Controlling Heat Transfer With Molding Material Patents (Class 264/40.6)
  • Patent number: 8377350
    Abstract: A method for controlling temperatures in hot runners of a multi-cavity injection mold, a warning method, and a control system based on those methods are provided, in which a temperature sensor is positioned at the same location as each of the cavities of the mold, one of the cavities is chosen as a standard cavity, and a standard filling time is defined. Besides, in every injection cycle, a calculating and controlling module is to calculate the differences between the standard filling time and the filling times of the cavities, and according to the differences, the temperatures in the hot runners may be adjusted by a temperature-adjusting device and a warning device may be started. So, the volumetric filling of the cavities can be balanced very quickly, the process can avoid fluctuations of external environment so as to reduce the time for product development, and the quality of production can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Precision Machinery Research Development Center
    Inventors: Jui-Wen Chang, Chih-Hsiung Chung, Shin-Hung Chen, Yi-Shu Hsu
  • Patent number: 8360766
    Abstract: An injection molding machine is provided with a mold forming a cavity into which a resin is injected, a liquid supplying device which supplies a liquid continuously to an internal flow channel of the mold during a preparation period prior to injection of the resin and an injection period in which the resin after the preparation period is injected, an electricity supplying device which supplies electricity to an electric heater arranged on the mold at least during a part of the preparation period, thereby heating the mold, and a controller which carries out a predetermined procedure for making different a temperature of a liquid in the internal flow channel between the preparation period and the injection period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Plastic Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kariya, Satoshi Miyagawa, Naoki Toda, Gen Hamada, Michitaka Hattori
  • Patent number: 8354054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for blow-molding containers. Following a thermal conditioning process, a parison is stretched by a horizontal bar inside a blow station provided with a blow mold, and is molded into a container by the effect of the blowing pressure. In order to carry out the blow-molding, pressurized gas is introduced into the container. The horizontal rod is hollow at least in parts. Once a maximum blowing pressure has been reached in the blow station and at the earliest at the beginning of a pressure drop, a cooling gas is guided out of the horizontal bar towards the bottom of the blown container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: KHS Corpoplast GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Haesendonckx, Jens-Peter Rasch, Matthias Gernhuber
  • Patent number: 8329076
    Abstract: In an injection molding machine, dies are connected to a die temperature regulating machine by means of thermal medium supplying pipes and thermal medium returning pipes. A heat exchanger is interposed between the thermal medium returning pipes. The air which has been heated by the heat exchanger is supplied to a hopper through a hot air supplying pipe so as to preheat and dry injection material in the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Japan Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Kamigauchi
  • Patent number: 8323545
    Abstract: A co-extrusion process for making decorative moldings having a simulated wood appearance and a given profile includes mixing a base material and color particles to form a mixture, the base material having a rigid polymer and the color particles having a different color from the base material and a higher melt temperature than the base material. The mixture is heated and displaced using a feed screw such that the color particles move helically along the trajectory of the feed screw while avoiding backflow and melting to create corresponding helical vein segments within the base material. The mixture is forced through a tubular channel while controlling heat and shear conditions such that the helical vein segments remain substantially intact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Plastibec Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Sudano, Benoit Meloche
  • Patent number: 8318061
    Abstract: In a mold temperature control circuit of an injection molding device, such a molding cycle is repeated that, prior to injection of a resin, a heating-use medium is returned to molds and heated to a temperature suitable for resin injection, after injection of the resin, the heating-use medium is switched to a cooling-use medium, thereby the cooling-use medium is returned to the molds and cooling is conducted to give a temperature equal to or lower than a temperature at which the resin is solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Plastic Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michitaka Hattori, Satoshi Imaeda, Toshihiko Kariya
  • Publication number: 20120292802
    Abstract: The present invention provides a molding method with a liquid heat conductor. Molding material is first input into a template and the filled template is then disposed over a conveyer above a driving chain wheel to be carried into a tank containing liquids as a heat conductor. The liquid inside the tank is water or oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: I-Jan Bill FANG
  • Publication number: 20120290070
    Abstract: Methods of controlling the degradation profile of a biodegradable stent scaffolding are disclosed. Disclosed methods include controlling features of the degradation profile including the time to loss of radial strength and the degradation time of the stent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yunbing Wang, Xiao Ma
  • Patent number: 8309010
