Plural Diverse Manufacturing Apparatus Including Means For Metal Shaping Or Assembling Patents (Class 29/33R)
  • Patent number: 6154944
    Abstract: A frame member of rectangular cross section with rounded corners is formed by expansion of a tubular blank within a die cavity having an inner portion of corresponding cross section and an outer transition portion which is of smoothly continuously curved cross sectional profile elongated substantially parallel to the larger dimension of the rectangular section. An outer portion of the tubular blank is deformed to correspond with the continuously curved cross sectional profile and is sealed by a resiliently compressible sealing element of corresponding profile through which fluid pressure is applied in order to expand the blank. By matching the profile of the transition portion to the rectangular inner portion, the transition portion can be made shorter and considerable savings of materials and resources can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: TI Corporate Services Limited
    Inventors: Murray R. Mason, Gerrald A. Klages
  • Patent number: 6134763
    Abstract: A combined machine tool for specific use in making a piston ring or the like from a workpiece is disclosed, in which on a common bed there are mounted: an outer and inner peripheral surface machining unit numerically controlled and having an outer peripheral surface machining section and an inner peripheral surface machining section which are operable together to simultaneously machine an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of the workpiece, and a cut-split machining unit adapted to act on the workpiece machined over the outer and inner peripheral surfaces by the outer and inner peripheral surface machining unit, in a manner such as to machine, by cut-splitting, the so machined workpiece while it remains unaltered in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Komatsu Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Shoji
  • Patent number: 6128811
    Abstract: An apron forming apparatus and method for bending and joining the ends of a pair of apron half segments includes a series of four apron support surfaces lying in a common plane. A clamping arrangement is mounted on each of the apron support surfaces for selectively clamping an apron half segment. A bending arrangement is secured to each of the apron support surfaces for selectively bending an apron half segment. Each of the apron half segments is disposed between a clamping arrangement and a bending arrangement on a pair of apron support surfaces such that the apron half segments lie substantially parallel to each other. Each of the bending arrangements is movable into engagement with an apron half segment to bend the apron half segment such that the ends of one bent apron half segment are placed in overlapping relationship with the ends of the other bent apron half segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Krueger International, Inc
    Inventors: James D. Panzer, Daniel R. Lindgren
  • Patent number: 6112391
    Abstract: An electronically-controlled apparatus has a feed assembly for moving circular disk blank workpieces from a storage position to a pickup position where a pickup mechanism receives the workpiece and then carries it to an operational position within a machine tool which converts the workpiece into a pulley or like-type device while simultaneously the pickup mechanism receives a finished disk product and delivers it a collection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Mijo Radocaj
  • Patent number: 6094794
    Abstract: A billiard cue repairing machine includes planing device, an edge cutting device, a micro-cutting device, and an end cutting device to allow for repair of a billiard cue in an automated fashion. The billiard cue is held in position by a cue clamping mechanism. A drive element drives is used to rotate the billiard cue and the micro-cutting device. The planing device and the edge cutting device are respectively disposed on both sides of a to-be-repaired end of the billiard cue, with adjacent sides provided with a plane knife and a cutter, respectively. The planing device is manually controllable by means of a first axial gear mechanism to cause its cutter to cut the to-be-repaired end of the billiard cue to form a rod adapted to receive a plastic sleeve. The edge cutting device has a second axial gear mechanism and an elastic transverse displacement mechanism that displace in directions substantially perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventors: Chun-Chen Kuo, Ming-Shyan Kuo
  • Patent number: 6058590
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for partially embedding a biocompatible material, such as a titanium coil, in the surface of a polymer bone implant to provide a porous coating for bone cells to grow through thereby promoting long term stabilization of the implant. In one embodiment, the coil is wrapped around the implant and placed in a manifold where rollers biased by springs press against the coil. The coil-implant is rotated and heated by a hot gas stream, the rollers-springs pushing the coil into the surface of the implant. In a second embodiment, the coil is compressed and placed onto a needle wire which is placed against the surface of the implant. The point of contact is heated and the implant is rotated with the needle wire creating a channel in the softened polymer and feeding the coil, which is simultaneously stretched, therein. The needle wire then pulls the polymer over a portion of the coil as it passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jack C. Roberts, Paul J. Biermann, Amy A. Corvelli
