Patents Issued in September 14, 2004
  • Patent number: 6790262
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a membrane contactor for debubbling (or degassing) a liguid. The membrane contactor comprises a perforated core tube, a plurality of hollow fiber membranes surrounding the tubes and having an end, a tube sheet affixing the end of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes to the core tube, and a shell surrounding the plurality of hollow fiber membranes and the tube sheet. A lumen side is defined by an internal surface of the membranes. A shell side is defined by the perforated core tube, an external surface of said membrane, and the shell. The membrane is a single layered, skinned, polymethylpentene hollow fiber microporous membrane. The skin is on the shell side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Celgard Inc.
    Inventors: Amitava Sengupta, Daniel S. Huntsberger, Brian D. Miller
  • Patent number: 6790263
    Abstract: Soluble polyamic acid salt (PAAS) precursors comprised of tertiary and quaternary amines, ammonium cations, sulfonium cations, or phosphonium cations, are prepared and fabricated into membranes that are subsequently imidized and converted into rigid-rod polyimide articles, such as membranes with desirable gas separation properties. A method of enhancing solubility of PAAS polymers in alcohols is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Ding, Benjamin Bikson, Joyce Katz Nelson
  • Patent number: 6790264
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pozzolanic admixture containing ammonia-laden fly ash, method for making the pozzolanic admixture and method for controlling ammonia gas (NH3) emission from cementitious slurries using the pozzolanic admixture. The associated hypochlorite and ammonia reaction produces monochloramine and chloride salts at relatively low concentration levels harmless to concrete and concrete applications. The resulting monochloramine and chloride salt products are stable and do not dissipate into the air, thereby, eliminating odorous emission that is produced from cementitious slurry containing untreated ammonia laden fly ash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: ISG Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Rafic Y. Minkara
  • Patent number: 6790265
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved aqueous alkaline zincate solution comprising hydroxide ions, zinc ions, nickel ions and/or cobalt iron ions, copper ions, and at least one inhibitor containing one or more nitrogen atoms, sulfur atoms, or both nitrogen and sulfur atoms provided said nitrogen atoms are not present in an aliphatic amine or hydroxylamine. The present invention also relates to methods for depositing zincate coatings on aluminum and aluminum alloys comprising applying an immersion zincate coating on an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrates, optionally followed by plating the zincate coated aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate using an electroless or electrolytic metal plating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Nayan H. Joshi, Maulik D. Mehta
  • Patent number: 6790266
    Abstract: An ink set for ink-jet recording comprises a yellow ink, a magenta ink, and a cyan ink. Changes of colors &Dgr;EY, &Dgr;EM, &Dgr;EC of the yellow ink, the magenta ink, and the cyan ink satisfy the following relationship when the yellow ink, the magenta ink, and the cyan ink are deposited on regular paper, followed by being irradiated with light having a wavelength of 300 nm to 400 nm and an illuminance of 100 W/m2 for 30 hours by using a xenon lamp: |&Dgr;EY−&Dgr;EM|≦5, |&Dgr;EM−&Dgr;EC|≦5, |&Dgr;EC−&Dgr;EY|≦5. The ink set is excellent in color balance after the fading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Narumi Koga, Kazuma Goto, Naomichi Kobayashi, Michiko Aoyama, Shunichi Higashiyama, Masaya Fujioka
  • Patent number: 6790267
    Abstract: Disclosed are colorant compounds of the formula wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or an alkylaryl group, and wherein R can be joined to the phenyl moiety to form a ring, each R′, independently of the others, is a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a nitrile group, a nitro group, an amide group, or a sulfonamide group, z is an integer of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, n is an integer representing the number of carbon atoms in each repeat alkylene oxide unit, x is an integer representing the number of repeat alkylene oxide units, and A and B each, independently of the other, are hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, tertiary amino groups, imine groups, ammonium groups, cyano groups, pyridine groups, pyridinium groups, ether groups, ester groups, amide groups, sulfate groups, sulfonate groups, sulfide groups, sulfoxide groups, phosphine groups, phosphonium groups, phosphate groups, nitrile groups, mercapto groups, nitro groups, sulfone groups, acyl groups, azo groups
