Patents Issued in December 20, 2018
  • Publication number: 20180361749
    Abstract: A liquid container includes an inner bag that is made from a film-shaped member and reserves a liquid therein, and an outer container that accommodates the inner bag therein and has a first opening communicating with a mouth of the inner bag and a second opening for supplying a fluid into a space between the inner bag and an inner wall of the outer container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Kazuma Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20180361750
    Abstract: A print cartridge installation region includes a funneling wall formed on a substrate of the print cartridge installation region to guide a print cartridge into a predetermined position within the print cartridge installation region. The funneling wall includes a curved edge positioned at an opening of a print cartridge loading lane partially defined by the funneling wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen G. BROEN, Peter G. HWANG, Dan R. DWYER, Shuiqiang LIN, Aaron NELSON
  • Publication number: 20180361751
    Abstract: In a filling operation of filling liquid in a liquid supply flow path which includes a filter having holes by causing a pressure on a downstream side in the liquid supply flow path to be lower than a pressure on an upstream side, and a maximum pressure difference which occurs between an upstream side of the filter and a downstream side of the filter is larger than a pressure difference for destroying a gas-liquid interface formed in the hole in a case where the upstream side of the filter is the liquid, and the downstream side of the filter is gas, and is smaller than a pressure difference for destroying the gas-liquid interface formed in the hole, in a case where the upstream side of the filter is the gas, and the downstream side of the filter is the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Tomoki SHINODA, Takeshi IWAMURO, Toshihiro SHINBARA
  • Publication number: 20180361752
    Abstract: An inkj et printing system includes an ink reservoir defining an ink-receiving chamber and a control chamber, a control fluid source fluidly communicating with the control chamber, and an orientation sensor configured to determine an orientation of the ink reservoir and generate an orientation signal. A processor is operably coupled to the control fluid source and the orientation sensor, the processor programmed to determine a desired pressure for the control chamber based, at least in part, on the orientation signal, and control the control fluid source to adjust an actual pressure level in the control chamber to the desired pressure for the control chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Baker, Myles S. Duncanson, Robert G. Palifka, Bennett M. Moriarty, Shane E. Arthur
  • Publication number: 20180361753
    Abstract: A print head of a continuous ink jet printer, including, in a cover: means for producing at least one ink jet; means for separating drops of jets intended for printing from those that do not serve for printing; a slot, enabling drops intended for printing to get out; a recovery gutter (7) for drops not intended for printing, the recovery gutter comprising an ink recovery volume (12); at least one detection conductor (20), arranged inside the head; means (16) for detecting a variation in impedance of at least one of the detection conductors when ink (21) is present in contact with the conductor or with a dielectric layer (22) in contact therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Florence Odin, Damien Bonneton
  • Publication number: 20180361754
    Abstract: A printing apparatus performing printing by an inkjet scheme includes: an inkjet head; and a controller, configured to control the operation of a main scan driver and a sub scan driver to perform a main scanning operation multiple times on each position on a medium. In the main scanning operation, for at least part of ejection positions serving as ejection targets of ink droplets in the main scanning operation, the controller causes the inkjet head to eject an ink droplet in accordance with a mask for selecting part of the at least part of ejection positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiichi OHARA, Akira Takatsu
  • Publication number: 20180361755
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, configured to generate print data to be outputted to a printing apparatus that prints an image by ejecting preprocessing liquid and ink onto a medium, includes a color conversion unit that converts image data representing the image into an amount of the preprocessing liquid, and a type and an amount of the ink for printing the image, and a print data generation unit that generates the print data on a basis of the amount of the preprocessing liquid and the type and amount of the ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Eishin YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180361756
    Abstract: A control information generating method includes generating thermal transfer control information based on an amount of ink to be used for printing of a printing medium, in a case where thermal transfer control information for heating a printing medium printed on a first medium based on image data and thermally transferring the printing medium to a second medium is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Eishin YOSHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180361757