  • Patent number: 6032343
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements in an Automated Swage Wind and Packaging Machine that is particularly adapted to assist in the automated singulation of surgical needles to enable subsequent automated handling of the needle, automatic swaging of the suture into a receiving end of the needle, automatic pull testing of the combined needle and suture, and automated packaging of the pull tested combined needle and suture into a tray having a cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Blanch, David D. Demarest, Robert A. Daniele, Anthony Esteves, William F. Smith, Michael G. Hodulik, Teresa M. Shaw, George Horst Reinemuth, Richard Paul Branco, Matthew Cafone
  • Patent number: 6023831
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for producing metal-sheathed strands, especially glass fiber cables, from a metal strip that is first formed into a U-shaped profile and then, after the placement therein of a non-ductile or slightly ductile core material, is closed to form a split tube carrying and/or protecting the core material, which split tube, after the welding of its longitudinal seam, is reduced in a subsequent deformation step. In the process of the invention, the metal-sheathed strand with the welded longitudinal seam is cold-formed in a stretch-reducing fashion in multiple continuous sequential steps. In the apparatus for implementing the process, multiple speed-controlled roll stands of a stretch-reducing cold rolling mill with declining caliber cross-sections are arranged one behind the other directly after the longitudinal seam welding machine for the split tube for the reductive deformation of the metal sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Horst Stinnertz
  • Patent number: 5987736
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling copper-caul-copper elements to be used in the fabrication of printed circuit boards. The apparatus comprises a roll section which has two rolls of copper that provides the rolled copper sheets to a cutting section. The cutting section includes two clamp mechanisms which clamps the two rolled copper sheets and a cutting apparatus that cuts the two rolled copper sheets to produce two cut sheets of copper. The apparatus includes a grasping device that reaches into the cutting section to partially extract the rolled copper sheets prior to cutting. The apparatus also includes a carriage section and a caul supply section. After the rolled copper sheets have been cut, the grasping device extracts the copper sheets and positions these sheets in the carriage assembly as the caul supply section is simultaneously supplying the caul to the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: John B. Copp
  • Patent number: 5974645
    Abstract: A system for customizing a golf club which utilizes a hosel to interconnect the had and the shaft includes a hosel bending vise. The hosel bending vise imparts an offset bend and a lie angle bend in the hosel. The shaft of the golf club is then cut to length. If desired a loft angle bend may be made in the hosel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kurr Golf Technology
    Inventor: Kirk Currie
  • Patent number: 5947182
    Abstract: A metallic coil production system by providing a cooler downstream of a heat-treating furnace in a line of continuous casting of a thin strip-like slab, hot rolling, and heat treatment and providing, downstream of the cooler, a pickling device, a trimmer, a heat-treating device, a shear, and a coiler. The apparatus is constructed so that a pickling line, a trimmer line, and a shear line after the line of continuous casting of a thin strip-like slab, hot rolling, and heat treatment can be switched, permitting the lines to be operated in a continuous or discontinuous (independent) manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Nohara, Shunji Shoda
  • Patent number: 5909907
    Abstract: A method and machine for manufacturing compression rings in which flat band material is fed to a stamping station from a feed station, a blank is stamped out with a mechanical connection having male and female configurations at opposite ends, the blank is then fed to a deformation machine where it is displaced into the several axial positions of the machine in which, in a first position, the blank is predeformed into configuration permitting closing of the mechanical connection in a second position in which the blank is also deformed into its circular configuration. Preferably the thus-deformed and closed compression ring is then subjected to a swaging action in a third position before it is ejected out of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Hans Oetiker AG Maschinen - und Apparatefabrik
    Inventor: Hans Oetiker
  • Patent number: 5903974
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing a hollow ring groove insert for an engine piston, which is inserted by casting near the top of a piston for an engine to constitute a ring groove and a cooling path adjacent to the ring groove. The hollow ring groove insert comprises a formed sheet ring and a ring body having an inner peripheral surface and a piston ring groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5855050
