Of Application Of Bonding Pressure Patents (Class 156/358)
  • Patent number: 5975178
    Abstract: A base film 9 on which a first pattern 31 is formed and a conductive foil 12 on which a second pattern 32 is formed are laminated by being passed through a gap between laminating rolls 7a, 7b which are provided with an adjusting means for adjusting the gap width and parallelism between them. Then, a relative position between the first pattern 31 and the second pattern 32 is detected. After patterning the conductive foil 12 to form a wiring 12w, displacements of the first pattern 31 and the second pattern 32 are detected, and the gap width and parallelism between the laminating rolls 7a, 7b are adjusted corresponding to the detected displacements. Thus, the laminate can be formed uniformly, and the base film 9 and the wiring 12 can be prevented from being deformed with the release of a residual stress in the patterning step. According to the manufacturing method of a high-precision film carrier tape, highly-integrated semiconductor devices are mounted with high productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masashi Otsuka, Hiroaki Kishi
  • Patent number: 5948189
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for fusing a sidewall pipe onto a host pipe using pneumatic equipment. The functions of the fusing apparatus are controlled by a programmable computer. Further, as each fuse is performed, a GPS system provides and stores the geographical location of the fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Global Utility Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Owen Parish, II, Joseph G. Gho, Randall Jeff Kozak, Garry Joseph Anderson
  • Patent number: 5942078
    Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating surface mounting processes in the manufacturing of printed circuit board assemblies. In one embodiment of the invention, a test pad of adhesive is deposited onto a substrate, and then a test module is mounted to the substrate at the test pad. The test module is representative of an electrical component that is to be mounted to a printed circuit board, and the test module is mounted to the substrate in a manner in which the electrical component is to be mounted to a printed circuit board. After the test module is mounted to the substrate, the profile of the test pad is detected through the substrate and/or the test module to determine whether the test pad contacts enough of the test module to sufficiently adhere the test module to the substrate without interfering with the terminals of the test module. Accordingly, this embodiment of the invention provides an indication or estimate of the desired volume of an adhesive pad to mount a specific component to a PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: MCMS, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Abrahamson
  • Patent number: 5932049
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft includes a cylindrical housing, and a plurality of elastomeric bearing sections disposed within the housing. The bearing sections are bonded to the housing by first applying a pattern of alternating parallel lines of adhesive to the inner diameter of the housing, installing the bearing sections, and inflating an airbag within the housing to thereby apply a uniform radial pressure to the inside of the housing while the adhesive cures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Duramax, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Lee Orndorff, Jr., Philip Paul Brady, Warren Keith Langston
  • Patent number: 5922169
    Abstract: A system for applying linerless labels to mailing items includes a label feeder for feeding a continuous length web of linerless label material from a supply roll through a loop path to a label applying station juxtaposed to the path traversed by mailing items conveyed on edge in sequential fashion by a belt conveyor. The label material passes through a web guide and advance assembly to a cutter station operative to sever the label material transversely and create labels of desired height. A paddle member is operative to engage and hold each successive label as it is being severed from the label material web generally simultaneously to adhere the adhesive side of the label against a mailing items passing through the label applying station. The various operating functions of the linerless label applying system may be coordinated by conventional control logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Postal Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Chodacki, Jose Pioquinto, Gary VanderSyde, David Haas, K. George Rabindran
  • Patent number: 5891281
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention enables the lamination of a plurality of planar and non-planar objects in a lamination apparatus where multiple frames per platen and multiple platens per cycle are used. With the preferred embodiment, lamination of multiple products of various thicknesses is achieved, while simultaneously maintaining the pressure uniformity across all stacks. The result is achieved by using a height equalizing lamination punch head, control logic and verification devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Giordano, Govindarajan Natarajan, Edward J. Pega, Joseph G. Zhou
  • Patent number: 5873965
