With Particular Guide Surface Formation Or Treatment Patents (Class 242/615.4)
  • Patent number: 11444292
    Abstract: An anticorrosive and conductive substrate includes a bulk portion and a surface portion including a magnesium titanium material having a formula (I) TixMg1-xOy (I), where x is a number from 0 to ?1 and y is a number from 1 to ?2, and wherein at least about 50% of the magnesium titanium material has a cubic crystal structure, and wherein the magnesium titanium material is configured to impart anticorrosive and conductive properties to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Mordechai Kornbluth, Soo Kim, Jonathan Mailoa, Lei Cheng, Georgy Samsonidze, Boris Kozinsky, Nathan Craig, Saravanan Kuppan, Sondra Hellstrom, Jake Christensen
  • Patent number: 11236451
    Abstract: Reel for fabric treating machines, said reel comprising: a substantially cylindrical main body (110) having a side surface (111), a first axial end (112) and a second axial end (113); first and second flanges (114, 115), respectively mounted to the first and second axial ends (112, 113) of said main body (110); at least one drag element (120) mounted, in the operating position, externally to said side surface (111), at least one constraining device (130), associated with said drag element (120) to hold said drag element (120) in said operating position. The constraining device (130) can be switched between a first condition, in which it holds said drag element (120) in said operating position, and a second operating condition, in which it allows said respective drag element (120) to be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BRAZOLLI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Carmelo Zocco
  • Patent number: 9010677
    Abstract: A paper transport system for transporting a web in a printing system includes a stationary bar positioned such that the web slides over a portion of an exterior surface of the bar, a rotatable source roller for supplying unused cover material, and a rotatable take-up roller for receiving used cover material. Cover material extends between the source roller and the take-up roller and is disposed over the portion of the exterior surface of the bar that the web slides over. A locking mechanism can be used to maintain tension in the cover material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Young, Christopher S. Garcia
  • Publication number: 20140291030
    Abstract: Cable guides for overhead support of drill line on a drilling rig during a slip and cut operation feature replaceable liners of wear material supported by a re-usable base. A tensioning roller added to the draw-works resides outward from the periphery of the draw-works drum and is spring-biased toward same into order to force the incoming drill line against the periphery of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Jesse Urquhart
  • Patent number: 8590822
    Abstract: A welding-wire-storing pail pack is provided in which a pressing member includes an annular body positioned on a coil of welding wire, a pressing margin extending from a position on an underside of the body at an inner peripheral edge of the coil toward an axis of the coil, and a projection provided on an inner peripheral edge of the pressing margin in such a manner as to project downward. The body has an inner diameter of 200 to 470 mm. A gap of 10 mm at the minimum is provided between an inner shell and the body. The pressing member weighs 600 to 2000 g. Thus, the wire is prevented from being tangled and/or kinked when being pulled out, and the occurrence of decoiling failure is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Arita, Satoshi Ando, Keishuku Araki
  • Patent number: 8528301
    Abstract: A method of facing a roof structure includes securing a facing to respective lower flanges of first and second spaced-apart purlins of the roof structure, with the facing extending directly between the respective lower flanges of the first and second purlins. A carriage is suspended from purlins of the roof structure and supports a roll of facing. The facing is dispensed and adhesively secured to the purlins by moving the carriage relative to the purlins and/or by maintaining the carriage in a stationary position and pulling facing from the roll of facing supported on the carriage. The resulting faced roof structure provides an enhanced appearance and more uniform and higher R-value insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Lamtec Corporation
    Inventors: Hal J. Robbins, John A. Post, Thomas Florian
  • Patent number: 8262014
    Abstract: The present invention is a device for storing, displaying, and dispensing flexible tubing upon a store shelf. In one embodiment, the device comprises a one-piece housing having inner and outer bottom walls, a rear wall extending upward from the outer bottom wall, and first and second sidewalls. The first sidewall extends upward from the inner bottom wall and is substantially perpendicular to the rear wall. The first sidewall comprises a smooth leading wall, a curved edge, and a trailing straight edge. The second sidewall extends upward from the outer bottom wall and is substantially perpendicular to the rear wall and parallel to the first sidewall. The second sidewall comprises a smooth leading wall, a curved edge, and a trailing straight edge. The smooth leading walls of the first and second sidewalls may be formed by first and second flaps that are folded upon inside surfaces of the first and second sidewalls, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventor: William J. Selby
