Patents Issued in June 12, 2001
  • Patent number: 6244134
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper for a drive train of a motor vehicle comprises two flywheel mass arrangements which are rotatable both jointly and relative to one another about a common axis of rotation. The two flywheel mass arrangements are coupled by a coupling mass arrangement for transmitting torsional force. The coupling mass arrangement comprises a first bearing region movably mounted for translational motion along a first guide track on the first flywheel arrangement for transmitting torsional forces to the first flywheel mass. A second bearing region is arranged at a distance from the first bearing region on the coupling mass arrangement movable in translational motion along a second guide track on the second flywheel mass arrangement for transmitting torsional forces to the second flywheel mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Jörg Sudau
  • Patent number: 6244135
    Abstract: The bicycle drive mechanism is intended to emulate the behavior of contemporary multiple sprocket bicycle drive mechanisms while comprising far fewer components. In operation force is transmitted to a first drive sprocket which has the capability to absorb much of the inertial load. A second sprocket on the rear wheel of the bicycle is connected by a chain to the first drive sprocket in the usual fashion. Energy stored in the drive sprocket is gradually released as momentum is increased, thereby easing muscle strain upon the rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas Merritt
  • Patent number: 6244136
    Abstract: A foot cleat includes a foot cleat body with a second engaging major surface adapted for facing toward a first engaging surface of a pedal body. The foot cleat body is formed with an elongate lock slot extending in a transverse direction, and two lock holes in two opposite sides relative to the elongate lock slot and aligned in a longitudinal direction. Two friction members are disposed in two lateral portions of the foot cleat body and extend outwardly of the second major engaging surface to abut against two tread walls of the pedal body to prevent slippage of the foot cleat body relative to the pedal body. Screw fasteners are passed through the elongate lock slot and/or the lock holes in such a manner that the screw fasteners are adjustably positioned at the elongate lock slot which is adapted for registering with the screw holes in the bottom surface of the sole of a cyclist's shoe so as to be engaged selectively and threadedly in the corresponding ones of the screw holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Chung-I Chen
  • Patent number: 6244137
    Abstract: A transmission casing design including externally mounted protrusions or devices on the casing for creating a durable, visible coding system. The casing may include a plurality of housing sections for mounting a hydrostatic transmission or other type of transmission. The protrusions may be machined or otherwise durably marked to create an information code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Craig Wigness
  • Patent number: 6244138
    Abstract: A torque reaction device (16, 90, 110, 130, 150) is disclosed which can be used with a power wrench (14) to open and close a valve (10) in a valve assembly (12) which absorbs the shock of opening and closing the valve. The torque reaction device includes a torque reaction arm (18) which is mounted on the power wrench. A torque reaction frame (20, 94, 114, 132, 154) is provided which is mounted to the valve assembly in a manner dependant upon the configuration of the valve assembly. The torque reaction frame mounts a U-channel (22) which interacts with the torque reaction arm (18) to prevent uncontrolled movement of the power wrench relative to the valve while opening and closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Furmanite Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Joseph Campbell
  • Patent number: 6244139
    Abstract: An adjustable shifter for controlling the racing of a slidable ratchet shank includes a tubular handle for slidably disposed therein a shank of socket wrench which has a plurality of annular grooves on front outer periphery and ratchet on rear outer periphery, a shifting mechanism wrapped on the rear outer periphery of the shank having a shifter elastically engaged with the ratchet and positioning mechanism wrapped on the front outer periphery of the shank including a catch ring engaged with the annular grooves of the shank. It is characterized that when turns the shifter for 180 degrees, the shank will change its racing direction and when disengages the catch ring with the annular grooves, the shank is free to slide within the handle to change its length relative to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Daniel Huang
  • Patent number: 6244140
