y Oil-storage type electric iron By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT An oil-storing electric iron comprises: a flat ironing part including a stainless steel soleplate, a top casing plate, an electric heating tube and a heating conducting oil; and an adjustable temperature controller. The stainless steel soleplate and the top casing plate form an enclosed casing in which the electric heating tube and the heating conducting oil are provided. The thermal capacity of the electric iron soleplate can be effectively increased and the problem of instability and nonuniformity of the electrical iron soleplate temperature can be solved, so as to be uniform in temperature, easy to operate, safe in use and energy saving. Full Article
y Passive optical network system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT A system for providing bi-directional RF services over a point-to-multipoint Passive Optical Network (PON). A system that can transport upstream RF signals generated by devices such as a set top box or a cable modem, through a passive Optical Network while simultaneously supporting downstream RF video and bi-directional base-band services on the PON. Full Article
y Fold-away ironing device with steam generator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT Fold-away ironing device comprising a frame (12) attached to the wall and in which there is an ironing board surrounded by a mobile frame (18). In a first position, the ornamental front part is visible in the frame fixed to the wall and the ironing board is folded away, and in the second position, the front part is folded away and the ironing board becomes visible. First pivot means comprising a top hinge and a bottom hinge at the right-hand end or at the left-hand end of the frame fixed to the wall forming a vertical axis allowing the ironing board to be pivoted through an angle of around 90° and, on the other hand, two hinges situated at the middle of the horizontal parts of the mobile frame forming the vertical axis (20) allowing the ironing board to pivot so that it becomes visible. Second pivot means allow the ironing board in the second position to be moved from the vertical position into the horizontal position. Full Article
y Method and apparatus for feeding a laundry article to a mangle or the like By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT Laundry articles are spread out by input machines in front of a feed conveyor which feeds the spread-out laundry article to a mangle. The respective laundry article is previously fed by a transfer device to a draw-on device onto which the laundry article is drawn. In known input machines, relatively complicated transfer devices are provided. According to the invention, the transfer device is provided with a rectilinear conveying section ascending to the draw-on device. The laundry article is thereby transported to the draw-on device by the transfer device in the plane in which it is transferred to the transfer device. Such a transfer device needs to have only a simple set-up. Since the laundry article remains in the plane in which it is fed to the transfer device, it can be brought by the transfer device into a favorable initial position for being drawn reliably onto the draw-on device. Full Article
y Household appliance for drying garments By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A household appliance (100) comprises a cabinet (105) accommodating a drum for loading items to be dried and a drying air circuit for circulating drying air through the drum for drying the items therein. The drying air circuit comprises air heating elements (415) for heating the drying air fed to the drum, and the cabinet is provided with a worktop (110) defining a surface (130) having a plurality of apertures (135) in fluid communication with an air conveying system (205,225,230) adapted to deliver a flow of air through said apertures. The air conveying system comprises an air duct (230) thermally coupled to the air heating elements in such a way as to cause heat generated by the air heating elements to heat the air to be delivered through the apertures in the drying surface. Full Article
y Embroidery hoop By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT An embroidery hoop includes a first frame, a second frame and a resilient member. The first frame includes an inner surface and an outer surface. A second frame includes an inner surface, an outer surface and a split portion. The split portion of the second frame includes a pair of separate end portions. One of the first and second frames is positionable in circumscribing alignment with the other of the first and second frames. The resilient member spans the end portions of the second frame split portion and is operable to provide a biasing force for abutting the inner surface of one of the first and second frames against the outer surface of the other of the first and second frames when the first and second frames are in circumscribing alignment. Full Article
y System and method for using color to indicate a state of a home appliance, such as an iron By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for using color to indicate a state of a home appliance, such as an iron. The iron has a sole plate and a water tank in fluid communication with the sole plate, a heater for heating the sole plate, a sensor for sensing a temperature of the sole plate, a user interface for setting a desired temperature for the sole plate, and a controller in communication with user interface and the sensor for controlling the heater. An illumination device under the control of the controller is provided to illuminate the water tank, particularly the interior thereof, in a color that is representative of a state of the iron, such as a power condition of the iron and/or a temperature of the sole plate. Full Article
