With Measuring, Testing, Or Inspecting Patents (Class 264/40.1)
  • Patent number: 10336051
    Abstract: A three-dimensional object forming apparatus includes: a head unit; a curing unit that cures the liquid discharged from the head unit, and forms a dot; and a forming control unit that controls an operation of the head unit such that a three-dimensional object is formed as an aggregate of dots by representing a shape of the three-dimensional object to be formed as a voxel-set and forming a dot in a voxel of the voxel-set which is determined as a target in which the dot is formed by a determination unit. The determination unit determines a target voxel in which a dot is formed depending on a result of comparing a forming index value which is a value depending on a dot forming rate in a voxel of the voxel-set which is positioned on an inside of the three-dimensional object with a threshold of a dither mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kohei Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 10307970
    Abstract: Methods of collecting in-situ materials on a celestial body for return to Earth or another location and associated devices are described. These devices and methods facilitate collection of samples and creation of portions of the return spacecraft via an additive manufacturing device contained within the lander craft. The additive manufacturing device is configured to produce portions of the return spacecraft (e.g., sample return container, spacecraft structure, heat shield) and may also be configured to place samples within the spacecraft for return and analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: MADE IN SPACE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Snyder, Jason Dunn
  • Patent number: 10307969
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for 3D printing with small geometric offsets to affect surface characteristics. These techniques are capable of enabling fused-deposition printers to create 3D objects having desired surface characteristics, such as particular colors, images and image resolutions, textures, and luminosities. In some cases, the techniques do so using a single filament head with a single filament material. In some other cases, the techniques do so using multiple heads each with different filaments, though the techniques can forgo many switches between these heads. Each printing layer may use even a single filament from one head, thereby enabling surface characteristics while reducing starts and stops for filaments heads, which enables fewer artifacts or increases printing speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Adobe Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan A. Carr, Tim Christopher Reiner, Gavin Stuart Peter Miller, Radomir Mech
  • Patent number: 10239247
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) passing the flakes through a PET crystallizer; (E) passing the group of flakes through an MRS extruder while maintaining the pressure within the MRS portion of the MRS extruder below about 18 millibars; (F) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (G) forming the recycled polymer into bulked continuous carpet filament that consists essentially of recycled PET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Mohawk Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Clark
  • Patent number: 10232604
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a metal member according to an embodiment, the metal member having an overhang portion is molded together with hollow support members that support the overhang portion, by repeatedly forming a molding layer that is selectively melted and solidified by applying a light beam to a predetermined region of a metal powder layer spread over a pedestal. The manufacturing method includes: providing removal members on the pedestal; integrally forming the support members on the removal members; integrally forming the metal member on the support members; and removing the removal members and the support members, by twisting the removal members, from the removal members, the support members, and the metal member that are formed integrally with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigemi Shioya, Atsushi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10232542
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) passing the group of flakes through an expanded surface area extruder while maintaining a pressure within the expanded surface area extruder below about 25 millibars; (E) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (F) forming the recycled polymer into bulked continuous carpet filament that consists essentially of recycled PET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Mohawk Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Clark
  • Patent number: 10223481
    Abstract: In a computer-aided resin behavior analyzer that analyze behavior of a continuous fiber and long discontinuous fiber incorporated in a resin during molding in a mold under predetermined molding conditions through a simulation program installed on a computer, the simulation program is configured to calculate, when analysis conditions including at least multiple nodes F of the fiber is inputted, a bending rate Af of the fiber with respect to an evaluated length obtained from at least one node Fn among multiple nodes F anticipated under the molding conditions based on the analysis conditions, and to evaluate bending of the fiber based on the bending rate Af with respect to the evaluated length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Koji Dan, Masatoshi Kobayashi, Tsuyoshi Baba
  • Patent number: 10213050
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a grill is provided including performing a first calibration run. A first calibration run includes monitoring a current of a leveling mechanism as the first grilling surface moves into contact with a second opposite grilling surface to determine a first location of the grilling surface. The current of the leveling mechanism is also monitored as the first grilling surface moves out of contact with the second grilling surface to determine a second location of the first grilling surface. A first calibration setting including the first location and the second location is stored in the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Taylor Commercial Foodservice Inc.