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery H. Banning, Donald R. Titterington, Clifford R. King
  • Patent number: 6790268
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to ink-jet ink compositions, methods, and systems for reducing satellite spotting around a printed image. Specifically, an aqueous ink-jet ink composition exhibiting a reduction in aerosol formation during printing, comprises an effective amount of an ink vehicle; an effective amount of at least one ink colorant; and from 5 to 200 ppm of a high molecular weight polysaccharide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Shirley Lee, Grant A. Webster, Joe R. Pietrzyk, Farzaneh Barmaki
  • Patent number: 6790269
    Abstract: An ink for use in the ink-jet recording comprising a dye and/or a pigment and water as the indispensable components and a water-insoluble solid content of 1% or more of the whole quantity, the ink further comprising: a nonionic surfactant having polyethylene oxide groups and polypropylene oxide groups, which is a substance having the structure shown by the following structural formula 1; and a number x of the added polyethylene oxide groups and a number y of the added polypropylene oxide groups satisfy the relation that 0<x≦10, and the relation that x/2−1<y<x/3+2, where q and r are respectively the numbers of the methylene groups, and satisfy the relation that 9≦q+r≦11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Nakatsu, Masanori Kinomoto, Seita Suzuki, Takanori Kamoto, Kiyofumi Morimoto, Hiroaki Nakaya
  • Patent number: 6790270
    Abstract: A paper sizing and coating composition suitable for use in food packaging that is effective over a range of atmospheric conditions. The composition includes a starch and a water-soluble protein having a bloom strength of at least about 150. The composition can be applied over a paper substrate to improved oil and grease resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Billmers, Viotor L. Mackewicz, Ralph M. Trksak
  • Patent number: 6790271
    Abstract: A soy protein based adhesive useful in particleboards and other composites is formed from a mixture of soy protein isolate, a polyol plasticizer and a vegetable oil derivative. The preferred plasticizer is glycerol and the preferred vegetable oil derivative is the maleinized methyl ester of tung oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: The University of Southern Mississippi
    Inventors: Shelby F. Thames, Richard C. Cook, Sharathkumar K. Mendon
  • Patent number: 6790272
    Abstract: The invention relates to aqueous pigment preparations containing i) at least one copolymer P of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M in the form of an aqueous polymer dispersion which contains between 0.1 and 1.5 weight %, in relation to the total weight of the copolymer P, of polymerized itaconic acid as acid monomer M1, its salts and/or anhydride, where up to 50 weight % of the itaconic acid can be substituted by another monomer having at least one acid group or a neutralized acid group, and whose glass transition temperature TG lies between −10 and +50° C.; ii) at least one inorganic pigment; iii) possibly inorganic fillers; and iv) standard additives. The invention also relates to the use of the copolymers P containing itaconic acid for improving the wet-abrasion resistance of polymer-bound coatings containing pigments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Cheng-Le Zhao, Joachim Roser, Rolf Dersch, Roland Baumstark
  • Patent number: 6790273
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions containing inorganic UV absorbers and to coatings produced therefrom for the long-term protection of materials, especially plastics, against photochemical degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Mager
  • Patent number: 6790274
    Abstract: Highly pure iron oxides are prepared by reaction of metallic iron, in the form of microspheroidal particles or of scraps or cuttings, with an agitated aqueous solution of a mono- or polycarboxylic acid with a pKa of 0.5 to 6 relative to the first carboxyl and capable of decomposing, by heating in air at 200 to 350° C., to carbon dioxide and water, using 0.03 to 1.5 moles of acid per g-atoms of iron, a water/iron weight ration of 1 to 20, and by oxidation of the ferrous carboxilate to ferric salt, with an agent selected from oxygen, mixtures containing oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxides and hydroperoxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: SUD Ehemie MT S.r.L.
