Including Means To Adjust Relative Position Of A Roll Patents (Class 425/367)
  • Patent number: 5945131
    Abstract: Improvements for an apparatus for continuously molding small fastener elements integral with a base web from a flowable resin. The apparatus includes a rotating cylindrical mold roll defining small fastener element-shaped mold cavities in its peripheral surface. Resin is forced into the cavities under pressure at a gap between the mold roll and either a pressure roll, a pressure nozzle, or a belt. The improvements compensate for the crowning of the mold roll under high molding pressures, enabling the molding of wider products. Other gap controls include skewing, product thickness feedback, and active roll bending. Some pressure and backup rolls have compliant surfaces for conforming to the mold roll to avoid high contact loads that can damage the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Harvey, Stephen C. Jens, Howard A. Kingsford, J. Scott Neumann, Richard M. Formato
  • Patent number: 5862743
    Abstract: A food dough apportioning device including a housing, a feeder unit (4), a cutting device (8), and a discharge unit (9). The feeder unit has a plurality of support elements which project from a front surface of the housing. The feeder unit and dispensing unit include rollers for driving conveyor belts, respectively. An adjustment unit (90) is provided for adjusting the tension of the discharge conveyor belt (91). Also, a number of rotatable shafts are keyed to rollers of a roller train. One of the shafts is arranged approximately centrally to the other shafts of the rolling train, the cutting device, and the device for moving the conveyor belt of the feeder unit. The centrally located shaft is attached by clamping the shaft between the front surface of the housing shaft and a disk by screwing on a knob on an outer end of the shaft. The disk partially covers the shafts and detains all of the rollers, as well as the cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Antonio Cimenti
  • Patent number: 5811137
    Abstract: A sheeter head having a pair of counterrotating internally-driven sheeter rollers is disclosed. The sheeting rollers each include an independent internal drive motor and gear box affixed to a nonrotating shaft, along with a nonrotating idle shaft on an opposite end of the roller. The speeds of the drive motors are controlled by an external device such as an inverter speed control. The nonrotating shafts, in conjunction with the absence of any external drive mechanism, allow for sanitary operation, easy clean-up, and a simple and efficient adjustment mechanism for varying a pinch point between the rollers. The preferred adjustment mechanism includes a fixed front roller and horizontal slide plates connected to the axles of a back roller, the slide plate having pegs which slide in associated grooves. One of the grooves is preferably wider than the other to help prevent binding during an adjustment operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Casa Herrera, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald B. Clark, Michael L. Herrera
  • Patent number: 5798064
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously forming thin-gauge flexible foam sheeting by controlling the rise of an expanding foam-forming mixture until the reaction is substantially complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: Gregory P. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5770122
    Abstract: Roll-forming apparatus and method for more precisely shaping an extruded-plastic Fresnel lens. A drive/support roller is rotatably mounted to the support frame and the surface of which engages and rotates to support the smooth outer surface of an extruded arcuate, elongated linear Fresnel lens. A tooth-forming roller is rotatably mounted to the support frame and has an external profile with tooth-forming projections formed thereon for engagement with the grooves on the inner surface of the extruded sheet, said tooth-forming roller being positioned on the inner surface of the Fresnel lens opposite the drive/support roller and being loosely mounted on the support frame to track the grooves formed in the Fresnel lens to improve the profile of the lens section by sharpening the root radius and flattening the optical face of each lens section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventor: Donald B. Curchod
  • Patent number: 5738920
    Abstract: The present invention is a plastic container coated with a multi-layer barrier coating. The multi-layer barrier coating is useful for providing an effective barrier against gas permeability in containers and for extending shelf-life of containers, especially plastic evacuated blood collection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Christopher John Knors
  • Patent number: 5733589
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for developing dough capable of developing dough uniformly and effectively. In the method for developing dough based on difference in surface velocity between a pair of upper and lower rollers disposed upstream and another pair of upper and lower rollers disposed downstream, it is characterized in that the upper roller disposed upstream moves vertically and reciprocally to beat the dough. In the apparatus for developing dough comprising a pair of upper and lower rollers disposed upstream and another pair of upper and lower rollers disposed downstream, it is characterized in that the upper roller disposed upstream is vertically movable so as to beat dough. Dough is effectively and uniformly developed without displacing the upper and lower layers so that the stress inside dough is dispersed and gas is effectively let out of dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Oshikiri Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuzuru Oki
  • Patent number: 5674543
    Abstract: An improved pinch-point gap adjustment mechanism for a dough sheeter having two counterrotating rollers, one of which is horizontally moveable, is disclosed. The pinch-point gap adjustment mechanism incorporates a lever-action arrangement to provide mechanical assistance to an operator adjusting the pinch-point gap. The lever-action incorporated by the current invention distributes input forces for pinch-point gap adjustment across the height of the moveable roller. The disclosed invention allows for smoother pinch-point gap adjustment such that binding of the slider plates is minimized. The preferred sheeter head assembly permits an operator to release the front roller from the same operator location as where adjustments to the pinch-point gap are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Casa Herrera, Inc.