y Canvas stretching system with corner clamps By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A stretching system to stretch a canvas or material on a frame without the use of stretching pliers and staples. Special purpose corner clamps are used to secure the stretcher bars into an initial open miter frame to orient the double sided adhesive strip on the side of the stretchers towards the canvas or material while maintaining the adhesive strip from touching the canvas or material. After alignment, the stretching bars are pressed down and attached onto the canvas or material and the corners are released. The corner clamps are removed and canvas or material corners are cut and folded into the open miter ends which also have adhesive strips. By rotating the stretchers axially 90 degrees into the final frame, thus closing the miters, and upon inserting U-shaped fasteners into the grooves placed on the back of the stretcher, the canvas or material is stretched and ready to display. Full Article
y Garment ironing assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A garment ironing assembly includes a panel that has a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge. The perimeter edge includes a front edge, a back edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A pair of first extensions each is hingedly coupled to the bottom side. Each of the first extensions is selectively positionable and releasably retained in an extended position. One of the first extensions is extendable outwardly from the first lateral edge and one of the first extensions is extendable outwardly from the second lateral edge. Each of the first extensions is positioned adjacent to the front edge. Each of the first extensions is angled away from the front end when the first extensions are in the extended position. A support structure is attached to and extends downwardly from the bottom side of the panel to support the panel above a support surface. Full Article
y Ironing board comprising one leg composed of two parts connected to one another by a joint By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT Ironing board consisting of a top supported by at least one leg with two sections connected to one another by hinge; said hinge allows lower segment of leg to pivot between an unfolded position, in which said lower segment forms an extension of upper segment of leg, and a folded position, in which lower segment is folded in the direction of upper segment, wherein said hinge contains a mechanism to lock the lower segment in an unfolded position and at least one unlocking button to deactivate the locking mechanism to allow lower segment to rotate into the folded position. Full Article
y Ironing board assembly with configurable ironing surface and ironing board cover therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT An ironing board assembly includes an ironing board having a main board portion and at least one auxiliary board portion that is movably connected to the main board portion such that the auxiliary board portion is movable between operating and collapsed positions. A flexible ironing board cover is attachable to the ironing board so as to cover ironing sides of both the main and the auxiliary board portions, and to provide an ironing surface for a user to iron on. A tensioner is configured to pull the flexible cover taut over the covered ironing sides such that the ironing surface extends seamlessly across any joint or gap between the main and auxiliary board portions. Full Article
y Fluid dispensing system for fabric refreshing cabinet device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A device for treating fabrics comprising a cabinet, said cabinet comprising: a shell having an interior surface, said shell forming an opening; the device further comprising: at least a first and a second spray head positioned upon said interior surface of said shell, the first spray head comprising a multitude of spray nozzles and the second spray head comprising at least one spray nozzle, wherein in at least one first direction the first spray head produces a spray pattern comprising a sequence of a first spray-on area, a first spray free area, and a second spray-on area and in said first direction the second spray head produces a spray pattern comprising at least a third spray-on area and wherein the third spray-on area covers at least a portion of the first spray free area. Full Article
y Sheet material conveying apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A conveying apparatus includes a first roller that is rotational to convey a nonwoven fabric and a second roller that is rotational to convey the nonwoven fabric and is located on the trailing side of the first roller with respect to the conveying direction of the nonwoven fabric. The conveying apparatus includes a noncontact sensor and a controller. The noncontact sensor detects the distance from the nonwoven fabric at a position between the first roller and the second roller. The controller uses the distance detected by the sensor to compute the slack amount of the nonwoven fabric and controls the rotation speed of the second roller, thereby reducing the difference between the computed slack amount and a predetermined target value. Full Article
y Method of transferring a piece of cloth and a laundry apparatus for performing the method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT The invention concerns a method and corresponding apparatus of transferring a piece of cloth (3) from a pair of spreader clamps (4,5) to a conveyor (1) via a transverse boom, where the piece of cloth is first suspended and straightened between the spreader clamps, then delivered to the transverse boom (8,9), and subsequently delivered from the transverse boom to the conveyor. Apart from that, a straightening of the fore edge of the piece of cloth is performed, seen in the direction of conveyance of the conveyor, after its delivery from the clamps to the transverse boom has been initiated, but before it is delivered to the conveyor. Full Article