  • Patent number: 8210464
    Abstract: The present invention is a device used for storing, displaying, and dispensing flexible tubing on a store shelf. The device comprises a bottom wall having a front edge, a rear wall, and first and second sidewalls. The device further comprises flexible tubing wrapped about a spool assembly mounted to and spanning the first and second sidewalls. The device further comprises a bumper removably engaged with the front edge of the bottom wall. The bumber reduces slipping and damage to the device when the flexible tubing is dispensed by the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: William J. Selby
  • Patent number: 8177940
    Abstract: A web stabilizer adapted to stabilize a web moving across a span between two components of a web machine or machines, the stabilizer including: a surface facing and adjacent the moving web, and at least one transition in the surface of the stabilizer, wherein the transition is a protrusion or recess in the surface between a leading edge of the stabilizer facing a direction of web travel and a trailing edge of the stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Kramer, Alain Chamberland, Rudy Chang, Paul Richards, Kurt Mitterboeck, Edward Brossard, Joseph Guadagno, Dave Gamble
  • Patent number: 8070135
    Abstract: A winch which can operate with an external brake, or the external brake can be removed to operate with an internal brake. The winch has a cable drum that rotates to get cable on and off the drum. Two eccentric cams are rotated to always keep a soft plastic part pressed against the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: James Kempf
  • Patent number: 8028988
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a sheet of material at a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to measure a property of the sheet. The method also includes stabilizing the sheet with respect to the sensor using a guide roller. Stabilizing the sheet includes using the guide roller to remove at least a portion of a first boundary layer of air moving towards the guide roller and to reform at least a portion of a second boundary layer of air moving away from the guide roller. For example, the guide roller could include a plurality of grooves or openings in a surface of the guide roller, or the guide roller could include a plurality of rings spaced apart from one another. Air could move from one side of the guide roller to another side of the guide roller through the grooves, through the openings, or between the rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Shakespeare, Tarja T. Shakespeare
  • Patent number: 7997443
    Abstract: A center-pull dispenser for dispensing paper towels from a continuous roll, wherein each individual towel is separated from an adjoining towel by a plurality of perforations. The dispenser comprises a housing having a housing back and a detachable front cover hingedly connected thereto at the lower periphery of said housing back and front cover for opening and closing the housing, a paper support tray removably connected to a lower portion of the housing back, the tray having a centrally located dispensing nozzle and at least one locking element for releasably locking at least one first hinge element on the lower periphery of the front cover to at least one second hinge element on the lower periphery of the housing back, an opening in the lower periphery of said housing through which the towels are dispensed, and a wall-mounting member for removably mounting the housing back to a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Cintas Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Petras Titas, Christopher Andrew Brizes, Mark Edward Cipolla, Paul Dana Stephens, Christopher Daniel Carsten
  • Patent number: 7997522
    Abstract: A center-pull dispenser for dispensing paper towels from a continuous roll, wherein each individual towel is separated from an adjoining towel by a plurality of perforations. The dispenser comprises a housing having a housing back and a detachable front cover hingedly connected thereto at the lower periphery of said housing back and front cover for opening and closing the housing, a paper support tray removably connected to a lower portion of the housing back and having a centrally located dispensing nozzle, an opening in the lower periphery of the housing through which the towels are dispensed, a detachable wall-mounting member for removably mounting the housing back to a wall, and a locking member for releasably locking the front cover to the housing back and the housing back to the wall-mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Cintas Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Petras Titas, Christopher Andrew Brizes, Mark Edward Cipolla, Paul Dana Stephens, Christopher Daniel Carsten
  • Publication number: 20110186677