    Inventor: Agustin G. Partida
  • Patent number: 5662950
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a roll bending device for forming plastic sheet wherein no bending cylinders are used and operability is improved. A roll has a shaft at its both end portions, a second roll has a shaft at its both end portions. A pair of first housings has a bearing for supporting the shaft, and is positioned at both end portions of the shaft. A pair of housings has a bearing for supporting the shaft, and is positioned at both end portions of the shaft. A pair of housings has a bearing for supporting the shaft, and is positioned at the inside of the housings. A pair of housings has a bearing for supporting the shaft, and is positioned at the inside side of the housings. A pair of main cylinders supports the housings to pressurize the roll in a direction of the roll. A pair of gap adjusting devices is provided between the housings and to adjust a gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Kusago
  • Patent number: 5597592
    Abstract: A middle sole sloping machine includes a base plate, upper and lower roll assemblies each including a first and second rolls separated from each other and an elastomeric sloping section fixedly attached to one of the rolls, a fixed mount plate and a movable mount plate extending upward from the base plate, the movable mount plate being movable relative to the fixed mount plate in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the roll assemblies, a first device for effecting relative movements between the fixed and movable mount plates along the extending direction of the roll assemblies, a second device for effecting vertical movements of the first and second rolls of the roll assemblies, a third device for rotating the roll assemblies, a controller mounted to each of the first and second devices, and a control box electrically connected to the controllers to provide an automatic control for adjustments of the rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventor: Tien-fu Yeh
  • Patent number: 5591540
    Abstract: An electrochemical charge storage device (10) includes first and second electrodes (16) (22) with first and second current collectors (18) (24) respectively attached, an electrolyte (20) disposed between the electrodes and first and second metal foils (14) (26) to separate the electrodes (16) (22) from a packaging material. The packaging material consists of multilayered first and second polymeric packaging films (12) (28) which enclose the other components of the device (10), and are sealed to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmond Louie, Veronica R. Reichert, Anaba A. Anani, Jinshan Zhang
  • Patent number: 5580583
    Abstract: A sheeter machine and process is disclosed which eliminates the use of at least one stripper wire or doctor blade wherein the dough, including masa, is worked between pinch rolls rotating at selected, infinitely varying speed ratios enabling controlled differential adhesion characteristics between the dough material being sheeted and the surfaces of the rolls. Variable cutter speed ratios acting with the front roll enable control of the cut product size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Heat and Control
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, Anthony A. Caridis, Clark K. Benson, Lawrence F. Klein, Daniel E. Brown
  • Patent number: 5547357
    Abstract: An apparatus for hot-briquetting iron sponge includes a gravity feeder which has a feed shaft and a regulating tongue which supplies material in a dosed quantity to a moulding gap of a roller press, in such a way that the apparatus can also be used for pressing hot iron sponge at temperatures of up to 1000.degree. C. for obtaining high-density briquettes of good quality. The regulating tongue is provided with a heat-reducing insulating layer and cooling system. The feed shaft and a feed hopper also may have a heat-insulation layer and a cooling system. A flow-rate control is provided for gravity feeders where bulk material or flowable material is supplied by at least one regulator through a feed shaft to a moulding gap formed between at least two rolls and is processed by the rolls. At least one of the rolls is motor-driven. The material is supplied to the moulding gap by the regulating tongue in response to a driven roll torque sensed by a torque detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Koppern GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans-Georg Bergendahl
  • Patent number: 5545426
    Abstract: Sheet products having a waved marginal portion are prepared by passing a sheet of a plastic material through and compressing the sheet between shaped circumferential rollers which are positioned and configured to provide therebetween a plurality of differing nip clearance gap distances and to compress the sheet to form an intermediate sheet portion flanked by a marginal waved flanking portion and a second flanking portion, wherein the intermediate portion has a thickness greater than the second portion which, in turn, has a thickness greater than the marginal waved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Jau Y. Hsu, Thomas S. Orzech
