With Resistance Heating Element Surrounding Or Embedded Within Walls Of Container Patents (Class 219/424)
  • Patent number: 11607754
    Abstract: A spacer assembly and method for using same to fix a first component to a second component are provided. The method includes positioning the first and second spacer segments between the first and second components, the first and second spacer segments each including an inner face, an opposite outer face, and an exterior surface extending along a longitudinal axis between the inner face and the outer face. The exterior surfaces of the first and second spacer segments are coaxially aligned and secured by a securing device such that the inner faces of the first and second spacer segments define supplementary non-perpendicular angles relative to the longitudinal axis and the outer faces of the first and second spacer segments are parallel to one another. The securing device and the first and second spacer segments are removed after the first component is mechanically coupled to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan Aloys Rammel, David Allen Letchworth
  • Patent number: 11026299
    Abstract: An induction-heating device for heating and or melting a heat affected product zone of shaving or cosmetic products stored in a product container which consists of a layer of said product heated by an electrically conductive metallic target member having through-passages overlying said top product surface and energized by an induction coil into which an electromagnetic field is generated by electronic circuitry for a predetermined time period into said product container, thereby permitting said heated and or melted product to flow through said through-passages onto said top surface of said target member to be collected by a user for shaving or cosmetic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventor: Aldo Laghi
  • Patent number: 10913192
    Abstract: Thermocouples and their associated thermocouple junctions can be integrated via freeform fabrication into various parts of injection-molding apparatuses, including the nozzles. Unitary monolithic integration of thermocouples allows thermocouple junctions to be located highly proximate to the locations where temperature monitoring is desired, particularly, near the tips of injection-molding nozzles, which has conventionally been difficult or impossible to achieve. An injection-molding nozzle with one or more integrated thermocouples, a hot-runner manifold with injection-molding nozzles, having integrated thermocouples, monolithically integrated with the manifold as a single part using a freeform fabrication process, and a separately formed injection-molding nozzle having at least one integrated thermocouple and a robust electrical connection are presented according to various aspects of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Edward Joseph Jenko
  • Patent number: 10834789
    Abstract: An electronic door opening system for an appliance is provided. The door opening system includes a resilient member having a pin that moves in a linear direction to urge an appliance door open. The door opening system further includes a toothed gear member configured to engage with the resilient member. The gear member may be driven by a motor to move the resilient member to urge the door from a closed position to an open position. Accordingly, upon receipt of a door opening command received from a user interface, the motor drives the gear to engage with the resilient member and open the door. The door opening mechanism includes components that are free from contact with other systems of the appliance. For example, in a microwave oven, the door opening system components may be free from contact with a door latch and an interlock switch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Hanks Hu, Winner Wang, Hui Wu, Rongcan Yu
  • Patent number: 8993935
    Abstract: A heating device (100, 200), which can be arranged at an object (101, 201) to be heated, especially an injection molding die, has an inner jacket surface (111, 211) and an outer jacket surface (112, 212), with a heating element (105, 205) and with a thermocouple (103, 203). The thermocouple (102, 203) has at least one positioning section, in which the cross section of the thermocouple (103, 203) deviates in at least one direction of the cross-sectional area from the cross section of at least one section of the thermocouple (103, 203) located adjacent to this positioning section. The heating device (100, 200) has at least one device for locking this positioning section against displacement in and/or opposite to the direction in which the thermocouple (103, 203) extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Türk & Hillinger GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Schlipf
  • Publication number: 20150021311
    Abstract: An electric glass hot shop system is described herein that has at least one electrically powered heating unit (e.g., electric furnace, electric glory hole, electric pipe warmer, electric color box, electric annealer, electric crucible kiln) used in the processing of glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: SPIRAL ARTS INC
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Gibbs, Fred Charles Metz
  • Patent number: 8870029