    Abstract: A screwdriver for driving collated screws including a slide body coupled to a housing for reciprocal displacement in a cycle including a retraction stroke and an extension stroke. A lever pivotably mounted to the slide body carries at one end a cam pin received in a cam slot in the housing with the other end of the lever advancing successive screws in the screwstrip, the cam slot having first and second camming surfaces for selective engagement by the cam pin to vary the relative positioning of the lever to be different for the same position if the slide body in the housing in the retraction strokes than in the extension stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: G. Lyle Habermehl
  • Patent number: 6244141
    Abstract: A fastener holding device is designed for use with power or hand tools. The device securely engages a fastener, such as a screw, and automatically disengages the fastener when the device is pushed against a work surface. The device includes a driving bit assembly which has a socket on one end for holding a driving bit and has a polygonally shaped portion on the other end for mounting in a power drill. The device further includes a retaining member adapted to be placed on the driving bit assembly and a sleeve member adapted to be placed on the retaining member. The position of the sleeve member in relation to the retaining member allows the fastener to be either engaged or disengaged with respect to the driving bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Ki Su Han
  • Patent number: 6244142
    Abstract: A king pin cap tool kit comprises a pair of cap removal tools for removing MACK® truck king pin caps of different diameters and a pair of thread chasers for repairing internal threads in steering knuckle housing bores of corresponding diameters. Each cap removal tool comprises a cylindrical body having a cruciform protrusion extending from one end face and a polygon-shaped recess through the opposite end face to adapt the cap removal tool for driving connection to a conventional pneumatic impact gun. The cruciform protrusion is uniform in its height and includes a pair of intersecting legs that extend fully across the end face in diametrical fashion. A cap removal tool having three intersecting legs is also disclosed. Each thread chaser comprises a cylindrical body having opposite end faces, a threaded peripheral surface, and polygon-shaped axial through hole for receiving a breaker bar or ratchet with extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Richard C. Swanson
  • Patent number: 6244143
    Abstract: A lathe adapted to trim and true the circumference of a rotating cylindrical surface comprising an axially forward plate with a central aperture and a plurality of radially interior and radially exterior apertures, an axial rearward plate with a plurality of radially interior and radially exterior apertures; fixed cylindrical spacers fixedly coupling the forward and the rearward plates, a plurality of threaded cylindrical spindles rotatably supported with respect to the forward and rearward plates with a planetary gear secured with respect to each spindle, a rotatable advancement assembly formed with a rotatable plate and a forwardly facing cylindrical periphery and a tracking ring in meshing contact with the planetary gears whereby rotation of the rotatable plate with respect to the rearward plate will rotate the tracking ring to rotate the planetary gears and the threaded cylindrical spindles, a carriage having two parallel threaded bores in meshing relationship with the threads of spindles for axial moveme
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas J. Reisdorph
  • Patent number: 6244144
    Abstract: A horizontal band saw device for cutting lengthwise along boards passed therethrough enables increased cutting capacity of such boards and includes a head with both a first board conveyor passing therethrough and a second board conveyor passing therethrough. The head includes an inlet end, an outlet end, a board receiving passage, and a movable band saw blade, the board receiving passage having the movable band saw blade passing from a first side to a second side thereof. The first board conveyor extends through the board receiving passage of the head and beneath the band saw blade. The second board conveyor extends through the board receiving passage of the head and beneath the band saw blade, the second board conveyor being spaced from the first board conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Douglas William Goldie
  • Patent number: 6244145
    Abstract: An apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web being carried on a fabric. The apparatus including a penetrating device and an air flow that separates a portion of the sheet material web from the fabric adjacent the penetrating device so as to bring the web into contact with the penetrating device. In one embodiment, a vacuum lifts a portion of the sheet material web into contact with a slitting member such that it continuously slits the sheet material web longitudinally along its length as the fabric carries the sheet material web beneath it. In an alternative embodiment, a pressurized air stream is directed to a bottom portion of the sheet material web so as to separate the web from the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Hada, Lowell E. Thoms