    Abstract: A method for printing includes analyzing print quality requirements for a printing area; adjusting settings for heater elements (e.g., energy and/or firing durations) of strobe lines based on the requirements analysis; and providing a plurality of individual strobe signals to the strobe lines. The strobe signals can be transmitted simultaneously, for example with a field-programmable gate array. Analyzing print quality requirements can include separating the printing area into one or more areas of interest, such as rows and/or columns. For each area of interest individual print quality settings (e.g., darkness, contrast, and/or media sensitivity) may be selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Teck Siong SOH
  • Publication number: 20180361758
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method of printing comprising the steps of applying an ink comprising a thermoplastic resin to a print substrate using an electrostatic printing process; and applying an overcoat composition comprising a crosslinking agent to the ink after applying the ink to the print substrate, such that the thermoplastic resin of the ink becomes crosslinked on the print substrate due to interaction with the crosslinking agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Ilanit Mor, Yaacov Almog, Albert Teishev, Tony Azzam, Julia Kornilov
  • Publication number: 20180361759
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a plant (1) for printing, particularly for digitally printing, a sheet fibrous material (T), said printing plant (1) comprising: a conveyor belt (2) configured for receiving the sheet fibrous material (T) and guiding it in the movement along an advancement direction (A); a printing station (6) adapted to ink-print at least part of a second side (T2) of the sheet fibrous material (T); one preparing station (4) configured for modifying the surface hydrophobicity of at least part of the sheet fibrous material (T). The preparing station (4) comprises at least a plasma treating device (11) configured for define a treatment environment where at least a portion of the fibrous material is received and wherein ionized gas is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Luigi Milini
  • Publication number: 20180361760
    Abstract: A printing apparatus that prints an image on a print medium, which includes a sheet serving as a base and a label formed on the sheet, said apparatus comprising: an acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a shape of the label; a printing unit configured to perform printing on the label; a conveying unit configured to convey the print medium in a predetermined conveyance direction; a detecting unit configured to detects the label; a moving unit configured to cause the detecting unit to be movable in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction; and a control unit configured to, in a case where the label has a shape including a portion protruding on the downstream side in conveyance direction, move the detecting unit to a region corresponding to a most protruding position of the label on the downstream side in the conveyance direction on the basis of information acquired by the acquiring unit, and starts the printing on the label on the basis of a detection result of the detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Shin Goto
  • Publication number: 20180361761
    Abstract: A hand-held recording apparatus includes a recording section, a housing, and an indicator. The recording section records an image on a recording material in moving in a scanning direction. The housing houses the recording section. The indicator is movable between an indication position at which the indicator opposes the recording material and indicates a recording area of the image of the recording section and a retracted position at which the indicator is retracted from the indication position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Muneyuki Okeguchi, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Kunihiko Nishioka
  • Publication number: 20180361762
    Abstract: A controlling method for an image forming apparatus which has plural sheet containers and can perform printing by using a sheet contained in the sheet container is provided. When there is no sheet in at least one of the sheet containers, it is set whether to perform a notification in consideration of another sheet container. No sheet in the sheet container is detected. When it is not set to perform the notification in consideration of another sheet container, it notifies notification information of no sheet to a preset notification destination in accordance with the detection. When it is set to perform the notification in consideration of another sheet container and there is another sheet container containing a sheet corresponding to the sheet which should be contained in the sheet container in which there is no sheet, it does not notify the notification information in accordance with the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Keisuke Aizono
  • Publication number: 20180361763
    Abstract: A roll body supporting device that rotatably supports a roll body includes a shaft member inserted into a core of the roll body, a shaft outer circumference member fixed to an outer circumference of the shaft member, a core support member that is inwardly in contact with and fits on the core, and a rotation support section that connects the shaft outer circumference member to the core support member and supports the core support member in a manner to be rotatable about the shaft member relative to the shaft outer circumference member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Masaki KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20180361764
