Plural Distinct Shaping Orifices Patents (Class 425/463)
  • Patent number: 12158015
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a walking robotic cell for the manufacture of on-site printed buildings using a multi-axis 3D printing system, and a method for operating said walking robotic cell. The walking robotic cell comprises a quadruped mobile robotic system acting autonomously and remotely operated, a feeding device, and a multi-axis actuator, which is a reprogrammable electromechanical system, automatically controlled, and programmable offline or online in all its degrees of freedom from an external or remote computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSIDAD TÉCNICA FEDERICO SANTA MARÍA
    Inventors: Luis Felipe González Böhme, Rodrigo Hernán García Alvarado, Francisco Javier Quitral Zapata, Alejandro Martínez Rocamora, Fernando Alfredo Auat Cheein
  • Patent number: 12116789
    Abstract: A structure construction apparatus including a frame unit, a formwork unit and a compacting unit is provided. The frame unit is provided on a ground on which a structure is to be constructed. The formwork unit is mounted on the frame unit, and maintains structural materials in a form to be constructed. The compacting unit is disposed to be adjacent to the formwork unit so as to compact the structural materials provided in the formwork unit. The formwork unit and the compacting unit are configured to move through the frame unit so as to automatically construct the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: KYUNGPOOK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Dong Eun Lee, Hak Yi
  • Patent number: 11970875
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing a tower structure of a wind turbine includes an additive printing device having a central frame structure with a platform and an arm member. The arm member is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tower structure. The additive printing device also includes a plurality of robotic arms secured to the arm member of the central frame structure. Each of the robotic arms includes a printer head for additively printing one or more materials. The additive printing device further includes at least one nozzle configured for dispensing a cementitious material. Moreover, the system includes one or more molds additively printed via the additive printing device of a polymer material. As such, the mold(s) define inner and outer wall limits of the tower structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, James Robert Tobin, Krishna Ramadurai, Krishna Prashanth Anandan
  • Patent number: 11745419
    Abstract: A system is proposed, using which a material is dispensed in a web shape to additively produce a component. An in situ material check is performed, wherein if a geometric deviation lying outside a tolerance is established, material dispensing is interrupted to carry out finish compacting of a dispensed material web by way of a compacting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Linde, Matthias Hegenbart
  • Patent number: 11254027
    Abstract: The present invention is directed generally at three-dimensional printing and more particularly to using three-dimensional (3D) printing to produce concrete and concrete-like (i.e. hempcrete) structures. Recently, 3D printing has advanced to the point where it is now possible to 3D print more complex concrete structures, such as homes. Unfortunately, prior art methods of 3D printing concrete structures have numerous drawbacks. For example, many existing systems suffer from excessive mechanical complexity and/or are susceptible to jamming (e.g. caused by dirt getting into delicate mechanisms). Other problems include difficulty with field maintainability, a lack of horizontal and vertical construction scalability, excessive weight and/or difficulty in printing structures on uneven or difficult ground. Also, existing devices are difficult and time consuming to assemble and disassemble in the field, thereby increasing project costs. The present innovation successfully addresses all of these limitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TINARI 3D INC.