    Abstract: A heating and dispensing apparatus has a first portion defining a main, active reservoir for the molten material to be dispensed. A second portion has a heater and a seat for pre-heating a supply of replacement molten material. The main reservoir is pressurized, such that molten material therein is urged to flow out the outflow passageway when the valve is opened. The apparatus includes a heated receptacle support structure positioned to hold a disposable receptacle underneath the outflow. The outflow is mounted to the lid of the main reservoir, and can be cleaned when the lid is removed. The outflow outlet and the receptacle support structure are both located in exposed positions to facilitate cleaning. The pre-heat, main reservoir, outflow, and receptacle support structure are heated by a single heating system, by thermal conduction. The outside of the unit is kept substantially free of unnecessary obstructions to facilitate cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Mileta Stanojlovic, Dragica Stanojlovic
  • Patent number: 8696350
    Abstract: A heat treating furnace capable of continuously performing binder removal and subsequent firing without requiring a complicated configuration and increasing the equipment size and cost, for example, for degreasing a ceramic molding which is to be fired in a process for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component. A heat insulator is disposed to surround a heat treatment region in a case, and a reflector is disposed between the inner wall of the case and the insulator in order to reflect heat transferred from the heat treatment region through the heat insulator. A module heater including a heater embedded in the insulator is used. As the reflector, there is used a reflector having a structure in which a plurality of thin plates is arranged so that the main surfaces are arranged in parallel to each other with a predetermined space between the adjacent main surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Manufaturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Ohara
  • Publication number: 20140097174
    Abstract: A heat treatment furnace (10) used to perform heat treatment on a treatment target (1) includes a hollow heating chamber (20) in which the treatment target is housed and which is formed of a heat insulating member, a resistance heater (22) that is mounted in the heat insulating member, a hollow furnace body (12) that is spaced apart from the heating chamber by a gap and surrounds the heating chamber, a nozzle (16) that is provided to the furnace body so as to communicate with an interior of the furnace body, an electrode bar (30) that is removably mounted on an outer end of the nozzle and is electrically insulated from the nozzle, and a flexible conducting wire (32) that electrically connects a lead wire (23) of the heater and the electrode bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Kazuhiko KATSUMATA, Takahisa SHIMADA
  • Patent number: 8526801
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a line connector for media lines, consisting of a connector piece with at least one junction portion for junction connection to a media line or to an assembly and with a transitional portion contiguous to the junction portion and having a flow duct. In this case, at least in the region of the transitional portion, electrical heating means are provided in an arrangement at least partially surrounding the flow duct. Furthermore, the invention relates to a ready-made media line consisting of a pipeline with a heating conductor arranged on the circumference and with a heatable line connector fastened at least to one pipeline end of the media line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: VOSS Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Olav Borgmeier, Eduard Brück, Erb Ulrich, Reiner Gründel, Martin Lechner, Frank Peters, Sascha Rosenfeldt, Otfried Schwarzkopf, Ahmet Gündüz, Marco Isenburg
  • Patent number: 8403664
    Abstract: A dental obturation system, which is configured such that a power terminal unit is installed between a rotary unit and a cartridge unit such that a heating unit can heat a filling material and a needle member, mounted to the front end of a main body having a battery therein, can be rotated while applying the heated filling material to a root canal, so that an operator can easily and conveniently administer dental treatment without changing his/her posture or the orientation of the main body according to the location of a decayed tooth of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: DXM Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Du-Rok Jung, Kyoung-Soo Shin
  • Patent number: 8330081
    Abstract: A heating device for an optical fiber may include a crucible body having an optical fiber receiving slotted passageway therein for receiving the optical fiber therein, and a heating element receiving passageway therein adjacent the optical fiber receiving slotted passageway and spaced apart therefrom. The heating device may include a respective electrically powered resistance heating element enclosed within the heating element receiving passageway for heating the optical fiber within the optical fiber receiving slotted passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Eugene Dimmick, Eric Karl Johnson, Brian Edward Simpson, Mark Alan Trautman
