Coacting Shaping Surfaces (e.g., Pressure Surfaces, Etc.) Patents (Class 425/394)
  • Patent number: 5820896
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for manufacturing a lampshade from a heat-deformable sheet material. The apparatus includes a first supporting assembly for supporting a hollow body formed from the heat-deformable sheet material, the hollow body having upper and lower peripheral edges. A second supporting assembly is provided for releasably supporting a forming and stiffening ring in peripheral engagement with an interior surface of the hollow body adjacent a peripheral edge of the hollow body so that a marginal edge portion of the hollow body projects beyond the forming and stiffening ring. The second supporting assembly is located adjacent the first supporting assembly and includes a retractable supporting assembly for engaging an underside and an upper side of the forming and stiffening ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Welwyn Lighting Designs Limited
    Inventors: Jeremy David Wheatley, Andrew Carl Diamond, Nicholas Sten Elliott
  • Patent number: 5814185
    Abstract: A twin sheet thermoformer apparatus using hydraulic cylinders to draw the upper and lower platens together for uniform seam forming of the part. A flow divider insures uniform travel of each hydraulic cylinder. An adjustment mechanism enables simultaneous adjustment of the position of four locking shafts on one platen coupled to form locking shafts on the other platen preparatory to operation of the hydraulic cylinders. The adjustment mechanism includes nut members each threaded onto a locking shaft with a recirculating chain engaged with a sprocket on each nut member. Driving the chain enables simultaneous adjustment of each shaft to allow the platen positions to be quickly and accurately adjusted. An encoder generates signals corresponding to the lower platen travel caused by operation of the hydraulic cylinders, which are transmitted to the lower platen drive servo motor to drive the lower platen correspondingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Kvaerner U.S. Inc.
    Inventors: Victor L. Chun, Stephen E. Keeley, James H. Kundinger
  • Patent number: 5788909
    Abstract: An apparatus for consolidating a workpiece includes an oven having a heating cavity and a consolidation press received within the heating cavity of the oven. The consolidation press includes a base, a pressure platen disposed in facing relation to the base, and an expandable bellows operatively connected to the pressure platen to force the pressure platen toward the base. The bellows is expanded by a gas pressure supplied by a pneumatic source. In operation, a workpiece is placed between the base and the platen, and a force is applied to the workpiece by operation of the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Robert William Kreutzer, Bryan Imber
  • Patent number: 5780074
    Abstract: A method of shaping a layer of settable material such as honeycomb core (24) including placing the core on a flexible support (38); translating the flexible support (38) and core into an oven (28); heating the core to a desired forming temperature in the oven; translating the flexible support (38) and core (24) horizontally from the oven into a forming area (26); lowering a contoured upper die (32) onto the core (24); tensioning the flexible support (38); pressing the core between the tensioned flexible support and the upper die so that the core (24) is forced to conform to the shape of the die (32); cooling the core to set temperature; and raising the die (32) to remove the finished shaped core, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bradley J. Blonigen, William T. Ross
  • Patent number: 5779965
    Abstract: The crispness or clarity of embossed tissue is improved by embossing the tissue twice in two successive embossing nips formed between a rigid engraved embossing roll and a resilient backing roll. The hardness of the resilient backing roll in the first embossing nip is less than the hardness of the resilient backing roll in the second embossing nip. This form of double nip embossing is particularly effective for embossing tissue webs having high bulk and resiliency, such as soft uncreped throughdried tissues, which cannot be satisfactorily embossed by conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Douglas Beuther, Tammy Lynn Baum, Anthony Mark Gambaro, David Robert Gruber, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay
  • Patent number: 5762974
    Abstract: A plate for press-moulding dies of refractory bricks and the like, including a bearing metal slab to one face of which a lining of high wear-resistant material, normally hard metal, is applied, which is formed by a number of adjacent tiles arranged in an orderly way along parallel lines. The adjoining sides between adjacent tiles are at least in part curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: TCA International S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Bisio, Fabrizio Bisio, Roberto Bisio
  • Patent number: 5714179
    Abstract: A tooling concept having a compliant forming surface for forming composite parts. The tooling concept utilizes a rigid support substructure that has a thin compliant forming surface. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tooling concept is used to form a composite sine wave spar. A preferred embodiment of the tooling concept includes upper and lower tool inserts and side tool inserts. The upper tool insert has a compliant forming surface that is located in between a rigid support substructure and the composite material used to form the composite part. Composite prepreg is laid up over a sine wave contour on the upper and lower tool inserts to form upper and lower U-shaped composite workpieces. The upper and lower tool inserts and workpieces are then brought together to form a sine wave I-beam. Radius fillers are then applied to the intersections between the upper and lower composite workpieces and cap strips are placed over the flanges of the joined composite workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harold M. Goodridge, Kirk D. Skaggs