    Abstract: A wire payoff structure includes a plurality of arm members, a first ring, a second ring, and a third ring. The first ring is coupled with each of the arm members. The second ring is coupled with each of the arm members and is spaced radially outwardly from the first ring. The third ring is coupled with each of the arm members and is spaced radially outwardly from the second ring. A portion of each arm member passes beneath the third ring to facilitate contact with an underlying wire stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Carroscia, Dennis Hartman
  • Patent number: 7927537
    Abstract: A tape winder includes: a hub, around which a tape is wound overlappingly and which forms a tape roll on the hub; a first guide roller, defining the position of feeding of the tape into the tape roll being formed on the hub while pressing an outer peripheral surface of the tape roll; and a moving mechanism, moving the first guide roller away from the rotation axis of the hub as the tape roll increases in diameter. A rotation axis of the first guide roller is positioned along a normal to a reference surface and the rotation axis of the hub intersects the rotation axis of the first guide roller at an angle ?. The tape is processed to provide winding curl to the tape through winding the tape on a tapered hub with inclination and a heat treatment to fix the winding curl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kyouhisa Uchiumi, Kouichi Nakatogawa
  • Patent number: 7883048
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the combining of hollow fibers to form a bundle, wherein after a batch-wise taking of continuously manufactured hollow fibers onto a reel apparatus the hollow fibers placed together to form bundles are wound around by means of a winding film and are subsequently welded. Such hollow fibers represent intermediate products in the manufacture of dialyzers for use in hemodialysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Jörn Hörmann
  • Publication number: 20100155523
    Abstract: A wire guiding device includes a base and a guide portion for streamlining the flow of coiled wire from a storage container. Side walls may be included to bridge the distance between the device and the storage container to prevent wire from rising upward around the outside of the wire guiding device. As the amount of wire in the bin decreases, the wire guiding device will float downward maintaining constant downward pressure on the coil of wire. Wire in the storage container will therefore be drawn out in a smooth manner limiting or substantially preventing tangles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Raymond Bender, David Barton, Herb Matthews
  • Patent number: 7735702
    Abstract: A web conveying apparatus is provided with a plurality of web guiding rollers. The web guiding rollers convey a web on which a functional material has just been coated in a coating section. Concave portions and convex portions that have a substantially semicircular cross section are alternately formed on a peripheral surface along a circumferential direction of each roller. A pitch Pv of the concave portions and a pitch Pm of the convex portions are in the range of 0.01 mm or more and 2 mm or less. A height Hv-m from a lowest point of the concave portion to a highest point of the convex portion is in the range of 0.01 mm or more and 1 mm or less. A curvature radius Rv of the concave portion and a curvature radius Rm of the convex portion are in the range of 0.1 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Hikita, Masayuki Kawarada
  • Publication number: 20090261196
    Abstract: A wire guiding device includes a base and a guide portion for streamlining the flow of coiled wire from a storage container. Side walls may be included to bridge the distance between the device and the storage container to prevent wire from rising upward around the outside of the wire guiding device. As the amount of wire in the bin decreases, the wire guiding device will float downward maintaining constant downward pressure on the coil of wire. Wire in the storage container will therefore be drawn out in a smooth manner limiting or substantially preventing tangles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Raymond BENDER, David BARTON, Herb MATTHEWS
  • Patent number: 7515382
    Abstract: A tape guide roller comprises a cylindrical barrel with a cylindrical peripheral surface parallel to a central axis; the cylindrical peripheral surface comprising smooth cylindrical surface zones alternating in the circumferential direction about the cylindrical peripheral surface with non-smooth cylindrical surface zones. The non-smooth cylindrical surface zones may comprise a textured surface, and/or may comprise a grooved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Armando Jesus Argumedo, Kevin Bruce Judd
  • Publication number: 20090039196
    Abstract: A cable protection and guide device comprising a number of pairs of right and left spaced side plates articulately connected to each other in a longitudinal direction wherein the plates are identical and interchangeable. Each of the link plates includes an arc shaped concavity, a convex portion and, the convex portion of the next adjacent link plate interengages the arc shaped concavity of the link plate. The arc shaped concavity includes a warp limiting lock groove and the convex portion includes an arc-shaped warp limiting lock piece The arc-shaped warp limiting lock piece of the convex portion interengages the arc-shaped warp-up limiting groove of the arc shaped concavity of link plate so that the warping of the link plates is substantially eliminated. The manufacturing cost for a single link plate used in a cable protection and guide device is reduced by half.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: SHOICHIRO KOMIYA, Takayuki Matsuda, Katsuhide Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20090014579
