rat 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
rat 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
rat Fabric ironing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT This invention relates to the ironing of fabrics, such as clothes in particular, and provides a compact, light-weight apparatus suitable also for use in various ironing applications. The ironing apparatus comprises first and second fabric-pressing surfaces, supporting arms to which the surfaces are mounted opposite each other, to define a fabric-receiving gap between the surfaces. The supporting arms operate to urge the first surface toward the second, so to narrow the gap from a first, fabric receiving width, to a second, fabric-compressing width effective for exerting crease-reducing pressure on said fabric in the gap, while permitting relative traversing movement between said surfaces and the fabric. The supporting arms may be in the form of a flexible U-shaped member having opposed ends to which the respective pressing surfaces are mounted to be inwardly opposed, and a generally central portion defining a body. Full Article
rat Apparatus for generating steam By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating steam comprising a water heating chamber in which water is heated to generate steam. The apparatus also includes a cavity having an inlet communicating with the water heating chamber so that water in the water heating chamber is received in the cavity and a sealable outlet. The cavity is configured to limit the flow of convection currents in the water received in the cavity so that scales and/or solid particles suspended in the water accumulate in the cavity. Alternatively, a guide member is disposed at the inlet to the cavity which is configured to guide scales and/or solid particles suspended in the water into the cavity. Full Article
rat Clothes treating apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A clothes-treating apparatus is disclosed. According to the present invention, the clothes-treating apparatus includes a steam spraying unit capable of preventing water condensed from steam from flowing into an accommodating space containing clothes and it has an improved steam spraying unit to enhance work efficiency when a worker assembles parts thereof. Full Article
rat 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
rat 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
rat Stopping apparatus and stop-cancelling method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A work stopping apparatus according to this invention includes a swing unit pivotable about a first pivot shaft between an abutment position and a retracted position, and a driving unit pivoting the swing unit. The swing unit includes a swing portion and a movable portion including a work abutment portion. The movable portion is pivotable about a second pivot shaft parallel to the first pivot shaft. A distance between the first pivot shaft and the work abutment portion becomes short along with pivoting motion of the swing unit from the abutment position to the retracted position. Full Article
rat 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
rat 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
rat 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
rat 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
rat Raw material loading apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST An apparatus includes a processing apparatus that processes raw material in an airtight state, an accommodation section that accommodates the raw material, a first feeding path that is provided outside the processing apparatus and receives the raw material from the accommodation section, and a second feeding path having upstream and downstream ends that are outside and inside the processing apparatus, respectively. The second feeding path receives the raw material from the first feeding path. The apparatus also includes a joint section that separates and joins the first path and the second path, and a closing section that is positioned in the second path closer to the processing apparatus than the joint section and maintains the processing apparatus, and the second path in an airtight state when the joint section separates the first path and the second path. Full Article
rat 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
rat Belt moving unit and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A belt moving unit includes an endless belt member and plural support rolls supporting the belt member movably and rotating, wherein the support rolls include one or more follower rolls rotating to follow the movement of the belt member and at least one of the follower rolls is used as an inertial roll to which inertia is applied, wherein the inertial roll includes a rotation shaft, a rotational inertial member rotating with the rotation shaft and applying inertia, and a roll body disposed along a peripheral surface of the rotation shaft and including plural roll-divided members, and wherein the plural roll-divided members include a fixed divided member fixed to the rotation shaft and rotating along with the rotation shaft to follow the movement of the belt member and a rotating divided member rotating independently of the rotation of the rotation shaft. Full Article
rat Apparatus for counting deposit beverage containers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST An apparatus for counting deposit beverage containers that includes a loading basin for holding a plurality of deposit beverage containers, a feed chute for receiving the containers from the loading basin having an inlet end narrowing into at least one outlet end, and at least one feed channel extending from each outlet end. The feed channel includes a choke opening that orders the containers into a single file row, an upward bend following the choke opening that decreases the downward slope of the feed channel to moderate the flow of the containers, and a downward curve following the upward bend that accelerates each container to create separation between containers. Full Article