  • Patent number: 5711972
    Abstract: Apparatus for compressing mats of lignocellulose-containing material into board material is disclosed including a rotary compression roll having a perforated shell on its surface with axial ducts disposed within the rotary compression roll adjacent to that surface and a shoe adjacent to one end of the rotary compression roll in which the shoe includes a channel for injecting a processing medium into at least one of the axial ducts so that the processing medium is directed onto the mat in a processing section during compression of the mat by the rotary compression roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Sunds Defibrator Industries AB
    Inventors: Kurt Schedin, Vincent Pihlstrom, Fredrik Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5702733
    Abstract: A press working machine includes base members having concave portions, slider members arranged in the concave portions, link arms attached to first ends of the slider members respectively, and cylinders attached to the arms, for bending and extending the same. Furthermore, press members having curved mold-facing surfaces are arranged on the slider members. Molds having deformable structures are arranged on the press members. A workpiece is inserted between the molds, to be press-worked. The slider members are actuatable to press the press members against the molds, so as to deform the molds into different mold shapes. Thus, it is possible to press-mold workpieces into a plurality of shapes with a single mold assembly, thereby reducing the cost for manufacturing the mold assembly, omitting an operation of exchanging the mold assembly, and reducing the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Enami Seiki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Enami
  • Patent number: 5698239
    Abstract: A heating mechanism for zipper forming machines includes a mold base, a support seat, a seat cover, a screw sleeve and a heating element. The support seat has a clearance at a central portion and a heat insulation pad is fitted into the clearance for dividing the support seat into a heating area and a cooling area. The heating element is disposed in the heating area and a cooling element is disposed at the cooling area for enhancing heat energy efficiencies and reducing noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Chung Shan Institute of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Ray-Long Tsai, Joseph Wu
  • Patent number: 5670188
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing single-sided knurls on a web or substrate without heat. The apparatus includes a conventional knurling wheel and a knurling wheel having its points ground down. A nip is formed by these two wheels and an edge of the web is passed through the nip. The resulting knurl has raised features on only one side of the web. The knurls are thinner than conventional two sided knurls and minimize fluting to the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Daniel R. May, Kevin A. Cole, Sharon A. Guzman, John J. Zeller
  • Patent number: 5662948
    Abstract: A molding tool is provided that has a cavity half and a core half for molding a workpiece. The molding tool has a male trimpiece that is attached to the cavity half of the molding tool via a plurality of securing devices for removal of the male trimpiece when worn. A female trimpiece is attached to the core half of the molding tool via a plurality of securing devices for removal of the female trimpiece when worn. An adjustable stop plate is also provided that is attached to the core half of the molding tool via a plurality of securing devices. The stop plate is disposed around, and is adjacent to, the female trimpiece. The stop plate is vertically adjustable to provide for varying thickness of the workpiece. A trimline retention reservoir is also disposed in the core half of the molding tool between the female trimpiece and the stop plate for receiving the male trimpiece when the molding tool is in the closed position. The thicknesses of each trimpiece can be varied so as to change the size of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Roy H. Sjoberg
  • Patent number: 5648107
    Abstract: A porous film manufacturing apparatus regularly forms a large number of non-through pores with a fine opening width of sub-.mu.m to several tens .mu.m at a high density in elongated films made of various materials, with almost no deterioration in the essential characteristics of the film materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Seiji Kagawa
    Inventors: Seiji Kagawa, Yoichiro Kagawa
  • Patent number: 5614231
    Abstract: A die set for molding a building product with a convex corner formed at the intersection of two surfaces slanting downward from a convex corner includes a back-side die with a push that includes a triangular surface extending to an apex above and inwardly of the intersection of the lines forming the edges of the corner. The push also includes two other quadrilateral surfaces that extend outwardly of the intersection of the lines that form the lower edges of the slanting surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Masonite Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Rinker
