Patents Issued in January 2, 2018
  • Patent number: 9855666
    Abstract: A mechanical cutting device cuts twisted strips of foods such as potatoes. The device comprises twisted cutting tubes, each having a ring secured at a distance from the cutting end. A plurality of such tubes may be arranged in an array, which may be supported by plates having an array of tube-supporting orifices. The cutting tubes are supported for rotation in such manner that, when force is exerted on the tubes to insert the tubes into the food, the tubes rotate as they cut into the food obtaining as result twisted strips of food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: THE LAST TWIST, INC.
    Inventors: Jorge Antonio Alcala Lopez, Ernest O. Evans
  • Patent number: 9855667
    Abstract: Provided are a method for splitting longitudinally an end part of a metal plate or a metal rod having a rectangular, polygonal, or elliptical shape, in which the length of incision in the split portion can be freely adjusted and smooth split face can be formed; a metal part manufactured by such method; and a method for bonding such metal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SEKI PRESS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masakatsu Seki
  • Patent number: 9855668
    Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of apparatuses for cutting products, comprising: a base; a cutting head with at least one cutting element along the circumference of the cutting head for cutting products fed into the cutting head, the cutting head being rotatably fitted to the base; an impeller adapted for rotating concentrically within the cutting head to urge products fed into the cutting head towards the circumference of the cutting head by means of centrifugal force; a first drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the impeller at a first rotational speed setting the centrifugal force; and a second drive mechanism for driving the rotation of the cutting head at a second rotational speed, determined such with respect to the first rotational speed that the product is cut by the at least one cutting element at a predetermined cutting velocity; and a controller for controlling said apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FAM
    Inventor: Brent L. Bucks
  • Patent number: 9855669
    Abstract: Machines and methods capable of producing diced products from a variety of materials. Such a machine includes a knife adapted to slice food product to produce slices, a circular cutter comprising knives that are adapted and arranged to cut the slices into strips, a cross-cutter comprising knives that are adapted and arranged to produce a cross-cut in the strips, and a shear plate that is at least partially between the circular cutter and the cross-cutter. The shear plate defines a first shear edge in proximity to the knives of the cross-cutter and is adapted to ensure dicing of the strips received by the cross-cutter from the circular cutter. A support bar supports the shear plate, and a feature is provide for adjusting the proximity of the first shear edge relative to the knives of the cross-cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Urschel Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Alan Klockow, James A. Fant
  • Patent number: 9855670
    Abstract: A punch tool assembly includes an adjustment subassembly coupled to a canister sidewall of the assembly. The adjustment subassembly includes a punch head, which engages a punch holder, or body, of the punch tool, at a threaded interface, so that rotation of the punch head moves the punch body/holder along a central longitudinal axis of the punch tool assembly. The adjustment subassembly further includes a locking member, which is biased with respect to the punch head, in a first position, where the locking member is engaged with a locking feature of an engagement sidewall of the subassembly, to lock the punch head and prevent rotation thereof. The locking member may be released, to unlock the punch head, by applying a force to an externally accessible actuation interface of a release member of the subassembly, for example, to rotate the actuation interface about the central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WILSON TOOL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Johnston, Gordon A. Straka
  • Patent number: 9855671
    Abstract: A chain saw unit has a sub-frame defining a plurality of mount locations and a plurality of operating components amongst which are at least: a) a battery operated motor; and b) a battery for operating the motor. The plurality of operating components is each operatively placed and maintained at one of the mount locations such that the sub-frame assembly and operatively placed operating components together make up at least part of a main operating unit to which a chain bar and cutting chain can be operatively assembled. The main operating unit has an exposed surface area. An outer housing assembly overlies the exposed surface area and defines an outermost exposed surface. The plurality of operating components are operatively maintained on the sub-frame assembly independently of the outer housing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Echo Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen J. Towner, Brent Peterson
  • Patent number: 9855672