    Abstract: A process for production of a heat-resistant hollow article made of a polylactic acid containing resin by using a mold which includes a female mold portion having a concavity, a male mold portion having a convexity and a stripper plate having an edge-forming part. The surface of the mold facing the cavity is heated to a temperature corresponding to a crystallization temperature of the polylactic acid containing resin. The male mold portion and the stripper plate are moved away from the female mold portion when a temperature T(° C.) of the resin detected by an infrared temperature sensor is in the range of T=(t+3.5)±1.5 (t(° C.) is the surface temperature of the mold). Gas is introduced between an inner surface of the hollow article and the male mold portion, and the hollow article is taken out of the mold by advancing the stripper plate toward the hollow article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventors: Michio Komatsu, Toshikatsu Matsuoka
  • Publication number: 20120261847
    Abstract: A method and system for thermal forming an object. A mold is provided, a shape of which corresponds to a desired shape of the object. A material is inserted into a heating area, and the material is heated using a plurality of independently controllable heat sources that heat different areas of the material. The heated material is then disposed over or into at least a portion of the mold so as to deform the material. The deformed material may then be trimmed so as to form the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yevgeniy Sirovskiy, James C. Culp
  • Publication number: 20120261850
    Abstract: A closed loop blank mold temperature control system and method for use in the operation of an I.S. machine is disclosed for automatically adjusting machine timing to maintain desired blank mold temperature/heat extraction. The closed loop blank mold temperature control system uses measured blank mold temperatures to automatically control the supply of coolant air to the blank molds, which may be done independently to each blank mold half as well as independently to the plunger for each blank mold. The closed loop blank mold temperature control system can provide temperature setpoint commands, balance left and right parison temperatures, and maintain parison temperatures as a setpoint, all of which contribute to enhanced final glass container quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 8287264
    Abstract: An injection molding comprises: a fixed mold; a movable mold which is capable of contacting to and separating from the fixed mold; and an injection unit which supplies molten resin to a space formed between the fixed mold and the movable mold when being pressed to a non-molding face of the fixed mold. The injection unit comprises: a nozzle portion which injects molten resin to the space formed between the molds; an injecting portion which applies molten resin pressure toward the space formed between the fixed mold and the movable mold though the nozzle portion; a heater and a temperature sensor provided on the nozzle portion; and a heater and a temperature sensor provided on the injecting portion, and detection accuracy of the sensor of the nozzle portion is higher than that of the injecting potion. There is thus provided an injection molding machine capable of manufacturing optics with high accuracy without considerable cost-up by realizing stable and highly accurate injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Matsumoto, Yoshihiro Okumura, Shinichiro Hara, Kanji Sekihara
  • Publication number: 20120217669
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing porous ceramic articles is provided that includes forming a plurality of extruded green bodies from a ceramic precursor batch composition. The method also includes firing the extruded green bodies in a tunnel kiln to produce porous ceramic articles, periodically determining a shrinkage characteristic of at least one sample passing through the tunnel kiln, and adjusting a top soak temperature in the kiln if the shrinkage characteristic is outside of a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Jean E. Balster, Michael P. Brown, Thomas James Deneka, Joshua L. Howell, Daniel Edward McCauley
  • Publication number: 20120205831
    Abstract: An extrusion line for producing plastics material profiles includes an extruder, a calibration station, and an additional piece of downstream equipment. A mold includes an internal cooling system having a branch for a coolant disposed inside the mold; wherein a coolant flow distribution is controllable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: BATTENFELD-CINCINNATI GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Heinrich Dohmann, Thomas Gesper
  • Publication number: 20120193824
    Abstract: A method for controlling temperatures in hot runners of a multi-cavity injection mold, a warning method, and a control system based on those methods are provided, in which a temperature sensor is positioned at the same location as each of the cavities of the mold, one of the cavities is chosen as a standard cavity, and a standard filling time is defined. Besides, in every injection cycle, a calculating and controlling module is to calculate the differences between the standard filling time and the filling times of the cavities, and according to the differences, the temperatures in the hot runners may be adjusted by a temperature-adjusting device and a warning device may be started. So, the volumetric filling of the cavities can be balanced very quickly, the process can avoid fluctuations of external environment so as to reduce the time for product development, and the quality of production can be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: PRECISION MACHINERY RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CENTER
    Inventors: Jui-Wen CHANG, Chih-Hsiung CHUNG, Shin-Hung CHEN, Yi-Shu HSU
  • Patent number: 8211339
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for curing a thermosetting material. The method comprises heating the material with a liquid heating medium; measuring an electrical or optical property of the material with a cure sensor; and regulating the temperature of the liquid heating medium in accordance with the measured property of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Ltd.