    Inventor: Paul Tinari
  • Patent number: 11255025
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spinning nozzle apparatus for manufacturing a high-strength fiber. The spinning nozzle apparatus for manufacturing a high-strength fiber according to the present invention is designed to optimize a heating method for the spinning region of a spinning nozzle in the melt spinning process. The heat transfer method is optimized by disposing the spinning nozzle holes of spinning nozzle commercially available on the outside of, directly under the pack body and heating the spinning nozzle holes with a heating body. In addition, an instantaneous heat treatment at high temperature is adopted to control the molecular entanglement structure in the melted polymer, which enhances the drawability of the thermoplastic resin and hence improves the mechanical properties such as strength and elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Wan Gyu Hahm, In Woo Nam, Seung Jin Lee, Ki Sub Lim
  • Patent number: 11192280
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a coating liquid-impregnated reinforcing fiber fabric 1b, including allowing a reinforcing fiber fabric 1a to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section 20 storing a coating liquid 2 to provide the reinforcing fiber fabric 1a with the coating liquid 2; wherein the coating section 20 includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other; wherein the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber fabric 1a, wherein the narrowed section has a slit-like cross-section and has a smaller cross-sectional area than the top side of the liquid pool, and wherein the vertical height of the portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously in the liquid pool is 10 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Tamotsu Suzuki, Junichi Aoki
  • Patent number: 10730222
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a die assembly for producing a microcapillary film. The die assembly includes a first die plate, a second die plate, a plurality of multi-jackbolt tensioners connecting the first die plate to the second die plate, a manifold, and a plurality of nozzles. The manifold is located between the pair of die plates and defines a plurality of film channels therebetween. The plurality of film channels converge into an elongate outlet, wherein a thermoplastic material is extrudable through the plurality of film channels and the elongate outlet to form a microcapillary film. The plurality of nozzles are located between the plurality of film channels. The plurality of nozzles are operatively connected to a source of channel fluid for emitting the channel fluid between layers of the microcapillary film, whereby a plurality of microcapillary channels are formed in the microcapillary film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Wenyi Huang, Jeffrey D. Wenzel, Jie Feng, Robert E. Wrisley, Hyunwoo Kim, Kurt A. Koppi, Scott R. Kaleyta, Thomas J. Parsons, Nicolas Cardoso Mazzola, Harpreet Singh
  • Patent number: 10625251
    Abstract: Described is a new multilevel article comprising a multitude of ducts and, in each duct in the direction of flow, at least one area which generates turbulence, forms an open duct section, is connected to the duct wall, and forms a baffle for the incoming flow and a stall strip for the outgoing flow. The described article has a plurality of successive interconnected duct structures which form a step-like transition in relation to each other in the direct of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Exentis Knowledge GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jörg Bauer, Elke Bauer
  • Patent number: 10196759
    Abstract: A multi-component fiber includes a first component made of a first fiber raw material and a second component made of a second fiber raw material. The first and second components are combined by rotational spinning so as to form a fiber body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventors: Wiebke Schmitz, Dirk Grafahrend, Denis Reibel
  • Patent number: 9327429
    Abstract: Extrusion die (30) comprising a plurality of shims (40a, 40b, 40c) positioned adjacent to one another, the shims (40a, 40b, 40c) together defining a first cavity, a second cavity, and a die slot, and methods of using the same. A variety of composite layers can be made from various dies described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald W. Ausen, William J. Kopecky
  • Patent number: 9162302
    Abstract: By providing a manufacturing method of an electrode for a honeycomb structure forming die including: arranging a plurality of processing electrodes 161 having a shape which is complementary to that of the flow-through cells, at positions corresponding to the plurality of flow-through cells in the one surface 107B of the electrode base body 102B; discharging electricity from the plurality of processing electrodes 161 toward the one surface 107B of the electrode base body 102B to carve the electrode base body 102B, so that a plurality of electrode cells having a shape which is analogous to that of the flow-through cells are formed in the electrode base body 102B; whereby obtaining a honeycomb electrode where a plurality of electrode cells partitioned by electrode partition walls appear on the one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Hayashi, Tomoki Nagae
  • Patent number: 8992196
