Bending Patents (Class 493/395)
  • Patent number: 9431723
    Abstract: A female terminal fitting (10) is provided with a tubular main body portion (20) into which a mating male tab (90) is to be inserted, and a resilient contact piece (21) deflectably arranged in the main body portion (20). The resilient contact piece (21) is resiliently deformed toward a base wall (22) of the main body portion (20) to resiliently come into contact with the male tab (90) when the male tab (90) is inserted into the main body portion (20). An excessive deflection regulating piece (33) for regulating excessive deflection of the resilient contact piece (21) by coming into contact with the base wall (22) of the main body portion (20) is integrally provided to the resilient contact piece (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Chikusa
  • Patent number: 8999094
    Abstract: A method of continuous manufacture of a composite hollow board material comprising a first surface and a second surface, and between the first and second surfaces a plurality of distance members is disclosed. The method comprises providing material for the first surface from a first reel via a first guide roller towards an output lane; providing material for the second surface from a second reel via a second guide roller towards the output lane; and providing material for the distance members from a third reel towards the output lane such that the distance members comprises strips arranged, at any cross section perpendicular to the first and second surfaces and the direction of the output lane, perpendicular to the first and second surfaces and continuous along the output lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: IKEA Supply AG
    Inventors: Dan Pettersson, Bengt Andreasson
  • Publication number: 20150018189
    Abstract: A system that converts sheet material into packaging templates includes a converting assembly that performs conversion functions, such as cutting, creasing, and scoring, on the sheet material as the sheet material moves through the converting machine in a first direction. The converting assembly may be mounted on a frame such that the converting assembly is elevated above a support surface. One or more longhead converting tools performs conversion functions on the sheet material in a first direction and a crosshead converting tool performs conversion functions on the sheet material in a second direction in order to create packaging templates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: PACKSIZE LLC
    Inventors: Niklas Pettersson, Ryan Osterhout
  • Patent number: 8747597
    Abstract: Embolic implants, delivery systems and methods of manufacture and delivery are disclosed. The devices can be used for aneurysm treatment and/or parent vessel occlusion. Implant designs offer low profile compressibility for delivery to neurovasculature, while maintaining other necessary features such as density for occlusion purposes and desirable radial strength characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Arturo S. Rosqueta, Frank P. Becking
  • Patent number: 8721207
    Abstract: A paper discharge apparatus includes a conveying path configured to convey a paper from an upstream portion to a downstream portion. A preventing mechanism is provided on the conveying path. The preventing mechanism is configured to prevent the paper from being conveyed to the downstream portion by pushing the paper or blocking the conveying path. A control unit is configured to bend the paper by preventing the conveyance of the paper by using the preventing mechanism, and then convey the paper to the downstream portion of the conveying path for discharge of the paper from the conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiharu Sekino, Yasuo Amano
  • Patent number: 8585565
    Abstract: A three-dimensional support structure is provided and includes a single sheet of material that is folded into a repeating pattern of cells. Each of the cells is formed by first and second spaced-apart endwalls and first and second sloped sidewalls spanning between the endwalls. Each endwall comprises two plies of material while each sidewall comprises a single ply of material. The first and second sidewalls are adjoined at a folded edge. The cells are aligned such that the first endwall of one cell from the repeating pattern abuts the second endwall of an adjacent cell of the repeating pattern to form a four-ply wall of the material. A first liner may be attached to a first side of the folded material and a second liner may be attached to a second side of the folded material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tessellated Group, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory W. Gale
  • Publication number: 20130150764
    Abstract: A wound dressing is disclosed. The wound dressing includes an oil emulsion and a substrate including a plurality of first yarns and a plurality of second yarns, wherein the plurality of first yarns includes a plurality of first fibers comprising a cellulosic material and the plurality of second yarns includes a plurality of second fibers comprising a non-adherent polymeric material. In other cases, the substrate can be a woven substrate, a nonwoven substrate, or a knitted substrate of nonadherent polymeric fibers or yarns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Harish A Patel, Ajit K. Moghe
  • Publication number: 20130079741
    Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent article containing an absorbent body which is thin before absorption, and even after absorption does not inhibit super absorbent polymer (SAP) swelling and wherein deformation such as twisting is unlikely to occur. The disclosed absorbent article comprises a liquid-permeable front surface sheet, a liquid impermeable rear surface sheet, and an absorbent body which is located between the two sheets. The absorbent body is formed from a super absorbent polymer containing layer and a non-woven fabric layer, with the non-woven fabric layer having regions wherein the between-fibre void ratio is relatively large and regions wherein the between-fibre void ratio is relatively small. The tip sections of the fibres forming the non-woven fabric layer are greater in number in the regions wherein the between-fibre void ratio is relatively large than the regions wherein the between-fibre void ratio is relatively small, and the non-woven fabric layer has expansibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Nakashita, Satoshi Mitsuno
  • Publication number: 20130029825
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus that is adapted to receive or include at least one sheet input roll, and a substantially continuous sheet of material fed therefrom. The apparatus includes sheet processing equipment for processing the sheet after it has been unrolled off the input roll and at least one digital printer adapted to print a surface of the substantially continuous sheet within the sheet processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: DS SMITH PACKAGING LIMITED
    Inventor: David G. Rich
  • Publication number: 20130010030
    Abstract: A bending member includes a bent portion formed by bending a plate material, the bent portion including a concave surface side and a convex surface side, a curvature radius r of the concave surface side of the bent portion being set to a thickness t of the plate material or below, and a plurality of grooves provided in the bent portion on the convex surface side, each of the grooves being vertical to a longitudinal direction of the bent portion, wherein each of the grooves opens on both surface sides sandwiching the bent portion, and each of the grooves includes a bottom portion having a straight line shape connecting the openings of the groove on the both surface sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Shumpei TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20120267266
    Abstract: There is provided in a first embodiment a holder for a printed card and multi-media device. The holder includes a card panel removably connected to a first panel. A second panel is connected to the first panel by a first side panel, such that the when folded the first, second and side panel form a space to accommodate the multi-media device. A second side panel is provided opposite the first side panel and may be folded connected to the first panel such that the holder can be maintained in a closed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Richard Hunter, George Gilmartin
  • Patent number: 8192341
    Abstract: A three-dimensional support structure is provided and includes a single sheet of material that is folded into a repeating pattern of cells. Each of the cells is formed by first and second spaced-apart endwalls and first and second sloped sidewalls spanning between the endwalls. Each endwall comprises two plies of material while each sidewall comprises a single ply of material. The first and second sidewalls are adjoined at a folded edge. The cells are aligned such that the first endwall of one cell from the repeating pattern abuts the second endwall of an adjacent cell of the repeating pattern to form a four-ply wall of the material. A first liner may be attached to a first side of the folded material and a second liner may be attached to a second side of the folded material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Tessellated Group, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory W. Gale
  • Publication number: 20120115701
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for a sheet member includes a mounting member where the sheet member is mounted, a rotating roller that rotates with a peripheral surface thereof opposing the mounting member, a processing component on the peripheral surface and movable on the peripheral surface along an axial direction of the rotating roller, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts a relative position of the processing component with respect to the peripheral surface in the axial direction. The processing component is configured to process the sheet member by coming into contact with the sheet member with the rotating roller being rotated, while the sheet member is passing between the mounting member and the rotating roller with the sheet member being mounted on the mounting member. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the relative position by moving the processing component on the peripheral surface along the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Azumz, Yasuo Murakami
  • Publication number: 20120108411
    Abstract: A sheet ejecting device for ejecting printed sheets to a stacker one by one, the sheet ejecting device including a pair of ejection rollers; a strengthener, located in a sheet ejection route, for providing a force for a sheet; a bender, arranged to be capable of advancing into and retreating from the sheet ejection route, for canceling out the force provided for the sheet by the strengthener; a driver for moving the bender to advance into and retreat from the sheet ejection route; a sensor for detecting a currently ejected sheet; and a controller for controlling the driver based on a signal sent from the sensor so that the bender can cancel out the force provided for the sheet by the strengthener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Shinobu SEKI
  • Patent number: 8105677
