Patents Issued in April 30, 2013
  • Patent number: 8430351
    Abstract: Several small diameter short width rolls (124) of plastic film (108) are wound from a larger width and length of plastic web in a continuous manner. The disclosed apparatus slits the larger width plastic web into several narrower width plastic webs, positions the slit webs on a single large diameter winding drum (110) and then winds each narrower width web at a separate winding turret (112, 114). At each turret, the plastic web is rolled around a first mandrel until the roll achieves the desired size. Then, a second mandrel contacts, the plastic web and the plastic web is severed between the first mandrel and second mandrel and attached to a second mandrel to be rolled into a roll of desired length. The process is repeated at each turret such that the several plastic webs are simultaneously wound in a continuous fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Gloucester Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Smith, J. Corey Michal
  • Patent number: 8430352
    Abstract: A roll medium feeding apparatus includes a roll medium accommodating unit including a bearing that supports a shaft member of a roll medium, and a drawer member configured to slide relative to the roll medium accommodating unit. First support surfaces configured to support ends of the shaft member are provided to the roll medium accommodating unit so as to extend in a direction in which the drawer member slides from the bearings, and second support surfaces configured to support the ends of the shaft member are provided to the drawer member so as to intersect with the first support surfaces at an obtuse angle relative to a direction in which the shaft member extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8430353
    Abstract: A torque resisting device for a helicopter, wherein the helicopter includes a body and a main rotor. The device includes a deflector secured to and movable relative to the body, wherein the body includes opposing lateral sides and the deflector is movable to a position to extend away from only one of the lateral sides of the opposing lateral sides. The deflector includes a dimension extending in a plane generally non-parallel to a plane of the main rotor. Further included is a method for counteracting a torque created by the rotation of a main rotor of a helicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Helicopter Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Leon Botich
  • Patent number: 8430354
    Abstract: Power takeoff means (46, 47, 60, 61) for this flight control system adjacent to the aircraft engines (41, 42) are all-electric and this makes it possible to reduce the length of hydraulic connections leading to actuators of the controlled devices (54, 55, 66). Electrical generators are of different types to minimize the risk of a generic failure. Characteristically of the invention, some generators (60, 61) have a constant voltage to frequency ratio and directly or almost directly control electro-hydraulic pumps (64, 65), without modifying the current characteristic and with no power electronics. Furthermore, system reconfigurations are made possible by additional electrical connections (69, 70, 71, 72) in case of failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Marc Fervel, Jean-Louis Lando, Alexandre Gentilhomme
  • Patent number: 8430355
    Abstract: Described are aircraft with at least one fuselage, a wing, a power plant coupled to the at least one fuselage, a shroud surrounding a propeller, and at least two floats coupled to the wing. As examples, each float may include a step that is forward of the location at which the bottom surface of the float intersects a line that passes through a center of gravity of the aircraft and is oriented at an angle of six degrees rearward from vertical. As further examples, each float may include a forward portion located forward of the step, the forward portion including a ski surface that is planar in a left to right horizontal direction, and an aft portion that is located rearward of the step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Leader Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Meekins, William Husa
  • Patent number: 8430356
    Abstract: Described are aircraft with at least one fuselage, a wing, a power plant coupled to the at least one fuselage, a shroud surrounding a propeller, and at least two floats coupled to the wing. As examples, each float may include a step that is forward of the location at which the bottom surface of the float intersects a line that passes through a center of gravity of the aircraft and is oriented at an angle of six degrees rearward from vertical. As further examples, each float may include a forward portion located forward of the step, the forward portion including a ski surface that is planar in a left to right horizontal direction, and an aft portion that is located rearward of the step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Leader Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Meekins, William Husa
  • Patent number: 8430357
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tail skid (10) for a rotorcraft (1), the tail skid comprising a contact blade (11) extending from a contact first end (11?) towards a second end (11?), said contact first end (11?) being provided with a top face (12) suitable for facing a structure (7) of the rotorcraft (1) and a bottom face (13) suitable for facing towards the ground (2) when said tail skid (10) is fastened to a rotorcraft (1) standing on the ground (2), said bottom face (13) having a first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Pierre Prud'Homme-Lacroix
  • Patent number: 8430358