    Inventor: David Graham Inston
  • Patent number: 8192657
    Abstract: Method and system for making a product (1) having a solid body (2) and having one or more cavities (3, 15) inside that solid body, with a broad surface and a small thickness. A liquid material is provided within a mold (4), and solidification of the liquid material is controlled in a position dependent way from the outside of the product. When using a thermoplastic material, the system may cool said liquid material less in areas that are projections of the cavities on the outside of the product on its broad surface. When using a thermosetting material the system may include means (5, 9) for controlled heating the liquid material, excluding the projections of the intended cavities. Once part of the product has sufficiently solidified outside the intended cavities the liquid material is driven from the intended cavities by means of a fluid. In the product some cavities may be provided with a conductive layer or structure, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Renatus Marius De Zwart, Joseph Mathias Gerardus Kunen
  • Patent number: 8182724
    Abstract: A method of improving energy consumption and/or melt quality of injection molding or extrusion machine can include controlling energy input to the melt from screw drive and heat sources. One or more sensors can measure a present value of at least one process parameter associated with the melt. A control algorithm can compare the present value of melt with a set value. If the present value deviates from the set value by more than a predetermined amount, the set value of at least one operating parameter can be adjusted. The algorithm can determine energy transferred to melt material from thermal and mechanical sources, and adjust set values to optimize energy consumption. Process parameters can include melt temperature, melt quality characterized value, prospective throughput or injection cycle time, or prospective energy consumption value. Operating parameters can include barrel heating temperature, screw rotational speed, screw plasticizing back pressure, screw injection speed or screw injection pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Gong Zhang, Ling Tian
  • Patent number: 8163225
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for manufacturing plastic containers, where the plastic containers are produced from aplastic material such as recycled plastic. The plastic preforms are heated in a heating unit and expanded into plastic containers in an expansion device. An infrared absorption degree of the plastic material or of the plastic preforms produced from said plastic material is then examined at least once in the course of the production process. From this examination conclusions can be drawn with respect to the quality of the preforms and their behavior when they are being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Jochen Forsthovel, Rudolf Fiegler, Ulrich Lappe
  • Patent number: 8163210
    Abstract: A tire enclosed in a vulcanization mold is supplied with heat to cause vulcanization of same. By thermal-detection probes introduced into the tire monitoring of the cross-linking degree reached in at least one first detection region and one second detection region disposed within the tire is carried out. Head supply is stopped on occurrence of the following conditions: (i) the crosslinking degree measured in at least one of the detection regions reaches a first reference value higher than 90% of the whole cross-linking; and (ii) the cross-linking degree measured in each detection region has overcome a second pre-established reference value not exceeding about 50% of the whole cross-linking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Ferro, Claudio Zanichelli, Stefano Cazzanti
  • Publication number: 20120068373
    Abstract: A method (300, 400) of controlling a melt preparation device (102, 110) is provided. The melt preparation device (102, 110) is located upstream from a melt accumulator (122), the melt accumulator (122) and the melt preparation device (102, 110) being part of an injection unit (100) for preparing and injecting molding material and being associated with a target cycle time. The method (300, 400) comprises appreciating (310, 410) an operational parameter associated with the melt accumulator (122); appreciating (320, 420) a target performance indicator associated with operation of the injection unit (100); based on a comparison of the operational parameter to the target performance indicator, generating (330, 430) a control signal for controlling operation of the melt preparation device (102, 110), such that the melt preparation device (102, 110) prepares molding material in an amount sufficient to transfer to the melt accumulator (122) within an allocated portion of the target molding cycle time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Denise Davina Craig, Raymond Weiping Zhang, Kevin Wing Hang Leung
  • Patent number: 8133418