    Abstract: A printing assembly has at least one transport direction defined by a transport path provided for the transport of printing material through the printing assembly. The printing assembly has at least one first support body on which at least one first image-generating device is arranged and which at least one first support body extends both in the transport direction and in a transverse direction that is oriented horizontally and orthogonally to the transport direction. The printing assembly has at least one first temperature-control device for the targeted generation of a temperature difference between a first point of the at least one first support body and at least one second point of the at least one first support body. That second point is spaced apart from the first point, at least in the transport direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas BAUMEISTER, Alexander BLANK, Klaus FÖRTIG, Andreas RUMPEL, Christian SCHLUND, Patrick WALTER
  • Publication number: 20180361765
    Abstract: A drive signal generator of an inkjet printer includes a first electronic component that generates a greater amount of heat than a second electronic component. A heat sink includes wall members and first and second ends. The wall members include first and second wall members having an outer wall. The heat sink has a tubular shape defined by the wall members and is open at the first and second ends. A portion of a cooling fan faces the first end of the heat sink, and another portion of the cooling fan protrudes at least from the first end toward the first wall member. The first electronic component is in contact with the outer wall of the first wall member, and the second electronic component is in contact with the outer wall of the second wall member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Ryota SAGO, Sachie MUROGA, Eiji HANBA, Hironobu SUZUKI, Hideki YAGI
  • Publication number: 20180361766
    Abstract: A detector includes a light source to irradiate an object with light, a sensor to image a first pattern and a second pattern formed on the object with the light irradiated by the light source to generate image data, the first pattern and the second pattern imaged by the sensor at different times, and a circuit to control the light source to adjust a light quantity of the light according to a type of the object and irradiate the object with the light quantity adjusted according to the type of the object, and calculate a relative position of the object between the first pattern and the second pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Shirato, Mitsunobu Gohda, Tomoaki Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20180361767
    Abstract: A rotogravure unit of a printing machine for printing on a web-shaped printing material includes a forme cylinder, an ink application device, an impression cylinder and guide rollers for guiding the printing material. A driven pull roller and a further roller form a roller pair for transporting the printing material. The rotogravure unit advantageously permits only a few waste products to be created when the machine is started up or restarted and in-register printing is made quickly possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: HANS SCHADL
  • Publication number: 20180361768
    Abstract: A transfer-printing method includes a transfer paper preparing step, a transferring step, and a releasing step. The transfer paper preparing step involves forming an image using transfer-printing ink containing a pigment and a fixing resin by ejecting the ink onto a transfer paper base and then drying at a temperature lower than the cross-linking temperature of the fixing resin to obtain transfer paper. The transferring step involves transferring the image formed on the transfer paper to cloth by pressing, while heating at a temperature higher than the cross-linking temperature of the fixing resin. The releasing step involves releasing the transfer paper from the cloth having the image fixed to it. The layer thickness of the ink layer formed on the transfer paper base is 50 nm to 500 nm, and, in the transferring step, the ink layer is transferred in the form of film to the surface of the cloth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshio OZAWA, Erika TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20180361769
    Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments concern printing systems configured to deposit flexible dye sublimation inks onto flexible transfer materials. Together, the flexible ink and transfer material allow images to be transferred onto complex-shaped, i.e. non-planar, surfaces of a substrate. The flexible ink may be, for example, a thermoformable UV dye sublimation ink or a superflexible UV dye sublimation ink. In order to transfer an image onto the substrate, the transfer material is pressed onto the surface of the substrate. The substrate, transfer material, or both are heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the ink to sublimate. During the sublimation process, dye is able to permeate the substrate and form a transferred image. The flexible ink formulation may also include a soluble or solvent-sensitive component. In such embodiments, a solvent can be jetted onto the substrate and/or transfer material to remove residual ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Paul Andrew EDWARDS
  • Publication number: 20180361770
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermosensitive recording material and, specifically, to a thermosensitive recording material comprising: a colorless or light-colored leuco dye; a compound of chemical formula (1) containing a non-phenolic sulfonyl urea group as a developer; at least one of general formulas II-1, II-2, and II-3 as a sensitizer; a binder; and other fillers. The thermosensitive recording material of the present invention improves the background blurring of a color-developed image by using a non-phenolic developer and exhibits excellent effects in view of color development sensitivity, water resistance, oil resistance, plasticizer resistance, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Kyu-Cheol PAIK, Jung-Ok AN