  • Patent number: 8247739
    Abstract: A heating element for metallic plastic injection nozzles with a tubular hollow metal body (2), which surrounds the nozzle body of an injection molding device in a heat-transmitting manner. The hollow body has an outer and/or inner jacket surface with one or more grooves (3, 4), extending in a thread-like manner at least in some sections, with inserted tubular heating body structure (with a heating body or bodies) (5). The heating body structure has electric terminals (6, 7) projecting away from the hollow body (2). In addition, a thermocouple, with a sensor tip (9) is in thermal contact with the material wall (15) of the plastic injection nozzle (17) in an end area of the tube wall, is arranged in a guide groove (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Türk & Hillinger GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Schlipf
  • Patent number: 8084718
    Abstract: A wax melting system including a melting stage and a holding stage. Implementations may include a melting stage having a drain and the drain configured to permit flow of melted wax from the melting stage to the holding stage. A vessel may also be included. The melting stage and the holding stage may be coupled into the vessel and the melting stage oriented above the holding stage. The vessel may enclose the melting stage and the temperature of the melting stage may be maintained above the temperature of the holding stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: TayMac Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus J. Shotey, Jeffrey P. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 8008607
    Abstract: Methods of forming a layered heater are provided that comprise at least one resistive layer comprising a resistive circuit pattern, the resistive circuit pattern defining a length, a thickness, and a spacing, wherein the thickness varies along the length of the trace of the resistive circuit pattern for a variable watt density. The methods include achieving the variable thickness by varying a dispensing rate of a conductive ink used to form the resistive circuit pattern, varying the feed rate of a target surface relative to the dispensing of the ink, and overwriting a volume of conductive ink on top of a previously formed trace of the resistive circuit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, James McMillin, Thomas T. Nagl, Rolando O. Juliano
  • Publication number: 20110042367
    Abstract: A heating device for an optical fiber may include a crucible body having an optical fiber receiving slotted passageway therein for receiving the optical fiber therein, and a heating element receiving passageway therein adjacent the optical fiber receiving slotted passageway and spaced apart therefrom. The heating device may include a respective electrically powered resistance heating element enclosed within the heating element receiving passageway for heating the optical fiber within the optical fiber receiving slotted passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Eugene Dimmick, Eric Karl Johnson, Brian Edward Simpson, Mark Alan Trautman
  • Patent number: 7601935
    Abstract: A hot runner nozzle heater system is provided with a layered heater in communication with a two-wire controller, wherein a resistive layer of the layered heater is both a heater element and a temperature sensor. The two-wire controller thus determines temperature of the layered heater using the resistance of the resistive layer and controls heater temperature through a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Fennewald, William A. McDowell, III, Kevin Ptasienski, Louis P. Steinhauser
  • Patent number: 7569799
    Abstract: A compound body comprises a steel base element on which is deposited a heater layer. The base element is made of a precipitation hardening steel. In the form of a manifold or material feed tube in a hot duct system, said base element comprises a round or convex surface receiving the heater layer. This heater layer is a compound layer having several strata and/or strata elements which are thick film pastes or sheets and in such form are consecutively deposited, dried and baked-on. The pre-compression generated in this process in the heater layer is increased in controlled manner by precipitation hardening the base element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Gunther GmbH & Co., Metallverarbeitung
    Inventors: Herbert Gunther, Christel Kretschmar, Uwe Partsch, Peter Otschik
  • Publication number: 20090136888
    Abstract: The present invention is a heat processing apparatus comprising: a processing vessel that receives a plurality of objects to be processed in a tier-like manner to subject the objects to be processed to a predetermined heating process; a tubular heater disposed to surround the processing vessel, the tubular heater being capable of heating the objects to be processed; an exhaust heat system for discharging an atmosphere in a space between the heater and the processing vessel; and a cooling unit that blows-out a cooling fluid into the space to cool the processing vessel. The heater has a tubular heat insulating member, and a heating resistor arranged on an inner circumference of the heat insulating member. The cooling unit has a plurality of blowing nozzles embedded in the heat insulating member. Each of the blowing nozzles is formed in such a manner that an inlet orifice of the blowing nozzle and an outlet orifice thereof are not linearly aligned to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Ken Nakao, Kazuhiko Kato