    Abstract: In a process and a device for carrying out a welding process on thermoplastic material webs, the value of the pressing force (F.sub.i) of a pair of pressure rollers is determined as a measured value representing the weld seam thickness and is used as the actual value of the controlled variable of a welding process regulating unit, and it is compared with a corresponding set value. The feed speed (V) of the welding device is used as the correcting variable of this regulating unit by increasing the speed in the case of decreasing weld seam thickness and decreasing the speed in the case of increasing weld seam thickness to compensate a possibly existing deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: G.M. Pfaff Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Greller
  • Patent number: 5873976
    Abstract: A sealing mechanism for sealing thermoplastic-coated container sealing fins, including a movable sealing jaw and an oppositely disposed fixed sealing jaw. The sealing jaws have parallel, dead-ended grooves formed in the sealing surface thereof, wherein two adjacent grooves cross each other in an X-configuration at their longitudinal mid-point. Engagement of the inter-groove lands against heated outer sealing panels causes the thermoplastic to become molten and flow to the X-configuration area. When cooled, the concentrated thermoplastic serves to seal off the crevice between adjacent folded-over, inner panel segments of the container sealing fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Elopak Systems AG
    Inventor: Michael F. Showler
  • Patent number: 5865939
    Abstract: A method of applying a film, preferably of PET, to a surface, preferably the front surface of the panel of a CRT. Resin is first applied to the surface in a predetermined pattern. The film is then pressed against a part of the surface near one edge of it by a roller. The roller is then moved across the surface to press the film onto the resin. The pressure exerted by the roller is reduced in the middle of the surface as compared with that exerted at the edge. Two different pressures may be used in the middle part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony United Kingdom Limited
    Inventors: Yasushi Tabuki, Yoichi Matsubara, Yoshimitsu Kato
  • Patent number: 5863377
    Abstract: Apparatus for conforming laminate to a radius edge. The apparatus includes a heat bar assembly including a heat plate extending longitudinally along the radius edge. A mechanism is attached to the assembly for applying uniform pressure to the laminate longitudinally along the radius edge for uniform heating of the laminate. The mechanism may include a plurality of selectively controllable cylinders spaced longitudinally within the heat bar assembly for pre-stressing at least a portion of the heat plate relative to the heat bar assembly. Additionally, the heat bar assembly may further include a cooling plate, where the heat bar assembly is rotatable along its longitudinal axis between a cooling and a heating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Modular Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Rohrbach
  • Patent number: 5855706
    Abstract: An ultrasonic processing method is disclosed wherein during the processing time interval the motional amplitude and engaging force of the resonating horn and thereby the power and engaging pressure to the workpiece is varied to improve weld strength and decrease weld cycle time. The variation in motional amplitude and engaging force may be in response to a process condition such as a change in dimensions of the workpiece, a sharp rise in the transducer power curve, or in response to the lapse of a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Branson Ultrasonics Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Grewell
  • Patent number: 5853524
    Abstract: A strapping tool has a timing control circuit incorporated therein which comprises a first pressure-operable valve for time-controlling a plastic strap welding operation, and a second pressure-operable valve for restricting fluid line flow from a source of fluid to an air drive motor of the tool during the tensioning phase of the strapping operation while permitting unrestricted fluid line flow from the source of fluid to the air drive motor of the tool during the welding stage of the strapping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Nix
  • Patent number: 5849137
    Abstract: A direct extrusion process for manufacturing conductive polymer articles of manufacture employs a twin screw compounding extruder that compounds a polymeric mixture from materials received, in predetermined proportions, from gravimetric feeders, then extrudes a compounded conductive polymeric material in the melt phase. The extrudate is then fed into a gear pump that allows the extruder to discharge the compounded material, while it is still in the melt stage, at a relatively low pressure. The gear pump produces a substantially constant volumetric output of the compounded "melt phase" material at sufficiently high pressure for delivery into a sheet die. The sheet die forms the compounded material, while still in the melt phase, into a continuous web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Bourns Multifuse (Hong Kong) Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Darryl Hogge, Mengruo Zhang, Sidharta Wiryana
  • Patent number: 5843272
