With Separate (nonpress) Heating Means For Work Patents (Class 156/499)
  • Patent number: 6805771
    Abstract: This invention relates to a lamination apparatus and in particular to a dual belt driven, continuous pressure lamination apparatus that utilizes pressure, heat and cooling to bond at least two substrates (plies) with an adhesive between the layers of the substrates. The pressure laminator of the present invention has been specifically designed to permit the permanent joining of at least two fabric substrates with an adhesive between the fabric substrates, with little or no shrinkage occurring during the lamination process. The resulting non-woven fabric advantageously has the appearance of a woven fabric, but has superior strength characteristics there over. The pressure laminator of the present invention can have other uses, for example, printed circuit board substrate manufacture, and the like, as will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in this art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Kevin Dann
  • Publication number: 20040182493
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-autoclave method and apparatus for producing laminated glass. The method and apparatus provide a non-autoclave laminated glass process that is continuous and thus eliminates the batch processing of known autoclave processes. In addition, the method and equipment do not require vacuum processes, involving complicated vacuum bags, vacuum rings, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: James Allen Chick
  • Patent number: 6782935
    Abstract: A hot laminating apparatus has a single-sided transmitting and heating roller. A heating plate is used instead of a transmitting and heating roller at the opposite side of the transmission passage in order to heat the thin film in contact therewith and cooperate with the single-sided transmitting and heating roller to transmit the thin films to be laminated. The heating plate is efficient in heating the thin film and generally less expensive than the transmitting and heating roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Primax Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin-Fu Lin
  • Publication number: 20040163770
    Abstract: A carpet molding system includes a support structure having a receiving end and an output end. Two ovens and two receiving systems are coupled to the support structure. One receiving system receives an under-pad material through the receiving end and guides the under-pad material through one oven and through the output end. The other receiving system receives a carpet material through the receiving end and guides the carpet material through the other oven and through the output end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Norman Bennett
  • Patent number: 6755228
    Abstract: A shrinking device (1) for the thermal clamping and release of tools in shrink chucks has a preferably inductively operating heating device (17) for heating tool reception sections of shrink chucks and a cooling device for the active cooling of the heated shrink chucks. The device has several, particularly three work stations (5, 6, 7) and in each work station it is possible both to heat a shrink chuck and also actively cool the shrink chuck received. By pivoting a column (16) carrying the heating device it is possible to interchange between the workstations. The shrinking apparatus makes it possible on a continuous basis to shrink large numbers of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Kelch GmbH & Co. Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Matthias Kelch
  • Publication number: 20040112509
    Abstract: A one-step method of making a necked-bonded laminate, wherein the layers of the laminate are formed and laminated within the same process. The method includes forming a nonwoven web, necking the nonwoven web, and immediately feeding the nonwoven web into a laminator where an elastomeric film is laminated to the nonwoven web. The elastomeric film may also be formed during the process prior to being fed into the laminator. Additionally, more than one nonwoven web may be formed and laminated to the elastomeric film during the process. The invention further includes apparatus for carrying out the one-step method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Tod Morman
  • Publication number: 20040094531
    Abstract: The invention is a sealing system and a method of operation thereof. A sealing system which forms spaced apart thermal seals along a moving at least one web (60) by contact of the moving the at least one web with heated portions (74) of sealing elements (56) mounted on a sealing wheel (50) during rotation in accordance with the invention includes seal forming elements (56) which peripherally contact the at least one web to form the thermal seals by heat transfer to the at least one web; and wherein each seal forming element has an outer section (62) on which is located at least one electrical heater (78), an inner section (64) which contacts the sealing wheel and an intermediate section (70) which includes thermal insulation (68) which insulates the outer section from the inner section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: R.A Jones and Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Boris E. Makutonin, Frank G. Oliverio
  • Patent number: 6722412