  • Patent number: 5542836
    Abstract: A plastic film is formed by passing a web of extruded thermoplastic material through a slit formed between a pair of smoothing rolls. One of the rolls is biased toward the other roll by a yieldable biasing mechanism to accommodate variations in thickness of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Heinz Gross
    Inventors: Heinz Gross, Michael Meier-Kaiser
  • Patent number: 5533880
    Abstract: A molding device for compacting a fiber reinforced resinous material to form an article of manufacture in which reinforcement fibers contained in the fiber reinforced resinous material are oriented as desired. The device includes a die; a roll opposed to the die; a compressing mechanism for pressing one of the die and the roll against the other of the die and the roll; and driving a mechanism for reciprocating and/or rotating one of the die and the roll relative to the resinous material. In this construction, the fiber reinforced resinous material is shaped into a predetermined configuration by compressing a number of times the fiber reinforced resinous material delivered by the pressing mechanism until the fiber reinforced resinous material is compacted to a predetermined degree of compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzo Hayakawa, Tsuneo Hirai, Tsutao Katayama
  • Patent number: 5531584
    Abstract: An automated trowelling system for providing a smooth, even finish to one or both sides of a wall. The present system smooths wet surface materials such as concrete or plaster quickly and consistently with minimum manual intervention. Horizontal brackets on the wall support a horizontally translating column and an associated vertically reciprocating trowel. A first motor propels the column and trowel laterally along the wall, while a second motor effects vertical motion. A forward scoop removes excess wall finishing material ahead of the reciprocating trowel, and a nonreciprocating finish trowel follows the reciprocating trowel to provide an enhanced finish to the wall. A processing unit enhances the ability of the system to operate with minimum manual intervention. Sensors provide input to the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Inventor: Carol Jacques
  • Patent number: 5527497
    Abstract: Optical recording mediums are prepared by extrusion molding. In the extrusion molding, a thermoplastic resin heated to a given temperature is pressed between a roll stamper and a roll opposite thereto. A gap between the roll stamper and the roll is precisely defined by belt members fixed on each side of the roll where the roll does not come into touch with the thermoplastic resin. The joints of the respective belt members are formed at positions different from each other on the periphery of the roll. Alternatively the gap may be defined by cutting the roll substrate at a part on which the stamper member is fixed, or by interposing endless belts with a given thickness between the roll stamper and the roll. The stamper member provided on the roll stamper is reduced in stress, and has a surface precision of 10 .mu.m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kanome, Hirofumi Kamitakahara, Yomishi Toshida, Tsuyoshi Santo, Hitoshi Yoshino, Toshiya Yuasa, Hiroshi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 5525049
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for deforming polymeric pipe to have a reduced diameter for insertion into new or damaged pipelines in situ. A further method for converting existing pipelines in situ to dual-containment pipelines. The apparatus includes a plurality of adjustable rollers and conveyor systems in a portable unit which accommodates variable pipe specifications. As a polymeric pipe is conveyed through the apparatus, a deforming means applies a gradually increasing pressure along the length of the pipe to collapse the pipe and form a longitudinal depression therein while preventing rotation of the pipe. The deformed pipe exits the apparatus after being shaped into a cylindrical form with a reduced diameter. When lining pipe, the deformed pipe is inserted into an existing pipeline and returned to its original cylindrical form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Stephen Paletta
  • Patent number: 5505605