    Abstract: A microstructure area (201) providing a first diffractive visual effect is produced on the surface layer (240) of a paper or cardboard substrate (230) of a product (200). In addition, a bulge (206) or a recess (207) having a second microstructure area (202) is produced on the surface layer (240), wherein a doubly curved portion (203) is located between the first (201) and the second (202) microstructure areas. Said combination of the bulge (206)/recess (207), microstructure areas (201, 202) and doubly curved portion (203) makes counterfeiting of the product (200) difficult and provides a special visual effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Avantone Oy
    Inventors: Pekka Koivukunnas, Harri Kosonen
  • Publication number: 20110265943
    Abstract: Embolic implants, delivery systems and methods of manufacture and delivery are disclosed. The devices can be used for aneurysm treatment and/or parent vessel occlusion. Implant designs offer low profile compressibility for delivery to neurovasculature, while maintaining other necessary features such as density for occlusion purposes and desirable radial strength characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Arturo S. Rosqueta, Frank P. Becking
  • Publication number: 20110174725
    Abstract: A filter module comprises a body of wound layers of a sheet material, said body having inner and outer peripheral surfaces, a winding axis and a passage along the winding axis and in fluid communication with the inner peripheral surface, the sheet material having openings forming two channel types from the inner to the outer peripheral surfaces, a first channel type open at the outer peripheral surface and closed adjacent to the inner peripheral surface, a second channel type open at the inner peripheral surface, in fluid communication with the passage and closed adjacent to the outer peripheral surface, the two channel types separated from each other by sheet material, one channel type being inlet channels communicating with an inlet, the other channel type being outlet channels communicating with an outlet, the edge of the inlet channel openings having a thickness less than the thickness remote from those openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: PALL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wolfgang Diemer, Martin Zeiler
  • Publication number: 20110008573
    Abstract: A two-dimensional sheet of material for bending along a bend line to form a three-dimensional article having a load-bearing bend line, the sheet including at least one bend-controlling displacement. The displacement includes a displaced portion displaced from the sheet of material in a thickness direction defined by a sheared face, the displaced portion further including a central portion extending along the bend line and opposing end portions at opposite ends of the central portion; and a stem portion interconnecting the displaced portion to the remainder of the sheet of material. The stem portion is located inwardly of the end portions and defined by opposing termini of the sheared face. In various aspects, the displacements are formed in opposite thickness directions and configured to promote bi-directional precision folding. Methods of forming and using the sheet of material are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Industrial Origami, Inc.
    Inventor: Max W. Durney
  • Patent number: 7753832
    Abstract: A method and equipment for molding an article produced from paperboard or cardboard. Moulding is carried out by a molding tool that mechanically works the board; and to improve its moldability, momentary irradiation on the microwave frequency is exerted on the board. The method applies to the manufacture of packages and disposable containers made of paperboard or cardboard; for example, to the forming of a rolled-up or folded rim around a drinking cup, mug or a container, the forming of a stiffening crease or projection on a paperboard container, or to press molding of paperboard containers or plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Stora Enso Oyj
    Inventors: Seppo Karine, Jari Räsänen
  • Publication number: 20090084034
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming a flower pot cover with at least one indented portion to retain the flower pot cover on the flower pot. The apparatus includes a male and female die. The female die has a plurality of fingers movable radially into an opening of the female die. The male die has a recess formed between the lower end and the upper end and adapted to receive the fingers of the female die to form the at least one indented portion of the flower pot cover when the sheet of material is pressed between the female die and the male die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Michael J. King
  • Patent number: 7479100
    Abstract: A system for creating and dispensing cushioning dunnage includes a plurality of material shaping members to convert a sheet stock material into a continuous strip of cushioning product. The shaping members include a constant-entry roller assembly having at least two tapered rollers supported end to end for rotation about respective ones of first and second axes arranged at an obtuse angle whose aspect faces a circumferential side of the rollers that first engages sheet stock material traveling over the rollers from a supply roll of the material. The tapered rollers present material engaging surfaces on an imaginary material conversion line transverse to the travel direction of the material where the material first engages the rollers for more precise and consistent control of alignment of the stock material. The roller assembly has free ends over which the sheet stock material can be folded to reduce the width of the material traveling over the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Zsolt Design Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Zsolt Toth