    Abstract: A wire guiding device includes a base and a guide portion for streamlining the flow of coiled wire from a storage container. Side walls may be included to bridge the distance between the device and the storage container to prevent wire from rising upward around the outside of the wire guiding device. As the amount of wire in the bin decreases, the wire guiding device will float downward maintaining constant downward pressure on the coil of wire. Wire in the storage container will therefore be drawn out in a smooth manner limiting or substantially preventing tangles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Raymond BENDER, David BARTON, Herb MATTHEWS
  • Publication number: 20080196981
    Abstract: A sway reduction or dampening device operably engaging a wall adjacent an elevator car or floor of an elevator shaft, and receiving an elevator compensating cable is described. The device is made of two molded parts having an outer surface and inner surface with the inner surface for each part being complementary to each other to define a passage for a cable. The parts are made of molded material and include in one part molded rods which pass through corresponding openings in the other part. The two parts are held together through conventional securing elements such as nuts when the rods are threaded bolts. The nuts can be secured on the backside of a bracket to which the device is attached within an elevator shaft with an elevator cable passing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: David Liland, Didier Kaczmarek
  • Publication number: 20080169374
    Abstract: A drop cable wall entry guide assembly includes a base having a generally arch shaped track for maintaining a minimum bend radius in a cable extending along a wall structure and at least part way around the track for entry of the cable into a hole in the wall structure at substantially 90° relative to the wall structure without kinking. A cover closely surrounds the track except for a cable entry portion of the track which is accessible through an opening in an upstream end portion of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Multilink, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven E. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 7328541
    Abstract: A method comprises pulling a continuous web to advance the web along a path of conveyance and to create tension in a lengthwise portion of the web; manipulating the web to cause the portion of the web at a point along the path to have a non-uniform tension across the width of the web, with a maximum tension being at a location spaced from the first longitudinal edge of the web, and with the tension decreasing from such location toward the first longitudinal edge of the web such that a zone in the web at the first longitudinal edge has reduced tension; and controlling transverse positioning of the first longitudinal edge in the zone of reduced tension. The reduced-tension zone is produced by a tension-reducing member about which the web is pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Mark Garceau, John Corrigan
  • Patent number: 7131609
    Abstract: A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material therefrom is provided and includes a housing including a base and a cover. The base includes a platform configured to support sheet material. The platform includes a dispensing disk and the platform has an outer perimeter intersected by a slot thereby providing an opening into the platform and dispensing disk. The housing is formed to include an exit port spaced apart from the platform and dispensing disk. The cover includes a rotatable disk having a plurality of user interchangeable dispensing slots of differing diameters intersecting an outer periphery of the rotatable disk. Sheet material positioned on the platform flows through the dispensing opening of the dispensing disk and through a selected one of the plurality of dispensing slots. The selected one of the plurality of dispensing slots is aligned with the exit port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Paul Lewis, Paul Francis Tramontina, Randy LeCates
  • Patent number: 7104492
    Abstract: A cable winder guide is disclosed comprising a cylindrical drum having a cylindrical surface with a shaft rotatably mounting the cylindrical drum. A drive is provided for rotating the cylindrical drum about the shaft. A helical groove is defined in the cylindrical surface of the drum for retrieving and releasing the cable upon rotation of the cylindrical drum. A cable retainer is disclosed for resiliently engaging the cable when the cable is located within the helical groove for maintaining the cable within the helical groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Deco Power Lift, Inc.