  • Patent number: 5599565
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for press forming a sheet blank (5) of the type including a die formed by a pad (2) composed of an elastic material disposed in a retaining box (1), a lower blank holder (3) which rests on the upper part of the box (1) and on which the sheet blank (5) rests, structure for preforming the sheet blank (5) constituted by an outer slide (6) carrying an upper blank holder (6a), structure for forming the sheet blank (5) constituted by a central slide acting on a plunger (7) and, in the region of heating zones of the elastic pad (2), structure (20) for regulating the temperature of the elastic pad (2) in the course of the press forming of the sheet blank (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sollac
    Inventor: Michel Dittlo
  • Patent number: 5593700
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for folding edge sections of molded parts, blanks, or covers provided for them of leather, artificial leather, plastic, or the like, having a sizing plate provided with a cut-out, into which is inserted a pressure plate, the dimensions of the cut-out in the sizing plate corresponding to those of the finished molded part or blank or of a part of it, having a folding plate, on whose side facing the sizing plate, edges are formed for folding over the edge sections of the molded part, blank or cover, and having a base die for accommodating the sizing plate and the pressure plate, the pressure plate inserted into the cut-out of the sizing plate preferably being flexibly supported on the base tool and being vertically movable with respect to the sizing plate and the base die, and the folding plate being retained on a fixing plate, which is vertically movable, for example pneumatically or hydraulically, so as to allow the folding plate to be set down on the sizing plate, as well
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: G unter Stilgenbauer
  • Patent number: 5589043
    Abstract: A two-part reusable mask to protect objects to be plated. The mask can be used for painting, chemical treatment or other treatments. By adjusting the shape of the mask, any object can be plated. In the case of coins or medallions, a two sided mask is formed. For use with coins, the coin is laid on a piece of glass. A dam is formed around the coin. A quantity of ultraviolet-sensitive liquid polymer is poured on and around the coin. The dam is covered with another piece of glass and the mold is clamped and cured. The mold is removed and an exact copy of the coin is left in the rubber. The rubber mask is then placed on a hard surface and the areas to be plated are cut out. After the mask is cut out, it is placed back over the coin and aligned. A piece of clear, hard plastic is bonded to the rubber using a clear adhesive. After the glue is cured, the plastic is cut out to match the corresponding pattern cut in the rubber. The mask is then ready to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventor: James P. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5573789
    Abstract: An apparatus with pivoting blades and closable surfaces for forming a sheet of material into a flower pot or flower pot cover having fins. In an embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, the apparatus includes a male mold and a plurality of plates arranged in pairs to define a forming opening. The male mold has a plurality of fingers which are laterally extendable from the outer periphery of the male mold. A pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder is provided to move the male mold between a storage position spaced from the forming opening and a forming position within the forming opening. Each pair of plates is movable between an open position and a closed position. In operation, the fingers are extended to push folded portions of a sheet of material between the pairs of plates, which are closed to press the folded portions into fins. In an alternate embodiment for forming outwardly extending fins, pairs of movable plates are positioned between stationary segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Franklin J. Craig, Joseph G. Straeter
  • Patent number: 5529480
    Abstract: A portable version of a honeycomb core forming restricter (20) for forming and shaping a workpiece made of stiff honeycomb core material, the apparatus (20) to be used in combination with a press including a male die (70) and a female die (72), the apparatus (20) including: (a) a base plate (62); (b) four support tower assemblies (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) supported by the base plate (62); (c) two shafts (22a, 22b) supported by the support tower assemblies (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d), the shafts (2a, 22b) being arranged in a generally parallel relationship to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the female die 72; (d) a carrier sheet (74) for supporting the workpiece, the carrier sheet (74) being attached to the two shafts (22a, 22b); (e) four air motors (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) for applying rotational torque to the shafts ( 22a, 22b); and (f) the support tower assemblies including a double acting air cylinder (36a) for moving the shaft (22a) in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the female
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William T. Ross, Bradley J. Blonigen
  • Patent number: 5520529
