With Sonic Or Ultrasonic Means Patents (Class 156/580.1)
  • Patent number: 11947491
    Abstract: In an aspect an apparatus for geometric part searching is presented. An apparatus includes at least a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the at least a processor. At least a processor is configured to generate a search index as a function of a plurality of part specification files. At least a processor is configured to receive an input part specification file. At least a processor is configured to generate a query for an input part as a function of an input part specification file and a search index. A query is configured to output a comparison of an input part specification file to a part estimation specification file. At least a processor is configured to identify a matching part estimation file from a plurality of query results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Paperless Parts, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Sawyer, Dana A. Wensberg, Jason Ray, William H. Headrick, IV, John Peck, Lucas M. Duros, James L. Jacobs, II
  • Patent number: 11897047
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an ultrasonic welding installation comprising an ultrasonic vibration unit having a sonotrode and a converter, wherein the sonotrode and the converter are arranged in mutually adjacent relationship along a longitudinal axis and the ultrasonic vibration unit can be caused to resonate with an ultrasonic vibration in the direction of the longitudinal axis with a wavelength ?, wherein there can be provided an amplitude transformer arranged between the sonotrode and the converter, wherein there is provided a holder for holding the ultrasonic vibration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HERRMANN ULTRASCHALLTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Raffaele Mancini, Johannes Pohl, Ulrich Vogler, Stefan Zendler
  • Patent number: 11872113
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for assembling elastic laminates that may be used to make absorbent article components. Particular aspects of the present disclosure include providing a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate, each having a width in a cross direction; providing an elastic material; elongating the activated elastic material using a spreader mechanism; and ultrasonically bonding the first substrate together with the second substrate with the elongated activated elastic material positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate using an anvil and an ultrasonic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Todd Douglas Lenser, Urmish Popatlal Dalal
  • Patent number: 11873128
    Abstract: A system includes a first horn, a first ultrasonic transducer, a second horn, a second ultrasonic transducer, a memory, and a controller. The first horn includes a first part-interfacing surface. The second horn includes a second part-interfacing surface and is positioned relative to the first horn such that a part to be welded can be positioned between the first and second part-interface surfaces. The controller is configured to cause a first ultrasonic energy to be applied through the first horn via the first transducer to cause the first part-interfacing surface to vibrate, cause the first horn to move in a first direction at a first time, cause a second ultrasonic energy to be applied through the second horn via the second transducer to cause the second part-interfacing surface to vibrate, and cause the second horn to move in a second direction at the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Dukane IAS, LLC
    Inventors: Leo Klinstein, Petr Vasko, Robert Edward Aldaz, Joseph Re, Andrew Germaine
  • Patent number: 11744744
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an elastic composite structure is provided. The apparatus includes an anvil having a face with a first edge and a second edge separated in a cross-machine direction and a first contact surface extending out from the face, the first contact surface including a first notch. The first notch has an interior configured to receive a portion of an elastic thread and a portion of a web layer therein, and the first notch includes a first facing surface and a second facing surface defining at least a portion of the interior. Each of the first facing surface and the second facing surface are in a non-perpendicular orientation relative to the first contact surface and angled toward the first edge of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CURT G. JOA, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Fritz
  • Patent number: 11679413
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an ultrasonic vibration system comprising a sonotrode which has two sonotrode end faces and a circumferentially extending lateral surface connecting the two sonotrode end faces together, wherein the sonotrode has an elongate core element and at least one wing element, wherein core element and wing element respectively extend from the one sonotrode end face to the other sonotrode end face in a longitudinal direction, wherein the wing element has a sealing surface which is provided to come into contact with a material for processing thereof and is connected to the core element by way of a plurality of webs spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the core element, and a converter which is optionally connected to the sonotrode by way of an amplitude transformer. According to the invention it is proposed that the ultrasonic vibration system is connected to a machine stand by way of a mounting connected to the lateral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: HERRMANN ULTRASCHALLTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Ulrich Vogler
