Means For Forming From Bulk Material, Means For Severing And Means For Reshaping Patents (Class 425/296)
  • Patent number: 6168817
    Abstract: A method for the continuous production of semifinished parts for three-dimensional snacks made from potatoes, cereals or the like, comprising, after preparing two layers of a gelled semifinished compound of the components and/or other starchy ingredients, the step of cutting the layers in consecutive segments along parallel lines with cutting edges which act with a relative motion constituted by a translatory motion which is substantially perpendicular to a portion to be cut, combined with a translatory motion which is parallel to the cutting lines. The method also includes a step in which the layers are superimposed and die-cut with suitable punches, separating a grid-like skeleton from the snacks, each snack being formed by two perimetrically joined layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Mafin S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mario Pavan
  • Patent number: 6096251
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a multilayered object by molding having the steps of placing a lining sheet in a mould, injecting a thermoplastic resin material beneath the lining sheet, distributing the thermoplastic resin material beneath the lining sheet to form at least one thermoplastic resin based inner layer by creating a reserve of the thermoplastic resin material in a peripheral portion of the object, holding the extending portion of the sheet in place on the mold during the step of injecting and after the step of injecting so as to retain peripheral tightness of the thermoplastic resin material on a sliding holding point on the punch during movement of the die, pressing the extending portion of the lining sheet against the mold, and sandwiching the reserve in a liquid state between the lining sheet and a portion of the mold until the injected resin material sets to thereby form the multilayered object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Auto Interieur
    Inventor: Jean-Jacques D'Hooren
  • Patent number: 6027676
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming ornamented plastics articles and to articles formed by the method and relates especially but not exclusively to manufacture of items of furniture, building components and picture frame members. The method comprises firstly extruding a plastics article then re-moulding it in a hot stamp press. This enables highly complex forms of article to be manufactured with large dimensions and at much lower cost than is currently possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Robobond Limited
    Inventor: Robert Detenon
  • Patent number: 5984656
    Abstract: The forming surface of a forming mold (5) for postforming of a shaped cord (2) in the shape of a frame extruded onto a glass (1) is slightly curved in the direction of the length of shaped cord (2). In the final position of forming mold (4) during the postforming operation, lateral edges (11, 12) are thus slightly above the surface of shaped cord (2). This avoids the creation of imprints in the form of lines or edges on the shaped cord, and a smooth transition is achieved between the postformed length of the shaped cord that attaches there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Florez Kittel, Helmut Krumm
  • Patent number: 5981024
    Abstract: A mineral fiber plate product is produced by producing a first non-woven mineral fiber web containing mineral fibers predominantly arranged in a first longitudinal direction and segments of the first mineral fiber web are arranged in a partly mutually overlapping relationship for producing a second non-woven mineral fiber web, which contains mineral fibers generally transversally relative to one another. The second mineral fiber web is folded transversely for producing a third non-woven mineral fiber web. The third non-woven mineral fiber web is cured for producing a cured non-woven mineral fiber web from which a mineral fiber plate, or alternatively, a tubular insulating element is cut. In packaging, the volume of the mineral fiber plate may be reduced to 40%-60%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Rockwool International A/S
    Inventors: Luis Joergen Noergaard, Kim Brandt, Ian Cridland
  • Patent number: 5958327
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the downstream handling of water soluble polysaccharide-containing extruded tobacco smoke filtration material. During conveying of the extrudate from the extruder die of an extruder to a cutter, the extrudate is heated, shaped, and cooled to provide tobacco smoke filtration material of desired dimensions and physical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco Company Limited
    Inventors: John Lawson Beven, Paul David Case, Martin Coleman, Colin Campbell Greig
  • Patent number: 5955116
    Abstract: Multi-veined chewing gum is produced by injecting a plurality of different liquid flavor/dye compositions into a substantially homogeneous gum base composition or into a laminated or coextruded gum composition. The injection may be performed while the gum composition is being conveyed in one or more extruder head barrels, the injection being at a plurality of radial and/or circumferential positions in the barrel. In embodiments of the invention substantially straight longitudinal veins of color are then partially mixed to partially displace the colored veins in a direction transverse to the direction of extrusion so as to create veined, multi-colored patterns substantially throughout a cross section of the product in a manner so that the multi-colored patterns in the cross-section differ along the length of the extrudate. The extrudate is cut to obtain gum pieces having different veins of injected liquid additives which provide a swirled or marbleized pattern in the opposing cut ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Nabisco Technology Company
