To Apply Or Remove A Resilient Article (e.g., Tube, Sleeve, Etc.) Patents (Class 29/235)
  • Patent number: 8763221
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a tool or a family of tools which will provide mechanical force to separate pieces, plates, or parts of machinery or other assemblies which, although de-fastened, still resist separation. This is accomplished by utilizing a bolt-like device and a plurality of gripping inserts, which provide separating force between a plurality of plates or similar structures when the device is operated properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventor: Richard Joseph Boss
  • Publication number: 20140157571
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic shoe-cover machine, including a shoe-cover roller, a blocking device, a cutting device and a sliding pull hook, wherein a plurality of shoe-covers are capable of being wound on the shoe-cover roller, wherein each of shoe-covers has a foot inserting opening, wherein a blocking device, a cutting device and a sliding pull hook are orderly provided with the shoe-cover roller along the radial direction thereof, wherein the sliding pull hook is connected to a driver, wherein the driver is connected with an electric motor and an electric controller. The automatic shoe-cover machine can utilize the action of dragging from a foot and the characteristics of connecting of the coordinating shoe-covers to achieve the object of automatically wearing shoe-covers, generating shoe-covers and is reliable. The present invention further provides an automatic packaging mechanism for an automatic shoe-cover machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: OTO Industry (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Liangjie Xu
  • Publication number: 20140150229
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a jig that does not require an operator to hold a lock ring against the elastic repulsion force of the lock ring that attempts to contract in a radial direction when the lock ring is attached to a rim base, the jig that is safe because there is no need for the operator to support the weight of the lock ring and can maintain a state in which, when the space between the ends of the lock ring is increased, the inside diameter side of the lock ring is a perfect circle or is close to a perfect circle. Thus, a lock ring mounting/demounting jig of the present invention is formed of a pair of jigs, the pair of jigs can be attached at both ends (4a, 4b) of a lock ring (4) and on the radial outside of the lock ring (4), and the angle formed by the direction in which the space between the pair of jigs expands and contracts and the longitudinal direction of each jig is changeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: TOPY KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro OBA, Yukio NAKAMURA, Etsuro SUGISAKI
  • Patent number: 8713771
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an apparatus for use in the assembly of an elastic sealing element on an electrical conductor as well as a method for sheathing an electrical conductor with an elastic sealing element. The apparatus according to the invention has a first pin which performs a reciprocating movement and at the front end of which is formed a cutting tip which, on penetration through a sealing element positioned in front of the cutting tip in the direction of reciprocation and designed as a solid body, produces a through-opening in the sealing element. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a second pin for receiving the sealing element which has been provided with a through-opening by the first pin, wherein the outer circumference of the second pin in at least one region is larger than the outer circumference of the first pin for expansion of the through-opening produced in the elastic sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Urbaniak, Bernd Eder
  • Patent number: 8701263
    Abstract: A grommet opening/closing apparatus includes one opening/closing device and the other opening/closing device. Both opening/closing devices are arranged oppositely against each other, each having a plurality of hooks and a driving unit to open and close the plurality of hooks. A base portion of the plurality of hooks of the one opening/closing device expands and returns one end of a grommet, and a base portion of the plurality of hooks of the other opening/closing device expands and returns the other end of the grommet. One end of the grommet is held by half-opening the hooks of the one opening/closing device, the closed hooks are inserted in the other end of the grommet. Thereafter, the hooks of both opening/closing devices are completely opened, and the wiring harness is passed through the grommet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Okitsu
  • Patent number: 8697995
    Abstract: A method of coating the junction area between elongated elements, in particular between electric cables. This method includes the steps of: arranging a rigid tubular support having two axially separable tubular halves; mounting an elastic tubular sleeve in an elastically radially expanded condition on an outer surface of the support; interposing a lubricating material between the support and sleeve; arranging a circumferentially continuous sealing element between the halves to prevent the lubricant from percolating between the halves; positioning the support around the junction area; and moving the halves apart from each other to enable the sleeve to collapse on the junction area. A device for coating the junction area between elongated elements and a method of making the device and a joint for electric cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Prysmian Cavi E Sistemi Energia S.R.L.