    Abstract: A seamless capsule manufacturing apparatus (1) manufactures a seamless capsule by means of nozzles (2a-2d). A core liquid (5) and a coating liquid (6) are supplied to each of the nozzles (2a-2d) from pumps (16, 18) through distributors (21, 22). The distributors (21, 22) and the nozzles (2a-2d) are connected to each other by core liquid distributing tubes (23a-23d) and coating liquid distributing tubes (25a-25d), and each of the core liquid distributing tubes (23a-23d) and each of the coating liquid distributing tubes (25a-25d) have the same length. A vibrator (24) is mounted to the distributor (21), and the core liquid (5) is supplied to the nozzles (2a-2d) while being vibrated. Each of the distributors (21, 22) is provided with an air vent device (35), and air vent is performed appropriately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Freund Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Ikeda, Hiroshi Nagao
  • Publication number: 20150083325
    Abstract: Disclosed is a die for forming a honeycomb structure, including: a second plate-shaped portion that is formed of iron and the like and has back holes; and a first plate-shaped portion that is formed of tungsten carbide based cemented carbide and has cavities communicating with the back holes and slits communicating with the cavities, wherein the first plate-shaped portion has a first layer arranged in the second plate-shaped portion side and a second layer arranged on the first layer, the cavities 11 are opened on both sides of the first layer, and the slits are opened on both sides of the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Kazumasa KITAMURA, Hirofumi HOSOKAWA, Tomoki NAGAE
  • Publication number: 20150079321
    Abstract: When a plurality of striped molded products are molded at a time, the molded products having a striped pattern and an outstanding design property are obtained by preventing part of molten resins from being unevenly distributed in an inappropriate manner when being fed into a cavity of a metal mold. A hot runner nozzle is provided with a first resin flow path and a plurality of second resin flow paths. The first flow path has a funnel section which continues with a nozzle gate at a centripetal position and which allows a first molten resin to be gathered at the centripetal position of the funnel section so as to feed the resin into the nozzle gate. The second resin flow paths have a plurality of corresponding discharge ports facing and communicating with the funnel section of the first resin flow path, each of the discharge ports being disposed around the centripetal position, so that the second molten resin different from the first molten resin is fed into the funnel section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuhiko TAKEUCHI, Minoru YAMAZAKI, Yoshiharu YANAGIMACHI, Kouichi SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 8968860
    Abstract: There is provided a laminated sheet producing apparatus that adds an edge material to at least one of the end portions in the width direction of a laminate in which a plurality of kinds of sheet materials are laminated as an edge portion at a confluence portion, wherein when an area of each region resulting from division of a cross-sectional configuration of the edge material perpendicular to the flow channel direction of each flow channel at the confluence portion by lines for dividing the configuration into 10 equal portions in the lamination direction is defined as Sn (n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5) in the direction from a central portion in the lamination direction toward an end portion in the lamination direction, the relationships of Formulae (1) S1?S2?S3?S4?S5 and (2) S1<S5 are simultaneously satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inomoto, Fumiyasu Nomura, Yoshiharu Furuno
  • Publication number: 20150056318
    Abstract: A printing head module and a three dimensional (3-D) printing apparatus using the same are provided. The 3-D printing apparatus includes a base and the printing head module. The printing head module is disposed above the base and includes a printing head and at least one material spool. The printing head includes a plurality of assembling pieces assembled with each other to form the printing head and define a nozzle of the printing head. Each of the assembling pieces includes at least one material-supply groove. The material-supply grooves of any two adjacent assembling pieces are located corresponding to each other to form at least one material-supply channel together. Each material spool is connected to the material-supply channel for providing at least one fluid material to the material-supply channel. The fluid material is transmitted via the material-supply channel to be dispensed on the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicants: XYZprinting, Inc., Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited, Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kwan Ho
  • Publication number: 20150017343
    Abstract: A die for extrusion molding includes a first face, a second face, a raw material supply section, and a molding section. The second face is provided opposite the first face. The raw material supply section includes a first through hole that extends from the first face toward the second face. The molding section includes a second through hole and a nitride layer. The second through hole extends from the second face toward the first face so as to communicate with the first through hole. The nitride layer is provided on an inner wall surface of the second through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: IBIDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka ANDO, Shuichi KAWANO
  • Publication number: 20150014902