    Abstract: In order to allow for aligning a relative position between a transferred object and a stamper with high accuracy without providing an alignment pattern in the transferred object, there are provided: a pattern transfer method, including: when adjusting the relative position between the stamper and the transferred object, a step of detecting at least two or more edge positions of the transferred object and calculating an arbitrary point from the detected edge positions; a step of detecting a position of the stamper from an edge of the stamper or an alignment mark formed in the stamper; and a step of adjusting the relative position between the transferred object and the stamper from the arbitrary point and the position of the stamper; and an imprint device using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ando, Susumu Komoriya, Masahiko Ogino, Akihiro Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 8114321
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for managing thermal energy transfer between a mold, die or cavity and a thermal transfer fluid. The thermal energy being exchanged with the mold, die or cavity is calculated in real time as a function of the temperature differential between inlet and outlet fluid temperatures, the volumetric rate of fluid delivery, and known characteristics of the fluid. The rate of thermal energy exchange is controlled by varying the fluid delivery rate in accordance with a desired thermal energy exchange profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: MoldCool International, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8106104
    Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a plastic content predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe G. Brooks, Christopher Lynn Becker
  • Patent number: 8106103
    Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a color predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe G. Brooks, Christopher Lynn Becker
  • Patent number: 8101100
    Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a target density predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe G. Brooks, Christopher Lynn Becker
  • Publication number: 20120013034
    Abstract: The invention relates to an extrusion line for producing plastic profiles, preferably plastic pipes, comprising at least one extruder (1), one die (2), one calibration means (3) and further following devices (4, 5). There is provision here according to the invention for at least the die (2) to have at least one aperture (8), and for an extraction means (6) to be arranged in front of the die (2) as viewed in the extrusion direction (7), and for the die (2) to consist of a plurality of functional regions with separate melt channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: battenfeld-cincinnati Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Leopold Hackl, Josef Dobrowsky, Georg Zacher, Miron I. Gorilovskiy
  • Patent number: 8097195
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for energy usage during the cooling of extrusion profiles, preferably pipes, wherein energy is supplied in the form of heat for melting the plastic and heat is withdrawn from the plastic again for shaping at least in the devices of mold, calibration, and cooling bath until the plastic is self-supporting. According to the invention, it is provided that a coolant medium runs through the extrusion line opposite to the extrusion direction for cooling, the medium which is used for cooling being guided from one device to the next and the coolant medium heating further in each device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Battenfeld-Cincinnati Austria GmbH
    Inventor: Erik Sehnal
  • Patent number: 8097191
    Abstract: An injection molding quality control system which seeks to ensure greater accuracy and consistency in parts, more specifically more accurate and consistent part weight, utilizes measured part weight to adjust mold separation to better achieve a desired part weight. The mold separation is controlled via both a cycle-to-cycle adjustment in switchover point (preferably based on injected mass within the cavity), and within-cycle adjustment of holding pressure. The system can result in superior accuracy and consistency in molded parts in both the long term (i.e., over many cycles) and in the short term (from cycle to cycle).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Lih-Sheng Turng, Zbongbao Chen
  • Publication number: 20110294086
    Abstract: A method for the temperature control and/or regulation of a heating device (10) for preforms (46) made from a thermoplastic material, the method being intended for controlling the temperature of the preforms (46) prior to a subsequent blow molding or stretch blow molding process. The temperature control process includes at least two distinct, consecutive heating stages (12, 14), where a near uniform base temperature of the entire preform (46) is achieved in the first heating stage (12). The base temperature approximately corresponds to a maximum heating temperature (T2) for maintaining the dimensional stability of the thread section at the preform's (46) open-topped neck section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Klaus Voth, Konrad Senn, Jochen Hirdina
  • Patent number: 8052904