    Abstract: A signal transmitter for transmitting control signals is fitted to a key element so that signals can be transmitted to an operating device with which the key is used. Illustrative is the fitting of an automobile ignition key to a fob housing in which the signal transmitter is carried. The head part of an ignition key is subjected to a punching operation to shear off a first portion of the head part leaving a remaining head part portion with wings disposed laterally at opposite sides of the key shank part. Holes are drilled in the remaining head part portion and the remaining head part portion is received in an anchorage in the housing with the key shank extending through a notch in the housing. The remaining head part is then secured to the housing with screws passing through the lateral wing openings and into anchorage posts formed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Audiovox Corporation
    Inventors: D. Scott Christie, Thomas Wouters
  • Patent number: 5815908
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing excess lengths of light waveguides in relation to a metal tube containing the waveguide comprises an arrangement for forming a metal tube and an arrangement for inserting the light waveguides into the metal tube at a greater rate of feed than the advancement of the tube being formed by the arrangement for forming a metal tube. The apparatus and method also include introducing a filling compound into the metal tube upstream of the point of introducing the waveguides and an arrangement of rollers for shaping the formed tube to its final cross sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz-Josef Wichmann
  • Patent number: 5797174
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for forming curved and rectangular bodied needle blanks from a length of needle stock which includes a generally cylindrical inner mandrel having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed in an outer surface thereof, the mandrel being dimensioned and configured for insertion within the length of needle stock. The apparatus also includes a plurality of broaches insertable into the longitudinal channels such that an edge of each broach projects radially outwardly of the mandrel to form a plurality of inner grooves on an inner surface of the length of needle stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Guy, Terry C. Eisensmith, Donald A. Morin
  • Patent number: 5787559
    Abstract: Generally trapezoidal web sections of non-uniform shape for fabricating structural I-section beams having varying bending modulus are cut from rectangular plate stock pieces by a shear whose platen is oscillated, as a series of pieces are cut from a length of metal sheet or plate, about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the stock material. The platen angle is determined and controlled by a computer to which design criteria are fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Charles W. Dean
  • Patent number: 5789066
    Abstract: Method of producing metal sheets or strips by cold reduction rolling of a metal sheet or strip with at least one pair of work rolls, at least one of which being a textured work roll in order to transfer the surface pattern of the textured work roll to the surface of said sheet or strip, characterized in that said pattern of the textured work roll consists in a bidimensional deterministic pattern of spots wherein each spot has the form of a crater with a rim around it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Sidmar N.V.
    Inventors: Carl De Mare, Damien De Soete, Yves Gadeyne
  • Patent number: 5778503
    Abstract: process is disclosed for disposing of a spent NaS cell, which process comprises the steps of: cutting an opening in the NaS cell for flowing out sodium from the cell and allowing an inner tube to be pulled out from the NaS cell; placing oil on sodium inside the inner tube of the spent NaS cell in a given thickness, while the cut opening is directed upwardly; setting the spent NaS cell in a workpiece-setting vessel outside a heating oil vessel, while the cut opening is directed downwardly, thereby flowing out the oil on the sodium inside the inner tube, said workpiece-setting vessel being provided at a bottom with a hole for allowing an inner tube to be pulled out from the the spent NaS cell, immersing the spent NaS cell set in the workpiece-setting vessel into oil in the heating oil vessel in the state that the cut opening is directed downwardly; sodium is melted in the oil of the heating oil vessel and flown out therein through the cut opening; and then the inner tube is pulled out from the NaS cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Tsuchimoto, Katsuichi Iwata, Yoshihiko Kurashima
  • Patent number: 5774964
    Abstract: A process for forming a profiled element from a generally longitudinally extending extruded sheet-form member having a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extended ribs upstanding therefrom is provided. The process includes the step of removing longitudinally spaced apart portions from some of said ribs by means of a transversely acting punching means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Redpoint Thermalloy, Limited
    Inventors: Francis Edward Fisher, Robin Douglas Johnson, David George Gove, Michael Dennis Wade
  • Patent number: 5722138
    Abstract: A disc-shaped material is prepared by punching a high carbon steel plate or soft steel plate, and the disc-shaped material is fixed in position. An outer peripheral portion of the disc-shaped material is heated to a temperature of 400.degree.-500.degree. C. by means of a high frequency heater. The outer peripheral portion of the disc-shaped material is swaged to form a thickened portion by a swaging die and the thickened portion is then spun to plastically form a toothed gear to the outer peripheral portion of the disc-shaped material in two steps of coarse working and finish working by spinning dies. The thus formed toothed gear is further heated as occasion demands to a temperature of about 900.degree. C. for quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Kubota Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeaki Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 5718543