    Inventors: Gary Kehoe, Thomas J. Carroll, Donald L. Mihalich
  • Patent number: 5945196
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a screen useful for forming three-dimensional films, the screens and the three-dimensional films produced using those screens are disclosed. In forming a screen, a substrate material is applied to a base. A predetermined amount of portions of the substrate are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the substrate. A screen material is applied to the patterned substrate material. A predetermined amount of portions of the screen material are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the screen material. The predetermined pattern in the screen defines a plurality of first perforations in the screen material. The substrate material is removed from the screen material, such that second perforations are formed in the screen, whereby each first perforation is in communication with an adjacent second perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Tredegar Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Rieker, Edward R. Cook
  • Patent number: 5871783
    Abstract: The invention provides for the manufacture of food products. In one preferred form, methods and apparatus are provided for cutting individual confectionery products from a slab or strip of product material into a product with a particular silhouette. In another form, the invention provides methods and apparatus for both cutting and forming individual confectionery products from strips or ropes. The process can be used for simply forming products from pre-cut segments or other blanks of confectionery material, including imparting a relatively precise texture, finish or detail to such products. The products may, but need not, be subsequently enrobed in chocolate or another coating. The confectionery material may also include candied fruit bits, dry fruits, nuts, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
  • Patent number: 5863566
    Abstract: There is described dough manipulation apparatus for use with a biscuit cutting machine, wherein the apparatus is operable to form and then manipulate dough sheets before output of the sheets to the biscuit cutting machine. A sheet forming unit and a sheet laminating unit, and means for controlled bypass of the sheet laminating unit whereby output of sheets produced by the sheet forming unit can be passed to the biscuit cutting machine, without lamination, make up the dough manipulation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: APV UK Limited
    Inventors: Paul Wood, Martyn Thomas Wray
  • Patent number: 5840359
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for the manufacture of noodles, in which a mixture of cereal semolina or flour and water is prepared in a twin-screw kneader, the mixture is converted into a band of pasta by pressing it through a die with an oblong outlet orifice, the band is laminated and it is cut into noodles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Jurg Lechthaler, Shiok Guat Teh, Luca Rusconi, Philipp Paul Meyer, Othman Mohamad Yusoff
  • Patent number: 5837349
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness and flatness characteristics for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of opposed milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Manuel C. Enriquez
  • Patent number: 5792487
    Abstract: A corrugated plastic panel is produced by providing a plastic panel corrugation device whereby a plastic material is extruded, a cooled extrusion is formed by passing the extrusion through a cooling roller assembly, a corrugated extrusion is formed by passing the cooled extrusion through a forming roller assembly when the cooled extrusion has reached its impressionable temperature range, a corrugated extrusion is passed through a pulling roller assembly when the corrugated extrusion has reached its hardening temperature range, and a corrugated plastic panel is formed by passing the corrugated extrusion through an extrusion cutting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Witt Plastics of Florida Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Lee Wenning, Charles L. Beatty
  • Patent number: 5776395
    Abstract: This details a production method for a blade for electrophotographic devices, made of thermosetting type polyurethane, including the steps of mixing and stirring the liquid polyurethane prepolymer which is a raw material component for a thermosetting type polyurethane polymer and the liquid crosslinking agent, discharging the mixture thereof into a die having a concave cross section in a molding drum, heating it via an endless belt which is in contact with the outer peripheral face of the molding drum and runs with the rotation of the drum 20 to continuously mold a banded blade molding S having a prescribed width, and cutting the blade molding to a prescribed length after cooling it down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Bando Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Fujiwara, Takeshi Noda, Yuichi Shigechika, Toshiharu Taniguchi, Arata Tani
  • Patent number: 5746956