    Inventors: Otley Dwight Freymiller, Ronald J. Glavan, Jeffrey L. Sands
  • Patent number: 10208973
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a processor based system for using temperature information being reported by a plurality of sensors present within a predetermined environment and controlling how various ones of the sensors are grouped together into a plurality of groups for monitoring purposes. The system includes a software subsystem that generates an association matrix screen on a display system associated with a computer system being used by a user with receives the temperature information. The association matrix screen enables a user to associate or disassociate specific sensors with selected groups of sensors using selection commands, as well as to provide temperature related information concerning all of the sensors being monitored by the system. Each of the sensors is not limited to being assigned to only a single group of sensors but may instead be assigned to two or more different groups of sensors for purposes of monitoring and/or control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Vertiv Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler Voigt, Michael Jason Gloeckner
  • Patent number: 10199557
    Abstract: A piezoelectric film containing (K,Na)NbO3 as the main component, wherein, when a surface of the piezoelectric film was observed in a field view within a specified range, a plurality of first crystals and a plurality of second crystals are arranged in the surface of the piezoelectric film, wherein, the first crystal has a slender shape orientating toward the first orientation along the surface, and the second crystal has a slender shape orientating toward the second orientation which crosses with the first orientation along the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuiko Hirose, Shirou Ootsuki
  • Patent number: 10183422
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a foil or a film (1), comprising the following steps a) applying at least one material (2) for producing the foil or the film (1) to a moving belt (3), b) at least partially curing and/or partially drying the poured material (2), during which step b) the properties of the material and/or thermal state variables of a defined area around the belt (3) are recorded by means of at least one non-invasive spectroscopic method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Berndorf Band GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Morgenbesser, Hannes Flasch, Michael Proschek
  • Patent number: 10173350
    Abstract: A modeling apparatus includes: a moving unit that moves reciprocally and relatively with respect to a board; one or a plurality of ejecting units that are disposed at the moving unit, and that ejects a droplet of a photo-curable modeling liquid toward the board; a light-emitting device having a first light-emitting unit that is disposed at the moving unit and that emits emission light to the modeling liquid which is ejected and landed on the board, while the ejecting unit is moved in a forward direction, to cure the modeling liquid, and a second light-emitting unit that is disposed at the moving unit and that emits emission light to the modeling liquid which is ejected and landed on the board, while the ejecting unit is moved in a backward direction, to cure the modeling liquid; a control section as defined herein; and a flattening unit as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takehito Hikichi
  • Patent number: 10150257
    Abstract: A method including creating an additive manufactured part layer by layer with an additive manufacturing device, determining, with a processor, at least one of a speed and a rate at which the additive manufacturing device at least one of lifts, delays, and lowers the part with respect to a build plate after an additive layer has been added to the part based on sizing information about the part being built at least one of real-time during the build process and prior to beginning the build process, and operating the additive manufacturing device at one of the speed and the rate during a build process of the part to create the part. Another method is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: B9CREATIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Joyce
  • Patent number: 10152011
    Abstract: An image forming system capable of properly managing maintenance information on a punch die mounted on a puncher. The puncher punches holes in a sheet using a removably mounted punch die. A punch die memory mounted on the punch die stores maintenance information concerning the punch die. A CPU of the image forming system detects mounting of a punch die. A RAM of the same stores maintenance information concerning each of punch dies mounted on the puncher. When a punch die is mounted on the puncher, the CPU performs comparison between maintenance information is stored in the RAM, and maintenance information stored in the punch die memory, and when the maintenance information stored in the RAM is older, the CPU updates the information in the RAM to the information in the punch die memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akinobu Nishikata, Yutaka Ando, Akihiro Arai, Hiromasa Maenishi
  • Patent number: 10150253
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object, is carried out by (a) providing a carrier and a build plate, the build plate comprising a semipermeable member, the semipermeable member comprising a build surface with the build surface and the carrier defining a build region therebetween, and with the build surface in fluid communication by way of the semipermeable member with a source of polymerization inhibitor; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid contacting the build surface; (c) irradiating the build region through the build plate to produce a solid polymerized region in the build region, while forming or maintaining a liquid film release layer comprised of the polymerizable liquid formed between the solid polymerized region and the build surface, the polymerization of which liquid film is inhibited by the polymerization inhibitor; and (d) advancing the carrier with the polymerized region adhered thereto away from the build surface on the build plate to create