    Abstract: A hatrack module with integral service channel for optimized mounting comprises a housing with a hatrack accommodation space and a passenger service channel, a hatrack with laterally arranged guide elements, and at least one passenger service unit, wherein in each case a guide rail is arranged on the sidewalls of the hatrack accommodation space, and wherein a wall of the housing comprises at least one reach-through access opening, and wherein the guide elements of the hatrack can be made to engage the guide rails on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schneider, Thorsten Gerber
  • Patent number: 8430359
    Abstract: A region of an airfoil to be protected from accreted ice is heated to reduce the strength of the bond between the ice and the airfoil, and is mechanically deformed to shed the accreted ice after the bond has been sufficiently weakened. Heating ceases before substantial water runback is generated. The mechanical deformation and the cessation of heating occur approximately simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Cox & Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kamel Al-Khalil
  • Patent number: 8430360
    Abstract: A control unit for controlling the supply of a vehicle having at least one internal combustion engine with multiple fuels has at least one input means for supplying optimization parameters, fuel parameters, and operational data, at least one storage unit for storing the optimization parameters, the fuel parameters, and the operational data, and at least one computing unit. The control unit is adapted for being connected to at least one first supply apparatus for supplying a first fuel to the internal combustion engine and to at least one second supply apparatus for supplying a second fuel to the internal combustion engine, and of controlling a first mass flow of supplied first fuel and a second mass flow of supplied second fuel. The computing unit optimizes the ratio of first mass flow and second mass flow for all operational phases of the vehicle to fulfill the specified optimization parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Malte Schwarze, Andreas Westenberger
  • Patent number: 8430361
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a device for driving a pump of a rocket engine of a space vehicle that comprises an air-breathing internal combustion engine running on an oxidizer/fuel mixture of the air/hydrocarbon type, wherein the supply of oxidant and fuel is provided by tanks and a circuit that are separate from the propellant tanks of the rocket engine. The invention applies to a device for fueling a rocket engine that includes at least two pumps, each driven by the device of the invention, and means for controlling the internal combustion engines for driving the pumps, adapted for independently varying the operating parameters of these engines so as to independently adjust the rotation speeds of the pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Astrium SAS
    Inventors: Gerald Raymond, Paul Caye, Frederic Richard
  • Patent number: 8430362
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft comprising a force transmission element which detachably connects a cabin structural segment to an aircraft primary structure and which comprises a cabin bearing element and a structure bearing element, the cabin bearing element being connected to the cabin structural segment and the structure bearing element being connected to the aircraft primary structure. The force transmission element is designed in such a manner that a force transmission can take place between the cabin structural segment and the aircraft primary structure with at least one degree of freedom of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrike Graeber, Peter Grosse-Plankermann, Martin Pätz, Holger Becker
  • Patent number: 8430363
    Abstract: A system (10) for sensing a condition of a rail vehicle undercarriage component (e.g., 18) includes a sensor (e.g., 12) comprising an array of infrared sensing elements (29). Each of the elements may be aimed at a different region of a target area (e.g., 32) of a rail vehicle undercarriage component to generate respective scanning waveform signature data corresponding to each different region. The sensor may be oriented so that at least one of the elements receives unobstructed infrared emissions (e.g., 33) from the undercarriage component of a rail vehicle passing the sensor. The system also includes a memory (42) for storing characteristic waveform signature data corresponding to known undercarriage components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corp
    Inventors: Peter Hesser, Thomas Strecker, Miles Metschke, Thomas Shanahan, Daniel Kurt Stevens, Mathias Hartmann
  • Patent number: 8430364
    Abstract: A roller assembly for facilitating movement of a switch rail between two positions. In one embodiment, the roller assembly includes a frame adapted for attachment to the switch rail and having a pocket formed therein, and an elastomer assembly, at least a portion of which is slidably disposed within the pocket. The elastomer assembly includes a roller wheel and an elastomeric block. The roller wheel travels along the surface of a tie plate when the switch rail is moved between positions. The elastomeric block is adapted to compress under a load applied to the switch rail in the direction of the tie plate, causing the roller wheel to retract in the direction of the pocket. When the weight of a train is exerted on the roller assembly, the compression of the elastomeric block causes the train to ride fully on the rails, just as if the roller assembly were not present. When no weight is exerted on the roller assembly, the roller assembly assists the switch to move freely between positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Eco-Production Vresova Spol. S R O, IAT International, Inc.