y Sports equipment sanitizer system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST An equipment rack system includes a plurality of holders at least including a pair of first holders, a pair of second holders, a pair of third holders, a pair of fourth holders, and a pair of fifth holders, a base; a vertical column have a first end and a second end; a valve; and a powerer. Each pair of first holders, the pair of second holders, the pair of third holders, the pair of fourth holders, and the pair of fifth holders comprise fluid apertures about their lengths. The equipment is placed on the pair of first holders, the pair of second holders, the pair of third holders, the pair of fourth holders, and the pair of fifth holders on the equipment rack during an in-use condition to sanitize and air dry equipment to neutralize odors, and eliminate bacteria, and germs. Full Article
y Laundry refresher unit and laundry treating apparatus having the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a laundry refresher unit that can selectively supply various types of dry air as well as steam to laundry, and a laundry treating apparatus having the laundry refresher unit. A laundry refresher unit includes a cabinet that defines an exterior thereof, wherein an air path is formed in the cabinet; a steam generator provided in the cabinet to selectively supply steam outside the cabinet through a steam outlet; and a heated air supply device provided in the cabinet to heat air drawn through an air inlet, such that the air having at least three temperature ranges is supplied outside the cabinet through the air outlet. A laundry treating apparatus includes a laundry refresher unit that includes a cabinet, a steam generator and a heated air supply device. Full Article
y Gravity chute By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A gravity chute for articles, comprising a chute floor defining a conveying surface, wherein the conveying surface has a conveying angle of inclination pointing in a conveying direction, and comprising at least one side wall which laterally delimits the chute floor, wherein, in addition to the conveying angle of inclination, the conveying surface has a transverse angle of inclination directed transversely to the conveying direction and pointing to a side wall, wherein the side wall, to which the conveying surface runs at a transverse inclination, has first friction properties within a first region extending from the conveying surface to a height h, and has second friction properties within a second region extending above the height h, which differ from the first friction properties, the side wall being recessed within the first region with respect to the second region. Full Article
y Substrate treatment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A substrate treatment system for treating substrates in a continuous process includes a system chamber delimited by chamber walls, having an entry lock and an exit lock, and also at least one substrate treatment device and a transportation device inside the system chamber. The transportation device has an arrangement of transportation rollers arranged one behind the other in the transportation direction, for vertical or horizontal transportation of substrates. The rotor of the drive device is arranged under the pressure conditions prevailing in the system chamber and the stator of the drive device is arranged outside the pressure conditions prevailing in the system chamber. Full Article
y Bearing casing assembly for conveyor rollers and conveyor roller assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A bearing casing assembly for a conveyor roller tube having a casing, a stub axle, bearings, an outer seal member and shield cap, is provided. The casing includes a body having a shoulder at its distal end extending circumferentially and radially outwardly for abutting against an end of the roller tube, an inner flange extending circumferentially and radially inwardly near the distal end from the casing body and an internally threaded a proximal end. The casing also includes a casing seat having a threaded portion for threadingly engaging the threaded proximal end portion of the casing body and a bearing engaging portion adapted to abut the bearing for selectively adjusting a preload on the bearing by rotating the casing seat about the casing body. The bearing casing assembly may further include an inner seal member when fluid lubricating bearings are used. Full Article
y Inclined roller conveying assembly for hot formed glass sheets By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT An inclined roller conveying assembly (40) includes a horizontally inclined roller (74) having opposite ends respectively supported by first and second supports (64, 66), with one support (64) having an idler bearing (80) and with the other support (66) having a drive coupling (94) that provides rotation of the inclined roller from a horizontal support and drive axis to provide support for the lower surface of an upper portion Gu of a hot upwardly concave formed glass sheet G being conveyed. Full Article