    Abstract: A shapeable and re-shapeable material for orthopedic devices is formed of an amorphous, thermoplastic forming a matrix layer, for example of PMMA which is polymerized at room temperature, and of reinforcing fibers inserted therein. It is possible to provide several matrix layers, bonded in a laminate-like manner, respectively provided with fibers. The material can be deformed in the course of producing orthopedic devices and can be re-deformed in the course of using the device by being respectively heated to less than 200.degree. C. A mixture of the reaction components of the plastic material is placed in a mold for producing the shapeable material, the fibers are placed on it and the polymerizing plastic material is compacted. Additional mixture and additional fibers can be added during the polymerization of the first matrix layer in the same manner to form further layers of the laminate-like shapeable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Carbontec GmbH, Gesellschaft zur Anwendung von Faserverbundwerkstoffen
    Inventor: Gerd Heckel
  • Patent number: 5498149
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for thermoforming a pouring spout from a sheet of thermoplastic material. The device includes a forming tool for engaging a first side of the thermoplastic sheet and a tube for advancing an outer closure portion or a screw cap to a second side of the thermoplastic sheet. A spacer ring of resiliently yieldable material is positioned on the advancement tube. A neck of the pouring spout is created between and upper side of the package and the outer closure portion or screw cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Jorgen Bengtsson
  • Patent number: 5484276
    Abstract: An apparatus for curing a sheet molding compound which comprises at least one pair of molds disposed along a path of transport of the sheet molding compound. The molds defines a cavity therebetween for passage of the sheet molding compound, which has been generally semi- cured and shaped by a shaping apparatus to a predetermined shape, to heat the generally semi-cured sheet molding compound. At least one of the molds is in the form of a movable mold effective to vary a cross-sectional shape of the cavity to follow a thermal expansion and shrinkage which take place in the sheet molding compound during a curing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzo Hayakawa, Masahiro Hakotani
  • Patent number: 5480605
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing leather coin pouches. The method provides for wetting a leather assembly comprising a substantially flat, flexible leather cover laminated to a substantially flat, more rigid centerpiece, to soften the leather which facilitates the eventual forming of the leather. The method further comprises creasing the leather in a creasing die. After a preforming step designed to foldedly bias the leather assembly toward forming as desired, the leather assembly is formed into a foldedly raised leather assembly with an overlapping flap spiral closure. Finally, while its formed shape is retained, the leather assembly is dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Amity Leather Products Company
    Inventors: Peter L. Skaalen, Jr., Thomas W. Papez, Roy A. Scheunemann
  • Patent number: 5474437
    Abstract: A lower metallic die has a major surface for supporting a workpiece thereon. A ridgeline is formed on an end portion of the major surface and with which a bending portion of the workpiece is brought into contact. An upper metallic die has a plane surface rotatable in a bending direction of the workpiece to clamp the workpiece together with the ridgeline of the lower metallic die, thereby freely bending the workpiece at one angle of desired various angles. A rotation controller controls rotation of the plane surface of the upper metallic die, thereby rotating and positioning the plane surface at a position of the one angle of the desired various angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Anritsu Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Kuroyone
  • Patent number: 5472654
    Abstract: A manually operable device that is used to cut a synthetic material and also singe the end of this newly cut material to prevent it from unravelling. This tool incorporates a separate crimping assembly, cutting assembly, and burning assembly for each of these steps. The crimping assembly holds the material in place during the cutting and burning stages and also aids in fusing the melted ends of the material into a uniform mass. The cutting assembly cuts the material where desired, trims any stray fibers from the cut and/or fused end, and also removes any excess burn from this fused end. The burning assembly, connected to a reservoir, burns a flammable fluid so as to burn or singe the material placed thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Margaret A. Crawford
  • Patent number: 5469779
    Abstract: The present invention is an automatic pizza dough press device for forming uncooked pizza pie from fresh dough. It includes a main housing frame; a base tray located within the frame and mounted therein to be at least partially slidable therefrom and is adapted for interchangeable and reversible bottom molds; an upper encasement on the frame; controls, a pump, motor and a hydraulic piston and cylinder connected to the upper encasement, the controls being at least two separate disparate controls and being connected to the motor, the motor and pump being hydraulically connected to the piston so as to move the piston downward and upward, and the piston being generally biased in an upward position; and, a top press mold connected to the piston for reciprocal movement therewith. The top press mold includes a heating unit to enhance dough relaxation without baking it. The controls are located sufficiently apart to necessitate a user to use two hands to operate the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Balsamore Corp.
