Of Temperature And/or Motion Of Heat Exchange Means Patents (Class 156/359)
  • Patent number: 12222698
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of detecting the making or breaking of contact of a sonotrode (4) which is caused to vibrate with a frequency f and a vibration amplitude A0 with a counterpart element (5). To provide a method with which contact-making or breaking of a sonotrode with a counterpart element can be particularly quickly and inexpensively detected it is proposed according to the invention that the method has the following steps: a) recording a time configuration of the vibration amplitude A0 (1) during a first measurement time interval ?T, and b) determining from the time configuration of the vibration amplitude A0 (1) whether making or breaking of contact occurred within the measurement time interval ?T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: HERRMANN ULTRASCHALLTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Gerhard Gnad
  • Patent number: 12208600
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a preheating-free laminator, wherein, the rubber feeding detection device, feed drive device, rubber feeding roller set, and heating component are electrically connected to the control device respectively; the feed drive device that receives the feeding signal drives the rubber feeding roller set for feeding fit, the laminated substance passes the rubber feeding channel and enters the rubber roller set under the feeding action of the rubber feeding roller set, and its feeding time is t1; after receiving the preheating signal, the heating component runs to generate heat, so that the rubber roller set is heated to the lamination temperature, and its heating time is t2; and the feeding time t1 and the heating time t2 meet the condition that t1 is greater than or equal to t2. Compared with the prior art, it can realize the functions of preheating-free and automatic shutdown of the laminator, which is convenient to use, energy saving and environmentally friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: BONSEN ELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventor: Wenhui Chen
  • Patent number: 12162226
    Abstract: A butt fusion machine for joining of polyethylene pipe comprises a carriage assembly and a carriage controller disposed in the fusion machine. Programmed instructions stored in a non-volatile memory of the carriage controller control the carriage assembly for selectively operating in at least one of a manual, automatic, and semi-automatic mode of the butt fusion process. A butt fusion process, after a setup sequence includes (1) selecting a sequence of operating steps of a manual mode, an automatic mode, and a semi-automatic mode; and (2) executing the selected operating mode. The semi-automatic mode includes at least one step requiring intervention by an operator to confirm proceeding to a next step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Bueno, Shawn Church, Jessica Meloy, Michael Pacheco
  • Patent number: 12138896
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a laminating machine. A glue outlet roller set and a feeding driving device are arranged in a machine body; the glue outlet roller set is located on the side, close to an outlet, of a laminating roller set; the linear speed of the roller face of the glue outlet roller set is larger than that of the roller face of the laminating roller set; the static friction force between the glue outlet roller set and a laminating object is smaller than that between the laminating roller set and the laminating object; and when the laminating object enters the glue outlet roller set through the laminating roller set, the laminating roller set and the laminating object are in static friction fit, meanwhile, the glue outlet roller set and the laminating object are in sliding friction fit, the plastic-packaged laminating object is tensioned and subjected to glue outlet, a glue film is prevented from being wrinkled and corrugated, and the laminating quality is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: BONSEN ELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventor: Wenhui Chen
  • Patent number: 12097690
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a preheating-free laminator for improving the quality of lamination, comprising a body, a rubber roller set arranged inside the body, and a heating component arranged close to the rubber roller set; a lamination inlet is arranged on the front side of the body; a rubber feeding and pushing component is arranged at the lamination inlet, and the rubber feeding and pushing component and the rubber roller set are coordinated to push the laminated substance successively according to the feeding direction; wherein, the linear speed of the rubber feeding and pushing component is lower than that of the rubber roller set, and the static friction between the rubber roller set and the laminated substance is greater than that between the rubber feeding and pushing component and the laminated substance; when the laminated substance enters the rubber roller set through the rubber feeding and pushing component, there is a static friction fit between the rubber roller set and the laminated subs
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: BONSEN ELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventor: Wenhui Chen
  • Patent number: 12043000
