And Simultaneously Bonding (e.g., Cut-seaming) Patents (Class 156/251)
  • Patent number: 7175730
    Abstract: An insulating label stock including a thermal insulating layer, which may be fiberfill batt, is provided. The batt is laminated to at least one layer of film, paper or fabric. Also provided is a method of making the insulating label stock. The insulating label stock may be wrapped around a container, such as a can, bottle or pouch. Further, the insulating label stock may be coated with a coating material so that it is printable, thus imparting both insulating properties and print capability to a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Benim, Susan G. Chamberlin, Jeffrey Allen Chambers, Steven R. Cosentino, Peter R. Hunderup, Ross A. Lee, Susan D. Procaccini
  • Patent number: 7156943
    Abstract: A first rigid body has a horizontal surface on which a composite is to be placed and a non-horizontal surface on which the composite is not to be placed, with the horizontal surface and the non-horizontal surface forming a continuous horizontal linear edge. The continuous horizontal linear edge has a first portion, which is an edge of the non-horizontal surface, and a second portion, which is an edge of the horizontal surface, and the composite has a first region provided with a first member and a second region provided without the first member. While the composite is placed so that the first portion corresponds to the first region or the first region and a part of the second region and that the second portion corresponds to the remaining second region, the composite is separated by moving down a second rigid body from above the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7093639
    Abstract: A procedure and device for longitudinal sealing and cutting of a film web, in particular a foil tube, in which the film web shows at least two layers of film, made of thermoplastic synthetic material, and in which the film web is sealed and cut in a continuous process by leading it through the device, in which the film first contacts the heating element in order to seal the two film layers by welding, in order to cut this sealed seam in the middle of the seam by guiding the film web over the cutting element, which dividends the sealed seam into at least two partial film tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: D.R. Joseph, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Büttel, Gerritt A. B., Frank Berrenbaum
  • Patent number: 7070668
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing individual folded labels from a ribbon of labels designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs. The label is formed by first providing a ribbon of labels with at least one folded over portion and then subjecting the folded ribbon to heat and pressure to set the fold. The folded pressed ribbon is then subdividing into individual labels. In an alternative embodiment, the folded and pressed ribbon can be rerolled and shipped to an end user for use in an auto-sewing device. The present invention further includes an apparatus for carrying out this method and a finished label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Pittsfield Weaving Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Bleckmann, Gilbert Bleckmann
  • Patent number: 7001477
    Abstract: A cutting method and apparatus (20) includes a rotary cutter (28) having an axial-direction (22), a radial-direction (24) and a circumferential-direction (26). The rotary cutter (28) includes a rotary shaft member (30) having an outer peripheral surface (32), and at least one knife member (36) joined to the shaft member (30). At least a portion of the knife member (36) extends axially along the shaft member (30) and extends radially outward from the shaft member. In a particular feature, at least one peripheral bearing member (40) and desirably, at least a cooperating pair of peripheral bearing members (40) can be joined to the rotary shaft member (30). At least an operative portion of each peripheral bearing member (40) extends radially outward from the shaft member (30) and extends circumferentially about the shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Moshe Saraf
  • Patent number: 6994761
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet, the backsheet, and the absorbent core form a layered assembly including a front region, a back region, and a crotch region disposed between the front region and the back region. The garment is characterized by a vertical longitudinal plane that extends substantially centrally through the front, back and crotch regions. Each of the front and back regions includes a pair of ear portions extending in substantially opposite lateral directions with respect to the longitudinal plane. Each ear portion is a breathable stretchable layer assembly having a plurality of vent sites. Further, each ear portion includes an outer layer that is an extension of the backsheet and which extends laterally to the side edge of the ear portion, and an inner layer that is an extension of the topsheet and which also extends laterally to the side edge of the ear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Fameccanica Data S.p.A.