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for consistently machining a side bearing component for railroad cars such that the components produced all have similar performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik D. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5701648
    Abstract: This fabricating system provides flux material coating in a continuous manner for a continuous welding electrode as well as for welding electrodes of various selected lengths. The system consists of a driving mechanism for supplying a continuous metal core to a pressure coating station. A straightening device is located between the initial driving mechanism and the coating station to ensure the metal core is in a perfectly straight form when entering the coating station. Multiple pressurized flux coating material bins are coupled to the coating station. The bins are automatically controlled such that when one bin has been depleted, a second bin will be coupled to the coating station immediately to continue the supply of coating flux material continuously to the coating station while the depleted bin is being replenished and pressurized for operation when the second bin becomes depleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Chong Yang Ni
  • Patent number: 5697138
    Abstract: Automated forming apparatus including a horizontal feedbelt and an overlying gantry containing a number of tool heads for forming alphanumeric trim pieces for sign letters. A number of laterally and vertically controlled tool heads are indexed to the feedbelt and operative per programmed micro-instructions to clamp, bend and cut a spooled trim material to define an alphanumeric shape. One or more formed trim pieces are fitted to a flat panel that is separately formed to a corresponding alphanumeric shape to define a letter which can be used alone or as a cover to a mating canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Gemini, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Swanson, David Schmitt
  • Patent number: 5694669
    Abstract: A motor driven turning device in which a one piece pool stick may be inserted for the purpose of cutting away an old ferrule and tip, adding a new ferrule and tip, machining the latter to a smooth finish and refurbishing the body of the stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventor: Joseph Porper
  • Patent number: 5655278
    Abstract: A method and machine for repairing overhead cam engine cylinder heads and the like. The method includes the steps of removing the caps from the bases of the bearing towers or housings, removing material from the legs of the caps to reduce their height, replacing the caps on the bases, and boring the resulting bearings to produce bearings of the proper diameter. The machine includes a device for machining a bearing cap and a device for boring the bearings. The device for boring the bearings has a boring bar that is supported only at opposite ends of the cylinder head. The bar does not sag or chatter because it is made of an extremely hard and dense material such as a dense tungsten alloy or a ceramic-coated metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Brice Harmand
  • Patent number: 5603148
    Abstract: A tire and wheel servicing arrangement including a bead breaking station, a tire changing station, a tire inflating station, and a wheel balancing station in which the stations are positioned sequentially in a line and adjacent each other to permit transfer of a wheel-mounted tire from one station to the next by simply pushing or sliding of the tire. The inflating station can include a V-shaped tire receiver for facilitating turning over of the wheel mounted tire. That tire receiver can be tiltable downwardly under the weight of a wheel mounted tire to aid in positioning the wheel mounted tire on the wheel balancing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: Arne Hjorth-Hansen
  • Patent number: 5590466
    Abstract: A method and machine for repairing overhead cam engine cylinder heads. The method includes the steps of removing the caps from the bases of the bearing towers or housings, removing material from the legs of the caps to reduce their height, replacing the caps on the bases, and boring the resulting bearings to produce bearings of the proper diameter. The machine includes a device for machining a bearing cap and a device for boring the bearings. The device for boring the bearings has a boring bar that is supported only at opposite ends of the cylinder head. The bar does not sag or chatter because it is made of an extremely hard and dense material such as a dense tungsten alloy or a ceramic-coated metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Brice Harmand
  • Patent number: 5566437
    Abstract: The reprofiling installation includes, arranged below a railway carriage, a milling device consisting of two frames (8, 9) linked together. These frames (8, 9) of differing lengths and guided by the track, carry each one a milling unit (22, 24). The installation further includes track heating means (31) located in front of each milling unit (22, 24), means for cooling the tracks behind each milling unit, as well as units for measuring the deformation of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Speno International SA