    Abstract: A handheld work apparatus has a drive motor which drives a tool of the work apparatus. A lubricating arrangement is provided for the tool. The lubricating arrangement includes a lubricant piece that is solid at 20° C. The work apparatus has a melting chamber into which the lubricant piece projects and which is connected to the tool via at least one lubricant channel. The melting chamber is delimited at least partially by a heat conducting element which is heated during operation of the work apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Zimmermann, Carel Karrar, Benjamin Frey
  • Patent number: 9855673
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing second wood sheets from first wood sheets, comprising steps (i) to (iv): (i) providing first wood sheets having a laminarly developed front side and backside, wherein the moisture content of said first wood sheets is below the fiber saturation point of the wood; (ii) applying a water-comprising adhesive to one or more front sides and/or one or more backsides of said first wood sheets provided in step (i); (iii) adhering said wood sheets from step (ii) and optionally from step (i) with laminar sides to each other in order to form a block which comprises adhered layers of said first wood sheets, wherein the adhering is performed such to increase the moisture content of said formed block up to or above the fiber saturation point of the wood; (iv) slicing said block formed in step (iii) to form said second wood sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HD WOOD TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Oliver Frederik Klaeusler, Glenn L. Wagoner
  • Patent number: 9855674
    Abstract: In some examples, one or more metal-containing catalysts and one or more waxes can be mixed or otherwise combined to produce an encapsulated catalyst composition. The wax can be at least partially coated on the metal-containing catalyst. A mixture of water and the wax can be agitated or otherwise mixed, and the metal-containing catalyst can be added to or otherwise combined with the water and wax mixture to produce a wax emulsified catalyst. A plurality of lignocellulose substrates, one or more oxidants, and the encapsulated catalyst composition can be mixed or otherwise combined to produce a lignocellulose binder mixture. The lignocellulose binder mixture can be heated to produce a composite product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC
    Inventors: Adam K. Sniady, Bobby L. Williamson
  • Patent number: 9855675
    Abstract: An arthroscopic or other surgical cutter has features which facilitate fabrication by ceramic molding. The arthroscopic cutter includes a cutter body having a longitudinal axis and a window, an interior channel, and a plurality of cutting edges extending radially outwardly from an outer surface thereof. The features include non-helical, longitudinally aligned cutting edges, controlled thicknesses of the cutting edges, controlled heights of the cutting edges, controlled areas of the windows, controlled diameters of the internal channels, controlled rake angles of the cutting edges, and other parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: RELIGN Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Jan Echeverry
  • Patent number: 9855676
    Abstract: An apparatus for the production of concrete molded parts in a molding machine includes an upper mold part having a pressure plate arrangement having multiple pressure plates, each facing an opening of a mold insert, wherein each of the pressure plates is screwed onto an intermediate plate, wherein the intermediate plate is connected with a punch plate on the upper mold part on the side facing the upper mold part, by way of at least one pressure punch. The intermediate plate is braced against the punch plate, in that at least one bolt that can be screwed on is passed through an accommodation on the intermediate plate, which bolt releasably engages into the punch plate and has a hollow body that encloses the bolt, between the intermediate plate and the punch plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KOBRA Formen GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Stichel, Juergen Braungardt
  • Patent number: 9855677
    Abstract: A combination of components is provided for use in making asphalt concrete from a plurality of aggregate material streams. The combination includes an indirect dryer for heating aggregate material from a first material stream without directly exposing said first stream material to hot gases of combustion. The combination also includes a mixer for mixing aggregate material from the first material stream, aggregate material that has not been heated in the indirect dryer from a second material stream, and a binder component to produce asphalt concrete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Astec, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Donald Brock, Gary L. Catlett, Malcolm L. Swanson
  • Patent number: 9855678
    Abstract: Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Anchor Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald J. Scherer
  • Patent number: 9855679
    Abstract: A consumable material and sensor assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising an exterior surface having encoded markings that are configured to be read by the sensor assembly, where the consumable material is configured to be consumed in the additive manufacturing system to build at least a portion of a three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Samuel Batchelder, Michael D. Bosveld