    Inventors: Avraham Ashkenazi, Seth Fleishman, Ivo Chládek, Václav Suchan, Radek Lucovi{hacek over (c)}
  • Patent number: 8430365
    Abstract: A tube retention block assembly having a support body incorporating one or more tube support passageways of discontinuous character extending across the support body. A displaceable retaining yoke member is adapted for insertion into a slot disposed transverse to the tube support passageways. The retaining yoke member includes one or more engagement cradles adapted to at least partially surround and lock in place tubes extending through the tube support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Benoit, Christopher M. Pangallo, Brian Peek
  • Patent number: 8430366
    Abstract: A clamping structure comprising an elongated rod having a plurality of bends for attaching to a horizontal beam. The clamping structure includes back portions adjacent the back of the beam, lower portions adjacent to the bottom of the beam, one or more top portions adjacent to the top of the beam and extending forward of the beam, and front portions which are angled away from the front of the beam. The clamping structure may be used to temporarily attach a holding element such as a cup holder or hook to the horizontal beam, and the holding element may be attached to the clamping structure or may be made from the same elongated rod as the holding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Sidney Tincher
  • Patent number: 8430367
    Abstract: A mounting device for data storage devices includes a mounting bracket, a first tray mounted to the mounting bracket, a second tray mounted to the mounting bracket, a first cable, and a cable retainer. The first cable is located on the first tray. The first cable extends through the first tray and toward the second tray. The cable retainer is mounted to the first tray adjacent the second tray for retaining the first cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Ruei Tu, Li-Ping Chen
  • Patent number: 8430368
    Abstract: A wall mounting bath accessory assembly contains a fixing member including a contacting fence with a recess and two engaging portions, and the engaging portion including a shoulder arranged on an upper end thereof; a retaining member including a body, an first hook, and two second hooks; the first hooks being inserted through an upper end of the fixing member to retain with the recess so as to limit the retaining member; the second hook including a hooking segment to retain with the first hook and the recess, and when a lower end of the retaining member is pushed inward, the engaging portions of the fixing member abutting against the retaining member to cause a resilient deformation so that the retaining member retains with the engaging portions, and a top end of the anchor being stopped by the shoulder so that an upward displacement of the retaining member is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Weimien Hsu, Fenyong Nan, Chunhung Li
  • Patent number: 8430369
    Abstract: A wall mounting bath accessory assembly contains a fixing member to be locked to a wall including a groove defined therein so that between the groove and the wall is defined a movable space and an upper locking portion disposed on a top end thereof; a sliding member limited to move between an upper dead center and a lower dead center of the movable space and including an upper abutting portion disposed on a top end thereof and a lower locking portion extending from a bottom end thereof; a retaining member located on an outer side of the fixing member and including an upper fastening portion extending from a top end of thereof, and a lower fastening portion extending from a bottom end thereof; a base including a receiving chamber to receive the retaining member, the fixing member, and the sliding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Globe Union Industrial Corp.
    Inventors: Weimien Hsu, Dulun Chang, Chunhung Li
  • Patent number: 8430370
    Abstract: A display panel mounting assembly includes a dome-shaped lower bearing member on a support member, an upper bearing member, and a carrier member attached to the display panel and held between the upper and lower bearing members. The lower bearing member has a central bore and a pair of stops projecting from opposite sides of the bore. The carrier member has a opening which receives the stops. A stop post projects from the support member adjacent the bearing member. An aperture which receives the post is formed in the carrier spaced apart from the opening. The opening and the tabs cooperating to control pivoting of the carrier member with respect to the support member in one degree of freedom. The aperture and the post cooperate to control pivoting of the carrier member in a second degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Scott Charles Steege, Shawn Michael Bartz
  • Patent number: 8430371
    Abstract: A quick release hook and loop device is used to attach an object to a base surface, such as a wall. It is comprised of first and second quick release sections and a strap. The quick release sections each have a nonstick side. The quick release sections are attached to each other at their nonstick sides by threading a strap through openings within the quick release sections. The other sides of the quick release sections are provided with hook or loop fastener surfaces. The device may be used to attach an object to a surface by way of hook and loop fastener bonds. The hook and loop fastener bonds may be effectively broken by removing the strap from the quick release sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Steven G. Boelstler
  • Patent number: 8430372