    Abstract: A book marker insertion apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, a separator assembly, a gripper assembly, an elevator assembly and a page spreader assembly. The cartridge assembly holds a roll of marker materials including a plurality of markers on a backing sheet and advances the material to the separator assembly. The separator assembly includes jaws and a peel bar for removing the endmost marker from the backing sheet. The gripper assembly includes rotatable arms which grip the separated end marker and position the separated end marker for insertion into the book. The elevator raises and lowers the gripper assembly from the position for gripping the separated end marker to the position for inserting into the book. The page spreader assembly includes a V-arm with a slot formed therein for receiving the gripper arms and the separated end marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Donald P. DeVale, Peter J. Zarembo, James L. Allen, Philip M. Anthony, III, Randall P. Bell, Aaron B. Eiger, Gerald Fleischfresser, Gregory W. Lantz, Emily Matz, Glenn A. Newby, Kurt T. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5833803
    Abstract: A low pressure actuated labeling apparatus (10) for printing, cutting, and applying labels (L) to articles (A) such as envelopes, packages and parcels. A printing unit (12) prints predetermined information on a label, the label being on a roll (13) of continuous label stock. A cutting unit (14) cuts the label from an end of the roll of stock after the label is printed. The cut label is deposited on a tamper unit (16) which transports the label from a first position (P1) adjacent the cutting unit to a second position (P2) adjacent the article and affixes the label to the article. The tamper unit includes an air supply system (50) for supplying high volume, low pressure air. The system applies a vacuum to the tamper unit during transport of the label by the tamper unit and a forced air pressure on the tamper unit at the second position for moving the tamper unit to apply the label to the article. The air supply means includes a valve means (54) and a blower means (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: ESCO Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Strohmeyer, Merlin Libby, Barry C. Gleeson
  • Patent number: 5824183
    Abstract: The inventive labeling device employs a vacuum belt transport having a motor-driven endless belt, for conveying a label from a proximal end to a distal end of the transport. Initially, a chute is disposed between the label dispenser and the vacuum belt transport, which is capable of receiving a label dispensed by the label dispenser and holding it until the vacuum belt transport returns to a label receiving position and can accept the new label. This combination of a vacuum belt transport and a chute allow the labeler to dispense a new label while the previous label is still being applied to an article, thereby greatly increasing the labeling capacity of the labeler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Michael Crankshaw
  • Patent number: 5814182
    Abstract: Polyolefin pipes are welded end-to-end by a self-propelled, self-contained machine which performs all steps necessary to the process without need for any other machines or equipment. Hydraulically driven parallel tracks are independently controlled for maximum maneuverability. An hydraulically driven, computer controlled, reversible jaw assembly reciprocates the new pipe section relative to the exiting pipe line. A facer for trimming and squaring the pipe ends to be joined and a heater for melting the pipe ends for fusing are umbilically connected to the machine for on-board or remote operation. The computer, also on an umbilical, enables the operator to operate the machine in a normal mode in which the operator manually controls the facing, soaking and fusing processes or an automatic mode in which the fusing process is automatically controlled by the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur H. McElroy, II, David W. Porter, Kean C. Chin, Richard A. Deaver
  • Patent number: 5807455
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention enables the lamination of a plurality of planar and non-planar objects in a lamination apparatus where multiple frames per platen and multiple platens per cycle are used. With the preferred embodiment, lamination of multiple products of various thicknesses is achieved, while simultaneously maintaining the pressure uniformity across all stacks. The result is achieved by using a height equalizing lamination punch head, control logic and verification devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Giordano, Govindarajan Natarajan, Edward J. Pega, Joseph G. Zhou
  • Patent number: 5795431
    Abstract: Welding equipment for welding plastic workpieces includes two opposite clamping units that can be moved with relation to each other and that are used for fixing and assembling the plastic workpieces to be welded together, plus a heating unit for the plastification of the plastic workpieces at the connection point, whereby a drive unit is provided to generate a drive force that can be transmitted over a dynamic effect segment to the clamping unit and, via the latter, further on to the plastic workpieces. To attain perfect welding results with a greater degree of reliability, the dynamic effect segment has at least one force measurement instrument (38) to record the drive force prevailing there, said unit being connected via a regulating unit with the drive unit (31), whereby the regulating unit controls the drive force generation in the direction of drive (31) by way of adaptation to the predetermined values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Wegener GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Weissfloch
  • Patent number: 5795419