  • Patent number: 6244146
    Abstract: A tablet shearing apparatus includes a support frame comprising a top frame member having an opening, a stationary plate secured to the top frame member. The stationary plate includes apertures extending about substantially the entirety of the opening of the top frame member. A movable plate including apertures is disposed above the stationary plate. A drive cylinder is connected through a linkage arm and an actuator arm to the movable plate. A tablet tray having apertures for receiving tablets can be positioned above the movable plate to transfer tablets to the apertures of the movable plate and the stationary plate so that, when individual tablets are supported in the apertures of both the stationary plate and the movable plate, the drive cylinder moves the movable plate relative to the stationary plate and shears the tablets. The tablet shearing apparatus also includes a tablet release gate having keyhole shaped apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Anne Frances Arthur, Douglas Jay Dehaan, Clifford R. Jepsen, Phillip F. Ni, Donald L. Vermeulen, Edward A. Witkoske
  • Patent number: 6244147
    Abstract: A weld sample cutter has a rotating saw blade and a vice. The vice has jaws which will retain a cylindrical work piece so that it can be cut either longitudinally or transversely by the blade. The vice is movable along a slide plate so that the work piece held in the vice can be moved toward or away from the saw blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: The E. H. Wachs Company
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Pierce
  • Patent number: 6244148
    Abstract: To improve a cutting device comprising a machine frame, a rotatably mounted anvil drum with an anvil surface, a rotatably mounted cutting tool with a cutter cooperating with the anvil surface in such a way that in successive rotary positions, respectively successive cutter sections stand in an operative position with successive anvil surface sections in order to cut a material passing through between the cutting tool and the anvil drum, such that the cutting tool has as long a service life as possible, it is proposed that the cutting tool and the anvil drum be pretensioned, that the cutting tool be supported by at least one supporting ring via successive supporting ring sections on successive supporting surface sections of the anvil drum, that the respectively operative supporting ring section act on the respectively operative supporting surface section with a bearing force corresponding approximately to the difference between pretensioning force and cutting force, and that the supporting ring be of such cons
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Aichele Werkzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Hermann Vees
  • Patent number: 6244149
    Abstract: A machine tool has a work table which defines a working surface and has a cutting tool which is attached to and movable with respect to the work table. The cutting tool extends through a removable throat plate. An integral arbor wrench is provided which is accessible when the throat plate is removed. The wrench is designed to engage the arbor shaft to facilitate tool changing by preventing rotation of the arbor shaft. The wrench is also designed to not allow reassembling of the throat plate when the wrench is in engagement with the arbor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Warren A. Ceroll, Frederick R. Bean, Maria I. Kenyon, James R. Parks, Robert S. Gehret, David A. Porter, Michael L. O'Banion, Daniel Puzio, Kevin Brewer
  • Patent number: 6244150
    Abstract: A cheese slicer having a flat base and a blade holder releasably pivotally secured to the base for moving from a locked upright cheese slicing position to a lowered storing position. A unique wide, flat blade slidably carried in the blade holder and having an upper end with a large handle and a lower end. The lower end having a downwardly and rearwardly sloping separating surface terminating in a downwardly protruding blunt slicing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Chef'n Corporation
    Inventors: David Holcomb, Bradley Burton Larsen
  • Patent number: 6244151
    Abstract: An improved adjusting apparatus for a cutting bar received in an axial slot of a blade cylinder for cutting web material. The improvement enables an operator to adjust the tilt of the cutting bar relative to the axis of rotation of the blade cylinder to accommodate out-of-parallel conditions in the blade cylinder or mounting slot so that the cutting edge of the blade held by the cutting bar is parallel to the surface of an adjacent anvil cylinder, which supports the web being cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Tamarack Products Inc.