    Abstract: An adjustable mounting assembly (70a/70b) for installing solar cell modules (58) on a building surface (34) is disclosed. The mounting assembly (70a/70b) includes a mounting device (74), a stud (114) that may be threaded to the mounting device (74), a clamping member (142) that may be positioned on the stud (114), and a nut (128) that may be threaded onto the stud (114) to secure the clamping member (142) to the mounting device (74). A nut (126) is fixed to the stud (114) at an intermediate location along its length. This fixed nut (126) may be used to tighten the stud (114) to a mounting device (74), and furthermore may be positioned such that the stud (114) does not extend into a slot (90) of the mounting device (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Robert M. M. Haddock
  • Patent number: 8430373
    Abstract: A fluid-filled type vibration damping device including a resin bracket provided on an outside peripheral face of a second mounting member. The resin bracket includes a mating portion mated within a mating groove of the second mounting member opening in an outside peripheral face of the second mounting member, a mating tubular portion extending on the outside peripheral face of the second mounting member from the mating portion to one axial side, and a mounting portion which is formed at a distal end portion of the mating tubular portion on the one axial side and extends peripherally outward. A weight reducing space opens at a distal end face of the mating tubular portion on the one axial side while extending between an inside peripheral face of the mating tubular portion and the outside peripheral face of the second mounting member in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Nishi, Daisuke Fukunaga, Tetsuya Miyahara, Keisuke Kawabe
  • Patent number: 8430374
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ceiling formwork (1) having formwork panels (2) comprising rectangular edge webs (3) horizontally disposed in the usage position, and supporting means, such as carriers (15) and/or supports (17) for said formwork panels (2), and a holding element (4) gripping the edge webs (3) of adjacent formwork panels (2) in the corner region, said element comprising centering protrusions (5) for the edge webs (3) of said formwork panels (2) and intersecting openings (6) that are open toward the top, extending horizontally between the centering protrusions (5) in the usage position, which are limited by lateral centering surfaces (7) of the centering protrusions (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Paschal-Werk G. Maier GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Kurth
  • Patent number: 8430375
    Abstract: A foam filling member that can hold a foam sheet in a looped shape stably, without increasing the number of components, to provide improved vibration suppression and sound insulation. The strip-like foam sheet is formed in a looped shape by bending round it, so that both end portions of the foam sheet are overlapped with each other in a thickness direction thereof to form an overlapped portion therein. Then, insertion shafts of a clip are inserted through the overlapped portion, so that the overlapped portion is held in sandwich relation between a base portion and a head portion to form a foam filling member. Then, a supporting portion of the fixing portion of the clip is inserted in a fixing hole of an inner panel and fixed to the inner panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kinpara, Shinji Muto, Shinpei Nishikawa, Takehiro Ul
  • Patent number: 8430376
    Abstract: A valve module for removable installation inside the outer case of a sprinkler after removal of a riser with a nozzle turret normally mounted for reciprocation within the case. The module includes an upper valve support housing and a lower support basket removably connected to the valve support housing. A valve member is vertically reciprocable within the valve support housing to engage and disengage a valve seat in the support basket. The support basket is loosely connected to the valve support housing so that the valve seat can reciprocate relative to the valve support housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hunter Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred M. Danner, Jeff M. Smith, LaMonte D. Porter
  • Patent number: 8430377
    Abstract: A valve comprises a cup-shaped element presenting an outer surface on which a driver element is mountable and, inserted in said cup-shaped element, a core comprising at least one seal element arranged to block a first fluid passage provided in a bush, said core being movable within said cup-shaped element against the action of an elastic element between a first position in which said seal element rests on said bush such as to close its first passage and a second position in which said seal element is detached from said bush such as to open its first passage, said bush being associated with a closure element for the cup shaped element, the closure element presenting, for its fixing to the cup-shaped element, means cooperating with an inner surface of said cup-shaped element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Borsatti, Osvaldo Mascarello
  • Patent number: 8430378
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a valve apparatus is provided to proportionally control fluid flow. The valve apparatus includes a housing having a valve body with an inlet port having a valve seat and an outlet port; a valve assembly including an armature, a movable fluid control member, and at least one spring biasing the valve assembly into a closed position, a diaphragm in contact with the valve seat of the inlet port when the valve is in the closed position, and a poppet plate backing the diaphragm, in contact with the fluid control member and extending beyond the valve seat on the inlet port. The valve apparatus also has a solenoid assembly including an electromagnetic coil and a pole piece, the solenoid moves the armature when energized to allow fluid to flow through the valve apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: South Bend Controls Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Peter G. Hutchings, Mark A. Beasley, Deron Kaczorowski, Donald Sack
  • Patent number: 8430379