  • Patent number: 11648737
    Abstract: A sonotrode includes multiple layers of a material melted to one another to form a structure. The structure provides a base that has an attachment feature that is configured to operatively secure to an ultrasonic converter. The structure includes a shaft that extends from the base to a terminal end that provides a working surface that is configured to selectively engage a workpiece. The structure has at least one shaft that includes a first shaft that extends from the base to a first terminal end that provides a first working surface that is configured to selectively engage a workpiece. The first shaft is integrally formed with the base from the multiple layers to provide an unbroken, monolithic construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DB SONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shawn Beach, Theodore Robert Brown, David Diegel
  • Patent number: 11433620
    Abstract: A method and system for fabricating an article using a first bonding module having a first bonding module face and a second bonding module having a second bonding module face include supplying a first non-woven fabric to at least one of the first bonding module face and the second bonding module face, and supplying a plurality of elastic strands to a surface of the first non-woven fabric. The method and system further include entrapping a first elastic strand between a first pair of adjacent bonds in a first row in the first non-woven fabric, entrapping a second elastic strand between a second pair of adjacent bonds in the first row, and creating a third pair of adjacent bonds in the first row free of elastic bands therebetween. The third pair of adjacent bonds is located between the first pair of adjacent bonds and the second pair of adjacent bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: DUKANE IAS, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas David Ehlert, Patrick Sean McNichols, Daniel James Sorensen, Casey John Morin, Brandon Leo Begrow, Michael A Snyder, Thomas Arthur Bett
  • Patent number: 11253426
    Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out treatments on the human body, which includes a central unit provided with a compressor and two operational heads, each provided with a plate intended to contact the skin of the patient to be treated, and susceptible of being temperature-conditioned with a corresponding hot or cold fluid. Moreover, each operational head is provided with a plurality of pneumatic actuators, which are operable to move, in a retracted position and in a protruding position, by corresponding solenoid valves which are housed in the operational head, and are connected to the compressor (9) and to the corresponding pneumatic actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TIRS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Peron
  • Patent number: 11225033
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic welding device comprising a sonotrode (14) transmitting ultrasonic vibrations and an anvil (15) disposed on an anvil carrier (17), the anvil (15) being disposed on the anvil carrier (17) in an exchangeable manner so that an mounting surface (21) of the anvil (15) rests against a support surface (22) of the anvil carrier (17) by means of a normal force exerted by a pretensioning device, the mounting surface (21) of the anvil (15) having a surface hardness greater than the surface hardness of the support surface (22) of the anvil carrier (17), the mounting surface (21) having a surface structure at least in the area of a partial surface, and the mounting surface (21) having a surface roughness of Rz/Ra?2 at least in the area of the partial surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: SCHUNK SONOSYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Mueller, Rainer Wagenbach, Waldemar Werner
  • Patent number: 11077621
    Abstract: A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: WOODWELDING AG
    Inventors: Jörg Mayer, Patricia Poschner, Joakim Kvist, Mario Lehmann, Patrick Mooser
  • Patent number: 11059232
    Abstract: A portable table top welder for welding plastic material webs, the portable table top welder including a frame including a carrier housing and a support arm at which a welding device is arranged; at least one transport roller including a rotatable transport roller axle and at least one contact pressure roller that is rotatably supported at the carrier housing, wherein a weight is arranged at an eccentrical element which is rotatably connected at one side by a concentrically supported eccentrical element axle at the carrier housing and rotatably connected at another side by an eccentrically supported contact pressure roller axle at the contact pressure roller. The table top welder handles and transports easily and can be mounted on a table or on another carrier structure in a disengageable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Leister Technologies AG
