Forming Plural Articles Patents (Class 264/297.1)
  • Patent number: 6872341
    Abstract: A system and method of mass-producing a bait station of wax matrix material for pesticide or insecticide delivery is disclosed. The apparatus and method includes a water-heated vat 110 which supplies liquid wax matrix material to molds which may be of various forms in accordance with the desired bait station to be manufactured. A fluid pump 120 pumps the wax matrix material from the vat through a tube 130 into molding tubes 140. At a molding tube station 140 the molds are filled and then carried by a conveyer belt 100 to a cooling tunnel 160. The wax-containing molds may be shaken by an in-line shaker in order to reduce air bubbles in the wax matrix. After the wax-containing molds are cooled by the cooling tunnel 160 the conveyer carries them to a labeling station 170, after which the finished bait stations are removed from their molds and packaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Inventor: Richard David Robinson
  • Patent number: 6869558
    Abstract: A system and method for forming an article from thermoplastic material and fiber. The method includes heating thermoplastic material to form a molten thermoplastic material for blending with the fiber. The molten thermoplastic material is blended with the fibers to form a molten composite material having a concentration of fiber by weight. The molten composite material may then be extruded through dynamic dies to deliver discrete controlled material that is gravitated onto a lower portion of a mold. The lower portion of the mold may be moved in space and time while receiving the flow of composite material to deposit a predetermined quantity of molten composite material thereon conforming to mold cavities of the lower and an upper portion of the mold. The upper portion of the mold may be pressed against the predetermined quantity of molten composite material and closing on the lower portion of the mold to form the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Thermoplastic Composite Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale E. Polk, Jr., Dale E. Polk, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6866810
    Abstract: A treatment method for the internal surface of a molded polyethylene plastics material container such as a drum, including the steps of: introducing an ionizable gas, such as argon, into the container; generating a plasma of the introduced gas by applying electric field of sufficient strength to the container and introduced gas, so as to cause an interaction with the internal surface of the container; coating the internal surface of the container with a curable epoxy-based first polymeric composition; and then curing the polymeric composition to form a coating on the internal surfaces of the container. A second coating, preferably with electrical conductive properties, may be applied and cured over the first coating. Conductive properties may be provided by including conductive particles such as antimony doped tin dioxide, graphite or metal powders, in the second composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Harcostar Drums Limited
    Inventors: Qamar Uddin Ahmed, Michael David Christy, Phillip Andrew Wallis
  • Patent number: 6852258
    Abstract: A method of making a sponge device is provided. This method includes introducing a curable liquid sponge forming material into a form, placing a handle into the material before it is fully cured, heating the form to cure the material, removing the cured material from the form, and rinsing the cured material. Another aspect of the present invention is the assembly for making this sponge device. This assembly includes a runner for joining a plurality of handles, plates that are spring-biased together to support the handles, a chase formed of heat conductive metal having a shelf where the plates can be set, and a silicone form having a plurality of cavities therein for receiving the sponge forming material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: M-Pact Worldwide, L.L.C.
    Inventors: James C. Martin, Randy S. Kilburn, Lowell L. Teague, Richard D. Tidd
  • Publication number: 20040256770
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a safety helmet, including forming, through a process of injection molding using a single mold, a basic safety helmet comprising a basic outer shell having a brim integrally formed with a dome. The brim of the basic safety helmet may have a uniform and constant width, or a variable width around a lower perimeter of the dome. The method also includes selectively removing portions of the basic safety helmet after the basic safety helmet is formed to produce a modified safety helmet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Christopher Padgett, William B. Erb
  • Patent number: 6833100
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing starch loss in mogul machines. Starch is lowered below the tray edge such that starch does not spill over the tray side walls when cavities are stamped into the starch for receiving liquefied candy material. The leveling device may include a brush and a resilient plastic blade. The leveling device recycles starch into a collection hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Liberty Engineering Company
    Inventor: Rob Klein
  • Publication number: 20040232596