    Inventors: Ubaldo Vallauri, Francesco Portas
  • Publication number: 20140096358
    Abstract: A device and a method for a field expansion. A support core (30) is inserted into the device by a field expansion apparatus. The field expansion apparatus has a pressure applying means (20) defining a radially expandable inner surface and a flat surface radially outwardly extending from the radially expandable inner surface. The device comprises an elastomeric tubing (10) and an adapter (40). The elastomeric tubing (10) has a forward end opposite a rearward end and an axial bore extending therethrough configured to receive the support core (30). The adapter (40) has a step portion (41) defined by a radial outer surface (42) and a flat surface (43) radially outwardly extending from the radial outer surface (42), and an axial bore (44) extending therethrough. The axial bore (44) has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the axial bore (12) of the elastomeric tubing (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ming Zhang, Jinquan Yang, Zheng Huang, Zhigang Xu, Jiangjiang Ma
  • Publication number: 20140082913
    Abstract: A tool is disclosed. The tool is for inserting a ferrule alignment sleeve within a sleeve mount of a fiber optic adapter, wherein the sleeve mount defines an axial bore and radially inwardly extending fingers for retaining the ferrule alignment sleeve therewithin. The tool includes a handle and a pin extending from the handle, the pin configured to slidably receive the ferrule alignment sleeve, the pin defining longitudinal keys for mating with gaps defined between the radially inwardly extending fingers of the sleeve mount, wherein the tool can be used as a ferrule alignment sleeve insertion tool if the pin is inserted into the axial bore in a first orientation and is configured to be used as a ferrule alignment sleeve removal tool if the pin is inserted into the axial bore in a second orientation from an opposite end of the axial bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Marcouiller, Mandy Lea Trnka, Oscar Fernando Bran de León
  • Patent number: 8677586
    Abstract: A method of installing an elastomer band as a protective edge seal around a portion of a semiconductor substrate support used for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber, which includes expanding an elastomer band into a circular shape having a diameter greater than a diameter of a mounting groove within the substrate support; clamping the elastomer band in the expanded shape between a base ring and a clamp ring; placing the elastomer band over the substrate support in the expanded shape; and releasing the elastomer band from between the base and clamp rings, which contracts the elastomer band into the mounting groove of the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Neal Newton
  • Patent number: 8671533
    Abstract: A gripper device (10) is provided for mounting rubber elastic rings (5) on the inner wall (62) of a workpiece opening and/or on the exterior of a workpiece. The device includes a basic housing (12), forming jaws (14) that are displaced in relation to the basic housing (12) and bearing jaws (16). To displace the plate element together with the jaws that are located on the element in an axial direction, the element is provided with a piston (20) which engages in a piston cylinder (22) in the basic housing. The displacement of the jaws that are located on the plate element (18) is mechanically coupled by a common actuator (24) and the actuator (24) is driven by an actuator piston (25) that is located in the piston (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Schunk GmbH & Co. KG Spann-und Greiftechnik
    Inventors: Matthias Haag, Ralf Winkler, Andre Hermes
  • Patent number: 8661637
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing a sealing plug from a bore, the sealing plug has an outer sleeve and an inner stem retained within the outer sleeve, the removal taking place after a suitable hole has been drilled part-way into the stem, the removal apparatus has a tapered punch for forcible insertion into the hole in the stem to create an interference fit between the punch and the stem and thereafter driving the stem out of the sleeve while also retaining the stem on the punch by virtue of the interference fit, and sleeve-engaging portion engagable with the sleeve after the punch has removed the stem from the sleeve, the sleeve-engaging portion and the punch being thereafter removable from the bore to remove both the sleeve and the stem from the bore while the sleeve and the stem are both retained on the appropriate parts of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Avdel UK Limited
    Inventor: Richard King
  • Patent number: 8656571
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for strong bonded wide joints for cryogenic applications. In one advantageous embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a three-dimensional preform and a plastic matrix. The plastic matrix may be impregnated in the three-dimensional preform to form a softening strip that may be capable of remaining flexible at a temperature at which a gas may have a liquid form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Michael Leslie Hand
  • Publication number: 20140048440
    Abstract: A food or beverage container may include an open-ended expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam body and a stretch sleeve label. The stretch sleeve label may be made of a material which may enable a high quality design to be displayed on the outside of the EPS foam body. The stretch sleeve label may be stretched over the exterior surface of the EPS foam body and released to fit the contours of the EPS foam body. The stretch sleeve label may be affixed to the EPS foam body using an adhesive. The EPS foam body, the stretch sleeve label, and/or the adhesive may comprise compostable or recyclable materials, such that the entire food or beverage container may be compostable or recyclable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventor: William Lloyd Prickett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8646176