    Abstract: A middle sole sloping machine includes a base plate, upper and lower rolls each including first and second roll sections, a fixed mount plate and a movable mount plate extending upward from the base plate, the movable mount plate being movable relative to the fixed mount plate in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the upper and lower rolls, a device for effecting relative movements between the fixed and movable mount plates along the extending direction of the upper and lower rolls, a second device for effecting vertical movements of the first and second roll sections of the upper and lower rolls, a third device for rotating the upper and lower rolls, a controller mounted to each of the first and second devices, and a control box electrically connected to the controllers to provide an automatic control for adjustments of the roll sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Inventor: Tien-fu Yeh
  • Patent number: 5499912
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for marring the surface of a fiber optic substrate by feeding the substrate between a pair of rotating rollers. One of the rollers is coated with an abrasive. The second roller may be hard or have a deformable cover. Alternatively, one or both rollers may be serrated to produce a ripple pattern in the substrate. A hydraulic, pneumatic or other device is used for either manually and/or automatically adjusting the gap between the rollers. One or both rollers may also be heated to further enhance the marring action. A cam mechanism may also be used to adjust the pressure in the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Poly-Optical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: George A. Mezei
  • Patent number: 5496578
    Abstract: A method of producing a stress free sheet of dough having uniform height and width can be economically and conveniently used with a batch dough system. Individual dough batches are deposited into a retention hopper from which equal volumetric dough portions are sectioned by a pair of oppositely rotating co-acting cutters. Each cutter includes a number of blades which cooperate with corresponding blades on the opposing cutter to section the dough into portions. The dough portions are deposited onto an inclined conveyor positioned below the hopper so that a leading end of each dough portion overlaps a trailing end of the previous dough portion. A photo-electric detection device ascertains the trailing end of the previous dough portion and signals the cutters to section the next successive dough portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Rykaart, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernardus W. Muller, Timothy Mauro-Vetter
  • Patent number: 5496570
    Abstract: A spreader for glue-coated particles for the production of particleboard in a steel belt continuous press has a clump breaker with at least two disintegrating rollers which are provided with peripheral rows of equispaced teeth equispaced axially along each roller. The rows of teeth of the two rollers interdigitate to form a gap of meandering shape of a gap width determining the disintegrating resolution of the clump breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Siempelkamp GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Dieter Mauss, Ju/ rgen Pesch, Friedhelm Schlu/ pen
  • Patent number: 5466403
    Abstract: Apparatus for extruding and cooling a polymeric sheet incorporating an extruder connected to feed polymer through a rigid conduit and to and through a sheet die, and a roll stack including a plurality of cooling rolls having nips arranged adjacent the sheet die to continuously receive and cool polymeric sheet emanating from said die. Polymeric sheet feed control apparatus for tilting the stack to arrange the roll nips at various angles between and including the vertical and the horizontal, a pair of spaced-apart swivels positioned between the extruder and the sheet die, one swivel being connected to permit independent swinging movement of the sheet die up and down, and another swivel being connected to permit independent tilting movement of the sheet die angularly up and down to relate the tilt of the sheet die to the tilt of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Welex Incorporated
    Inventor: Frank R. Nissel
  • Patent number: 5456871
    Abstract: The roll gap control system for a calender having first and second rolls (18, 19) rolling a raw material (B) includes a load measuring unit (11) for detecting a rolling load change between the first and second rolls (18, 19), a roll shaft position adjusting device (41) for increasing/decreasing a roll gap and a controller (46) for computing a roll gap change (.DELTA.h) based on the rolling load change (.DELTA.P) and for activating the roll shaft position adjusting device (41) to compensate for the roll gap change (.DELTA.h). A spring constant (k) of first and second rolls (18, 19) and mechanical members (24, 25, 28) supporting these rolls of the calender is calculated, and the rolling load change (.DELTA.P) is divided by the spring constant (k). The quotient (.DELTA.P/k) is the roll gap change (.DELTA.h).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co.