    Inventors: Benedikt Rieser, Adolf Niederberger, Falko Strahl
  • Patent number: 10940647
    Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous method for producing a fiber-reinforced semi-finished plate. The present invention also provides a device for carrying out the continuous method for producing a fiber-reinforced semi-finished plate. The present invention provides the fiber-reinforced semi-finished plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Mattias Knaupp, Thomas Grimm, Henning Börger
  • Patent number: 10807750
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sealing apparatus which allows for easy maintenance of a horn and high cooling efficiency of the horn is provided. The ultrasonic sealing apparatus includes a horn that abuts on a cylindrical material and applies vibration thereto, and a horn cover which includes a small frames that cover a lateral surface of the horn and have slits through which a space in which the horn is enclosed communicates with outside, the horn cover being removably attached independently from the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kimura, Noritaka Yuhara
  • Patent number: 10683117
    Abstract: A container sealing apparatus including: a rotating spindle (24); a rotating turret means (38) disposed around the rotating spindle and having pockets (40) along a circular transport path; container support means (42) arranged below the rotating turret means in correspondence with the pockets (40), and which can rotate about the rotating spindle and rotate on their axes; lid pressing means (44) arranged above the rotating turret means in correspondence with the container support means, which can rotate about the rotating spindle and rotate on their axes, and can ascend and descend relative to the container support means; and laser irradiation means (46) capable of rotating about the rotating spindle and adapted to direct laser light toward the container (2), against which the lid (14) has been pressed by the container support means and the lid pressing means, thereby heat welding the lid (14) to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO SEIKAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Sawada, Kiyotaka Shinozaki, Yoshiaki Shinagawa, Satoshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 10683118
    Abstract: An anvil is provided in an ultrasonic sealing machine, in which vibration applying surfaces of a pair of horns and an abutment surface on an end face of the anvil cooperate with each other to bond a laminate. The abutment surface includes left and right welding surfaces which are disposed in the extending direction of the vibration applying surface and protrude toward the horns to face two vibration applying surfaces. The left and right welding surfaces each have an area per unit length in the extending direction, which continuously or step-wisely increases with an increase in distance from a center of the seal area, which is a region where the two vibration applying surfaces are adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noritaka Yuhara
  • Patent number: 10647063
    Abstract: A method for sealing the edges of composite fiber components includes applying a thermoplastic semifinished product to a cut edge of a composite fiber component and thermoplastically or integrally joining the thermoplastic semifinished product to the cut edge of the composite fiber component by ultrasonic welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Born
  • Patent number: 10625893
    Abstract: A device for processing, in particular for ultrasound welding, of packaging sleeves and/or packagings includes at least two tools for processing, in particular for ultrasound welding, of packaging sleeves. Each tool has an operating region. The tools are supported in such a manner that there is produced between the operating regions a gap whose longitudinal direction corresponds to the transport direction of the packaging sleeves, and the tools are supported in such a manner that the size of the gap can be changed. In order also to enable continuous welding of the packaging sleeves in a reliable manner with changing material thicknesses, there is provided at least one parallel spring on which at least one of the tools is movably supported transversely relative to the transport direction of the packaging sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventor: Michael Schaaf
  • Patent number: 10567024
    Abstract: A case or cover for en electronic device, the case having at least one hermetically sealed liquid filled chamber with an ultrasonically welded joint on the inside of the back shell of the case, and a method for manufacturing such a case or cover, and for forming a hermetically sealed liquid filled chamber in or on a case or cover with improved sealing characteristics and leak resistance. Multi-colored liquids suspended in an immiscible solution may be contained in the chamber(s) to generate color overlaid patterns visible through the back of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: CASE-MATE, INC.