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for sheathing an electrical conductor with an elastic sealing element. In the method, first a through-opening is produced in the sealing element with a first equivalent diameter. Next the through-opening which has been produced with a first equivalent diameter is expanded to a second equivalent diameter, in order to be able to introduce an electrical conductor into it. Then contraction of the through-opening which has been expanded to the second equivalent diameter is brought about, in order thus to obtain sealing off of the electrical conductor from the elastic sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Urbaniak, Rudolf Maron
  • Patent number: 8647352
    Abstract: A compression ring to grip and compress body structure such as diverticulum, hemorrhoids, and tissue adjacent a hole. A resilient ring-shaped body defines a compression channel, and one or more axially rigid elongated spikes extend from the body into the channel. The body defines a first axial segment surrounding the compression channel and a second axial segment surrounding the compression channel, with the spike being engaged only with the second axial segment. The first axial segment more tightly compresses the body structure than the second axial segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Insightra Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Stephen Graham Bell
  • Patent number: 8601660
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing rail tie clips comprises an elongated handle end section and a grasping end section extending from the outboard end of the elongated handle end section. The grasping end section terminates in a tooth oriented generally perpendicularly to the handle end section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Leo Duty
  • Patent number: 8601668
    Abstract: A gasket insertion apparatus and method for inserting a fluid sealing gasket between the bolted connection flanges of adjacent underwater pipe line segments is provided. The gasket insertion apparatus includes of a flat frame having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface. The inner peripheral surface of the frame has a plurality of angularly cut teeth. The gasket is mounted within the frame and is held in place by the plurality of angularly cut teeth. The gasket insertion apparatus has a handle with an open geometric ring-shaped grip that is configured so that the gasket insertion apparatus may be gripped by a manipulation arm of an underwater remotely operated vehicle and/or by a diver. The apparatus, with gasket attached, is brought to an underwater location and inserted between adjacent flanges of a bolted flange connection by a diver or an underwater remotely operated vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventors: Andre M. Vidrine, Steve Struble
  • Publication number: 20130318758
    Abstract: A hand-held apparatus is provided to allow a user to easily apply the necessary force required to install or remove caps into or from a vial or test tube. The device includes a handle member that is ergonomically shaped to provide a user with maximum comfort and control of a cap while applying pressure to insert caps. The device also includes a coupling portion configured to selectively engage a cap and efficiently disengage a cap. Through this configuration, a user generated force is transferred from the handle member through the coupling portion, and to the cap, thereby causing the cap into an opening of the vial for locking the cap into a sealed and closed position with the vial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Amy Thrash
  • Publication number: 20130318757
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a duct bank comprising the steps of loading a frame with a series of templates, positioning the frame adjacent a pipe extruder, aligning a set of a plurality of holes with a die of the pipe extruder, extruding a pipe of a first length into the set of holes, repeating the steps of aligning and extruding for each set of holes, thereby forming the duct bank, banding the duct bank, and removing the duct bank from the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Gross
  • Patent number: 8591525
    Abstract: The hemorrhoid ligation apparatus (10) includes a main cylinder (12) to which an O-ring (50) for ligating the hemorrhoid is to be attached on an outer circumferential surface of a front end portion, a sub cylinder (14) air-tightly and slidably provided inside the main cylinder (12), so as to suck the hemorrhoid into the front end portion of the main cylinder (12) upon being drawn toward a rear end portion of the main cylinder (12), an operating fluid loaded inside the sub cylinder (14), and a plunger (16) air-tightly and slidably provided inside the sub cylinder (14), so as to pressurize the operating fluid upon being squeezed toward a front end portion of the sub cylinder (14), to thereby squeeze the O-ring (50) toward the front end portion of the main cylinder (12) with the pressurized operating fluid, thus detaching the O-ring (50) from the main cylinder (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8584334