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the operating frequency of a vibratory welding system producing orbital motion comprising a workpiece socket head which is mounted to resilient means. The head is driven by electromagnetic means to produce orbital vibrations to be constricted to a vibratory plane for welding workpieces, in particular made of plastic material, wherein the frequency is varied within a predetermined range of frequencies to detect the geometrical configuration of the vibration, followed by selecting the frequency exhibiting the best possible vibratory configuration and defining the operating frequency to which the system will be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Branson Ultraschall Niederlassung der Emerson Technology GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wilfried Lotz, Heiko Priem, Gerd Reitmayer
  • Patent number: 5792291
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (84,94) for controlling an assembly for bonding a cover (22) over the undulating surface of a foam cushion (10) controls a tool actuator cylinder (80) to tilt a tool (18) to a loading position to permit placing the cover (22) and an adhesive layer (82) on the tool, tilts the tool to a working position to permit placing the cushion on the tool, controls a plate actuator cylinder (62) to lower and raise a compression plate (58) to force air from an interior of the cushion, controls a ram actuator cylinder (90) to lower a ram (14) to pierce the cushion with a plurality of hollow needles (44) attached to a plenum chamber, controls a heater (38) to heat compressed air and eject the hot air from the needles into the cushion to elevate the temperature of the cushion and melt the adhesive, and lowers and raises the compression plate to force hot air from the interior of the cushion to cure the adhesive and bond the cover to the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond Joseph Ormachea
  • Patent number: 5792306
    Abstract: In an apparatus useful for sealing layers of a web comprised of plastic film layers to one another in a bag-making machine, a sealing drum having a cylindrical surface is employed. A sealing blanket is deployed about plural blanket rolls and about the sealing drum so that a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of the sealing drum is wrapped by the sealing blanket with the wrapping surface facing the cylindrical surface while the remaining portion of the cylindrical surface is not wrapped thereby at any given time. A nip roll acts together with one of the blanket rolls so as to define a nip. An idle roll is located near the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Wim Verbeiren
  • Patent number: 5787681
    Abstract: A sealing condition monitoring apparatus detects in a real-time manner a defect in of sealing due to entry of foreign matter or due to a defect or malfunction of components of a sealing apparatus. There are provided a counter bar disposed at the forward end of a counter jaw for sealing a packaging container into which a liquid food is charged, and a sealing bar disposed at the forward end of a heat sealing jaw to face the counter bar. A packaging material is held between the sealing bar and the counter bar, and a pressing force is applied thereto for sealing. A sheet-shaped pressure sensor is provided on the surface of the counter bar for detecting the pressing force applied to the packaging material at each detection point. Also, there is provided a controller which compares data of the pressing force detected by the sheet-shaped pressure sensor and master data which are previously set to correspond to a pressing force for obtaining proper sealing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Jan Papina, Yuzo Otsuka
  • Patent number: 5788790
    Abstract: A method for butt welding first and second thermoplastic pipes to each other including the steps of locating the end portions of first and second pipes to be joined in clamps that are moveable towards and away from each other by the application of hydraulic pressure, the pipe end portions being moveable against a facer for trimming the pipe ends at a first predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure, moveable against a heater for heating the pipe ends to a molten state at a second predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure and moveable towards each other while the ends are in a molten state to fuse the pipes at a third predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure, determining the hydraulic pressure required to move the pipe end portions towards each to determine a drag force hydraulic pressure, adding the drag force hydraulic pressure to each predetermined optimum hydraulic pressure to obtain first, second and third operating hydraulic pressures, and butt welding the pipes to each other using the first, second and thi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Bill Dean Andrew
  • Patent number: 5772814
    Abstract: An expert system for a welding machine has an installed knowledge base concerning weld problems and preferred solutions. Trial welds are made from which input data concerning weld quality is obtained. The expert system applies predetermined rules and historic confidence levels to determine changes in weld parameters to attempt to correct any weld defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Branson Ultrasonic Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Grewell
  • Patent number: 5772835
    Abstract: An oven for making laminated integrated circuit cubes includes an oven chamber with at least one access opening. A closure member for the access opening is capable of hermetically sealing the chamber. A hermetic connection is provided for supplying power to within the chamber. Structure permits the withdrawal of air and other gases from within the chamber. Hermetic structure permits the application of a press force to a workpiece within the chamber from an actuator outside the chamber. Hermetic temperature sensing devices measure the temperature of a workpiece within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: IBM Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Robert Jordan, Gary Leon Stewart, Ralph Trollinger
