With Stretching Or Tensioning Means Patents (Class 156/494)
  • Publication number: 20030029546
    Abstract: An apparatus secures ventilation cloth to a screen frame. A screen frame is oriented in an approximately vertical position. The screen frame has a plurality of segments. Each segment has a mounting surface on a face thereof. At least one of said segments has adhesive on the mounting surface thereof. A ventilation cloth is hung across the mounting surface of said one segment. The adhesive in said one of the segments is melted. The ventilation cloth is inserted in the adhesive across a length of said one of the segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Douglas H. Wylie, John A. Walker, David G. Nelson, Saj Ravindran
  • Patent number: 6517652
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for connecting at least two thermoplastic elements. The elements are pressed together and welded elements whereby at least two welds are produced. This method may be used for friction welding of two overlapping sections of a thermoplastic strip. Also disclosed is a system for wrapping the strip around a package. The strip is passed around the package to form a loop whereby the sections are arranged at each end of the loop. The strip is tightened and secured by at least one clamping plate of the system. The strip is pressed against an abutment plate of the system pressing the overlapping sections together by a vibrating plate of the system. The overlapping sections are pressed against the abutment plate by the vibrating plate welding the overlapping sections by the vibrating plate whereby at least two welds are A produced one behind each other in longitudinal direction of the strip and separated from one another by an unwelded area of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Gerd Mosca AG
    Inventor: Michael Gratz
  • Patent number: 6514371
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying adhesive film to an article. Clamps are mounted on a fixture for temporarily securing the fixture to the article. Film locator clips are mounted on the fixture to receive a segment of adhesive film. At least one of the film locator clips is moveable and biased in one direction to apply tensioning force to the film to hold at least a part of the film in a spaced relationship to the vehicle. A wiping head on the fixture is shifted to engage the film and cause one portion of the film to be applied to the vehicle. The wiping head is then moved from the one portion of the film to other portions of the film to apply the other portions of the film to the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventor: Louis K. Justin
  • Publication number: 20030010423
    Abstract: The apparatus for manufacturing wearing articles includes: a pair of nip rolls for nipping a first web and a first elastic member; a first moving section movable in a direction crossing the first web; and a first guide head provided on the first moving section for feeding the first elastic member at a position upstream of a position at which the first web is nipped, wherein the radius of at least one of the pair of nip rolls is about 15 mm to about 35 mm, and a distance D between a plane including axes of the pair of nip rolls and a point at which the first guide head releases the first elastic member is about 30 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Masaki Nakakado, Hitoshi Satoh, Kikuo Yomeoka
  • Patent number: 6491773
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling tension of one or more fiber tows preferably including a support frame having a spool holder, a motor for driving the spool holder, a dancer arm having a free end with a redirect roller mounted thereon and a fixed end pivotally mounted to coact with an angular-position sensor, a low-friction pneumatic cylinder mounted to the dancer arm and a support plate to exert a force thereon, a second redirect roller mounted to coact with a second angular-position sensor, and a controller and associated circuitry to control the tension of the fiber by controlling the motor in response to the position of the dancer arm. Preferably, a microcontroller mounted on a single printed circuit board (PCB) having signal buffering circuitry to control a plurality of individual tensioners is provided. The PCB preferably plugs into a backplane which allows communication between several microcontrollers, thereby allowing the control of at least 32 individual tensioners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd G. Miller, Keith G. Shupe
  • Patent number: 6474390
    Abstract: A labeling machine having an input station receiving the bottles on which a sleeve is to be placed, a station for dispensing sleeves from a sheath and a main turret fitted with units for receiving the bottles and a providing them with a sleeve. Each unit has a slidable tool mounted parallel with the bottle to place the sleeve on the bottle. The main turret is suspended from a tripod supported directly on the ground while the input and output turrets as well as the unreeling station supplying the sheath dispensing the sleeves are supported by the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Protection Decoration Conditionnement Europe S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Vandevoorde
  • Patent number: 6464811