  • Patent number: 7490735
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing controlled precise amounts of a hot-melt adhesive. A positive displacement dispenser which is mounted on a programmable motion system is connected to a hot-melt cartridge feed assembly by an inlet block. The dispenser, feed assembly, and inlet block contain electric heaters and thermocouples for maintaining the adhesive at a desired elevated temperature. A computer control system regulates the temperature in the dispenser, feed assembly, and inlet block and controls a dispensing motor in the dispenser. A preheater heats an adhesive cartridge prior to placement in the feed assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Raines, Hank W. Gonzalez, George E. Blumb
  • Publication number: 20080241299
    Abstract: An electronic device for controlling plastics injection molds; the electronic device being completely separate and independent of the central temperature regulating control unit of the mold, and having a number of electronically controlled electric switching assemblies, each of which is interposable between one electric power module of the central temperature regulating control unit of the mold and the two independent resistors and two independent temperature sensors which together form each heating unit of the injection device of the mold; each electric switching assembly selectively and alternatively connecting one of the two resistors and one of the two temperature sensors of a corresponding heating unit to a respective electric power module of the central temperature regulating control unit of the mold; and the electronic device also having an electronic central control unit which controls the various electric switching assemblies as a function of the state of the resistors and temperature sensors of the
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Maurizio Bazzo, Dario Girelli
  • Patent number: 7423242
    Abstract: Oven for non-metal melting, in particular silicon melting, with a housing enclosing an interior, at least one mould arranged in the interior for receiving a non-metal melt, at least one electrical heating device enclosing, at least partially, the at least one mould for influencing the temperature of the non-metal melt, and a power supply device connected in an electrically conductive manner to the at least one heating device for providing the heating device with a time-variable current I(t), wherein the current I(t) has a frequency of 0.1 Hz to 1000 Hz and the current I(t) is of a magnitude sufficient for setting a predetermined temperature of the non-metal melt, the currents in the plurality, where necessary, of heaters having a defined phase position in respect of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Deutsche Solar AG
    Inventors: Marc Dietrich, Bernhard Freudenberg, Armin Müller, Jens Seidel, Josef Stenzenberger
  • Patent number: 7402779
    Abstract: An MBE effusion cell is configured to produce an inverted temperature gradient; that is, the top surface of the melt is not cooler than the bottom surface of the melt. In one embodiment, the MBE effusion cell comprises a crucible having tip, central and base regions. First filaments are located laterally adjacent the tip region; second filaments are located laterally adjacent the central region; and third filaments are located laterally adjacent all three of the regions. The radial density of the number of the heater filaments is lower adjacent the base region than adjacent the tip or central regions. In another embodiment, further tailoring of the inverted temperature gradient is obtained by reducing the amount of insulation at the base of the crucible. In another embodiment, at least one heater filament extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of the crucible and is located adjacent its lateral wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Loren N. Pfeiffer, Kenneth William West
  • Patent number: 7390361
    Abstract: A semiconductor single crystal manufacturing apparatus which can manufacture a single crystal of high oxygen concentration to that of low oxygen concentration within a prescribed standard range of oxygen concentration, as a wafer material for semiconductor integrated circuits, with a high yield, is provided. Heat shields 20, 21 are provided in the entire annular area between respective adjacent heaters of the heaters 4a, 4b, 4c for heating the crucible 3 from the outside periphery side. By using the heat shields 20, 21 for localizing the respective heating regions for the heaters to actively control the temperature distribution for the crucible 3 and melt 8 in the crucible, a single crystal of high oxygen concentration to that of low oxygen concentration can be manufactured within a prescribed standard range of oxygen concentration with a high yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Sumco Techxiv Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Iida, Akiko Noda, Junsuke Tomioka
  • Publication number: 20080142510