  • Patent number: 5772815
    Abstract: A method for producing laminated integrated circuit cubes includes applying conductive heat to the cube using at least one conductive heating device. A vacuum is created around the cube to remove air and other gases from between the integrated circuit layers prior to curing. A force is applied to the cube while it is heated under vacuum. A cooling gas is then circulated over the cube. Temperature and force sensing can be performed, and the process can be controlled by programmable logic controllers and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Robert Jordan, Gary Leon Stewart, Ralph Trollinger
  • Patent number: 5770001
    Abstract: An automatic assembly and inspection system for optical connectors is provided, which is highly reliable and which can produce economical and highly-effective optical cords or cables with optical connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Nagayama, Takashi Yoshizawa, Kunihiko Sasakura, Tadao Saitoh, Sigemitu Oguchi
  • Patent number: 5755901
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (84, 94) for controlling an assembly for bonding a cover (22) over the undulating surface of a foam cushion (10) by controlling a ram actuator cylinder (90) to lift a ram (14) to permit placing the foam cushion (10) on a tool (18), lowering the ram (14) to pierce the cushion (10) with a plurality of needles (44), lifting the ram (14) to lift the cushion (10) which is frictionally retained on the needles (44), controlling a heater (38) to heat ambient air and ejecting the hot air from the needles (44) into the cushion (10) to elevate the temperature of the cushion. A pair of plate actuator cylinders (62) are controlled to dispose a compression plate (58) with holes (60) extending therethrough against the backside of the cushion (10) with the needles (44) extending through the holes (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond Joseph Ormachea
  • Patent number: 5753067
    Abstract: A bag maker bends an elongated flexible bag-making film into a tubular form and transversely seals it by a transverse sealer while filling it with articles to produce packaged bags. The transverse sealer has two seal jaws at both sides of the film being pulled downwards. The seal jaws are each caused to move in a generally D-shaped trajectory with a vertically straight portion where they move along the film, sandwiching it therebetween. The seal jaws are operated so as to move faster than the film while on the top half of the straight portion of the trajectory where stripping takes place and more slowly than the film while on the bottom half of the straight portion such that the film will blouse to make it easier for articles to drop deeper inside the bag being produced. The speed of each seal jaw on the arcuate part of its trajectory is adjusted such that the period of the cyclic motion of the seal jaws need not be modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Fukuda, Masashi Kondo, Yukio Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5749987
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the power intake of a welding unit (1) with an ultrasonic horn (2) and an anvil holder (3) equipped with anvils (4). The mean distance of the ultrasonic horn (2) from the anvil (4) is controlled so that the power intake of the welding unit (1) will coincide with a predetermined control value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Molnlycke AB
    Inventor: Andreas Wannebo
  • Patent number: 5743992
    Abstract: An apparatus for attaching abutting ends of first and second coaxial pipe sections together. The apparatus includes a support frame, a fixed pipe clamping jaw having upper and lower jaw halves carried by the support frame for positioning the first pipe section in a fixed position, a movable pipe clamping jaw having upper and lower jaw halves carried by the support frame for translating movement of the second pipe section relative to the fixed clamping jaw and into aligned abutment with the first pipe section, heating means for heating adjacent pipe ends to a butt fusion temperature and a hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic pressure pump for supplying pressure to hydraulic movement means to translate the movable pipe clamping jaws towards fixed pipe clamping jaws to the join the first and second heated pipe sections together under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Hughes Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: James Callen Weimer, Jack Lee Workman, Gary Wayne Gunno
  • Patent number: 5743991
    Abstract: A device to facilitate the mounting of an optical sensor on a windshield glass using a clear adhesive tape is disclosed. The device holds the sensor, with tape exposed, in a vacuum chamber which is sealed against the glass. The chamber is evacuated, and the sensor is then pressed against the glass by the longitudinal movement of a drive shaft. The sensor may be installed with consistent force and with no trapped air pockets or air bubbles. Air pockets are a special concern because air pockets adversely effect the optical performance of the sensor. The vacuum chamber device may be controlled by a computer, and features a latching mechanism which prevents the sensor from making contact with the glass until the chamber is evacuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.