    Abstract: A die for extrusion molding includes a first face, a second face, a raw material supply section, a molding section, and a structure. The molding section has a second through hole that extends from the second face toward the first face so as to communicate with a first through hole. The structure is such that a material for the die is machined to form the material into a predetermined shape and to provide a machining-affected layer on an inner wall surface of the second through hole in the molding section, an oxidized layer is provided by heating the machining-affected layer to oxidize the machining-affected layer so as to convert the machining-affected layer into the oxidized layer, the oxidized layer is removed so that a treated surface is provided, and the treated surface is nitrided by ion implantation to provide a nitride layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: IBIDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka ANDO, Shuichi KAWANO, Makoto ASAI
  • Publication number: 20150014903
    Abstract: A die for extrusion molding includes a first face, a second face, a raw material supply section, a molding section, and a treated surface. The second face is provided opposite the first face. The molding section has a second through hole that extends from the second face toward the first face so as to communicate with a first through hole. The treated surface is provided on an inner wall surface of the second through hole to have a structure such that a material for the die is machined to form the material into a die shape and to provide a machining-affected layer on the inner wall surface of the second through hole in the molding section, an oxidized layer is provided by heating the machining-affected layer to oxidize the machining-affected layer so as to convert the machining-affected layer into the oxidized layer, and the oxidized layer is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: IBIDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto ASAI, Shuichi KAWANO
  • Publication number: 20140327175
    Abstract: A die for forming a stretch film includes at least: a primary passage for receiving a primary stream, the primary passage having a length extending from a die inlet opening to a die outlet opening; and a flow assembly for supplying a secondary stream to the primary passage at a secondary passage opening. A method for forming a stretch film includes: introducing a primary stream to a primary passage of a die at a die inlet opening, the primary passage having a length extending from the die inlet opening to a die outlet opening; supplying a secondary stream to the primary passage at a secondary passage opening; combining the primary stream and the secondary stream to create a combined stream; passing the combined stream through said die outlet opening; and passing the combined stream from the die outlet opening to a casting unit, thereby forming a film web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: PARAGON FILMS, INC.
    Inventor: Shaun Eugene Pirtle
  • Patent number: 8870561
    Abstract: A layer sequence repeater module for a co-extrusion die includes a cell formed of a plurality of thin annular disks stacked on top of each other in an axial direction of the co-extrusion die. Each disk includes a plurality of openings aligned with openings in the adjacent disks, thus forming multiple inner and outer melt passages. At least one of the layer sequence repeater module includes at least one first cap disk, at least one second cap disk, at least one distribution disk, at least one repeater disk and at least one spreader disk. The layer sequence repeater module may be a separately assembled and individually removable module of the co-extrusion die. Alternatively or additionally, the layer sequence repeater module may be incorporated into a module of the co-extrusion die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: BBS Corporation
    Inventor: Henry G. Schirmer
  • Patent number: 8858211
    Abstract: A coating die that includes a removable manifold section with each side of the manifold section defining a manifold, a land, and an outlet or lip. The two manifolds, lands and outlets may be the same or different, respectively. The manifold section is removably connected to at least one die body and can be removed from the die body to switch between the two sides of the manifold section. The coating die is designed and configured for web or substrate coating, either on-roll (supported web) coating or off-roll (tension web) coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Premier Dies Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald Fraley
  • Patent number: 8845841
    Abstract: In a molding material installation method, an adhesive is separated into an upper side and a lower side from an application nozzle. The adhesive that has been separated on the lower side is applied to the surface of a multilayer glass panel. The adhesive that has been separated on the upper side is applied to a bottom surface of a glazing gasket molding material. The adhesive that has been separated on the upper side is placed on the adhesive that has been applied to the surface of the multilayer glass panel so that the glazing gasket molding material and the adhesive that has been separated on the upper side are applied to the adhesive that has been applied to the surface of the multilayer glass panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Okamoto, Yugo Nagase, Yousuke Hamachi
  • Patent number: 8784091