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Alexander Ermoshkin, Nikita Ermoshkin, Edward T. Samulski
  • Patent number: 10150238
    Abstract: In an injection molding machine, a predetermined torque limit value set in advance and acceleration/deceleration torque calculated by an acceleration/deceleration torque calculation section are added to set an output torque limit value for a motor. By this operation, quick acceleration or deceleration can be achieved in an injection process, and breakage of a mold and mechanism section of the injection molding machine can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventor: Hajime Oono
  • Patent number: 10144161
    Abstract: Methods and systems for co-extruding multiple polymeric material flow streams into a mold having a plurality of cavities to produce a plurality of multi-layer polymeric articles each having a consistent coverage of an interior core layer are disclosed herein. In an example method, a flow rate of a first skin material into a cavity is individually controlled for each cavity before initiation of co-injection of a second core material into the cavity, which may address inconsistent interior core layer coverage for articles from different cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MILACRON LLC
    Inventors: John Duffy, Scott Hickey
  • Patent number: 10144181
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object, comprises providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid; irradiating the build region through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid while concurrently advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer, while also concurrently: (i) continuously maintaining a dead zone of polymerizable liquid in contact with the build surface, and (ii) continuously maintaining a gradient of polymerization zone between the dead zone and the solid polymer and in contact with each thereof, the gradient of polymerization zone comprising the polymerizable liquid in partially cured form. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Alexander Ermoshkin, Nikita Ermoshkin, Edward T. Samulski
  • Patent number: 10124513
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) passing the group of flakes through an MRS extruder while maintaining the pressure within the MRS portion of the MRS extruder below about 5 millibars; (E) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (F) forming the recycled polymer into bulked continuous carpet filament that consists essentially of recycled PET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mohawk Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Clark
  • Patent number: 10112337
    Abstract: A method for controlling a blow-molding machine for producing a thermoplastic container, wherein a blowing gas for blow-molding the container is introduced into a thermally conditioned preform, while the preform is held in a blow mold of the blow-molding machine. The blowing gas is introduced during a preblowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform approaches the walls of the blow mold. The blowing gas is introduced during a following finish-blowing phase into the preform so that the temperature-conditioned material of the preform is pressed into the contours of the blow mold walls. The volumetric flow rate of the blowing gas is determined at least during the preblowing phase by an adjustable flow-control valve that can be controlled by a control unit that generates a control signal for adjusting the flow-control valve. The flow-control valve is adjusted as a function of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Litzenberg, Karl-Heinz Balkau, Dieter Klatt, Michael Linke
  • Patent number: 10105904
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device and method for supporting 3D object printing and an apparatus for providing a 3D object printing service. A proposed device for supporting 3D object printing includes an information collection unit for collecting preference information of a user and performance information of a 3D printer. A download unit downloads a 3D model that is an object to be printed and model information defined in the 3D model in response to a printable selection signal. A model information creation unit creates new model information based on the 3D model and the model information defined in the 3D model. A print control command generation unit generates a print control command based on the preference information of the user and the performance information of the 3D printer, output from the information collection unit, and the new model information, output from the model information creation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Seung-Wook Lee, In-Su Jang, Jin-Sung Choi, Bon-Ki Koo
  • Patent number: 10107707
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a blowout in an irrigation pipe being formed by an extrusion manufacturing process. The irrigation pipe is extruded. Further a positive air pressure inside the irrigation pipe may be created by circulating air through the irrigation pipe during the extrusion manufacturing process. The irrigation pipe with positive air pressure is then fed into a tank, wherein the tank comprises a coolant liquid. Further at least one air bubble is trapped at a surface of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Jain Irrigation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Defrank, Ajit Bhavarlal Jain
  • Patent number: 10093064