    Inventors: Eiichi Harada, Masaaki Urakawa, Teruyuki Urushibara, Katsu Tsukii
  • Patent number: 5453239
    Abstract: A method and charging apparatus for feeding successively individual strips of a deformable material to a calender for calendering under pressure between at least two rotatably driven calender rolls. The strips are produced from a strand of an elongated mass of deformable material provided from an extruder or rolling mill which is then cut into individual strips transported to a roller conveyor which positions them in a common plane successively at a selected or determined position extending transversely of the roller conveyor rollers in a direction parallel to the length direction of the calender rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Paul Troester Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Gerald Fromm
  • Patent number: 5451358
    Abstract: Process for producing a thermobonding product by extruding a thermofusible mass (1) and scraping it in molten state onto an incised cylinder (2) regulated as to temperature between about 120.degree. C. and 250.degree. C., calendaring the mass (1) with this cylinder (2) and an elastomeric silicone cylinder (3), while transferring it onto the elastomeric cylinder (3), which simultaneously effects a consolidation of the product (1) by cooling. The product is then transferred either onto a conveyor band (4) and brought by the conveyor, after passage through thermal treatment zones (5), to a roll winding-up station (6), or directly, in the form of continuous or discontinuous structure, onto a final utilization or transfer support (17). The invention is particularly applicable in the field of the textile industry, particularly for bonding or reinforcing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Protechnic S.A.
    Inventors: Jean Meyer, Pascal Strub
  • Patent number: 5443379
    Abstract: Sheet products having a waved marginal portion are prepared by passing a sheet of a plastic material through and compressing the sheet between shaped circumferential rollers which are positioned and configured to provide therebetween a plurality of differing nip clearance gap distances and to compress the sheet to form an intermediate sheet portion flanked by a marginal waved flanking portion and a second flanking portion, wherein the intermediate portion has a thickness greater than the second portion which, in turn, has a thickness greater than the marginal waved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Jau Y. Hsu, Thomas S. Orzech
  • Patent number: 5433897
    Abstract: A method for preparing a substrate sheet for an optical recording medium has the steps of controlling a roll stamper having a preformat pattern on the peripheral surface thereof and a molding roll disposed with a predetermined gap between the same and the roll stamper so that they have a predetermined temperature, feeding a thermoplastic resin heated to a predetermined temperature to the gap from a means for extruding the thermoplastic resin disposed on the upstream side of the gap, while the roll stamper and the molding roll are rotated at a predetermined rotational frequency, and then molding the thermoplastic resin into a sheet by pressing the resin between the roll stamper and the molding roll to transfer the preformat pattern to the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kanome, Hirofumi Kamitakahara, Naoki Kushida, Hitoshi Yoshino, Toshiya Yuasa, Takashi Kai
  • Patent number: 5433817
    Abstract: The ply-bonding device for paper converting machines comprises a support 1,5 to which a movable unit 15 is pivoted. The movable unit is provided with a pressure wheel 19 which cooperates with a counter-roller 2, and a pressure means 31 which forces said wheel 19 against the counter-roller 2. The wheel 19 is resiliently supported on movable unit 15 and, during operation the position of the unit is defined by an abutment 37 on the support 1,5. (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Fabio Perini S.p.A.