    Abstract: Lamellar, fibre-reinforced plastic strips can be used to reinforce a linearly expanded or flat construction part having a support function against any bending stress to which it is exposed. The strips are usually applied to the construction from the outside, or from the inside in the case of hollow structures, and fixed by an adhesive. The lamellar strips are pretensed with a tensioning device, treated with adhesive in a pretensed state, and then moved to the area to be treated together with the tension device. The tension device is provisionally fixed to the construction with displaceable fixing devices and pressed against said construction. Thereafter the lamellar strips are pressed against the construction by means of an air bag or air hose until the adhesive has hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Eidgenössiche Materialprüfungs-und Forschungsanstalt EMPA
    Inventors: Urs Meier, Iwan Stöcklin, Andreas Winistörfer
  • Patent number: 6405776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hoop-casing device (2) for hooping an object with a heat-sealable plastic strip (3) placed around it, comprising a unit (2) for stressing the strip (3) and for friction-sealing two overlapping strip parts (4, 5). Said unit (2) comprises a tool part which rotates around a rotational axis (6) and can be driven, with a cylindrical tool cover surface (8) and a bearing part (9), said bearing part having a bearing surface (10) facing towards the tool part (7). At least said bearing surface (10) has a structure similar to toothing. The tool part (7) and the bearing part (9) pivot mutually around a swivel axis (12) which is parallel to the rotational axis (6). The bearing part (9) comprises a multipart shoe (13) consisting of several holding blocks (14, 16, 18) arranged together angularly around the rotational axis (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Fromm Holding AG
    Inventor: Manfred Rauch
  • Patent number: 6370750
    Abstract: The component (2) is first brought into point or line contact with the sheet (3) so as to avoid entrapment of air therebetween. The contact area between the component and the sheet is then gradually spread until the entire bottom surface of the component is adhered to the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuya Matsumura, Shoji Sato, Akihiro Yamamoto, Yoshifumi Kitayama, Yoichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6358342
    Abstract: A method of producing a succession of self-adhesive labels (6) carried on a backing of release material (8), the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first web of release material carrying a succession of folded leaflets (30); (b) conveying the first web along A pathway by a web conveyor, (c) printing a second web (36) with a succession of images along its length by at least one print station (44, 46, 48, 50), the or each print station being driven independently of the web conveyor and being directly or indirectly registered with reference to the first web or the folded leaflets; (d) laminating the printed second web over the succession of folded leaflets; and (e) die-cutting (54, 56) through at least the second web as far as the release material to form a succession of self-adhesive labels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: David J. Instance Limited
    Inventor: David John Instance
  • Publication number: 20020029835
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a flexible heat-exchange device for taking heat from or delivering heat to the ambient surroundings, wherein the device includes a body comprised of mutually joined flexible mats and including an internal passageway for the heat-carrying fluid. The apparatus includes two mould dies which can be brought together and have on their mutually opposing surfaces generally mirror-image patterns in the form of recesses in the respective abutment surfaces of the tools, the recesses corresponding to the extension of a flow passageway, and two mat joining tools which can be brought together and have on their mutually opposing surfaces a generally mirror-image pattern in the form of abutment surfaces that form the electrodes of the mat joining tools, wherein the electrodes are disposed in a pattern corresponding to the delimitations of the flow passageway, and the electrodes can be connected to a high frequency welding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: TEX SUN ENERGY AB
    Inventor: Per Gunnar Eriksson
  • Patent number: 6355134
    Abstract: In a method for joining two or more solid parts, a foil is provided between the two parts, the foil is heated to an elevated temperature by means of a thermode such that it becomes soft, and then the foil is cooled down below the elevated temperature, thus providing a permanent connection. The method can be used for bonding a gas-permeable membrane to a housing such as to produce a liquid chromatography degasser. The bonding method ensures that no unwanted substances are released when liquid comes into contact with the bonding region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Berndt, Werner Karl Schomburg, Zeno Rummler, Ralf-Peter Peters, Mario Hempel
  • Patent number: 6345660
    Abstract: A laminating apparatus and methods are provided for laminating fabric such as for a disposable garment. The apparatus preferably includes a frame having upper and lower frame regions, a first roll of fabric mounted to the upper frame region so as to provide a first web of fabric when unwound from the first fabric roll, and a second roll of fabric mounted to the lower frame region and positioned adjacent the first fabric roll so as to provide a second web of fabric when unwound from the second fabric roll. A fabric dance controller is preferably positioned downstream from the first and second fabric rolls and positioned to receive the first and second webs of fabric therefrom for dancingly controlling the tension of the first and second webs of fabric being received from the first and second fabric rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Inventors: John M. Tharpe, Jr., Robert M. Herrin