    Inventors: Rein S. Teder, Dennis L. Bomer, Michael A. Niver
  • Patent number: 5743066
    Abstract: A longitudinal sealer for a bag maker-packaging machine is controlled such that when an abnormal condition is detected and the operation of the machine is stopped temporarily and then restarted after the abnormal condition is removed, the mechanism for moving the film and the heater for heating edge parts of the film to seal them together are deactivated and reactivated, but not both at the same time. Deactivation of the heater is delayed after that of the mechanism for moving the fill and/or reactivation of the movement of the film is delayed after that of the heater such that the film is certain to be longitudinally well sealed in spite of the interruption of the sealing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Fukuda, Yukio Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5738749
    Abstract: A head is positionable close to a supported composite material. A compactor on the head is movable relative to the head by a fluid actuator. A programmable valve means ports air into the actuator at several different pressures to provide variable compaction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Cincinnati Milacron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael N. Grimshaw, James R. Hecht
  • Patent number: 5730817
    Abstract: A laminated object manufacturing (LOM) system for forming a plurality of laminations into a stack to create a three-dimensional object. The system includes an X-Y plotter device positioned above a work table, the work table being vertically movable. The X-Y plotter device includes a forming tool for forming a layer from a sheet of material positioned on the work table. The layers are bonded to each other with heat sensitive adhesives provided on one side thereof. A bonding tool or fuser is mounted to translate across the work table and apply a lamination force and heat to each of the layers. The X-Y plotter device and bonding tool are mounted to translate along rails mounted on a common reference frame. The reference frame includes two rigid beams positioned on a base frame. A sensor is provided between the bonding tool and the reference frame to sense the force applied by the bonding tool to the laminations and adjust the height of the work table in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Helisys, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Feygin, Alexandr Shkolnik, Michael N. Diamond, Emmanuil Dvorskiy
  • Patent number: 5685929
    Abstract: A smooth press comprises a smooth cylinder acting conjointly with a lower ribbed cylinder in order to apply a covering paper against a corrugating paper passing around the ribbed cylinder and includes a tractor arrangement downstream from the lower ribbed cylinder situated with respect to the smooth cylinder so as to form a contact angle of the covering paper against the ribbed cylinder. The tractor arrangement applies a tension force to the cardboard which creates a reactive radial pressure urging the cover paper against the corrugated paper at the contact surface of the ribbed cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignees: Peters Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Bobst SA
    Inventors: Fabio Bettinelli, Jens Schulz
  • Patent number: 5681422
    Abstract: A single facer apparatus for the production of single face corrugated web includes a pressure roll having a flexible outer surface which is internally biased outwardly to provide the pressure nip for joining the liner and glued corrugated media. A pressure shoe inside the flexible roll is sized and shaped to maintain operative pressure nip contact with at least two corrugating roll flutes. This substantially reduces vibration and noise. The pressure roll is constructed with a substantially enlarged diameter with respect to the corrugating rolls, the single face web joined with a preliminary bond at the pressure nip is wrapped around a substantial portion of the pressure roll circumference downstream of the nip, and the roll is internally heated to cause gelatinization of the glue and to fix the adhesive bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Marquip, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl R. Marschke
  • Patent number: 5662763
    Abstract: A mount apparatus according to this invention has a mount head for pressing a semiconductor chip on a mount substrate through an adhesive layer. A position sensor for discretely detecting the position of the mount head in a pressing process every predetermined time interval is arranged in the mount head. A non-defect/defect determination unit is also arranged, and the non-defect/defect determination unit performs non-defect/defect determination of the adhesive layer on the basis of the position detected by the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 5639322