    Abstract: The invention discloses a widening device and a method for applying label sleeves on objects. The inner diameter of the label sleeve is smaller than a diameter of a perimeter of the objects on which the label sleeve is to be applied. The widening device had four articulated widening jaws which engage an inner surface of the label sleeve. The third widening jaw and the fourth widening jaw are movably arranged between the first widening jaw and the second widening jaw. An articulated support carries the third widening jaw and the fourth widening jaw, wherein the articulated support is made up of a first and a second movable lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Hermann Solleder, Bernd Braatz
  • Publication number: 20130283581
    Abstract: A sealant removal tool for removing a sealant plug from the nozzle of a sealant cartridge, the tool comprising a handle, a stem depending from the handle operative to apply a torque to the stem in use, the stem having a tip distal from the stem and being provided with an external screw thread along at least part of its length, the thread tapering inwardly from the handle towards the tip, the handle and stem being arranged such that the tip of the stem can be inserted into the sealant plug in the sealant cartridge nozzle and torque applied to the stem via the handle to drive the thread into the sealant plug, the handle being arranged to enable a user of the tool to subsequently apply a tensile force to the stem via the handle to remove the sealant plug from the nozzle, when a sufficient part of the thread has engaged the sealant plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Malcolm Burr
  • Patent number: 8567028
    Abstract: An injector sleeve removal device including a tapered portion and a ridge. The a tapered portion having a first diameter and a second diameter. The first diameter is relatively smaller than an opening of an injector sleeve and the second diameter is relatively greater than the opening. The ridge is disposed helically about the tapered portion. The ridge is configured to cut into an inner surface of the injector sleeve and draw the tapered portion into the injector sleeve in response to rotation of the sleeve removal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Service Solutions U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Michael Shevela, Edward Magana
  • Publication number: 20130263427
    Abstract: A method of installing an elastomer band as a protective edge seal around a portion of a semiconductor substrate support used for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber, which includes expanding an elastomer band into a circular shape having a diameter greater than a diameter of a mounting groove within the substrate support; clamping the elastomer band in the expanded shape between a base ring and a clamp ring; placing the elastomer band over the substrate support in the expanded shape; and releasing the elastomer band from between the base and clamp rings, which contracts the elastomer band into the mounting groove of the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Neal Newton
  • Publication number: 20130247348
    Abstract: A sunroof drain tube installation assembly and method for installing or replacing a sunroof drain tube in a vehicle includes a drain tube installation tool having an elongated flexible wire with a first end and a second end, and a stopper disposed at the second end of the wire. The wire is threaded through the sunroof drain tube to be installed on the vehicle and then through a sunroof drain tube passageway defined on the vehicle. Optionally, this includes threading the wire through a sunroof drain tube already installed on the vehicle. After threading, the wire is pulled to forcibly install the sunroof drain tube into the sunroof drain tube passageway and, optionally, displacing the previously installed sunroof drain tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshio Kitagawa, Takeshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130247344
    Abstract: For sealing a threaded connection, a tubular thread seal includes a proximal edge with a specified proximal diameter and a distal edge with a specified distal diameter. The distal edge is inserted over a threaded connection. The tube is disposed between the proximal edge and the distal edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventor: Brody Aycock
  • Patent number: 8528178
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a brush seal assembly is disclosed. The method includes circumferentially arranging bristles about an axis. A plate is arranged adjacent to the bristles. Unwelded ends of the bristles are aligned with a periphery of the plate to provide a flush surface across the plate and bristles. The unwelded ends are laser welded to the periphery at the flush surface to provide a unitary subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn D. Sparks
  • Patent number: 8522433
    Abstract: A low cost and simple seal installation method provides for easy installation of bonded pistons and lip seals in an automatic transmission or other industrial machine. The installation method utilizes a flexible circular disc that can be inserted in a gap between the bore and the shaft and is pressed against the seal lip to flip the seal lip to its desired orientation while the disc is rolled around the circumference of the gap to orientate the entire seal in its proper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: Johnny Kinder
  • Patent number: 8510923
    Abstract: An apparatus for installing a screen material includes a main body having a tube disposed therethrough, the tube adapted to receive a spline material, a leg having a rotatably attached insertion wheel coupled to the main body, and an alignment wheel rotatably coupled to the body in alignment with the insertion wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey H. Ward
  • Patent number: 8499427
