Heated Patents (Class 156/583.1)
  • Patent number: 6637491
    Abstract: A sealing head for a lidding machine is disclosed. The sealing head comprises a ball-and-socket joint that allows the head to provide an even, consistent seal when the orientation of the lid and container is not perfectly perpendicular with the sealing head. The sealing head also comprises an insulator portion that rests against the lid during sealing to protect the contents of the container from excessive heat. Heat is applied to the lid through a rim that extends around the circumference of the insulator portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Creative Foods, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel M. Massey, Richard Phillips, Jim G. Gardner, Paul D. Balentine
  • Publication number: 20030196747
    Abstract: A transparent, protective overcoat for a printed medium achieved with a thermal transfer material on a carrier ribbon that is heated and pressed to transfer a segment of thermal transfer material from the carrier ribbon onto the printable surface of a medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: David M. Kwasny, Melissa D. Boyd, Mark H. Kowalski, Vladek P. Kasperchik
  • Publication number: 20030183346
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing device for using heat to form a weld between a first layer of plastic and a second layer of plastic, provided with heating means for heating the layers of plastic and conveyor means for conveying the layers of plastic past the heating means, and separation means for forming a separating layer between the heating means and the layers of plastic while the latter are being heated, the separation means being displaceable in the direction of movement of the layers of plastic past the heating means. The sealing device according to the invention is characterized in that preheating means are provided for the purpose of preheating the separation means before they are fed to the heating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Anna Maria Aarts, Marcel Freriks, Johannus Henricus Renkens, Johan Henricus Van De Rijt
  • Patent number: 6627028
    Abstract: In a method for simultaneously welding to one another the layers of several pairs of thermoplastic foils arranged in a stack, a primary heat energy source is positioned between two pairs of thermoplastic foils, and welding heat energy is supplied to the two pairs via the primary heat energy source. The press for performing this method has two pressing elements for applying pressure to the stack of n pairs of layers of thermoplastic foils. The two pressing elements are positioned at opposite ends of the stack and force the layers of the pairs of thermoplastic foils toward one another. A stacked arrangement of n−1 flat, bar-shaped heating elements is aligned with the two pressing elements. Between two adjacent heating elements a respective pair of thermoplastic foils is received such that the pairs of thermoplastic foils alternate with the heating elements. The stacked arrangement of the heating elements is arranged in a plane that is perpendicular to the planes of the thermoplastic foils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Paul Kiefel GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Hinterseer
  • Patent number: 6622767
    Abstract: An improved film sealing and cutting apparatus (10) for use with a shrink-wrap machine that individually wraps articles (219) sequentially with shrink-wrap film material (200) of different possible thickness and composition, especially thick, tough film which would be difficult to seal. The apparatus (10) includes two pairs of selectively heated rollers (97, 98). Overlapping layers (209) of film material wrapped around an article are passed between peripheral surfaces of each roller pair. The first roller pair forms a thermal conditioning pre-seal (208) between opposing surfaces of the overlapping layers by application of heat and pressure along the peripheral surfaces of the first roller pair. The second roller pair then completes the seal and cuts through the opposing surfaces, leaving a margin between a cutting path formed by the peripheral surfaces of the second roller pair and the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Stork Fabricators, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian R. Stork
  • Publication number: 20030168162
    Abstract: A heat sealer includes a base configured to be mounted on a tabletop, a first jaw connected to the base, and a second jaw operatively aligned with the first jaw. An actuator is coupled to the second jaw to provide relative motion with respect to the first jaw. A heating device is coupled to the first and second jaws for heating the jaws to a set temperature to enable material to be contacted and welded when the first and second jaws are in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: John Eile, Robert Kops
  • Publication number: 20030168163
    Abstract: A method for adhering a friction material for a lockup clutch, with which a friction material is adhered to a flat surface of a core plate, comprises a disposing step of disposing the friction material between a heated member and the flat surface of the core plate, a pressing/heating step of bringing the heated member into contact with the core plate and applying load to the core plate by a plurality of pins from a back side opposite to the flat surface of the core plate, and a step of maintaining a state under the above-mentioned pressing/heating step for a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: NSK-WARNER K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakai, Masayuki Takagi
  • Patent number: 6616795