    Inventors: Walter V. Klemp, Daniel D. Gardner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6991696
    Abstract: A method of forming a disposable, refastenable absorbent article is disclosed. The method includes directing a first material parallel to and spaced apart from a second material. A pair of lines of perforations is formed across the width of the first material. A pair of attachment members is then secured to the first material such that each bridges across one of the pair of lines of perforations. An absorbent assembly is secured across the first and second materials to form a subassembly. The subassembly is then folded and the first and second materials are bonded together by first and second seam lines. The first and second materials are then separated at locations outward from each of the first and second seam lines to form a disposable, refastenable absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth John Wagner, Joseph Andrew Mlinar
  • Patent number: 6984282
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of floral sleeves having a uniform design or pattern and printed about a lower end thereof without requiring the waste of significant portions of sheet material is provided. The method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of web portions along lines defined by coextensive first side edges and coextensive second side edges of decorative portions. In another aspect, the method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of overlapping web portions provided with a plurality of decorative portions along a plurality of lines which traverse the decorative portions and each of the corresponding undecorative portions to form a plurality of sleeves wherein each sleeve has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion having a decorative portion extending about the exterior circumference of the lower portion of the sleeve while the upper portion is free of any printing contained in the lower portion of an adjacently formed sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder and Willaim F. Straeter
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6962185
    Abstract: The device for sticking a protective sheet on the substrate surface according to the present invention comprises a sticking unit for sticking a surface protective sheet on a semiconductor wafer, and a thermocompression and cutting unit which conducts thermocompression bonding for the periphery of the semiconductor wafer and cuts the surface protective sheet along the edge of the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Takita
  • Patent number: 6929708
    Abstract: A splicing device comprising: an elongated anvil having an elongated slot therein; an elongated splicing head having a pair of spaced apart tips extending therefrom and having a longitudinal aperture therein; a heating element in the longitudinal aperture; and an actuator mechanism for driving one of the tips toward and into the elongated slot to weld two overlying polymer films together and the other of the tips into cutting contact with a polymeric film from a spent roll of film. According to various preferred embodiments, the splicing device further includes a pair of retaining members on either side of the anvil that serve to retain films to be spliced in taut contact with the anvil during splicing, and a turret section for rotating full and spent rolls of polymeric film into position for continued operation and reloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Bakery Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Eric Wyman, Thomas Pearce, Mark Manzi, Roland Lomerson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6915828
    Abstract: A punch apparatus for punching and laminating simultaneously a plural number of thin sheets is disclosed. This punch apparatus includes a punch provided on an upper portion of the punch apparatus, a die provided on a lower portion of the punch apparatus and used for punching a material to be processed, a stripper for guiding the punch during punching operation, a device for laminating punched materials using the punch as a laminating axis, a device for adjusting a relative position between the punch and the stripper when the upper and the lower portions of the punch apparatus are separated, and a device for adjusting a clearance between the die and the stripper during punching operation. The punch apparatus can open precisely almost straight very fine through-holes of a diameter of 100 ?m or less even in a sheet of thin, soft and deformable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Hiroyuki Tsuji, Kazumasa Kitamura, Yoshinori Yamaguchi, Satoshi Matsubayashi, Syusaku Kabe
  • Patent number: 6905323
    Abstract: The invention relates to a two-chamber container, in particular as a non-resealable disposable packaging, wherein the two-chamber container has an inner chamber (1) and an outer chamber (2) surrounding the inner chamber (1), and a cap (3) produced by compression of plastics material, with which the upper edges of the wall of the inner chamber (1) and those of the outer chamber (2) are rigidly connected, the cap (3) having two separate channels (71, 72), and the inner chamber (1) being arranged asymmetrically inside the outer chamber (2) in such a way that a portion of its wall is secured to the cap (3) in the region between the channels (71, 72) in such a way that one channel (71, 72) is connected to one of the chambers (1 or 2) in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: AISA Automation Industrielle SA