    Inventors: Esterino Conca, Carlo Rubini, Guido Petrini
  • Patent number: 6790275
    Abstract: The invention relates to fiber compositions that can be pumped and metered in the fashion of fluid chemical admixtures into a concrete mix, thereby enabling the fibers to be dispensed by concrete ready-mix plant operators who can provide verification of fiber administration and dosage. The fibers, particularly plastic shrinkage control fibers having large cumulative surface area, are suspended in an aqueous or non-aqueous medium such that their surface area is already wetted out, thereby virtually assuring that substantial uniform fiber dispersion can be achieved without clumping and the delay that is usually required by fiber intermixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Michael B. Macklin, Anandakumar Ranganathan, Klaus-Alexander Rieder, Ding Feng Shen, Michael Buchanan, Randall Fierke, Jessica Verrill, Donald Indge, David Agresti, Paul Westgate
  • Patent number: 6790276
    Abstract: A plaster formulation for forming a non-shinny, slow-drying plaster, in which color may be blended and multiple color coats applied to form a colored surface with the appearance of depth, age, and texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Jacob Caval
  • Patent number: 6790277
    Abstract: Wallboard joint compound compositions comprising water, calcium carbonate, a polyether siloxane copolymer, and a styrene-butadiene polymer are disclosed. The joint compound compositions display significantly reduced cratering, reduced shrinking, greater sag resistance, and excellent workability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: National Gypsum Properties, LLC
    Inventor: Amba Ayambem
  • Patent number: 6790278
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a novel low-resistance p-type SrTiO3 capable of opening the way for oxide electronics in combination with an already developed low-resistance n-type SrTiO3. The method is characterized in that an acceptor and a donor are co-doped into a perovskite-type transition-metal oxide SrTiO3 during crystal growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshida, Kiyoshi Betsuyaku, Tomoji Kawai, Hidekazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6790279
    Abstract: A buffer layer 2 made of aluminum nitride (AlN) is formed on a substrate 1 and is formed into an island pattern such as a dot pattern, a striped pattern, or a grid pattern such that substrate-exposed portions are formed in a scattered manner. A group III nitride compound semiconductor 3 grows epitaxially on the buffer layer 2 in a longitudinal direction, and grows epitaxially on the substrate-exposed portions in a lateral direction. As a result, a group III nitride compound semiconductor 3 which has little or no feedthrough dislocations 4 is obtained. Because the region where the group III nitride compound semiconductor 3 grows epitaxially in a lateral direction, on region 32, has excellent crystallinity, forming a group III nitride compound semiconductor device on the upper surface of the region results in improved device characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Koike, Seiji Nagai
  • Patent number: 6790280
    Abstract: A cradle for a spreading device, such as a rotatable rod, to which a spreading organ to be pressed against a movable surface has been attached. The cradle is fastened to a holder, and a gasket is provided between the cradle and the holder (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper Inc.