    Abstract: Objects of the present invention provide an attachment for power tools that places and sets expansion anchors. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a new and improved attachment apparatus for a rotary-hammer type drill, the attachment including a first anchor setting end, a second attachment end, and a handle portion connecting the setting end to the attachment end. The attachment apparatus can be efficiently and easily mounted to the rotary-hammer type drill to simplify the installation of expansion anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Allan Wallek
  • Patent number: 8495806
    Abstract: An expander for concentrically expanding a cylindrical member, the expander with a tapered block, a plurality of segments, each having an inner surface at least partially in contact with the tapered surface of the tapered block and the segments arranged to move in concert with each other relative to the block, and a pair of engaging features being provided for each segment, each pair comprising a first engagement feature on one of the segments and a second engagement feature on the block, the pairs of engaging features being arranged to maintain equal circumferential spacing of the segments around the block and to constrain movement of the segments in a direction that is coaxial with the block, each pair of engaging features being located away from the circumferential edges of their respective segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Bradley
  • Patent number: 8490265
    Abstract: A brake includes an annular boot which can be expanded and contracted according to movements of a piston and is assembled to an opening part of a cylinder and to an annular groove on an outer peripheral face of the piston. The boot is assembled by: engaging one end of the boot with the opening part of the cylinder in a state where the piston is contained in the cylinder; moving the piston so that at least a part of the piston is withdrawn from the cylinder and that the other end of the boot is pressed by a pressing face of the piston; and fitting the other end of the boot into the annular groove of the piston, while a movable range of the other end of the boot is restricted by an expanding allowance of the boot whose one end is engaged with the opening part of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Hashimoto, Masayoshi Kojima, Katsunori Kinno, Mitsuru Sato
  • Publication number: 20130174406
    Abstract: A spring clip that has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a base with at least one aperture and a resilient flange portion that extends away from and above the base and faces a first direction. The second portion has at least one tubular extension that extends through the at least one aperture of the first portion beyond the base and engages the first portion. The at least one tubular extension has an aperture such that the at least one aperture in the first portion and the aperture in a second portion have a common axis. In addition, the flange portion can be compressed from a first position to a second position over the base and when the flange portion will move toward the first position when it is released from the second position. An installation tool is provided for inserting the spring clip into a longitudinal cavity of a railing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: AZEK Building Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gori, Michael A. Dotsey
  • Patent number: 8479365
    Abstract: A barrel support device supports a barrel rotationally about an axis of the barrel with the axis being arranged vertically and an opening of the barrel through which a plunger rod is inserted being directed upward. A chuck of a plunger rod support device holds the plunger rod in a first holding state in which the plunger rod is prevented from rotating about and sliding along its axis and inserts it into the barrel. Then, the chuck enters a second holding state in which the plunger rod is prevented from rotating about its axis but is not prevented from sliding along its axis. A load application device places a load acting downward on the plunger rod, and a rotation application device rotates the barrel in a direction in which the plunger rod is screwed into a gasket in the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kyoto Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobutaka Tubota
  • Patent number: 8458874
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying tags with attached elastic anchor bands onto the tops of objects such as bottles in a high speed packaging application. The apparatus includes an infeed assembly for feeding a web, a conveyor assembly that receives a web and conveys it along a path in an upstream direction, a rotating selector wheel, a placement assembly, a pair of rotating jaw assemblies, a vacuum cup of the selector wheel, and stretched elastic bands over the tops of respective bottles being conveyed along a path below the placing assembly. The elastic bands then snap onto the tops of their respective bottles to secure the tags to the bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly Ziegler
  • Patent number: 8458895
    Abstract: An assembly for positioning a retaining ring includes a mandrel having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a rotor. The assembly also includes a seal assembly for sealing a circumferential retaining ring around the mandrel or the rotor, the seal assembly comprising a pair of seal plates situated around opposing ends of the retaining ring. Further, the assembly includes a hydraulic expansion device for providing a fluid pressure for hydraulically expanding the retaining ring until an inner diameter of the retaining ring is greater than the outer diameter of the rotor. Furthermore, the assembly includes a displacement device for providing axial movement of the seal assembly and the retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Cecil James Pollock, Ronald George Shillington, Ken Ivcar Salas Nobrega, Jeremy Daniel Van Dam