y Device for taking back empty containers, in particular plastic bottles and metal cans By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT Device for taking back empty containers, in particular plastic bottles and metal cans, with a housing which has apparatuses for processing inserted empty containers, an intake chute accessible from the outside that receives empty containers as bulk material and a bottom sloping downward in direction of intake chute. Device is provided that prevents or impedes insertion of excessively large objects into device. Device provides almost unimpeded insertion of empty containers as bulk material into intake chute, and simultaneously prevents that excessively large objects can enter into the device. The bottom of intake chute has a plurality of grooves arranged side by side and running in the intake direction, the grooves flowing into a passage opening leading to the device and whose cross-section is dimensioned in such a manner that empty containers aligned longitudinally in the intake direction can pass unimpeded through the grooves. Full Article
y Time delay separator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A separator device for a conveyor has a stop (12) arranged to be moved between a separating position and a conveying position, a trigger (11) arranged to move the stop (12) into the separating position when triggered, and a delayer (20) arranged to delay a movement of the stop (12) from the separating position into the conveying position. The delayer (20) has an energy storage arranged to gain energy when the trigger (11) is triggered. The energy storage is arranged to power a rotary drive impeding the stop (12) from moving into the conveying position. Full Article
y Rotary lamination apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A rotary lamination apparatus has a rotary lamination turntable rotational about a vertical axis. A plurality of workpieces are rotated and laminated on the turntable. The turntable includes a support member that is arranged on an upper surface of the turntable, a plurality of rolling bodies mounted on the upper surface of the turntable, and a plurality of urging members for urging the rolling bodies upward. The support member is formed of material having a high friction coefficient. The rolling bodies are selectively movable between an upper position and a lower position. In the upper position, at least a portion of each of the rolling bodies is located above the upper surface of the support member. In the lower position, each rolling body is located below the upper surface of the support member. In the upper position, the rolling bodies support the workpieces movably in a lateral direction. Full Article
y Roller for conveying glass substrate and roller axle assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention discloses a roller for conveying glass substrate. The roller includes a structure of roller body that is formed by assembling a plurality of roller components together in a disassembleable manner. An axle bore is formed in center of the roller. The present invention also discloses a roller axle assembly for conveying glass substrate, which includes a plurality of rollers and a roller axle. A distance is formed between adjacent ones of the rollers. Each of the plurality of rollers is individually disassembleable. The roller for conveying glass substrate and the roller axle assembly according to the present invention allows any one of the rollers that are mounted to a roller axle assembly to be disassembled individually thereby shortening the time period for replacing the glass substrate roller, increasing the utilization rate of the roller, and lowering down the device maintenance cost. Full Article
y Enclosed slurry spreader attachable to a discharge chute By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for distributing a slurry can include a trough configured to be removably attached to a discharge chute of a ready-mix truck and receive a slurry discharged therefrom where the trough has a front including a flange configured to extend under the discharge chute. The apparatus can include an enclosed basin connected to a lower end of the trough proximate to a midpoint of the enclosed basin and an aperture defined within the enclosed basin and configured to enable the slurry to flow from the trough into the enclosed basin. The enclosed basin can include at least one covered access port where the at least one covered access port is configured to be opened and configured to be closed. The apparatus can include a plurality of drainage nozzles disposed along a bottom of the enclosed basin and configured to distribute the slurry to a plurality of locations. Full Article
y Valve devices, systems, and methods for controlling the distribution of materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to valve devices, systems, and methods for controlling the distribution of materials to multiple locations. The improved valve devices, materials distribution systems, and materials distribution methods disclosed herein are particularly suitable for use in applications where the materials being distributed are, for example but not limited to, non-gaseous fluid materials (e.g., raw liquids, solutions, slurries, colloids, suspensions, and the like) and solid materials having some level of tackiness, moisture content, or like property. The valves, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be operated without having to stop the flow of materials therethrough in order to change the position of the valve from one outlet to another. Further, the valves and systems disclosed herein have few directional changes, therefore there are few, if any, points within the system where the material can get stuck and/or lodged. Full Article
y Method, baffle free angle adjustable apparatus and system for delivering dry bulk-free flowing material into a container By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for changing a flow rate and direction of dry bulk material supplied from an elevated source, via an angled spout to an adjustable spout end having no internal baffles therein and having readily interchangeable wear pads therein which are accessible through an access door. Full Article