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Jaeggi
  • Patent number: 5512011
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing machine lines from the gasket groove in the flanges of a header box has a support plate mounted for linear movement on rails connected to the header box. The support carries a tool driver which can be pivoted below the support to bring a grinding or polishing tool, rotated by the tool driver, into and out of the groove for grinding and polishing away the machine lines in the groove as the support slides along the rail. This grinds and polishes the grooves while avoiding a wavy effect which was a disadvantage of using a hand-held grinder for the same purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventor: George S. Millas
  • Patent number: 5479980
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing drilled needle blanks from a spool of coiled stock wire may include a laser for drilling a bore in the end of the stock wire and a cutting device for cutting the drilled wire into needle blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventor: Rolf A. Spingler
  • Patent number: 5479690
    Abstract: A fill tube for filling a seam-welded tube with a ceramic powder as the seam-welded tube is being made by a tube making mechanism. The fill tube has a guide tube for directing the ceramic powder from a location upstream of a seam welder to a location downstream of the seam welder. A mounting bracket is attached to the upper end of the guide tube and has a powder channel directing the ceramic powder received from an external powder source into the guide tube and a wire channel directing wires received from an external source into the guide tube. A wire guide is disposed at the opposite end of the guide tube which locates the wires in the seam-welded tube as it is being filled with the ceramic powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Hoskins Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Bertie F. Hall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5448819
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning the welded corners of an assembled window frame is provided. The apparatus has a work surface and a clamping device on the work surface for holding an assembled work piece on the work surface. A cutting tool is provided on the work surface for removing excess weld material from the work piece corner in a specific profile, the cutting tool moveable in an arcuate path around the apex of the corner of the assembled window frame whereby excess material is removed from the corner in a single pass of the cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Mecum Tooling Equipment Mfg. Ltd.
    Inventor: Walter L. Grassi
  • Patent number: 5426838
    Abstract: A vent applicator positions, a skirted vent blank on one side of a fabric and a die on the other, and impels the blank downwardly through the fabric so that the skirt is curled up and out by the die to clamp the fabric to the blank. To position the vent blank, it is suspended on deflectable fingers which are deflected when the blank is impelled downwardly. Preferably a hole is punched in the fabric before the die is moved downwardly. Sensors detect the presence of a vent blank ready for downward movement. A washer may be positioned over the die for clamping between the upturned skirt and the fabric. If a washer is used sensors detect the presence and positioning of a washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Inventor: Lothar Korb
  • Patent number: 5414919
    Abstract: Lead wires extending out from an electrical circuit device are removed from respective bonding pads to which they are bonded by a lateral shearing action. Shearing can be accomplished either unidirectionally, or with a bidirectional reciprocating movement. A shearing tool is provided with a single shearing projection for a unidirectional shearing, or with a pair of spaced shearing projections for bidirectional shearing. A vertical alignment is established between the tool and a first lead to be sheared, and this initial alignment is also used for shearing the other leads of the device. With the actual bond between a lead and its bonding pad occupying only a minor portion of the available surface area, a subsequent lead from a replacement device is bonded to the same bonding pad as the first lead by forming a new bond at a different site along the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Vicente Soto
  • Patent number: 5400491
    Abstract: A repair apparatus 78 for repairing the combustion chamber assembly 32 of a gas turbine engine 20 is disclosed. Various construction details are developed which increase the speed of the repair process and the structural integrity of the repaired combustion chamber assembly. In one particular embodiment, the repair =apparatus has a support assembly 82 which is adapted by locating pins 98 to engage the lug mountings 48 of the combustion chamber assembly 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Chester E. Yaworsky, Galen H. Reed
  • Patent number: 5384945
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing drilled needle blanks from a spool of coiled stock wire may include a laser for drilling a bore in the end of the stock wire and a cutting device for cutting the drilled wire into needle blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventor: Rolf A. Spingler
  • Patent number: 5287609