    Abstract: A joining method is provided during which a first thermoplastic component joint section and a second thermoplastic component joint section are arranged between first tooling and second tooling. The second thermoplastic component joint section is abutted against the first thermoplastic component joint section at a joint area. The first thermoplastic component joint section is joined to the second thermoplastic component joint section to provide a unitized thermoplastic structure. The joining includes: pressing the first thermoplastic component joint section against the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area between the first tooling and the second tooling using a pressure device; and heating the first thermoplastic component joint section and the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area using a first heater configured with the first tooling. The unitized thermoplastic structure is cooled at the joint area using a first cooler configured with the first tooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventors: David Manten, Noushin Bahramshahi, Lamia Salah, Dennis Lunenborg, Peter Boer, Sarah Lohman
  • Patent number: 12036729
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing process is provided to produce integral 3-dimensional (3D) articles by laminating together a plurality of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes. The process includes repetitive cycles of ePTFE membrane lamination paired with laser cutting/bonding to produce a desired geometry based on a predefined pattern. The process may be practiced manually or may be configured to work with commercially available LOM machines/systems developed for use with other roll-to-roll processible materials, such as paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignees: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH
    Inventors: Edward H. Cully, Lawrence A. Ford, Alexander Zaggl
  • Patent number: 11987009
    Abstract: A disclosed heater for a sealing process of a secondary battery includes: a sealing bar heating and pressing a pouch foil to be sealed; a plurality of sub-heating unit longitudinally disposed inside the sealing bar to respectively independently supply heat to a plurality of sections separated in the longitudinal direction of the sealing bar; temperature sensing units disposed inside the sealing bar and sensing temperature at positions on the surfaces being in contact with the pouch foil; and a control unit controlling heating temperature of the plurality of sub-heating units on the basis of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: CLEVER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Hong Jeong
  • Patent number: 11878484
    Abstract: A heat press for decorating substrates includes a support frame, a lower platen assembly supported on the support frame, and a linkage assembly having at least an upper link arm pivotally coupled with the support frame for movement to and between first and second positions. An upper platen assembly is coupled with the support frame by the linkage assembly for movement relative to the lower platen assembly to and between an open condition away from the lower platen assembly, and a closed condition adjacent the lower platen assembly, as the upper link arm is moved to and between the first and second positions. A linear actuator cooperates with the linkage assembly to further move the upper platen assembly in the closed condition in a direction to clamp an upper platen against a lower platen by moving an actuator rod from an extended position toward a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ColDesi, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Mombourquette, Brett Weibel
  • Patent number: 11833764
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for ultrasonic treatment of a plastic material, comprising the steps of: positioning the plastic material between a sonotrode and a counter-tool, bringing the sonotrode excited by means of an ultrasonic oscillation into contact with the plastic material during a welding phase, moving the sonotrode and the counter-tool towards each other during a holding phase, in which neither the sonotrode nor the counter-tool are excited with an ultrasonic oscillation so that a force F is applied onto the plastic material. In order to reduce treatment times, wherein at the same time the quality of the welding process is not impaired but is even to be improved, it is proposed according to the invention that the force F is varied during the holding phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: HERRMANN ULTRASCHALLTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Wipfler
  • Patent number: 11813801
    Abstract: A method may produce an axially movable connection between two components with a plastic as a sliding material arranged therebetween. The method may involve providing the two components and either at least one of the two components has a plastic coating or a plastic sleeve is provided between the components, joining the two components to form a unit via a pressing force in an axial direction, clamping the unit in a device in which the two components are clampable and subjectable to a displacement force in the axial direction, pressing a sonotrode against an outer of the two components and bracing the outer component against a counter-holder, injecting an ultrasound signal into the sonotrode and moving the two components back and forth in the axial direction until a displacement force or a displacement velocity reaches a target, and ending the ultrasound signal and removing the unit from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Peter Hirschauer
  • Patent number: 11806962
    Abstract: A heat press includes a base, a handle, a controller, a heater arm, a pressure link, a lower platen, and an upper platen. The handle is pivotally coupled to the base. The controller is integrally formed with the handle. The heater arm is pivotally coupled to the base. The pressure link is pivotally coupled to the handle and the heater arm. The lower platen is connected to base. The upper platen is connected to the heater arm. A surface of the upper platen is separated from a surface of the lower platen in a first position, and the surface of the upper platen is in contact with the surface of the lower platen in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: STAHLS' INC.