  • Publication number: 20180361771
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an erasing apparatus has a scanner, an erasing unit, a plurality of sheet discharge trays, and a processor. The processor acquires, from image data of a sheet outputted by the scanner, attribute data of the sheet. The processor controls execution propriety of erasing processing by the erasing unit, and sorting processing to discharge the sheet to the plurality of sheet discharge trays, based on the attribute data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Takanori FUKUHARA
  • Publication number: 20180361772
    Abstract: Provided are a planographic printing plate precursor for on-press development, including: an aluminum support; an interlayer which contains a compound containing a support absorptive group and a hydrophilic group; and an image recording layer which contains an infrared absorbing agent, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound, and polymer particles formed of a styrene copolymer, on the aluminum support, in which the aluminum support is an aluminum plate having an anodized film on a surface in contact with the interlayer and the anodized film has micropores extending in a depth direction from a surface in contact with the interlayer, and an average pore diameter of the micropores in the surface of the anodized film is in a range of 20 to 40 nm; a method of preparing a planographic printing plate and a planographic printing method obtained by using the planographic printing plate precursor for on-press development.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Genki TAKANASHI, Noriaki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20180361773
    Abstract: A method for reconstructing a relief print master with a three-dimensional printer includes introducing cavities inside the relief print master in order to control its compressibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas BILLIET
  • Publication number: 20180361774
    Abstract: Provided are a planographic printing plate precursor including: a support; and an image recording layer provided on the support, in which the image recording layer contains an infrared absorbing agent, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound containing a hydrogen bonding group, and a hard polymer particle containing at least one group selected from the group consisting of a urethane group, a urea group, an imide group, an amide group, and a sulfonamide group on the surface of the hard polymer particle, and a number average primary particle diameter of the hard polymer particle is in a range of 0.01 to 1 ?m; and a plate-making method for a planographic printing plate obtained by using the planographic printing plate precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Kohei AIZU, Ryo NAKAMURA, Hiroaki IDEI, Tomoki OCHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20180361775
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a book binding device to perform a binding process comprising a coupling process in which two stacks of sheets, such as sheets or, paper, each with at least one sheet, are coupled to each other by tabs in the sheets, and a cutting process to produce the tabs along a respective tab edge of at least one of the two stacks to be coupled, to bind the sheets into a book along a spine side of the sheets, the device comprising: —two stack holders to each hold a stack of at least one sheet, —a cutting assembly to perform the process of cutting out sheet material to form the tabs, —a coupling assembly to couple the tabs of two respective stacks to produce the book, in which —the stack holders serve as positioners for the two stacks to keep the stacks properly oriented during the binding process at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Paul Gokkel
  • Publication number: 20180361776
    Abstract: Techniques are described in which articles (e.g., security documents, traffic signage and personal protective equipment) are formed to include an infrared absorptive material. In some instances, the infrared absorptive material includes a reduced tungsten oxide, such as cesium tungsten oxide, calcium tungsten oxide, potassium tungsten oxide, or the like, and exposed to radiation such that one or more regions of the security document has a modified appearance, thereby providing a visual marking or information on the article. Example articles include at least one layer including a polymer and an infrared absorptive material including a reduced tungsten oxide. The layer includes a radiation-treated region that exhibits a first appearance under visible light and at least one non-radiation-treated region that exhibits a second, different appearance under visible light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Tadesse G. Nigatu, Suman K. Patel, Craig A. Schmidt, Lee A. Pavelka, Neeraj Sharma
  • Publication number: 20180361777