    Inventors: John A. Amore, Pasquale Balsamo
  • Patent number: 5464337
    Abstract: A resin transfer molding system including a sealable chamber having opposing flexible diaphragms forming an outer reconfigurable tooling surface and an inner surface surrounding a workpiece including fibrous reinforcing material to be impregnated and formed over a mold surface. There are means for impregnating the fibrous reinforcing material and means for compressing the diaphragms about the fibrous reinforcing material and for urging the compressed diaphragms and the fibrous reinforcing material contained therein over the mold surface to conform the compressed diaphragms and the fibrous reinforcing material to the contours of the mold surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratories
    Inventors: Edward Bernardon, Michael F. Foley
  • Patent number: 5462424
    Abstract: A lower metallic die has a major surface for supporting a workpiece thereon. A ridgeline is formed on an end portion of the major surface and with which a bending portion of the workpiece is brought into contact. An upper metallic die has a plane surface rotatable in a bending direction of the workpiece to clamp the workpiece together with the ridgeline of the lower metallic die, thereby freely bending workpiece at one angle of desired various angles. A rotation controller controls rotation of the plane surface of the upper metallic die, thereby rotating and positioning the plane surface at a position of the one angle of the desired various angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Anritsu Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Kuroyone
  • Patent number: 5458900
    Abstract: Machines and methods are disclosed for making arepas from corn flour dough in a cavity situated between abutting, opposing forming members. When the forming members are closed, dough occupying the cavity is circular in the plane where said members abut, and is of progressively increasing thickness dimension toward its axis. The forming members are then moved apart from each other and the arepa preform is disassociated from the forming members and its entire outer surface, but not its interior, is cooked using primarily radiant and/or convective heat. In some embodiments, the dough is extruded directly into the cavity while the forming members are already abutting each other. In others, the dough is extruded, a preform plug is severed from the extrusion, the cavity portion of one of the forming members is pressed down against the preform plug while it sits on a distensible surface backed by a backing member having a circular central void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Roberto Gonzales Barrera
    Inventors: Manuel J. Rubio, Ramiro Montelongo, Roberto C. Medellin
  • Patent number: 5456591
    Abstract: An apparatus for preforming a main body of a racket frame from a softened fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin composite tube includes an inner mold which has a base with a flat face that has an X axis and a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis. The inner mold further has a protrusion projecting from the flat face. The protrusion has an outer periphery which conforms with a contour of a racket frame and which confines a head-like portion and a shaft-like portion along the Y axis. A pressing unit for pressing the composite tube against the outer periphery includes a frame reciprocatable along the Y axis by means of a driving unit, two support members disposed opposite to each other and fixed respectively to the movable frame, two rolls mounted respectively to the support members, and a biasing unit for biasing each roll to press the composite tube against the outer periphery. An outer mold has two opposite halves disposed on two sides of the inner mold and movable along the X axis by means of a moving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Kun-Nan Lo
    Inventor: Kun-Nan Lo
  • Patent number: 5441395
    Abstract: Tubular plastic film extrusion apparatus includes an extruder for extruding tubular plastic film in an upwards direction, and an adjustable sizing cage above the extruder and surrounding the tubular film.A collapsing frame is located above the sizing cage for collapsing the tubular film to sheet form and trapping air in the tubular film therebelow. The sizing cage has a series of adjustable sizing assemblies circumferentially spaced around the tubular film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Inventor: Mirek Planeta
  • Patent number: 5417996
    Abstract: In the production of various kinds of pastry it is actual to effect a folding-over of wing portions of flat dough members, such that these portions are folded down over some stuffing deposited e.g. on a middle area of the dough member. While this is easily done manually, it has been very difficult to automatize the operation, but according to the invention this is achieved in a very simple and efficient manner. A rubber resilient shaping plate (8) is used, which, through foldable areas (12), is connected with projecting wing portions (10) each associated with a depending rubber rod (16). At their lower ends these rods are rigidly attached to an actuator plate (18), which, in being raised relative to the shaping plate (8), urges the rubber rods upwardly for folding the wing portions (19) up- and inwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Form & Frys Maskinteknik ApS