  • Publication number: 20090005229
    Abstract: An assembly to crease a paper set in a booklet maker is provided. A booklet is formed in a booklet marker when a crease blade strikes the middle of the stack and pushes it toward a set of nipped crease rolls. The assembly engages spring-loaded idlers against the crease rolls after the crease blade initiates the buckle of the stack and prior to creasing. The spring loaded idlers apply a drive force to the stack that assists the formation of the crease. With the assistance of this extra drive force, the crease blade tip can be stopped in time to avoid jamming while reducing the chance of getting a cover, or more sheets tearing off the booklet. This design is compact in size and therefore may also be retrofitted into existing designs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sandro Vono, Raymond Matthew Ruthenberg, Joao Carlos Morais
  • Publication number: 20080020917
    Abstract: In a method for producing a hinge-like bend line (3a,b, 4a,b or 5a,b) in a sheet (1) of paper, paperboard, cardboard or foil, particularly a brochure cover, by rotatively driven tools (7.1, 7.2), the bending line (3a,b, 4a,b or 5a,b) is produced by roll bending without scoring the material in the form of a scoring bead. The roll bending is preferably realized by the cooperation of a tool edge (12a) of a first rotary tool member (8.1) with a conical outside surface (11a) of a second rotary tool member (9.1). The roll bending process lowers the bending resistance of the sheet (1) in the region of the bending point (3a,b, 4a,b or 5a,b), wherein the sheet (1) is simultaneously pre-bent in a certain direction along the bending point (3a,b, 4a,b), e.g., in order to take into account the position of the brochure cover on the book block at the spine edges (the sheet is pre-bent inward in a U-shaped fashion).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Jurgen Pohlmann
  • Patent number: 7172548
    Abstract: A system for creating and dispensing cushioning dunnage includes a plurality of material shaping members to convert a sheet stock material into a continuous strip of cushioning product. The shaping members include a constant-entry roller assembly having at least two tapered rollers supported end to end for rotation about respective ones of first and second axes arranged at an obtuse angle whose aspect faces a circumferential side of the rollers that first engages sheet stock material traveling over the rollers from a supply roll of the material. The tapered rollers present material engaging surfaces on an imaginary material conversion line transverse to the travel direction of the material where the material first engages the rollers for more precise and consistent control of alignment of the stock material. The roller assembly has free ends over which the sheet stock material can be folded to reduce the width of the material traveling over the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Zsolt Design Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Zsolt Toth
  • Patent number: 7160237
    Abstract: A plastic sheet with a bending rule line, having satisfactory bending properties and pliability, feeling soft, having a fine appearance, and allowing a bending operation to be mechanically performed; and a ruled line blade for such plastic sheet. A bending ruled line (2) added to the bending portion of a plastic sheet (1) is formed, and shallow grooves (3) are formed along the bottom surface (2b) of the bending ruled line 2 and at predetermined longitudinal intervals, while a plurality of grooves (4) deeper than the shallow grooves (3) are formed longitudinally along the bottom surface (2b) between shallow grooves (3,3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Inventors: Tadashi Hashimoto, Hisashi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7077797
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for making booklets. Such structures of this type, generally, employ a variety of creasing techniques in order to form the booklet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jose Alvaro Barba Villanueva, Robert J. Lawton
  • Patent number: 7059532
    Abstract: An apparatus that stores and synchronizes printed forms that are being transferred between a high speed forms printer and a mechanism for attaching plastic cards to the forms. The apparatus is also able to buffer the forms that are in progress in the printer should the card processing system need to be shut down or paused. The apparatus creates a shingled stack of forms, with the bottommost form in the stack being fed to the attaching mechanism as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: DataCard Corporation
    Inventor: Roger D. McCumber
  • Patent number: 7022060
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for making cushioning product, and a roll tensioner therefor apply frictional resistance to the periphery of a roll of material to be converted into cushioning product with at least one roll support member which supports the roll in addition to applying frictional resistance to rotation. Efficient operation is attained automatically in that the frictional resistance applied and also the pulling profile exerted on the material during unwinding of the roll are changed as a function of weight and/or other characteristics of the roll of material to be converted into cushioning product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Zsolt Design Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Zsolt Toth
  • Patent number: 6981938