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel kind of aluminum laminally filled plastic pellets and a process and apparatus for manufacturing the plastic pellets. The process includes coating the upper and lower surfaces of each of the substantially parallel lined aluminum foil layers with a coupling agent; drying the aluminum foil layers; introducing a molten plastic matrix to the space between each two aluminum foil layers and the outer surfaces of the most outside two aluminum foil layers to moisturize and bind the aluminum foil layers; reducing the thickness of the aluminum foil layers to form a continuous laminally filled plastic composite plate; and cooling and cutting the composite plate into aluminum laminally filled plastic pellets of a predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: National Science Council
    Inventors: Tung-Han Chuang, Ching-Bin Lin, Teng-Chun Tsai, Jiin-Chyuan Chang
  • Patent number: 5738816
    Abstract: A method for making a flexible carrier tape for storage and delivery of electronic components by an advancement mechanism is disclosed. The tape includes a strip portion having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a device for engagingly receiving the advancement mechanism; and a plurality of aligned pockets for carrying the electronic components. The pockets are spaced along the strip portion and opening through the top surface. The device for engagingly receiving the advancement mechanism includes a plurality of hollow protuberances that are spaced equally along the strip portion, open through the strip portion, and extend outwardly from the strip portion. The protuberances are adapted to receive the advancement mechanism within the hollow portion. The method includes simultaneously thermoforming the pockets and the protuberances to provide excellent registration therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Dale R. Tidemann, Thomas Skrtic, Scott L. Ciliske
  • Patent number: 5720991
    Abstract: A device to form different shaped raviolis includes multiple uniquely outlined cutting and crimping ribs, surrounding finger ejection holes, and an extrusion die plate hand support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventors: Janet Gildersleeve, Ronald M. Popeil, Alan L. Backus
  • Patent number: 5690876
    Abstract: A system for the continuous production of asphalt-based roofing shakes which are tapered and embossed to resemble wood shakes in looks and function; and the shake made thereby. The continuous production system hot-mixes and extrudes the ingredients in a tapered layer on a conveyor belt for embossing and cutting. The system permits wood-shake type variety in size and appearance. The preferred shake includes perlite as a filler and chopped glass fibers as a reinforcer and may be internally colored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Francis Anthony Gallo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5601765
    Abstract: Crimped fibres of solvent-spun cellulose are made and checked for damage in a method in which:i) cellulose is dissolved in an amine oxide solvent to form a hot cellulose solution,ii) the hot cellulose solution is extruded through a die assembly to form a tow of continuous filaments,iii) the tow is passed through a water bath to leach out the amine oxideiv) the tow is crimped by passing through a stuffer box in which it is compressed to apply crimp,v) dry steam being injected into the stuffer box during the crimping process, andvi) the crimped tow leaving the stuffer box is passed through detection means in whichvii) a beam is projected across the path of travel of the tow and is received by receiving means on the opposite side of the tow, the receiving means being calibrated to initiate a signal if obscurement of the beam by the tow varies beyond a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Courtaulds Fibres (Holdings) Limited
    Inventors: Alan Sellars, Ronald D. Payne, Penny E. Letts, Neville P. Bluckert
  • Patent number: 5597640
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Signode Corporation
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Manuel C. Enriquez, Hans Weltekamper
  • Patent number: 5582843
    Abstract: In a system for the production of solvent-spun cellulose tow, trash and other undesirable material is detected by a device which projects a light beam across the tow and a receiver for the beam which initiates a signal if the beam is obscured beyond a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Courtaulds Fibres (Holdings) Limited
    Inventors: Alan Sellars, Malcolm J. Hayhurst
  • Patent number: 5552101
    Abstract: A method for making plastic case blanks is disclosed. A molten plastic material is passed through a nip of a first, preforming pair of molding cylinders to form a semi-solidified sheet having a first thickness, The semi-solidified sheet is then molded to form a final sheet having a second, uniform thickness less than the first thickness and the final sheet is scored to form folding scores and cut to form a plurality of the blanks. The molding, scoring and cutting are simultaneously performed by passing the semi-solidified sheet through a nip of a second pair of cylinders. One of the second pair of cylinders has scoring means for forming the folding scores in the final sheet and cutting means for cutting the final sheet to form the plurality of the blanks and the other of the second pair of cylinders has recess means complementary to the cutting means for receiving the cutting means and effectuating the cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Fujii, Kimio Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5540797