    Inventor: Anton Galkin
  • Patent number: 11804467
    Abstract: A radiative heat collective bonder or gangbonder for packaging a semiconductor die stack is provided. The bonder generally includes a shroud positioned at least partially around the die stack and a radiative heat source positioned inward of the shroud and configured to emit a radiative heat flux in a direction away from the shroud. The bonder may further include a bondhead configured to contact the backside of the topmost die in the die stack and optionally include another bondhead configured to contact a substrate beneath the die stack. The radiative heat source may be configured to direct the radiative heat flux to at least a portion of the die stack to reduce a vertical temperature gradient in the die stack. One or both of the bondheads may be configured to concurrently direct a conductive heat flux into the die stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chao Wen Wang
  • Patent number: 11760031
    Abstract: A support assembly for wire EDM includes a build plate, a temporary support, and at least one layer of a support material. The build plate has a body. The body has at least one additive manufactured part disposed on the body. The temporary support is removably disposed on the build plate. The temporary support has a hollow body defined by a plurality of sidewalls. The plurality of sidewalls have a plurality of apertures. The at least one layer of the support material is disposed on the build plate and the temporary support. The at least one layer of support material is a conductive wax material. The at least one layer of support material is configured to be melted and reused in subsequent wire EDM processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Valerie Nagel
  • Patent number: 11712856
    Abstract: A heat press includes a lower platen and an upper swing arm attached to a base, and an upper platen having a heater therein. The upper platen is coupled to the upper swing arm via a piston rod, and operable via a linkage. The linkage includes a coupler linked between the upper swing arm and a print handle and includes an input link that rotationally couples the print handle to the piston rod such that a motion of the print handle moves the piston rod up or down. The heat press includes a control housing that is electrically coupled to the heater. The upper swing arm is operable to swing the upper platen away from the lower platen when not in contact with the lower platen. The control housing remains in a stationary position regardless of a position of the upper swing arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Stahls' Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Galkin, Benjamin B. Robinson, Weiyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11586133
    Abstract: Disclosed is a layer transfer device which transfers a layer of a multilayer film onto a surface of a sheet. The layer transfer device includes a heating member including a first portion and a second portion, a first heater, a second heater, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the first heater with an input power set at a predetermined input power, control the second heater with an input power set at a first input power if both of the multilayer film and the sheet pass over a surface of the second portion, and control the second heater with an input power set at a second input power that is smaller than the first input power if at least one of the multilayer film and the sheet does not pass over the surface of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Hiramatsu, Kyoko Sugiyama, Tomoya Ichikawa, Tomoya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11407245
    Abstract: A sublimation device includes a first heater and a second heater. The first heater includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface. The distal end is disposed opposite the proximal end. The inner surface extends between the proximal end and the distal end and at least partially forms a cavity. The second heater is disposed proximate the distal end of the first heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Cricut, Inc.
    Inventors: John Dalton, Cole Chamberlain, Ashish Arora
  • Patent number: 11383456
    Abstract: A system (300) for closing mailers includes a forming funnel (320) and a fusing device (310). The forming funnel includes funneling surfaces that receive an opening of a mailer in an insertion direction (302) and constrain the opening of the mailer after the opening of the mailer is inserted. The funneling surfaces are arranged to continue constraining the opening of the mailer as the mailer moves in a sliding direction (304). The fusing device includes a slot that receives the constrained opening of the mailer from the forming funnel. The fusing device applies pressure and heat to the opening of the mailer as the opening of the mailer moves through the slot. The pressure and the heat applied by the fusing device cause portions of the opening to fuse together to close the mailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Christopher C. Hamlin, Thomas P. Orsini, Patrick G. White, Russell T. Christman
  • Patent number: 11292240
    Abstract: A sheet processing device is configured to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end as a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet processing device includes a first sheet feeder configured to feed the two-ply sheet, a second sheet feeder configured to feed an inner sheet to be inserted between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet in a state in which the non-bonding portion of the two-ply sheet is separated, and circuitry configured to cause the first sheet feeder to feed the two-ply sheet, perform a sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet to separate the non-bonding portion of the two-ply sheet, and cause the second sheet feeder to start feeding the inner sheet before completion of the sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Joji Akiyama, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Sho Asano, Yoshito Suzuki, Shinya Monma, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Wataru Nozaki
