageway, a filter cartridge removably mounted in the water flow passageway, a containing chamber for receiving filtered water, and a valve in the water flow passageway for automatically closing the passageway when the container is removed from and opening the passageway when placed onto the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Edward Zhihua Cai
  • Patent number: 6158329
    Abstract: A cooking appliance has a cooking space for receiving a product to be cooked. The cooking space communicates with a cooling-air feeding device and with a sensor module which is provided for sensing a infrared radiation of a surface area under measurement located in the cooking space. The sensor module is disposed at least partially in an air stream provided by the cooling-air feeding device. Impairment of the measuring quality by the air stream is prevented by an extraction device that is provided for extracting air from the cooking space. The extraction device and the feeding device define an imaginary straight line joining a mouth opening of the cooling-air feeding device on the cooking space side and a mouth opening of the extraction device on the cooking space side being at a distance from the surface area under measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Marion Schneider, Martin Thaler, Uwe Has, Susanne Stolz, Monika Zeraschi
  • Patent number: 6158330
    Abstract: A broiler pan cooking grid for a barbecue grill that catches and/or routes grease drippings, as well as permitting convection of heated air through the structure. The grid may be used with conventional horizontal barbecue grills or with grills having a vertical hearth or firebox. The grid assembly preferably comprises sheet metal having cutouts stamped in the upper surface, e.g., elongated slots or perforations, and a series of elongated troughs stamped in the lower surface. The elongated troughs of the lower layer route grease drippings to a grease box or tray that is disposed along the front edge of the cooking grid assembly. As series of stiffening rods are sandwiched between the layers to provide rigidity when using thin sheet metal. Preferably, the grid assembly is supported in an inclined position by the barbecue grill, but the lower sheet metal stamping may itself be formed to contain the grease or to effect the flow of grease to a grease box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Alphonso G. Andress
  • Patent number: 6158331
    Abstract: Feed Machine, preferably for use in machines for processing ice-cream mixtures or the like, having an element that swings (202; 203; 204; 205; 206) about a given axis between two positions and works in conjunction with a suitable housing (102; 103; 104; 105; 106) located at an opening made in one wall (1) of the machine (10). One of the two positions of the swing element (202; 203; 204; 205; 206) allows communication between the processing chamber and the outside environment and the other position prevents such communication. The housing (102; 103; 104; 105; 106) presents on its surface a funnel-shaped cavity (112; 113; 114; 115; 116) open at the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Ali S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gino Cocchi, Giancarlo Pietra
  • Patent number: 6158332
    Abstract: A convertible drum-type coating apparatus for applying breading material to food products includes an in-line breader section, a rotary drum section, and an outflow section. The rotary drum is mounted on an elevator for lowering and lifting between a low use position and a high non-use position. The low use position is involved with tumbling the breading material and food product together to enhance the coating by the breading material, and in a sense the tumbling gives the appearance of dusting off excess breading material. The coating apparatus is convertible in that the rotary drum can be lifted out of the way to the high non-use position to allow substitution in favor of a bypass conveyor. Bypass of the drum is desired when running "formed" food products and the like, such as patties (eg., beef) or cakes (eg., fish), which are ordinarily too delicate to tumble in the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventors: Robert G. Nothum, Sr., Robert G. Nothum, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6158333
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus calendering a fiber web, wherein the fiber web passes through an extended and heated nip, said nip being formed on one side by a cylindrical heated roll and on the other side by a flexible tubular jacket which is pressed against the heated roll by means of a concave load shoe, said tubular jacket surrounding a stationary support beam which supports at least one actuator which may urge said load shoe and said flexible tubular jacket against said heated roll, and wherein the extension of the load shoe in the axial extension is less than the axial extension of the jacket and the heated roll such that when the load shoe is urged against the heated roll there will be formed tapered sections at each side end of the jacket within the nip characterised in that said tapered section are substantially covered by said fiber web such that a small strips of the fiber web at each edge is not calendered in said extended nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Petter Honkalampi, Nils-Erik Safman, Timo Torvi, Thomas Berglind
  • Patent number: 6158334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a calender, comprising a cylindrical heated roll and a flexible belt surrounding a stationary support beam which supports at least one actuator which may urge a concave load shoe against the heated roll by means of said flexible belt to form an extended and heated nip through which a fiber web passes to be calendered and a separating mechanism for having at least one of the rolls movable into and away from the nip characterised in that said flexible belt is a flexible tubular jacket which forms a part of an enclosed shoe roll such that the ends of said jacket have end walls mounted thereto, which end walls are rotatably mounted in relation to said support beam, and in that at least one of said end walls is driven by means of a drive arrangement which drive arrangement may be activated to drive the end walls and thereby also the jacket independently of its position in relation to the fiber web or the heated roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Nils-Erik Safman, Thomas Berglind