    Abstract: A die bonder includes a conveyor, a pre-heater, at least one carrier, a paste-dispensing mechanism, a die taking/placing mechanism, and a heater. The conveyor continuously operates in a ring-shaped manner. The carrier is carried on the conveyor to position the substrate. The pre-heater heats the substrate to eliminate the moisture in the substrate. The paste-dispensing mechanism dispenses an adhesive agent onto the substrate. Then, the die taking/placing mechanism places a die onto the substrate at a position where the adhesive agent is dispensed. Finally, the heater is used to cure the adhesive agent so as to bond the die to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao-ting Huang, Kuang-chun Chou
  • Publication number: 20040060666
    Abstract: The component mounting equipment (30) mounts an FPC board (12) on an LCD board (11). The LCD board (11) has a first electrode section (11b) on one side edge and a second electrode section (11c) on another side edge. The FPC board (12) has a first section (12a) on one side edge and a second section (12b) on other side edge. A first mounting apparatus (31) mounts the first section (12a) on the first electrode section (11b). A second mounting apparatus (32) mounts the second section (12b) on the second electrode section (11c). In the second component mounting apparatus (32), the second section (12b) is separated from the second electrode section (11b) at an ACF supply section (170) and released at a pre-press bonding section (180).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Kenichi Nishino, Shinji Kanayama, Shinjiro Tsuji, Masayuki Ida, Tomotaka Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 6712110
    Abstract: This invention is related to an apparatus for attaching resists and wafers to substrates, including: first and a second moving devices for moving substrates and wafers respectively; a first tank for containing an adhesive agent; a dispensing device which dispenses a predetermined amount of the adhesive agent at the central region of the wafer; a third moving device for placing the substrate on the wafer, a compressing device which compresses the substrate to squeeze out any possible air bubble existing within the adhesive agent between the substrate and the wafer; a second tank for containing the adhesive agent; a fourth moving device for moving the attached substrate and the wafer together to the second tank such that the complete area of the wafer at the side thereof opposite to the substrate is covered with the adhesive agent in an appropriate amount; a mold having a plurality of cavities arranged in a required pattern; a supplying device for providing a plurality of resists on the mold; a shake-and-load d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: General Semiconductor of Taiwan, Ltd.
    Inventors: William John Nelson, Stanley Lai, Larry Shen, Jack Lin, Shyan-I Wu
  • Patent number: 6701991
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hot air welder that consecutively joins sheets of synthetic resin material together to make a large-sized pavilion or a tent fabric, or welds and seals the seam lines of waterproof textiles or the like for waterproofing process. Instead of the conventional table-shaped body, there are provided an upright-standing drive body; hot-air welding means on an upper-side of the drive body; upper and lower drive rollers under the welding means, and wherein the welding work is performed by rotating and using alternatively the upper drive roller or the lower drive roller, according to the kind of fabrics to be welded and the work-substances. Therefore the heat welding and waterproofing process may be performed more easily for more various shaped work-substances, and that the troublesome work-substances such as sleeve or shoulder parts of waterproof clothes that have various positioned and shaped seam lines may be moved and rotated easily by the worker to be heat-welded and become waterproofed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventor: Gi Won Seo
  • Publication number: 20040026029
    Abstract: Heat sealing apparatus for packaging machinery and particularly suitable for form, fill and seal packaging machinery. The heat sealing apparatus is for forming a continuous lengthways extending seal (29) on a web (18) of packaging material to be fed past it. The apparatus comprises a nozzle (50) connectable to a hot gas producer (62) which produces a flow of hot gas having a substantially constant temperature. The nozzle is mounted on a carrier (52) which is connected with a servo motor drive (56). The servo motor is controlled by a control system (48) so that in use it moves the nozzle relative to the web in accordance with variations in web feed velocity such that the flow of hot gas from the nozzle can apply a substantially constant heat to the web to form the seal (29). The apparatus allows a hot air producer which outputs hot air at a constant temperature and volume flow rate to apply a constant heat along the seal area despite variations in the web feed speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Simon Charles Martin, David Robert Seaward, Peter John Whitlock
  • Publication number: 20040026034
    Abstract: A glue film (11) is placed on a cellular structure (10) in order to form a regular glue strip on the edges of the partitions of the cells of this cellular structure (10), and this glue film (11) is heated by a source (24) that emits radiation adapted to reactivity of the glue, to heat it only selectively. The glue thus creeps without significantly triggering polymerisation. The portion of the part located below the source is preferably kept approximately horizontal so that the glue strip is formed under the best possible conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Bernark Colin, Denis De Mattia