    Inventor: Gerhard Keller
  • Patent number: 6877540
    Abstract: An apparatus and device for fusing two or more foam components together by thermal welding, has an interface blade adapted for placement at an interface of foam components to be fused together, and a nozzle proximate to the interface blade for distributing a heated gas at the interface of the foam components. The nozzle may be located in a shroud proximate to the interface blade. An automated foam welding apparatus has a platform for supporting foam components or other components, a clamp for applying pressure to one or more of the foam components, and one or more welding heads mounted upon a track for translation proximate to the foam components to be welded together, the welding heads having an interface blade and a heated gas distribution nozzle, and optionally a trimmer for trimming excess material from one or more of the foam components. A hand-held foam welding device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Sealy Technology LLC
    Inventors: Bruce G. Barman, Larry DeMoss
  • Patent number: 6863682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of an exothermic composition having, as essential components, a water absorptive polymer and/or tackifier, carbon component and/or metal chloride and features that the product is as a whole ink-like or cream-like in a method of manufacturing an exothermic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Genchi Kenkyusho
    Inventor: Akio Usui
  • Patent number: 6863766
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of floral sleeves having a uniform design or pattern and printed about a lower end thereof without requiring the waste of significant portions of sheet material is provided. The method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of web portions along lines defined by coextensive first side edges and coextensive second side edges of printed portions. In another aspect, the method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of overlapping web portions provided with a plurality of printed portions along a plurality of lines which traverse the printed portions and each of the corresponding unprinted portions to form a plurality of sleeves wherein each sleeve has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion having a printed portion extending about the exterior circumference of the lower portion of the sleeve while the upper portion is free of any printing contained in the lower portion of an adjacently formed sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Family Trust U/T/A dated 12/8/1995
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6860958
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing wrinkles in a film includes a first pair of cylindrical rollers including a first roller and a second roller, the first and second roller each in parallel juxtaposed relation to each other, and each having a substantially smooth surface; and a second pair of cylindrical rollers including a third roller and a fourth roller, the third and fourth roller each in parallel juxtaposed relation to each other, and at least one of the third and fourth roller having a chevron pattern disposed on the surface thereof; the first pair of rollers being adjacent to and spaced apart from the second pair of rollers. A method for reducing wrinkles is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Swafford, Steve Schwarz, Dan McKamy, James Mabry, Jeff Walker
  • Patent number: 6852190
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing an absorbent article includes continuously feeding a first web (1) along a travelling path, said first web(1) including a first and a second opposing strip (9, 10) extending in the longitudinal direction and a first panel portion (11) located therebetween, continuously feeding a second web (2) along a travelling path, said second web (2) including a third and a fourth opposing strip (25, 26) and a second panel portion (20) located therebetween, cutting the first panel portion (11) into a number of first panels (14, 15), cutting the second panel portion (20) into a number of second panels (25, 26), forming a joint web (3) by placing the second web (2) over the first web (1), cutting the joint web (3) along attachment lines thereby forming the absorbent articles (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products
    Inventor: Urban Widlund
  • Patent number: 6841022
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a connection sheet having a separator layer and an adhesive film layer formed on the separator layer such that said adhesive film layer can be peeled from the separator layer. The cohesive strength of the adhesive film layer decreases when the adhesive film layer is heated to a predetermined temperature. Electronic parts each have an electrode surface and at least one electrode on the electrode surface. The electrode surface of each of the electronic parts is affixed to the adhesive film layer such that the adhesive film layer coats all exposed portions of the electrode surface and coats all exposed surfaces of the at least one electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Tsukagoshi, Kouji Kobayashi, Kazuya Matsuda, Naoki Fukushima, Jyunichi Koide
  • Patent number: 6824632