    Abstract: A syringe disposal system includes a frame body and a separation device which includes an upper cover that is mounted on the frame body and that is formed with a needle guiding port. A driving gear is rotatably mounted on the frame body below the cover. A driven gear is rotatably mounted on the frame body below the cover and is positioned parallel to the driving gear. The teeth on the driven gear mesh with the teeth on the driving gear. A container is disposed below the driving and driven gears. The syringe disposal system also includes a fragmentation device which includes an inclined cutting plate, which has an outer side that is fixed on the frame body and an inner side that extends downwardly and inwardly and that is formed with spaced cutting teeth. A cutting wheel is rotatably mounted on the frame body below the inclined cutting plate and has spaced rows of axially-aligned cutting teeth extending radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Inventor: Chin-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 5267380
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for centering a rotary body such as a motor vehicle tire the rotary body is put into a centered position by means of a plurality of centering means which engage the circular periphery of the rotary body at distributed positions around the periphery thereof and which are acted upon by a centering force. The centering force acting on the centering means is set to be proportional to the diameter of the rotary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Hofmann Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Ronge, Werner Lehr
  • Patent number: 5257443
    Abstract: A nut runner can be moved along fixed rails and a moving rail. A tire, after being removed by using the nut runner, is supported on a tire dolly, and the tire is transported to an outer rail. Here, the tire is held by a hanger, and is transported to an operating machine. A movable block is provided with a sensor, and a plurality of stop points are set in each rail. Upon completion of the operation by the operating machine, the tire is held again by the hanger, and is transported to a predetermined position along the outer rail. The tire is then supported on the tire dolly, and is temporarily fixed to a vehicle. In this state, the nut runner is moved, and nuts are tightened by means of this nut runner, thereby completing the tire demounting and mounting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Syuzo Tanimura, Tokio Kanatomi, Fumio Kamanoi, Mitsuo Sato
  • Patent number: 5249341
    Abstract: A wire-removing machine for bales consist of a positioning device for the bales (1), a cutting device (4) for severing the tying wires tensioned round the bales, a gripper device (5), by means of which the tying wires, after these have been severed, can be lifted off from the bales, and a winding device (6) which grasps all the lifted-off wires in the lifted-off portion by means of a common fork-shaped longitudinally displaceable winding spindle (22) and winds them to form reels. To improve the operation of winding the severed tying wires, there is a row of guide fingers (7) which are arranged in a comb-like manner and which, after the severed tying wires have been lifted off, are arranged in the region between the winding spindle (22) and the bale (1), the tying wires running through between the guide fingers (7) during the winding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: B+G-Fordertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Gronau
  • Patent number: 5228177
    Abstract: In a sample preparation system for iron and steel samples, a grinding machine (1) with a stamping device (2) and/or a cutting machine (3), as well as transport devices (7 to 12), form a modular structural unit for the input, output and transfer of samples. In this case it is possible to connect the stamping device (2) having an integrated robot (20), a sandblasting unit (26), an inductive heating station (27), a sample crusher (25) and a plurality of stamping machines (28, 29, 30) for lollypop samples, and the cutting machine comprising a rotating clamping chuck (31) and an adjustable cutting grinding wheel (32) for cylindrical and conical samples, to a grinding machine (1), which forms the central module and contains a rough and a fine grinding device (18, 20), a cooling device (19) and a clamping device (14) for the samples, and which grinding machine (1) has a dust removal connector (13) for the central removal of dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Herzog Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Helga Herzog, Gunther Hawickhorst
  • Patent number: 5168612
    Abstract: A machine for destroying, disinfecting and collecting in safe, removable, disposable containers hypodermic needles and syringes containing medical contaminants. The device includes a compact housing which is easily portable, a shear housing containing removable and serviceable shear blades and a shear member. A safety container which includes a clear visual top is used and collects the destroyed needles and syringes in a container that can be subsequently readily disposed of. A low RPM high torque motor is used to greatly reduce the noise of operation of the device. A front observation window in the housing permits the viewer to determine how full the safety container is visually through the clear top of the safety container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Inventors: Elliot P. Schultz, Raymond L. Sperry
  • Patent number: 5155889