  • Publication number: 20040026028
    Abstract: Process for heating a substrate, which contains, relative to the total weight of the substrate, 0.1 to 70 wt. % of metallic, magnetic, ferrimagnetic, ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic or superparamagnetic particles having an average particle size of between 1 and 5000 nm, wherein the substrate is exposed to electromagnetic radiation, characterized in that the electromagnetic radiation comprises microwave radiation with a frequency in the range from 1 to 300 GHz and the substrate is simultaneously exposed to a direct-current magnetic field, the field strength of which is at least twice the strength of the earth's magnetic field; use of the process for producing or detaching adhesive bonds; device for the simultaneous production of microwave radiation with a frequency within the range from 1 to 300 GHz and a direct-current magnetic field, the field strength of which is at least twice the strength of the earth's magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Christian Kirsten, Marcel Roth, Olaf Lammerschop, Hans-Martin Sauer
  • Patent number: 6688362
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-functional press for welding plastic tubes and joints particularly polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene and polyvinyldifluoride tubes and joints, comprising a first fixed base and a second base, movable with respect to said first base along sliding guides, a first vise group, mounted on said first base and a second vise group mounted on said second base, a thermo-element, provided on a guide parallel with respect to said first and second base and coupled with said guide in such a way to be provided in a working position between said vise groups, and in a rest position, completely out of the operation field of said vise groups, and in a lowered position with respect to the operation field of said vise groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Giovanni Meirana
  • Publication number: 20040016503
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a coated wire or other elongated article including a means to extrude a polymer in tubular form around the wire or article and a means to increase the temperature of the wire or article before extrusion of the polymer thereon. The extruded polymer is elongated from the extrusion opening to the elongated article, forming a melt cone, were the relative feeding speed of the heated elongated article and the extrusion rate of the polymer are controlled and with the aid of at least a partial vacuum that is achieved in the extrusion tooling and inside the melt cone the extruded polymer tightly encases the wire achieving a thin polymer coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventor: Matthew Shawn Stowe
  • Patent number: 6668891
    Abstract: A friction material has a plurality of connected sections defined by a plurality of notches therebetween. Each notch has an apex which compensates for tear and compression of the friction material when the friction material is circumferentially placed on a flat surface of an annular core plate. In certain embodiments, a multiple linked loading device places the notched friction material adjacent a core plate to form a clutch plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Dean A. Collis
  • Patent number: 6665492
    Abstract: A high-velocity, accurately responsive impingement heater provides heated air at a substantially constant temperature to a process location to effect control of a process. The heater includes an air line for conducting air from an inlet thereof to the process location. A heat exchanger, including a plurality of electrical heating elements, heats air conducted through the air line. A power driver is connected to the heat exchanger and applies current to the heat exchanger. A controller is connected to the driver and receives a predetermined process temperature input from the user, as required for effecting control of the process. A process temperature sensor is positioned at the process location and measures the temperature of the air provided to the process location. The process temperature sensor provides a process temperature signal to the controller which is indicative of the air temperature at the process location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman
    Inventors: Robert Michael Garcia, David Bohman Tracy
  • Patent number: 6648043
    Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus for forming sheets of sheet plastic onto a substrate in which a retractable substrate heater is able to be positioned over a substrate loaded into the press and energized while a plastic sheet is being heated in an oven included in the thermoformer apparatus. The plastic sheets are cut from a strip pulled from a roll of sheet material, the roll supported for side to side movement and driven by a servomotor responsive to error signals generated by a strip edge sensor to compensate for wandering of a strip edge to thereby insure accurate location of plastic sheets cut from the unwound strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Brown Machine, LLC.