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object, is carried out by (a) providing a carrier and a build plate, the build plate comprising a semipermeable member, the semipermeable member comprising a build surface with the build surface and the carrier defining a build region therebetween, and with the build surface in fluid communication by way of the semipermeable member with a source of polymerization inhibitor; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid contacting the build surface, (c) irradiating the build region through the build plate to produce a solid polymerized region in the build region, while forming or maintaining a liquid film release layer comprised of the polymerizable liquid formed between the solid polymerized region and the build surface, wherein the polymerization of which liquid film is inhibited by the polymerization inhibitor; and (d) advancing the carrier with the polymerized region adhered thereto away from the build surface on the build plate t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Carbon, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Alexander Ermoshkin, Edward T. Samulski
  • Patent number: 10076879
    Abstract: A method for the generative production of a component and a device for carrying out such a method, includes the following steps: applying a material layer with a constant layer thickness; solidifying a region of the material layer according to a component cross section; generating an eddy-current scan of the solidified region, a scan depth corresponding to a multiple of the layer thickness; determining a material characterization of the solidified region taking into consideration a previous eddy-current scan of solidified regions of lower-lying material layers; and repeating the steps until the component is assembled. An electric material characterization of each individual layer is determined using a recursive algorithm of individual measurements (monolayer by monolayer), and thus the entire component is tested step by step completely in a highly resolved manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES AG
    Inventors: Joachim Bamberg, Wilhelm Satzger, Thomas Hess
  • Patent number: 10046503
    Abstract: A blowing or stretch-blowing machine for preforms made of polymer material. The blowing or stretch-blowing machine (1) has a plurality of molds (1) movable on a transport system, in which each of the molds (1) comprises a first half-mold (2a) and a second half-mold (2b) hinged around a hinge axis (3) and a bottom plate (4) adapted to cooperate with the half-molds (2a, 2b) for closing the bottom of the mold (1), and a mechanism for vertical/translational movement of the bottom plate, to cyclically form a closed cavity adapted to receive a preheated preform and allow expansion, by blowing or stretch-blowing of the preform inside the cavity, to obtain a bottle or container. Each of the molds (1) comprises a system for synchronized opening/closing of the half-molds (2a, 2b) and of the bottom plate (4) actuated by an actuator thereof (30) independent from motorization of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SMI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Nava, Paolo Romitti, Dario Merelli, Marco Grazioli
  • Patent number: 10042350
    Abstract: A system for detecting a filament for printing in three dimensional printing (3DP) which can automatically detect the presence of a filament includes a feeding device, a detection device, a driving device, and an indication module. The driving device drives the feeding device and the detection device detects and determines the normal presence of a filament from the feeding device. The indication module outputs a signal to correspond to the presence of a filament or otherwise. A 3DP filament detection method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shao-Hung Hsu, Wei-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 10042249
    Abstract: This disclosure provides an imprint apparatus configured to form a pattern with an imprint material by bringing the imprint material on a substrate and a pattern of the mold into contact with each other including a drive unit to bring part of the pattern of the mold into contact with the imprint material, and bring the pattern into contact with the imprint material so a contact surface area between the pattern of the mold and the imprint material increases, an interference fringe detecting unit to detect an interference fringe generated by reflected light from the pattern of the mold and reflected light from the substrate, and a state detecting unit to detect a contact state between the pattern of the mold and the imprint material on the basis of the interference fringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sato
  • Patent number: 10029456
    Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for a droplet positioning method. The method can include determining an amount of the droplet required in each of a first region, determining a total amount of the droplet, determining a total number of the droplets, determining a provisional positioning of the droplets based on a template contact form, redividing the face for forming the base body pattern again using the second regions, and determining an evaluation value for each second region. If the distribution of the evaluation values is out of the target range, a repositioning at least any of the droplets, redividing the face for forming the base body pattern again using the second regions, and determining an evaluation value for each second region are repeated until distribution of the evaluation values is in the target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasutada Nakagawa, Satoshi Tanaka, Yoko Takekawa
  • Patent number: 10022915