    Abstract: A security element for securing security papers, value documents and other data carriers, having a lenticular image that, from different viewing directions, displays at least two different appearances. The lenticular image includes a lens grid composed of a plurality of microlenses and a radiation-sensitive motif layer arranged spaced apart from the lens grid. The radiation-sensitive motif layer includes, produced by the action of radiation, a plurality of transparency regions that are each arranged in perfect register with the microlenses of the lens grid. Outside the transparency regions produced by the action of radiation, the radiation-sensitive motif layer is opaque and patterned in the form of a first motif such that, when the security element is viewed through the lens grid from a first viewing direction, the first motif is visible as the first appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Christian FUHSE, Andreas RAUCH, Georg DEPTA
  • Publication number: 20180361778
    Abstract: A security element comprising a first and a second pattern formed in or on a substrate is described, the first pattern (105; 205) being formed by discrete elements (105a-105g; 205a-205c) of a first material that are distributed over a first region (101) of the substrate (100; 200), the second pattern (106; 206) being formed by discrete elements (106a-106i; 206a-206c) of a second material that are distributed over a second region (102) of the substrate (100; 200), said second material being different from said first material, said first and second regions of the substrate overlapping, wherein the discrete elements of at least one of the first and second patterns are distributed randomly, a part of the discrete elements of the first pattern (105; 205) overlap with a part of the discrete elements of said second pattern (106; 206), and the security element is defined by the first pattern (105; 205), the second pattern (106; 206) and a third pattern (107; 207) associated with the overlap of some or all of the disc
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Jean-Luc DORIER, Benito CARNERO
  • Publication number: 20180361779
    Abstract: An example binder apparatus is disclosed. An example binder apparatus includes a housing having a first side surface, a second side surface, and an inner central surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface. The example binder apparatus also includes a first carrier rail including a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first carrier rail including a first tab to extend away from the inner central surface of the housing, the first longitudinal edge disposed adjacent the first side surface of the housing. The example binder apparatus also includes a second carrier rail including a third longitudinal edge and a fourth longitudinal edge, the second carrier rail including a second tab to extend away from the inner central surface of the housing, the third longitudinal edge disposed adjacent the second side surface of the housing, the second longitudinal edge hingably engaging the fourth longitudinal edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Hans Johann Horn
  • Publication number: 20180361780
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding at least one of a pen and a business card. The apparatus comprises a deer antler formed of natural deer antlers having various configurations depending on the shape of such deer antler when shed by a deer. At least one holder member is engageable with at least one prong of the deer antler for holding at least one of business cards and a pen. There is a means for securing the at least one holder member to such deer antler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: JASON F. RENYO
  • Publication number: 20180361781
    Abstract: A retractable writing instrument includes a push member including a clip and a protruding and retracting mechanism that causes a pen point to protrude from and retract into a front end of the barrel at a frontward press on the push member, without the push member rotating with respect to the instrument. The protruding and retracting mechanism includes cam teeth and cam grooves formed in an inner face of the barrel, a rotary member including protuberances engageable alternately with the cam teeth or the cam grooves, a cam member connected to the push member and includes cam projections rotating the rotary member, and engagement projections engaged with the cam grooves in the inner face of the barrel so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction; and a resilient element that biases the writing element rearward. The push member and the cam member are in detent engagement with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Yoshihiro ITO
  • Publication number: 20180361782
    Abstract: A page turning device is mountable on an end of a writing implement or similarly other shape element for enabling a user to more easily turn paper sheets. The page turning device is formed of a deformable elastic material. The elastic material is formed so as to basically provide a sheath-like female receptacle for receiving an implement end and further includes an outer sheet-engaging surface. The outer sheet-engaging surface provides gripping action at a paper sheet surface for enabling the user to turn paper sheets. The female receptacle is characterized by including an end-receiving mouth, a receptacle bottom, and a series of inwardly and radially extending rib formations. Each rib formation has an innermost edge, each of which are elastically deformable when receiving the implement end. Each rib formation directs restorative forces toward the implement end for holding the page turning device upon the implement end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Lisa D. Lahey, George Lahey
  • Publication number: 20180361783