    Inventors: David Machamer, David J. Steidinger
  • Patent number: 6244152
    Abstract: The saw blade (30) for an oscillating saw machine has a row of M-shaped twin teeth (38) on its toothed edge (40). Each twin tooth has two tooth tips pointing in opposite directions so as to be effective for sawing in two opposite saw blade motion directions. Each twin tooth is alternately twisted about a central twist axis in one rotation direction or another opposite rotation direction out from the saw blade plane so that the tooth tips of each twisted twin tooth point in opposite directions out from the saw blade plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Scintilla AG
    Inventor: Aldo Di Nicolantonio
  • Patent number: 6244153
    Abstract: An improved appliance for slicing food articles, particularly baked goods and bagels in a uniform, quick and safe manner. The appliance includes a food receptacle which is slidably inserted into one end of a main housing and into which a food item such as a bagel is placed. A motorized cutting carriage is pivotally mounted to the main housing and extends a serrated dual-bladed slicing assembly over the food item. When power is applied, the blades of the slicing assembly begin reciprocating, and the entire cutting carriage is pivoted with respect to the main housing in order to move the reciprocating blades of the slicing assembly through the food item. Once the food item is cut, the cutting carriage is returned to its home position, the food receptacle is slidably withdrawn, and the sliced food item is removed and consumed. The appliance requires a minimum of space and facilitates the slicing operation without damage to the bagel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas A. McInnes, Louis Toth, Gordon R. Perry, Jude C. Tan
  • Patent number: 6244154
    Abstract: A seating die for use in a reloading press containing a stationary head and a movable ram. The die is secured in the head of the press and the ram moves a cartridge containing a shell casing and an unseated bullet upwardly into the die. The die further includes an elongated housing having a passage passing axially therethrough. The lower part of the passage forms a guideway that opens into an expanded upper opening to form a shoulder therebetween. A guide having a body that is slidably mounted in the guideway and has a shank mounted at its proximal end that passes upwardly into the upper opening of the passage. A collar is mounted upon the shank that contains a radial flange that seats against the housing shoulder when the guide is in a home position. The distal end of the body section contains a bottom opening chamber for receiving the bullet as the ram moves upwardly whereupon the guide is moved upwardly into contact with an adjustable stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Redding Hunter, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Beebe, Patrick T. Ryan
  • Patent number: 6244155
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a containment structure for containing and mitigating explosions. The containment structure is installed in the wall of the building and has interior and exterior doors for placing suspicious packages into the containment structure and retrieving them from the exterior of the building. The containment structure has a blast deflection chute and a blowout panel to direct over pressure from explosions away from the building, surrounding structures and people.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Michael H. Sparks
  • Patent number: 6244156
    Abstract: A blast shell is launched as a defense against an attacking tail fin-stabilized projectile, such as in particular a KE penetrator, from an object which is to be protected. Gas fumes and a reaction pressure blast wave from a fired blast warhead of the shell act principally on the tail region of the attacking projectile and thereby deflect the latter from a trajectory in the attack direction so that the object under attack is either missed or at least is not hit in a head-on direction, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the attacking projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Diehl Stiftung & Co.
    Inventors: Raimar Steuer, Christian Klee, Helmut Ertel, Gunter Weihrauch
  • Patent number: 6244157
    Abstract: A perforating gun (10, 210, 310, 410) is provided for retaining a plurality of explosive charges (16, 16′) in an angular phased array with the discharge ends (16a, 16a′) of each succeeding explosive charge (16, 16′) disposed at a selected angular orientation relative to the other explosive charges (16, 16′) as determined by the configuration of an undulating path defined by support wires (14, 14′) or wire pairs (19a, 19b). The perforating gun (10, 210, 310, 410) comprises a plurality of support wires (14, 14′) disposed about a common longitudinal axis (L—L) and extending in an undulating path so as to define a wire carrier or cage in which the explosive charges (16, 16′) are retained by securing the discharge ends (16a), or the initiation ends (16b), or both, to support wires (14, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: The Ensign-Bickford Company
    Inventor: Thomas C. Tseka
  • Patent number: 6244158