rat 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
rat Dispensers for coin handling apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A coin dispensing apparatus has a cabinet serving as an apparatus housing for the apparatus. The apparatus further has a module for receiving, optionally validating and optionally sorting coins of different types and at least one dispenser for coins to be dispensed. The apparatus is adapted to dispense a specific composition of coins from the at least one dispenser to a portable coin receptacle. Each dispenser comprises a spout and is shaped such that a plurality of dispensers can be placed in a pattern allowing the spouts to be placed in a row. An effect of this is that the sorted coins can be dispensed in a row above the row of spouts, thus there is no need for an additional complex channel system for leading the sorted coins into the correct dispenser. Full Article
rat Low-pressure process apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A method for disassembling a low-pressure process apparatus. The method provide a transmission device and a low-pressure process apparatus; and moves the housing to a transmission device in a first horizontal direction via the first roller set. Full Article
rat 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
rat Methods and apparatus to monitor material conditioning machines By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus to monitor conditioning machines are disclosed herein. An example system includes a plurality of work rolls to process a strip material. A first sensor detects a first distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a first reference location and a second sensor detects a second distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a second reference location. A controller determines a difference value between the first distance and the second distance to detect material curvature of the strip material. Full Article
rat Pressing and stripping apparatus for punch die and push rod thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pressing and stripping apparatus for punch die includes a base, a pressing and striping plate, an A-type pillar, a first bolt, an elastic or pressure element, a stripping bolt, a second bolt, a die-mounting bolt, a B-type pillar, a locating pin, a cylindrical guide column, a third bolt, an outer supporting frame, and a square guide column; wherein the pressing and stripping plate is movably connected to the base via the stripping bolt, wherein the pressing and stripping plate reciprocates along the axial direction of the stripping bolt while working, and the elastic or pressure element is provided between the pressing and stripping plate and the base. The push rod used with the pressing and stripping apparatus for the punch die is a column, one end thereof is a polygonal blind hole, and the other end thereof is a stepped shaft with parallel threads. This arrangement can achieve a common pressing and stripping apparatus, making the punch die easy to be disassembled. Full Article
rat Machine tool, working fluid supply apparatus, and working fluid By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A machine tool (1) for processing a workpiece (2) by relative movement of a tool (18) with respect to the workpiece (2), including a homogenizer (15) into which water and oil are taken to disperse oil homogeneously in water, a working fluid produced in homogenizer (15) being supplied to a work area for processing of the workpiece. Full Article
rat Apparatus and method for shot peening of blade mounting areas on a rotor arrangement disc By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for shot peening blade mounting areas on a disc of a rotor includes a peening nozzle unit which streams shot peening media along a longitudinal axis. The unit includes a nozzle outlet which extends at least partially in a circumferential direction of the unit, and a deflection arrangement with a deflection area for the media. The deflection area is at least partially cone or half-hyperboloid shaped, such that the media passes the nozzle outlet over an angle range in circumferential direction after being deflected by the deflection arrangement. A method for shot peening the blade mounting areas positions the unit in a slot profile of a blade mounting area, and guides the unit along the contour of the slot profile with the nozzle outlet facing the contour of the slot profile to approximately uniformly peen the contour of the slot profile. Full Article
rat Apparatus and method for inserting angle plates and closing duct seams By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method are described for automatically inserting angle plates into duct work and for seaming the duct work. Full Article
rat Green ball grinding method, ceramic sphere fabrication method, and grinding apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A green ball grinding method includes the step of supplying a green ball between a first surface of a first member and a second surface of a second member constituting a grinding apparatus, and the step of grinding the green ball between the first surface and the second surface while the green ball rotates around its own axis and in orbital motion. In the step of grinding the green ball, the step of causing the green ball grinding to proceed while applying load between the green ball and each of the first surface and the second surface, and the step of modifying the rotation axis of the green ball by reducing the load lower than in the step of causing the green ball grinding to proceed are executed alternately. Full Article