    Abstract: A heat sealing jaw (10), particularly for use in a form-fill-seal machine for the sealing of plastics bags incorporating a zipper seal, comprises a plurality of spaced heat sealing wires (12) in its active surface and a plurality of pressure switches (13) underlying the wires. When the jaw is moved into contact with the zipper and an overlying host material the zipper imparts pressure to a switch or switches and this effects heating of a predetermined wire or wires to create the seal at the correct position. Thus, the seal is made at the correct position even if the position of the zipper on the host material should change. A pair of aligned jaws (10) are preferably used, one on each side of the host material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Supreme Plastics Holding Limited
    Inventor: Murray Edward Bruce Leighton
  • Patent number: 6613190
    Abstract: A length of metallic lead from having anode terminals and cathode terminals integrally formed with each other extends between upper and lower molds of an apparatus for manufacturing tantalum solid electrolytic capacitors. The cathode terminals are first coated with a thermosetting conductive adhesive, and cathode layers of capacitor elements are then placed on the conductive adhesive. Thereafter, anode leads extending outwardly from the capacitor elements are placed on the anode terminals are joined thereto, respectively, by welding. A pressure is applied to the capacitor elements so that a portion of the conductive adhesive is squeezed out from one surface of each of the plurality of capacitor elements to a neighboring side surface thereof. The cathode terminals are then joined to the capacitor elements, respectively, by heat-curing the conductive adhesive, and the capacitor elements are finally covered with a sheathing resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Omori, Yoshitsugu Uenishi, Osamu Tomita, Nario Kawakita, Masakuni Ogino, Yoji Masuda, Tsuyoshi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 6612356
    Abstract: A back-up pad is provided over an anvil surface of a back-up plate, and between the anvil surface and a sealing surface of a sealing die, in an apparatus for forming seals between layers of film material. The back-up pad has a slip layer on one side thereof and a firm polymeric support layer on an opposite side thereof, the slip layer opposing the sealing face of the die so that the layers of film material pass between the sealing die and the back-up pad during seal formation. The polymeric support layer may have a Shore-A hardness of at least 10 at 20° C. and a dynamic loss tangent of less than 0.1 from 20° C. to 80° C. An example of a support layer is a polycarbonate pad, and an example of slip layer is a glass cloth coated with Teflon™. The back-up pad is particularly useful for forming lap seals in relatively thick film materials, such as laminated films having multi-layered films laminated together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Dan-Cheng Kong, Richard A. Rehkugler, Donald F. Sexton
  • Patent number: 6613181
    Abstract: A vacuum-assisted lamination apparatus and methods of using the same to laminate a film to a substrate or two or more continuous webs together are disclosed. The apparatus includes a series of rolls and a partial vacuum source to provide pressure on a film or films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald S. Steelman, John R. David
  • Patent number: 6601500
    Abstract: A low friction machine for manufacturing corrugated board is described. The machine effectively extends the life expectancy of critical machine components such as the feet used in pressure applicators as well as a conveyor belt by reducing friction. The machine includes a foot operative for applying pressure to the substrate. The foot includes a conduit having a first end and a second end. An actuator attached to the foot and moves the foot between a raised position and a lowered position. The lowered position is proximate the substrate. An air supply connected to the first end of the conduit and supplies air to the foot. A check valve coupled to the second end of the conduit and regulates airflow in the foot. The check valve is opened when the foot is in the lowered position and closed when the foot is in the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Corrugated Gear & Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Lauderbaugh
  • Patent number: 6598520
    Abstract: In a hot pressing apparatus, a hot-plate pressing cylinder is provided at the center of a moving plate, and a substantially central part of each of the materials to be laminated between hot plates, which are pressed by a fixed plate and a moving plate, is pressed by a hot-plate pressing cylinder of the moving plate. Thus, a uniform pressure can be applied to the materials to be laminated, thereby preventing the occurrence of defects such as wrinkles and bubbles in the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meiki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Takayuki Kono
  • Patent number: 6579409
    Abstract: A segmented platen for heat-sealing a film material to a non-planar surface of an ink jet printer cartridge includes a heat-transferring housing having sidewalls defining an internal cavity and a first aperture. Heat-transferring segments, which partially protrude through the first aperture of the housing, are operable to independently move in relation to the housing and each other in a direction substantially parallel to the sidewalls of the housing. Biasing devices, corresponding in number to the segments, independently urge the segments through the first aperture of the housing, thereby urging the segments to follow any curvature in the non-planar surface of the ink jet printer cartridge. The platen further includes a heating element for generating and transferring heat into the housing. The segments receive the heat from the housing, and transfer the heat into the underlying film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Christina Allison Cullins, Stephen Francis DeFosse, James Paul Drummond