y Conveyor for a sheet glass tempering furnace By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A conveyor for a sheet glass tempering furnace, comprising a roller conveyor and an inclined airborne conveyor, as well as support and transport rollers at a lower edge of the airborne conveyor. The roller conveyor includes a horizontal level conveyor and an adapter conveyor between the horizontal level conveyor and the airborne conveyor. The adapter conveyor features a horizontal level upstream end and an inclined downstream end, the inclination angle of which matches substantially that of the airborne conveyor. The adapter conveyor has its rollers increase in inclination step by step when proceeding from the up-stream end towards the downstream end. Full Article
y Roller and conveying device with the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure provides a roller and a conveying device. The roller includes an inner circle, an outer circle, and an inflatable cushion arranged between the inner circle and the outer circle with the volume thereof changing as air charge inflated thereinto changes. by adjusting the air charge of the inflatable cushion, the outer diameter of the roller is increased as the air charge inflated into the inflatable cushion increases, at the same time, the conveyor surrounding the exterior of the roller is tightened to increase the tension degree of the conveyor without disassembling other mechanisms of the conveying device, which is simply operated to be capable of saving labors and time. Full Article
y Rebuildable roller and roller bearing assembly for a belt line conveyor system and a method of use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A rebuildable conveyor roller includes a hollow, cylindrical roller tube having a first end opposite a second end. The roller tube has a rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly provided at the first end and the second end. The rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly is affixed to the roller tube such that at least a part of the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly is removable from the roller tube. A hub of the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly has a generally circular shape that is dimensioned to fit inside the internal diameter of the roller tube. The hub has a centrally located hole through which a stub shaft may be inserted. A bearing holder is inserted in an internal cavity provided within the hub for securing the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly to the roller tube. Full Article
y Conveyor roll with centrifugal force-operated magnetic brake By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A conveyor roller (10) has a cover (20), an axle (40), and a magnetic brake (50) having a magnetic component (51) and a braking component (54). The cover (20) is supported rotatably about an axis of rotation relative to the axle (40). The magnetic brake (50) is provided kinematically between the axle (40) and the cover (20) and is connected to the axle (40) and the cover (20) so that rotation of the cover (20) about the axis of rotation can be retarded by the magnetic brake (50). The magnetic component (51) and the braking component (54) are arranged displaceably relative to each other between a rest position and a braking position. A centrifugal device (60) for a rotational speed-dependent displacement of at least one of the magnetic brake components (51, 54) is provided between the rest position and the braking position. Full Article
y Roller rail systems and adjustment brackets therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A roller rail system includes an adjustment bracket including a first roller rail assembly support portion and a second roller rail assembly support portion adjacent the first roller rail assembly support portion. The first and second roller rail assembly support portions are each configured to receive a roller rail assembly such that the roller rail assembly slides within the respective first and second roller rail assembly support portion relative to the adjustment bracket. A first roller rail assembly is received by the first roller rail assembly support portion. A second roller rail assembly is received by the second roller rail assembly support portion. The roller rail system has a retracted configuration where leading ends of the first and second roller rail assemblies are closer together and an extended configuration where the leading ends of the first and second roller rail assemblies are further apart. Full Article
y Wear indicator apparatus, system and method for conveyor transfer chutes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A wear indicator apparatus, system and method are provided for allowing wear information from an internal flow surface of a chute to be obtained from outside the chute so as not to require access to the interior thereof for wear inspection purposes. In one form, the wear indicator apparatus has a wear indicator portion that is configured to be fit into a through opening in the chute wall assembly. The wear indicator portion has a layer of wear material that is of the same material as an inner liner of the chute wall assembly, and a mounting portion that is configured to be removably fixed to an exterior surface of the wall assembly. Preferably, the wear indicator apparatus includes a removal mechanism connected to the mounting portion that is operated outside of the chute for retracting the wear indicator portion out from the wall assembly through opening. Full Article