    Inventors: George Massell, Richard Massell
  • Patent number: 7051970
    Abstract: A tape drive system is disclosed. The tape drive system includes at least one tape reel assembly, a storage tape, and at least one pack arm assembly. The tape reel assembly includes a hub defining a tape winding surface about which is wound the storage tape. The pack arm assembly is disposed adjacent the tape reel assembly and includes a pack arm and a pin. The pack arm defines a guide defining a pivot end and has at least one flexible flange cantilevered from a side of the guide. The pin is coupled to the tape drive system. In this regard, the pack arm is slidingly coupled to the pin and configured to follow the wound storage tape by moving axially relative to the hub and radially about the pivot end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Raul Andruet, Albena V. Blagev, Arne B. Boberg, Jerome D. Brown, Fred W. Livermore, Michael A. Mewes, Jason E. Moses, Christopher J. Zwettler
  • Patent number: 7040568
    Abstract: A dispenser adapted to dispense sheet material is provided and includes a housing including a platform configured to support a sheet material thereon. The platform includes a slot, and an adjustable orifice configured to alter a size of the slot is provided as well. The housing is formed to include an exit port which is spaced-apart from the platform. When sheet material is disposed in the dispenser, it flows on a generally serpentine path from the platform and through the exit port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Paul Lewis, Paul Francis Tramontina
  • Patent number: 7025303
    Abstract: A turning bar for contactless guidance of a tubular film web moved at a loop angle around the turning bar, including a support tube with a hollow interior, which can be connected with a compressed air source. The support tube has a plurality of air outlet openings which communicate with the interior and are spaced apart from each other, substantially over an entire width of the support tube within an angular area of the support tube corresponding to the loop angle of the tubular film web. An air-permeable microporous layer is applied to the exterior of the support tube and forms the surface of the latter, through which the compressed air exiting the air outlet openings of the support tube can flow. The compressed air exits the microporous layer as a laminar air flow, which forms a laminar air cushion between the turning bar and the tubular film web. An angular area in which the air outlet openings are formed in the support tube is increased with respect to the loop angle of the tubular film web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Reifenhauser GmbH & Co. Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Helmut Meyer
  • Patent number: 7011262
    Abstract: A fishing reel comprises a bobbin and a bracket. The bobbin comprises first and second ends and an elongate body extending between the first and second ends. The bobbin has a pair of protrusions at each end and a gathering region between each pair of protrusions. The bobbin is configured to wrappingly receive fishing line about the body and between each pair of protrusions. The bracket comprises at least one support member configured to support the bobbin relative a fishing rod. The bracket has a pair of flanges configured to be received by hoods on the fishing rod. The bracket is rigidly attached to the bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: David Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 6994293
    Abstract: A tape transport roller for a tape drive includes a roller body having a longitudinal axis and first and second grooves that each run obliquely to the axis. The grooves are configured to vent air disposed between the roller body and magnetic tape traveling across the roller body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Peter R. Coburn
  • Patent number: 6892978
    Abstract: A tape guide for limiting lateral tape movement within a tape transport system component, such as a data storage tape cartridge. The storage tape, having a tape width, extends between two tape reels along a tape path defined, at least in part, by the tape guide. The tape guide includes a tape contact face, a top flange and a one bottom flange. The tape guide is configured to define an effective tape path width between the top and bottom flanges that is less than the tape width. During use, the tape guide biases the tape path to minimize lateral motion of the storage tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Michael A. Mewes, Christopher J. Zwettler
  • Patent number: 6851644
    Abstract: Continuous photo film includes a support of resin film having a back surface. A photosensitive layer of photographic emulsion is disposed on a surface of the support opposite to the back surface. A conveying roller conveys the continuous photo film. The conveying roller includes a roller body of metal. A hardness reinforcer layer is formed on a surface of the roller body by thermal spraying of ceramic or cermet, so that the roller body surface is prevented from being scratched or ground by the back surface of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Sanda, Takashi Kubo, Hideki Matsuzawa, Masayoshi Wada
  • Publication number: 20040222327
    Abstract: A tape drive (10) with a guide assembly (20) including a first roller (30) having a perimeter surface (56), a circumference (62), a longitudinal axis (50) and one or more of spaced apart, discontinuous grooves (32). The grooves (32) are disposed into the perimeter surface (56), with each groove (32) having a groove length (74) of less than the circumference (62) of the first roller (30), for venting air between a storage tape (26) and the first roller (30) in order to inhibit lateral tape motion and directional continuity shift. Further, the grooves (32) can be semi-randomly distributed over the perimeter surface (56), thereby decreasing the incidence of print through. Preferably, the grooves (32) of the first roller (30) are aligned substantially parallel to the circumference (62) of the first roller (30). With this design, the grooves (32) tend to inhibit the storage tape (26) from moving laterally, i.e. parallel to the longitudinal axis (50) of the first roller (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Ken Hanscom