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for inductive heating of a transfer pipe having a bore for transporting a flowable material. A heating coil assembly is disposed along an exterior length of the pipe for generating a magnetic flux for inductively heating the pipe and/or a material flowing in the bore. The coil configuration comprises a continuous coil having spaced-apart coil groups along the pipe length, with adjacent coil turns in each group. In various applications, such as for transporting molten metals from a furnace to a casting assembly, this coil configuration can provide one or more benefits including: reduced energy consumption by reducing thermal losses in the pipe and thus reducing the required temperature at which the molten material is delivered to the pipe; tighter temperature control; improved consistency of the molten material; increased heating efficiency, and/or greater thermal uniformity of the pipe and/or the molten material in the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: iTherm Technologies LP
    Inventors: Kyle B. Clark, Valery Kagan
  • Patent number: 7296707
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing controlled precise amounts of a hot-melt adhesive. A positive displacement dispenser which is mounted on a programmable motion system is connected to a hot-melt cartridge feed assembly by an inlet block. The dispenser, feed assembly, and inlet block contain electric heaters and thermocouples for maintaining the adhesive at a desired elevated temperature. A computer control system regulates the temperature in the dispenser, feed assembly, and inlet block and controls a dispensing motor in the dispenser. A preheater heats an adhesive cartridge prior to placement in the feed assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Raines, Hank W. Gonzalez, George E. Blumb
  • Patent number: 7288744
    Abstract: An injector for equipment for injection moulding of plastic materials comprising at least one first heating resistor and at least one second heating resistor, which are controlled independently of one another and of which one is wound on a first area of the body of the injector extending substantially throughout the axial extension thereof and the other is wound on a second area that extends only along an axial portion of the body of the injector starting from a substantially intermediate area thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Inglass S.P.A.
    Inventors: Peter Dal Bo, Nico Trevisiol
  • Patent number: 7195739
    Abstract: An aromatic container heater and assembly adapted to enhance the release of desirable scent from an aromatic or fragrant candle by heating the exterior of a candle container and thereby melting the candle to release the desired scent. The heater includes a conductor, held within an insulating cover, which is electrically connected to an AC plug for receiving a current and thereby generating the necessary heat to melt the candle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Inventors: Marilyn F. Penman, Richard E. Penman
  • Patent number: 7132628
    Abstract: A layered heater is provided with a resistive layer having a resistive circuit pattern, the resistive circuit pattern defining a length and a thickness, wherein the thickness varies along the length of the resistive circuit pattern for a variable watt density. The present invention also provides layered heaters having a resistive circuit pattern with a variable thickness along with a variable width and/or spacing of the resistive circuit pattern in order to produce a variable watt density. Methods are also provided wherein the variable thickness is achieved by varying a dispensing rate of a conductive ink used to form the resistive circuit pattern, varying the feed rate of a target surface relative to the dispensing of the ink, and overwriting a volume of conductive ink on top of a previously formed trace of the resistive circuit pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, James McMillin, Thomas T. Nagl, Rolando O. Juliano
  • Patent number: 7108438
    Abstract: A packaging and applicator device for a formulation used, for example, for make-up and/or care of keratinic fibers. The device includes a reservoir in which the formulation is placed, and an applicator capable of being loaded with a quantity of the formulation. The reservoir includes a heating device capable of heating at least a portion of the applicator and the quantity of product with which it is loaded when the device is not in a closed position of the reservoir. Heating is preferably permitted when the applicator is in an intermediate position, held at the level of an opening in the reservoir, with the circumference of this opening having at least one heated wall. The heated wall preferably incorporates a stripper element mounted in the reservoir opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Michel Fontaine
  • Patent number: 7064303