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing fog by means of continually discharging water particles for humidification, sanitation, and dust suppression. The apparatus provides the user a device that utilizes pressurized gases for the de-correlation of water to generate and dispense water particles. The present invention makes use of a uniquely structured nozzle to dispense water particles that will not be attracted to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Ido Goldstein
  • Patent number: 8430380
    Abstract: A tray valve assembly for a process column of a type wherein a first, heavier fluid interacts with a second, lighter fluid. A plurality of valves are disposed on a surface of the tray. Each valve of the plurality of valves includes a top surface and at least one securement leg. A first securement leg of is adapted to intercept the first, heavier fluid flow thereby forming a diverting baffle. Each valve includes at least one aperture to facilitate the second, lighter fluid flow therefrom. The at least one aperture is adapted to allow the second, lighter fluid to interact with the first, heavier fluid. Each valve includes a plurality of open side regions. Each valve is adapted to allow the second, lighter fluid to pass outwardly therefrom generally in a direction of the first heavier fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Binkley, Casey Bowles
  • Patent number: 8430381
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a main body and a protection mechanism disposed on the main body. The protection mechanism includes a connecting member inserted in the main body and including a post; and a damping member attached on the connecting member away from the main body. The damping member bears an initial impact, before the main body, when the apparatus collides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 8430382
    Abstract: A second bush of a torque rod is fastened and fixed such that a mating fastening member sandwiches an inner fitting in the axial direction. A rubber stopper on an acceleration side projecting from an outer fitting to the inner fitting is provided such that the rubber thickness increases toward a front end. The inner fitting is provided with a stopper contact forming a recessed space in which the rubber stopper is inserted. After the rubber stopper comes in contact with the stopper contact in a stopper function, the rubber stopper is deformed so as to fill the recessed space, and concurrently bulges in the axial direction to come in contact with the mating fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kashihara, Jyoji Tsutsumida, Satoshi Umemura
  • Patent number: 8430383
    Abstract: A clamp comprising a bar supporting a movable jaw having a first support surface. The bar is slidably received in a jaw body and the jaw body supports a fixed jaw. A support is slidably disposed on the bar and has a second support surface that is coplanar with the first support surface such that the clamp can be supported on the first support surface and the second support surface on a surface. In one method of operating the clamp a work piece is positioned directly on the bar. In another method of operating the clamp the movable jaw is moved relative to the fixed jaw and is stopped by the engagement of the support with the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tools Company
    Inventor: Ralf Strauss
  • Patent number: 8430384
    Abstract: A device capable of picking up optical elements includes a first suction member, a second suction member, a vacuum pump unit and a liquid spraying unit. The first suction member defines a chamber. The second suction member is arranged around the first suction member to form an annular space. The vacuum pump unit pumps the air out of the chamber and the annular space to create a vacuum therein, which generates a suction force to suck the optical elements respectively. The liquid spraying unit communicates with the chamber and the annular space, and pours the liquids into the chamber and the annular space. When the liquid volatilizes in the chamber and the annular space to fill the vacuum, the optical elements disengage from the first suction member and the second suction member respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 8430385
    Abstract: In a wedge drive comprising a slider element receiving component, a movable slider element and a driver element, wherein sliding surfaces are provided between the slider element and the driver element, a dovetail-like or prism guide is provided between the slider element and the slider element receiving component. The slider element has a portion having a dovetail-like configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Harald Weigelt
  • Patent number: 8430386
    Abstract: In a wave linear motion mechanism (4) of a holding mechanism (1), those portions of a flexible screw (14) where first and second male screws (32, 33) are formed are elliptically deformed by first and second wave generators (12, 13) installed on an input shaft (11), and the first and second male screws (32, 33) are respectively partially engaged with first and second female screws (42, 44) of first and second circular nuts (15, 16). First and second holding members (5, 6) are mounted on the first and second circular nuts (15, 16), respectively. When the input shaft (11) is rotated by a motor (3), the first and second holding members (5, 6) are opened or closed depending on the rotation direction to release or hold an object (W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Keiji Ueura
  • Patent number: 8430387