    Abstract: Process for forming containers from a blank, preferably a preform, made of a thermoplastic, the containers being formed using a stretch-blow moulding machine of rotary type having a blow-moulding mould mounted on the periphery of a carousel rotated continuously about its axis, the blow-moulding mould operating in cyclic manner according to a blow-moulding cycle having the following steps: placing a preheated blank in a blow-moulding mould; closing the blow-moulding mould; blowing the blank in the blow-moulding mould; flushing the inside of the container with a cooling gas, by injecting air thereinto; grasping the blow-moulded container by external gripping means; and opening the blow-moulding mould, which process includes automatically varying the duration of the flushing step at each start of production of the containers, in a temporary and evolving manner for a few minutes to establish in the containers thermal conditions enabling the first containers to be formed at a temperature that gives them a final vo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Mikael Derrien, Pierrick Protais
  • Patent number: 8043538
    Abstract: In a mold temperature control circuit of an injection molding device, such a molding cycle is repeated that, prior to injection of a resin, a heating-use medium is returned to molds and heated to a temperature suitable for resin injection, after injection of the resin, the heating-use medium is switched to a cooling-use medium, thereby the cooling-use medium is returned to the molds and cooling is conducted to give a temperature equal to or lower than a temperature at which the resin is solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Plastic Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michitaka Hattori, Satoshi Imaeda, Toshihiko Kariya
  • Patent number: 8043537
    Abstract: There are provided an injection molding system, a computer program, a method of injection molding, and an injection molding machine capable of performing precise temperature control of a mold even when there is a delay in temperature increase of the mold in heat supply with a heating medium. The temperature control is performed so that temperatures of a fixed mold and a movable mold are maintained between an upper limit TU and a lower limit TL of a predetermined temperature range after start of injection of resin during an injection molding cycle. The temperature control of the fixed mold and the movable mold is performed only by switching ON/OFF supply of the heating medium, and cooling with a cooling medium is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Plastics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shikase, Michitaka Hattori, Shigeru Nozaki, Satoshi Imaeda, Toshihiko Kariya
  • Publication number: 20110256348
    Abstract: A method for forming a wood composite product by extrusion with a manufacturing apparatus. The temperature profile prevailing in the manufacturing apparatus is adjusted in such a way that the surface of the wood composite product to be formed becomes rough. A wood composite product and an apparatus for manufacturing a wood composite product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Markku Koivisto, Jari Nisula, Sami Kirvesoja, Liisa Lehtinen
  • Patent number: 8038430
    Abstract: A method of coating metal wire with extrudate using an extrusion system. The method includes the steps of advancing the metal wire through an extrusion die of the extrusion system and extruding molten extrudate over the metal wire as the metal wire is advanced through the extrusion die. Image data is generated, using one or several electronic cameras, concurrently with the advancing, and extruding to provide visual feedback indicative of the concentricity or non-concentricity of extrudate surrounding the metal wire as the metal wire exits the extrusion die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Swanson, Lucien M. Rucker
  • Publication number: 20110241240
    Abstract: An apparatus to help control the quality of printed three-dimensional objects is provided. The apparatus may include a printing head to print a three-dimensional object and a printing tray having defined surface characteristics serving to control adherence of the object being printed to the printing tray and/or prevent deformations in the printed object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Hanan GOTHAIT, Igal Zeytoun
  • Publication number: 20110236669
    Abstract: A plastic panel having channels on both sides, and system and method for producing such panel. For example, a panel is comprised of: first and second walls of plastic interconnected with one another by a set of plastic connecting structures; wherein said walls of plastic are generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to said plastic connecting structures; wherein at least one of said walls of plastic comprises an at least one indented channel running generally parallel to at least one of said plastic connecting structures without being in contact with any of said plastic connecting structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Dan Tal, Yigal Steiner, Mohammad Egbaria, Yuri Pugach
  • Patent number: 8021592