    Inventor: Markku Lummila
  • Patent number: 6790281
    Abstract: The present invention provides a finely-divided powder spray apparatus having a spray nozzle pipe for discharging finely-divided powders from the tip together with a gas stream, which is disposed at a prescribed distance from the member to be sprayed and inclined in a prescribed direction to the member; and a moving-speed control means which controls the moving-speed of the tip of the spray nozzle pipe in accordance with the quadratic function, which indicates the reduction rate of the density of the deposited finely-divided powders based on the distance between a peak point of the density of the finely-divided powders deposited on the member to be sprayed in a trial spray and a spray point at which an extension from the spray nozzle pipe intersects with the member to be sprayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Nisshin Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Doi, Masaki Ban, Goro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6790282
    Abstract: A machine for automatically applying lane dressing travels up and down the lane to apply dressing according to a certain predetermined and preselected pattern. A single dispensing head travels back and forth across the lane as the machine moves linearly along the lane so that dressing is transferred to a buffer brush that engages the lane surface and applies the dressing thereto. The oil pattern is determined by actuation and deactuation of the dispensing head as it traverses the lane, such control of the head being provided by a special pattern control device in the nature of a cylindrical pattern tube that extends alongside the path of travel of the dispensing head. A sensor on the dispensing head detects pattern structure on the control device to responsively actuate and deactuate the head. In a preferred form, such structure takes the form of a series of metallic strips extending parallel to the path of travel of the dispensing head and spaced circumferentially around the periphery of the pattern tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Kegel, LLC
    Inventors: Mark E. Davis, John M. Davis
  • Patent number: 6790283
    Abstract: A processing solution is supplied from processing-solution suppliers onto the surfaces of targets to be processed while a flow rate of the processing solution is being adjusted. The processing solution is fed from a processing-solution supply source at a specific pressure via a processing-solution pressure-up feeder. The pressure of the processing solution fed via the processing-solution pressure-up feeder is adjust to another specific pressure or more at least when the processing-solution suppliers are operating simultaneously. A flow-rate detector detects the flow rate of the processing solution supplied from each processing-solution supplier. A pressure detector detects the pressure of the processing solution fed via the processing-solution pressure-up feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Shinichi Hayashi, Hirofumi Ookuma, Kouichi Suefuji
  • Patent number: 6790284
    Abstract: A coated film forming method is capable of readily forming a coated film of a thermoplastic material on a coated region of an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder. A nozzle, through which a molten paste of a thermoplastic material kept molten is discharged, is disposed toward an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder. The nozzle is moved along a rotational central line of the cylinder while rotating the cylinder and discharging the molten paste from the nozzle. Centrifugal force acting on the cylinder being rotated leads to spreading of the molten paste applied to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. Viscosity of the molten paste, a rotational speed of the cylinder and a speed of movement of the nozzle are set so as to keep the molten paste discharged from the nozzle from being scattered to a region other than the coated region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6790285
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic painting device with a transmission frequency adjustment device for automatically adjusting a transmission frequency in such a manner that the consumed current flowing in a high voltage booster circuit does not exceed a prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Anest Iwata Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6790286
    Abstract: Substrate processing parts are stacked and arranged in a multistage manner around a transport robot arranged at the center of a processing area. Rotary application units are arranged on a second layer through an indexer and the transport robot. Rotary developing units are stacked above the rotary application units respectively on a fourth layer located above the second layer. Multistage thermal processing units and an edge exposure unit are horizontally arranged in line above the indexer. In place of the processing units, inspection units performing a macro defect inspection and pattern line width measurement may be arranged in the upside region of the indexer space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Joichi Nishimura, Masami Ohtani, Kenji Hashinoki, Masayoshi Shiga, Koji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6790287