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the formation of an insulating material ply, e.g. in the manufacture of insulating chutes. The object is to provide a continuous insulating material ply (17) of a predetermined thickness. A primary ply (14) of surplus thickness is first sawn out of an insulating material roll (1) by rotating the insulating wool roll against the edge of a band saw, and this primary ply (14) is fed to another ply-cutting saw (16) which saws the primary ply into the final ply (17) with the predetermined thickness. The surplus from the primary ply (14) is collected on a drum (19) provided in connection with the ply-cutting saw (16) to form an intermediate storage. When the insulating material (roll) run out, the sawing of the final ply (17) is continued from the intermediate storage without interruption until the leading edge of a new opened insulating material roll (1) reaches the ply-cutting saw (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Oy Partek AB
    Inventor: Osmo Soikkeli
  • Patent number: 5063982
    Abstract: A hand tool useful in forming a pocket mortise in the surface of a workpiece proximate an edge of the workpiece. The hand tool includes a clamping assembly for releasably clamping the tool to the workpiece, and a router carried by the clamp assembly and mounted for manual displacement toward the workpiece edge at an incline to progressively cut deeper into the workpiece and form an inclined pocket mortise. The hand tool also preferably carries a drill bit guide on the clamp assembly which is formed to receive and guide a drill bit from a hand drill for drilling a bore from the workpiece edge to the mortise. A method of forming a pocket mortise including the steps of clamping the clamp assembly with a movable router to a workpiece, routing the pocket mortise and then drilling a hole to the pocket mortise from the edge of the workpiece by a hand drill also is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Inventor: Max W. Durney
  • Patent number: 5062189
    Abstract: A profiling tool is mounted on a tool slide which can be moved radially towards the electrode roller (10) by means of a feed drive. A feeler slide which carries a feeler can move parallel to the tool slide and is biassed towards the electrode roller. Relative movements of the tool slide with respect to the feeler slide, and thus the depth of feed of the profiling tool into the electrode roller, are limited by an adjustable limit stop (76). The tool slide can be stopped by means of a clamping device as soon as the predetermined depth of feed of the profiling tool is reached. The setting of the profiling tool automatically adapts to the diameter of the electrode roller, which decreases with repeated profiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Elpatronic AG
    Inventor: Hans Aebersold
  • Patent number: 5058252
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening the bolt of a fastener, inserting an end cap D-ring, or quality tag. The method and apparatus comprises using a first clamp configured to receive therein a fasteners, a second clamp being configured to engage a latch or bolt of the fasteners, a robot gripper and control means to effect the opening of the fastener, the insertion of an end of a chain into the fastener and the closing of the fastener. The movement of the latch or bolt knob is coordinated with the movement of the fastener such that the forces acting on the bolt knob are substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the bolt in the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Inventors: Albert F. Wiesner, III, Philip Datseris
  • Patent number: 5052098
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing binding wire from a bale. The bale containing a plurality of peripheral baling wires is supported on a conveyor and a cutting knife moves vertically along the bale to cut the wires. A pair of gripping knives are located on the opposite side of the bale from the cutting knife and the gripping knives more respectively from the upper and lower ends of the bale toward the vertical midpoint of the bale to gather the cut wires together. The gathered cut wires are engaged by a rotatable winding mechanism which acts to wind the cut wires and remove the wound wires to a discharge site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: J. M. Voith GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Thumm
  • Patent number: 5031296
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine tool, in particular for the manufacturing, from sheet metal of mechanical parts such as pulleys, wheels and similar.It comprises a first chuckhead quill (4) rotatably mounted to a sturdy frame (1) and having coaxially and independently housed inside it a toolhead spindle (7) which can be commanded to slide in axial direction with respect to said quill (4). A second chuckhead quill (20) is exactly contra-positioned with respect to the first (4) and is rotatably mounted to a support element (18) which is slidably mobile in a direction parallel to its axis and which is slidably commanded by a powerful coaxial hydraulic jack (23). A second toolhead spindle (21) is coaxially disposed inside said second quill (20) with freedom to slide axially with respect to said quill (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: S.C. S.R.L.
    Inventor: Franco Magnoni
  • Patent number: 5014405
    Abstract: An automatic assembly device includes a jig pallet for carrying and positioning parts used in an assembly line, and a holding device for holding fastener members used to mount the parts to assembled members. A drive is positioned between the fastener member holding device and an external driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Yamana, Mikio Nakamura, Akihiro Tsuzuki