    Abstract: The invention proposes a system for dosing a food product onto an object comprising a dosing device (1) for co-extrusion of at least 2 food materials at the same time to form a multi-component food product (30), said dosing device (1) comprising a core element (2) housing at least a first and a second supply (5a, 5b), said first supply (5a) having at least one orifice (6) connected to an extrusion channel (7) which is positioned coaxially to an extrusion channel (8) of the second supply (5b), and a cylindrical tube element (3) relatively rotatable to and enclosing the core element (2), having at least one aperture (3a), wherein said aperture (3a) is designed to be selectively brought into a coaxial position to the extrusion channels (8,7) of the first and second supplies (5a, 5b) by rotating the cylindrical tube element (3), allowing a co-extrusion of the food materials introduced into the supplies (5a, 5b) of the core element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Stephane Henriet, Bernard Alain Daouse
  • Publication number: 20140199428
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing slices of sausages that appear to have been cut from a conventional round sausage log at an angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Del Monte Corporation
    Inventors: Davor Juravic, Yomayra Alvarez, Oscar Ortiz, Dwayne P. McDowell, II, Geoffrey Chase Thornhill, Mark P. Donatucci, Franjo Baltorinic
  • Patent number: 8702413
    Abstract: An extrusion process incorporates a forming manifold where a tubular flow of a second material is intermittently interrupted while a core flow of a first material is discharged substantially continuously. Subsequently, the core flow is severed to form individual food items or treats for humans, animals, and the like, where the tubular flow results in an outer component surrounding an inner component which protrudes from one or both ends of the outer component. Material of the core flow is bone-like, while material of the tubular flow is meat like. Material of the tubular flow may include material from the core flow subjected to mixing in a static mixer to achieve a marbled texture of the outer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Big Heart Pet Brands
    Inventors: Donald Barnvos, Hilda Fleischman, Davor Juravic, William Keehn, Steven Bautista, Eric J. Lew, Yomayra Diaz, Franjo Baltorinic
  • Patent number: 8684719
    Abstract: Die tooling is formed by forming a series of passages extending in the length of the tooling where each passage has a circumference defined within a body member of the tooling. Preferably the passages are primarily formed using a drilling procedure. The passages define a predetermined pattern of outlets adjacent the extrusion outlet or outlets. The passages between the inlets and outlets can be formed in a series of connected body members with each passage extending through each body member. Die tooling of this design is more robust and cost effective to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Manfred A. A. Lupke, Stefan A. Lupke
  • Patent number: 8512613
    Abstract: This invention provides methods and devices for manufacturing moldable materials including various types of natural and synthetic clays, edible materials such as cookie dough, and modeling compound by forming a moldable billet through various techniques, and reducing the cross section of said moldable billet such that features in the moldable billet appear in a similar arrangement in the resulting extruded product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas P. DuFaux, Maurice Belisle
  • Patent number: 8470213
    Abstract: An extrusion-molding apparatus for a loose tube includes: an extrusion head that includes a tip and a die concentrically arranged therewithin and extrudes a tube between the tip and the die; a needle that feeds at least one optical fiber and filler to be filled around the optical fiber into the tube being extrusion-molded; and a cylindrical bundling member provided within the needle. The bundling member has a bundling hole being smaller than an inner diameter of the tube at a center thereof and into which the optical fiber can pass through, and a flow pass penetrating along a feeding direction of the filler between the bundling hole and an inner circumferential surface of the needle. In an extrusion molding method using the extrusion-molding apparatus, the optical fiber is passed through a bundling hole to be bundled at an almost center of the tube. In addition, filler is passed through a flow path to be filled around the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Okada, Yoshio Hashimoto, Masayuki Ishioka
  • Patent number: 8465272
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fabricating food items include extruding a first hot plastic food mass through multiple passages (14) and co-extruding a second hot plastic food mass through a feed stem (22) received in each of the multiple passages (14) and through nozzles (42). Each nozzle (42) includes a first portion (42b) in communication with the feed stem (22) but not the passage (14) and a second portion (42a) in communication with the passage (16) but not the feed stem (22). The nozzles (42) are rotatable in gearing relation with the drive gear (70) of a servomotor (72). The co-extruded ropes are conveyed at a linear speed rate less than or equal to the discharge speed from the nozzles (42), cooled, and cut into individual pieces in the form of peelably separable strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Weinstein, James M. Olive, Peter A. Huberg, Laurie Burgess, Thomas Leuhrs, Jennifer M. Mcaab
  • Patent number: 8322025