  • Patent number: 6340782
    Abstract: A method of securing an elastic band between two material layers which are at least partially defined by meltable material includes forming perforations in the elastic band, placing the elastic band between two material layers, and bonding the material layers to one another through the perforations by heat fusion, wherein the perforations in the elastic band are formed at the same time as the material layers are fused together (i.e., the formation of the perforations in the elastic band is directly followed by bonding together, through the perforations, portions of the material layers). An elastic band secured between two material layers for inclusion in articles of one-time use includes the use of material layers that are at least partially defined by meltable material and an elastic band having perforations formed therein. The material layers are positioned on opposite sides of the elastic band and are joined together by heat fusion in a punctiform and/or linear bonding pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Robert Kling, Berth-Ove Wall
  • Patent number: 6340130
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying foil material, the apparatus comprising a motor-driven supply roll, a withdrawal means and a consumption sensor provided between the supply roll and the withdrawal means for controlling the drive of the supply roll in response to the consumption of foil material, and at least one stationary deflection roller, at least one sensor roller and a sensor means, the sensor roller being supported and arranged such that it changes the distance from the stationary deflection roller in response to the difference between supply capacity and withdrawal capacity of the foil material, and the sensor means senses said change in distance and accelerates the supply roll when the distance is smaller than a first predetermined distance, and slows down the supply roll when a second predetermined distance is exceeded. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method for supplying foil material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: INDAG GmbH & Co. Betriebs-KG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Wild, Eberhard Kraft
  • Patent number: 6338375
    Abstract: A tool for tightening and melt-adhering a strap, which is light in weight, can be operated by one hand, performs a series of operations, i.e., tightening, pressurizing and frictionally melt-adhering the strap by utilizing power (fluid pressure) instead of manual operation, and which enables the time for frictional melt-adhesion to be adjusted over a wide range and highly precisely with ease, enabling the worker to continue the operation maintaining high efficiency with less fatigue. The tool for tightening and melt-adhering the strap comprises a means for pressing a tightening roller which includes a reversible motor, a means for pressing a vibrator for friction, and a timing mechanism capable of adjusting the time for driving the vibrator over a wide range and finely, which are compactly arranged as a unitary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Kohan Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Harada
  • Patent number: 6328087
    Abstract: In a strapping apparatus for strapping goods with a band, which apparatus has a tensioning device which is operatively connected to a tensioning drive and is intended for tensioning the band, a closure device for sealing two ends of a band, and a plurality of rewinding locks for fixing the band on the strapping apparatus, highest possible efficiency is to be achieved. The invention proposes providing the tensioning device with a rocker (37) arranged opposite a tensioning wheel (30), mounting the rocker (37) pivotably about a rocker axis (38) and designing the tensioning wheel (30) and the rocker (37) in such a way that they can be moved towards each other, as a result of which the band can be clamped between the rocker and the tensioning wheel, and the band rests on the tensioning wheel with a large angle of wrap (&agr;).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Orgapack GmbH
    Inventors: Flavio Finzo, Giancarlo Haltinner, Bernd Marsche, Ludovigo De Felice
  • Patent number: 6315023
    Abstract: A card manufacturing machine assembly for producing a coupon card fabricated from a continuous sheet of stock. The machine assembly has a support frame for supporting the continuous sheet of stock as the sheet of stock moves through the machine assembly. A driving mechanism is mounted to the support frame and has driving gears for transferring the sheet of stock through the machine assembly at a predetermined speed. A printing station prints indicia on the continuous sheet of stock in two parallel rows. A cutting device separates the continuous sheet of stock into two strips. An inverting device rotates one of the strips 180° relative to the other strip. A stripping device removes a release liner from one of the strips to expose an adhesive layer. A pair of coupling rollers are mounted to the support frame and are in driving engagement with one of the driving gears to rotate the coupling rollers at a predetermined rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Saxon, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Michael King, Martin Wilson