  • Patent number: 6575219
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for interlocking stackwise plastic bags, especially bags for automatic machines, by welding, wherein welding is effected by an interlocking device (21) integrated into the grip hand (17) of a robot (16) with the purpose of simplifying welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Lemo Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Schulze
  • Patent number: 6571850
    Abstract: An anvil assembly having a housing and two rotatable inserts with flat upper surfaces against which the heated shoes of a package sealing machine may press a covering sheet onto a plastic package tape. The inserts have a limited range of rotation so that they automatically align themselves to be parallel to the heated shoes when they are contacted thereby. This rotatable insert feature obviates the need for precise, laborious alignment efforts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: V-Tek Incorporated
    Inventor: Scott B. Melheim
  • Patent number: 6568452
    Abstract: An attachment apparatus for disc protective sheet which is adapted for attaching disc protective sheet for protecting disc rotatably accommodated within a cartridge body formed by connecting or joining a pair of upper and lower halves with respect to the surface opposite to the disc of the half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kano, Takahiko Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6569283
    Abstract: An inflator/sealer machine useful for inflating and sealing an inflatable cushion having a resistance wire that extends across the inlet of the inflatable cushion. The machine includes an inflation tube, a seal bar, and an anvil. The inflation tube is connected to a source of inflation fluid and has an outlet that is larger than the inflation aperture of the inflatable cushion. The inflation tube and anvil are adjustable between a tube/anvil engaged position and a tube/anvil disengaged position. In the tube/anvil engaged position, the inflation tube outlet opposes the anvil and can engage the inflation aperture of the inflatable cushion between the inflation tube and the anvil to inflate the cushion. The seal bar and the anvil are adjustable between a bar/anvil engaged position and a bar/anvil disengaged position. In the bar/anvil engaged position, the anvil opposes the seal bar to compress the inlet heat seal zone of the inflatable cushion between the anvil and the seal bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Charles R. Sperry, Suzanne M. Scott, James M. Corliss
  • Patent number: 6561248
    Abstract: A lamination system of the present invention comprises; a film transfer means for transferring a continuous film, a cutting means for cutting the film, a card transfer means for transferring an ID card, a thermocompression bonding means for laminating the film to the ID card, a card straightening means straightening the ID card bent during the thermocompression bonding, in which a spring up suppression means for suppressing a spring up of a trailing edge of the ID card leaving the thermocompression bonding means is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Japan Servo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka Sasaki, Kenji Sugaya, Misao Ichikawa, Kensuke Shoji
  • Publication number: 20030079842
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sealing cover tape. A sealing mechanism is connected to an actuator that moves the mechanism toward an adhesively backed cover tape and a carrier tape. The sealing mechanism applies heat and/or pressure to the cover tape to activate and bond the cover tape to the carrier tape. A biasing member biases the mechanism away from the cover and carrier tapes. The actuator is actuable to overcome the biasing force of the biasing member and to initiate contact between the sealing mechanism and the cover tape. When the actuator is disengaged, the biasing member moves the sealing mechanism away from the cover tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Robotic Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Merlin E. Behnke
  • Publication number: 20030075280
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a jointing press for jointing a first and second free end of one or more belts which is adapted to raise directly the temperature of the surface of the belt (or belts) thereby decreasing heat-up times and which exploits the unheated platens to act as a heat sink in the cooling step thereby eliminating the need for external water or forced air cooling sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: Marshall Wright
  • Patent number: 6550513
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding documents by individually binding each media sheet to previously bound media sheets using imaging material as the binding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Roland Boss
  • Patent number: 6550377
    Abstract: A hot press apparatus in which workpieces are placed between heating plates in a chamber of a machine bed, so that the workpieces are heated and pressed by moving a movable plate toward a stationary plate to form a laminate, wherein the movable plate is held at its peripheral portions by shaft members and is moved toward the stationary plate by a drive means. A center portion pressing member is provided at the center portion of the movable plate to press substantially the enter portions of the heating plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meiki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Shoji Urano