    Abstract: The invention concerns an ultrasonic device for sealing at least two superimposed sheets, said device comprising a sealing assembly consisting of two elements which are respectively an anvil and a sonotrode, arranged opposite each other so that their facing surfaces form an interstice for passing through the sheets to be sealed, said interstice having an inlet section and an outlet section, the sonotrode vibrating at high frequencies to emit ultrasonic waves, characterised in that means are provided for generating between the superimposed sheets and said sealing assembly a relative movement along a specific feeding direction relative to the sealing assembly, and the section of said passage interstice decreases between its inlet section and its outlet section, and at least one element of said sealing assembly comprises a projecting ridge emerging into said passage interstice and extending along a direction globally parallel to said feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Blanchard, Patrick Faul
  • Patent number: 6824640
    Abstract: A method is devised for continuous fabrication of thin membrane gloved enclosures in which a folded membrane ribbon is closed along the opposed longitudinal edges by a reversible closure comprising an interlocking set of beads. The ribbon is then repetitively stamped by a heated filament in the shape of a joined string of gloved enclosure and the interlocked beads are then separated, folded over to overlie the gaps formed and a second severing operation then parts the individual enclosures. In this manner a cuff is formed that can then be extended on top of an article grasped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Inventor: Robert Brockman
  • Patent number: 6818863
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric heat sealing apparatus which comprises an upper support board, a lower support board and a lateral board which define a moving space therebetween. A sealing plate is placed in the moving space and can be driven by a set of drivers to move vertically in the space. A sealing portion and a cutting portion extent downwardly from a rim of the sealing plate and a narrow groove is formed therebetween. On the course of packing, plastic films can be sealed and cut simultaneously owing to a vertical movement of the cutting and the sealing portions. Further, a neat and airtight sealing effect can be achieved due to the design of the narrow groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ai-Ming Tang, Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 6818084
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for producing individual folded labels having an additional layer of material attached thereto. A ribbon of labels is provided along with an additional strip of material. Pieces of information, such as text or a machine readable-code are applied to the strip of material. The ribbon of labels and material strip with printed information thereon are joined together and then subdivided into individual folded labels. A label-making apparatus includes a mechanism for advancing the ribbon of labels and strip of material and a print head that prints the information on the strip of material at spaced intervals. A mechanism joins the ribbon of labels with the material strip. A cutting station subdivides an individual label from the ribbon of labels and material strip. A sensor in communication with the advance mechanism controls the advance of a length of the ribbon of labels and material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Pittsfield Weaving Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick August Blackmann
  • Publication number: 20040216830
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for mechanically bonding and cutting an article during assembly thereof at least a portion of the article is transported through a nip defined by first and second members. A bonding segment is disposed on one of the first and second members and a cutting segment separate from the bonding segment is also disposed on one of the first and second members. The apparatus is operable so that a portion of the article is mechanically bonded as the article passes through the nip and a portion of the article separate from the bonded portion is cut as the article passes through the nip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Van Eperen
  • Patent number: 6805181
    Abstract: A rotary mechanism for cutting and/or sealing a web has a pair of counter-rotating rotors mounted on parallel axes and having radially projecting arms between which the web is momentarily gripped for cutting and/or sealing. Sealing is performed by heated pressure outer faces on the rotor arms. Cutting is performed by cutter and anvil bars on the opposed arms engaging the web. Bearer faces on the arms beyond the pressure faces set a gap between the pressure faces and a rectangular-section tongue and groove in mating contact faces one side of the pressure faces locate the pressure faces laterally. The cutting means are adjusted by a wedge bar bearing on the inner face of the cutter bar or anvil. The wedge bar is movable in the direction of rotation and has an outer face inclined in the same direction. Means accessible from the leading and/or trailing faces of the rotor arms are provided for adjusting the wedge bar and clamping the cutter and anvil bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Lipton, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Francis Blundell, Michael John Cahill, Kevin Richard Fincham, Paul Franklin, Geoffrey William Vernon, Peter Ernest Willett
  • Patent number: 6799622