rat Manufacturing apparatus of plate-like tooth profile member By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT [Problem] To present a manufacturing apparatus of a plate-like tooth profile member capable of forging and forming in one process by using a closed type die, being hardly accompanied by burrs due to plastic changes in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction of the material of the plate-like tooth profile member. [Solving Means] Consisting of an upper die 1 and a lower die 2 of closed type, the lower die 2 is composed of a tooth die 21 for forming a tooth portion in a material W of a plate-like tooth profile member, and movable dies 22, 22 movable relatively in a vertical direction to the tooth die 21 disposed at both sides in the axial direction of the material W of the plate-like tooth profile member of the tooth die 21, a first stroke is executed for confining the circumference at both end portions in the axial direction of the material W of the plate-like tooth profile member by the upper die 1 and the movable dies 22, 22, and a second stroke is executed for forming a tooth portion in the material W of the plate-like tooth profile member by the upper die 1 and the tooth die 21. Full Article
rat Apparatus and method for producing springs By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Using a method for producing a spring from a spring wire, turns of a first spring part are produced, wherein said produced turns move in a first direction. Thereafter, turns of a second spring part are produced, wherein said produced turns move in a second direction which is different from, in particular opposite of, the first direction. Such a method can be used to produce a spring having a plurality of spring parts. Full Article
rat Apparatus for growing carbon nanotube forests, and generating nanotube structures therefrom, and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides apparatus and methods for growing fullerene nanotube forests, and forming nanotube films, threads and composite structures therefrom. In some embodiments, an interior-flow substrate includes a porous surface and one or more interior passages that provide reactant gas to an interior portion of a densely packed nanotube forest as it is growing. In some embodiments, a continuous-growth furnace is provided that includes an access port for removing nanotube forests without cooling the furnace substantially. In other embodiments, a nanotube film can be pulled from the nanotube forest without removing the forest from the furnace. A nanotube film loom is described. An apparatus for building layers of nanotube films on a continuous web is described. Full Article
rat Fire retardant compositions and methods and apparatuses for making the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for producing a textile product generally includes a feeding section for providing a starting material to facilitate producing a textile product derived from the starting material; a drafting section operably coupled to the feeding section for gripping, pulling, stretching and breaking at least one strand of the starting material into at least one continuous and cohesive network of an intermediate product; and a spinning section operably coupled to the drafting section for winding and twisting the at least one continuous and cohesive network of an intermediate product onto a removable receiving member to form the textile product; the feeding section, the drafting section, and the spinning section are configured to form the textile product in a continuous operation. Full Article
rat Air jet spinning machine and method of operation thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to a method of operation for an air jet spinning machine, which is characterized in that the spinning process is interrupted when a yarn fault is detected, and subsequent to the interruption of the spinning process, a piecing process is initiated which is at least partly carried out by the spinning station and in which a number of yarn process and handling devices directly assigned to the spinning station are applied. Furthermore, an air jet spinning machine is proposed which permits such a piecing method. Full Article
rat Cable stranding apparatus employing a hollow-shaft guide member driver By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A cable-stranding apparatus includes a stationary guide, a motor, a driven guide, and a controller electrically coupled to the motor. The stationary guide is configured to guide strand elements in a spaced-apart configuration and to pass a core member. The motor is operatively associated with a guide driver. The driven guide is disposed at least partially within the guide driver so as to rotate therewith. The driven guide is configured to receive the strand elements from the stationary guide, individually guide the strand elements received from the stationary guide, and to further pass the core member. The controller is electrically coupled to the motor and configured to control the rotational speed and direction of the motor. Full Article
rat Yarn-producing apparatus for an air spinning machine with an inset and a spinneret equipped therewith By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A yarn-producing apparatus for an air spinning machine, which is used for producing a yarn from a fiber strand with the assistance of an air flow, has a spinning tip with an inlet opening surrounded by the outer surface of the spinning tip, in the area of which a yarn is able to be produced with the assistance of the air flow. The yarn-producing apparatus has an internal inset with a draw-off conduit adjacent to the inlet opening for the yarn and several air outlets branching off on the side from the draw-off conduit, such that an air flow introduced counter to the direction of spinning (S) in the draw-off conduit can escape in part through the air outlets and in part through the inlet opening. In addition, a spinning unit with a corresponding yarn-producing apparatus is provided. Full Article