  • Publication number: 20030070766
    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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Gi Won Seo
  • Patent number: 6546986
    Abstract: A panel forming method and apparatus used compressed fibrous material such as straw, hay and the like. The fibrous material from bales is debailled by debailler rollers and passed to straw walkers. The straw walkers move the material to crop shredders which deposit the shredded fiber on a conveyor. A leveller roller smooths the mat on the conveyor which mat moves to a picker roller. The picker roller moves the crop into a chute and a compression cavity where the material is severed and compressed by a reciprocating ram. The severed and compressed material has glued paper applied to its upper and lower surfaces and thereafter moves between heated platens for curing the glue. The severed and compressed material now forming a longitudinal panel is pulled by puller rollers and subsequently severed into panels of a desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Enviro Board Corporation
    Inventors: Monty Raymond Waggoner, Delano Halder Fehr
  • Patent number: 6546987
    Abstract: A method for sealing sheets, the method comprising the steps of passing the sheets through a space between an opposing roller and a first seal roller that is opposingly provided to the opposing roller to seal the sheets and passing the sheets through a space between the opposing roller and a second seal roller that is opposingly provided to the opposing roller to seal the sheets. A heat sealing apparatus comprising a plurality of seal rollers having a plurality of seal blades and an opposing roller oppposingly provided to the plurality of sea rollers, wherein sheets are passed through spaces between the plurality of seal rollers and the opposing roller to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuo Tachibana, Kiyofumi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20030051819
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a packaging or cushioning product made from grains comprising an essentially flat support, means for driving the support in translational movement, means for depositing on the support a first fiber sheet, means for distributing popped or unpopped grains on the fiber sheet; means for spreading the grains on the fiber sheet to thereby form a layer of grains, means for depositing a second fiber sheet on the layer of grains, and means for attaching the fiber sheets to each other to at least partially separate said grains to form the packaging or cushioning products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Luc de Moustier
  • Publication number: 20030051818
    Abstract: A print producing apparatus of a print producing system is provided with a recording medium conveying section which intermittently conveys a strip-like hologram recording medium, a cutting out section which cuts out, as a piece of hologram recording medium, a predetermined region of the recording medium that includes at least a piece of a holographic stereogram image or a hologram from a hologram recording medium, a film retaining section and a film supplying section which one by one provides plural sheets of protecting film PF which are retained, a film opening and closing section which opens and folds a single sheet of the PF which has been folded in two along a folding line of the PF, a mounting retaining and supplying section which one by one provides plural sheets of mountings, and a laminating section which laminates the recording medium piece for hologram and the mounting with the PF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Akira Shirakura, Hirotsugu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20030051791
    Abstract: The apparatus and method uses grooved rollers and a grooved guide plate to position zipper segments on a web. The web is subsequently formed into a cylinder in a form fill and seal apparatus and seal bar assemblies form the bottom transverse seal, the web is indexed and the cylinder is filled, and the seal bar assemblies form the top transverse seal simultaneously with the bottom transverse seal of a subsequent bag. A zipper seal bar completes the sealing of the zipper segment to a second side of the web and a knife extends from a slot in a seal bar assembly to separate the completed bag from the web. This apparatus and method is particularly adapted to narrow zipper segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: John H. Schneider, Basil Carl Linton, Eric Joseph Fenzl, Ronald Cortigiano
  • Patent number: 6533890
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of ligneous material boards characterized by a positive separation of the press platen applying the compression pressure from the mat at the frame sealing the outer margin, so that the press pressure is applied independently of the pressure required for the sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik J. Dieffenbacher GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Susanne Berger, Friedrich B. Bielfeldt
  • Publication number: 20030019566
    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: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Harold T. Pate, Dave Scott
  • Publication number: 20030010441