    Inventors: Saumil Chetan Mody, Nitin Koshy Philip
  • Patent number: 10511011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrolyte impregnation apparatus comprising: a pressing unit comprising a pressing plate that presses a battery cell in which an electrode assembly and an electrolyte are accommodated; and an ultrasonic vibration unit installed to a portion or the whole of the pressing plate to apply ultrasonic vibration to the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gyu Ok Hwang
  • Patent number: 10479025
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module, a second bonding module positioned in close proximity to the first bonding module, and a pinching device. The first bonding module and the second bonding module are adapted to bond at least one elastic strand of the elastic nonwoven material. The pinching device is adapted to limit a snap-back potential of the at least one elastic strand if the at least one elastic strand becomes severed during bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: AURIZON ULTRASONICS, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas David Ehlert, Patrick Sean McNichols, Daniel James Sorensen, Casey John Morin, Brandon Leo Begrow, Michael A Snyder, Thomas Arthur Bett
  • Patent number: 10476351
    Abstract: A drive module with a housing, an electric motor coupled to the housing, a differential assembly, a transmission, and a filter-strainer assembly. The housing has an exterior wall member that defines an internal cavity and a suction tube. The internal cavity at least partly forms a lubricant sump with a sump outlet. The suction tube is spaced apart from and does not intersect the internal cavity such that the suction tube is not in direct fluid communication with the internal cavity. The differential assembly and transmission are received in the internal cavity and the transmission transmits rotary power between the electric motor and the differential assembly. The filter-strainer assembly is coupled to the housing and has a filter-strainer inlet, which is coupled in fluid communication to the sump outlet, and a filter-strainer outlet, which is directly coupled in fluid communication to a suction tube inlet of the suction tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Francis, Larry A. Pritchard
  • Patent number: 10399274
    Abstract: A method for ultrasonic welding of materials, comprising generating ultrasonic waves in a welding assembly; transmitting the generated waves along the welding assembly in a first direction; receiving the generated waves in a sonotrode, the waves entering the sonotrode while propagating along the first direction; causing the received waves within the sonotrode to propagate along a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction; and oscillating a welding surface of the sonotrode using peaks and valleys of the waves propagating in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Edison Welding Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew A. Short
  • Patent number: 10363077
    Abstract: A perforated sheath is anchored in a tissue opening with the aid of a tool, wherein the anchorage is achieved with the aid of mechanical vibration and a material which is liquefiable by the vibration. The tool includes a vibrating element and a counter element. Distal portions of both elements are introduced into the sheath to be in contact with each other at an interface. The vibrating element is connected to a vibration source and the vibrating element and the counter element are held against each other for effecting liquefaction of the liquefiable material at the interface. Under the effect of the force applied to the vibrating and counter element for holding them against each other, the liquefied material flows from the interface through the sheath perforation and penetrates the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: WOODWELDING AG
    Inventors: Mario Lehmann, Andrea Müller, Urs Weber, Philipp Seiler
  • Patent number: 10343337
    Abstract: An exchangeable ultrasonic welding module contains an ultrasonic transducer assembly (4) with a horn (5) and an anvil (7). The module contains a member (1) provided with a guideway (8) in a mating guideway (18) on the frame (10) of a filling tube (14). A locking element (11) secures the member (1) and the frame (10) in a fixed position relative to each other. The member (1) is provided with an element (2) for linear motion of a sliding carriage (3) and an adjustable stop (6) for restricting the carriage movement (3). The ultrasonic transducer assembly (4) is firmly affixed to the carriage (3), whereas the anvil (7) is affixed to the member (1). The frame (10) may contain an adjustable stop (9) for locking the member (1) in a defined position as the member is inserted into the mating guideway (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: VELTEKO s.r.o.