    Abstract: A process for applying surface parameter(s) to a three-dimensional (3D) printer object while the 3D printer object is being printed from a digital model. The surface parameter(s) includes a surface texture of a reference surface. The reference surface is scanned by a sensor to detect the surface parameter(s). The detected surface parameter(s) are received by the 3D printer for application to the 3D printer object. The surface texture is applied by a 3D printer to the 3D printer object while printing the 3D printer object based on the 3D digital model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Craig M. Trim
  • Patent number: 10011066
    Abstract: An apparatus (500) for fabricating containers (511) comprises a plurality of mold segments (501A-501I) each with two substantially opposite faces (510A-510I) that form a mold cavity (509A-509I) when abutted against another mold segment (501A-501I), and a guiding means (502) to conduct them along a closed path (503) of length greater than the total length of the mold segments (501A-501I); being characterized in that it comprises at least one injecting head configured to inject a volume of liquid into a cavity of a preform (507) disposed within the mold cavity (509A-509I) and expand it into a container (511), and being further characterized in that each mold segment (501A-501I) is conducted along the closed path (503) through at least one manipulation zone (505, 506) of said closed path (503) at an increased speed relative to the immediately adjacent mold segments (501A-501I), said apparatus (500) comprising a positioning manipulation zone (505) where the preform (507) is inserted into said apparatus (500), and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: DISCMA AG
    Inventors: Guillaume Chauvin, Klaus Hartwig, Damien Kannengiesser
  • Patent number: 10011057
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imprint apparatus which forms a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate by using a mold, the apparatus comprising an image sensing unit configured to sense an image of the imprint material via the mold, and a control unit configured to, in a state in which the mold and the imprint material are in contact with each other, cause the image sensing unit to sense the image of the imprint material while scanning the image sensing unit and obtain information on forming of the pattern of the imprint material based on the image obtained by the image sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sato
  • Patent number: 10011073
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an object includes an extrusion head having an extrusion needle for extruding thermoplastic material associated with one or more fiber strands. The apparatus may further include a turn-table, a more robotic arm for moving the extrusion head and needle, thermoplastic filament and fiber strand spools and thermoplastic filament and fiber strands. A controller is provided for directing the robotic arm, extrusion head and the turn-table. Further, a method for manufacturing an object includes generating a design for the object that substantially satisfies desired structural properties of the object and generating a sequence for extruding one or more beads of thermoplastic material to manufacture the object according to the design, in which the one or more beads of thermoplastic material are associated with one or more fiber strands. The one or more beads of thermoplastic material and the associated one or more fiber strands are then extruded according to the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AREVO, INC.
    Inventor: Hemant Bheda
  • Patent number: 10005303
    Abstract: A printer detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The printer includes an area where a printhead ejects material in a predetermined pattern and a profilometer is operated to measure the ejected material in the area. The measurements are used to identify inoperative inkjets or inkjets that operate errantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Giacobbi, Matthew R. McLaughlin, Victoria L. Warner
  • Patent number: 10001702
    Abstract: An imprinting apparatus that imprints a pattern on a resin on a substrate using a mold, includes a detector configured to detect a mold mark and a substrate mark, a driving unit configured to change relative positions of the mold and substrate, a curing unit configured to cure the resin, and a controller configured to control the detector, the driving unit, and the curing unit. The controller performs an alignment step of controlling the driving unit in accordance with the detected mold and substrate marks to perform alignment, a curing step of causing the curing unit to cure the resin in contact with the mold after the alignment step, and a detection step of causing the detector to detect the mold and substrate marks after the curing step to determine an amount of relative misalignment between the mold and the substrate after the resin has been cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Toshima, Tomokazu Taki
  • Patent number: 9994350
    Abstract: A finish portion for a plastic container includes a threaded portion having at least one helical thread and a substantially flat thread positioned beneath the helical thread. The helical thread is merged into the flat thread. A transfer bead is positioned beneath the threaded portion and a gripping indentation is defined between the threaded portion and the transfer bead for facilitating automated conveyance. The gripping indentation may be shaped so that no separate ledge is defined between the threaded portion and the transfer bead. The gripping indentation may have a height that is at least about 0.085 inch. The finish portion has a maximum thread diameter and a maximum height, and a ratio of the maximum thread diameter to the maximum height may be at least about 2.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Labadie, Lance J. Novotny, Richard R. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9958847