y Vacuum roll with internal rotary valve By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A vacuum roll includes an inner rotor, an intermediate stator, and an outer shell roll. The inner rotor has open and closed portions and is adapted to rotate within the intermediate stator which is rotationally fixed and also has open and closed portions. The outer shell roll has open and closed portions and is adapted to move around the intermediate stator. Together the inner rotor and the intermediate stator define an internal rotary valve interface adapted to control fluid communication between the interior chamber and the outer shell. Full Article
y Vertical conveying channel and uses thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A vertical conveying channel is made of elastic fabric. The elastic fabric's latitude elastic deformation rate is 100˜450%, latitude resilience is 300˜2500N, and latitude elastic recovery rate is 70˜100%; preferably, the latitude elastic deformation rate is 120˜400%, the latitude resilience is 350˜2300N, and the latitude elastic recovery rate is 75˜98%; more preferably, the latitude elastic deformation rate is 140˜350%, the latitude resilience is 550˜2200N, and the latitude elastic recovery rate is 80˜96%; most preferably, the latitude elastic deformation rate is 170˜300%, the latitude resilience is 750˜2000N, and the latitude elastic recovery rate is 85˜94%. The vertical conveying channel can be used for vertical conveying of cargo or personnel, preferably used in the field of lifesaving, engineering or military. Full Article
y Modular system for assembling ramps, decks, and other raised structures By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Embodiments of the present invention provide a modular, portable, and adjustable wheelchair ramp that provides advantages and benefits over current wheelchair ramps. The ramp may be sold in a kit with individual elements, but it is also designed to provide a frame substructure that can be used with conventional decking materials, railings, and handrails. Full Article
y System integration By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A large and massive panel is maneuvered and supported by a work piece support which has an upper horizontal work piece support surface for receiving the panel in extended surface-to-surface contact. An array of apertures is provided in the work piece support surface, beneath same of which are provided low friction bearing elements moveable between a raised, load-bearing position in which the panel can be slid onto the work piece support and a retracted position in which the panel is left in extended surface to surface contact with the work piece support. Full Article
y Flow-retarding chutes and spouts and method for delivering dry bulk free-flowing material to a location By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A system and method for causing a differential flow rate to exist in a downspout so as to reduce abrasion of a bottom side of said downspout and to sort dry bulk material flowing therethrough. The present invention reduces the velocity of the mass of the dry bulk material, such as corn, thus preserving grain quality and reducing the exit velocity at the lower end of the spout. Full Article
y Conveying device for cylindrical members, comprising running rails inclined in the direction of travel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A conveying device for cylindrical members, such as parisons (1) for hollow objects, has running rails (8, 9) which are inclined in the direction of travel of the parisons (1). A neck (3) of the parisons (1) which is part of a head (2) lies on the running rails (8, 9). A guide rail (11) which is located at a certain distance from the head (2) of the parisons (1) is fixedly arranged above the running rails (8, 9). A movable intermediate element (12) is retained and guided within the running rail (11). A force component (16) directed against the head (2) of the parisons (1) acts on the intermediate element (12). Full Article
y Multi-directional roller assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-directional roller assembly for directing articles in a conveying system. The multi-directional roller assembly has a rotatable roller frame housing at least one set of mutually-actuating rollers. The multi-directional roller assembly directs an article supported by the assembly along a trajectory determined by the orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly relative to an input force. The orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly may be changed to change the trajectory. A conveyor system may include an array of multi-directional roller assemblies. An actuator controls the orientation of the multi-directional roller assemblies individually and may also control an array of multi-directional roller assemblies as a group. Full Article
y Device and method for stopping and/or aligning transport goods on a conveying device, and conveying device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for stopping and/or aligning transport goods on a conveying device, in particular a roller conveyor, device has a main part and a stopping device that can be moved out of the main part into a conveying path of the conveying device in order to stop and/or align the transport goods that are transported along the conveying path. The stopping device comprises at least two separate stops that can be moved between a working position, which projects into the conveying plane, and a rest position, which is retracted with respect to the conveying plane, by means of a common actuator device. Full Article
y Arcuate roller conveyor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A material handling system incorporates one or more arcuate conveying surfaces defined by rollers with a large conveyor radius. The rollers may be tapered rollers, and may be live rollers. Full Article