    Inventor: Guglielmo Biagiotti
  • Patent number: 5427515
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a stress free sheet of dough having uniform height and width can be economically and conveniently used with a batch dough system. Individual dough batches are deposited into a retention hopper from which equal volumetric dough portions are sectioned by a pair of oppositely rotating co-acting cutters. Each cutter includes a number of blades which cooperate with corresponding blades on the opposing cutter to section the dough into portions. The dough portions are deposited onto an inclined conveyor positioned below the hopper so that a leading end of each dough portion overlaps a trailing end of the previous dough portion. A photo-electric detection device ascertains the trailing end of the previous dough portion and signals the cutters to section the next successive dough portion. The overlapping dough portions are then formed into a dough sheet having uniform height and width by a pressing roller and a combination of side guide wedges and side pressing rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Rykaart, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernardus W. Muller, Chris Loechtenfeldt, Timothy Mauro-Vetter
  • Patent number: 5415538
    Abstract: A porous film manufacturing apparatus is disclosed, which can continuously and uniformly form a large number of uniform through pores or blind pores, each having a size arbitrarily selected in the range of sub-.mu.m to several tens .mu.m, in an elongated film made of various types of materials, such as polymeric materials and metals, at a high density (e.g., 5,000 to 200,000 per cm.sup.2), without almost any deterioration in essential characteristics of the film materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Seiji Kagawa
    Inventor: Seiji Kagawa
  • Patent number: 5411390
    Abstract: A machine for producing configurated products including a rotary die roll having die cavities therein and a pair of feed rollers for feeding viscous product into the die cavities. The feed rollers may be easily moved away from the die roll and the die roll may be rolled out of the machine to allow replacement thereof. Relief members extend from a backing knife between adjacent die cavities of each row as the die roll rotates. These pressure relief pads reduce the amount of product contained in the pressure chamber and thereby reduce the amount of working of the material as it is forced into the die cavities. The machine includes a front shearing knife having removable and replaceable shearing inserts. The feed rolls of the machine include longitudinally extending tapered recesses with opposed recesses of the respective feed rolls being staggered at the inlet of the pressure chamber to cause particulates within the feed product to be more easily fed into the pressure chamber with less resulting damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: Rudolph J. Fay
  • Patent number: 5397526
    Abstract: Apparatus for reconfiguring at least three finishing rolls in a plastic sheet fabricating sheetline includes a base, a pair of spaced upright support structures, and pairs of first and second spaced support assemblies. The upright support structures are mounted on the base and support a center one of the rolls in a stationary position therebetween and for rotation about a first axis. The first support assemblies support a first outer one of the rolls therebetween for rotation about a second axis and are mounted to the support structures for permitting angularly adjustable movement of the first outer roll relative to the center roll about the first axis to reconfigure the angular position of the first outer roll relative to the center roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: HPM Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Perkins, Charles C. Treisch, Jr., Howard E. Radel, William N. Calland
  • Patent number: 5395575
    Abstract: Production line and method for manufacturing strips of foil stabilized plastics moldings featuring a rotary reform machine that has a pair of reform wheels that are rotatably driven to profile the extrudate while matching the output speed of extrudate exiting from the extrusion die of a plastics extruder. The wheels have equal diameters and are motor driven at the same angular velocity so that forming dies in the wheels synchronize and cooperate to pressure mold spaced sections of the extrudate feeding therethrough to form high quality end corners with an offal section therebetween. A haul-off pulls the strip from the extruder die, the rotary reform machine, a water trough and flash trimmer and into a cutter where the offal is removed. The strip is maintained under a predetermined tension load by use of an adjustable friction brake on the stabilizer foil so that the heated plastics exiting the extruder will be uniform in initial profile, providing high quality extrudate feeding into the reforming wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Stribbell, Donald L. Franck
  • Patent number: 5364257
    Abstract: A middle sole sloping machine includes a base plate, upper and lower rolls each including first and second roll sections and a flexible sloping section which connects the first and second roll sections, a fixed mount plate and a movable mount plate extending upward from the base plate, the movable mount plate being movable relative to the fixed mount plate in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the upper and lower rolls, a device for effecting relative movements between the fixed and movable mount plates along the extending direction of the upper and lower rolls, a second device for effecting vertical movements of the first and second roll sections of the upper and lower rolls, and a third device for rotating the upper and lower rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Ten F. Yeh
  • Patent number: 5352110