    Abstract: Closely spaced, high aspect-ratio gridline structures are formed on the surface of a substrate using two or more co-extrusion heads that co-extrude gridline material and sacrificial material such that the deposited gridline material is compressed between opposing portions of the sacrificial material. The co-extrusion heads include three-channel cavity structures that converge to a relatively small outlet orifice that dispenses the gridline material with relatively fine features and a relatively high aspect ratio. The outlet orifices of the co-extrusion heads are disposed in a staggered arrangement such that gridlines extruded from the first co-extrusion head are disposed between two gridlines extruded from the second co-extrusion head. Photovoltaic cells are produced with metal gridlines formed in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SolarWorld Innovations GmbH
    Inventors: David K. Fork, Thomas S. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8287262
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for forming a single extrudable food stream such as a cooked cereal dough into a plurality of differently colored and/or flavored dough streams is disclosed including an extruder (12) having screw augers (15) for advancing a plastic food mass, a head or manifold (118) for dividing the plastic food mass into a plurality of substreams each in turn in fluid communication with a plurality of sub-divided dough passageways, and a die head (30) having a plurality of die ports (40). Each subpassage is separately supplied an additive and has disposed therein a multiplicity of in-line static mixer elements (59) to admix the additive into the substreams of the plastic food mass before passage through the die ports (40). In a preferred form, first and second substreams are intermixed in a non-homogenous manner before reaching the exit ports (40). The extrudates are severed into individual pieces (158) by a rotary cutter (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Weinstein, Kevin Wright
  • Publication number: 20120193023
    Abstract: An extrusion device has a stack of at least two layers, the stack including an outlet, an inlet for a first material, and a feed channel for the first material arranged to fluidically connect to the inlet for the first material, the feed channel having a sloped end. A method of manufacturing an extrusion device includes forming an outlet, an inlet for a first material and a feed channel for the first material having a sloped end in a stack of layers, aligning the stack of layers to fluidically connect the feed channel for the first material with the inlet for the first material and to fluidically connect the inlet for the first material with the outlet, and bonding the layers together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David K. Fork, Scott E. Solberg
  • Patent number: 8226391
    Abstract: A micro-extrusion printhead assembly utilized in a micro-extrusion system to form parallel extruded gridlines of material on a substrate includes a nozzle having a tapered (e.g., triangular or trapezoidal) cross-section arranged such that a lower surface of each gridline is substantially wider than its upper edge, and such that side surfaces of the extruded gridlines reflect incident light beams into exposed surface areas of the substrate, thereby minimizing the effective shadowed surface area under the gridline. In one embodiment, the fluidic channels of each nozzle are fabricated by cutting or etching progressively wider channels into a series of rigid layers, and then stacking the rigid layers to form a layered nozzle structure. In another embodiment, a single layer is processed to include a tapered cross-section having the desired triangular or trapezoidal cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: SolarWorld Innovations GmbH
    Inventors: David K. Fork, Andre Kalio
  • Patent number: 8210839
    Abstract: The invention provides a new method and apparatus for making multicolor gelatin ribbons and softgel capsules is provided which uses a modification of the gelatin spreader boxes by incorporating especially designed pipelines that are bifurcated with a tee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Procaps SA
    Inventor: Juan Pablo Manotas Dugand
  • Patent number: 8177539
    Abstract: A device for melt spinning multi-component fibers including at least two melt inlets for introducing separately guided melt components is presented. The device includes a feed plate having a plurality of feed channels for distributing the melt components, a distributor block associated with the feed plate, and a nozzle plate adjoining the distributor block and including a plurality of nozzle bores, wherein the distributor block has several thin distributor plates stacked on top of each other and each have a hole pattern with multiple distribution openings. The thin distributor plates are configured inside the distributor block such that a plurality of melt channels form, which connect the feed channels of the feed plate to the nozzle bores of the nozzle plate. In order to implement high flow volumes, multiple distributor plates having identical hole patterns of the distribution openings are stacked in a tightly sealing manner inside the distributor block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mathias Groner-Rothermel, Volker Birkholz
  • Patent number: 8113810