    Abstract: A method for operating a rotary tabletting machine the rotor of which has a die-plate, upper rams, and lower rams which interact with the die bores, and has a stationary filling device interacting with the upper side of said die-plate, and wherein the lower rams are located in the die bores when they run along beneath the filling device and said lower rams are adjusted in their positions by means of a filling and/or proportioning cam, wherein said filling and/or proportioning cams is set into vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Jurgen Hinzpeter, Werner Seifert, Ulrich Zeuschner, Jan Naeve
  • Patent number: 6800230
    Abstract: To stabilize a friction coefficient of a dust seal member or brake-gap adjustment seal member to a piston in a disc brake regardless of temperature change. At least an inner circumferential surfaces of a dust seal member and a brake-gap adjustment seal member, attached to a brake caliper, are coated with a friction reducing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimi Ishikawa, Hirofumi Noro, Shinichi Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 6787087
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a PVC ornamental article having effects of imitated materials includes steps of: (a) mold casting: making a prototype of a desired ornamental article, exploding said prototype into a plurality of blank elements, coating said blank elements with silicone to form hollow silicone molds, injecting a wax material into said hollow silicone molds to obtain a wax object, taking out said wax object for trimming and electroplating said wax object, and melting said wax object to obtain a mold; (b) blank formation: adding colorants into said PVC plastic material and mixing said colorants to obtain desired colors, injecting said PVC plastic material into said mold, utilizing centrifugal force to affix said PVC plastic material onto an inner wall of said mold, and removing molded PVC from said mold to form a blank by force before said molded PVC dries, filling a filler into said blank to increase hardness; and (c) assembly: assembling blanks together and joining the blanks with other decorations to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Paul Chang
  • Patent number: 6777525
    Abstract: Polyimides having a desired combination of high thermo-oxidative stability, low moisture absorption and excellent chemical and corrosion resistance are prepared by reacting a mixture of compounds including (a) 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), (b) 3,4′-oxydianiline (3,4′-ODA), and (c) 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (NA) in a high boiling, aprotic solvent to give 5 to 35% by weight of polyamic acid solution. The ratio of (a), (b), and (c) is selected to afford a family of polyimides having different molecular weights and properties. The mixture first forms a polyamic acid precursor. Upon heating at or above 300° C., the polyamic acids form polyimides, which are particularly suitable for use as a high temperature coating, adhesive, thin film, or composite matrix resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Ruth H. Pater
  • Patent number: 6702970
    Abstract: Processes and systems to reduce sticking of graphite materials and particularly resin impregnated graphite materials to forming tools, such as an embossing roller, during a process of manufacturing articles from the graphite materials. In one embodiment, an aerosol spray non-stick material is intermittently sprayed upon the embossing rollers. In a second embodiment, one or more sheets of thin flexible solid non-stick material, such as polyethylene, are sandwiched between the graphite material and the embossing rollers. The system is particularly useful for manufacturing material useful in producing components of fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy H. Klug
  • Patent number: 6640411
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a mould body (40) serving as an original or master or, alternatively, a matrix, said mould body having at least one surface area (41a) in the form of a microstructure, designed so that it can be transferred as a complementary surface area to a matrix or an object. The mould body (40) is constructed from one or more prefabricated discrete elements (41). A base plate belonging to the mould body (40) is applied and secured in at least one of these discrete elements (41). This element shall be provided with said surface area (41a) in the form of a microstructure. A matrix or object formed by the mould body (40) is provided with a complementary microstructured surface area from said discrete elements. The invention also relates to a mould body produced in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: AMIC AB
    Inventors: Hans Martin, Ove Öhman, Lars Lundbladh
  • Patent number: 6616885
    Abstract: A manufacturing method comprising the steps of forming at first solidified wax layer of a desired shape, depositing onto the first solidified wax layer at least one layer of a liquid resin formulation, solidifying the layer of liquid resin formulation, depositing a second wax layer on to the combination of the first solidified wax layer and the layer of solidified resin formulation, solidifying the second wax layer, and separating the solidified resin formulation from first and second wax layers. Preferably, the resin formulation comprises at least one monofunctional water soluble vinyl or acrylic monomer in combination with a low molecular weight aliphatic polymer having acrylic or methacrylic acid functionality. The solidified wax and resin formulation layers can be machined as may be desired to form mold of a given shape comprising wax layers when the layer of formulation is separated from the wax layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc.