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a joining method, a joining apparatus and a joining agent capable of joining two bodies to be jointed in a large size or in a complicated shape in a good joining condition. Specially, the present invention is to provide an improvement in a control of the current supplying method applicable for the electrically heating of the ceramic bodies or a joining agent in an electric conduction (a elecrode switching type due to a plurality of fixed electrodes and a switching control type between two kinds of the electric power sources), a control method of a auxiliary heating, a control of the holding apparatus (the control by the free thermal expansion at the pre-heating, a adaption of a balance mechanism and a measurement of the displacement), the adjustment of the shape at the butted portion (improvement of the pipe joint structure) and a joining agent superior in the joining strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Daihen Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Okuda, Tokumitsu Nishi, Hisakiyo Hoshino, Hiroshi Takai, Natsumi Miyake
  • Patent number: 5635014
    Abstract: Press-type apparatus for thermally bonding thermoplastic sheet material workpieces is provided with a pair of opposed platen assemblies which each include an inflatable set of compliant diaphragm members, a pair of opposed heat sources which may be brought into and retracted from contact with the diaphragm members, and a source of pressurized fluid for inflating the diaphragm sets and for cooling the heated workpieces. The method for operating the press-type apparatus basically involves both heating and cooling the assembled workpieces while they are simultaneously being retained in a condition of being clamped by the inflatable sets of the diaphragm members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: GR Systems
    Inventor: Philip A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5628845
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes a controlled pressure application system to insure that the proper pressure is applied in a lamination of permeable and semi-permeable roll mounted sheets into a cellular sheet structure. The present invention uses a pressure roller mounted on a carriage which is movable horizontally radially of a heated roll by a controllable linear actuator such that variable and closely controlled pressure may be applied to a web passing between the heated roll and the carriage mounted pressure roller. Additionally, the present invention uses a precisely controllable fluid heated pressure roller and a precisely controllable fluid cooled cooling roller acting as a heat sink for the pressure roller to maintain a precise temperature gradient across the web at the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Thermal Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. J. Murray, Jonathan S. Browne
  • Patent number: 5623816
    Abstract: A packaging arrangement for packaging products, such as contact lenses, in packages such as blister packs. The packaging arrangement includes a rotary index table defining on its upper surface a plurality of identical, radially-oriented support pallets, equally spaced apart around the rotary index table. Each support pallet is designed to support an array of individual package bases thereon, and is sequentially rotated to stop at angularly spaced radial positions in the rotary packaging machine. At a first radial position, the rotary packaging station receives blister package bases, each having a product deposited therein, and places the package bases in the support pallet then at the first radial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell J. Edwards, Richard W. Abrams, William E. Holley, Borge P. Gundersen, Thomas C. Ravn
  • Patent number: 5618378
    Abstract: A security or other image, for example a hologram, is applied to a moving stock, e.g. banknote sheets, by carrying the images in the form of transfers on a web which is moved at the same speed as the stock during application but at a lower speed between application steps, so as to allow relatively close spacing of the images on the web. The web is retracted following each application to compensate for distance travelled during acceleration and deceleration during each cycle. The images are transferred by pressure cylinders which press the images on to adhesive patches provided on the stock at predetermined positions by applicator rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Molins PLC
    Inventor: Michal J. Cahill
  • Patent number: 5599421
    Abstract: A disposal unit for sanitary towels comprises a housing (100) which supports a bag (1) for receiving the used towels. A door (4) is mounted to the housing, in use the door being opened for access to the bag. The unit includes a heat sealing device (8) operable when the door is in the closed position to seal hermetically the mouth of the bag. The door may be pivotally mounted at its lower edge to the housing in which case the means for supporting the bag are arranged to support the bag with the mouth of the bag located towards the top of the door. A control circuit may activate the heat sealing device for a predetermined period of time and also activate a solenoid which locks the door closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: F C Frost Limited