    Abstract: An inspection unit is provided in a substrate processing apparatus performing resist coating processing and development processing on a substrate. In the inspection unit, a film thickness measuring device, a line width measuring device, an overlay measuring device and a macro defect inspection device are successively stacked and arranged from below. The inspection unit is provided on an intermediate portion of a substrate transport path formed in the substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processed in the substrate processing apparatus is selectively introduced into each inspection part. Therefore, the apparatus can properly inspect the substrate at need while suppressing reduction of the throughput. Thus provided are a substrate processing apparatus and a substrate inspection method capable of properly inspecting a substrate while suppressing reduction of the throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co . Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Shiga, Kenji Hashinoki, Masami Ohtani, Joichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6790288
    Abstract: Crystalline &agr;-lactose monohydrate is recovered from a viscous lactose-containing aqueous liquid by subjecting said liquid to simultaneous heating, removal of evaporated vapor and mechanical agitation at high shear rate to provide a crystallization promoting decrease of the viscosity of the liquid with crystals formed and suspended therein to progressively concentrate the agitated liquid and simultaneously crystallize lactose therefrom. Subsequent cooling, drying, and disintegration yield particulate &agr;-lactose monohydrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Niro A/S
    Inventors: Thomas David Henningfield, Richard Andrew Dinesen
  • Patent number: 6790289
    Abstract: There is provided a method of cleaning completely a deposit on the surface of the member to be cleaned, of a plasma processing apparatus without any damage of the coating which has been formed anodized coating or sprayed coating on the surface of the member to cleaned. The method of cleaning comprises a chemical cleaning step of dipping in an organic solvent (e.g. acetone) (a); and then a step blowing pressurized air so as to remove the deposit which has been peeled from a buffer plate (14) treated chemically (b); and then, of removing physically the deposit remained at the edges of the buffer plate (14) by blasting by using a CO2 blast apparatus (105), and f steps of dipping the buffer plate (14) in pure water (104), and imparting supersonic vibration to remove the deposit remaining on a buffer plate (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Limited
    Inventors: Taira Takase, Nobuyuki Nagayama, Kouji Mitsuhashi, Hiroyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6790290
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a dishwasher having variable fill times. The dishwasher includes a fill volume sensor for sensing that the dishwasher has reached a known fill volume, a timer for timing a period of time between a beginning of fill and the known fill volume being reached, and an intelligent control electrically connected to the fill volume sensor and operatively connected to the timer and adapted for calculating a dishwasher fill rate. According to the present invention, once filling of the dishwasher begins, a sensor is triggered when a known water level and/or fill volume of the dishwasher is reached. The amount of time between initiating the fill and triggering the sensor is measured. A fill rate for the dishwasher is then calculated based on the known fill volume of the dishwasher and the amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony L. Durfee
  • Patent number: 6790291
    Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus for use in performing a reduced-pressure pull up drying method, a liquid drainage pipe (46) for draining a drainage liquid containing an organic solvent from a processing chamber (26) including therein a processing bath (10) for rinsing a substrate (W) with water is provided with a buffer tank (50) inserted therein for separation between the drainage liquid and an organic solvent vapor. A vapor discharge pipe (62) is connected in communication with an interior space of the buffer tank, and is provided with pressure regulating valves (64a, 64b) inserted therein for regulating pressure in the processing chamber at a fixed pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 6790292
    Abstract: A reticle having a pellicle frame and pellicle membrane is cleaned without removing or damaging the pellicle membrane. A cover encases the pellicle membrane and pellicle frame, sealing the pellicle membrane from the external environment during a cleaning process. The cover fits around the periphery of the pellicle frame and covers the pellicle membrane. An edge of the cover in contact with the reticle forms a seal. The reticle is fastened to reticle supports on a spin chuck during the cleaning process. An anchor plate presses the cover to the reticle, maintaining the pellicle sealed from the external environment. The cover and reticle are sandwiched together between the anchor plate and spin chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew E. Williams
  • Patent number: 6790293