    Abstract: The present invention is used for placing and sticking holding elements to support surfaces. The holding elements are provided with connecting surfaces which are coated with a dry hot-melt-type adhesive on the bare side thereof. Said adhesive can be reactivated by means of heat treatment. The inventive device consists of a housing (1) having a receiving component (2) that is displaceably guided therein and is used for the holding element (3) as well as means for quickly heating the hot-melt-type adhesive, lowering the receiving component (2) and pressing the adherent (25) after the adhesive has been melt on. The invention is characterized in that heating is carried out by means of hot air (H) which is supplied passing the housing (1) and in that the receiving component (2) is surrounded by a closed wall (7) that extends from the hot air discharge location in the housing (1) to the holding element (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Michel Bremont, Yannick Leroux, Olivier Schuller
  • Publication number: 20030000621
    Abstract: A hand held device for joining monofilament lines together. Then device has a set of clamping jaws that can be manipulated so as to firmly position the monofilament lines in an abutting relationship in physical contact to each other. The device includes a source of electrical power and a heater, such as resistance, RF energy or ultrasonic energy, to heat the monofilament lines to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature of the monofilament lines so as to weld the monofilament lines together. A sleeve may be slipped over the monofilament lines and welded to the lines to form a more stable junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Edward S. Bittar
  • Publication number: 20030000650
    Abstract: An apparatus for heat connecting sections of polymeric tape, and provided with a thermostat-controlled welding head seated in a flat tubular member adapted to be inserted between sections of the tape and a control module for controlling the temperature of a heating coil as a function of supply voltage, the thermostat being positioned directly over the heating coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventor: Werner Schnabel
  • Patent number: 6497778
    Abstract: A composite sheet having the capability of having embossed therein a holographic image or diffraction grating image having a structure of multiple layers including a plastic film carrier, lacquer, metal and wax or siloxane. It may be adhered to a substrate by heating, pressing or stamping without the necessity of removing the plastic film carrier and may have a holographic image embossed therein during the step of heat pressing or stamping or in a separate operation at a different time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: NovaVision, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Boswell
  • Patent number: 6491786
    Abstract: A welding head for heated tool welding, particularly of thermoplastic materials. The welding head permits independent heating of the welding point on a body and the welding point on a welding part. The welding head has a gripper for receiving the welding part to be welded to the body. It also has a first welding mirror for heating the welding point on the body. A second welding mirror is used for heating the welding point on the welding part. The first welding mirror and the gripper are placed on a common supporting member, which is displaceable by drive means so that alternately the first welding mirror and the gripper are oriented towards the welding point on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: bielomatik Leuze GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Dietmar Moench
  • Patent number: 6488793
    Abstract: A device and a method for heated tool welding. The heated tool welding device has a welding held, which is fixed to an infeed drive for displacing the welding head. The infeed drive is an industrial robot. The welding head is positioned by the industrial robot in a coordinate-controlled manner up to a clearly defined changeover position with respect to the welding point on the body and in a force-controlled manner from the changeover point to the welding point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Bielomatik Leuze GmbH + Co.
    Inventors: Joachim Natrop, Dietmar Moench
  • Patent number: 6484780
    Abstract: The invention is a laminator and a method of lamination of a plastic card (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Card Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Keith R. Ashley, Igor Pankiw, Wesley L. Burrowes
  • Patent number: 6485606
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for binding documents by individually binding each media sheet to previously bound media sheets using imaging material as the binding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Roland Boss
  • Patent number: 6481482
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laminating method and a laminating apparatus for a manufacture of photovoltaic modules capable of preventing or suppressing an occurrence of warp or cracks in a multilayer material to be processed and capable of improving the productivity, by minimizing a temperature difference between an upper surface and a lower surface of the multilayer material. In a method of laminating photovoltaic modules configured by a surfacing member 1, a filler 2, photovoltaic modules 3, another filler 5 and a backing member 6, the surfacing member 1 and the backing member 6 are heated from the outside to melt the fillers 2 and 5, for lamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Shimotomai
  • Publication number: 20020162632
    Abstract: An anvil assembly having a housing and two rotatable inserts with flat upper surfaces against which the heated shoes of a package sealing machine may press a covering sheet onto a plastic package tape. The inserts have a limited range of rotation so that they automatically align themselves to be parallel to the heated shoes when they are contacted thereby. This rotatable insert feature obviates the need for precise, laborious alignment efforts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Scott B. Melheim