    Abstract: Directional control valves are arranged with restrictable center passageways connected in series to a fixed displacement pump and with restrictable power and exhaust passageways straddling loads connected in parallel to the same fixed displacement pump. Pressure responsive valves located between the loads and the restrictable exhaust passageways reduce interactions between the loads. Another pressure responsive valve located between the fixed displacement pump and the restrictable center passageways maintains an appropriate division of flow between the restrictable center passageways and the restrictable power and exhaust passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: FPS, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Roche
  • Patent number: 6244159
    Abstract: A compressor includes swash plate, which is tiltably supported by a drive shaft. The displacement of the compressor changes in accordance with the inclination angle of the swash plate. The minimum inclination angle (&thgr;min) of the swash plate is less than three to five degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft. The swash plate can be moved from its minimum inclination to increase its angle, despite the small minimum inclination angle, due to a return spring, which urges the swash plate to increase the inclination angle. The return spring positively moves the swash plate in a direction increasing the inclination angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Yuji Kaneshige, Hideki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 6244160
    Abstract: The invention relates to an axial piston machine (1) comprising a housing (50), a drive shaft (3) mounted in a rotational manner in the housing (50) around a drive shaft axis (12), a cylinder drum (2) which is connected to the drive shaft (3) in a non-rotational manner and in which are embodied cylinders (4) for receiving axially movable pistons (6), and a control plate (26) with control openings (24, 25) designed to cyclically connect the cylinders (5) with a high-pressure and a low-pressure line. The invention provides for a pressing device with at least one centrifugal body (30a-30f), which is impinged upon by a centrifugal force (FF) that increases with the number of rotations per minute (n) of the cylinder drum (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Brueninghaus Hydromatik GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Kunze
  • Patent number: 6244161
    Abstract: This invention relates to a high temperature-resistant piston head. The piston head includes a first portion formed of a first material of heat-resistant steel alloy and the second portion is formed of a second a material of steel alloy that may be the same or may or different from the first material. The first and second portions are joined by a friction weld to form the assembled piston head. The heat-resistant steel alloy includes about 0.1 to about 0.5 wt % carbon, up to about 0.6 wt % manganese, about 4.0 to about 6.0 wt % chromium, about 0.45 to about 0.65 wt % molybdenum, up to about 0.5 wt % nickel and the balance iron and incidental impurities. In one form the second material includes about 0.30 to about 0.55 wt % carbon, about 0.4 to about 1.10 wt % manganese, about 0.40 to about 1.25 wt % chromium, about 0.15 to about 0.45 wt % molybdenum, up to about 0.4 wt % silicon, up to about 2 wt % Ni and greater than about 90 wt % iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignees: Cummins Engine Company, Inc., Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin R. Myers, Carmo Ribeiro
  • Patent number: 6244162
    Abstract: A brewing apparatus with a brew basket for holding ingredients in particulate form that contain soluble flavorants delivers a predetermined amount of hot water to a spray head positioned above said brew basket. The spray head has a multiplicity of openings positioned and configured in such a manner that the hot water is sprayed uniformly over the entire surface of the ingredients at a predetermined rate thereby wetting substantially all of the particles of the ingredients and uniformly extracting said solubles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Grindmaster Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Dahmen
  • Patent number: 6244163
    Abstract: A baking oven turning over objects being baked at set regular times includes a heating tube fixed in an upper portion of the interior of the baking oven, and a baking frame located in an intermediate horizontal portion, a control switch device, a speed reduced motor and a time set adjusting switch circuit board fixed in the baking oven. The time set adjusting switch circuit board turns on and off power to stop and operate the motor and subsequently controlling the control switch device to automatically rotate to turn the baking frame over to permit the objects being baked evenly to get the best result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Ming-Tsung Lee
  • Patent number: 6244164
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of ready-cooked and semi-cooked dishes in a cooking container into which are incorporated all the ingredients, preferably automatically, including mixing of the ingredients just as for an artisanal preparation. A machine for performing the process includes a heating surface on which are placed containers for individual use, the surface being driven by a timed driving system, food supply devices which supply the food according to the timing of the driving system, such that the dishes can be consumed, preserved or frozen. It is also possible to interrupt the cooking in order to separate the solids from the liquid which can be preserved or frozen. The final phase can be carried out in a machine which has a resistance and a container support, one or the two being separable from the other after a delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Bonapaella S.L.