    Abstract: A pultrusion apparatus and process for impregnation of multiple fiber tows with a thermoplastic resin wherein an impregnation vessel having an entrance and an exit end is provided with a fiber control insert formed of spaced cylindrical rings suspended therein, with a resin flow control device being suspended horizontally within the rings. A combined resin meter and profile die is attached to the impregnation vessel exit end with a cooling die connected thereto. A pulling mechanism pulls the fiber tows through melted resin contained within the impregnation vessel and into a stepped decreasing diameter passageway in the resin meter and profile die to remove excess resin and shape the impregnated fiber into a useful structure before it is cooled below the melting point of the resin by the cooling die. In one embodiment, a cut-off station is provided adjacent the pulling mechanism to cut the cooled impregnated fiber structure into the desired lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Maywood L. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5494724
    Abstract: A washable, water and dust binding service mat having a nap and a rubber or plastics backing layer, whereby the nap and a woven ground fabric for the tufting is fastened in the backing layer material, the ground fabric for the tufting comprising a layer of woven primary fabric of synthetic split fibers being calendered together by a heat setting operation with a layer of a nonwoven fiber fleece which prior to this heat setting operation has been needled together with the woven primary fabric by a needle technique. The nonwoven fiber fleece has an area weight of 80-150 grams/m.sup.2, consists of two or more kinds of synthetic fibers, with one having a softening temperature lower than the other synthetic fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Milliken Denmark A/S
    Inventor: Aage Lang
  • Patent number: 5480596
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an optical recording medium or an optical recording medium substrate sheet forms an photo-curable resin layer on at least one of a substrate sheet and a stamper which undergoes elastic deformation. The stamper bears a pattern corresponding with preformatting information and is brought into close contact with the substrate sheet wherein the photo-curable resin layer is interposed between them and cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukitoshi Okubo, Tsuyoshi Santoh, Miki Tamura, Chieko Mihara, Hiroyuki Sugata, Osamu Kanome, Masataka Yashima
  • Patent number: 5476630
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a dental aspirator by extruding a continuous tube with a bellows portion. The tube is angled to form a number of folds, each of which consists of two cup-shaped portions having concave surfaces facing each other. One cup-shaped portion is made smaller than the other, allowing them to be snapped together. The bellows are formed from the tube wall by chilled mold chains. At the same time, the tube is profiled to form an end portion at the suction end of the finished aspirator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Inventor: Ernst Orsing
  • Patent number: 5419695
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming a net device for encompassing a balled end of a tree includes an extruder from which a continuous strip of plastic material is discharged, a compression section for embossing a pattern on at least one surface of the strip, a tensioning section for providing a tension on the pattern strip and a cutting section for cutting the strip into narrow elongate net devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Inventor: Samuel E. Clegg
  • Patent number: 5393212
    Abstract: A quantitative flour feeding unit of a noodle making machine which can easily be exchanged with another one for making a different kind of noodle using a different kind of flour including a support platform on which a hopper and a rotational driving mechanism are mounted to quantitatively feeding the flour stored in the hopper to a flour kneading unit. The support platform is removably mounted on a housing of the noodle making machine by a position determining unit to enable the exchange with the position determining unit including a V-shaped groove formed at one corner of the support platform and a stationary knob disposed on the support platform at another diametrically located platform corner. The noodle making machine has a unit for transmitting the power generated by a motor to the rotational driving mechanism and a unit for setting and indicating what kind of flour is being used at present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takano
  • Patent number: 5364258
    Abstract: A rigid three-dimensional preform is made by moving a plurality of webs of fibrous reinforcement material superposed and coplanar to a cutter, the webs being coated with an electromagnetic energy-curable binder and pressed together. Prior to cutting a blank in a two-dimensional development of the three-dimensional preform from the webs, the webs are tacked together at spaced local zones by locally curing the binder at those zones by locally applying the appropriate electromagnetic radiation (microwave, ultraviolet, electron) so that the webs travel as one to the cutter. After cutting of the blank, the blank is loaded into a mold to replicate the three-dimensional shape of the preform and the remainder of the binder is cured in the mold by the application of the appropriate electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: C.A. Lawton Company