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating consumer electronics using a Universal Box Build (UBB) are disclosed herein. The method may include entering specifications of a product comprised of a printed circuit board (PCB), additional components (such as Central Processing Units (CPUs), memory modules, and heatsinks) into a chassis module, inserting a set of required components in the UBB, and generating the PCB assembly based on the entered specifications, wherein a robot is operatively connected to the interface module to automatically generate a product assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Raymundo Alatorre Mercado, Murad Kurwa, Gervasio Mutarelli, Xiuchuan Wang
  • Patent number: 9958774
    Abstract: A method of determining a position of an imprint template in an imprint lithography apparatus is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes illuminating an area of the imprint template in which an alignment mark is expected to be found by scanning an alignment radiation beam over that area, detecting an intensity of radiation reflected or transmitted from the area, and identifying the alignment mark via analysis of the detected intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Arie Jeffrey Den Boef, Andre Bernardus Jeunink, Sander Frederik Wuister, Yvonne Wendela Kruijt-Stegeman
  • Patent number: 9927700
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imprint apparatus for molding an imprint material on a target region on a substrate using a mold to form a pattern on the target region, the apparatus comprising a heater configured to deform the target region by heating the substrate, a measurement device configured to measure an overlay state between the target region and the mold, and a controller configured to control the heater such that the overlay state falls within a tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke Murakami
  • Patent number: 9902097
    Abstract: Provide a manufacturing method and a manufacturing device for a rubber strip capable of stably manufacturing a tape-like rubber strip of unvulcanized rubber. The rubber strip manufacturing device (1) for manufacturing a tape-like rubber strip (G2) made of unvulcanized rubber is characterized in including: a rubber extruder (3) comprising a rubber extruder main body (6) having a screw shaft (6c) for kneading and pushing the unvulcanized rubber toward an outlet opening (6d), and a gear pump (7) connected to the outlet opening (6d) of the rubber extruder main body (6) and rotary-driven by a first motor (M1); a calender head (4) comprising a pair of calender rollers (4a,4b) for rolling a shaped rubber body extruded from the rubber extruder (3) to obtain the rubber strip (G2); and a control unit (70) for controlling a second motor (M2) for rotary-driving the calender rollers in conjunction with the first motor (M1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Onimatsu
  • Patent number: 9902809
    Abstract: The present invention relates to thermoplastic polyimides and to the synthesis thereof. The invention relates in particular to a method for manufacturing semi-aromatic thermoplastic polyimides by means of the solid-state polymerization of a solid ammonium carboxylate salt formed from an aliphatic diamine and an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid, thereby enabling powders having controlled particle sizes to be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: RHODIA OPERATIONS
    Inventors: Stephane Jeol, Vincent Mollet, Benjamin Paci
  • Patent number: 9897824
    Abstract: A method and communication system for ophthalmic device manufacturing line is disclosed. More specifically, the communication device may be incorporated in early stages of manufacturing of the ophthalmic device to monitor process controls without delay. In some embodiments, a unique pedigree profile can be stored for an ophthalmic device during manufacturing and correlated with one or more of: design profiles, controlled process parameters, performance, and distribution channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall B. Pugh
  • Patent number: 9888903
    Abstract: There are provided an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus management system and a method of controlling the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus management system. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus management system may include a diagnosis unit including an acoustic module and a connecting unit of the diagnosis unit; a rearrangement unit including a connecting unit for rearrangement in which the connecting unit of the diagnosis unit is docked and a power supply unit for rearrangement; a detecting unit configured to measure a capacitance of the acoustic module; and a control unit configured to control such that the power supply unit for rearrangement applies a voltage for rearrangement to the acoustic module when the measured capacitance is a predetermined value or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD., SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Do Kwon, Jong Mock Lee
  • Patent number: 9868257
    Abstract: A starter may be used to facilitate fabrication of objects from an automated fabrication device, such as a 3-D printer. In one implementation, the starter may include a starter memory storing encrypted fabrication instructions and feedstock material that encodes the cryptographic key suitable for decrypting the encrypted fabrication instructions. The cryptographic key is accessed and used to generate decrypted fabrication instructions from the encrypted fabrication instructions. Subsequent fabrication consumes or changes the feedstock material such that the data stored thereon is destroyed or otherwise inaccessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Alexander Strand
  • Patent number: 9862140