    Inventors: José Perez Gonzalvo, Adrián Hernandis Marco
  • Patent number: 6244165
    Abstract: Integrated cooling, heating food preparation system has a food containing volume; a device to refrigerate food in that volume; a device to cook the refrigerated food in the same volume; and, optionally, a device to keep warm and/or refrigerate the cooked food in the same volume. The system is suitably controlled, preferably by remote control activation, for a few examples, through a public exchange computer communications system or by radio. The system can be embodied in a form in which the food containing/heating unit is placed in a pre-existing or modified refrigeration cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventors: Joseph S. Trombley, Christopher John Rudy
  • Patent number: 6244166
    Abstract: A child proof toaster with touch pad controls including a housing having a generally rectangular configuration. The housing has a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, opposed side walls and an interior. The top wall has a pair of slots formed therein. The slots are in communication with the interior. The slots receive toastable items therein. The interior has toasting elements disposed therein. The front wall has an opening therein in communication with the interior. A cover member is hingedly coupled with the top wall of the housing. The cover member has an open orientation exposing the pair of slots and a closed orientation covering the pair of slots. A tray portion is removably received within the opening in the front wall of the housing. The tray portion is positionable under the pair of slots in a closed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Rebecca Lebron
  • Patent number: 6244167
    Abstract: A tortilla forming machine for molding dough into a tortilla shell having a top, a bottom, a peripheral edge, and a thickness. The forming machine includes a first member having a first forming surface, a second member having a second forming surface moveable toward and away from the first forming surface, and at least one removable sizing ring. The sizing ring includes a first edge and an opposing second edge, an inner surface and a height defining a cavity between the first and second forming surfaces when the first forming surface is adjacent the first edge and the second forming surface is adjacent the second edge such that the inner surface of the ring forms the peripheral edge of the tortilla shell and the height of the ring forms the thickness of the tortilla shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Poquito Mas, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin T. Mc Carney
  • Patent number: 6244168
    Abstract: A treatment device for subjecting food products to a temperature treatment comprises a housing, at least one conveyor, on which the food products can be conveyed along a helical conveying path, as well as air-circulation throughout the treatment device sufficient causing conditioned air to circulate through the device, and an air-conditioning device, in which device, according to the invention, air-distribution device that will allow for distributing the conditioned air via only part of the inside of the helical conveying path are provided on the inside of the conveying belt, which air-distribution device that will be connected to the air circulation portion of the treatment device. In the device according to the invention, the conditioned air is blown over the products from a limited open area of the air-distribution device on the inside of the helical conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Stork Titan B.V.
    Inventors: Henricus J. A. van de Vorst, Henricus F. J. M. van der Eerden
  • Patent number: 6244169
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic rolled sushi producing apparatus consisting of a vinegared rice supply unit; a vinegared rice supply conveyer arranged below the vinegared rice supply unit; a carrying conveyer arranged at right angle to the vinegared rice supply conveyer; a vinegared rice extrusion mechanism arranged along an advancing direction of the carrying conveyer; a vinegared rice cutting mechanism; a tight rolling mechanism; a forming mechanism; a product extrusion mechanism; and a product take-out conveyer arranged at right angle to the carrying conveyer at a terminal end of the carrying conveyer, and wherein the vinegared rice supply conveyer, the carrying conveyer and the product take-out conveyer are arranged in the form of U as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shimazu
  • Patent number: 6244170
    Abstract: A food product breading machine having a battering unit supported by a breading unit. A battering unit conveyor system delivers food products to the breading unit. The breading unit has a breading reservoir, a breading station and a breading unit conveyor system. The battering unit conveyor system propels the food products in a generally horizontal direction to the breading unit. The breading unit conveyor system propels food products toward the breading station in a generally opposite direction. The breading unit conveyor system has first and second sections, one adjacent and below the battering unit conveyor end that conveys food products downwardly and horizontally toward the breading station, the other delivering food products from the first section through the breading station and discharging the breaded products. The second section has two tiers with breaded products from the first tier falling onto the second tier before being discharged from the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Bettcher Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Whited, Lane Bettcher, Scott M. Muniga
  • Patent number: 6244171