    Abstract: There is provided a solder work material for forming solder-coated circuit boards, which is capable of preventing the malfunction of circuit that may be caused to generate by voltage noises that tend to be generated by the volumetrical expansion of the flux residue in a soldered laminated ceramic capacitor, etc. even under the environments where temperatures fluctuate widely (for example, −40° C. to +85° C.), or that may be caused to generate by voltage noises to be generated by the fluctuation of parasitic capacity between circuits which may be caused to generate due to a flux residue. There is also provided a circuit board having a residual film of flux left thereon after the deposition of the solder work material. This solder work material is formed of a solder paste composition or a resin flux-cored solder, both comprising a flux containing, as a resin component, acrylic resin for preventing the generation of voltage noises in electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignees: NEC Corporation, Tamurakaken Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Nomura, Toshiyuki Oga, Takanobu Gido, Takao Ono, Yoshiyuki Takahashi, Rika Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6790294
    Abstract: Hard metal particles having hardness which is lower than the hardness of a nitrided outermost layer of a spring and in the range of Hv 500 to 800 and a diameter of 500 to 900 &mgr;m are protected against the nitrided surface of the spring at a velocity of 40 to 90 m/sec to prevent generation of a microcrack in the surface layer and provide a compression residual stress comparatively deep inside the spring. Against the resultant spring surface, a number of fine metal particles having a mean diameter of all particles of 80 &mgr;m or less, a mean diameter of each particle in the range between 10 &mgr;m inclusive and less than 100 &mgr;m, a spherical or near spherical shape with no square portions, a specific gravity of 7.0 to 9.0, and hardness which falls in the range between Hv 600 and Hv 1100 inclusive and is equal to or less than the hardness of the outermost surface layer of the spring after nitriding, at a velocity of 50 to 190 m/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Suncall Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Ishida, Kazuhiro Uzumaki, Yuji Isono, Keiichiro Teratoko, Yoshiro Yamada, Hiroshi Suzuki, Hironobu Sasada
  • Patent number: 6790295
    Abstract: A method of improving wear-resistance and anti-seizing properties of slide surface of machineries, such as outer slide surfaces of piston pins of vehicle engines, wherein slide surfaces of iron or steel base materials of machineries are first processed carburizing, then the carburized surfaces are plated with chromium, and next the chromium-plated surfaces undergo impulses fine peening to produce lubricant-retaining cavities on the slide surfaces, which include fine cavities in the form of depressions in the chromium-plating layer and relatively large cavities produced by exfoliation of the chromium-plating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tanaka Seimitsu Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toyotaka Kinoshita, Hiromi Sumi, Shingo Nakayama, Yoshinori Takeda, Motoharu Yamagoshi, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6790296
    Abstract: A method of making a material alloy for an iron-based rare earth magnet includes the step of forming a melt of an alloy with a composition of (Fe1-mTm)100-x-y-z-n(B1-pCp)xRyTizMn. T is Co and/or Ni; R is at least one element selected from Y (yttrium) and the rare earth elements; and M is at least one element selected from Al, Si, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Pt, Au and Pb, wherein the following inequalities are satisfied: 10<x≦25 at %, *6≦y<10 at %, 0.5≦z≦12 at %, 0≦m≦0.5, 0≦n≦10 at % and 0≦p≦0.25. Next, the melt is fed onto a shoot with a guide surface tilted at about 1 degree to about 80 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane, thereby moving the melt onto a melt/roller contact region. The melt is then rapidly cooled using a chill roller to make a rapidly solidified alloy including an R2Fe14B phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Neomax Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kanekiyo, Toshio Miyoshi, Satoshi Hirosawa
  • Patent number: 6790297
    Abstract: A brass is a base material, and a material containing Mn and Si is cast to make a ring material. Ametallic structure in the cross section of the ring material is under a condition where an intermetallic compound Mn5Si3 is uniformly and finely scattered and precipitated in the base material (brass composed of &agr;- and &bgr;-phase). A machined retainer provided by matching said material has an excellent sizing precision, sound affect resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ueda, Manabu Ohori, Keijiro Yamaguchi, Takashi Murai
  • Patent number: 6790298
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a free standing thin film of shape memory alloy material, and products made by the methods. A sacrificial layer of a metallic material is deposited onto the surface of a substrate. Then an amorphous shape memory alloy is sputter deposited onto the outer surface of the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is etched away, leaving the thin film free standing, that is separated from the substrate. The thin film is annealed by heating into a crystalline state, with the annealing step carried out either after the film has been separated from the substrate, or while remaining attached to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: TiNi Alloy Company