    Inventors: Daniel T. Buckley, Siegfried W. Horn
  • Patent number: 5344299
    Abstract: The present invention has a purpose to prevent leakage of resin material and disorder of cutting operation without increasing plate thickness of the cutter, thereby providing a resin material supply apparatus capable of suiting increase of resin material sheet size or higher back pressure.To this end, according to the present invention, there is provided a resin material supply apparatus and method for a resin press molding machine in which: resin material is extruded in a supply cylinder toward a die by a piston, and the molded resin material is cut by a cutter which slides along a front end surface of the die. Then, the cut resin material is supplied onto a metal mold, and new resin material is charged into the supply cylinder by pressing the cutter toward the die at a position that the cutter closes an opening of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventor: Naoki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5286185
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing various shapes of bread that includes a device for forming a continuous sheet of bread dough, a roller for winding up the sheet of bread dough traveling on a horizontal conveyor from one of its sides into a bar of bread dough, the conveyor causing the bar to fall from its downstream end, and a cutter for cutting the falling dough body into dough pieces by squeezing it with flat surfaces of the cutter, according to its preset weight or length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Tashiro, Michio Morikawa, Torahiko Hayashi, Shigeo Uesawa, Toru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5281119
    Abstract: An apparatus for the formation of a foamed polyolefin sheet provided with a cylindrical cooling device for cooling a foamed extruded tubular body at one end of an extruder, air outlets for increasing the internal pressure of the cooled foamed tubular body at a region between the extruder die and the upstream section of a cylindrical cooling device and between at least two adjacent sections of a cylindrical cooling device and a cutting blade for slitting the foamed tubular body enables the production of foamed polyolefin sheets with improved surface characteristics and strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Japan Styrene Paper Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Iwano, Kouichi Wakabayashi, Yoshihisa Ishihara
  • Patent number: 5281429
    Abstract: The apparatus and method relates to an automatic dispenser for dispensing portions of a product such as ice cream from a supply comprising a coiled tubular casing in which the ice cream is encased. The end of the casing is fed into the apparatus and, as the apparatus operates, moves through to the exit. The casing with its encased ice cream is pulled through the apparatus and pinched at uniform intervals by a first pinching mechanism following which utilizing a second pinching mechanism, the casing with its encased ice cream is further pinched to a thickness of only the casing at the same uniform intervals. The casing with the encased ice cream is then drawn past a cutting device which opens the casing so that a portion defined by sequential pinched segments is dispensed and the casing removed by a scrap spool mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: John M. Zevlakis
  • Patent number: 5246361
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel eyeplate apparatus which permits logs to be extruded in a dual extrusion process whereby the aesthetic quality of the inner and outer log faces of the extruded logs is comparable. In a preferred embodiment, the eyeplate is used in combination with upper and lower eyeplate baffles in the nosecone of a plodder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Cesare Marchesani
  • Patent number: 5238632
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a thermoforming machine in which successive sections of a thermoforming web are formed includes the steps of continuously feeding a thermoformable web of plastics material into the entry of the thermoforming machine from an exit support roll of a substantially horizontal run portion of a conveyor, the exit support roll being movable forwardly in the direction of movement of the web and rearwardly in the opposite direction so as to respectively extend and retract the length of the horizontal run portion of the conveyor with the web flow speed at which the web is deposited initially on the conveyor and with the movement of vertically opposed male and female forming tools which are part of the thermoforming machine and which are able to advance and retract horizontally respectively in and against the web movement direction and to move vertically perpendicular to their horizontal movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Hitek Limited
    Inventors: Andrew J. Watters, John L. Waite
  • Patent number: 5217724
    Abstract: An apparatus for in-line cropping and/or chamfering of a plastic tube. The apparatus includes pressure rollers for deforming a tube section and cutting devices to perform the cropping and/or chamfering operation. The control of movement of the pressure rollers and cutting devices is carried out by a combination of a face cam and a rotor disc; the face cam and rotor disc have the same diameter and may be given rotary speeds which are related to each other in any desired way. Control is carried out preferably by use of an interference box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Wavin B.V.