    Inventors: Franti{hacek over (s)}ek {hacek over (S)}míd, Miloslav Zajíc, Roman Jirou{hacek over (s)}ek
  • Patent number: 10288573
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an inductive conductivity sensor, wherein on both sides of a circuit board coils are placed surrounding an opening of the circuit board, and the circuit board with the coils is inserted into a housing. A sleeve is inserted through a first opening of the housing through the opening of the circuit board into the housing. The sleeve includes a first end section and a second end section and the sleeve is inserted with the first end section first into the housing, and wherein the sleeve is welded with the housing by means of a sonotrode by ultrasonic welding. Both the first end section as well as also the second end section of the sleeve are welded with the housing, wherein the sonotrode is applied exclusively on the sleeve on the side of the second end section. The invention relates further to an inductive conductivity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Nagel, André Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 10220413
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a converter unit comprising an ultrasonic transmission element having a transmission surface for transmitting an ultrasonic vibration to a tool which can be fixed to the transmission surface or to a material which is in contact therewith in the longitudinal direction along a longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic transmission element, and at least one ultrasonic transducer for generating an ultrasonic vibration with a propagation direction which is not oriented along the longitudinal direction, wherein the converter unit has an ultrasonic natural frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: HERRMANN ULTRASCHALLTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Josef Gmeiner, Thorsten Faustka, Ulrich Vogler
  • Patent number: 10213346
    Abstract: A unit for forming absorbent sanitary articles including a drum rotatable about its axis of rotation and having a circumferential peripheral surface movable along a feed direction, first feeding means for feeding a succession of pairs of panels of material facing the circumferential peripheral surface and configured to position each pair in such a way that the respective two panels are facing each other and transversely aligned with the feed direction and second feeding means for feeding a continuous web of material suitable for defining at least part of the main body of an absorbent sanitary article, and configured to position the web on the circumferential peripheral surface of the drum in such a way that each panel projects partly sideways from the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GDM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Piantoni, Valerio Soli
  • Patent number: 10111804
    Abstract: Massage systems and methods for massaging a person's body include a massaging unit coupled to an processing module and a power supply. First and second actuators are housed in the first massaging unit. The first actuator applies a moving pressure to the person's body to create a first trace, and simultaneously, the second actuator applies a moving pressure to the person's body to create a second. The first trace includes a first segment of a perimeter of a rectangle from a first corner of the rectangle to a midpoint of a first edge that is adjacent to the first corner. The second trace includes a second segment of the perimeter of the rectangle from a second corner of the rectangle to a midpoint of a second edge that is adjacent to the second corner, and the first and second edges are parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Amchi Gendynamy Science Corporation
    Inventor: Wisdom Qiao
  • Patent number: 10040267
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material having a three-dimensional texture and a method for making the same. The composite material includes a base material and a surface layer. The surface layer is disposed on a surface of the base material, and has a substantially uniform thickness. The surface layer includes at least one first portion and at least one second portion. The first portion is attached to the surface of the base material. The second portion is spaced apart from the surface of the base material to form at least one hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SAN FANG CHEMICAL INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Chih Feng, Pai-Hsiang Wu, Chien-Chia Huang, Tsung-Yu Tsai
  • Patent number: 10029408
    Abstract: A compact pressing body with a pressing surface smaller in area than a welding range welds together sheet-like members over the whole area of the welding range by pressing the sheet-like members being reliably moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to a pressing direction of the pressing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignees: Adwelds Corporation, PMT Corporation
    Inventor: Seiya Nakai
  • Patent number: 10029409
    Abstract: An ultrasonic welding system that includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to convert electricity to generate ultrasonic waves, wherein the waves propagate along a first direction from the transducer; and a sonotrode that includes a single-component body having nodal and anti-nodal regions, and configured to propagate ultrasonic waves received at a nodal region along a first direction; a plurality of redirecting features formed in the body and configured to cause received ultrasonic waves propagating along the first direction to propagate along a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, upon encountering one or more of the redirecting features; wherein the body is further configured to stretch and compress along the second direction based on corresponding peaks and valleys of the waves propagating along the second direction; and at least one ultrasonic welding surface at an anti-nodal region of the body configured to oscillate based on the stretching and compressing, wherein opposing ends o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: EWI, Inc. (Edison Welding Institute, Inc.)