    Inventors: A. David Johnson, Vikas Galhotra, Vikas Gupta
  • Patent number: 6790299
    Abstract: This invention relates to energetic compositions, which offer increased performance in conjunction with a total absence of halogen based oxidizers to eliminate exhaust products, such as hydrogen chloride. The oxidizers of choice are various combinations neat ammonium dinitramide, ammonium dinitramide prills and CL-20, because these oxidizers do not produce halogen containing exhaust products, such as the HCl gas of ammonium perchlorate. The exhaust these novel propellants consist mostly of CO2, H2O, N2, and small amounts of CO. These exhaust species are friendlier and much less hazardous to the environment than those emitted by conventional AP-based propellants. The plasticizers are selected from energetic plasticizers that do not contain halogens, but maintain other desirable properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: May L. Chan, Alan D. Turner
  • Patent number: 6790300
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for registering and bonding upper and lower substrate plates together through a sealer material and in such a way as to form a gap of a predetermined width between the two substrate plates. Registered substrate plates are provisionally pressed to form a joined substrate assembly, which is then pressed under heated conditions at a hot press station, thereby compressing the sealer material into a flattened form and at the same time thermally hardening the sealer material to form a predetermined gap space between the two substrate plates. In order to correct positional deviations which occur to the upper and lower substrate plates in the course of the hot pressing, on the basis detected positional deviations of upper and lower substrate plates of a hot-pressed substrate assembly, upper and lower substrates are set in offset positions instead of aligned positions when registering them at the provisional press station to cancel predicted positional deviations at the hot press station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Electronics Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Yuji Otsubo, Shinji Sugizaki, Hisayoshi Ichikawa, Hiroaki Kiyomiya
  • Patent number: 6790301
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for making a tread-belt assembly for a pneumatic tire using a supply ramp to supply green rubber tread stock for application on a substantially cylindrical green rubber belt package; advancing the tread stock along the supply ramp toward the belt package; positioning at least a final portion of the supply ramp substantially along a plane tangent to an outer circumference of the belt package; and applying the tread stock to the outer circumference by moving a leading cut end of the tread stock from the supply ramp to the belt package along the plane tangent to the outer circumference. The green rubber tread stock is held from above for moving by inserting a plurality of transfer pins downward into both edges of the green rubber tread stock such that each transfer pin is angled toward a closest laterally outside edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
    Inventors: Philippe Risser, Francesco Sorce, John Kolbjoern Roedseth
  • Patent number: 6790302
    Abstract: An adhesive strip is usable to prepare a material roll for a flying roll change. A support strip has at least one adhesive layer or stripe on its upper surface. A further adhesive zone is provided on the undersurface of the support strip. The adhesive zone includes at least two adhesive layers which are separated from each other by a backing paper. An additional separate adhesive strip is also placed on the undersurface of the support strip, spaced from the adhesive zone and without a backing paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Franz Beck, Andreas Bruno Rösch
  • Patent number: 6790303
    Abstract: An envelope with its flap in an open position is driven along a transport path by first transport means (31a) at a first location. When the crease line between the flap and the body of the envelope reaches a predetermined location along the transport path, buckling means (31b, 53) engage the envelope from opposite sides at a second location, spaced apart from the first location, such as to cause the envelope to buckle laterally of the transport path and be partially closed. The buckling envelope with its crease line leading is then received by sealing means (31a, 31b), by means of which the envelope fully closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert J. Allen, Carl R Chapman, David K Halden, Thomas M Lyga, Michael Roche
  • Patent number: 6790304
    Abstract: An automated process of making a medical test implement, such as a LEAP Testing Implement, includes the steps of providing a handle element, providing a deformable test element, and mechanically mating the deformable test element to the handle element so that at least a portion of the deformable test element extends from the handle element. The deformable test element deforms when a predetermined load is applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Fox, Thomas J. Hardiman