    Abstract: A tubular heater that is manually bendable to fit into a channel comprises a heating element positioned in an insulative material such as magnesium oxide and encased in a continuous inner nickel tubular sheathing. An outer sheathing, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a coil of copper with a nickel coating swaged such that the cross-section of a strand of the coil is generally rectangular. The invention also includes the method of manufacturing and method of use of the tubular heater. Alternate embodiments include an outer tubular sheath that has a multiplicity of slits extending in a circumferential direction through the outer sheathing and the outer sheathing swaged directly on the inner sheathing. A further embodiment includes the outer tubular sheathing formed from a multiplicity of individual rings, the outer sheath could be swaged directly on the inner sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Thermetic Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Evan J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7049555
    Abstract: A sleeve heater has an electrical and generally cylindrical heater coil centered on an axis and shaped to fit over a part to be heated, a radially compressible and generally cylindrical inner sleeve snugly coaxially surrounding the heater coil, and a radially generally inextensible and generally cylindrical outer sleeve fitted coaxially over the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve has an inner surface bearing tightly radially inward on the inner sleeve and radially compressing the inner sleeve and the coil inward. The inner sleeve is formed with two or more axially extending and axially oppositely open slots that are angularly equispaced, with alternate slots open axially in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Hotset Heizpatronen U. Zubehor GmbH
    Inventor: Andre Sadowski
  • Patent number: 7015427
    Abstract: An apparatus including a tank having at least one side wall for receiving solid or semi-solid thermoplastic material and a base member supporting the side wall(s) for heating and melting the thermoplastic material. The base member has a heated upper surface sloped downwardly towards the side wall(s) for directing the flow of melted material, and is configured to provide a collection trough for receiving the melted material. A strainer is positioned above the collection trough to filter the melted material. The strainer is adapted to support the remaining solid or partially solidified thermoplastic material above a portion of the heated upper surface to provide a less restricted flow path for the melted material to the collection trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Jeter
  • Patent number: 6903308
    Abstract: A ceramic fiber band that can fulfill a plurality of functions in connection with the injection and/or extrusion process of an injection molding or extrusion apparatus (i.e. heat, cool, and insulate), thereby reducing overall energy costs and creating a safer working environment. The ceramic band, being an insulator and having heating and/or cooling elements with a faster response contained therein, exert the desired heating/cooling effect upon the barrel portion of the injection/extrusion machine thereby raising, lowering, or maintaining the temperature of the fluid plastic compound passing through the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Gordon M. Pendergraft
  • Patent number: 6897418
    Abstract: A temperature sensor for use in hot runner systems includes a resistive element which is connectable via contacting means to a control circuit for a heating device and which includes at least one element portion of larger electrical resistance than its remaining portions, preferably larger by a factor of 2 to 100. The resistive element portions may form U-shaped bows or loops or may be meandering. Two resistive tracks above one another are separated by insulating layers, e.g. ceramic dielectric layers. The resistive element portions may consist of different materials. In connection with a heating device, the temperature sensor is located on or in the body of a manifold or a nozzle, with meandering and/or bifilar heating conductors whose electrical resistance in the middle is smaller than in the top and bottom regions. The temperature sensor portion is tightly enclosed in a zone of high resistance by adjacent heating conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Gunther GmbH & Co. Metallverarbeitung
    Inventor: Herbert Günther
  • Patent number: 6841739
    Abstract: A flexible circuit board (20) having a substantially rigid substrate (22) and an electrical resistance heater trace (24). The substantially rigid substrate (22) has a first portion (26), a second portion (28), and a bend region (30). The bend region (30) interconnects the first portion (26) and the second portion (28). The electrical resistance heater trace (24) is formed on the bend region (30) of the substrate (22). The first portion (26) of the substrate (22) is capable of being folded relative to the second portion (28) of the substrate (22) to form at least one bend (72, 172) in the bend region (30) when an electric current is applied to the heater trace (24). There is also an electronic control unit (60, 160) that includes the flexible circuit board (20) and a method of assembling an electronic control unit (60, 160).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin D. Moore
  • Patent number: 6797925