    Abstract: Bags for produce or the like are prepared by advancing a thermoplastic sheet and a mesh sheet, each having an upper edge, along a process line. The plastic sheet has a bottom portion which is folded to define a lower edge of the thermoplastic sheet at the fold line. One seals the folded portion of the solid-wall thermoplastic sheet to a lower edge of the mesh sheet. Transverse slits are then formed in the sheets, and the sheets are heat sealed together near edges of the slits to form separate bags between the slits. The slits extend across both lower edges of the bags, but are preferably spaced from the upper edges. One drops produce between the sheet upper edges into the bags, and the bags are then heat sealed adjacent to the upper edges thereof, and subsequently separated by cutting. A novel heat seal die is also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Michael J. Recchia, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040188007
    Abstract: A procedure and device for longitudinal sealing and cutting of a film web, in particular a foil tube, in which the film web shows at least two layers of film, made of thermoplastic synthetic material, and in which the film web is sealed and cut in a continuous process by leading it through the device, in which the film first contacts the heating element in order to seal the two film layers by welding, in order to cut this sealed seam in the middle of the seam by guiding the film web over the cutting element, which dividends the sealed seam into at least two partial film tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Ulrich Buttel, Gerritt A. B., Frank Berrenbaum
  • Publication number: 20040188008
    Abstract: Membrane sheeting with preapplied seam tape is formed by applying the seam tape to a preformed sheet along the center of the sheet. A cut is formed through the seam tape and sheeting. This forms two sheets with seam tape along one edge of each of the sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: Carlisle Management Company
    Inventors: David Robison, Jay Esmon
  • Patent number: 6780265
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing individual folded labels from a ribbon of labels designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs. The label is formed by first providing a ribbon of labels with at least one folded over portion and then subjecting the folded ribbon to heat and pressure to set the fold. The folded pressed ribbon is then subdividing into individual labels. In an alternative embodiment, the folded and pressed ribbon can be rerolled and shipped to an end user for use in an auto-sewing device. The present invention further includes an apparatus for carrying out this method and a finished label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventors: Frederick Bleckmann, Gilbert A. Bleckmann
  • Publication number: 20040154736
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of floral sleeves having a uniform design or pattern and printed about a lower end thereof without requiring the waste of significant portions of sheet material is provided. The method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of web portions along lines defined by coextensive first side edges and coextensive second side edges of printed portions. In another aspect, the method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of overlapping web portions provided with a plurality of printed portions along a plurality of lines which traverse the printed portions and each of the corresponding unprinted portions to form a plurality of sleeves wherein each sleeve has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion having a printed portion extending about the exterior circumference of the lower portion of the sleeve while the upper portion is free of any printing contained in the lower portion of an adjacently formed sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Publication number: 20040140044
    Abstract: A banderoling machine (1) has film rolls (8, 9) on sides of a feed table (2). Film webs (3) of the rolls are joined by a seal seam to form a film curtain (4) which passes through a slot (5) in the feed table (2). Material to be banderoled is pushed towards the curtain, film is placed around the material to form a loop and the loop is tightened by a tensioning device (6) which temporarily clamps at least one of the film webs, and is heat-sealed by a heat-sealing device and separated from the remainder of the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Roland Rassi, Manfred Kirchmann
  • Patent number: 6755930
    Abstract: A sheet separator is so arranged as to cover both surfaces of an electrode plate, and a heating plate is applied along a to-be-bonded edge of the separator, thereby achieving bonding by thermal welding. The heating plate has a width corresponding to a width of a bonded portion of the separator. Then, by pressing a protrusion of the heating plate or a heating plate for cutting against substantially the central part of the bonded portion, local heat transfer takes place to sublime a resin component, whereby the separator is cut off. Thereupon, the pouch-shaped separator is attached to the electrode plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinsuke Fukuda, Mitsugu Takaki, Yoshihiro Bouki
  • Patent number: 6752892