    Abstract: In a booklet maker or sheet folder wherein one or more sheets are pushed through a nip formed by a pair of crease rolls, and wherein the crease rolls are driven by gears, a slip clutch is operatively disposed between one of the crease rolls and the gear driving the crease roll. The slip clutch compensates for the abrupt change in frictional coefficient experienced by the crease rolls when one or more sheets enter the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond M. Ruthenberg, Joseph M. McNamara, David C. Van Wyngaarden, Steven K. Siu
  • Patent number: 6971981
    Abstract: The invention is directed to method and apparatus for making pads, such as interlabial pads. The apparatus includes a blending apparatus that weighs and blends fibers of different materials, at least one of which is absorbent. The blended fibers are conveyed through a chute to a fiber collection station. At the fiber collection station, collecting and feeding apparatus collects the blended fibers and feeds them to a forming apparatus that forms the blended fibers into a continuous blended-fiber web. The blended-fiber web is fed to a pad-making apparatus that cuts fluid-absorbent bodies in the blended-fiber web and laminates the bodies with at least one continuous cover web to form a laminated web. The laminated web is fed to a sealing and cutting apparatus to make the pads. Folding apparatus is provided for folding each pad along a major axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Dobslaw, Dale J. Fischer, Daniel J. Heuer, James J. Hlaban, Michael K. Lewis, Thomas P. Keenan, Richard W. Kubalek, Stephen L. Nunn, Moshe Saraf
  • Patent number: 6733432
    Abstract: A single facer for corrugated paperboard of the type using a very large diameter fluted bonding roll and a much smaller diameter fluted corrugating roll which engages the bonding roll to provide a corrugating nip. The small diameter corrugating roll is made to be resilient so that it is capable of inward deflection in the vicinity of the corrugating nip in order to cushion impact as the rolls interengage along the corrugating nip. This cushioning deflection absorbs vibrational movement due to chordal action of the interengaging flutes, and thereby reduces noise levels, roll wear and improves the quality and consistency of corrugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Marquip, LLC
    Inventor: Carl R. Marschke
  • Patent number: 6712747
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creasing planar material includes a pair of confronting drums between which the material is passed with at least one of the drums having at least one electrical filament thereon adapted to engage the planar material as it is passed between the drums for melting the planar material to a predetermined depth. The filaments are preferably quick heating and also dissipate heat quickly so that they can be activated and deactivated in short intervals so that the drums upon which the heat filaments are mounted do not heat up between the filaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene M. Ballard
  • Patent number: 6669235
    Abstract: A method of producing a folded item having printed information thereon to provide information to the user of a product is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventors: Joseph M. Vijuk, Robert Vijuk
  • Patent number: 6666808
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet with a folding portion that has a sheet body such as a plastic sheet, on which a folding portion (12) is formed perpendicular with respect to the folding direction (X). The folding portion (12) of the sheet includes a large number of recesses (14) and remnants (16) defined between the recesses (14) formed on the sheet body (10). Boundary lines (18) between the recesses (14) and the remnants (16) each are tilted at acute angle with respect to the folding portion-forming direction (Y) and towards the same side as that of an opposite one of the boundary lines (18) with a corresponding remnant (16) therebetween. The present invention also provides a shaping blade for shaping the folding portion on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Seal, Inc.
    Inventors: Haruyoshi Kawata, Shoichi Omori
  • Patent number: 6572519
    Abstract: The invention is a creasing device for creasing paper or card before it is folded. The device consists of a drum-shaped male component (2) featuring grooves (8, 10, 12) of various widths and depths to hold rubber O-rings (24, 26, 28). A female component (4) is almost identical to the male component (2) but has receiving grooves (14, 16, 18) that are slightly wider and deeper. When fixed to top and bottom shafts with one O-ring (24, 26, 28) in a groove (8, 10, 12) on the male component (2) aligned with a receiving groove (14, 16, 18) of the female component (4), a sheet of paper fed between the drums will be creased by the pressure of the O-ring (24, 26, 28) forcing the paper into the receiving groove (14, 16, 18). The invention allows the device to be quickly and easily set up to form creases of various widths and depths, while the resilient O-rings minimize damage to the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventor: Graham Harris
  • Patent number: 6471154
    Abstract: An automatic roll tensioner for a material dispensing system enables a material, e.g., paper or plastic, to be unwound from a roll of the material by pulling the material from the roll while maintaining tension on the material when pulling suddenly stops. The roll of material is positioned in the roll tensioner such that it can be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the roll by pulling the material from the roll to unwind material from the roll. A mechanism actuated by the weight of the roll of material applies frictional resistance to the rotation of the roll at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations on the periphery of the roll. An apparatus for converting sheets of paper into cushioning dunnage advantageously employs the automatic roll tensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Zsolt Design Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Zsolt Toth