    Inventors: James H. Kundinger, Victor L. Chun, Fredrick A. Nehring
  • Patent number: 6644371
    Abstract: Drive device for a handheld heater unit for welding plastic sealing webs and sheets, which is equipped with a heater device for heating the plastic sealing webs and sheets which are to be welded. The drive device has an elongate housing with a pressure-exerting and driving roller, by means of which the joining force can be applied in the vertical direction with respect to the plastic sealing webs and sheets. Furthermore, there is a coupling unit for joining the housing to the heater unit, in such a manner that the longitudinal axes of the housing and of the heater unit run substantially parallel to one another. In the housing there is a motor, which drives the pressure-exerting and driving roller, the height and/or distance of which with respect to the heater device is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Leister Process Technologies
    Inventors: Walter Zurmuehle, Bruno von Wyl
  • Patent number: 6637489
    Abstract: A wafer for use in selectively connecting and disconnecting plastic tubes is in the form of a heatable plate having side walls and having a leading end and a trailing end. An outwardly extending scoop is formed on each of the side walls between and spaced from the leading end and the trailing end. A pair of slits is formed in the trailing end in line with the scoops for reducing the amount of plastic material remaining on the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Denco, Inc.
    Inventor: Dudley W. C. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6610159
    Abstract: An apparatus for seaming roofing membranes to one another, wherein one of the membranes is secured to an underlying support structure by at least one protruding fastener, the apparatus including a wheeled carriage having an upwardly extending push/pull bar, a power supply carried by the carriage, the power supply driving the wheeled carriage, a heating assembly carried by the carriage and powered by the power supply, the heating assembly including a fan and a heating element, wherein the fan blows ambient air over the heating element and generate a heated airflow sufficient to fuse the roofing membranes to one another, a nozzle coupled to the heating assembly for directing the heated airflow between the two membranes, the nozzle having a pair of outer channels and an elevated center channel disposed between the pair of outer channels, the elevated channel passing over the at least one protruding fastener, and a variable pressure roller assembly coupled to the carriage, the roller assembly having a pair of out
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: BFS Diversified Products, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Henegar
  • Patent number: 6602308
    Abstract: A method of making an air filter insert for cleaning the combustion air of an internal combustion engine. The method includes producing the filter insert (21) from a pleated filter medium (33) which is formed into a hollow cylinder, in which at least one end plate (33, 34) made of thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic polyurethane is disposed on the axial end faces of the filter medium (33). The at least one end plate (33, 34) is bonded to the cylindrical filter medium (33) by heating the filter medium or the end plate (33, 34) with a high-temperature heating element and fusing the filter medium (33) and the end plate (33, 34) to form a welded joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Carle, Volker Greif, Stefan Kochert, Bernd Spaeth, Klaus Moessinger
  • Patent number: 6588475
    Abstract: A device for welding overlapping roof membranes comprising a chassis, an air discharge chute and a flame distribution assembly communicating with the air discharge chute. The flame distribution assembly includes a gaseous fuel source inlet, a primary burner, and an ignition source. A control unit ignites the primary burner by the ignition source. The blower connected to an inlet port of the air discharge chute directs heat generated by the primary burner through an air discharge outlet for welding the overlapping roof membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: NTE Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Simon, Jr., Scott M. Bockelman, Don Dubuc
  • Patent number: 6581663
    Abstract: A weld wheel assembly for disposition on a membrane welding machine, and for positioning a weld wheel adjacent a nozzle hot air outlet for pressing an overlying roof membrane heated by the nozzle against an underlying roof membrane heated by the nozzle, for welding the membranes together. The assembly includes a weld wheel rotatably mounted on an axle which is moveable toward and away from the membranes, and pressure exerting structure mounted on the machine and operable to bias the axle toward the membranes during operation of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Sarnafil, Inc.