    Inventor: Poul E. Brink
  • Patent number: 5417149
    Abstract: A device for forming and par baking a pizza crust from a quantity of pizza dough disposed in a pizza pan. The device comprises a frame having a base portion and an upper housing portion. Releasably attached to the upper housing portion is an upper mold, while releasably attached to the base portion is a lower support platen. Pivotally connected to the upper housing portion is a handle member which is adapted to reciprocally move the upper mold between a loading position wherein the pizza dough may be introduced into the pizza pan and a flattening position wherein the pizza dough is compressed between the bottom surface of the upper mold and the pizza pan. Slidably attached to the support platen are at least two retaining members which extend upwardly from the top surface thereof. Also slidably attached to the support platen is an adjustment mechanism for selectively moving the retaining members linearly relative the top surface as needed to allow the pizza pan to be positioned therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Proprocess Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene L. Raio, Arnold R. Dyess
  • Patent number: 5405256
    Abstract: Apparatus for folding a dough leaf 30 about a filling 32 comprises a series of folding pans 26.1 to 26.6. Each folding pan is foldable with respect to the next pan in the series about a folding axis 28.1 to 28.5, and is provided with a weighted plunger 34 which is connected to the folding pan by a lost motion connection. The weighted plunger serves to hold the dough leaf down while the pan is displaced from the folded position back towards the unfolded position, to prevent the dough from sticking to the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Cape Investment Syndicate (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Michael V. Dalton
  • Patent number: 5393479
    Abstract: A method for shaping a trim cover fabric for the entire front surface of a vehicle seat back portion or the entire top surface of a vehicle seat cushion portion, includes providing a forming tool having a forming surface with a portion complementary to a basic shape to be provided for the seat surface and a portion defining a cavity; providing a plurality of style line inserts, different ones of the style line inserts having different styling surfaces that are complementary to different desired stylized shapes to be provided for the seat surface; selecting one of the style line inserts and inserting the selected style line insert into the cavity; positioning the trim cover fabric on the forming tool assembly; providing a pressing tool having a surface formed to be complementary to the forming surface of the forming tool and the styling surfaces of the plurality of style line inserts to enable the pressing tool to be used with a forming tool assembly that includes any of the style line inserts; and pressing th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Hoover Universal, Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip H. Nadeau
  • Patent number: 5382148
    Abstract: Glass fiber mats are made for subsequent use in preforming for an RTM or SRIM molding process, for example, such that the binder applied to the mat has two distinct curing stages. In the first stage, a partial cure is provided by visible light upon a free radical generation in response to a photoinitiator mixed in the binder in an exact ratio to give a predictable increase in viscosity to that of a semi-solid so that the fibers are sufficiently bound for subsequent handling, but not sufficient to complete a cure, while leaving a second stage ready for a final cure which is achieved by the use of a cationic-type second photoinitiator which is sensitive to ultraviolet light. During the second curing stage, the mat is formed into a three-dimensional shape of a desired end product and cured with ultraviolet radiation while still in the mold, to obtain a rigid three-dimensional preform structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: C.A. Lawton Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel T. Buckley
  • Patent number: 5382155
    Abstract: The mold that belongs to a cardboard box forming machine is comprised of four forming corners, equal to each other, assembled in such a way that they can be moved longitudinally and transversally in order to carry out the adjustment of length as well as width of the boxes to be formed. The adjustment of length is achieved as a result of the corners being assembled on bushings threaded on spindles, each one of the latter having two sections threaded in a different direction so that the rotation of the former involves contrary movement of each pair of forming corners assembled on each spindle. The adjustment of width is achieved on the grounds of movement of said forming corners along linear guides upon which corresponding bridges slide. Forming corners are also completed with means retaining the box during its formation and pressing means for gluing of the corresponding laps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Boix Maquinaria, S.A.