  • Patent number: 6315022
    Abstract: A disposable undergarment forming apparatus and methods are provided for forming disposable undergarments. The apparatus preferably includes a core former positioned to form a stream of undergarment cores. The core former includes a mat securer positioned to secure each of a plurality of undergarment mats to a sheet of a polymeric material and a first separator positioned downstream from the mat securer for separating the stream of undergarment cores into a plurality of individual cores. An elastic waistband former preferably is positioned adjacent the core former for forming elastic waistbands. A waistband securer is positioned downstream from the core former and positioned to receive the elastic waistbands from the elastic waistband former for securing the waistbands to the plurality of individual undergarment cores to thereby form a chain of a plurality of undergarments. A folder is positioned downstream from the waistband securer for folding each of the plurality of undergarments of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Inventors: Robert M. Herrin, John M. Tharpe
  • Publication number: 20010035258
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying adhesive film to a article. One or more clamps are mounted on a fixture for temporarily securing the fixture to the article. Film locator clips are mounted on the fixture to receive a segment of adhesive film. At least one of the film locator clips is moveable and biased in one direction to apply tensioning force to the film to hold at least a part of the film in a spaced relationship to the vehicle. A wiping head on the fixture is shifted to engage the film and cause one portion of the film to be applied to the vehicle. The wiping head is then moved from the one portion of the film to other portions of the film to apply the other portions of the film to the article. The method of the present invention includes the steps of locating a fixture on the article and attaching a film segment to first and second clips that are arranged in a spaced relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventor: Louis K. Justin
  • Publication number: 20010035248
    Abstract: A fiberboard splice apparatus is capable of fully automating preparatory works for a fiberboard splice process to shorten the time needed for the preparation and to enhance the machine availability factor, and is made up of a fiberboard splice part for adhering an old fiberboard fed from one roll fiberboard to an end portion of a new fiberboard fed from the other roll fiberboard to accomplish fiberboard splice therebetween and a fiberboard feed device placed between the fiberboard splice part and the other roll fiberboard for feeding the new fiberboard to the fiberboard splice part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sato, Hiroaki Sasashige
  • Patent number: 6308760
    Abstract: A strapping apparatus for strapping goods with a band, which apparatus has a tensioning device which is operatively connected to a tensioning drive and is intended for tensioning of the band, a closure device for sealing two ends of a band, and a plurality of rewinding locks for fixing the band on the strapping apparatus, is to be as lightweight as possible while of high functional reliability. It is therefore proposed that an essentially plate-shaped control board (14) which is operatively connected to an actuating means is provided as the means for controlling functions of the strapping apparatus, that a movement of the actuating means brings about a pivoting movement of the control board (14), and that the pivoting movement of the control board can be transmitted to a plurality of transmitting means which are coupled to the control board, with which the rewinding locks (5, 6, 26) can be transferred from a locking position into an insertion position and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Orgapack GmbH
    Inventors: Flavio Finzo, Giancarlo Haltinner, Bernd Marsche, Ludovigo De Felice
  • Patent number: 6287409
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for applying elastic material in a curvilinear pattern on a continuously moving substrate. The method moves a substrate along a substrate path, supplies the elastic material to an oscillation unit first roll mounted for pivoting and rolling engagement with a transfer roll, the pivoting being about a pivot axis parallel to the substrate path, oscillates the oscillation unit first roll such that the first roll pivot axis oscillates in a plane generally traverse to the substrate path, applies the elastic material from the first roll to the transfer roll in the desired curvilinear path configuration, then applies the elastic material from the transfer roll to the substrate and bonds the elastic material to the substrate. Optionally the first roll may apply the elastic material directly to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberely-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Mitchell M. Stephany
  • Patent number: 6284081
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for applying elastic material in a curvilinear pattern on a continuously moving substrate. The method moves a substrate along a substrate path, supplies the elastic material to an oscillation unit first roll mounted for pivoting and rolling engagement with a transfer roll, oscillates the oscillation unit in a path generally transverse to the substrate path, applies the elastic material from the first roll to the transfer roll in the desired curvilinear path configuration, then applies the elastic material from the transfer roll to the substrate and bonds the elastic material to the substrate. Optionally the first roll may apply the elastic material directly to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Vogt, James Bennington Stopher