rat Fid apparatus and method of using By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fid apparatus includes a first channel formed along one side of the fid and a second channel formed along an opposite side of the fid. The fid further includes an aperture that passes completely through both the first channel and the second channel. This arrangement enables the fid to be able to grasp or clutch a segment of rope during a splicing process. The splicing process involves a method of using the fid apparatus in such a way that the segment of rope is arranged within the first channel, second channel, and aperture of the fid prior to commencing splicing processes. The segment of rope used is determined by the particular form of splicing that is implemented. Full Article
rat Work vehicle having hydraulic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a work vehicle having a hydraulic apparatus which can reliably prevent erroneous operation of the valve of the hydraulic apparatus even when the operating lever is moved inadvertently. With this hydraulic apparatus, with operations of a single operating lever in two directions, two valves are operated respectively. Two valve operating links for operating the two valves respectively are pivotally supported to a support shaft provided to a pair of frame plates and a lock pin is provided to the frame plates. The two valve operating links form pin holes. When the two valves are at the neutral positions, the lock pin is inserted into the pin holes with a locking operation of a lock operating tool, thus fixing the valve operating links and locking the valves. Full Article
rat Portable vehicle roof snow and ice removal apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An improved apparatus for removing snow and ice from the roof top of a truck, trailer, bus or similar vehicle is mounted atop a conventional flatbed trailer for ease of relocation from one site to another for use. The addition of a height adjustable scraper or plow blade that is operator controlled to remain in contact with the roof of the vehicle being cleaned is provided with a self-contained front-to-back and side-to-side stabilization mechanism to prevent damage to the tops of vehicles by gouging or tearing the roof top. Full Article
rat Position control apparatus and method for working machine of construction machinery By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a position control apparatus for a working machine of a construction machinery, including: a boom driving unit for driving a boom; a bucket driving unit for driving a bucket; a working tool manipulating part for generating a manipulation signal for driving the boom driving unit and the bucket driving unit; a kick-down switch for generating a kick-down signal for lowering a gear stage; and a controller for, if the kick-down signal is generated by the kick-down switch and the manipulation signal is generated by the working tool manipulating part, outputting a control signal to the boom driving unit and the bucket driving unit to move the boom and the bucket to a preset position. Full Article
rat Method for putting into operation a clearing apparatus suitable for picking up ballast By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method puts into operation a clearing apparatus suitable for picking up ballast and is disposed in an endless configuration during employment so as to encircle a railroad track. The clearing apparatus has a horizontal cross-duct which, prior to a start of the employment, is intended to be positioned below the railroad track and connected, on the one hand, to a rising duct and, on the other hand, to a return duct of the clearing apparatus. The method includes displacing ties of the railroad track in a longitudinal direction of the railroad track to create a tie gap; lowering the cross-duct through the tie gap between two rails of the railroad track and transferred, below the ties, into a working position extending crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the railroad track; and connecting the cross-duct to the rising duct and to the return duct. Full Article
rat Ice scratcher for a snowmobile By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice scratcher for attachment to a snowmobile has a first ice scratcher end, a second ice scratcher end opposite the first ice scratcher end, a first coil spring having a first spring axis disposed at or near the first ice scratcher end, a first elongated member having a first end connected to the first coil spring, a second coil spring connected to a second end of the first elongated member, the second coil spring having a second spring axis, and a second elongated member having a first end connected to the second coil spring and a second end at or near the second ice scratcher end. Alternative embodiments of the ice scratcher are disclosed. A snowmobile having the ice scratcher is also disclosed. Full Article
rat Electronic cigarette with integrated charging mechanism By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A power generating electronic cigarette includes a partially hollowed body having an enclosed distal end, and a filter cartridge attached at a proximal end of the body. The cigarette operates using power stored within a portable power storage media integrated within the body. A power generating subassembly is located within the hollowed body, wherein the power generating subassembly generates an electrical current to charge the power storage media. The power generating subassembly utilizes motion of a magnet in proximity of a coil to generate an electrical current within the coil. The current can be converted into stored electrical power. Motion of the magnet can result from shaking or rolling the electronic cigarette. Alternately, the magnet can be rotated by an airflow driven device operated by airflow applied to the cigarette. Full Article