  • Patent number: 6790305
    Abstract: A method for producing small pitch z-axis electrical interconnections in layers of dielectric materials which are applied to printed wiring boards and diverse electronic packages. A method for parallel fabrication of intermediate structures which are subsequently jointed to form a final structure. In addition there is provided a z-interconnected electrical structure, employing dielectric materials such as resin coated copper, employable in the manufacture of diverse type of electronic packages, including printed wiring boards (PWBs), substrates, multi-chip modules and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian E. Curcio, Frank D. Egitto, Robert M. Japp, Thomas R. Miller, Manh-Quan T. Nguyen, Douglas O. Powell
  • Patent number: 6790306
    Abstract: Method for forming a cover layer on a disk. The method includes a coating step, in which an uncured cover layer is coated on the surface of the disk, and the average thickness of the cover layer is enough to support to the requirement of a predetermined laminating thickness, a laminating step, where a transparent capping board of amorphous olefin polymer is laminated on the uncured cover layer whose thickness is maintained at a predetermined thickness to obtain a smooth surface, an illuminating step, where a UV light source is shined onto the cover layer to harden and cure the cover layer, and a stripping step, where the capping board is stripped from the cured cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Ritek Corporation
    Inventor: Tzu-Hau Kuo
  • Patent number: 6790307
    Abstract: A method of making shingles includes providing a moving asphalt coated sheet having at least an overlay lane and an underlay lane. Blend drops of at least two color blends are discharged onto each lane, wherein at least one of the blend drops discharged onto the overlay lane has a different color blend from the color blends of all the blend drops discharged onto the underlay lane. Background granules are then discharged onto the asphalt coated sheet to form a granule coated sheet, and the excess granules are removed from the granule coated sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Bert W. Elliott
  • Patent number: 6790308
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a friction clutch plate includes cutting a supply of friction material into a plurality of individual shaped segments. The cut segments are moved in a first horizontal linear direction to a position adjacent a shuttle assembly. At least a first cut segment is engaged by the shuttle assembly which transfers the first cut segment in a second horizontal linear direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal linear direction. The first cut segment is deposited in a first indexing fixture. The remaining cut segments are sequentially moved in the first horizontal linear direction to the position adjacent the shuttle assembly. At least a second cut segment is engaged by the shuttle assembly and is transferred in a third horizontal linear direction which substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal linear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. Murphy, Dean A. Collis
  • Patent number: 6790309
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an ink jet head by bonding with liquid-like adhesive a member at least having a discharge port for discharging ink, and a substrate having energy generating elements to generate energy for discharging ink comprises the steps of coating the liquid-like adhesive on the member or the substrate, the liquid-like adhesive containing at least ultraviolet curing cation polymeric starter and epoxy resin; irradiating ultraviolet rays to the liquid-like adhesive to activate the ultraviolet curing cation polymeric starter; positioning the member and the substrate without heating process; and heating in a state of the member and the substrate being positioned to cure the activated liquid-like adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Miyagawa, Yoshiaki Kurihara
  • Patent number: 6790310
    Abstract: A sheet-form, curable pressure-sensitive adhesive is disclosed which includes a high molecular weight polymer (A) such as an acrylic polymer for constituting a pressure-sensitive adhesive component, a compound (B) containing an epoxy group, and a polymerization initiator (C) which is activated upon application of an activation energy such as a light to cause the compound (B) having an epoxy group to undergo a ring-opening polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sekisui Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakasuga, Hiroji Fukui
  • Patent number: 6790311
    Abstract: In a plasma reactor including a reactor chamber, a workpiece support for holding a workpiece inside the chamber during processing and an inductive antenna, a window electrode proximal a wall of the chamber, the antenna and wall being positioned adjacently, the window electrode being operable as (a) a capacitive electrode accepting RF power to capacitively coupled plasma source power into the chamber, and (b) a window electrode passing RF power therethrough from said antenna into the chamber to inductively couple plasma source power into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth S Collins, Michael Rice, Farahmand E Askarinam, Douglas A Buchberger, Jr., Craig A Roderick