    Inventors: James Rubenacker, Brian Whelan, Paul Peterson, Claus Pfotenhauer
  • Publication number: 20030094241
    Abstract: A die bonder includes a conveyor, a pre-heater, at least one carrier, a paste-dispensing mechanism, a die taking/placing mechanism, and a heater. The conveyor continuously operates in a ring-shaped manner. The carrier is carried on the conveyor to position the substrate. The pre-heater heats the substrate to eliminate the moisture in the substrate. The paste-dispensing mechanism dispenses an adhesive agent onto the substrate. Then, the die taking/placing mechanism places a die onto the substrate at a position where the adhesive agent is dispensed. Finally, the heater is used to cure the adhesive agent so as to bond the die to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Yao-Ting Huang, Kuang-Chun Chou
  • Patent number: 6559296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting nucleic acid molecules such as target DNA molecules and mRNA molecules by using a DNA probe, and provides a DNA capillary, comprising a fluid passageway formed of a cylindrical capillary made of glass, a plurality of independent probe regions formed in the inner wall of the fluid passageway, and DNA probes each immobilized in the probe region, the immobilized DNA probes differing from each other. For performing the measurement, a sample is introduced through an open portion into the capillary so as to perform reaction and, then, fluorimetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Suyama
  • Patent number: 6554947
    Abstract: A method for attaching thermoplastic strips to a roof of thermoplastic roof membranes includes the steps of providing strips of thermoplastic material, the strips each comprising an upstanding central portion extending lengthwise thereof, and opposed flange portions extending widthwise from the central portion, positioning the strip proximate a selected position on the roof for attachment to the roof, providing a self-propelled apparatus having means for affixing the strip onto the roof, and directing the apparatus along a line delineating the selected position on the roof to guide the strip into position adjacent the line and to affix the strip onto the roof membrane alongside the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sarnafil, Inc.
    Inventors: Claus Pfotenhauer, Brian Whelan, James C. Rubenacker
  • Publication number: 20030075275
    Abstract: An IC-card manufacturing apparatus manufactures an IC card from a laminated substrate including an electronic component and laminate materials which sandwich the electronic component. The IC-card manufacturing apparatus includes a laminated-substrate sandwiching unit which includes upper and lower sandwiching sections for sandwiching the laminated substrate in a sealed state; an evacuation unit for evacuating air from the interior of the laminated substrate; and an evacuation mechanism section which sandwiches the laminated-substrate sandwiching unit in order to form an upper evacuation chamber above the upper sandwiching section and a lower evacuation chamber below the lower sandwiching section and which evacuates air from the upper and lower evacuation chambers by use of the evacuation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Suinobu Kubota
  • Patent number: 6551449
    Abstract: Electric conductor patterns including antenna coils are formed on one surface of a film. Electronic components are fixed onto the film by a temporary fixing material. A cover film is laminated on the film so that the electrically conductive patterns and the electronic components are covered with the cover film. Simultaneously with the lamination, the electronic components are connected to the electric conductor patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Fujikawa, Yutaka Hashimoto, Isamu Takaoka, Shinichi Kazui, Hideaki Sasaki, Hitoshi Odashima, Mitsugu Shirai
  • Patent number: 6550514
    Abstract: An indexer system for a plastic pipe butt-fusion machine of the type having a machine super-structure, parallel horizontal support shafts affixed to the super-structure, a first clamp system for removably grasping an end portion of a first length of plastic pipe, a second clamp system for removably grasping an end portion of a second length of plastic pipe and an actuator system for moving the plastic pipes toward and away from each other, the indexing system having an indexer shaft mounted on the super-structure spaced from and parallel to the support shafts, an indexer carriage slidable on the indexer shaft, a facer and a heater pivotally secured to the indexer carriage, a translation mechanism for laterally positioning the indexer carriage to thereby locate the facer and heater between lengths of plastic pipe and a structural beam secured to the super-structure and parallel to the indexer shaft, the indexer carriage being slidably secured to the structural beam so that it is retained in predetermined orien
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Connectra Fusion Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bill D. Andrew
  • Publication number: 20030066602