  • Patent number: 11273629
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11261043
    Abstract: A sheet processing device sandwiches a sheet-shaped medium in a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded. The sheet processing device includes a separator, a conveyor, and a switching member. The separator separates the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The conveyor is disposed downstream from the separator in a sheet conveyance direction and conveys the two-ply sheet. The switching member is disposed downstream from the conveyor in the sheet conveyance direction. The switching member switches a conveyance path of the two-ply sheet to convey the two-ply sheet to a fixing path on which fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet or a non-fixing path on which no fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshito Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Sho Asano, Shinya Monma, Joji Akiyama, Wataru Nozaki, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Yuji Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Takuya Morinaga
  • Patent number: 11220070
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a composite shaft may comprise an axial fiber strip dispensing assembly and a hoop fiber strip dispensing assembly. The axial fiber strip dispensing assembly may include a plurality of fiber strip guides located circumferentially about a center axis. The plurality of fiber strip guides may be configured to dispense a plurality of circumferentially adjacent first fiber strips with the plurality of circumferentially adjacent first fiber strips extending in a generally axial direction. The hoop fiber strip dispensing assembly may be configured to dispense a second fiber strip circumferentially about the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Wenping Zhao, Nathaniel M. Gray, Daniel O. Ursenbach
  • Patent number: 11161710
    Abstract: A sheet separation device to open a two-ply sheet includes a rotator; a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator; a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Akihiro Iwasaki, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Takuya Morinaga, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Makoto Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11110680
    Abstract: A warp determination device for a corrugated cardboard sheet manufacturing device is provided with: displacement value measurement method for measuring displacement values of a plurality of corrugated cardboard sheet pieces on the downstream side of a slitter scorer and on the upstream side of a sheet stacking unit; and warp status determination means for dividing a measurement range of the displacement value measurement method according to a width dimension of the plurality of corrugated cardboard sheet pieces, allocating the divided measurement ranges to each of the plurality of corrugated cardboard sheet pieces, and determining a warped status of the corrugated cardboard sheet pieces for each of the plurality of corrugated cardboard sheet pieces on the basis of measurement values from the displacement value measurement method in the allocated measurement ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Mizutani, Akira Ogino
  • Patent number: 11099507
    Abstract: A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet, in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion, includes a rotator, a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets. The sheet separation device further includes control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Watanabe, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10940645
    Abstract: A vibration heat-pressing device includes a positioning member, a support body, a pressing mechanism, a vibration generator, and a heating rod. The positioning member supports and positions the workpiece. The pressing mechanism, the vibration generator, and the heating rod are located on the support body. The support body defines a first mounting hole. The heating rod is engaged in the first mounting hole. One end of the heating rod extends out from the support body and is connected to a heating device. The heating rod heats the heating rod of the pressing mechanism. A heat-conducting medium is filled in a gap between the heating rod and an inner wall of the first mounting hole. While the heating rod of the pressing mechanism are heated, the vibration generator vibrates the pressing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Hong-Kun Wang
  • Patent number: 10894371
    Abstract: A vibration heat-pressing device includes a positioning member, a support body, a pressing mechanism, a vibration generator, and a heating rod. The positioning member supports and positions the workpiece. The pressing mechanism, the vibration generator, and the heating rod are located on the support body. The support body defines a first mounting hole. The heating rod is engaged in the first mounting hole. One end of the heating rod extends out from the support body and is connected to a heating device. The heating rod heats the heating rod of the pressing mechanism. A heat-conducting medium is filled in a gap between the heating rod and an inner wall of the first mounting hole. While the heating rod of the pressing mechanism are heated, the vibration generator vibrates the pressing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Hong-Kun Wang
  • Patent number: 10800110
    Abstract: Multifunction end effector apparatus and methods for assembling thermoplastic composite articles are disclosed. An example apparatus for assembling a thermoplastic composite article includes a robot and an end effector coupled to the robot. The end effector includes a cutting head, a vacuum head, and a welding head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel D. Bloch, Randall D. Wilkerson, Camille D. Carter, Zachary L. Green, Nicole R. Williams, Eric Moyes, Gregory J. S. Hickman, Scott E. Martin
  • Patent number: 10796977