  • Publication number: 20040178302
    Abstract: A tape guide that has textured surface over which the tape passes. The textured surface has a surface roughness exceeding the flying height of the tape above the surface. This new irregular surface topography reduces the air bearing and allows limited contact between the tape guide and the tape while minimizing tape distortion that can occur with other surface topographies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Darrel R. Bloomquist, Judy Bloomquist
  • Patent number: 6745976
    Abstract: A tape roller bearing is provided that prevents the development of an air film between the roller surface and the tape. The spool surface is made from porous material so that air flows through the spool surface. The porous material vents air uniformly over the roller surface, and the tape remains in direct contact with the roller, even at high speed. The speed of the tapes movement can be determined by measuring the speed of movement of the spool surface using an encoder disk and an encoder module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Mountain Engineering II, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack L. Marion
  • Patent number: 6719243
    Abstract: An industrial edger for mounting to a sharp or abrasive edge to protect rope from physical damage caused by contact between the rope and the edge as the rope passes over the edge. The industrial edger comprises an elongated tube having an exterior surface over which the rope passes, a slot cut along the length of the elongated tube to allow placement of the industrial edger over the edge, and end plates attached to both ends of the elongated tube to prevent the rope from sliding off of the elongated tube. Dividing plates may be attached to the exterior surface of the elongated tube to provide multiple channels for the use of multiple ropes protected by one industrial edger. A roller may be placed on the top of each end plate to reduce friction from an object, e.g., a backboard, sliding over the industrial edger. A retaining rod may be removably mounted parallel to the elongated tube, attached at the end plates, to prevent a loose rope from coming off of the industrial edger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Scott Haverty
  • Patent number: 6656104
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for winding conditioned material onto a spool so as to maintain its desirable properties. In one embodiment, decorative ribbon is conditioned using a curling device and wound onto an elongated spool having a predetermined radius in an alternating, helical lay pattern so as to maintain the curl of the ribbon, and permit easy removal and storage thereof. In a second embodiment, two or more different types or colors of ribbon are wound either concentrically or in juxtaposed orientation onto the same spool. An apparatus for winding one or more of the aforementioned spools is also disclosed. A multi-spool dispenser for the curled ribbon is further described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Inventors: Mark Forrester, Kim J. Dato, Sherry L. Forrester, James E. Dato
  • Patent number: 6619624
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hoisting mechanism comprising a rotatable reel and hoisting cables to be wound onto the reel, the hoisting cables running substantially parallel to one another, and a guide plate having feed-through apertures for the hoisting cables, with at most one hoisting cable running through each feed-through aperture. For each hoisting cable a guide member is provided between the rotatable reel and the guide plate, which guide member is embodied as a spiral spring whose coils abut to one another and whose inside diameter is dimensioned such that the hoisting cable fed through the spiral spring is able to move in the feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Mammoet Holding G.V.
    Inventor: Nicolaas Lamphen
  • Patent number: 6598826
    Abstract: A vehicle tire hose guide device that includes a smooth molded plastic member having a curved tire receiving channel along one side and a smooth hose guide surface on an opposite side. The curved tire receiving channel has resilient arms extending outwardly therefrom for gripping the rim of a vehicle wheel assembly to hold the vehicle tire hose guide device in connection with the tire such that when an air or water hose is pulled around the vehicle, the smooth hose guide surface allows the hose to be smoothly pulled around the tire without becoming jammed between the tire and the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Allan Therriault
  • Patent number: 6575397
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing sheet material includes a housing having a chamber configured to hold sheet material and an access door configured to provide both access to the chamber and closure to the chamber. The housing includes a dispensing member supported by the access door. The dispensing member has a first panel and a second panel. At least one panel moves so that the opening in the first panel and the exit port in the second panel align to permit sheet material to be threaded therethrough for loading, and at least one panel moves so that the opening and exit port are moved out of alignment for dispensing the sheet material. A method of installing sheet material in a dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Francis Tramontina, Richard Paul Lewis
  • Publication number: 20030089819