    Inventors: Matthew A. Short, Pak Meng Cham, Glenn T. Jordan
  • Patent number: 9885729
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods including a sonicator for sample preparation are provided. A sonicator may be used to mix, resuspend, aerosolize, disperse, disintegrate, or de-gas a solution. A sonicator may be used to disrupt a cell, such as a pathogen cell in a sample. Sample preparation may include exposing pathogen-identifying material by sonication to detect, identify, or measure pathogens. A sonicator may transfer ultrasonic energy to the sample solution by contacting its tip to an exterior wall of a vessel containing the sample. Multipurpose devices including a sonicator also include further components for additional actions and assays. Devices, and systems comprising such devices, may communicate with a laboratory or other devices in a system for sample assay and analysis. Methods utilizing such devices and systems are provided. The improved sample preparation devices, systems and methods are useful for analyzing samples, e.g. for diagnosing patients suffering from infection by pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Theranos IP Company, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Loo, Elizabeth A. Holmes
  • Patent number: 9869344
    Abstract: The operating device, in particular for a vehicle component, is provided with a rotary operating element (18), which can be rotated about a rotation axis (20) and is formed as a plastic injection-molded part, which is produced in a molding die (48) having a die separation plane (46), and with a bearing unit (12), on which the rotary operating element (18) is mounted such that it can rotate about the rotation axis (20). The bearing unit (12) has a first bearing element (14), which is formed as a plastic injection-molded part, which is produced in a molding die (28) having a die separation plane (34). The first bearing element (14) has a bearing surface (26), which extends in a radial plane to the rotation axis (20) and concentrically to same, and the rotary operating element (18) has a contact surface (36), which bears against the bearing surface (26) and likewise extends in a radial plane to the rotation axis (20) and concentrically to same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbH
    Inventors: Egbert Lamminger, Udo Treuguth
  • Patent number: 9862513
    Abstract: The sonotrode and anvil of copending application Ser. No. 12/925,652, for advanced ultrasonic welding of work pieces, are readily incorporated into new form-fill-seal machines, but existing machines with heat-seal stations pose difficult problems for swapping of the sealing packages. Kits enabling heat station replacement, with the further improved sonotrode and anvil disclosed herein, comprise: a housing; a linear rail fixed thereto; anvil and sonotrode support members; and a parallel gripper. Each of the anvil and sonotrode support members is slidably attached to the rail(s) and are also connected to a respective piston of the gripper, permitting actuation of each through cycling of the gripper pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Rinco Ultrasonics USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Hull
  • Patent number: 9865562
    Abstract: To provide a bonding device capable of adequately controlling a leading end of a capillary when a ball formed at a leading end of a wire is pressed and bonded to an electrode of a semiconductor chip with scrub vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: KAIJO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akio Sugito
  • Patent number: 9855172
    Abstract: Partly-finished products having side panel pieces are supplied intermittently to places between welding surfaces of a horn and a rotating anvil. Thus, the side pieces of the partly-finished products, are welded continuously to each other with a predetermined pattern. The welding surfaces of the anvil are provided over an entire circumference about a rotating shaft so that the interval between the welding surfaces of the anvil and the horns is maintained at an interval at which the respective side panel pieces are continuously weldable to each other with the predetermined pattern regardless of a rotating position of the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 9844908
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sonotrode for the ultrasonic welding of plastic components of an electronic cigarette. The sonotrode comprises: a body comprising a first end which can be connected to an ultrasound generator, and a second end; a cavity that develops from the second end towards the first end, for receiving at least partially a plastic component of an electronic cigarette to be welded. The cavity defines an opening at the second end of the body, communicating with the outside of the sonotrode. In particular, at the opening, the cross section of the cavity has an outline comprising: a first portion that has the shape of a first arc of a reference circumference, which comprises a first end and a second end, opposite each other; and a second portion, that has the shape of a second arc of said reference circumference, which comprises a first end and a second end, opposite each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Michael Andre Lemay, Giovanni Madera, Carlo Moretti, Marco Mazzoni, Massimo Sartoni, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 9821511