    Inventors: John Lang Lombardi, Gregory John Artz
  • Patent number: 6585939
    Abstract: The present invention relates to microstructures which a fabricated from a cast or molded polymer material, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The invention describes and claims methods and compositions from which a variety of microstructures may be prepared. The microstructures are particularly useful for use in assays and reactions in the relating to biological assays, including applications in medical diagnostics. Such assays and reactions included, but are by no means limited to, polynucleotide sequencing and polynucleotides analysis, including analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms, and for polynucleotide amplification such as PCR. The microstructures of the invention may contain many features that are useful for such applications. For example, the microstructures may comprise wells or channels for biological fluids and/or reagents, as well as pumps and valves for directing such fluids, e.g., in a biological assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Orchid BioSciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Johannes Dapprich
  • Publication number: 20030082341
    Abstract: A FRP plate member fabrication method includes the steps of: (a) form preparation to prepare a form having a cavity made subject to predetermined dimensions and pattern, (b) coating and hardening to coat the cavity with a layer of mold releasing agent and a layer of face material on the layer of mold releasing agent and then to harden the layer of face material, (c) FRP layer formation to coat a layer of FRP on the layer of face material and then to harden the coating, (d) resin coating to coat a layer of resin on the layer of FRP, (e) sheet member adding to bond a backing sheet to the layer of resin, (f) pressure application and mass production to compress backing sheet against the form and then to repeat the steps from (a) through (e) for making multiple FRP plate members at a time, and (g) form releasing to release the molded and hardened FRP plate members from the form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Chin Fa Chu
  • Patent number: 6555040
    Abstract: A block is made from loose earth. A press foot in a breech is raised to a first level even with the top of the breech. The press foot is lowered to a second level to receive a volume of loose earth from a feed drawer. The feed drawer is withdrawn to screed excess loose earth from the top of the breech. A bucking foot is lowered to close the breech. The press foot is raised to a third level to compress the loose earth into a block. The bucking foot is raised to permit vertical ejection of the block into the path of the feed drawer. Upon again raising the press foot to the first level, a previously-made block is simultaneously raised. Upon again moving the feed drawer over the breech, the previously-made block is simultaneously pushed aside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: David Lienau
  • Patent number: 6544027
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manifold of an injection molding machine. The manifold of the present invention has a groove formed on a top surface of the manifold, into which a heating wire is inserted. Protrusions are formed on both sides of an upper end of the groove and are projected from the top surface of the manifold. The protrusions fix the heating wire in such a manner that the heating wire is inserted into the groove and then the protrusions are press-fitted into the inside of the groove by way of a press or a hammer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Yudo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Hee Yu
  • Publication number: 20030057600
    Abstract: A device and a method for thermal treatment at a casting process, wherein objects (14,20) are formed in a casting machine (50), which comprises a divisible forming tool (10,11) with a casting space (40) enclosed therein, designed to be filled by a liquid casting material (30). The device comprises a treatment tool (1,21) comprising at least one treatment surface (3) arranged to, in its form, at least partially be similar to the casting space (40), and a treatment tool (1,21) comprises means (7) arranged to connect an object (14,20) formed in a casting space (40) to the treatment tool (1,21), and that the device is arranged to carry out thermal treatment of said object (14,20) outside the casting machine (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Mikael Wennberg
  • Patent number: 6503438
    Abstract: A tool structure or tool insert has a runner system which includes at least one branching runner which branches in at least two directions forming at least a first pair of branch runners for receiving laminar flowing material for the formation of a product. Each branch runner is at a position in the runner system such that it receives material having significantly similar conditions from side-to-side of a bisecting plane of that runner which bisects the cross section of at least a portion of the length of that branch runner. This material also has dissimilar conditions from side-to-side of a perpendicular plane of each branch runner which is perpendicular to the bisecting plane of that runner with the perpendicular plane of each branch runner also bisecting the cross section of the same portion of the length of each branch runner that the bisecting plane bisects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Beaumont Runner Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Beaumont, David A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 6500377
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a web, such as a web of interconnected disposable absorbent articles. The web is fed in a first direction to an activation system which includes a central disc and at least one outer disc. The central disc has a top surface and a pair of opposing side surfaces. The side surfaces of the central disc have activation tools located thereon while the outer disc includes complementary activation tools, The web is folded about the central disc such that a first zone of the web is positioned adjacent the top surface and a second zone of the web is positioned adjacent one of the side surfaces. The activation tool of the outer disc is then engaged with the activation tool of the central disc. The activation tool of the outer disc is then disengaged from the activation tool of the central disc. The activated web is then removed from the central disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Uwe Schneider, Christoph Johann Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20020163103