    Abstract: A multilayer plastic film having a heat-sealable surface layer is initially provided at a process temperature above a heat-sealing temperature of the surface layer. To prevent the surface layer from adhering onto a deflection roller, this layer must be cooled below the heat-sealing temperature. A cooling arrangement is positioned directly upstream from the deflection roller and blows cold air onto the heat-sealable surface layer. Thereby, the surface layer is rapidly cooled below the heat-sealing temperature, while most of the multilayer film is not substantially cooled and remains close to the process temperature. A counter-heater may heat the opposite surface of the plastic film as the cooling arrangement cools the heat-sealable surface layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: Lindauer DORNIER Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Andreas Rutz, Adolf Mueller
  • Patent number: 6539999
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a paint roller are disclosed. The apparatus includes a mandrel, a first core material strip feeder, a second core material strip feeder, a fabric cover strip feeder, a first heater, a second heater, a first liquid adhesive applicator and a second liquid adhesive applicator. The first core material strip feeder feeds a first strip of core material about the mandrel. The second core material strip feeder feeds a second strip of core material about the mandrel. The fabric cover strip feeder feeds a strip of fabric cover material about the mandrel and about at least one of the first and second strips of core material. The first and second heaters are actuatable between a first active state in which the first and second heaters apply heat to an outer surface of the first and second strips of core material, respectively, and an inactive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Newell Operating Company
    Inventors: Bruce C. Polzin, Lawrence J. Bower, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030057583
    Abstract: A method of making an interior trim panel for attachment to structure of a vehicle includes the steps of placing a trim insert into a cavity of an apparatus and over a first seal thereof. The method also includes the steps of loading a retainer over the trim insert to sandwich the trim insert between the retainer and the first seal and closing the apparatus. The method further includes the steps of filling the cavity with a plastic material and introducing steam into the apparatus to expand the plastic material to form a substrate and bonding the substrate against the trim insert to form an interior trim panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: David Wayne Whitehead, Carl Henry Visconti, Arthur Carl Stein, David M. White, Thomas W. Gibson, Ismael Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6537402
    Abstract: A roof membrane welding apparatus capable of applying a weld to a first membrane and an overlapping second membrane. The apparatus includes a movably supported chassis, a welder attached to the chassis for heating the top membrane to at least the vicant softening point to weld the overlapping second membrane and the first membrane, and at least one weld wheel rotatably attached to the chassis and located rearward of the nozzle relative to the direction of movement of the apparatus, the weld wheel including a marker having an indicia thereon that is transferred to a top surface of the second membrane only where the first membrane and the second membrane have undergone a phase change during heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Omnova Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Harold T. Pate, Dave Scott
  • Patent number: 6536498
    Abstract: Pressure roller and heating element combination for a welding apparatus and a method designed to weld a first thermoplastic sheet laid on the deck of a roof structure and secured to the deck by a line of fastening means, and an overlapping second thermoplastic sheet disposed over the line of the fastening means. The pressure roller includes a distal end, a proximal end, and a center portion which defines a groove. The groove is provided with an elastomeric cushion to smoothly ride over the line of fastening means and expel air from between welds produced on both sides of the fastening means when the apparatus is advanced in tandem with a heating element longitudinally along the overlapping portions of the thermoplastic sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Building Materials Corporation of America
    Inventors: Krishna Srinivasan, Brian E. Duffy
  • Patent number: 6533014
    Abstract: A nozzle for directing discrete streams of air along separated and parallel first and second paths includes a chamber for receiving air of a selected temperature, a first outlet arm extending from the chamber and having a first outlet at a distal end thereof and in a first outlet plane, and a second outlet arm extending from the chamber and having a second outlet at a distal end thereof and in a second outlet plane, an axis of the second outlet arm being generally parallel with an axis of the first outlet arm, the second outlet plane being offset from the first outlet plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Sarnafil, Inc.