    Inventor: Jose Boix Jaen
  • Patent number: 5380180
    Abstract: A system and process for fabricating pressboard from shredded paper coated with a thermoplastic material and a pair of facing webs includes placing the shredded poly-coated paper between the two traveling webs to form a composite, the composite then being passed in a manner to heat the thermoplastic material above its softening point to differentially repeatedly shift the traveling webs linearly relative to each other and to the shredded paper for enhanced bonding of the shreds to themselves and to the facing webs by passing them around a series of heated rollers defining a serpentine path, and then pressing the composite together while curing to bond the components, and cooling the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Fortifiber Corporation
    Inventor: Vernon L. Lamb, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5378134
    Abstract: A press has a fixed lower platen, and an upper platen which is movable vertically by means of an actuator. A former corresponding to the article which is to be obtained is placed on the lower platen via a thermal insulation member, the former including channels for circulation of a heat exchange fluid. The material to be formed is placed on the former. The upper platen carries an assembly which has a resilient membrane, the periphery of which is sandwiched between a lower frame and a cover connected to a source of fluid under pressure, sealing between said membrane and the lid being ensured by the clamping pressure between these two parts which results partly from the force exerted on the moving platen and partly from the pressure of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignees: ACB, Societe Nationale Industrielle et Aerospatiale
    Inventors: Philippe Blot, Joel Augereau, Joel Bretagne, Jean-Jacques Dittberner
  • Patent number: 5378136
    Abstract: In the device for pre-shaping plasticated plastics material, a mold formed by two plates (5, 6) arranged so as to be stationary and by two rotatably mounted calibrating jaws (3, 4), and two levers (11, 12) with drive devices (15, 16), are arranged between two columns (1, 2) which are arranged in parallel. One of the calibration Jaws (3, 4) in each case is fastened to one end of the levers (11, 12) and one of the drive devices is fastened to their other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Henning, Norbert Klein, Heinrich Hucke
  • Patent number: 5370760
    Abstract: A ceramic laminate, which is obtained by stacking ceramic green sheets provided with conductor films distributed on central portions along surface directions thereof, is charged in a die assembly. The die assembly includes an upper punch for pressing a first major surface of the ceramic laminate, a frame which encloses peripheries of the upper punch and the ceramic laminate, and a base plate for pressing a second major surface of the ceramic laminate in a manner opposite to the upper punch. In order to prevent the conductor films from undergoing misregistration toward peripheral edge portions of the ceramic laminate due to flowing of ceramic caused by a pressure difference between the portions provided with the conductor films and those not provided with conductor films, the upper punch is divided into an outer peripheral portion which comes into contact with the peripheral edge portions of the ceramic laminate and a body portion which comes into contact with its central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Mori, Ikuko Hiramatsu, Koichi Saito
  • Patent number: 5354195
    Abstract: A composite molding apparatus for high pressure co-cure molding of lightweight honeycomb core composite articles having ramped surfaces utilizing low total density, stabilized ramped honeycomb cores. The composite molding apparatus is a semi-rigid molding assembly that includes a rigid base member and a complementary semi-rigid mold member that is formed from a combination of layers of fiber-reinforced elastomeric material and unreinforced elastomeric material. The semi-rigid mold member further includes internal rigid reinforcement inserts formed from a structurally rigid material and having a configuration that matches the configuration of the ramped surfaces of the honeycomb composite article. The rigid reinforcement inserts are interleaved between the layers of fiber-reinforced elastomeric material and/or unreinforced elastomeric material forming the semi-rigid mold member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alex C. Dublinski, Thomas A. Carstensen, Philip J. Ramey
  • Patent number: 5340526
    Abstract: A method for temperature conditioning a blank of plastic material in which a conditioning mandrel is placed within the blank and thereafter expanded into reliable abutment against the inner surface of the blank. The mandrel is thereafter returned to its initial position. The outer surface of the mandrel is adjusted to and maintained at a certain temperature, whereby, during the abutment, an energy exchange takes place between the blank and the mandrel for adjusting the temperature of the blank. At high temperatures of the mandrel, the mandrel is displaced out of the blank after such short time that the plastic material in the region of the abutment surface never passes the critical temperature of tackiness of the plastic material and/or thermal crystallization of the plastic material. As a rule, the expansion and contraction of the mandrel is repeated one or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: PLM AB