    Abstract: An extrusion die assembly includes a hollow extrusion head which has a head inner surface, a central passage inlet opening, a forming section having a die opening, and a receiving space that extends from the central passage inlet opening to the forming section. A flow-dividing core is disposed within the receiving space, and has a central passage connected to the central passage inlet opening and extending to the forming section, and a grooved outer surface that is disposed upstream of the forming section and that has at least one groove which cooperates with the head inner surface to define at least one accumulating passage. An annular passage is formed in the forming section and around the flow-dividing core and the central passage, is connected to the accumulating passage, and merges with the central passage in the die opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Se-Hsing Tsai
  • Patent number: 8113807
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for fabricating structures, extrusion units, and structures fabricated using such methods and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus may include a support configured for rotation about a central axis, a carriage that may move along the support when the support rotates about the central axis such that the carriage may move along a first spiral path about the central axis, and an extrusion unit that may be supported by the carriage and may move along a second spiral path as the carriage moves along the first spiral path. The extrusion units may be configured to extrude a strip of material through an extrusion die as the extrusion unit moves along a previously extruded strip of material such that the extruded strip may be fused onto the previously extruded strip as the extruded and previously extruded strips pass the extrusion die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8043082
    Abstract: An injection head (10) is described for a corrugator which is intended for the production of plastics pipes. The injection head (10) has a main head (12), a nozzle body (14) and a mouthpiece means (16) with at least one mouthpiece (32, 36). The main head (12) is embodied with first channels (50, 52) and the nozzle body (14) is embodied with second channels (58, 60) which are flow-connected to the first channels (50, 52). The/each mouthpiece (32, 36) has a central body (74, 76) and a sleeve body, (78, 80) surrounding said central body. On its lateral surface (82, 84) facing the sleeve body (78, 80), the central body (74, 76) is embodied with wound plastics distributor grooves (86, 88) which are flow-connected by means of connecting portions (114, 120) to a concentric annular groove (112, 116) which is formed on the reverse surface (90, 92) of the central body (74, 76) and into which the second channels (58, 60) of the nozzle body (14) discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: UNICOR GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Neubauer
  • Patent number: 7988439
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nozzle block for electrospinning which is able to simultaneously electrically spin two or more different types of polymer spinning dopes, wherein a single-layer distribution plate for dividing a planar space within the nozzle block into two or more segments is installed within the nozzle block. The apparatus is simple because a single-layer distribution plate is installed instead of a conventional multi layer distribution plate. A hybrid nano fiber laminate can be prepared without any additional laminating procedure because two or more different polymer spinning dopes can be simultaneously electrically spun through different nozzles arranged within the same nozzle block. It is possible to prepare a hybrid nano fiber nonwoven fabric or filaments or the like composed of two or more types of nano fibers different in thermal properties or physical properties because their fiber diameter or polymer type are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Cooperation Foundation Chonbuk National University
    Inventor: Hak-Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 7985315
    Abstract: A process by which many kinds of unstretched films comprising a thermoplastic resin are produced each in a small amount and high yield. A thermoplastic resin (A) to be formed into an unstretched film and another thermoplastic resin (B) are separately melted by heating. The thermoplastic resin (B) is introduced to each edge part of a T-die (2) for extrusion. The two resins are ejected and extruded on a casting roll so that the thermoplastic rosin (B) is disposed on the side of each edge of the thermally melted thermoplastic resin (A). Thus, an unstretched film (20) is formed which comprises the thermoplastic resin (A) and the thermoplastic resin (B) disposed on the side of each edge of the resin (A). Thereafter, the parts constituted of the thermoplastic resin (B) are removed y cutting to form a target unstretched film (20) consisting only of the thermoplastic resin (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Fujii, Takuji Nakamura, Hiroshi Inazawa, Yasuhiro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 7927088
    Abstract: In a die assembly, plural pairs of extrusion ports are set up on concentric circles different in diameter. The die assembly is also provided with a core material feeding layer which spreads in such a planar state as to be connected to all core material extruding passageways and a sheath material feeding layer which spreads in such a planar state as to be connected to all sheath material extruding passageways and the core material and the sheath material are fed through the passageways. This constitution makes it possible to set up extrusion ports in arbitrary positions corresponding to the core material feeding layer and the sheath material feeding layer which each spread in a planar state, which enables simultaneous production of more multilayer extrusions while inhibiting the enlargement of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sumika Color Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mori, Naohiko Mushiake