    Inventor: Egbert Lenters
  • Patent number: 5196223
    Abstract: The method of producing pie dough by stretching a pie dough sheet, laminating the dough sheet by alternately folding it in two opposite directions normal to its traveling direction, stretching the laminated dough sheet, and, if necessary, repeating the laminating and stretching processes. The degree of stretching in the lateral direction of the dough sheet is adjusted to be higher than that in the lengthwise direction and the staggered slits are formed in the dough sheet in the traveling direction of the sheet so that when the pie dough is thereafter baked, fillings therein can be seen through the openings of the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5173234
    Abstract: According to the invention, calibrated rings are obtained by superficially vulcanizing extruded or profiled extrudate at the exit of an extrusion head (T), then by cutting this vulcanized extrudate into portions by means of a conical cutting device (C), subsequently by butting the two ends, in the respective form of a conical tip and a funnel, of each portion (t) together under hot conditions and under a controlled pressure, in order to obtain a ring blank which is then engaged between the half-cavities of a mold (Mo), where it undergoes shaping and vulcanization by the heating of the latter and thereafter deburring as a result of a shearing action produced by a push device (D) causing the half-cavities to slide in the closed position in the frame of the mold, before causing the opening of the latter by means of a device (G) and the release of the calibrated and superficially clean ring obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Eropol Finance et Developpement
    Inventor: Blaise F. Figuereo
  • Patent number: 5158782
    Abstract: A noodle making machine includes a flour storing arrangement, a mixing arrangement to form entangled noodle base by stirring the flour fed from the flour storing arrangement together with kneading water, and a water feeding arrangement to feed kneading water to the mixing arrangement. Also, a noodle-making control arrangement is provided to control the noodle quantity for each meal by keeping constant the feed quantities of the flour and kneading water for unit time, and for changing the feed times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Hayashi, Kazuhiko Takano
  • Patent number: 5149594
    Abstract: A method for cutting a sheet of dough and delivering a cut dough portion to a surface of a pan. A cutting ring having a cutting edge is positioned on an upper surface of a pan. A sheet of dough above at least a surface of the pan is pressed against the upper cutting edge to fall onto the dough receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Lewandowski, James R. Evans, Randall D. Jessup
  • Patent number: 5142956
    Abstract: An apparatus for spacing and orienting croissant dough pieces has a dough-spacing device located at the position where the dough pieces are transferred from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor, which dough-spacing device places the dough pieces apart from one another in the feeding direction on the downstream conveyor in a staggered manner, and a reorienting device for turning the dough pieces, with one side of each dough piece at right angles to the feeding direction of the downstream conveyor. The dough pieces are thus spaced apart from one another without increasing the conveyor width. The dough pieces are also fed to a downstream rolling-up apparatus after ensuring that the relevant side of each of the dough pieces is perpendicular to the feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Ueno, Yasunori Tashiro
  • Patent number: 5110280
    Abstract: Disclosed is a synthetic resin feeding apparatus including an extruder having an extrusion plate with an extrusion opening formed therein and a cutting tool for cutting molten synthetic resin extruded from the extrusion opening. The extrusion plate is formed to have a tapered portion. The extrusion opening opens to the front end surface of the tapered portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kawaguchi, Hideki Yagishi
  • Patent number: 5084282
    Abstract: A texturing assembly for a machine for forming special brick shapes from extruded slugs of unfired material. The slugs are conveyed forward by conveyor(s) onto an elevator which lifts vertically. This lift pushes the slugs into opposing rollers. The rollers are arranged on opposing shafts spaced to produce vertical indentations in the slugs on 8-inch centers. The edges shaped by the rollers are the 4-inch long textured edges on the finished faces. At a convenient height above the rollers and on matching 8-inch centers are fixed horizontal wires. The cuts by the wires are centered in the indentations made by the opposing rollers. The cut and textured green paver brick rest on top of the slugs captive in the opposing rollers until lifted away by an automatic setting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: J.C. Steele & Sons
    Inventors: Gerald L. Stuart, Thomas M. Fisher, Charles B. Whittaker
  • Patent number: 5047192