    Abstract: Circuitry to apply heat to a die while the die junction temperature is below a minimum die junction temperature of an operating die junction temperature range for the die is provided. The circuitry to avoid a system boot failure when the die junction temperature is below the operating die junction temperature range of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: John Fallin, Daniel J. Ragland, Jonathan P. Douglas
  • Patent number: 10703046
    Abstract: A shaping system includes: a printing device that prints an image using predetermined ink on a thermal expansion sheet having a thermal expansion layer on one side; and a heating device that performs: an identifier detection process of detecting an identifier provided on the thermal expansion sheet; a heating condition setting process of setting a heating condition for heating the thermal expansion sheet, based on the identifier; and a heating process of heating the thermal expansion sheet based on the set heating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Horiuchi, Yoshimune Motoyanagi
  • Patent number: 10703048
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for bonding polymeric parts are disclosed. Specifically, in one embodiment, the polymeric parts are bonded by plastically deforming them against each other while they are below the glass transition temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Nikhil Padhye, David Moore Parks, Bernhardt Levy Trout, Alexander H. Slocum
  • Patent number: 10688764
    Abstract: A card substrate laminating device includes a transfer ribbon and a transfer roller. The transfer ribbon includes a carrier layer and a transfer layer attached to the carrier layer. The transfer roller is configured to heat and transfer a portion of the transfer layer from the carrier layer to a surface of a card substrate. The transfer roller has a circumference that is less than one-half of a length of the card substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY AB
    Inventors: John Skoglund, Michael Woizeschke, Ted Hoffman, Tanya Snyder
  • Patent number: 10582854
    Abstract: A method and system for determining thermistor resistance have been disclosed. The method comprises providing a temperature sensor network within a wireless sensor device, wherein the temperature sensor network includes a driver device and a receiver device, coupling the driver device to the receiver device using a dual bond wire system, determining at least one output voltage using at least one input current flowing through the dual bond wire system, and determining the thermistor resistance using the at least one output voltage. The system comprises a wireless sensor device including a temperature sensor network that comprises driver and receiver devices, and a dual bond wire system that couples the driver device to the receiver device, wherein at least one output voltage is determined using at least one input current flowing through the dual bond wire system, further wherein the thermistor resistance is determined using the at least one output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Vital Connect, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Liou, Arshan Aga, Steve Fang
  • Patent number: 10559709
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for manufacturing process control of photovoltaic products. Some embodiments relate to a method for tracking wafers for photovoltaic products with respect to which production tool processed them and their position within that production tool. Some embodiments relate to measuring and characterizing the critical-to-quality parameters of the partially-finished photovoltaic products emerging from the production tool in question. Some embodiments relate to display and visualization of the measured parameters on a computer screen, such that the parameters of each production unit can be directly observed in the context of which production tools processed them, which location within a specific production tool they were located in during processing, and which batch, or in the case of continuous processing, what time, the unit(s) was/where processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Aurora Solar Technologies (Canada) Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Ayres, Steven McDonald
  • Patent number: 10429283
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to a mechanical device that efficiently measures physical parameters such as compression strength, elasticity, firmness, deformation resistance and the like, on one or a plurality of compressible test objects including fruits, nuts and vegetables, and which operates in a semi-automatic fashion using a rotatable turntable with multiple wells to hold a plurality of test objects in place during measurement using one or more positionable sensors capable of measuring a physical parameter when brought into contact with the test object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: CREATIVE VIEWPOINT MACHINERY
    Inventor: Robert E. Switek, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10076883
    Abstract: An off-axis prepreg material manufacturing machine may include a robot configured to position a prepreg piece adjacent to an end of a prepreg layer. The machine may additionally include an alignment system configured to sense a position of the prepreg piece relative to the prepreg layer and generate a position signal representative thereof. The machine may also include a controller configured to receive the position signal and cause the robot to adjust the position of the prepreg piece such that an end edge of the prepreg piece and an end edge of the prepreg layer are in substantially abutting contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles R. Prebil, James R. Fox, Randall D. Wilkerson
  • Patent number: 10046513
    Abstract: An object is to provide a spin welding component that has a simple configuration of a welding surface and provides enhanced welding strength. A spin welding component 1 includes a shaft portion 2 formed in an approximately columnar shape, a flange portion 3 extended outward from below the shaft portion 2 to be formed in a disk-like shape, and an opening 4 formed by opening part of a bottom face of the flange portion 3. A molten resin 9 as molten material is applied on the bottom face. High-speed rotation causes the molten resin 9 to be melted by the frictional heat, and part of the molten resin 9 enters the opening 4 to be welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: TAKEHIRO CO., LTD., TAKEHIRO KYUSHU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyasu Midoriya, Yuuki Saito