    Inventors: James Rubenacker, Brian Whelan, Paul Peterson, Claus Pfotenhauer
  • Patent number: 6527027
    Abstract: In a single-point bonding apparatus that connects the end portions of leads or the cut end portions of leads to pads respectively by pressing such end portions of leads or cut end portions of leads with a tool, a cleaning stage that is used to clean the tool is additionally provided, and a cleaning chip is disposed on the surface of the cleaning stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
    Inventors: Kazuo Sugiura, Koichi Takahashi, Shigeru Shiozawa
  • Patent number: 6517595
    Abstract: An intake duct for introducing outside air into an air cleaner of an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a hollow duct body with an opening, and a piece of non-woven fabric, formed in a flat shape, is joined to the duct body to close the opening. The duct body includes a circumferential wall formed of a resin, and the opening is formed along a plane extending through a portion of the circumferential wall. The piece of non-woven fabric is fixed to the duct body so that some of the resin of the duct body penetrates into the non-woven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kino, Hidetoshi Ishihara, Takahiro Komori, Yoshikazu Hirose, Katsumi Yokohashi, Yoshikazu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20030019586
    Abstract: An apparatus for seaming roofing membranes to one another, wherein one of the membranes is secured to an underlying support structure by at least one protruding fastener, the apparatus including a wheeled carriage having an upwardly extending push/pull bar, a power supply carried by the carriage, the power supply driving the wheeled carriage, a heating assembly carried by the carriage and powered by the power supply, the heating assembly including a fan and a heating element, wherein the fan blows ambient air over the heating element and generate a heated airflow sufficient to fuse the roofing membranes to one another, a nozzle coupled to the heating assembly for directing the heated airflow between the two membranes, the nozzle having a pair of outer channels and an elevated center channel disposed between the pair of outer channels, the elevated channel passing over the at least one protruding fastener, and a variable pressure roller assembly coupled to the carriage, the roller assembly having a pair of out
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Henegar
  • Publication number: 20030019559
    Abstract: The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the foregoing prior art devices and meets the foregoing needs by providing an apparatus and method for accurately sealing a multi-purpose reclosable zipper strip to a web of flexible film in an airtight manner. Moreover, the inventive apparatus and method is capable of repeatedly performing the steps necessary to seal tape to web with high throughout and with low cycle times. Generally, the apparatus and method utilizes a zipper tape having airtight splotch seals fused in series along desired lengths of the zipper tape. The zipper tape is dispensed through a feeding mechanism and, when an optical sensor detects one of the splotch seal portions of the zipper tape, a desired length of zipper tape is advanced over an elevator platform. A knife is then signaled to descend and sever the advanced portion of zipper tape, which is thus deposited onto the elevator platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Donald K. Wright, Christopher L. Pemberton, James K. Hankins
  • Publication number: 20030006013
    Abstract: A die bonding device for installing electronic components S on a metal stem, comprising a bonding nozzle for suctioning an electronic component S and positioning the electronic component S on a component mounting face of the stem, a stem carrying head for carrying the stem, a heater section for heating the electronic component S while it is positioned on the component mounting face of the stem, and an imaging camera having a light axis L extending through the component mounting face of the stem when positioned inside the heater section, which performs reciprocating motion in the direction of the light axis L.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kawashima, Hiroshi Nitta, Masanori Izumi
  • Patent number: 6485593
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sterilely coupling two bodies of fluids in fluid communication utilizes a clamp transportable into a sterile enclosure. A pair of tubing segments, each communicating with one of the fluid bodies, is preferably retained in the clamp and transported into the sterile enclosure. The clamp maintains the shape of the tubing segments during the process. Portions of the tubing segments are severed within the enclosure and the remaining ends are heated. The heat may be provided with a hollow disk into which is blown heated air. The ends of the tubing segments are transported out of the enclosure and bonded together while held within the clamps. The clamps prevent deformation of the tubing segments during the process. The process may be partially or fully automated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Kurt J. Christoffersen
  • Patent number: 6485402
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a heating arrangement for a moving material web, particularly a pre-heater for a corrugated cardboard facility, with a rotating heating roll (3) which can be wrapped around by the material web (13) to be heated at a predetermined looping angle, and with at least two guide mechanisms (7, 11) for the material web which can pivot around the periphery of the heating roll while maintaining their relative positions to each other. The looping angle is determined by means of the position of a first (7) of the at least two guide mechanisms. A second (11) of the at least two guide mechanisms is arranged relative to the first guide mechanism such that in the position of the guide mechanisms defining the maximum looping angle, the material web (13) not directly wrapping around the heating roll (3) is guided at a distance from the heating roll by means of a second guide mechanism (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: BHS Corrugated Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Bauer