  • Patent number: 9855680
    Abstract: Methods of making prepregs are described. The methods include the steps of forming a fiber-containing substrate, and contacting the fiber-containing substrate with a resin mixture. The resin mixture may include polymer particles mixed in a liquid medium, and the polymer particles may be coated on the fiber-containing substrate to form a coated substrate. The liquid medium may be removed from the coated substrate to form the prepreg. The prepregs may be used to make fiber-reinforced articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Mingfu Zhang, Jawed Asrar, Klaus Friedrich Gleich, Asheber Yohannes
  • Patent number: 9855681
    Abstract: Ferrite compositions, particularly ferrite coated substrates and more particularly fiber plys coated with ferrites in fiber reinforced polymer composites (FRPC), and composites with a plurality of functionalized fiber layers, include a magnetic ferrite composition for coating a substrate, said composition comprising a resin, and dispersed therein ferrite particulates, wherein said ferrite particulates have an average longest dimension of less than 500 nm. The composition may be used to provide a ferrite composite structure comprising at least one fiber ply, with at least one layer of a magnetic ferrite composition deposed thereon, wherein said ply is substantially encapsulated in a binder matrix to form a fiber reinforced polymer composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Sajad Haq, Michael Dunleavy, Hazel Anne Dyke, Amy Elizabeth Dyke
  • Patent number: 9855682
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for utilizing reclaimed synthetic turf materials in the manufacture of various second generation floor coverings and floor covering components. Also disclosed are products manufactured by the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Gregory Fowler, John J. M. Rees, David A. Moore
  • Patent number: 9855683
    Abstract: A mold for producing a floor made from a polymer material for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one metal insert in the form of sheet metal that is partially overmolded, i.e. having a portion intended to be covered with polymer material and a portion intended to not be covered in this way, the mold comprising a die and a punch defining a cavity, the cavity comprising a location intended to receive the portion of a metal insert intended to be covered with polymer material, wherein the mold, in this location of the cavity, comprises gadroons on the die and on the punch, the gadroons having a thickness that is greater than a predefined minimum thickness (H). The invention also concerns a floor obtained by this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Patrick Bosg, Jean-Yves Sozet
  • Patent number: 9855684
    Abstract: Embodiments of electrophoresis systems, devices, and associated methods of analysis are described herein. In one embodiment, an electrophoresis device includes a first electrode having a first polarity, a second electrode having a second polarity, and a substrate. The substrate includes a first channel having a first section with a first cross-sectional area and a second section with a second cross-sectional area. The first end is electrically coupled to the first electrode, and the second end is electrically coupled to the second electrode. The first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area in a first dimension and in a second dimension generally orthogonal to the first dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventor: Cornelius F. Ivory
  • Patent number: 9855685
    Abstract: A method of making products with a functional relief surface (2) with high resolution up to 10 nm, which is copied from a template (1) or carrier of the negative relief of the surface, the so-called master. The template (1) of the relief surface (2) is provided with at least one layer of geopolymer composite, applied in a precursor state (3), in form of a liquid dispersion or grout in plastic or thixotropic condition, whose thickness is the same or greater than the depth of the template relief (1), at temperatures in the interval from the temperature corresponding to properties of the precursor (3) to the temperature corresponding to thermal decomposition of the precursor (3), and after hardening of geopolymer composite the layer or layers is/are separated from the template (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: IQ Structures, S.R.O.
    Inventors: Tomas Tethal, Michaela Steinerova
  • Patent number: 9855686
    Abstract: A method and configuration for automated operation of a two-roll mill. Also provided is a method for continuous or semi-continuous operation of a two-roll mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Cabot Corporation
    Inventors: Ron Grosz, Lawrence R. Gooch
  • Patent number: 9855687