    Abstract: A system for retaining and displaying a piece of material is provided. The system includes an intermediate fixation system which is attached to the lower surface of the material. A lower layer is provided having an upper surface to which the material is affixed by the intermediate fixation system. The lower layer is sized such that the outer periphery thereof extends beyond the outer periphery of the material. An upper layer having an outer periphery sized such that it extends beyond the outer periphery of the material is sealed to the upper surface of the lower layer. The upper layer has an opening passing therethrough which is sized such that a portion of the upper layer surrounding the opening overlies and is sealed to the outer periphery of the piece of material on its upper surface. An adhesive layer is applied to the lower surface of the lower layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Printmark Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Sloot
  • Patent number: 6752889
    Abstract: A filtration media array is provided having at least one contoured polymeric film layer having surface structures. The film layers may be configured as a stack that has the contoured film layer defining a plurality of ordered inlet openings through a face of the stack and corresponding air pathways, thereby forming an open, porous volume. The air pathways may be defined by a plurality of flow channels formed by the contours of the structured contoured film layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas I. Insley, Todd W. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20040108039
    Abstract: A process of making ribbons which is carried out in a special machine that emits ultrasound, where the cloths, non-woven cloths, or any synthetic based surface accepting ultrasound welding, are cut in ribbons while markings are simultaneously applied to the ribbons' edge. The process of cutting cloths in strips (ribbons) and the process of marking the edges of the strips are done simultaneously on an ultrasound bar by a tool comprising a circular cutting knife, and by a rotating matrix heads with the desired marking drawings. If wire strings covered with synthetic textile substratum are to be applied to the ribbons, they are longitudinally applied along the mentioned ribbons by ultrasound welding and/or gluing process. These processes are carried out simultaneously to the cutting and marking processes of the ribbons, all happening in a single operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Fernando Antonio Suzigan
  • Patent number: 6743323
    Abstract: There is provided an improved lever device for clamps of a garment-hanger, wherein the interior section, which press on the fabric the hung cloth, is coated by a strip of soft material, which is joined to the undersurface by means of a peripheral welding cord which is placed substantially along the external profile of the welded strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Mainetti Tecnologie S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Mainetti
  • Patent number: 6743322
    Abstract: An article of clothing has a trim of thermoplastic material, which encapsulates a peripheral region of a fabric layer and is provided with a multiplayer structure preferably including at least one retroreflective layer. The article of clothing is manufactured in accordance with a sealing method utilizing RF, sonic sealing, heat sealing, and vibration sealing performed simultaneously with cutting excess of the thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Printmark Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Sloot
  • Patent number: 6740610
    Abstract: A non-woven fiber pad having a convoluted surface formed by cutting a non-woven fiber batt having a plurality of low melt synthetic fibers. The non-woven batt is compressed generally toward a cutting device by a pair of counter-rotating drums having convoluted surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventors: Niels S. Mossbeck, Steven Eugene Ogle
  • Publication number: 20040094254
    Abstract: An apparatus of manufacturing cleaning pads includes a base, a pair of supply plates mounted over the base, which has a supporting plate protruded from an end of the supply plate, a lifting plate located on both side of the supporting plate, a ultrasonic horn with a groove in a bottom being vertically movable, located over the supporting plate and driven by a ultrasonic oscillator, an actuator mounted on both sides of the ultrasonic horn to help the ultrasonic horn separated from the cleaning pad, a moving body located right under the supporting plate and being reciprocally movable along a guide rail, a rotary blade mounted on a upper end of the moving body, an air cylinder to make the moving body reciprocally moved, and an inhaler to draw off a broken pieces of the cleaning pad, wherein the actuator includes a case mounted on a side of the ultrasonic horn, a press member being vertically slidable in the case, a bottom of which is movable lower than that of the ultrasonic horn, and a spring located in the cas
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Young-Chul Lim
  • Patent number: 6736182