    Abstract: A process of production of a monolithic article from a web of fibres of oriented polypropylene polymer, comprising the steps of subjecting the web to elevated temperature and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the polymer and compact it, and then cooling the compacted web, wherein an accelerated rate of cooling is employed down to 100° C. The process is of particular benefit when the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the fibers is 250,000 or below. The resultant articles have good stiffness and strength, yet with reasonable ductility. Similar articles cooled slowly are brittle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Propex Operating Company LLC
    Inventors: Ian M Ward, Peter J Hine
  • Publication number: 20110221088
    Abstract: A hot-melt molding apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cylinder, a molding head, a heating device, a conveyor screw, a heat transport section, a thermoelectric element, and a power storage section. The cylinder communicates with the apparatus body and is configured to receive thermoplastic material. The molding head is provided at one end of the cylinder. The heating device is configured to heat the cylinder and the molding head to melt thermoplastic material therein. The conveyor screw is provided inside the cylinder to convey thermoplastic material to the molding head. The heat transport section has a first end connected to at least one of the cylinder and the molding head. The thermoelectric conversion element is connected to a second end of the heat transport section. The power storage section is connected to the thermoelectric conversion element and is configured to store power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Kenichi FUSE
  • Patent number: 8012402
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a polymeric stent with improved fracture toughness including radial expansion of a polymer tube along its entire length at the same time and fabricating a stent from the expanded tube are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Lothar W. Kleiner, James P. Oberhauser, Thierry Glauser, David K. Wrolstad, Yunbing Wang
  • Patent number: 8012388
    Abstract: A stretchable sheet having a large stretch amount is produced by increasing a drawing amount given to the nonwoven fabric. A method for producing the stretchable sheet from a nonwoven fabric containing a plurality of types of fibers, that is the nonwoven fabric having a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thickness direction. The method includes a first drawing step of drawing the nonwoven fabric in the longitudinal direction by applying a tension in the longitudinal direction of the nonwoven fabric, and a second drawing step of drawing, in the longitudinal direction, the nonwoven fabric that has been drawn in the first drawing step with a plurality of teeth formed on outer circumferential faces of each of a pair of gear rolls, the drawing being performed by passing the nonwoven fabric through a gap between the gear rolls that rotate while the teeth are being engaged with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Akaki, Yoshihiko Matsumoto, Shinichi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20110210461
    Abstract: An injection molding device is provided with a mold, an injection unit equipped with an injection screw that is displaceably configured such that a molten resin is filled into a cavity by forward movement to perform plural injection operations including at least a filling operation and a pressure keeping operation by displacing the injection screw, a position sensor for detecting the position of the injection screw, a temperature sensor capable of measuring the temperature of the vicinity of the cavity of the mold, a temperature adjustment unit capable of adjusting the temperature of the mold by heating or cooling the mold, a control unit for controlling the displacement of the injection screw and the temperature of the mold and determining plural switching timings of the injection operations on the basis of the position of the screw, and a display unit for displaying an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Plastic Technology Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kariya, Michitaka Hattori, Shigeru Nozaki, Satoshi Imaeda
  • Publication number: 20110204535
    Abstract: A disk substrate molding apparatus has a disk substrate molding die and a temperature controller. The disk substrate molding die includes a stamper, a first die including a mirror member to which the stamper comes in contact, and a second die including a molding surface which forms a disk-shaped cavity between the molding surface and the stamper. The second die includes a protruding part which protrudes toward the stamper at an outer circumferential part of the molding surface. The temperature controller controls temperature of the second die so that the protruding part exhibits a higher temperature in comparison to a region further toward the inner circumferential side than the protruding part, and controls temperature of the first die so that a region opposite to the protruding part exhibits a lower temperature in comparison to the protruding part in the mirror member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Kazuo Inoue