  • Patent number: 7906062
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of hollow bodies of thermoplastic material by extrusion blow molding. In the process according to the invention continuous extrusion of at least two preforms in web form of plasticized material is effected by means of a plurality of extrusion devices. The preforms are jointly shaped to form a hollow body in the still plastic condition, that is to say in the first heat, within a multi-part tool forming a mold cavity. In that case a wall thickness profile is imparted to at least one preform during the extrusion operation independently of the respective other preform by continuous nozzle gap adjustment during the extrusion operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Borchert, Gerd Wolter, Harald Lorenz, Dirk Eulitz, Timo Kramer, Thomas Froitzheim, Joachim Eckhardt
  • Publication number: 20110033577
    Abstract: A filled snack product includes a first sheet having a first surface. A plurality of filling lines are disposed upon the first surface of the first sheet. Each of the plurality of filling lines are spaced to define a void between each of the adjacent filling lines. A second sheet is disposed over the first sheet and secured to at least a portion of the first sheet to sandwich the plurality of spaced filling lines between the first and second sheets. A plurality of docking holes are disposed upon the first and second sheets. The plurality of docking holes and the plurality of spaced filling lines allow for the pinning of the first and second sheets at the voids disposed between the spaced filling lines and further for the release to steam and/or gas from the filled snack product during heating to minimize puffing of the filled snack product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: James Edward Molchan, Barb Garter, Paul Nowaczyk
  • Patent number: 7874825
    Abstract: A nozzle for extruding a surface may include a first outlet configured to controllably extrude a first extrudate of unhardened material, a second outlet configured to controllably extrude a second extrudate of unhardened material that is separated from the first extrudate, a third outlet configured to extrude a third extrudate of unhardened material between the first and the second extrudates, and a controller. The third outlet may have a width that is substantially less than the distance between the first and second extrudates. The controller may be configured to cause the third extrudate to repeatedly traverse between the first and second extrudates and/or to cause the third extrudate to leave a plurality of substantial and separated spaces between the first and second extrudates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventor: Behrokh Khoshnevis
  • Patent number: 7858006
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for manufacturing a laminated sheet wherein different molten resins are alternately laminated by providing a multitude of slits arranged at intervals and permitting the different molten resins to flow out from the adjacent slits. A value of a shortest flow path length (L1) to a longest flow path length (L2) of the molten resin that flows from an inlet to an outlet of the slit, which is a ratio of (L1)/(L2), is 0.5 or more. The slits include slits having different slit lengths. A flow quantity of the molten resin at the slit is changed by changing the intervals of the slits, length of the slits or by changing the temperature of the molten resin at the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Furuno, Fumiyasu Nomura, Nobutsugu Chigira
  • Patent number: 7690908
    Abstract: A system and method are presented in which a flow of plastic is extruded to obtain nano-sized features by forming multiple laminated flow streams, flowing in parallel through the system. Each of the parallel laminated flow streams are subjected to repeated steps in which the flows are divided, and overlapped to amplify the number of laminations. The parallel amplified laminated flows are rejoined to form a cumulated laminated output with nano-sized features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Guill Tool & Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Guillemette, Glen Guillemette, Roger Guillemette
  • Patent number: 7674102
    Abstract: An extruder system and a cutting assembly for cutting a material extruded from an extruder plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: JMP Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Pinchot
  • Publication number: 20100052205
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing strengthened ceramic honeycomb articles having thickened peripheral web segments by extruding, drying and firing honeycomb shapes formed by the extrusion of plasticized ceramic powder batches through honeycomb extrusion dies having peripheral slots incorporating outer widened slot portions of controlled depths, the controlled depths being selected to increase ceramic powder batch flow through the peripheral slots to a degree sufficient to form the thickened web segments but insufficient to cause geometric distortion of the thickened web segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas William Brew, Rudy Paul Ellis, Susan Clair Lauderdale, Michael James Lehman