    Abstract: A crimper assembly forms end seals in overlapping portions of the sheet of packaging material after being folded about an article. The crimper assembly includes a crimper including a base, an insert that is formed from a resilient material, and a support plate that is formed from a rigid material. The insert has a surface that is adapted to engage and seal overlapping layers of a packaging material. The insert is disposed between the base and the support plate. The support plate is secured to the body to retain and support the insert thereon. The insert and the support plate may be formed as separate pieces or may be secured together as a single piece. To prevent excessive compression of the insert, the insert can have an aperture formed therethrough, and the support plate can have a protrusion formed thereon that extends through the aperture into abutment with the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Lako Tool & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry E. Smith, Louis M. Montano
  • Patent number: 6733612
    Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of floral sleeves having a uniform design or pattern and printed circumferentially about a lower end thereof without requiring the waste of significant portions of sheet material is provided. The method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of web portions along lines defined by coextensive first side edges and coextensive second side edges of printed portions. In another aspect, the method includes the step of sealing and severing a pair of overlapping web portions provided with a plurality of printed portions along a plurality of lines which traverse the printed portions and each of the corresponding unprinted portions to form a plurality of sleeves wherein each sleeve has an upper portion and a lower portion with the lower portion having a printed portion extending continuously about the exterior circumference of the lower portion of the sleeve while the upper portion is free of any printing contained in the lower portion of an adjacently formed sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Southpac Trust Int'l., Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6719867
    Abstract: A heat sealing/severing device for heat sealing thermoplastic films together. The device includes front and rear opposing jaws that are moveable between an open position and a closed position. The open position defines a zone for inserting the thermoplastic films between the front and rear jaws. In the closed position, the front and rear jaws are proximate each other to compress the thermoplastic films together. The rear jaw includes a resilient portion facing the front jaw. The heating element of the device may have a cross-sectional thickness no less than 0.55 times the cross-sectional thickness of the resilient portion. A front jaw release sheet (e.g., an unreinforced fluoroplastic) may be positioned between the insertion zone and the heating element. The front jaw release sheet may engage the heating element when the front and rear jaws are in the closed position and disengage from the heating element when the front and rear jaws are in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventors: Robert J. Mileti, Daniel C. George
  • Patent number: 6699346
    Abstract: A method for the automated, series application of a self-adhering protective film to a surface portion of vehicle body includes (1) readying of a film piece, pulled off from a supply roll, in a readying station in a stretched-out, fold-free state by at least one holding element; and (2) pulled off the film piece to the desired length from the supply roll, cutting off the film piece and holding on opposite edges, with the fold-free stretched-out state being retained and being transferred into the application station. The next film piece, which is pulled behind by the film piece is held stretched out in the fold-free state by the at least one holding element of the readying station. The film piece is applied to the body by lowering it in a positionally correct manner, by the at least one application robot, onto an associated surface portion of the body and is pressed onto the portion in a fold-free and bubble-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Uwe Habisreitinger, Bernhard Nordmann
  • Publication number: 20040007309
    Abstract: An apparatus, device (10) and method for simultaneously producing tack-seals (28, 34) and for cutting a zipper (12) from a continuous length of zipper before the zipper is attached to the thermoplastic film (38) used to make a reclosable bag. A first end section (26) of the zipper (12) is cut and fused by a heated blade (24) of the device (10), thereby providing a first tack-seal (28). The zipper (12) is advanced and a second end section (32) is cut and fused by the heated blade (24) of the device (10), thereby providing a second-tack seal (34) so that the zipper includes a pair of tack-seals at both ends of the zipper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin Owen, Kenny McCracken
  • Patent number: 6656310
    Abstract: A heat sealing jaw assembly for effecting a heat seal of at least two juxtaposed heat sealable sheet materials is described. Preferably, but not exclusively, the heat sealing jaw assembly is adapted for use in a form, fill and seal machine forming thermoplastic bags. The heat sealing jaw assembly comprises a first and a second metal jaw member, each having a heating element for heating the jaw members. Each of the jaw members has an end face disposed in facial alignment with one another. A ribbon member is secured to each of the end faces and disposed in planar alignment with one another. The ribbon member is made of soft material having rubber-like properties and capable of conducting heat from the sealing jaw to a fusing temperature to melt the heat sealable sheet materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Glopak Inc.