  • Publication number: 20020155936
    Abstract: A pouch machine includes a controller and first and second modules. Each module has a converting station and the electrical equipment needed to operate the station. The controller controls the converting stations and operating parameters are provided from one module to the next. Each module may be a processing zone and include a registration sensor and a drawroll responsive to the respective registration sensor. Accumulators may be provided in each processing zone. An edge sensor may be provided that senses the edge of the film in one or more modules. The draw roll assembly is mounted on a moveable frame, and is angled in response to the location of the sensed edge. Multiple such assemblies may be included on a single machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Randy C. Wied, Gaylord Guilette, Scott A. Mattila, David Thomas, Mark Krueger, Gerald R. Winiecki, Gary Sargin
  • Patent number: 6344111
    Abstract: A novel paper article, a method of making a paper product, and an embossing roll are disclosed for providing a paper surface region having a minority of fiber to fiber bonds broken in the paper surface region to a depth less than about 0.02 mm from the paper surface. In one aspect, the roughened embossing roll includes protuberances or depressions sized at less than about 0.1 mm. In one aspect, the roughened embossing roll includes protuberances or depressions adapted to produce paper product surface deformations in the paper surface, wherein the paper product surface deformations are invisible to an unaided human eye. The present invention provides a paper product having higher perceived softness while maintaining tensile strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Wordwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee Delson Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 5997460
    Abstract: In combination, an inline delivery vehicle for substantially improving performance of a first stage printing press delivery table, for substantially eliminating paper jamming, and for substantially increasing safety of operations. The first stage printing press delivery table has a plurality of driven rollers for increasing the advancing speed of a paper and an upwardly adjustable bracket structure extending above the plurality of driven rollers. The inline delivery vehicle comprises: a first vehicle side positioned perpendicular and proximate the plurality of driven rollers and a second vehicle side positioned perpendicular and proximate the plurality of driven rollers and adjacent the first vehicle side. The first vehicle side and the second vehicle side are removably connected to the upwardly adjustable bracket structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Alan D. Young
  • Patent number: 5964689
    Abstract: A method of making an absorbent interlabial device that is worn interlabially by female wearers for catamenial purposes, incontinence protection, or both, is disclosed. The absorbent interlabial device of the present invention preferably includes at least an central absorbent portion (or core) surrounded by a liquid pervious topsheet. The topsheet is folded laterally inward over the central absorbent portion and downward to form a central groove on the top surface of the interlabial device. The central groove faces toward the vestibule of the wearer upon insertion into the interlabial space. The central groove improves the comfort associated with the wearing of the interlabial device, and allows the device to more rapidly acquire fluids, particularly viscous fluids. The device is more easily manufactured than previous interlabial devices using current web handling techniqures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ronald Ray McFall, Thomas Ward Osborn, III, Pamela Jean Brown
  • Patent number: 5876320
    Abstract: A continuous sheet folder apparatus is disclosed that can fold any size paper in half with nested inserts inside the paper. The apparatus can also function in an intermittent mode. The half folding apparatus is accomplished by a set of lifting fingers and stationary fingers which interact to curl the sheet leading edge upwards and over until it registers with the trailing edge, passing beneath it. The sheet is then creased in a presser unit. The lifting fingers are spring mounted and biased toward the oncoming sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Cope Company
    Inventor: Robert S. LeCompte
  • Patent number: 5698293
    Abstract: A formed piece comprises a substantially cylindrical outer surface layer of sheet material extending along a longitudinal axis of the formed piece from a first end to a second end of the formed piece, and inner layers of sheet material within the outer surface layer randomly arranged and creating air gaps between at least a portion of the inner layers. The surface layer and inner layers of sheet material are twisted around the longitudinal axis of the formed piece and along the length of the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Devipack Oy
    Inventors: Kai Nordlund, Timo Mattila
  • Patent number: 5529563
    Abstract: Embossing a web between unmatched male and female embossing elements, wherein the sidewall slope of the female element is different than the sidewall slope of the male element, provides an embossed web having markedly improved embossing pattern definition and, in the case of roll products, greater roll bulk at equivalent roll firmness. The unmatched male and female embossing elements are preferably made by laser engraving rubber embossing rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Jerome S. Veith, Edward H. Grupe, Joseph W. Brown