    Inventor: Torsten Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5338178
    Abstract: According to the present invention, etching is used to form a concave and convex pattern corresponding to information on an embossing metal mold comprising a conductive layer and a layer which includes an Ni electric-plating layer, or an Ni electric-plating layer, so that the surface of the embossing metal mold will not be contaminated even if processing conditions are somewhat changed, and that the mold will have less defects. Thus, optical disk substrates of high quality can be produced. Besides, time required for manufacturing a stamper can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Kato, Shinkichi Horigome, Ryo Suzuki, Masaru Ito
  • Patent number: 5326249
    Abstract: A machine for bending reinforced thermoplastic workpieces includes a machine frame. First and second spaced rest plates are mounted to the frame, with the plates having a first planer orientation, which define a rest plane, for supporting a workpiece and a second angularly disposed orientation for bending the workpiece. A compression rest is disposed between the plates. A heated bending beam is in alignment with and spaced from the compression rest. A drive system is operably associated with the frame for causing relative movement between the beam and the plates and the rest, so that a workpiece supported by the plates and the rest in the first orientation may engage the beam. The plates are operably interconnected for therefore defining a common pivot axis. A system is provided for causing at least one of the plates to be pivoted about the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Wegener GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Weissfloch
  • Patent number: 5284435
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an object having a relief structure on a surface thereof by pressing a first element provided with a negative of the relief structure against a second element to form the relief structure in the surface of the second element. The apparatus includes the first element and two pressure members having pressure surfaces facing each other and opposing both of the elements, the pressure members being moveable relative to each other in a direction transverse to the pressure surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Pieter W. J. M. Nuij, Peter P. W. L. van den Bekerom, Evert-Jan Mulder
  • Patent number: 5261808
    Abstract: A shaping apparatus utilizing liquid pressure includes a base constructed of a single member and including a lower die and a lower clamp which surrounds the lower die and is integral with the lower die, an upper clamp movable in a vertical direction above the lower clamp, and an upper die or punch movable in the vertical direction above the lower die. The upper die has a lower surface with a configuration to which a workpiece to be formed is pressformed. The lower surface of the upper die and the upper surface of the lower die define a cavity filled with liquid except for a small air pocket when the upper die is lowered. When the upper die is lowered, the upper die contacts and deforms the workpiece. At the same time, the liquid is contained under pressure in the cavity and presses the workpiece against the lower surface of the upper die so that the workpiece is formed precisely to the configuration of the lower surface of the upper die by the contained liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Onoe, Kimikazu Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 5260017
    Abstract: A method for making improved surface profile composite structures containing crystalline thermoplastic materials involves employing individual glass filaments and molding with a hot mold insert. The method provides composites having smooth surfaces suitable for automotive applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Harold F. Giles, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5256045
    Abstract: A vulcanizing apparatus including a cylindrical vulcanizing drum for winding and molding unvulcanized rubber belt materials thereover, the vulcanizing drum being removably and rotatably supported on a transfer mechanism. A pair of endless pressurizing bands are arranged to oppose each other with the vulcanizing drum between, the pressurizing bands arcuately surrounding and pressing the corresponding portions of the circumferential surface of the vulcanizing drum. While the circumferential surface of the vulcanizing drum is heated inside, and the respective pressurizing bands are opposingly pressed against the vulcanizing drum, the respective pressurizing bands are synchronously rotated so as to turn the vulcanizing drum and continuously vulcanize the unvulcanized rubber belt molding on the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Bando Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken-ichi Ohtani, Osamu Sakamoto, Masahiko Houzouji, Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5234633
    Abstract: There is provided a cast molding die for an information recording medium, having a mold surface with a prescribed unevenness pattern including a projection; wherein the projection has at least one pair of opposite side slopes each of which forms an acute angle with respect to the extension of the mold surface. By using the cast molding die having the above-mentioned projection with a three-dimensional shape, a defect such as lack in the resultant information recording medium is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Imataki, Tetsuya Satoh, Mizuho Hiraoka, Tomoyuki Tamura