  • Patent number: 6279637
    Abstract: An automated apparatus for installation of a handgrip on a golf club shaft is disclosed herein. The handgrip is installed on the golf club shaft in a dry state. The present invention does not utilize solvents, lubricants or the like for the installation of the handgrip onto the golf club shaft. The apparatus has a taping mechanism for automatically wrapping a double-sided tape onto the butt end of the golf club shaft. The apparatus also has a gripping mechanism for preparing a grip for automated installation on a shaft while in a dry state. The apparatus also has a shaft shuttle mechanism for transferring the golf club shaft from the taping mechanism to the gripping mechanism. The gripping mechanism has means for expanding the handgrip prior to placement on the butt end of the golf club shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Konrad Lenhof, Jerry V. Blanke
  • Patent number: 6277224
    Abstract: The invention includes of a system and method of ultrasonically perforating adhesive bandage backings. The invention eliminates the gap between the ultrasonic horn and the pin roll, and provides for a wear resistant release coating on the pin roll. Further, the method and system disclose cooling the ultrasonic horn with a forced air stream, and provide for a pre- or post-nip roll to control the tension of the continuous web of backing. The web of backing is kept under tension with a nip roll, and passes between an ultrasonic horn and an immediately adjacent pin roll for perforation by the ultrasonic horn. The resulting material of the web backing is smoother, and has better hole quality than that seen in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventors: Edward Muesch, Charles Lee Adams, Angela Chaney, James Meizanis, Robert Kapalo
  • Patent number: 6276421
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying sheets to substrates including a rotating blade roller with a blade on its surface; a vacuum roller rotating with the blade roller, oriented parallel to the blade roller, and with a surface adjacent to the blade roller surface; at least one slot in the vacuum roller surface into which the blade is inserted as the rollers rotate; and a feeder for feeding a continuous sheet between the rollers so that the sheet is cut into segments. The vacuum roller surface includes surface holes connected to a vacuum source during cutting and disconnected after cutting and manifold holes parallel to the roller axis and located in a circle below the surface. The manifold holes have open ends located at one end of the vacuum roller and are connected to the surface holes. There is at least one plate adjacent the end of the vacuum roller with the open ends. The plate includes at least two curved grooves on the surface matching the shape of the path traveled by the open ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Valenti, Thomas C. Bair
  • Patent number: 6273166
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for supplying double-sided adhesive tape, drawn from a roll, to a pressure cylinder. To ensure perfect application of the tape onto the pressure cylinder, without overlapping or deflection when two tapes are applied at short distance from each other, the system includes a mounting base into which the roll is inserted axially relative to the pressure cylinder shaft, while the mounting base has a pressure element pushing the double-sided adhesive tape towards the pressure cylinder, and a cutting device axially parallel to the pressure cylinder shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Reiner Roosen
  • Patent number: 6261405
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a patch comprising a foam supplier for supplying a foam backing having a predetermined porosity, a dispensing device for applying an ointment to the foam backing in a predetermined pattern, and a cooling device for cooling the foam backing prior to application of the ointment, wherein the ointment thickens and cures upon contact with the cooled foam backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Laprade
  • Patent number: 6257295
    Abstract: A machine has a support (3) which receives and supports a button shank (6) at a support station (4); a winding device (12) rotates thread (21) through an outlet (25) to wind it around the shank supported in the support under the control of tensioner (17); hooks (56, 57) catch the thread at both ends after bonding the winded thread, the hooks moving as a unit (77) snap the thread to release the shank from the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Mason Simon Small
  • Patent number: 6250910
    Abstract: A thermoforming tool employed for wrap-around lamination of a sheet to at least one edge (3) of a molding (2) loosely resting on the tool's lower half. The tool comprises a sheet-stretching frame (4) that is positioned over the molding and lowers a thermally plasticized sheet (5) tensioned therein at its edges into a holding position below the edge of the molding, a device for sealing the sheet off from the lower half of the tool, and a device for applying a suction in the subsequent lamination process. The suction device includes an evacuatable depression (9) in the lower half of the tool and below the edge of the molding. The object is to provide smoother lamination. The lower half (1) of the tool has a sealing lip (8) at the level of a conceptual plane below the edge of the molding. The lip parallels the edge of the molding and demarcates the depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Fritsche Moellmann, GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Edgar Nimmergut, Jürgen Lause