    Abstract: An electric surface heating element is installed by direct application to the periphery of a cylindrical material pipe (13) of a hot runner nozzle (12). Said surface heating element consists of a ceramic dielectric layer (20) which is directly applied to the metal pipe (13) or to the wall (16) thereof, at least one layer (22) consisting of heating conductor strips (23) and an electrically insulating ceramic covering layer (24) which is applied on top of the latter. Film, or thick-coat screen printing technology are suitable as coating processes. However, thick-coat technology using round printing is preferably used for the layer construction as a whole. Alternatively, the ceramic dielectric layer (20) can be fixed to the periphery of the hot runner pipe (13) in the form of a prefabricated green film and subsequently baked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Gunther Heisskanaltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Günther, Christel Kretschmab, Peter Otschik
  • Patent number: 6758902
    Abstract: A furnace for growing a high volume of crystals includes a plurality of individual growth stations and first and second heater matrixes. Each individual growth station has a crucible and an insulating container generally surrounding the crucible and thermally isolating the crucible from the other individual growth stations. The first and second heater matrices each include at least two legs electrically connected in parallel and each of the legs have at least two resistance heaters electrically connected in series. Each of the individual growth stations have at least one of the resistance heaters within the first heater matrix and at least one of the resistance heaters within the second heater matrix associated therewith. The resistance heaters of the first heater matrix are located above the crucibles and are preferably adapted to provide a homogeneous temperature across tops of the crucibles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: American Crystal Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Schupp
  • Patent number: 6756567
    Abstract: An apparatus for melting paraffin wax is provided. It includes an integral plastic inner tub attached to an integral aluminum plate holder, each of which has a flat bottom and a sloped wall. A positive temperature coefficient heating element is attached to the flat bottom of the aluminum plate holder for self regulating to a preset temperature by autonomously varying the positive temperature coefficient heating element electrical resistance in response to the temperature of the positive temperature coefficient heating element thereby varying a power dissipation of the positive temperature coefficient heating element in order to maintain the positive temperature coefficient heating element at the preset temperature. Heat from the positive temperature coefficient heating element is transferred from the integral aluminum plate holder to the integral plastic inner tub via the flat bottoms and the sloped walls thereby melting any wax inside the integral plastic inner tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Chi Ming Suen
  • Patent number: 6747251
    Abstract: A heating system for a hand-held glue gun has a low-mass melting chamber, high-power resistance heating element, and thermostat (24). The heating element is arranged between the chamber and thermostat (24), so that the thermostat's (24) response to the heating element mirrors that of the load in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Adhesive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Belanger
  • Publication number: 20040074891
    Abstract: A ceramic fiber band that can fulfill a plurality of functions in connection with the injection and/or extrusion process of an injection molding or extrusion apparatus (i.e. heat, cool, and insulate), thereby reducing overall energy costs and creating a safer working environment. The ceramic band, being an insulator and having heating and/or cooling elements with a faster response contained therein, exert the desired heating/cooling effect upon the barrel portion of the injection/extrusion machine thereby raising, lowering, or maintaining the temperature of the fluid plastic compound passing through the barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Gordon M. Pendergraft
  • Patent number: 6683283
    Abstract: A heater assembly for mounting around a fluid flow channel in an injection molding apparatus, the heater assembly comprising: an inner tube comprising a first heat conductive material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, the inner tube having a selected longitudinal length, an inner surface, an outer surface; a first ring having an inner surface engaged around the outer surface of the inner tube along short selected length of the longitudinal length of the inner tube, the first ring comprising a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion; a heater mechanism that heats the inner tube to a selected elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Dynisco Hot Runners Inc. Canada
    Inventor: Harald Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6680023
    Abstract: A container for molten metal which uses heat of solidification for heating the molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: C. Edward Eckert
  • Publication number: 20030209532