    Inventors: Frederick C. Frost, Edward T. Williams, Peter Saunders
  • Patent number: 5597440
    Abstract: An apparatus for the adhesive fixing of a joining part (11) to a resilient workpiece joining point (13) function in such a way that by means of a compensating device (20) the yielding of the joining point (13) is determined according to distance and/or position change and is taken into account during the smoothing adapting of the joining point (13) and during the attachment of the joining part (11) and consequently eliminated. This makes it possible to obtain a high joining quality and constancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventor: Ernst Pecha
  • Patent number: 5589026
    Abstract: The object is applied to the glass surface by a platen assembly mounted inside the apparatus which resiliently urges the object against the glass surface. In one embodiment, the platen assembly is mounted on a resilient diaphragm within the apparatus and the application of a vacuum causes the diaphragm to move the platen assembly towards the object, thereby causing the platen assembly to urge the object against the glass surface. In a second embodiment, the platen assembly is mounted to the apparatus shell or housing and the apparatus is sealed against the glass surface by a resilient bellows. Upon application of a vacuum, the bellows compresses, thereby causing the platen assembly to urge the object against the glass surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Jack L. Perecman
  • Patent number: 5580412
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the production of a three-dimensional textile (3), wherein the textile (3) is formed from two sheets of textile (5, 6) placed face to face and connected together by a plurality of threads (10), impregnated with resin and inserted between two layers (16, 17) so as to form a layered structure (1). This layered structure (1) is inserted between two dies (25, 26) of a heated press which is subsequently closed to allow the resin impregnating the structure to distribute itself uniformly. The layers (16, 17) are then attached by vacuum to the faces of the dies (25, 26) which are then opened through a first controlled distance within the limit of the elastic recovery of the three-dimensional textile (3). The outermost layers of the structure (1) are then polymerized by heating the dies (24, 26) while the resin impregnating the threads (10) remains in a plastic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Metalleido S.R.L.
    Inventor: Marco Fantino
  • Patent number: 5578159
    Abstract: In a hot press according to the present invention, a control panel detects the fact that the viscosity of bonding resin of multilayer circuit board materials is minimized by taking thereinto at least one of the values measured by a speed sensor of a lower bolster, a measuring portion for measuring a control current of an electromagnetic proportional relief valve and a relief amount detector for detecting the relief amount of the electromagnetic proportional relief valve, and gives an instruction of an optimum air pressure addition timing. Accordingly, even if the multilayer circuit board materials and the like are varied, it is always possible to change over from a vacuum condition to an air pressure added condition at the best timing, thereby making it possible to obtain a multilayer circuit board of a uniform thickness without causing generation of void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Hitachi Techno Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akimi Miyashita, Mutsumasa Fujii, Kenichi Takahashi, Masami Iwakura, Makoto Kato
  • Patent number: 5570568
    Abstract: A packaging machine and method for simultaneously loading, sealing and severing bags. A first stepper motor, having an output, is coupled to a nip roll assembly. After a bag is loaded, a sealing mechanism is actuated to seal the loaded bag or bags. A sensor monitors movement in a pressure bar and terminates the sealing cycle if a jam is detected before the pressure bar engages a seal bar having a heater for sealing the bag. The stepper motor is used to retract bags and sever a leadmost bag that is clamped between the seal bar by the pressure bar. A second stepper motor withdraws the web from a supply at a controlled rate to maintain tension in the web between the first and second stepper motors. A dancer roll assembly includes an orientation sensor for controlling the second stepper motor to speed up, slow down or stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Kramer