    Abstract: A mold for producing a plurality of moldings has at least on introduction point for the molding material and a plurality of cavities with a shape corresponding to that of the moldings. The cavities are arranged so that each cavity, except cavities in an end or peripheral position, is connected to at least two directly adjacent cavities. A fluid casting compound of a material having a solidified hardness of not more than about 200N, defined as the force at which an 11 mm sphere of the material will shatter, is introduced into the mold, so that it essentially fills all of the cavities, and the casting compound is then solidified and removed from the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: Reckitt Benckiser N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Wiedemann, Natascha Daschner, Axel Halbherr, Jacobus Simon Petrus Van Diepen, Ludwig Hertling
  • Patent number: 6406648
    Abstract: Described is a method of forming and curing high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) into shaped three dimensional foam implements. In general the method uses the steps of: providing a HIPE, depositing the HIPE into a mold cavity having a predetermined three dimensional shape, curing the HIPE in the mold cavity to form a HIPE foam, and stripping the HIPE foam from the mold cavity to form the three dimensional foam implement. The molded implements are widely useful as components in absorbent articles, toys, insulation, and other uses where a combination of low density and tridimensional shape are desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Richard Noel, John Collins Dyer, Thomas Allen DesMarais, Paul Martin Lipic, John Lee Hammons
  • Patent number: 6357802
    Abstract: An air-pressure joint 1 comprising a pipe main body 2 made of a rigid thermoplastic resin and a release ring 3 made of a rigid thermoplastic resin inserted from one opening of the pipe main body, wherein the release ring includes a slip-off preventing protrusion 13 on an outer circumferential surface of its insertion site; and the pipe main body 2 includes a ring-shaped sealing portion 9 made of an elastic resin and integrally formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof, an insertion mouth pipe portion 7 made of a rigid rigid resin, coaxially disposed to abut one opening side portion of the pipe main body 2 and forming a recess groove 10 on an inner circumferential surface of an abutting portion thereof for stopping the slip-off preventing protrusion 13 of the release ring 3, and a ring-shaped connecting portion 8 made of a rigid synthetic resin and integrally molded to an outer circumferential surface of the abutting portion of this mouth pipe for connecting the insertion mouth pipe portion 7 to the p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignees: Mikuni Plastics Co., Ltd., Daicel-Hüls, Ltd., Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Nozato, Atsushi Inagaki, Shinichi Matsumoto, Hajime Komada, Mitsuteru Mutsuda, Masanori Hiraishi
  • Publication number: 20020000685
    Abstract: A tool structure or tool insert has a runner system which includes at least one branching runner which branches in at least two directions forming at least a first pair of branch runners for receiving laminar flowing material for the formation of a product. Each branch runner is at a position in the runner system such that it receives material having significantly similar conditions from side-to-side of a bisecting plane of that runner which bisects the cross section of at least a portion of the length of that branch runner. This material also has dissimilar conditions from side-to-side of a perpendicular plane of each branch runner which is perpendicular to the bisecting plane of that runner with the perpendicular plane of each branch runner also bisecting the cross section of the same portion of the length of each branch runner that the bisecting plane bisects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Applicant: Beaumont Runner Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Beaumont, David A. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 6306333
    Abstract: A process for making a low molecular weight cellulose ether has the following steps: a) providing a high molecular weight cellulose ether; b) contacting it with acid to partially depolymerize it to a cellulose ether of a viscosity of about 100 cP or less; c) neutralizing the acid; d) repeating steps a)-c) to produce two or more discrete product batches of low molecular weight cellulose ether and produce at least one discrete product batch which is partially neutralized; and e) blending the two or more discrete product batches to form a combined product batch of low molecular weight cellulose ether of a pH of 4 to 6.8. The process provides a cellulose ether with reduced yellowing and discoloration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Steven Rosenberg, Michael V. Spencer, Gary J. Schulz
  • Patent number: 6224807
    Abstract: A method is provided for making a mold cavity for forming a fastener element having a predetermined shape including an undercut portion. The method includes: (a) providing a mold body having a surface; (b) providing a shaped electrode, the shape of the electrode being selected to enable the predetermined shape of the mold cavity to be described by motions of the electrode; (c) moving the shaped electrode into the surface of the mold body to form an initial opening in the mold body; (d) moving the shaped electrode within the initial opening in a set of motions referenced to multiple axes to enlarge the initial opening and form the predetermined shape of the mold cavity; and (e) removing the shaped electrode from the mold body. Methods of molding fastener elements are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventor: William Clune
  • Patent number: 6171538
    Abstract: A multi-cavity coinjection mold and method for simultaneously producing a plurality of multi-layered articles comprising: a mold structure defining a plurality of mold cavities; a first supply source for supplying metered amounts of a first molding material; a second supply source for supplying metered amounts of a second molding material; a hot runner system in communication with the first and second supply sources for conveying the metered amounts of the first and the second materials separately to a region proximate each of the cavities; a valve mechanism per cavity for receiving the metered amounts of the first and second materials from the hot runner system and for sequentially supplying desired quantity of the first and second materials contiguously to each cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: DTL Technology Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Martin H. Beck, George F. Rollend