  • Patent number: 10031499
    Abstract: A thermal-management system, for use in controlling temperature of a first workpiece of workpieces being joined by welding. The system includes a micro heat exchanger including a heat-transfer fluid tube extending between an inlet and an outlet. The system in some implementations has a body and the inlet and outlet are connected to the body. The heat-transfer fluid tube is configured to channel heat-transfer fluid, such as a nanofluid, to heat or cool the workpiece(s). The heat-transfer fluid is configured to cool or heat at least the first workpiece when the heat-transfer fluid is channeled through the heat-transfer fluid-tube section in operation of the thermal-management system. The technology further includes methods and hardware-based controlling apparatus for using the micro heat exchanger to cool or heat the workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Teresa J. Rinker, Debejyo Chakraborty, Ryan C. Sekol, Jeffrey A. Abell
  • Patent number: 9733015
    Abstract: The present invention provides a drying method to dry a to-be-dried object by allowing the to-be-dried object to contact with gas having a different temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hokkaido Tokushuchiryou Kabushikikaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Onose
  • Patent number: 9649810
    Abstract: The invention relates to a horizontal transverse sealing station (10a-b), in particular for a horizontal tubular bag machine (12a-b), for producing transverse sealing seams (14a-b) on at least one film tube (18a-b) transported in a continuous, at least essentially horizontal transport direction (16a-b), comprising a transverse sealing station base (20a-b) fixedly connected to a packing machine (22a-b), a transverse sealing unit (24a-b), and at least one sealing jaw pair (28a-b) movably mounted on the transverse sealing unit (24a-b) and formed by two sealing jaws (26a-b), the sealing surfaces (30a-b) of which come closer to each other during a sealing process in a sealing movement (32a-b), which relative to the transverse sealing unit (24a-b) is provided with at least one movement component (34a-b) in the transport direction (16a-b), in order to seal material layers (36a-b) of the film tube (18a-b) between the sealing surfaces (30a-b) by way of heating and/or applying pressure, and to remove again at the end o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jan Thaerigen
  • Patent number: 9623699
    Abstract: The invention specifies an apparatus for applying a film (7) to a substrate (2) by lamination. This apparatus has a heating device (12, 19), which makes it possible for different regions of the film (7) and/or the substrate (2) to be exposed specifically to different temperatures. It is thus also possible to process substrates or films which contain temperature-sensitive elements, e.g. security elements based on bacteriorhodopsin. For this purpose, the heating device comprises a plurality of heating elements (19) which can be activated separately, and therefore different regions of a heating surface (12) can be subjected specifically to different levels of heating power. In order to compensate for irregularities on the surface of the substrate or of the film, the apparatus may have a flexible mating surface (21) which is arranged opposite the healing surface and can be subjected to pressure pneumatically by way of a pressure chamber (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: U-NICA Technology AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Ritter, Samuel Schindler
  • Patent number: 9612206
    Abstract: A device and a system for detecting a tape or a piece of glue on a document and methods for detecting a tape or a piece of glue on a document are described. The device comprises at least one light source, at least one light receiver and at least one light barrier. The at least one light source is arranged on a first side of the at least one light barrier and the at least one light receiver is arranged on a second side of the at least one light barrier opposite to the first side. The light barrier is configured to come into contact with a document to prevent or reduce light emitted from the light source on the first side of the light barrier to be transmitted to the light receiver on the second side of the light barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: CRANE PAYMENT INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christian Voser, Sebastien Menot
  • Patent number: 9523072
    Abstract: A circuit for biological liquid including a bag having two films and a press. The press includes two shells that clamp the bag in a state in which pipes are formed between the films of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Rene Reinbigler, Jean-Louis Weissenbach
  • Patent number: 9427914
    Abstract: An ultrasonic processing method and an ultrasonic processing device may include a controlling/regulating module, preferably a digital controlling/regulating module, which is integrated into a signal processing of the ultrasonic generator so that a plurality of generator data with respect to the ultrasonic generator are processible in the ultrasonic generator. At this, a power actual value Pist is compared with a power reference value Psoll of the ultrasonic generator via a gap regulator in the controlling/regulating module to specify a position reference value POSsoll of the sonotrode relative to the roll for adjustment of the power reference value Psoll of the ultrasonic generator, and/or a power actual value Pist is compared with a power reference value Psoll of the ultrasonic generator via an amplitude regulator in the controlling/regulating module to specify an amplitude reference value Asoll to the ultrasonic generator for adjustment of the power reference value Psoll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BRANSON ULTRASCHALL Niederlassung der Emerson Technologies GmbH & Co. OHG