  • Patent number: 8458875
    Abstract: A removal tool includes a staking unit configured to deform a circlip located at a bore of an apparatus when the removal tool is pushed into the bore, and a spring fork unit configured to push a ferrule ring located at the bore when the removal tool is pushed into the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua Kyle Dalrymple
  • Patent number: 8453309
    Abstract: In a device or method to change a belt in a machine assembly, a gripper is provided with two flat legs. The legs are held at one end and are free at the other ends. The legs are provided with a respective protective film on side surfaces facing towards one another to protect the belt. A first of the two legs facing towards the machine assembly in an exchange of the belt have a sliding film on its outer surface. The legs are designed such that they exert a gripping force over a width of the belt after sliding onto the belt and grip the belt so that the belt can be slid onto or removed from rollers of at least one of the roller types selected from the group consisting of a drive roller and a deflection roller provided in the machine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Ocè Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Vizjak, Hans Winter
  • Patent number: 8448320
    Abstract: A clamp for clamping to two tubulars, each of the two tubulars including a component of a top drive system, the two tubulars threadedly connected together, the clamp for inhibiting relative rotation of the two tubulars, each of the two tubulars having at least one tubular projection projecting therefrom, the clamp including a clamp body having an interior surface, a plurality of clamp projections projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the clamp body for holding the at least one tubular projection projecting from each of the two tubulars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Yater, Lawrence E. Wells, Neil Edward West, Cliff Swiontek, Howard Ervin
  • Publication number: 20130097830
    Abstract: The present invention provides an oil seal removing tool including a pivotable hooking element and a location portion. The location portion has a slidable structure and an elastic element pressing against the slidable structure. The slidable structure is able to be engaged to the hooking element, and the elastic element pushes the slidable structure toward the hooking element. Moving the slidable structure can fix or release the engagement between the slidable structure and the hooking element. Thus, adjusting the working angle can be much easier and more efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Jun Fan CHEN
  • Patent number: 8418336
    Abstract: A system and method for repairing the damaged portion of a flow-line of a Corrugated Metal Pipe is disclosed. A containment mold is created on the interior surface of the CMP using a series of overlapping rigid sheets that are attached to the CMP along the damaged flow-line. This mold is provided with injection ports through which a hydro-insensitive expanding polymer may be injected. External pressure is applied to the rigid sheet during injection and hardening of the polymer. The result is a single monolithic structure forming a patch over the damaged CMP flow-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Roger Bennett
  • Publication number: 20130081241
    Abstract: A belt attachment jig includes a jig body (10) located along a side surface of a pulley (1), and a belt guide portion (15) which protrudes forward in the pulley rotational direction from a contact portion (11) near one end of the jig body (10). The belt (B) is held between the twisting preventing plate (12) which forms the other end of the jig body (10) and the side surface of the jig-attached pulley (1) such that an inner circumferential surface of the belt (B) faces the jig-attached pulley (1). As the pulley (1) is rotated, the belt attachment jig is moved in the pulley rotational direction together with the belt (B) in a manner that makes the belt (B) fitted in the pulley groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: BANDO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Kunisada, Takemasa Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 8387237
    Abstract: A device for assembling and disassembling an inner support of a vehicle tire, comprising a supporter, a fastening belt, a retracting device, a securing device, and a gear unit. The retracting device and the securing device are disposed on the supporter. One end of the fastening belt is connected to the retracting device, the other end of the fastening belt is connected to the securing device. The retracting device is connected to the gear unit. The device facilitates assembling and disassembling on demand and allows for a simple and fast disassembling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Dongfeng Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Song Huang, Ji Chen
  • Publication number: 20130047405
    Abstract: A seal assembling method of a master cylinder for assembling a cup seal for sealing a piston slidably moving in a bottomed-tubular cylinder main body to a seal groove formed in the cylinder main body in an annular shape includes inserting the cup seal into the cylinder main body while inclining the cup seal with respect to an axial direction of the cylinder main body, and assembling the cup seal to the seal groove by moving the cup seal to the seal groove in a state that a position of a center cored bar tool for defining an insertion limit of the cup seal with respect to the cylinder main body is aligned with the seal groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: MASATAKE YAMANAKA, Hideki Hosaka