    Inventor: Roland Basque
  • Publication number: 20030207059
    Abstract: An insulating label stock includes a thermal insulating layer, which may a fiberfill batt. The batt is laminated to at least one layer of film, paper or fabric. The label stock can be wrapped around a container, such as a can, bottle or pouch. The label stock may be coated with a coating material so that it is printable, thus imparting both insulating properties and print capability to a container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas E. Benim, Susan Gogol Chamberlin, Jeffrey Allen Chambers, Steven R. Cosentino, Peter R. Hunderup, Ross A. Lee, Susan D. Procaccini
  • Patent number: 6635139
    Abstract: A method for simultaneously sealing and creating a thermal perforation between two thermoplastic layers that comprises providing two thermoplastic layers. A drum is provided that has at least one sealbar and perforation assembly. The two thermoplastic layers are contacted to the sealbar and perforation assembly. The thermoplastic layers are sealed with two generally opposing parallel seals and simultaneously create a thermal perforation in the thermoplastic layers generally parallel to the opposing seals. The thermal perforation is located between the two opposing seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Bohn, William P. Belias
  • Publication number: 20030186011
    Abstract: A system for retaining and displaying a piece of material is provided. The system includes an intermediate fixation system which is attached to the lower surface of the material. A lower layer is provided having an upper surface to which the material is affixed by the intermediate fixation system. The lower layer is sized such that the outer periphery thereof extends beyond the outer periphery of the material. An upper layer having an outer periphery sized such that it extends beyond the outer periphery of the material is sealed to the upper surface of the lower layer. The upper layer has an opening passing therethrough which is sized such that a portion of the upper layer surrounding the opening overlies and is sealed to the outer periphery of the piece of material on its upper surface. An adhesive layer is applied to the lower surface of the lower layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventor: Alexander Sloot
  • Patent number: 6627031
    Abstract: A tagging material comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive tape incorporating electromagnetic sensor material whose presence can be detected. Tags are cut from the tagging material as the tagging material and articles are conveyed along converging paths and are adhered to the articles by the adhesive of the tape by means of apparatus comprising a tagging material feeding means and an applicator head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: P. P. Payne Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Pinchen, Andrew Dean, Gary Brooks
  • Publication number: 20030173022
    Abstract: A coupled portion of mutual laminate films sufficiently contributes to the formation of a packaging bag, and the coupled portion itself has excellent airtightness and liquid tightness, and a tensile strength required for the laminate film is given to the coupled portion, whereby a temporary stop of a packaging apparatus is useless when a connecting portion of the laminate film is passed through the apparatus and the operation efficiency and efficiency are enhanced and the yield of the material is improved, wherein oriented base film layers (3, 4) are joined in a mitre form at the coupled portion between a rear end portion and a front end portion of laminate films (1, 2) comprising oriented base film layers (3, 4) and sealant layers (5, 6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Katsunori Futase
  • Patent number: 6596117
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sealed-cavity miscrostructure and an associated method for manufacturing the microstructure. Specifically, the microstructure of the present invention includes first and second wafers that are positioned relative to one another so as to form a cavity between the wafers. The microstructure further includes a seal between the first and second wafers and surrounding the cavity to create a pressure seal for the cavity. This seal allows the cavity of the microstructure to be maintained at a predetermined pressure different from that of the atmosphere outside the cavity. Importantly, the microstructure of the present invention further includes a structrual bond between the first and second wafers that structurally intergrates the first and second wafers. The structural bond renders the microstructure more rugged such that the microstructure can withstand expansion, vibrational, and shock stresses experienced by the microstructure during subsequent manufacturing and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: DRS Sensors & Targeting Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Maxwell Hays, Alan Glenn Bisignano, Eugene Timothy Fitzgibbons