    Abstract: Methods of and devices for manufacturing a multi-layered microfluidic filter are disclosed. In one embodiment, method of manufacturing a multi-layered filter comprises providing a first molding plate that includes a plurality of apertures and is coupled to a flow stream source, applying from the flow stream source a first flow stream to pass through the plurality of apertures of the first molding plate, forming a first membrane layer comprising a first set of pores using the first molding plate and the first flow stream, controlling the first flow stream to generate a second flow stream from the first set of pores of the first membrane layer, and forming a second membrane layer comprising a second set of pores using the second flow stream and the first membrane layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Yung-Chieh Tan
  • Patent number: 9855688
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoplastic polyurethane composition for injection molding and a method of manufacturing the same. The thermoplastic polyurethane composition for injection molding can be easily injection-molded since a slip property is imparted to a soft segment, and can possess excellent durability properties such as heat-aging resistance, photoaging resistance, and wear resistance, and stability properties such as airbag deployment performance and anti-fogging property, as well as excellent tactile sensation and embossing quality, when a chain extender and a multifunctional polydimethylsiloxane-based compound are mixed with an isocyanate- and ether-containing polyester polyol, and can be useful in simplifying processes, reducing manufacturing costs, and simplifying facilities due to a decrease in the number of parts when molded articles are manufactured using the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motor Corporation, Dongsung Corporation, Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gye Young Ahn, Dae Young Kwon, Hyeon Don Kim, Chang Wan Son, Hea Yeon Lee
  • Patent number: 9855689
    Abstract: There is provided a shaped product made of a fiber-reinforced composite material including reinforcing fibers having an average length of 5 mm or more and 100 mm or less and a thermoplastic resin, in which a volume fraction of reinforcing fibers (Vf=100×volume of reinforcing fibers/(volume of reinforcing fibers+volume of thermoplastic resin)) is 5 to 80%, grains are formed on a surface of the shaped product, and a ratio of a reinforcing fiber bundle (A) including the reinforcing fibers of a critical number of single fiber or more, the critical number defined by Formula (1), to the total amount of the reinforcing fibers is 20 Vol % or more and 99 Vol % or less: Critical number of single fiber=600/D??(1) (wherein D is an average fiber diameter (?m) of single reinforcing fiber).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Motoomi Arakawa, Toru Sugiyama, Michiharu Taniguchi, Yasunori Nagakura
  • Patent number: 9855690
    Abstract: An injection molding resin gear includes: a tooth portion having teeth formed on an outer peripheral portion thereof; a shaft supporting portion formed around a center of rotation; and a web that connects the tooth portion and the shaft supporting portion, wherein the web includes a concave and convex portion having a concave portion formed on a first surface and a convex portion formed on a second surface formed at a position corresponding to the concave portion, and one of the concave portion or the convex portion of the concave and convex portion includes a gate point, and the concave and convex portions include a thinned portion at radial end portion in a radial cross section passing through the center of rotation of the concave and convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Motoda
  • Patent number: 9855692
    Abstract: An oral care implement having a multi-component handle, and method of manufacturing the same. The invention can be a method of forming a handle for an oral care implement comprising: a) forming a core structure of a first hard plastic; b) forming an elongated handle body of a second hard plastic that at least partially surrounds the core structure so that opposing lateral surfaces of the core structure remain exposed; and c) forming a grip cover of a resilient material over at least a portion of the elongated handle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Moskovich, Marco Bohner, Michael Rooney, Eduardo Jimenez
  • Patent number: 9855693
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an image formation method that can give an image that is excellent in terms of adhesion to a substrate, blocking resistance of a resulting printed material, and molding suitability, in particular vacuum forming properties, and that can suppress post-molding cracking of a molding. Disclosed is an image formation method comprising, in order, Step a: a step of applying Liquid A to a substrate, Step b: a step of irradiating the applied Liquid A with actinic radiation so as to carry out complete curing or semi-curing up to a degree of cure of at least 90%, Step c: a step of applying Liquid B to a cured layer of the completely cured or semi-cured Liquid A, and Step d: a step of completely curing Liquid A and Liquid B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Umebayashi
  • Patent number: 9855694
    Abstract: A feed system for an injection molding machine. The feed system includes a first part with a first channel, and a second part with a second channel. The first channel and the second channel together form a molten plastic feed conduit when they are engaged. The first part and the second part are unbonded to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC.