  • Patent number: 6217991
    Abstract: A resin laminated metallic sheet having excellent adhesion during forming, corrosion resistance, and impact resistance is continuously manufactured at high speed with consistent properties is constantly kept at a selected and variable traveling speed of the metallic sheet by controlling the orientation of resin film after lamination, heating the continuously traveling metallic sheet, laminating resin films on both sides of the heated metal sheet using laminating rolls, and thereafter deflecting the traveling direction of the resin laminated metallic sheet using a deflector roll disposed movably in a direction perpendicular to the direction at a right angle from traveling direction of the metallic sheet, and further, differentiating a contacting period of time in which each surface of the resin laminated metallic sheet is contacting each of the laminating rolls, or differentiating an amount of the heat of each surface portion of the resin laminated metallic sheet lost by the cooling effect due to the contact o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Tanaka, Yoshiki Sakamoto, Noriaki Kaguma
  • Patent number: 6209608
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the high volume manufacture of fluid infusion devices which embody a self-contained, stored-energy source for expelling fluids from the reservoir of the device into an ambulatory patient at precisely controlled rates over extended periods of time. In accordance with the method of the invention, the base and cover infusion components of the devices of the invention are manufactured in injection molded arrays which comprise a cover array which is superimposed over and connected to a base array with the elastomeric membrane being captured therebetween. The elastomeric membrane material, which forms the stored-energy source of the infusion devices, is continuously unrolled from a large roll of film-backed membrane material which is rotatably mounted on a turret assembly upon which a second back-up roll of elastomeric membrane material is also mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Science Incorporated
    Inventor: Marshall S. Kriesel
  • Patent number: 6206995
    Abstract: A moving-web slack reducing system including a deformable tension roller, such as a brush-type tension roller having an outer surface defined by the ends of a plurality of bristles. The slack reducing system may be deployed in a preheater assembly for a machine for manufacturing corrugated board. The bristles of the deformable tension roller allow the outer surface of the tension roller to deflect both radially and in the cross-machine direction without binding to the paper web. The bristles may also deflect variably across the tension roller in the cross-machine direction. Thus, the deflection of the bristles adjusts automatically and virtually instantaneously to changes in the tension of the paper web to compensate for variations in tension across the web in the cross-machine direction. This allows the brush-type tension roller to take the slack out of the paper web without having to rapidly and precisely adjust any actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Corrugated Gear & Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Lauderbaugh
  • Patent number: 6199614
    Abstract: A high speed labeling machine is provided which includes a constant tensioning device for maintaining tension downstream of the metering roll at a substantially constant predetermined level thereby improving both metering and dispensing of labels. The constant tensioning device may also function as a driver for pulling the continuous web of material through the labeling machine thereby reducing the driving load on the metering roll, thus both providing more effective and accurate metering at a given web speed while also allowing higher web speeds to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Exact Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Snyder, Robert C. Jenness, Jr., George W. Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6190476
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for producing gypsum board having at least one facing sheet, a core of cementitious material such as low density gypsum, and an intermediate layer of bond promoting material, such as higher density gypsum located therebetween. The apparatus includes a forming table having a transverse gap. The facing sheet travels along the forming table over the gap. A spreader roller has an outer surface extending partially into the gap to depress the facing sheet. The bond promoting material is deposited on the facing sheet upstream of the spreader roller and the spreader roller outer surface rotates in the same direction as the facing sheet to coat the facing sheet with the bond promoting material. The core layer material is deposited on the facing sheet downstream of the spreader roller on top of the bond promoting coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Westroc Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Seecharan, Ronald Bal
  • Patent number: 6167933