    Inventor: Christian Heeg
  • Patent number: 9381601
    Abstract: A method for inserting a component through a surface of a workpiece made of a first material uses friction-induced plasticity of the latter to attach the component to the workpiece. The component includes a head portion having a base and a working end being threaded, and an insert portion having a penetrating end and provided with a threaded bore closed at its penetrating end, to initially receive the threaded working end. The outer surface of the insert portion being made of a second material harder than the first material, a rotary tool can be used to insert the component through the workpiece surface, by rotating the rotary tool in a first direction while applying an axial force onto the head portion base to produce substantially full insertion of the insert portion, and by maintaining the axial force during a sufficient setting time without rotation to produce the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBEC
    Inventor: Denis Hotte
  • Patent number: 9321236
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an automated inflation device configured for inflating an inflatable structure, which can then be used—for example—as a protective packaging material. As described in detail herein, various embodiments of the inflation device are configured to be mounted on a wall for convenient installation and use. According to certain embodiments, the inflation device is configured to automatically inflate multiple inflatable chambers in the inflatable structure using an efficient inflation-at-a-distance method. Moreover, various embodiments are provided with one or more user input controls and/or remote sensors to enable a user to conveniently request inflation of a particular number of inflatable chambers or a particular length of the inflatable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Frayne, Paul Chudy, Tung Yiu Fok
  • Patent number: 9259893
    Abstract: A high-speed electric-heating temperature-control single corrugating machine comprises a first paper conveying roller, an upper corrugating roller and a lower corrugating roller, a glue pasting roller is configured to paste glue on the corrugated core paper, a pressure roller is configured to bond the corrugated core paper pasted with glue with base paper to form corrugated paper, a second paper conveying roller is configured to convey the corrugated paper out, a third paper conveying roller is configured to convey the base paper to the upper corrugating roller, a first heating device is configured to heat the corrugated paper, a second heating device is configured to heat the base paper, a first infrared heating device is configured to heat the core paper passing through the upper corrugating roller and a second infrared heating device is configured to heat the upper corrugating roller are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: HUIZHOU LONG JI MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhiyong Wu
  • Patent number: 9186874
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a bonding machine structured and programmed for bonding or laminating one or more materials is disclosed. In one embodiment, the bonding machine comprises a support bar and one or more bonding arms movably coupled to the support bar. Each of the bonding arms may include a heating bar including one or more heating elements, and an actuator configured to provide movement of the bonding arm between the support bar and a material to be processed. At least one of the bonding arms may be programmed to operate with a temperature setting, pressure setting, application timing setting, timing sequence setting, or center position setting which is independent of at least one of the other bonding arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: READYONE INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Juan M. Bezanilla, Hector M. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9174482
    Abstract: To peel off a transfer film varying in easy-to-peel according to the temperature of a recording medium (temperature of an adhesion surface) with a suitable peeling tension and to suppress the occurrence of peeling residues, in a transfer apparatus for nipping a transfer film 46 and recording medium K with a transfer roller 33 and transfer platen 31 to form an image on the recording medium, the temperature of the card K is detected by detecting an environmental temperature outside the apparatus, and the peeling tension (transfer film wind torque) required for peeling off the transfer film 46 from the card K subjected to transfer is changed corresponding to the card temperature. Further, in the case of performing backside transfer subsequently to frontside transfer, since the card temperature is high, the peeling tension in backside transfer is set to be lower than the peeling tension in frontside transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Aihara, Tetsuya Noda
  • Publication number: 20150144268
    Abstract: A machine converts a web of preformed pouches, which are defined by transverse seals extending from a remote edge, into inflated dunnage units. A sealing arrangement is positioned to provide a longitudinal seal intersecting the transverse seals to close the preformed pouches and form a dunnage unit. The sealing arrangement has at least two sealing belts. Each belt is positioned so that respective first sides engage a surface of the web and pull the web through sealing elements positioned on either side of the web. A heating element is on a second side of the first belt not engaging the web. A compliant material is on a second side of the second belt not engaging the web. As the web passes between the heating element and compliant material, imperfections in the web are smoothed by the compliant material and the layers of the web are sealed by the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Douglas C. Corbin, Donald P. Shook, Robert L. Ferrante, Michael J. Riccardi, Rick Steven Wehrmann