  • Patent number: 6158335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a calender, comprising a cylindrical heated roll and a flexible belt surrounding a stationary support beam which supports at least one actuator which may urge a concave load shoe against the heated roll by means of said flexible belt to form an extended and heated nip through which a fiber web passes to be calendered and a separating mechanism for having at least one of the rolls movable into and away from the nip characterized in that said flexible belt is a flexible tubular jacket which forms a part of an enclosed shoe roll such that the ends of said jacket have end walls mounted thereto, which end walls are rotatably mounted in relation to said support beam, and in that at least one of said end walls is driven by means of a drive arrangement which drive arrangement may be activated to drive the end walls in and thereby also the jacket independently of its position in relation to the fiber web or the heated roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Valmet Corporation
    Inventors: Nils-Erik Safman, Thomas Berglind
  • Patent number: 6158336
    Abstract: A compacting system including a double action vertical ram pivotally mounted within a container. The container includes a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of side walls, a floor and a lid. An opening in the front wall allows refuse or other material to be deposited into the container. A hingedly mounted door covers the opening. The ram includes a pivotally mounted compression plate and a cylinder mounted to one of the side walls with one end thereof mounted above said plate. A shaft extends from a housing of the cylinder and is attached within the container to the plate. In a compaction cycle, the compression plate can travel from a "vertical" position to a substantially "horizontal" position, and compacts the refuse between a lower surface of the compression plate and the floor. A power unit located outside the container provides power to actuate the cylinder. A magnetic safety switch and a door interlock device provide safety features for the compacting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Angelo M. Cambiano
  • Patent number: 6158337
    Abstract: A stencil-making-type printing machine in which plural types of rotary cylindrical drums having printing regions of different sizes can be replaceable loaded, in which a stencil sheet provided in the form of a roll is cut according to the printing region of a rotary cylindrical drum loaded therein to form a printing stencil, and a printing operation is carried out with the printing stencil wound on the rotary cylindrical drum, and before a printing operation is carried out for a new original, a used stencil is separated from the rotary cylindrical drum and discarded into a used-stencil accommodating box by a conveying means. The printing machine comprises a control system which controls operating time of the conveying means depending on the loaded rotary cylindrical drum, thereby stopping the operation of the conveying means immediately after the stencil has been discarded in the accommodating box and surely accommodating the stencil in the accommodating box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Hara
  • Patent number: 6158338
    Abstract: A cassette for holding and dispensing a viscous material for use in an apparatus for depositing the viscous material onto a substrate through openings formed in a stencil positioned over substrate. The cassette includes a body having a base and interior defined by first and second side walls and first and second end walls substantially orthoganol to the base. The base has a plurality of apertures formed therein, and a cover plate adapted to slide within the interior of the body. The cover plate having a plurality of protruding members wherein each of the protruding members corresponds to and is aligned with a corresponding one of the apertures of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: DEK Printing Machines Limited
    Inventors: Neil M. MacRaild, Andrew C. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 6158339
    Abstract: A stencil holder assembly comprising a stencil plate connector and a stencil plate for use with a stencil printer in single component solder paste applications. The stencil plate connector is mounted onto the stencil printer for the duration of operation of the stencil printer and stencil plates are removably mounted thereon by means of an adapter centrally mounted on the stencil plate. Solder paste stencil patterns are readily interchanged onto the stencil printer during solder paste applications by mounting and removing stencil plates from the stencil plate connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Alpha Metals, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Blazek, James G. Vaughn
  • Patent number: 6158340
    Abstract: A process for preparing removable metal sleeve for gravure printing machines has been carried out in which after treating the lateral surface of the cylinder with a separator product and after associating protective strips in closure of the through holes of the lateral surface of the cylinder, the same is dipped into an electro-copper plating bath for forming a copper removable sleeve and axial removing of the copper sleeve is obtained by means of compressed air forced to form an air cushion between the cooper sleeve and the lateral surface of the cylinder and by means of a separator product used between the same copper sleeve and the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Rotoincisa S.R.L.