    Abstract: Calender and process for operating the calender, calender roll and process for forming the calender roll, and a coating for the calender roll. The calender includes at least one calender roll body, and an elastic coating coupled to the at least one calender roll body. The elastic coating includes a colorant to change a color of the elastic coating depending upon a temperature of the elastic coating. The calender roll includes an elastic coating with a colorant, and the elastic coating is adapted to change color depending upon a temperature of the elastic coating. The process for forming the calender roll includes forming an elastic coating that includes a colorant, whereby the elastic coating changes color depending upon a temperature of the elastic coating, and applying the elastic coating to a calender roll body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Kayser
  • Patent number: 6244172
    Abstract: Tamp printing of at least one picture (4) occurs by means of at least one tamp pad (1, 18, 24, 34) on a piece (3), which has boundary surfaces (5, 13) forming angles relative to each other, the tamp pad first printing in one direction (10) against a boundary surface (13, 43) and thereafter, after further compression of the tamp pad (1) against said boundary surface (13) due to its deformation, prints in another direction (45) than the direction (10) against another boundary surface or other boundary surfaces (5, 43), whereby the picture is transferred to said boundary surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Per Holmberg, Lars Eriksson
  • Patent number: 6244173
    Abstract: A mesh cloth, which does not bring about clogging and has uniform openings throughout the whole surface, and a screen-formed plated article, which can be stably used as a printing screen and a cylinder for rotary printing, and is useful as an electromagnetic wave shielding material and a shadow mask. The mesh cloth is produced by using a core-sheath composite filament using a sheath comprising a component having a lower melting point than a core. A metal plating is applied on the mesh cloth, in which the core threads of the crossing threads at the point of intersection of the crossing threads are adhered to each other by melting the sheath component, the surface thereof is uniformly covered with the sheath component of the crossing threads, and the thickness of the cloth at the point of intersection is from 85 to 60% of the total thickness of the diameters of the crossing threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Kanebo Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihide Tomikawa, Shoichiro Noguchi, Toyohiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6244174
    Abstract: A maintenance and diagnostic system for a printing machine, preferably a sheet-fed offset printing machine, includes a control system having at least one computer and is connected to signal transmitters that are sensors and/or limit switches. The main drive and other drives of the printing machine are activated via the sensors and/or limit switches. The control system is operatively connected to a control-desk computer containing data on print jobs that are carried out. The control system is arranged to provide a diagnostic and inspection system for printing machines to be used for planning necessary maintenance work in advance to the greatest possible extent such that the downtimes of the printing machine required for maintenance work are minimized. The control system includes a maintenance and inspection computer which is operatively connected to the control system and to the control-desk computer. Signals can be recorded by the control system onto the maintenance and inspection computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Heiner Sirowitzki, Martin Schmitt-Kallenbach, Hanns-Otto Haas, Bernd Lindner
  • Patent number: 6244175
    Abstract: A single space rotary printing press for newspapers includes a plurality of printing units arranged at different elevations, the printing units each having a plate cylinder with an annular gear at one end, a first transmission gear box and at least one second transmission gear box driven to rotate the printing units, the first transmission gear box having a power input shaft for receiving external rotary driving force and a power output shaft for transmitting external rotary driving force to one printing unit, the at least one second transmission gear box each having a power input shaft for receiving external rotary driving force, a power output shaft for transmitting external rotary driving force to one printing unit, and a transmission shaft for transmitting external rotary driving force to the power input shaft, and an adjustment mechanism coupled between the transmission shaft and the power input shaft for adjusting the position of the plate cylinder of the corresponding printing unit, and coupling means
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Hueiloo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Hsien Lin, Ting Chen Yu
  • Patent number: 6244176
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus comprising a driving roll, a supporting roll, an endless offset blanket stretched between the driving roll and the supporting roll, a plurality of plate cylinders for transferring inks having a plurality of different colors onto the endless offset blanket, a plurality of first impression drums arranged to have the endless offset blanket held between the first impression drums and the plate cylinders, ink supply means for supplying the inks of the plural colors to the plate cylinders, and a second impression drum positioned to push the supporting roll and to have a printing medium held between the supporting roll and the second impression drum, the inks of the plural colors transferred onto the endless offset blanket being printed on the printing medium in a single operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Kinyosha Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Saburo Sonobe, Akio Onuki
  • Patent number: 6244177