    Abstract: Process of manufacturing a cryogenic regenerator including a plurality of channels for conducting a working fluid, including the steps of providing a cylindrical forming member having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of peripheral slots displaced axially and oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical forming member, or having a continuous spiral peripheral slot of sufficiently small pitch such that the convolutions thereof are oriented substantially parallel to such longitudinal axis; providing epoxy which is relatively flexible upon hardening, loading the epoxy with thermally conductive material for enhancing the radial thermal conductivity of the cryogenic regenerator, and applying the epoxy to the periphery of the cylindrical forming member to fill the plurality of slots or the spiral peripheral slot with the epoxy and to form a radial layer of the epoxy of a generally first radial thickness allowing the epoxy to harden and thereafter reducing the radial thickness of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: CDC Partners
    Inventors: John R. Purcell, Raymond E. Sarwinski
  • Patent number: 5040962
    Abstract: A female die part has an upwardly opening die cavity for receiving a male die plunger, a supporting surface around the cavity for a porous batt of fibrous reinforcing material overlying the cavity, and a first shearing edge defining the periphery of the opening for the cavity. Peripheral portions of the batt are clamped to the supporting surface, whereupon the die plunger presses portions of the batt into a mold formed between the male plunger and the sidewalls of the cavity to completely fill the mold. A cutter having a second shearing edge cooperates with the first shearing edge to shear peripheral portions of the batt from the portions overlying the die cavity. The shearing edges in cooperation with the die plunger seal the mold to enable injection of reactive chemicals that impregnate the porous batt within the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Douglas P. Waszeciak, Ronald R. Gamache
  • Patent number: 5030078
    Abstract: Apparatus for making food product comprising a closed outer shell and a filling is made from a coextruded body. The body advances through a reciprocating cutting head 3 driven by a reciprocating shaft 10. The shaft 10 rotates to drive, through cam means, blades within the head 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Bernard Matthews plc
    Inventors: Bernard T. Matthews, David J. Joll, David N. Wilson, John H. Barker
  • Patent number: 5022841
    Abstract: The die essentially comprises a top chain and a bottom chain entrained between horizontal parallel axis gear wheels and having corresponding sliding portions contacting one another.The top chain defines at a central position, by inner and outer links thereof, substantially dihedral structures, forming open seats therealong can slide the two portions of a sugar drop forming die.The bottom chain, in turn, defines like dihedral structures the corner portions of which are adapted to cut a sugar bead, means being moreover provided for clamping the two portions of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Inventor: Francesco Rizzi
  • Patent number: 5007819
    Abstract: A dough dispenser for donuts, donut holes, fritters and so forth has a frame and dispensing hopper with a novel quick change hopper lock, a novel piston and adjustable dispensing valve for donut holes, and a novel structure for quick change of different sets of dispensing pistons and cutter dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventor: Edward M. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4988276
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for making a cookie preform from a continuous cookie dough rope by inserting finger means into said rope in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of said rope and displacing at least selected ones of said finger means at a velocity relative to the velocity of said rope sufficient to stretch said rope to the breaking point to separate said portion from said rope, whereby said portion has at least one surface formed by said stretching action to have a coarse appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Nabisco Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerth Moeller
  • Patent number: 4978484
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for manufacturing biaxially oriented film. A tubular original film which has been extruded by an extruding die is biaxially oriented by heat and air injected to the inside portion thereof being conveyed to nip rolls each having an individual circumferential speed. The temperature of heat to be applied to the film is controlled on the basis of the detected film thickness for the purpose of obtaining a uniform film thickness distribution. Furthermore, the film can be made uniform by adjusting the outer diameter of the bubble-shaped oriented film by adjusting the distance between two sets of nip rolls on the basis of the measured width of the film. In addition, when the thus-oriented film is subjected to a heat treatment, temperature of heat is arranged to be a predetermined temperature as to prevent adhesion of the films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Takashige, Teruyuki Iwai, Hidenobu Takeichi, Yasuo Takai, Yoshinori Sasaki, Masato Masuoka, Yuichi Ohki