  • Patent number: 6471819
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for coating the surface of an object, especially the surface of a car bumper (1) with a plastic film (2). During and/or after application of the plastic film to the surface, the coating is irradiated with infra-red radiation in order to heat at least parts of the coating and/or optionally residual moisture between the surface and the plastic film (2). This enables slight inequalities of the plastic film to be compensated, the adhesive coating is distributed in a homogeneous manner and the optionally residual moisture is collected in the form of bubbles following infrared radiation. Defects or irregularities in the coating can thus be identified during or shortly afterwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Photonics Technologies AG
    Inventors: Kai K. O. Bär, Rainer Gaus
  • Patent number: 6471803
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hot air welding apparatus that provides accurate and repeatable control of the drive wheel speed. To afford very precise control of the speed and the relative rotation of the drive wheels at all times during the welding process, the present invention is provided with a computer control system and two high torque stepper motors, one for each drive wheel. The computer control system allows the speed and position of the drive wheels to be regulated with a very high accuracy. The computer control system allows the drive wheel settings to be adjusted while the seam is being welded and further includes an automatic ramp capability, a repeat mode, and a test strip mode. Further, the computer control system is capable of controlling the temperature of the air used in the welding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventors: Ray Pelland, Christopher K. Chambers, David R. Gahr
  • Patent number: 6467523
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laminating apparatus for sealing or sealing in flat material with the aid of at least one plastic laminating film coated with an adhesive. The laminating apparatus includes a laminating unit and a deposition unit. Lamination is performed as the material passes through a laminating unit, which has at least one pair of rolls with transport rolls driven in opposite senses in the pass direction. To obtain laminates free from curvature, the invention proposes that the transport rolls of the at least one pair of rolls are arranged in pairs at the same height and delimit a nip which can be supplied in a vertically downward pass direction, and in that the deposition unit is arranged underneath the laminating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Esselte N.V.
    Inventor: Klaus Botta
  • Patent number: 6453964
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying strips of thermoplastic material to thermoplastic roofing membranes, the strips each having an upstanding central portion extending lengthwise thereof and opposed flange portions extending widthwise from the central portion. The apparatus includes a self-propelled housing having drive wheels thereon for movably supporting the housing on the membranes. A guide member is mounted on the housing for disposal over one of the strips and is adapted to receive the strip central portion and guide the strip into a position beneath the housing as the housing moves over the strip. A pressure wheel is mounted on the housing rearwardly of the guide member, the pressure wheel having a peripheral groove adapted to receive the strip central portion, and two peripheral edges adapted to engage the opposed flange portions of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Sarnafil International AG
    Inventors: Claus Pfotenhauer, Brian Whelan
  • Publication number: 20020121335
    Abstract: An apparatus for fixing the position of a metal end cap on a filter element includes a filter support, an inductive heater, and a drive system for moving the heater relative to the filter support. Preferably, the apparatus also includes a second inductive heater. Where two heaters are used, the drive system simultaneously moves the first and second inductive heaters in substantially opposite directions, using a control shaft extending between first and second support pillars. Each end of the control shaft is threaded, and the threading on the second end is formed in an opposite direction to the threading on the first end. Each of the heaters is threadably connected to the control shaft. A motor is provided for rotating the control shaft. A method of forming a filter cartridge, using the disclosed apparatus, is another aspect of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Gary J. Osterfeld, Gary G. Parent
  • Patent number: 6418996
    Abstract: Laminator including: a pair of fixing seats fixedly mounted in a housing opposite to each other; a pair of pressing rollers parallelly pivotally installed between the pair of fixing seats, the rotary shafts at one end of the pressing rollers being respectively fitted in two gears which are drivingly engaged with each other, one of the gears being engaged with and driven by a driving gear of a driving motor; a thermally conductive casing assembly fixedly mounted between the fixing seats for rotatably containing therein the pair of pressing rollers, a rear end of the thermally conductive casing assembly being formed with an enlarged exit, a front end of the thermally conductive casing assembly being formed with a longitudinal entrance; and at least one heating member 4 fixed on the thermally conductive casing assembly for heating the same. Prior to passing through the pressing rollers, an article to be laminated is first heated by the thermally conductive casing assembly to a certain temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Tex Year Industries Incorporation
    Inventor: Chin-Tsung Hsiao