    Abstract: A molding device for compacting a fiber reinforced resinous material to form an article of manufacture in which reinforcement fibers contained in the fiber reinforced resinous material are oriented as desired. The device includes a die; a roll opposed to the die; a compressing mechanism for pressing one of the die and the roll against the other of the die and the roll; and a driving mechanism for reciprocating and/or rotating one of the die and the roll relative to the resinous material. In this construction, the fiber reinforced resinous material is shaped into a predetermined configuration by compressing a number of times the fiber reinforced resinous material delivered by the pressing mechanism until the fiber reinforced resinous material is compacted to a predetermined degree of compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzo Hayakawa, Tsuneo Hirai, Tsutao Katayama
  • Patent number: 5352108
    Abstract: This invention provides a porous film useful as a fresh fruit and vegetable wrapping material which is obtained by forming a large number of small recesses in an organic film and which does not allow permeation of water, bacteria, and viruses, but allows permeation of a gas, e.g., the oxygen gas or the carbon dioxide gas, and water vapor. The porous film includes the organic film and the large number of recesses formed in the organic film and having an average opening width of 0.5 .mu.m to 300 .mu.m and inner surfaces exhibiting affinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignees: Norito Sudo, Seiji Kagawa
    Inventors: Seiji Kagawa, Yoichiro Kagawa
  • Patent number: 5348459
    Abstract: A portable device for straightening out pipes including a hollow beam provided at its two ends with first and second movable bearing members, respectively, one of which or first movable bearing member is actuated by a jack housed within the hollow beam whereas a grip for handling the device is transversely and adjustably mounted on the beam between the first and second movable bearing members and carries a third movable bearing member, the device being applicable in particular for straightening out polyethylene tubes to be assembled end to end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignees: Societe Joseph Sauron Materiel Industriel, Gaz de France
    Inventors: Jean Sauron, Jean-Jacques Thomas
  • Patent number: 5336076
    Abstract: An apparatus (79) for setting the nip gap between first and second rollers (30, 32) includes nip control blocks (83) movably mounted adjacent the front edges (150) of the end plates (151a, 151b) between which one of the rollers (32) is journaled. In the preferred form, each of the control blocks (83) are threadably received on a shaft (138) and include a slide surface (142) which slides on a shoe (134) mounted on the end plates (151a, 151b) and include an opposite, abutment surface (144) at a minor acute angle to the slide surface (142) and the movement direction of the control blocks (83). Contact surfaces (164) are articulately mounted to the end plates (51a, 51b) between which the other of the rollers (30) is journaled. In the preferred form, the contact surfaces (164) are formed on a thrust knuckle (160) having a semi-spherical surface (162) slideably received in a semi-spherical depression (156) of a thrust socket (154) secured in a recess (146) in the front edges (150) of the end plates (51a, 51b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Waldherr, Michael L. Johnston, James N. Weinstein, Thomas G. Cremers
  • Patent number: 5333544
    Abstract: A platform at one side of a battery of rolls in a calender can be moved up or down when the rolls are not driven or when a breastwork at the parapet of the platform is moved to a raised position so that an operator standing on the bottom wall of the platform cannot reach a nip of the rolls while the rolls are driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Sulzer Papertec Krefeld GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Rolf Conrad
  • Patent number: 5330344
    Abstract: An apparatus for flattening and, if desired, rolling of portioned dough pieces has a head machine that delivers dough pieces to conveyor belts by which the dough pieces are conveyed to a first endless running belt. This belt constitutes the support for a flattening station that flattens the dough pieces. By this first endless running belt the dough pieces are conveyed to a further endless running belt disposed below the first band said second band conveying the dough pieces back again towards the head machine. Thereby the overall length of the apparatus is shortened. The two belts constitute a further processing station for the dough pieces. If the two belts run with the same speed, the dough pieces are further flattened or, if the two belts show different speeds, the dough pieces are rolled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventor: Helmut Konig
  • Patent number: 5318430
    Abstract: A calender for producing packing sheets, in particular packing sheets reinforced with synthetic fiber, has a large diameter heated cylinder, on which a packing sheet is formed and vulcanized, rotatably supported by spaced calender stands and driven by a direct current motor. An unheated cylinder of smaller diameter also driven by a direct current motor, is supported by the calender stands for rotation and for movement toward and away from the heated cylinder and is hydraulically pressed toward the heated cylinder as a pressure roller. The circumferential speed of each of the cylinders is sensed by a pick-up activated by uniformly spaced marks on the circumference of the cylinder and the thickness of the packing sheet on the heated cylinder is sensed by sensing the position of the shaft of the pressure roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Paul Troester Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Hans F. Ramm
  • Patent number: 5312569