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing of a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) product using an additive manufacturing print head; a reservoir in the additive manufacturing print head; short carbon fibers in the reservoir, wherein the short carbon fibers are randomly aligned in the reservoir; an acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin in the reservoir, wherein the short carbon fibers are dispersed in the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin; a tapered nozzle in the additive manufacturing print head operatively connected to the reservoir, the tapered nozzle produces an extruded material that forms the fiber-reinforced polymer product; baffles in the tapered nozzle that receive the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin with the short carbon fibers dispersed in the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin; and a system for driving the acrylate, methacrylate, epoxy, cyanate ester or isocyanate resin with the short carbon fibers di
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: James Lewicki, Eric B. Duoss, Jennifer Nicole Rodriguez, Marcus A. Worsley, Michael J. King
  • Patent number: 9849625
    Abstract: The invention utilizes temperature sensing to measure the internal temperature of an underground structure, such as a pipe, for the purpose of determining a proper cure interval and/or mix ratio of a resin system during a lining operation. A temperature sensor is placed within a pipe or other underground structure to be rehabilitated and at least one temperature measurement is taken within the structure prior to or simultaneously with the installation of a liner. Once the temperature of an internal aspect of the structure is taken, a cure schedule is utilized to determine the appropriate curing time based on test data obtained from baseline tests performed under simulated conditions in a soil cell apparatus. A computer program may be utilized such that upon entering the type of resin, the lowest recorded temperature of the structure, and the initial resin temperature, a cure schedule is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: LMK Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Larry W. Kiest, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9841747
    Abstract: In a numerical control device for performing a control axis switch, each of a plurality of control axis units includes an axis movement amount conversion unit configured to convert a movement amount of a servo motor into a movement amount corresponding to each of the control axis units of the plurality of control axis units, an axis position data storage unit, and a control object axis position data storage unit configured to store an axis position of a control object at a time when the control object is separated from a single drive unit, and an axis position stored in the axis position data storage unit is configured to be updated by using the movement amount of the servo motor, regardless of whether or not the control object is connected by a control axis switch unit to the control axis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Kuroki
  • Patent number: 9834006
    Abstract: A method of forming a solid body using a two-dimensional image printer, wherein liquid droplets of different colors are used for applying solid material in several layers one upon the other, and colors of the liquids for forming a surface layer of the body are selected from a specific set of surface colors, the surface layer being formed by mixed printing of transparent droplets and surface color droplets, characterized in that the thickness of the surface layer is varied such that it increases with increasing slope of the surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Clemens Weijkamp, Cédric Valade
  • Patent number: 9828626
    Abstract: Dendrimer conjugates for determining membrane retention level and/or pore structure, methods of determining membrane level/pore structure, and kits including dendrimer conjugates are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Farhan Ahmad, Jian M. Qiu, Amarnauth Singh, Barbara Mish
  • Patent number: 9821510
    Abstract: A three-dimensionally printed object includes a plurality of different material regions that together define a surface region of the object. The plurality of different material regions includes a first material region and a second material region. The first material region has a first color, and the second material region has a second color that is different from the first color. The different material regions overlap from each other within the object by different amounts viewed from different directions so that different proportions of light from the plurality of different material regions are visible to an observer viewing the surface region of the three-dimensionally printed object from different view directions, different view angles, and with illumination lighting the surface region at different angles. A coloration of the surface region is altered based on the proportions of light from the plurality of different material regions visible to the observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Mantell
  • Patent number: 9802351
    Abstract: An in-mold shutter (140) for embedding in an injection mold (100, 200, 300) is described herein. The in-mold shutter (140, 240, 340, 440, 540) includes a shutter actuator (148, 548) that is configured to selectively engage a first mold shoe (130) of the injection mold (100, 200, 300) with a platen of a mold clamping assembly (996) to hold the first mold shoe (130) in an extended position (E), along a mold-stroke axis (X), during a step of molding a first molded article (102A) in the injection mold (100, 200, 300). Also described herein is a molded article transfer device (150, 250) for use with the injection mold (100, 200, 300). The molded article transfer device (150, 250) includes a shuttle (154) that is slidably arranged, in use, within the injection mold (100, 200, 300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Christophe Halter, Pierre Glaesener, François Styga