    Abstract: A leverage based cutting board system having a rotatable tower and sliding knife holster is disclosed. Control of the height of the sliding knife holster and unique locking system facilitates cutting of foodstuffs of a variety of shapes and consistencies. The system further provides an advantage of using any traditional knife. It allows rapid switching between traditional cutting and leverage cutting. The system decreases the total scale of force required to cut foodstuffs and constrains the number of untoward knife motions. The tower with its unique property of rotating 180 degree makes it apt to use both the surfaces in a single preparation. The unique texture of the board helps it to grip slippery food items. The sleek and compact design helps keeping the tower intact as it lies horizontally adjacent to the board when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Mark Costin Roser
  • Patent number: 8430388
    Abstract: A work station for securely and temporarily holding a model airplane for the purpose of making adjustments, repairs or performing other maintenance on the plane. The work station is on wheels, contains a tool box with tools and a clamp and cradle to securely hold the airplane or only the fuselage, if desired. The work station can be disassembled and stored away in the back of a small vehicle. The clamp and cradle may be mounted on the tool box, which may be easily removed from the work station. In this way, the tool box acts as smaller portable work station, as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Jack A. Masters
  • Patent number: 8430389
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a staple processing portion and a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked and abutted. The sheet processing apparatus also includes a fold processing portion, a conveyance guide member, an end part processing portion to perform an end part process to the folded end part, and a controlling portion. After a stapling process is performed, the fold processing portion folds the sheet bundle in two to create a folded sheet bundle having a folded end part between a first surface and a second surface. The conveyance guide member guides the folded sheet bundle with the folded end part as a leading end while the first surface slides against the conveyance guide member. The controlling portion controls the positioning member such that the stapling position is moved, by a predetermined distance, to an area on the sheet bundle that will become the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Tokuma, Yusuke Obuchi, Yuri Urano
  • Patent number: 8430390
    Abstract: Apparatus for gathering postal items having a postal item feeding path for feeding postal items at a speed of transport and a postal item gripper for gripping and subsequently releasing postal items. The gripper is circulatable in a sense of circulation along a circulation path downstream of the feeding path. Each time prior to gripping of one of the postal items by the gripper, at least the speed of transport of the gripper is temporarily reduced to a reduced speed of transport or the speed of transport of the postal item along the feeding path is temporarily increased to an increased speed of transport. A method for gathering postal items is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Neopost Technologies
    Inventors: Hans Oosterhoff, Erik Jouke Bijl, Herman Sytema
  • Patent number: 8430391
    Abstract: In a tandem media supply, two vertical stacks of media sheets are stored. The first stack is positioned on a lift plate that rises as top sheets are removed from the stack of media. When the first stack is exhausted, the second stack is moved by an actuator towards a position where the lift plate was loaded with the first stack of media sheets. Movement of the second stack displaces a biased gate to decouple the lift plate from a drive member that elevated the lift plate. The lift plate drops under the effect of gravity to a position where the second stack of media sheets moves onto the lift plate. Once the second stack is on the lift plate, a biasing force returns the biased gate to a position that enables the drive member to elevate the lift plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Clark Park, Timothy Carlysle Shaw, Michael John Janicki
  • Patent number: 8430392
    Abstract: In order to provide a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of alleviating a bumping noise generated between a sheet and an inner guide member when the sheet passes through a curved sheet conveying path, a pair of intermediate conveying rollers is arranged in positions corresponding to both lateral sides in a width direction of the feeding roller and subsidiary feeding roller in a sheet conveyance direction. In addition, the subsidiary intermediate conveying roller abuts on the intermediate conveying roller with an inclination such that the sheet conveyance force is directed to the center of the sheet conveying path in a width direction. As a result, the sheet makes contact with the inner guide member of the facing guide member of the sheet conveying path by undulating the sheet in a width direction when the sheet is extracted and conveyed by the pair of intermediate conveying rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Nada, Atsushi Kawarago, Taku Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8430393
    Abstract: When a retard roller is rotating in a sheet feeding direction, the rotation is transmitted to a pickup roller and the pickup roller rotates in a direction for conveying the sheet. When the retard roller is rotating in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction or is stationary, the pickup roller does not feed the sheet. Therefore, in a successive feeding operation, the sheet to be fed next is always conveyed such that the leading end thereof reaches a nip position between a feed roller and the retard roller. Therefore, the intervals between the sheets are uniform in the successive feeding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Matsushima, Yasuhiro Uchida, Shunsuke Okazaki, Minoru Kawanishi, Kenji Watanabe, Motohiro Furusawa
  • Patent number: 8430394