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for marring the surface of a fiber optic substrate by feeding the substrate between a pair of rotating rollers. One of the rollers is coated with an abrasive. The second roller may be hard or have a deformable cover. Alternatively, one or both rollers may be serrated to produce a ripple pattern in the substrate. A hydraulic, pneumatic or other device is used for either manually and/or automatically adjusting the gap between the rollers. One or both rollers may also be heated to further enhance the marring action. A cam mechanism may also be used to adjust the pressure in the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Poly-Optical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: George A. Mezei
  • Patent number: 5312570
    Abstract: A system and method for preparing an abraded fiber optic ribbon are provided. This system uses a flat abrasion panel containing a design, such as a company logo, and contacting it directly with a fiber optic ribbon, pressing devices to feed and press the panel and the fiber optic ribbon against each other as the design is being processed onto the fiber optic ribbon, and adjustable speed and differential pressure devices are used to drive the pressing devices. In addition, at least one of the pressing devices may be heated to enhance the processing of the pattern onto the fiber optic ribbon. Particularly, the pressing includes a first roller and a second roller defining a nip through which the panel and the fiber optic ribbon are being fed and pressed against each other. Alternatively, the pressing includes a first plate and a second plate defining a pressing zone in which the panel and the fiber optic ribbon are being fed and pressed against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Poly-Optical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger F. Halter
  • Patent number: 5295803
    Abstract: A device for controlling the thickness of a sheet in calendering includes a thickness measuring unit for measuring the thickness of the sheet immediately after it has been formed by a pair of calender rolls, and a roll adjusting unit for moving at least one of the pair of calender rolls toward and away from the other calender roll. The device further includes a detection unit for detecting change in distance between the axes of the pair of calender rolls, and a control device for comparing the measured thickness of the sheet with a target thickness to obtain a difference therebetween. The control device then calculates a gap adjusting value on the basis of the difference, and compares the change in distance between the axes of the rolls detected by the detection unit with the calculated gap adjusting value. When these values become equal, the control device stops the movement of the one calender roll to make the thickness of the sheet equal to the target thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Ogawa, Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5284670
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stretching dough is provided, by which bread dough or confectionery dough is continuously and smoothly stretched by linearly reciprocating a roller over the surface of the part of the dough that is continuously conveyed by a downstream conveyor of a pair of conveyors, one a downstream conveyor and other an upstream conveyor, while the roller rolls on the dough, without destroying the gluten tissue of the dough, and while determining the conveying speed of the upstream conveyor in response to the change of the thickness of the dough to be stretched, thereby obtaining, in one operation, a desired and uniform dough thickness from the continuously supplied dough material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Torahiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5268187
    Abstract: Apparatus for production of 0.1-3 mm uniformly thick farinaceous dough sheets, comprising rollers (52, 53, 54), wedge-like sealer (56), inlet (55) and outlet (58). Positive hydrostatic pressure is maintained by adjusting the gap between adjacent rollers and/or the rotational speed of the rollers. For production of 2 sheets of dough simultaneously, a pair of rollers with a wedge-like sealer between them may be put adjacent and below rollers (52, 53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: M. J. Quinlan & Associates Pty Limited
    Inventor: Michael J. Quinlan
  • Patent number: 5263840
    Abstract: A calender for surface treatment of material webs, wherein in the event of one sided seizure of an intermediate roller the fixed roller not subject to pressure is adjusted in position at one end such that the asymmetrical linear force profile resulting from the seizure is symmetrically adjusted according to the desired condition in order to optimise processing of the material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Sulzer-Escher Wyss GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Heitmann, Karl Volz
  • Patent number: 5262101
    Abstract: A plastic material, controlled at a desired temperature, is fed on an upstream side of a gap between a pair of rotating forming rolls arrayed almost in parallel and controlled at a desired temperature from a device for feeding the plastic material. The plastic material is pressed and formed into a sheet by the forming rolls therebetween while forming a bank or an accumulation of the plastic material on an upstream side of the gap of the forming rolls and is carried out on a downstream side of the gap. The bank quantity monitoring is performed by measuring a temperature of the sheet carried out through the gap of the forming rolls and estimating the quantity of the bank in accordance with measured temperature information. The sheet formation is performed by measuring a temperature of the sheet carried out through the gap of the forming rolls and controlling various forming conditions according to a measured temperature information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Yagi, Toshihiko Kusago