    Abstract: A multi-purpose thumb or finger mounted cot having a stamp pad with postal related indicia. Two embodiments of the cot are disclosed one of which is closed on its upper end while the other cot is opened on both ends. The postal related indicia on the self-inking stamp pad may consist of a carrier routing number and a plurality of parallel bar lines. This indicia is raised from a base pad surface with the bar lines used to endorse mail by postal carriers, to cancel stamps and wrong bar codes, wrong zip codes, and to cancel bar codes that have mistakenly not been canceled in the mailing process. The carrier routing number specifically identifies a postal carrier and can inform one of the route assigned to that carrier. By making the mating surfaces of the stamp pad (back) and cot (front) hook and loop or VELCRO fastener elements, the stamp pad can be removed and replaced with another stamp pad or have its ink supply refilled when needed. This replaced stamp pad may be that of any carrier with different indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Michael E. Young
  • Patent number: 6244178
    Abstract: Freshly printed sheets are transferred from one printing unit to another by transfer cylinders each having an ink repellent, electrically conductive, striped flexible jacket covering that is movable relative to the sheet support surface of the transfer cylinder. The jacket covering is made of a flexible fabric material that is pre-stretched, pressed flat, cut to size and treated with an ink repellent compound and is also treated with an anti-static ionic compound or is otherwise rendered electrically conductive by one or more conductive strands. Electrostatic charges carried by the freshly printed sheets are discharged through the ink repellent, electrically conductive, flexible jacket covering into the grounded transfer cylinder. A low friction, electrically conductive cylinder base covering that includes center alignment marks is secured to the transfer cylinder for engaging the flexible jacket covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventors: Howard W. DeMoore, John Andrew Branson
  • Patent number: 6244179
    Abstract: It is one objective of the present invention to precisely bring into contact with a recording drum or an image receiving sheet a adhesive roller that can remove dust therefrom, so as to prevent recording failures that occur because of dust that interferes with the proper adhesion of image receiving sheets and toner sheets. According to the invention, a recording apparatus comprises: a recording drum, to which an image receiving sheet is secured; a recording head; a step portion, which is provided on the recording drum to avoid an adverse affect resulting from the thickness of the image receiving sheet; and a adhesive roller, which has a stepped portion corresponding to the step portion on the recording drum and which is located near the recording drum for cleaning the surface of the recording drum and the surface of an image receiving sheet that is secured to the recording drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6244180
    Abstract: A system for forming artistic ink impressions. A case stores ink stamping accessories and/or allows large surface area stamps to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Winston
  • Patent number: 6244181
    Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a negative working lithographic printing plate precursor by applying a dry powder, containing a light absorbing compound in an amount not less than 50% by weight, on a metal support such as an anodized aluminum plate. The light absorbing compound is preferably carbon, soot or an infrared dye. In one embodiment of the invention, the dry powder may be rubbed in on the surface of the metal support. In another embodiment a layer of soot is applied on the metal support by contacting the surface of the support with a flame. In still another embodiment, a metal support is contacted with a transfer material consisting of a support and a dry layer of a light absorbing compound such as carbon. By applying heat or light, the dry powder is converted into a hydrophobic substance at the printing areas of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Luc Leenders, August Meisters
  • Patent number: 6244182
    Abstract: An anti-expansion web-transfer mechanism mounted between two printing units in a color press to transfer a printed web from one printing unit to a next printing unit, and to prevent the printed web from expanding in width, the anti-expansion web-transfer mechanism including a fixed axle and a rotary axle arranged in parallel between two brackets, a plurality of roller supports respectively mounted on the two axles in stagger to hold a respective roller, a transmission mechanism controlled to rotate the rotary axle, enabling the rollers at the roller supports at the rotary axle to be pressed on the printed web against the rollers at the roller supports at the fixed axle, and an air cylinder connected between the transmission mechanism and one roller support at the rotary axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Hueiloo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung Hsien Lin, Ting Chen Yu
  • Patent number: 6244183
    Abstract: A method for mounting a substrate having a first image printed thereon on a digital printer to be used to print a second image in a desired alignment with the first image, wherein the first image is printed on the substrate using a nondigital process. The first image is related to a second image to form a composite image. First, registration holes in a template are placed over registration pins on the digital printer, thereby mounting the template on the printer. The second image is printed on the template using the digital printer, and the template is then removed from the digital printer. Registration holes of substrate leaders and the registration holes of the template are placed over registration pins extending from a work surface. The substrate is then positioned with respect to the substrate leaders and the template at a desired location where the first image on the substrate aligns with the second image on the template. The substrate leader is then secured to the substrate at the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Haney Graphics
    Inventors: Daniel E. Haney, Matthew J. Haney, Michael Poulin, William Damon Alford