  • Patent number: 7993551
    Abstract: Within an improved method of maintaining a die during interruptions in production and of subsequently returning the die to an optimal operating temperature, instead of having a manual control valve in the bypass loop of cooling medium, a PLC controlled valve is provided which can automatically allow or stop the flowrate through the bypass loop. Instead of circulating cooling medium through the die continuously, and at a reduced rate, during the interruption, the cooling medium is not circulated at all initially during the interruption. When the restart of production is desired, the first two preheat shots produced are made without the circulation of any cooling medium through the die. The valve within the bypass loop is then opened to let some cooling medium circulate through the die, however the circulation rate is less than the rate associated with normal production. The bypass loop is then left open while the valve in the primary loop is reopened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: James Kreitzer, Ron Maidon, Matthew Pettus, Gary Prenger
  • Patent number: 7985359
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing apparatus and a tire vulcanizing method, by which the pressure and temperature of a heating and pressurizing medium to be supplied to the internal space of a raw tire can be controlled without the condition of pressure being affected by the condition of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Mitamura, Kazuto Okada, Hideaki Kuwabara, Tomomichi Murata, Masatake Toshima, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Patent number: 7985360
    Abstract: An injection molding machine using a plurality of metal molds 2 and a plurality of stations S1 to S10, for executing molding by moving the metal molds in rotation and in one direction includes on one of the sides of the metal molds a plurality of heat pipes 5 which are fitted into the molds and one of the ends of which protrudes from the metal mold, and a heat transfer plate 6 so disposed as to cover a projection portion 5a of the heat pipe protruding from the metal mold. Temperature adjustment plates 4 connected to a temperature adjustment machine 4 are disposed on the other station side and while the metal mold is halted at the station, the temperature adjustment plates clamp the heat transfer plate and adjust the temperature of said metal mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Morooka, Kaoru Okazoe, Hiroshi Hisano
  • Patent number: 7968022
    Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a rheology predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe G. Brooks, Christopher Lynn Becker
  • Publication number: 20110101555
    Abstract: A method for use in forming a molded part includes providing a mold having a cavity and a movable pin, injecting a moldable material into the cavity, biasing the movable pin to maintain an end of the movable pin in contact with the moldable material in the cavity during the curing of the moldable material and until the moldable material is cured, and monitoring movement of the biased movable pin during curing of the moldable material in the mold. Also disclosed is a sensor engageable with an end of a movable pin of a mold for monitoring the forming of a moldable part, and systems employing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
    Inventors: David Kazmer, Rahul Panchal, Stephen Johnston
  • Publication number: 20110101556
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a heating device for thermoforming thermoplastic semi-finished products. According to the method locally different thermoforming behaviour during shaping to give a three-dimensional moulded part is achieved by locally different heating of the semi-finished product (1). Two contact heating devices (2) are used for the heating of the semi-finished product (1) and are brought into contact with the semi-finished product (1) simultaneously from opposing sides. Each contact heating device (2) comprises an individual heating circuit (6) formed of a ceramic heating layer on a thermally-insulating support (7), the locally different heating being achieved by means of a locally differing geometrical design of the heating circuits (6) on the support (7). The method and the heating device permit selective control of the wall thickness distribution in the moulded part to be produced without the use of prestretching male moulds or radiant heaters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Sascha Bach, Tilo Hanke
  • Patent number: 7931837
    Abstract: A method for controlling the injection molding process of an injection molding machine with an injection molding tool that forms at least one cavity for a molded part to be produced, wherein a melt is introduced into the cavity by an incision. The temporal progression of the temperature of the mold wall is determined and controlled in the course of the injection molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Priamus Systems Technologies AG
    Inventor: Chistopherus Bader