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device includes a sheet cassette which accommodates stacked sheets. The sheet feeding device further includes a pickup roller, a separation pad, a separating roller pressing the sheet against the separating pad and a holder arm which holds the pickup roller and the separating roller. The sheet feeding device still further includes an urging member configured to urge the separating roller toward the separating pad and includes a supporting portion configured to support a specific portion of the holder arm. When the sheet cassette is removed, the support portion supports the specific portion of the holder arm at a supporting position and the pickup roller is positioned at an upper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junji Uehara
  • Patent number: 8430395
    Abstract: A pick unit is described. The pick unit comprises: a frame and a picking assembly. The frame comprises (i) one or more guides for receiving a currency cassette, (ii) a tortuous pathway for guiding and supporting a cam follower, and (iii) a detent. The picking assembly comprises: (i) a guide edge configured to abut the detent when the picking assembly is moved to an initial alignment position, (ii) a cam follower configured to align with the pathway when the removable picking assembly is moved from the initial alignment position to an engagement position, and (iii) a gear train configured to engage with an upper gear external to the pick unit when the removable picking assembly is moved to an engaged position at which the cam follower has reached an end of the tortuous pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Peters, Gordon Burke, Kevin Leeper
  • Patent number: 8430396
    Abstract: A value note cassette comprising a fixed first storage compartment for receiving notes of value and at least a fixed second storage compartment for receiving notes of value. Further, the value note cassette comprises a supply unit for supplying the notes of value to the storage compartments. The storage compartments are designed such that notes of value are stackable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Holland-Letz, Ayhan Aslan
  • Patent number: 8430397
    Abstract: A sheet take-out device in which sheets are conveyed in an upright state and sheets having a low height can be stably taken out is provided. A sheet take-out device includes a main floor belt that conveys sheets that are placed in an upright state in a direction intersecting a conveying direction to a take-out portion, and a take-out unit that takes out the sheets conveyed by the main floor belt one by one in order from the frontmost sheet. The device includes a sub-floor belt that is capable of reverse conveyance, in which sheets are conveyed in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the main floor belt, a tightness detection unit, and a height detection unit that detects the height of the sheets immediately prior to being taking out by the take-out unit, and performs sub-floor control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Toshiba Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhiko Horiuchi, Takashi Hirayama
  • Patent number: 8430398
    Abstract: A sheet positioning device includes a platen on which to place a sheet of recording media, a first and second regulation members disposed on the platen and movable along the platen, a drive source, a drive transmitter to transmit a drive force generated by the drive source to the first and second regulation members, and a sheet sensor unit. The sheet sensor unit includes a plurality of sheet detection levers, a biasing member, and a connecting member that connects the plurality of sheet detection levers so that the entire sheet sensor unit moves as a single unit between first and second positions reciprocally to detect the sheet on the platen according to the position of the sheet detection levers moving from the first position being biased by the biasing member to the second position in contact with the sheet placed on the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jumpei Kamichi
  • Patent number: 8430399
    Abstract: A paper tray includes a first plate and an extension mechanism. The first plate includes a receiving space and a guiding groove. The extension mechanism includes a second plate, a paper stopper, and an elastic element. When the extension mechanism is moved to a first position in a direction opposite to the first plate and the paper stopper is rotated relative to the second plate in a first direction, the elastic element is pushed by an end of the paper stopper. Consequently, the elastic element generates an elastic potential energy. When the paper stopper is rotated relative to the second plate in a second direction, the elastic potential energy drives movement of the elastic element in a direction facing the first plate, so that the second plate is moved to a second position and the extension mechanism is automatically restored to the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-An Huang, Chao-Min Yang
  • Patent number: 8430400
    Abstract: A system and method for rotating sheets receiving cut sheets from a source and providing them to a utilization device. The rotator continually engages sheets with at least one drive component throughout the transport and rotation process. The rotator includes a transport mechanism having a plurality of nip roller pairs along the length of a feed table. The nip rollers (nips) can be selectively engaged with, and disengaged from, the driven rollers using discrete actuators. This allows for feed velocity differentials when entering and exiting the rotator feed table, and also for clearance during sheet rotation. A rotator disk assembly is centered on the table between, and comprises a driven rotator disk and an overriding, freely rotating pressure disk. When sheets enter or pass through the rotator section, the pressure disk is raised to provide a clearance for sheets to pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Lasermax Roll Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Lewalski, James P. Zamanakos, Bruce J. Taylor, Sean Stewart