    Inventor: Lura Teresa Venturati
  • Patent number: 6158341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for transferring a conductive picture (12) to an irregular surface of a mobile phone casing (4) for shielding the mobile phone casing from electromagnetic radiation. It also relates to the printing colour used for the conductive picture and tampon pads (5) used for the transferring of the conductive printing colour to the phone casing (4). Conductive partial pictures (7) are printed on the irregular surface of the casing (4) step by step by means of tampon pads until the complete conductive picture (12) is achieved. The tampon pad has a shape corresponding to the surface of the phone casing. The printing colour has a composition, which facilitates the adhering on the tampon pad. The invention also describes a method for printing an electrical circuit pattern on a phone casing (4) by using the above mentioned tampon pads and printing colour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Per Holmberg
  • Patent number: 6158342
    Abstract: A mechanism for a label printer that automatically locks two, spaced-apart, paper supporting guides. A supply roll of paper is disposed between the guides, and the guides are adjusted to a proper paper width position. The guides are each mounted on a rack that engages a centralized pinion gear disposed in the cover plate that is closed over the printer housing. The guides are locked in an adjusted position when the cover is latched to the housing of the label printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Axiohm Transaction Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Moore
  • Patent number: 6158343
    Abstract: A contaminant remover for a screen printing operation using a multiple station printing machine having at least a first printing station is disclosed. The contaminant remover has a support arm attached to the first printing station of the printing machine, and a contaminant removal surface attached to the support arm. As a printing surface is automatically brought into printing alignment with the first printing station, the contaminant removal surface engages the printing surface and moves across the printing surface to remove contaminants which may undesirably block portions of the screen. The contaminant removal surface is preferably a plurality of removable roller brushes having an adhesive applied to their respective surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: M&R Printing Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Hoffman, Jr., Alex Iaccino, Dariusz Tkacz, Roman Guzek
  • Patent number: 6158344
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a media advance mechanism in a printer utilizes an optical sensor of the printer to detect printed marks on a calibration sheet. The marks on the calibration sheet are spaced at actual longitudinal intervals. The calibration sheet is advanced longitudinally past the printhead carriage, and the calibration marks are detected with the optical sensor. The printer determines the apparent or measured longitudinal intervals and compares them to the actual intervals to determine errors in positioning the calibration sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Steven P. Downing, Christopher M. Lesniak
  • Patent number: 6158345
    Abstract: A method for compensating for image distortion imparted on a flexographic printing plate is disclosed. The compensation scheme reduces the distortion effect caused by stretching of the image when the printing plate is wrapped around the cylindrical drum of a printing press. The compensation scheme predicts the localized distortion on different parts of the image caused by variations in the undercut depth and density of the image features on the plate. By so doing, the scaling factor is varied in accordance with the predicted localized distortion in the different parts of the image, so as to minimize the distortion effect over the entire printing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Creo SRL
    Inventor: Daniel Gelbart
  • Patent number: 6158346
    Abstract: A prototyping method and apparatus incorporating the invention enables rapid fabrication of heterogeneous parts with non-planar and/or layer-by-layer printing. An electronically addressable array of micro-electrodes is employed as a "printing" panel, A processor controls the printing panel through use of two dimensional planar slice data. Such slice data is used to address electrodes that correspond to points in the slice image. When the printing panel is brought close to a flat powder bed, a static electrical field at each addressed electrode attracts particles to the electrode's surface. The powder image on the printing panel electrodes is then placed over a substrate and the powder image is released to the substrate by applying a reverse polarity voltage to the electrodes. Multiple applications of powder image layers, with intervening fixing of each image layer, enables a three dimensional object to be rapidly constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Xiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 6158347
    Abstract: A detonator with a base portion including a header wall terminating in a support surface; an initiator on the support surface; an explosive charge spaced from the initiator; and a cap having an interior top surface and an enclosure wall extending downward from the interior top surface and surrounding the initiator and the explosive charge. The wall terminates in a rim secured at a location along the header wall corresponding to the thickness of the initiator, the spacing between the initiator and the explosive charge, and the thickness of the explosive charge thereby ensuring that the explosive charge is in communication with the interior top surface of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: EG&G Star City, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry T. Neyer, John T. Adams, Robert J. Tomasoski
  • Patent number: 6158348
    Abstract: An ammunition cartridge has a base and a sidewall extending from the base to a mouth. The sidewall bounds an interior of the case. A projectile is secured to the case proximate the mouth and has at least an aft portion within the case interior. A propellant charge is located in a first region of the case interior at least in part surrounding the aft portion of the projectile. A second propellant charge is carried within a second region of the case interior generally aft of the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Primex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph L. Campoli
  • Patent number: 6158349
    Abstract: A gas generator adapted to be disposed in a rear part of a projectile for increasing the flight range thereof, includes a housing defining a combustion chamber and having a bottom and a longitudinal axis; a fuel accommodated in the combustion chamber; an outlet opening provided in the housing bottom for passage of combustion gases generated in the combustion chamber upon combustion of the fuel; and a plastic fuel-supporting tube extending axially from the outlet opening into the combustion chamber. The plastic material of the fuel-supporting tube is selected such that upon combustion of the fuel aided by a gas pressure of a projectile propellant and by a drag effect, the fuel-supporting tube is deformed and driven out of the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst-Wilhelm Altenau, Siegmar Fischer, Gunter Sikorski, Ulf Hahn
  • Patent number: 6158350
    Abstract: The instant invention is a lightweight enhanced velocity bullet consisting of a hollow cylindrically shaped metal jacket component made of brass, the body of which is filled nearly to capacity with a malleable tin-copper-silver alloy material and with the body having a flattened posterior end and with there being a second end anterior to the body which said second end is hollow within, devoid of any alloy material and tapering symmetrically to a blunt point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Valentino Pulcini
  • Patent number: 6158351
    Abstract: A lead free ferromagnetic article is disclosed. The article is a compacted composite having a heavy more dense constituent that is preferably ferrotungsten and a less dense second constituent that is either a metal alloy or a polymer. The ferromagnetic constituent is present in an amount sufficient to impart the article with ferromagnetism. The ferromagnetic property allows fragments of the article, such as a projectile, bullet or shaped charge liner to be separated from dirt or other environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Mravic, Henry J. Halverson, Deepak Mahulikar