y Inflatable liner systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An inflatable liner with vibratory function related to lining mining hoppers and other such devices. The inflatable liner has an exterior expandable layer and ceramic wear layer beneath that assists maintaining a long-use-life of the inflatable liner. Use of the air-control device to rapidly inflate and deflate exterior expandable layer vibrates in the exterior expandable layer and assist removing unwanted material/debris from the exterior lining of exterior expandable layer to further maintain a long-life use of the inflatable liner and lower maintenance of the machinery/hopper. Full Article
y Bunter technology By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides methods for making bunters used to form headstamp indicia into ammunition cases. The invention also provides bunter blanks that are specially configured to yield high quality bunters. Full Article
y Hybrid hydrodynamic and hydrostatic bearing bushing and lubrication system for rolling mill By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Rolling mill bearings incorporate bearing bushings with pluralities of hydrostatic pad recesses, that are preferably in conjunction hydrodynamic bearings also formed within the bushing. Each recess has an isolated lubricant passage that is adapted for coupling to a separate isolated source of pressurized lubricant. In some embodiments herein, the isolated pressurized lubricant source is supplied by a dedicated outlet of a pressure pump. In this manner each hydrostatic pad recess has a dedicated pressurized lubricant supply that is not interrupted by loss of lubricant pressure events in other bearing pads or elsewhere within the rolling mill lubrication system. Full Article
y Fully hydraulic edger for plate mills By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fully hydraulic edging system suitable for use in wide plate mills is disclosed. The need for electro-mechanical screws to effect large movements of the side rollers is avoided by employing a pull-back hydraulic cylinder for this purpose. The main hydraulic cylinders are switched to a non-operational mode during large movements thus avoiding the need for large volumes of hydraulic fluid to be transferred under high pressure. Full Article
y Hydraulically driven pressing device, and method of pressing a fitting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of using a hydraulically driven pressing device for pressing a fitting on a tube is provided. The pressing device includes a piston and a cylinder for acting on pressing jaws. A piston shaft is connected to rollers. The pressing device can be used to carry out pressing operations requiring different levels of pressing power, by using an adjustable stop which is provided in the direction of displacement of the piston in order to achieve different end positions for the piston during the piston return stroke. Full Article
y Device for collapsing and loading a heart valve into a minimally invasive delivery system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device is provided for collapsing a stented bioprosthetic valve, including first section and second sections, each spanning between first and second ends of the device. The second section of the device is associated with the first section to at least partially enclose an internal cavity formed by the first and second sections, the internal cavity tapering from an open insertion portion at a first end of the device to an open exit portion at a second end of the device. The insertion portion has a larger dimension than the exit portion. When the first section and second section are substantially enclosing the internal cavity, a stented bioprosthetic valve may be inserted into the insertion portion and collapsed as it is moved toward and through the exit portion. The valve may then be loaded on an apparatus for insertion into the body. Full Article
y Electrically driven rapidly vaporizing foils, wires and strips used for collision welding and sheet metal forming By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for forming a piece of a sheet metal is performed by positioning a consumable body, made of metal, proximate to the piece of the sheet metal. The consumable body is rapidly vaporized, and the gas pressure generated thereby is directed into the piece of the sheet metal. This results in acceleration of the piece of sheet metal, and it is collided into a stationary body at a velocity, generally in excess of 200 m/s. Depending upon the type of stationary body, the piece of sheet metal is deformed into a predetermined shape or is welded onto the stationary body. The vaporization is accomplished by passing a high current of electricity into the consumable body. The effect of the vaporized metal may be augmented by additional components in the consumable body. Full Article
y Method for making metal body and metal box by using hydroforming By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hydroforming method for metal produces hardware having a throat in only one side and having approximately right-angled corners without causing thinning and breakage. The method includes using a working fluid to exert a liquid pressure on a metal embryo and cooperating with a push rod of a hydroforming mold to supply material from the lower edge, forcing the side sheet metals to bulge. Furthermore, by using the hydroforming mold to provide a downwardly pressing active force on the metal embryo, under feeding of the downwardly pressing active force cooperating with continuous liquid pressure, the metal embryo deforms and bulges such that each corner of the metal embryo and the wall corners of the die cavity of the hydroforming mold have approximately the same angles. Hardware, every angle of which approximates a right angle, can be obtained after removing the hydroforming mold. This method can also be used to obtain a metal box. Full Article