    Abstract: A heater assembly for mounting around a fluid flow channel in an injection molding apparatus, the heater assembly comprising: an inner tube comprising a first heat conductive material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, the inner tube having a selected longitudinal length, an inner surface, an outer surface; a first ring having an inner surface engaged around the outer surface of the inner tube along short selected length of the longitudinal length of the inner tube, the first ring comprising a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion; a heater mechanism that heats the inner tube to a selected elevated temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventor: Harald Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6632086
    Abstract: A crucible for melting a silica for fusion of said silica into a desired shape. The crucible having a main body with inner and outer surfaces comprised of a refractory material. In addition, at least a portion of the inner surface includes a barrier layer comprised of a material selected from rhenium, osmium, iridium, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventors: Stanley M. Antczak, Mark A. Castelletti, Frederic F. Ahlgren
  • Patent number: 6625873
    Abstract: A method of making a heated injection molding nozzle with an integral tip insert. First, an inner portion, an outer collar portion, and an electrical heating element are made and integrally brazed together in a vacuum furnace using a first nickel alloy brazing material. Then a tip insert is made having a desired configuration and seated in the front end of the inner portion and a second nickel alloy brazing material is applied around it. The second brazing material has a melting temperature which is substantially below that of the first brazing material. The tip insert is then integrally brazed in place by heating them to a temperature above the melting temperature of the second brazing material and below the melting temperature of the first brazing material. In addition to not affecting the metallurgical bonding between the other components, this allows the tip insert to be easily removed for replacement by again heating the nozzle to this same temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Jobst Ulrich Gellert
  • Patent number: 6516971
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing unit and method for sensing temperature of an electric valve. In one embodiment, the liquid dispensing unit includes a manifold which has a liquid passageway adapted to connect to a source of heated liquid. An electrically operated dispensing valve is coupled to the manifold. The dispensing valve includes an external surface and a liquid passageway which is in fluid communication with the liquid passageway of the manifold. The dispensing valve is selectively operative to dispense the heated liquid. The liquid dispensing unit further includes a temperature sensing device operatively associated with the dispensing valve. The temperature sensing device has a sensing element contacting the external surface of the dispensing valve to measure the temperature of that external surface and thereby indirectly measure the temperature of the heated liquid within the dispensing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Daryl Reece, Laurence B. Saidman, David J. Zgonc
  • Patent number: 6495804
    Abstract: An extruder cylinder is heated by resistance heaters surrounding cooling coils around respective segments of the extruder cylinder which is subdivided into heating and heating or cooling zones therealong. The rate of flow of the heat-carrier oil in the coil or the rate of flow of a cooling medium in heat exchange therewith can be regulated to control the cooling effect of the heat-carrier oil which can continue to flow through the coil even during purely heating phases for temperature equalization over the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Theysohn Extrusionstechnik Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Rudolf Zahradnik
  • Patent number: 6486445
    Abstract: A ceramic fiber band that can fulfill a plurality of functions in connection with the injection and/or extrusion process of an injection molding or extrusion apparatus (i.e. heat, cool, and insulate), thereby reducing overall energy costs and creating a safer working environment. The ceramic band, being an insulator and having heating and/or cooling elements with a faster response contained therein, exert the desired heating/cooling effect upon the barrel portion of the injection/extrusion machine thereby raising, lowering, or maintaining the temperature of the fluid plastic compound passing through the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Gordon M. Pendergraft
  • Patent number: 6479800
    Abstract: Remote activation mechanism for equipment regulated deployment or release, that includes a cylindrical housing (1), connected by means of a rod (10) with the external equipment to be deployed including the acting mechanism, and has adhered a fusible material band in its internal surface (11). Inside the housing a cylindrical frame (2) connected with the fixed part of the equipment is disposed. That frame is provided with means to perform the local and progressive fusion of the fusible material band. Additionally a cylindrical sealing piece (3) is disposed in between the fusible material band (11) and the frame (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Sener, Ingenieria Y Sistemas, S.A.
    Inventors: Jose Ignacio Bueno Ruiz, Javier Vazquez Mato