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for ultrasonic welding of at least two material webs comprising a processing sonotrode which can be excited with an ultrasonic vibration, a processing counterpart tool and a material web guide which is so designed that the material web can be passed through between the processing sonotrode and the processing counterpart tool, in which there is provided a device for heating at least one material web prior to the welding operation. To provide an ultrasonic welding apparatus which avoids the stated disadvantages and which nonetheless provides a high processing speed it is proposed according to the invention that the device for preheating at least one material web has a preheating sonotrode which can be excited with an ultrasonic vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hermann Ultraschalltechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Fischer, Arnold Schneider
  • Patent number: 9669955
    Abstract: A sonotrode and anvil are adapted for ultrasonic welding of work pieces, to produce a narrower weld region that exhibits greater durability, permitting use of less material per package. The horn-to-anvil contact is through a plurality of energy directors arranged into a three-dimensional grid pattern to be capable of distributed vibration-transmissive contact. The energy directors include a series of plateau surfaces regularly spaced apart in a first direction, and in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, to form the grid pattern. The energy directors of the horn are configured to interlock with the energy directors of the anvil. The rectangular-shaped plateaus are spaced apart by angled side-surfaces that form valleys. A stepped transition to a corresponding region of reduced height for the energy directors of the sonotrode and anvil may form a cosmetic seal region with a lesser integrity, in addition to the main barrier seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: RINCO ULTRASONICS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Gordon Hull
  • Patent number: 9636772
    Abstract: A specially designed sonotrode and anvil are adapted to be used in combination for ultrasonic welding of work pieces, to produce a narrower weld region, but one exhibiting greater durability, thereby permitting use of less packaging material. The contact surfaces comprise a surface of the anvil having a plurality of energy directors, where the plurality of energy directors are arranged into a three-dimensional grid pattern to be capable of distributed vibration-transmissive contact. The energy directors may comprise a series of plateau surfaces being regularly spaced apart from each other in a first direction, and in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, to form the grid pattern. The rectangular-shaped plateaus may be spaced apart by valleys. Engagement of the energy directors of the anvil with the corresponding surface of the sonotrode may cause minor elastic deformation of work pieces positioned therebetween prior to ultrasonic welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Rinco Ultrasonics USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Hull
  • Patent number: 9620476
    Abstract: A bonding head and a die bonding apparatus having the same are disclosed. The bonding head includes a body connected to a driving section for transferring the die, a plate heater mounted to a lower surface of the body and a collet mounted to a lower surface of the plate heater and configured to hold the die using a vacuum pressure. A cooling channel is formed at the lower surface of the body, and cooling passages are formed through the body and connected with the cooling channel to supply a cooling fluid into the cooling channel and to recover the cooling fluid from the cooling channel thereby cooling the plate heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: SEMES CO., LTD., SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hang Lim Lee, Jong Jin Weon, Soon Hyun Kim, Seung Dae Seok
  • Patent number: 9446475
    Abstract: A system for use in ultrasonic additive manufacturing processes, comprising a milling machine or the like and a weld assembly. The milling machine further includes a spindle adapted to receive a milling tool, wherein the spindle is capable of moving in the z-axis direction; and a table positioned beneath the spindle, wherein the table is capable of moving in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. The weld assembly is adapted to be mounted on the spindle of the milling machine and further includes an ultrasonic weld head; a tapered tool shank adapted to connect the weld assembly to the spindle; and a unique mating collar disposed between the ultrasonic weld head and the spindle, wherein the mating collar is operative transfer thrust loads associated with ultrasonic additive manufacturing processes from the ultrasonic weld head to the z-axis of the spindle without damaging the spindle or other components of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FABRISONIC, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Norfolk, David Bartholomew, Charles Sidlosky
  • Patent number: 9449595