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a set of paintable pieces with display faces. The pieces are configured to be assembled together such that the display faces can be arranged side-by-side to form an artwork canvas. The method includes: (a) positioning a canvas piece against an inside surface of one portion of a mold; (b) securing a second portion of the mold to the first portion to form a mold cavity containing the canvas piece; (c) feeding a molten polymer into the mold cavity such that the polymer fills the mold cavity and solidifies to form a paintable piece with the canvas piece forming the display face; (d) separating the portions of the mold and removing the paintable piece from the mold cavity; and (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) a plurality of times to manufacture a set of paintable pieces. Paintable pieces and kits containing paintable pieces are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Elad Katav, Avner Sadot, Yoav Dracher, Guy Dvir, Ido Ophir
  • Publication number: 20180361784
    Abstract: A running wheel for a patient positioning device (30) is provided. The running wheel has a wheel (1) and a receiving device (4) for rotatably receiving the wheel (1) around a first rotational axis (5), which is arranged centrally with respect to a circumference of the wheel (1). The wheel (1) has a wheel body (3), and multiple circumferential castors (7), each having a second rotational axis (8) arranged in a direction tangential to a circumference of the wheel (1), wherein the circumferential castors (7) form a bearing surface of the wheel (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Andreas ZAPF
  • Publication number: 20180361785
    Abstract: A bicycle rim for carrying a tire. The rim includes a circumferential tire bed including first and second opposing edge regions a circumferential spoke face, and first and second side walls extending from the spoke face to the first and second edge regions, respectively. The first and second side walls include first and second side wall extensions radially extending from the first and second opposing side regions and terminating at first and second outer radial edges, respectively. Each of the first and second outer radial edges defining a maximum width that is at least 3.8 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Clint L. Child, Kevin E. Nelson, Elias S. Harik, Brett Satterthwaite
  • Publication number: 20180361786
    Abstract: Wheel bearing units are disclosed. In one example, a wheel bearing unit includes an outer ring element and an inner ring element, between which there are arranged at least two rolling body rows. The inner ring element may have a radial flange which is fastenable to an axle body or to a wheel. A face surface, which faces toward the radial flange, of the outer ring element may have at least one projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Stahl, Natalie Treubert, Frank Eichelmann
  • Publication number: 20180361787
    Abstract: A handle-hidden quick-release structure has: an outer shaft lever having a shaft lever external thread on an outer circumferential surface of one end thereof, at least one clamping slot on the other end face thereof and an axially extending receiving hole, wherein a wall of the receiving hole has a step surface; an internally hidden rotating handle having a first rod body and a second rod body, wherein the first rod body is disposed in the receiving hole of the outer shaft lever, a stop portion radially protrudes outwards from the first rod body, the second rod body has a rod body and a rod head, the rod body is disposed in the receiving hole, one end of the rod body is pivoted to the first rod body, the other end of the rod body is connected with the rod head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Chin-Chao Chang
  • Publication number: 20180361788
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for fitting and/or removing wheel nuts. The apparatus (10) includes a base structure that supports a movable wheel engaging portion, the wheel engaging portion including a socket wrench (23) and a positioning device, wherein the positioning device can be used to locate the wheel engaging portion to aid the socket wrench (23) to fit or remove a wheel nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Ian Hedley, Christopher Nash Whybin, Drew Colvin Keith
  • Publication number: 20180361789
    Abstract: An internal gear configuring a reduction gear is supported and fixed to a rotation side flange provided on an axially outer end portion of a hub, and the hub is rotationally driven based on a driving force input through the internal gear. Accordingly, since a drive shaft for rotationally driving the hub is not necessarily connected to a center hole of the hub, an electric generator and a wireless communication device can be disposed in an accommodating space having a large space provided on an axially inner side of the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke GUNJI, Yasuyuki MATSUDA
  • Publication number: 20180361790
    Abstract: A tire assembly includes an assemblage formed of first and second impregnated woven or knitted structures, a bearing structure, and at least one sacrificial holder. The first impregnated woven or knitted structure includes a first woven or knitted fabric and a first layer of a first polymeric composition. The second impregnated woven or knitted structure includes a second woven or knitted fabric and a second layer of a second polymeric composition. The bearing structure includes bearing elements connecting the first and second woven or knitted fabrics together. Each sacrificial holder is structured to hold temporarily the first and second impregnated structures in contact with each other, connecting the first and second woven or knitted fabrics together. When the first and second impregnated woven or knitted structures are separated from each other, each sacrificial holder breaks before any breakage of the bearing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: SÉBASTIEN RIGO, FLORIAN VILCOT, DANIEL BEAULATON, BASTIEN LIMOZIN, DAMIEN FOMBELLE, MAGALY BROUSSEAU