    Abstract: A tape guide that has textured surface over which the tape passes. The textured surface has a surface roughness exceeding the flying height of the tape above the surface. This new irregular surface topography reduces the air bearing and allows limited contact between the tape guide and the tape while minimizing tape distortion that can occur with other surface topographies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Darrel R. Bloomquist, Judy Bloomquist
  • Publication number: 20030075582
    Abstract: In a recording and/or reproducing device (1) comprising at least one tape guide (10), the guide wall (13) and the guide flanges (14, 15) projecting beyond the guide wall (13) are coated with a coating (21) of zirconium nitride or titanium nitride, as a result of which a high wear resistance and a high resistance to the deposition of material abraded from the tape is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Catherine Dinhobl
  • Patent number: 6550658
    Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having at least one guide arrangement that facilitates recording and reproduction even when a tape edge comes into contact with an end flange of the guide arrangement. The guide arrangement structure preferable is in the form of a tape guide roller, for guiding a record carrier in the guide arrangement. There is at least one damping projection in the area of the guide surface. The damping projection extends in tangential directions of the guide surface and is adapted to damp axial relative movements of the record carrier with respect to the guide arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Ewald Fraberger
  • Patent number: 6508431
    Abstract: Apparatus for winding a tape medium is disclosed to include a winding hub, a drive operative to rotate the hub, a rigid packing arm and a support member for the packing arm. The packing arm rides on the surface of the tape pack and may be linear or arcuate and may be off the wind axis of the hub. A first end portion of the packing arm may also overlap the hub. The packing arm may be formed of a non-ferrous material, such as a ceramic, and it may be biased into contact with the tape pack surface. A longitudinal groove can be provided to collect debris. A plurality of packing arms equiangularly spaced relative to the hub may be employed. The packing arm can be supported on the frame of the apparatus or it can be mounted in a cartridge that provides a supply of tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Segway Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Stephan E. Gavit
  • Patent number: 6488230
    Abstract: Bowed spreader apparatus for laterally stretching, or stressing, a web of material carried in a selected direction along a conveyor path includes an elongate stationary spreader bar extending laterally of the path. The spreader bar has a web support face which is convexly curved both about the longitudinal axis of the bar and along the longitudinal axis. The bar includes a formed elongate support body having a degree of flexibility allowing the body to be bent in a bowed configuration. A face surface of the body is formed in a convex curve about the longitudinal axis of the body and a plurality of hardened elements are individually secured to and cover the face surface of the support body. An underlying interchangeable profiling support having a convexly curved upper surface forms the spreader bar into a selected bowed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Coorstek, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven S. Porter
  • Publication number: 20020084380
    Abstract: Bowed spreader apparatus for laterally stretching, or stressing, a web of material carried in a selected direction along a conveyor path includes an elongate stationary spreader bar extending laterally of the path. The spreader bar has a web support face which is convexly curved both about the longitudinal axis of the bar and along the longitudinal axis. The bar includes a formed elongate support body having a degree of flexibility allowing the body to be bent in a bowed configuration. A face surface of the body is formed in a convex curve about the longitudinal axis of the body and a plurality of hardened elements are individually secured to and cover the face surface of the support body. An underlying interchangeable profiling support having a convexly curved upper surface forms the spreader bar into a selected bowed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Applicant: COORSTEK, INC.
    Inventor: Steven S. Porter
  • Patent number: 6357692
    Abstract: A yarn feeler, such as for a yarn sensor in a yarn feeding device, has a feeler with an essentially even resting surface which is to be brought into contact with a yarn. The feeler foot includes, at least in the region of it resting surface an uninterrupted surface in order to gently treat the yarn during detection and to avoid the deposition of contaminants in the feeler foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: IRO Patent AG
    Inventors: Patrik Jonas Magnusson, Staffan Hagstroem
  • Publication number: 20010054663
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette and a guide roller in which the magnetic tape can stably travel and the magnetic head can read/write the record correctly, and a method of manufacturing the guide roller are provided. The magnetic tape cassette of the present invention comprises a guide roller 106 rotatably supported by the lower cassette half. The guide roller is almost in the shape of a barrel of which a coefficient of curvature T expressed by the expression [1] representing the extent of curvature of the circumferential surface is in the range between 0.001 and 0.01, and comprises a primary molding and injected resin injected within the primary molding for bulging said primary molding into the shape of said barrel shaped cavity that has a largest diameter at the parting line by the injection pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Katsuki Asano, Masayoshi Moriwaki, Shigeru Nishiyama