    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 material 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: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Donald P. De Vale, 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: 6164358
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide equipment for manufacturing a laminated metal sheet, which eliminates bubbles even in high speed lamination of 200 m/min or more and is excellent in productivity. In the equipment for manufacturing a laminated metal sheet according to the present invention, a metal sheet (1) is laminated with a resin film (3) on one or both side of it by lamination rolls (2), and a support roll (5) is disposed on projected beyond a straight line between the lamination roll (2) and a film roll (6) so as to impart tension to the film (3) when the film (3) is fed to the lamination rolls (2) from the film roll (6). Further, the support roll (5) is provided directly before the lamination roll (2) so as to satisfy the relation of L.times.V.ltoreq.600 when the lamination speed is V (m/min) and the length of the resin film between the lamination rolls and the support roll is L (m).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Kaguma, Yoshiki Sakamoto, Atsuo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6142208
    Abstract: A seal pickup station for supplying a plurality of seals to a position where the seals may be picked up by a gas exchange head. The station comprises a supply roll of seals adhesively attached to a carrier sheet, and a pickup block having a channel through which the seals can be transported on the carrier sheet. The station further includes a sensor to detect the presence of a seal, a take-up reel to collect the carrier sheet, and a pressure roller mounted in the pickup block to maintain tension on the carrier sheet as seals are removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark Edward Eberhardt, Jr., Richard Hugh Van Camp, Douglas Joseph Noll, George Wesley Archiable, III
  • Patent number: 6143114
    Abstract: The invention proposes a method for banding textile articles with labels, comprising the steps of feeding the article into a receiving unit, holding the article in the receiving unit and stretching it in its longitudinal direction, feeding the label to the article, wrapping the label around the article and fixing the ends of the label. There is further proposed a device for banding a textile article with labels, where the article is initially fed into a receiving unit comprising gripper elements, that can be moved one relative to the other, for gripping the article by its two outer lengthwise ends and for stretching the article in its longitudinal direction. The device further comprises a label feeding unit for feeding a label in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the article to a central area of the article, between its two ends, as well as a device for wrapping the label around the article and for fixing the ends of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Wepamat Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Walter Propach
  • Patent number: 6131634
    Abstract: A portable strapping apparatus has a semi-automatic fastening mechanism that uses a transmission unit in conjunction with a unidirectional bearing to drive a tensioning wheel. The tensioning wheel is provided with two slots arranged in a mutually perpendicular manner or a plurality of slots, by which the tensioning wheel can achieve a better binding strength. For facilitating the welder to push two strapping bands to positively abut against each other, an elastic presser located on one side of the tensioning wheel is used to gradually release strapping bands before welding. Thus the strapping apparatus according to the invention can positively perform the welding and cutting of strapping bands to effectively bind articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Jeff Chieh Huang Chang
  • Patent number: 6117261
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet tension adjusting method which allows the tension to a single-faced corrugated fiberboard sheet or a liner to be greatly adjusted with a high accuracy to be capable of the adjustment of upward or downward warps of the corrugated fiberboard sheet. In the method according to this invention, when manufacturing a single-faced corrugated fiberboard sheet S.sub.1 in a manner that a liner L.sub.1 is adhered onto a corrugated sheet C.sub.1, the single-faced corrugated fiberboard sheet S.sub.1 is wound around one or more rolls 1 to change a braking force to the roll 1, thereby adjusting the tension to the single-faced fiberboard sheet S.sub.1. Further, this invention is effectively applicable in manufacturing various kinds of corrugated fiberboard sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishibuchi, Kazukiyo Kohno, Yukuharu Seki, Makoto Ando
  • Patent number: 6109325
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a handheld electrical binding apparatus, primarily comprising an improved tensioning unit and a melting and cutting unit that cooperates with a control unit to provide maximum convenience in use. The apparatus of the invention can efficiently stretch binding straps and then melt and cut it, achieving the purpose of securing a package with bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: Jeff Chieh Huang Chang
  • Patent number: 6096166