  • Patent number: 6474388
    Abstract: A device for binding a stack of media sheets using imaging material as the binding agent. The binding device includes a tray for supporting the stack and a heated platen or some other type of imaging material activator near the tray. A press coupled to the activator is operative between a first position in which the activator is separated from the stack to a second position in which the activator contacts and compresses the stack at the binding region. A spring or other biasing mechanism operatively connected between the press and the activator biases the activator against the stack when the press is in the second position. The biasing mechanism allows pressure to be maintained on the stack to reactivate the imaging material without continuing to power the press down against the stack even as the stack shrinks under the reactivating pressure. Hence, power can be diverted if necessary or desirable from the press to activator to reduce the overall power consumption of the binding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Roland Boss
  • Patent number: 6474389
    Abstract: A vacuum-assisted lamination apparatus and methods of using the same to laminate a film to a substrate or two or more continuous webs together are disclosed. The apparatus includes a series of rolls and a partial vacuum source to provide pressure on a film or films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald S. Steelman, John R. David
  • Patent number: 6471687
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to an implantable containment apparatus made of selectively permeable material. In particular, the implantable containment apparatus is used to contain a therapeutical device, a cell encapsulation device, or a gene therapy device. A therapeutical device can be easily placed and replaced in an apparatus of the present invention without damaging tissues associated with the selectively permeable material of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Butler, Daniel F. Davidson, Stanley L. Mish, James W. Moore, III
  • Patent number: 6470941
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for welding straps of thermoplastic plastics, wherein the supply of heat which is necessary for welding is controlled depending on the thickness at the weld of the straps which are to be welded to each other and is not switched off until said thickness falls below a predetermined set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Cyklop GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Wehr
  • 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: 6464811
    Abstract: Lamellar, fibre-reinforced plastic strips can be used to reinforce a linearly expanded or flat construction part having a support function against any bending stress to which it is exposed. The strips are usually applied to the construction from the outside, or from the inside in the case of hollow structures, and fixed by an adhesive. The lamellar strips are pretensed with a tensioning device, treated with adhesive in a pretensed state, and then moved to the area to be treated together with the tension device. The tension device is provisionally fixed to the construction with displaceable fixing devices and pressed against said construction. Thereafter the lamellar strips are pressed against the construction by means of an air bag or air hose until the adhesive has hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Eidgenössiche Materialprüfungs-und Forschungsanstalt EMPA
    Inventors: Urs Meier, Iwan Stöcklin, Andreas Winistörfer
  • Patent number: 6463981
    Abstract: A laminating assembly and method bonds a lamination sheet to receiver stock. The laminating assembly includes a pressure roller arrangement which comprises upper and lower pressure rollers (16, 18). At least one of the upper and lower pressure rollers includes at least one deformable layer. The roller arrangement including the at least one deformable layer permits an increase in a width of a nip portion (32) between the upper and lower rollers to overcome lateral shear stresses and overdrive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Roger S. Kerr
  • Patent number: 6460591
    Abstract: When connecting electrodes of a chip device CP are ultrasonic-bonded to circuit electrodes provided for a resin substrate 10 to mount the chip device CP on the resin substrate 10, a heater 5 for heating the resin substrate 10 is provided with which the temperature of the resin substrate 10 is raised to a level with which the ratio of elastic modulus &egr;h realized when heat is supplied with respect to elastic modulus &egr;r of the resin substrate 10 at room temperature satisfies 1>&egr;h/&egr;r≧0.5. The heater 5 may be provided for the substrate retaining frame 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Gotoh, Jitsuo Kanazawa, Hiroki Hara
  • Patent number: 6461465
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel in which two substrates are faced to each other with spacers interposed therebetween, applied with heat pressure in an overlapped condition, and adhesive arranged between the two substrates is cured for fixing, characterized in that at least of a pair of pressurizing plates for applying pressure to the two substrates is a graphite plate and in that upper and lower pressurizing plates are made to be of different rigidity. The graphite plate of low rigidity is made to stick to the substrate, and shifts between substrate can be prevented while securing uniformity in gap between substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignees: Advanced Display Inc., Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Tada, Kohei Adachi, Hiroki Toyoshima, Susumu Kono, Kazuo Yoshida, Yoshihiro Kashiba, Yoshimi Kinoshita