  • Publication number: 20180361791
    Abstract: During the process for the manufacture of a tire (20) assemblage (24) comprising: a first woven or knitted fabric (26) comprising several first threadlike elements (64, 66), a second woven or knitted fabric (28) comprising several second threadlike elements (68, 70), a bearing structure comprising bearing elements (32) connecting the first and second woven or knitted fabric(s) (26, 28) together, each first threadlike element (64, 66) is coated with a layer of a first adhesive composition and each second threadlike element (68, 70) is coated with a layer of a second adhesive composition, each first and second coated threadlike element (64, 66, 68, 70) is then heat treated, so as to crosslink each first and second adhesive composition, each first and second coated and heat-treated threadlike element (64, 66, 68, 70) is then assembled with the bearing elements (32), so as to form the assemblage (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: SÉBASTIEN RIGO, FLORIAN VILCOT, NICOLE DAJOUX, MAGALY BROUSSEAU
  • Publication number: 20180361792
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation, a deformable outer ring, and a web extending between the inner ring and the deformable outer ring. The tire further includes a pair of sidewalls disposed at opposite ends of the non-pneumatic tire and covering the web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Ali Manesh, Mike Tercha, Karen Schlei, Brian Meliska, Louis Stark, Glenn Howland
  • Publication number: 20180361793
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation, a deformable outer ring, and a web extending between the inner ring and the deformable outer ring. The tire further includes a pair of sidewalls disposed at opposite ends of the non-pneumatic tire and covering the web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Ali Manesh, Mike Tercha, Brian Anderson, Karen Schlei, Brian Meliska, Louis Stark, Benjamin Knospe, Glenn Howland
  • Publication number: 20180361794
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and hub assembly includes an inner ring having an axis of rotation, a deformable outer ring, and a flexible web extending between the inner ring and the deformable outer ring. The assembly further includes a hollow, metal cylinder coupled to the inner ring. The hollow, metal cylinder has a flanged portion extending towards an interior portion of the hollow, metal cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Ali Manesh, Mike Tercha, Brian Anderson, Karen Schlei, Brian Meliska, Louis Stark, Benjamin Knospe, Fidelis Ceranski, Glenn Howland
  • Publication number: 20180361795
    Abstract: A tire comprising a tire frame that comprises a resin material and has a circular shape, and a metal-resin composite, the metal-resin composite having a structure in which a metal member, an adhesive layer and a resin layer are disposed in this order, and the adhesive layer comprising an acid-modified polypropylene and having a crystallinity of from 21% to 40%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Soichi KYO, Hiroyuki FUDEMOTO, Yukinori NAKAKITA
  • Publication number: 20180361796
    Abstract: A tire including: a circular tire frame containing a resin material; and a metal-resin complex wound around an outer circumferential portion of the tire frame, which includes a metal member, an adhesive layer and a resin layer in this order, and in which a tensile elastic modulus of the adhesive layer is less than a tensile elastic modulus of the resin layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Takahiro SUZUKI, Naoyuki SONE
  • Publication number: 20180361797
    Abstract: A heavy-duty tire includes a tread portion including a pair of tread edges and a tire equator located therebetween. In a tire cross-section including a tire axis under a 5% inner pressure condition where the tire is mounted on a standard wheel rim with 5% of a standard pressure but loaded with no tire load, the tread portion has a profile which includes a first profile including the tire equator, a pair of second profiles extending axially inwardly from the tread edges and a pair of third profiles connecting the first profile and the respective second profiles. The first profile and the second profiles are configured as arc shapes protruding outwardly in a tire radial direction, and the third profiles are configured as straight shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hana SATO
  • Publication number: 20180361798
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion being provided with blocks which are provided with sipes. When the tread portion is virtually divided into a crown area having a ¼ tread ground-contact width centered on a tire equator, a pair of middle areas each having a ? tread ground-contact width and being adjacent to axially each side of the crown area and a pair of inner shoulder areas each having a ? tread ground-contact width and being adjacent to axially outside the middle areas, the sipes comprise crown sipes having main portions included in the crown area, middle sipes having main portions included in the middle areas and shoulder sipes having main portions included in the inner shoulder areas. Depths of the crown sipes are smaller than depths of the middle sipes, and depths of the shoulder sipes are smaller than the depths of the middle sipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Dai KUROSAWA