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasonic sonotrode with a main sonotrode body and a sealing area arranged on one side of the main sonotrode body. The main sonotrode body has two through-slits extending in or through the main sonotrode body respectively along a slit axis. These through-slits intersect in such a way that a through-channel through the main sonotrode body is formed from the one through-slit into the other through-slit. This creates a slit portion that is formed both by the one through-slit and the other through-slit. Provided in this main sonotrode body is a processing channel, which extends along a processing channel axis from a side area of the main sonotrode body up to the through-channel and is arranged substantially symmetrically about the processing channel axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Hermann Ultraschalltechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Zendler
  • Patent number: 9346120
    Abstract: An ultrasonic welding apparatus that includes a full-wave sonotrode that further includes a first horn, a first nodal region, a welding surface, a second nodal region, and a second horn; first and second bearing assemblies that support the sonotrode at the first and second nodal regions respectively, wherein each bearing assembly further includes a first bearing housing portion; a first low friction bearing disposed within the first bearing housing portion; a second bearing housing portion connected to the first bearing housing portion; and a second low friction bearing disposed within the second bearing housing portion; a first centering apparatus that exerts laterally-acting force on the horn of the full-wave sonotrode; and a second centering apparatus that exerts laterally-acting force on the second horn of the full-wave sonotrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: EDISON WELDING INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Karl F. Graff, Cameron Benedict, Justin Wenning
  • Patent number: 9296071
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stand for a welding machine having a base plate and a column which is flexurally rigidly connected thereto and which is attached to a guide rail. The rack furthermore has a linear drive for applying a force from a work member to a work piece which can positioned on the base plate, the linear drive being supported by a slide which is displaceably guided along the guide rail. A support is furthermore provided which supports the slide and which counteracts a force-induced displacement of the slide by the linear drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: MS SPAICHINGEN GMBH
    Inventor: Volker Krell
  • Patent number: 9283188
    Abstract: Delivery systems for incorporating functional compounds into substrates for use in various consumer products are disclosed. Specifically, the delivery system includes a carrier component comprising an ultrasonically energized adsorbent and one or more functional compounds. The ultrasonically energized adsorbent can adsorb the desired functional compounds and bind the functional compounds to the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Allen Janssen, Earl C. McCraw, Jr., Kimberlee Fay Thompson, John Gavin MacDonald, Thomas David Ehlert, Patrick Sean McNichols
  • Publication number: 20150129110
    Abstract: An ultrasonic welding system and method for joining first and second thermoplastic parts includes least one energy director formed on at least one surface of the first thermoplastic part, with the energy director projecting from the surface of the first thermoplastic part toward an opposed surface of the second thermoplastic part. The distal end portion of the energy director has a curved or flat surface that initially engages the opposed surface of the second thermoplastic part when the first and second parts are brought into engagement with each other. The first and second thermoplastic parts are ultrasonically welded by pressing the parts together while vibrating at least the first part in a direction parallel to the direction of projection of the energy director. The energy director may include a pair of substantially flat side walls joined to opposite ends of the curved or flat end surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Leo Klinstein, Paul Golko, Miranda Bair Marcus
  • Publication number: 20150129111
    Abstract: A stabilization device includes a molding tool onto which at least one fiber layer having a binder material is placed. The device also includes a consolidation device having sonotrode that applies ultrasonic energy to the fiber layer. The molding tool positions the fiber layer in a predetermined position relative to the sonotrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Bettina AROLD, Ulf Henning NEUMANN, Hermann SEEFRIED
  • Patent number: 9016549
    Abstract: A weld stack includes a horn having a weld end, a polar mount adapted to receive a portion of the horn therein, a first adjustment ring coupled to the polar mount at a pre-determined distance from the weld end of the horn, and a second adjustment ring coupled to the polar mount adjacent the first adjustment ring, wherein the second adjustment ring includes a fine adjustment device for adjusting a relative position of the first adjustment ring and the second adjustment ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Edgar M. Storm, Paul F. Spacher