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Ralph Edwin Neufarth, Chow-chi Huang, Michael Thomas Dodd, Matthew Lloyd Newman
  • Patent number: 9855695
    Abstract: A display device with a touch panel and a controller having a computer function to display various kinds of screens on a display surface of the display. The controller includes a multiple screen display processing function part wherein at least two independent screen display parts are displayed side by side, a screen switch processing function part to enable switching of a touched screen to the other screen by a touch/slide operation on the screen, and a switch key display processing function part by which a key display part is arranged on the display surface in an area other than the screen display parts. A plurality of switch keys are arranged and displayed in the key display part according to a key pattern corresponding to the order of the screens switched by a touch/slide operation so as to enable selection of the screens to display by a touch operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: NISSEI PLASTIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyazaki, Chiharu Nishizawa, Susumu Morozumi
  • Patent number: 9855696
    Abstract: An overhead conduit includes a duct extending in a longitudinal direction. The duct has an outer wall. A strength member, such as a messenger wire, abuts the outer wall of the duct. An extruded jacket surrounds the duct and the messenger wire. The extruded jacket follows the outer contours of the duct and the messenger wire. Optional first and second sub-ducts, smaller than the duct, may be located to the right and left of the messenger wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventor: Jason N. Morrow
  • Patent number: 9855697
    Abstract: A wearing body or bushing having an axial twin borehole for receiving a twin screw for extruding meltable material, in particular plastic. In order to avoid cracking and to save material, the wearing body has a radial cross section with an outer contour, which is convexly curved over the entire circumference and is in the form of an oval, and with first and second axes of symmetry, which run perpendicularly to one another and define a point of intersection which lies on the extrusion axis. The width of the oval on the first axis of symmetry is greater than the height of the oval on the second axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KRAUSSMAFFEI BERSTORFF GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Scheel, Michael Behling
  • Patent number: 9855698
    Abstract: Automatic process control of additive manufacturing. The system includes an additive manufacturing device for making an object and a local network computer controlling the device. At least one camera is provided with a view of a manufacturing volume of the device to generate network accessible images of the object. The computer is programmed to stop the manufacturing process when the object is defective based en the images of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Alfonso Alexander Perez, Christopher Michael Haid, Mateo Pena Doll, Forrest W. Pieper
  • Patent number: 9855699
    Abstract: A filtering device (100) for highly viscous media comprises at least one screen plug (10) which is movably arranged in a screen plug bore (27) of a housing (20) and which has at least one screen cavity (11, 12), a filter element (11.7) lying in said screen cavity. The screen cavity (11, 12) narrows to a funnel section (11.6) in a rear region when viewed in the flow direction, said funnel section opening into at least one screen plug outlet channel that opens upstream of the housing outlet channel (24, 25) in the production position. According to the invention, the screen plug outlet channel comprises an inlet zone (11.1, 11.2), at least one deflecting point (11.3), and an outlet zone (11.2, 12.2). The intake zone (11.1, 12.1) extends from an edge region of the funnel section (11.6), and the outlet zone (11.2, 12.2) is designed as a groove that extends on the outer face of the screen plug (10, 10?) and/or on the inner face of the screen plug bore (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Nordson Holdings S.A.R.L. & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Wostmann, Frank Hartmann, Robert Middler
  • Patent number: 9855700
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermoplastic resin molded article having a hollow portion includes setting a molded article (A) premolded from a thermoplastic resin in a first die, forming a melted thermoplastic resin plate (B) in a shape along an inner surface of a second die facing the first die by being attached to the inner surface of the second die by vacuum pressure, welding the thermoplastic resin plate (B) and the molded article (A) only in a predetermined region by mold-clamping the first die and the second die, and forming at least part of an unwelded region as a hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaru Tateyama, Masayuki Koshi
  • Patent number: 9855701
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric shell appliances configured to receive the teeth and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. The individual appliances may be formed from layers having different stiffnesses (elastic moduluses), and the stiffnesses of successive appliances may be different, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti, Ross J. Miller, H. Robert Vandenberg, Eric Kuo
  • Patent number: 9855702
    Abstract: A composite filler noodle is pulled through upper and lower roller dies respectively rotatable about first and second axes. The first and second axes are aligned to extend substantially parallel to each other within a plane that is substantially orthogonal to an axis of movement of the noodle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Olberg, Ryan C. Lucas
  • Patent number: 9855703