  • Patent number: 8365374
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of installing an elastomeric element onto a tubular. The method includes, positioning the elastomeric element onto a radially expandable member, radially expanding the radially expandable member and the elastomeric element installed thereon, positioning a tubular coaxially with the radially expandable member, and axially urging the elastomeric element off the radially expandable member thereby allowing the elastomeric element to be positioned coaxially about an outer perimetrical surface of the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert S. O'Brien, Gerald D. Lynde, Yang Xu, Thomas Mathew
  • Patent number: 8359721
    Abstract: A system and method for loading an endoprosthesis, such as a stent or valve, into an introducer is provided that permits interventionalists to load the endoprosthesis easily at the bedside. The system can include a compressor for compressing the endoprosthesis to a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the introducer lumen. The compressor has a funnel portion at one end where the un-compressed endoprosthesis can be introduced and another end where the introducer and sleeves of a split sleeve device are inserted. The sleeves conform to the compressor passage and surround the endoprosthesis to collapse the endoprosthesis. The split sleeve device also includes a mounting device coupled to the sleeves. The endoprosthesis is compressed and loaded into the introducer by the relative movement of the mounting device and the compressor, where the endoprosthesis remains generally stationary while being compressed and loaded in order to avoid potentially compromising the endoprosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jeffry S. Melsheimer, Grant T. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20130008010
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying tension to a fabric decking on an article of furniture are described. The apparatus includes a cylindrical base having a central axis and that is adapted to be placed in proximity to a frame of the article of furniture. A plurality of spaced needles are coupled to, and extend away from, said base. The needles are aligned in a row parallel to the axis of the cylindrical base. The needles extend away from the base a distance greater than a thickness of the fabric decking material. The apparatus also includes a rotation mechanism coupled to the base and operable to impart a rotational movement to the base about the axis, between a first, ready position for engagement with the fabric decking material, and a second stretched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: L& P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY
    Inventor: LARRY I. BULLARD
  • Publication number: 20120324687
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an installation method and apparatus for installing a resilient ring-shaped clip into engagement with a recess of a recipient channel. The apparatus generally comprises a clip delivery structure having a delivery channel formed therein and comprising an input for receiving the clip, a converging portion for radially biasing the clip, and an output for delivering the radially biased clip to the recipient channel. A clip stabilization mechanism may also be present for stabilizing the clip in the delivery channel, and for disengaging the clip upon application of an axial force to the clip that results in its passage through the delivery channel. Also disclosed is a clip delivery mechanism for displacing a clip through such a delivery channel and the recipient channel until engagement of the clip with the recess, wherein the clip stabilization mechanism disengages upon axial displacement of the clip by the clip delivery mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyajima, David Upshall, Hideki Sadaoka
  • Patent number: 8336177
    Abstract: A tool for the connection of tubes (T) by means of connection sleeves (C), comprising two jaws (2, 3) which are mutually movable between an open rest position, and a closed work position wherein they define an annular reception seat (7) of the connection sleeve (C), and wherein they turn a circumferential series of radial punches (6) towards the sleeve (C); said jaws (2, 3) each comprising at least one punch (6) sliding towards the center of said reception seat (7), and being mutually connected by means of a kinematic system which permits them, when they are found in said open rest position, to confer a generally open-ring shape to said reception seat (7), through whose lateral opening (8) the connection sleeve (C) can be inserted and extracted by lateral movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Autocondizionatori Zani S.R.L.
    Inventors: Ivaldo Vernasca, Carlo Vernasca, Francesco Vernasca
  • Patent number: 8336184
    Abstract: A device capable of smoothly, easily and automatically installing a molding on a door panel for an automobile is provided and includes a molding installation jig and a dynamic sensor located between a jig body and an arm. The dynamic sensor is designed to detect a force applied from the molding installation jig to the molding. A finger is supported on a side of the jig body to contact and hold an end section of the molding. Three suction pads, which communicate with a vacuum device, are provided on a surface of the jig body at equal intervals. A pair of brackets having a C-shaped cross section are provided on a side surface of the jig body, which is perpendicular to the surface on which the suction pads are provided. A first roller, a second roller, and a third roller 19 are rotatably supported in each of the brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Yamamoto, Takahiro Yogoro