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembly of speaker covers which provides for attaching fabric to a speaker cover frame. The fabric and frame are placed into the apparatus. The apparatus first positions the fabric and frame in a secure manner and tensions the fabric against the frame. The fabric is folded about the frame to position the fabric for attachment to the rear of the frame. A heat welding device then bonds the fabric to the frame and simultaneously trims off any excess fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Tim Liou
  • Patent number: 6080260
    Abstract: When producing a laminated metal sheet, the air bubbles taken in when laminating can be lessened so that a laminated metal sheet with low rate of air bubbles can be obtained. For this purpose, in a production method of a laminated metal sheet comprising the steps of laminating of plastic film 2 on at least one side of a metal sheet strip 1, the plastic film is heated to a temperature of between the glass transition temperature of the plastic film and a temperature at which the thermal shrinkage of the film attains 3% when the plastic film is kept for 30 minutes at a constant temperature, and just after the heating, the plastic film is brought into pressure contact with the metal sheet, by which laminated metal sheet in which air bubbles are hard to be taken in when laminating, and the rate of air bubbles is low can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yasunaka, Keisuke Takesue, Kenichi Miyata
  • Patent number: 6035916
    Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonically forming a surgical suture tip from a length of unfinished surgical suture material. The apparatus includes a first tipping die having a first face for contacting a portion of the length of unfinished surgical suture material. A second tipping die having a second face is also provided. At least one mechanical actuator is provided for moving the first face of the first tipping die toward the second face of the second tipping die. A second actuator vibrates at least one of the first and second tipping dies at an ultrasonic frequency of about 15 KHz to 70 KHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Semyon Shchervinsky
  • Patent number: 6003578
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable electric wrapping apparatus, comprising a motor to drive a main shaft, which moves a tensioning mechanism and a sealing and cutting unit. The tensioning mechanism and the sealing and cutting unit can be designed as individual modules and put together with the main body. The tensioning mechanism may be two frictional wheels each having cutting grooves or a single wheel aiming at the frictional plates to evenly apply pressure to the packaging tape therebetween and strain it for wrapping a package tightly. With the aid of a tension control rod, the tensioning mechanism can move the sealing and cutting unit downward to weld and cut the packaging tape automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: Jeff Chieh Huang Chang
  • Patent number: 5996601
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for mechanically bonding a polymer to a convex surface of a substrate to provide intimate contact therebetween for improved energy transport between a transducer on one side of the substrate and a chemical bath on the other. The polymer seals the surface of the substrate from the chemical bath and may have a low adhesion to the substrate. A thin film of the polymer is brought under a tensile stress to provide intimate physical contact with most of the area of the convex surface. In one embodiment, the tensile stress is achieved by providing polymer as a liquid on the convex surface and then cooling to take advantage of differential thermal contraction between the polymer and the substrate to achieve the tensile stress in the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick William Kern, Jr., Donald Joseph Martin
  • Patent number: 5997670
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for automatically applying self-adhesive protective sheeting to surface parts of vehicle bodies, a specific rectangular piece of protective sheeting in the form of stock roll is grasped on its non-adhesive side, using a robot-controlled tentering frame with suction legs, is drawn off and is cut off. Before the sheeting blank is laid on to the body, in the freely stretched-out state tear-off lines are perforated, preferably from the non-adhesive sheeting side, in the region of accessory parts by means of a perforating device guided along definite contour lines. Thereafter the protective sheeting, which is thus prepared and stretched out so as to be free of creases in the tentering frame, is lowered in the correct position onto the associated part by the handling robot and laid onto the surface part so as to be free of bubbles. The sheetings are subsequently pressed down in a brushing manner under an elastic brushing bar extending over the entire vehicle width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolfram Walter, Uwe Habisreitinger, Thomas Link, Bernhard Nordmann, Fritz Starzmann
  • Patent number: RE37154
    Abstract: Here is disclosed a method for manufacturing individual disposable underpants provided around a waist line and a pair of leg-holes with elastic members from two continuous webs and a plurality of continuous elastic members, characterized by that the webs are applied on predetermined locations with adhesive so that the elastic members can be reliably held on the webs although the elastic members must be forcibly curved when the elastic members are bonded between the webs with use of adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Nomura, Taiji Shimakawa, Sadanori Matsura, Hiroki Yamamoto, Hirofumi Ohnishi