    Abstract: A method of forming a pattern by using an imprint process includes: forming an adhesion promoting layer only in a pattern formation region on a substrate; coating a resin to cover the substrate and the adhesion promoting layer; transferring a pattern of a stamp mold to the resin covering the substrate and the adhesion promoting layer, by pressing the stamp mold onto the resin; irradiating ultraviolet light onto the resin covering the substrate and the adhesion promoting layer, to cure the resin and form a pattern of the cured resin to correspond to the pattern of the stamp mold, on the substrate; and detaching the stamp mold from the substrate, to leave a portion of the cured resin pattern only on the adhesion promoting layer on the substrate and to remove a remaining portion of the cured resin pattern from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sunghoon Lee, Dongouk Kim, Joonyong Park, Jihyun Bae, Bongsu Shin, Jaeseung Chung, Sukgyu Hahm, Jong G. Ok, Ilsun Yoon
  • Patent number: 9855704
    Abstract: A powder is spread in two directions, that is, the advancement and retraction directions of a powder recoater. The powder recoater according to this invention includes a hopper that stores a powder, and a cylindrical powder supplier that has a side surface close to or in contact with the bottom surface of the hopper and includes a supply path for the powder. The powder recoater according to this invention further includes a pivoting unit that causes the powder supplier to pivot. In the powder recoater according to this invention, the center axis of the supply path is displaced from the center axis of the powder supplier in the radial direction of the powder supplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION FOR FUTURE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
    Inventors: Hideaki Miyano, Yoshikazu Ooba, Yousuke Katou, Koukichi Suzuki, Yuya Daicho
  • Patent number: 9855705
    Abstract: A medical device includes a polymer stent crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The stent is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes heating the stent to a temperature below the polymer's glass transition temperature to improve stent retention without adversely affecting the mechanical characteristics of the stent when later deployed to support a body lumen. A variable diameter sheath with a central portion that prevents expansion of the stent when the balloon is pressurized and larger diameter ends is disposed over the crimped stent-balloon assembly. The balloon is pressurized and the larger diameter ends of the sheath allow the balloon beyond the ends of the stent to expand. The balloon is then depressurized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Yunbing Wang, Xiao Ma, Rommel Lumauig
  • Patent number: 9855706
    Abstract: A 3-D printing apparatus including a base and a printing head module is provided. The base includes a first supplying platform, a printing bed and a second supplying platform disposed in order along a printing path. The first supplying platform and the second supplying platform carry building powder respectively; the first supplying platform and the second supplying platform are alternately lifted to a printing-reference plane of the base for supplying the building powder to the printing bed. The printing head module is movably disposed above the base and configured to move along a forward direction of the print path to transfer the building powder of the first supplying platform onto the printing bed, and move along a backward direction of the printing path to transfer building powder of the second supplying platform onto the printing bed to form bonded powder layers stacked together to form a 3-D object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: XYZprinting, Inc., Kinpo Electronics, Inc., Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventors: Shih-Jer Din, Ming-Chih Huang, Chien-Ying Tseng
  • Patent number: 9855707
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting a structure. The method comprises identifying an exterior shape of the structure; generating a model of a mask based on the exterior shape of the structure; and forming the mask using a three dimensional printer based on the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert Charles Jonietz, Jr., Thomas Wayne Vandiver
  • Patent number: 9855708
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing device including a processing unit and a mixing unit is provided. The processing unit formats a sliced file into a printing head signal file, wherein the sliced file and the printing head signal file correspond to a three-dimensional structure, the sliced file includes layer data corresponding to a plurality of layers of the three-dimensional structure, and the print head signal file includes layer printing data corresponding to the layers of the three-dimensional structure. The mixing unit combines part of the layer data in the sliced file and part of the layer printing data in the printing head signal file to derive a hybrid file, and stores the hybrid file in a storing unit of the electronic device, wherein the layer data and the layer printing data in the hybrid file correspond to different layers of the three-dimensional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: XYZprinting, Inc., Kinpo Electronics, Inc., Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited
    Inventors: Tien-I Kao, Ting-Yu Lu
  • Patent number: 9855709
    Abstract: A method for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature below a melting point of the polymer and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: VERTERA, INC.
    Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S. D. Lee, David Lee Safranski
  • Patent number: 9855710
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an assembly for manufacturing a leaf spring from a fiber-composite material. To this end, tape material from a fiber material, which has been pre-impregnated with a matrix resin, for manufacturing a semi-finished leaf spring is wound under tension onto a winding core, wherein at least two cavities for shaping are configured on the winding core. The tape material here is pressed on by way of a contact pressure means, such that adjacent layers of the fiber material are adhesively interconnected and air pockets are removed. The semi-finished leaf spring under impingement by pressure and heat and under curing of the matrix resin is finally processed to form a leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BENTELER SGL GMBH & CO. KG.