  • Patent number: 5469690
    Abstract: An improved cam mechanism bends carton blanks fed from the magazine of a packaging machine. The carton blanks each have a gripped portion attached to the packaging machine and a bendable portion extending from the gripped portion. The cam mechanism includes a rotatable shaft mounted on the packaging machine and at least one cam member mounted on the shaft. The cam member has a plurality of longitudinally extending side walls and apex portions interconnecting the side walls. Rotating the shaft about its longitudinal axis positions the side walls adjacent the gripped portions of the carton blank, and the apex portions radially displace the bendable portions of the carton blanks as the carton blanks are fed from the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: Joakim Nordell
  • Patent number: 5470531
    Abstract: An exchanger for oxygenating blood includes a casing having walls and a cavity, sheet material with first and second ends covering distal edges of the walls, and a cover extending over the cavity to sandwich the first and second ends of the sheet material between the cover and the edges of the walls. The cover is melted into the sheet material and the distal edges of the walls. In another embodiment, a blood oxygenator includes a first compartment having a closed casing divided by a folded sheet of membrane material forming a first blood chamber and a first gas chamber. The casing has first and second manifolds in fluid communication with the first blood chamber. A second compartment is interconnected with the first compartment and has a closed casing divided by a folded sheet of membrane material forming a second blood chamber and a second gas chamber. The casing has third and fourth spaced apart manifolds in fluid communication with the second blood chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Cobe Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Axel Sjogren, Gary Carson, Steve Estergreen, Timothy Taga, Rodger Stewart
  • Patent number: 5468449
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an exchanger includes the steps of folding sheet material in a series of pleats, placing the folded sheet material in a casing having an opening defined by walls with distal edges, covering the distal edges with end portions of the sheet material, and affixing a cover to the casing by simultaneously melting a portion of the cover and the sheet covered distal edges of the walls, and contacting the cover with the sheet material covering the distal edges of the walls. The method may also include melting a portion of the cover and/or the casing and placing the melted cover on the casing so that the melted portion contacts pleats of the sheet material, and permitting the melted material to cool and solidify and form a bond with the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Cobe Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Axel Sjogren, Gary Carson, Steven Estergreen, Timothy Taga, Rodger Stewart
  • Patent number: 5356364
    Abstract: Embossing a web between unmatched male and female embossing elements, wherein the sidewall slope of the female element is different than the sidewall slope of the male element, provides an embossed web having markedly improved embossing pattern definition and, in the case of roll products, greater roll bulk at equivalent roll firmness. The unmatched male and female embossing elements are preferably made by laser engraving rubber embossing rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Jerome S. Veith, Edward H. Grupe, Joseph W. Brown
  • Patent number: 5269743
    Abstract: A strip of paperboard material having a thickness of 170 to 600 .mu.m and a multiplicity of fold lines formed widthwise thereof at a predetermined spacing and U-shaped in cross section is caused to travel as reeved around two prefolding rolls, 5 to 30 mm in diameter, from different directions at a contact angle of 40 to 270 degrees to bring the projecting side of the fold lines into contact with the peripheral suface of one of the rolls and the indented side of the fold lines with the peripheral surface of the other roll. This method imparts increased foldability to the fold lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignees: Jujo Paper Co., Ltd., Shihoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 5217425
    Abstract: An apparatus for squaring folded corrugated paperboard boxes and the like includes a frame, an upper drive assembly and a lower roll assembly. The upper drive assembly and lower roll assembly define a split-nip. The upper drive assembly includes a pair of independent wheels which may be controlled to adjust or change the orientation of a folded corrugated box passing through the nip. The upper drive assembly is pivoted to the frame for adjustment of the nip. The apparatus is positioned to deliver folded corrugated boxes to a counter/ejector from a folder/gluer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Grant Machinery
    Inventor: Larry K. Cantrell
  • Patent number: 5163892
    Abstract: Forming machine comprising a first and second pairs of former and jaw arrangements, each of the former and jaw arrangements being relatively movable from an open to a closed condition (and from the closed to the open condition), but only after corresponding movement of the other former and jaw arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Aston Packaging Limited
    Inventor: John W. Morris