    Inventors: Tobias Aubele, Ulrich Mueller, Hannah Paulus, Andreas Steinle, Bernd Wohletz, Ralph Wojtczyk
  • Patent number: 9855711
    Abstract: ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of manufacturing a composite panel comprises the steps of: a) Providing a first textile layer (10); b) Applying a first adhesive to at least a portion of the first textile layer (10); c) Placing a plurality of first profiles (11) adjacent to each other onto at least a portion of the first textile layer which has been contacted with the first adhesive, wherein each of the first profiles (11) comprises a foam core (12) and a reinforcement fabric (13) located on the foam core (12) and wherein each of the first profiles (11) is obtained by bonding a respective foam core (12) to a respective pre-formed reinforcement fabric (13); d) Applying a second adhesive to at least a portion of the reinforcement fabrics (13) of the first profiles (11); e) Placing, at least once, at least one second profile (14) between two first profiles (11); and f) Providing a second textile layer (15) onto the at least one second profile (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Dirk Passmann, Kim Klausen, Karsten Schibsbye
  • Patent number: 9855712
    Abstract: Method and apparatus of manufacturing a toric contact lens comprising providing a toric insert (12) without an orientation mark to be used in forming a toric contact lens mold section; placing the toric insert without an orientation mark in an orientation mark fixture (10) comprising a single piece fixture housing (20) structured to hold a toric insert at an angle specified for an orientation mark, the fixture housing having intersecting surfaces (36, 40) which form a generally V-shaped region on which the toric insert is located, the generally V-shaped region contacting the toric insert at two different contact points, lines or areas; fixing the toric insert without an orientation mark to the orientation mark fixture; forming an orientation mark on the toric insert fixed to the orientation mark fixture; using the toric insert with the orientation mark to form a toric contact lens mold section; and using the toric contact lens mold section to form a toric contact lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: COOPERVISION INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, LLP
    Inventors: Fernando Andres Bejarano Rodriguez, Carlos Sandoval Amaral, Ruben Joel Colon, Fernando Rentas Pedrogo
  • Patent number: 9855713
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a reflective tire marking system for use as a warning indication to highlight the width of large vehicles, the system including a reflective tire marking inserted into an outer edge of a tire lug, wherein the reflective tire marking is made of a reflective rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Andrew Cassidy
  • Patent number: 9855714
    Abstract: A strip rubber adhering method includes: extruding strip rubber of a shape having an apex portion in cross section from an extruder and moving the same forward toward a drum; pressing a surface of the strip rubber on the apex portion side by a pressure bonding roller, adhering the strip rubber to the drum, moving relatively the drum and the extruder with respect to each other in an axial direction of the drum, and winding the strip rubber around the drum in a spiral manner; and exposing the surface of the strip rubber on the apex portion side to wind from a blowing apparatus in the vicinity of a position of adhesion of the strip rubber to the drum and cooling the surface of the strip rubber on the apex portion side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE & RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Syuuichi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9855715
    Abstract: A tire building drum is disclosed. A thrust plate is mounted at a tapered end of a central shaft. An actuator is slidable along the shaft between first and second positions. Arcuate segments are arranged in a circumferential relationship about the shaft to define a working surface. First guide rails are slidably secured to the thrust plate, with a first end of each first rail mounted near a first end of one of the segments and a second end extending radially inwardly along the thrust plate. Second guide rails are slidably secured to the actuator, with a first end of each second rail mounted near a second end of one of the segments and a second end extending radially and axially inwardly along the actuator. Each of the guide rail second ends extends radially inward toward the inwardly tapered shaft portion when the actuator is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Davian Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Robert L. Marcus, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9855716
    Abstract: Device for cutting and transferring a length of strip let off a continuous strip, comprising a first face and a second face to be laid on a rotary receiving surface and containing a cutting means to separate the said length from the continuous strip along a cutting line, a telescopic conveyor belt, arranged in a longitudinal direction between the cutting means and the receiving surface, to receive the length of strip via the first face, a first half-anvil, upstream of the cutting line, and comprising holding means to grasp the strip via the first face, a transporter, having holding means to grasp the front edge or rear edge of the length of strip via the second face, the transporter able to move in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Deboeuf, Jr., Thierry Ducros, Stephane Ravat, Mickael Rouby