rat Apparatus for dispensing moist smokeless tobacco By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for accurately dosing moist smokeless tobacco includes a dosing assembly and a dosing air source. The dosing assembly defines a loading chamber and a dosing chamber for containing a quantity of moist smokeless tobacco material. The dosing assembly also includes a discharge opening communicating with the dosing chamber. The dosing air source communicates with the dosing chamber and is operable to deliver compressed air to the dosing assembly so as to move moist smokeless tobacco material from the dosing chamber to the discharge opening. A method of pouching moist smokeless tobacco includes placing a predetermined quantity of moist smokeless tobacco in a dosing chamber having a predetermined volume, and ejecting the predetermined quantity of moist smokeless tobacco to pouching apparatus using compressed air. Full Article
rat Process for shredding a tobacco sheet and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A process and apparatus for shredding tobacco sheets, especially tobacco sheets formed of reconstituted tobacco particles with guar and sugar comprises rotating opposing sets of cutter discs in a partially overlapping relation so as to establish a nip. The cutter discs have notches at spaced locations along a peripheral portion of the cutter discs. Adjacent pairs of cutter discs are spaced apart by a spacer disc with a stripper plate interposed between adjacent pairs of spaced apart cutter discs. A tobacco sheet which is fed into the nip of the sets of cutter discs is shredded by the discs. Full Article
rat Sheet material cutting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cutting apparatus and an associated method for slitting a tobacco sheet material into cut pieces used to form smoking articles are provided. The cutting apparatus includes a rotatable cutter assembly having a drum member configured to rotate about an axis defined thereby. The cutter assembly includes a plurality of knife members disposed about the periphery of the drum member and extending radially therefrom. A fixed counter-knife assembly is disposed adjacent to the periphery of the drum member and is configured to interact with the rotatable cutter assembly during rotation thereof about the axis. The counter-knife assembly includes a ledger member having a plurality of cutting insert members removably engaged therewith. The cutting insert members are configured to interact with the knife members during rotation of the cutter assembly with respect to the counter-knife assembly so as to slit the tobacco sheet material received therebetween into cut pieces. Full Article
rat Flue-curing apparatus and associated method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A flue-curing apparatus and a related method are provided. The flue-curing apparatus includes a circulation chamber and a curing chamber that are separated by a divider wall. An air circulation system includes a blower positioned in the circulation chamber that directs air to a heater device and a lower passage into the curing chamber. The air may be received from one or both of an inlet and an upper passage extending from the curing chamber to the circulation chamber. A humidity control system humidifies the air directed into the curing chamber. A controller may receive signals from wet and dry bulb thermometers to determine the conditions in the curing chamber and the condition of tobacco leaves being cured therein. The controller may adjust various operational parameters to cause the tobacco leaves in the curing chamber to cure at a desired rate. Full Article
rat Air suction device for a smoking apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The various embodiments herein provide an air suction device for a smoking apparatus. The air suction device comprises a cylindrical housing, an impeller, an impeller cover, a motor assembled inside the housing to drive the impeller, a plurality of batteries provided in the housing, a battery cover to enclose the plurality of batteries and a switch provided externally to the cylindrical housing. When the switch is in ON condition, the plurality of batteries supply an electrical power to the motor and the motor converts the electrical power into a mechanical power which in turn causes propulsion of the impeller thereby sucking out the air from a water bowl of the smoking apparatus. The propulsive motion of the impeller sucks out the air from the water bowl until the air inside the water bowl is replaced by condensed smoke. Full Article
rat Inline vapor cooling and filtering apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vapor inhalation device includes a first body portion defining a first chamber and a second body portion defining a second chamber provided at least partially within the first chamber, where the second body portion has at least one aperture placing the second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber. An intake conduit defines a first air passageway from an exterior of the first body portion to within the second chamber. An output conduit has a proximal end located within the first chamber, a distal end opposite the proximal end and located at the exterior of the first body portion, is physically coupled to the first body portion at a location different from the proximal end of the output conduit, and defines a second air passageway extending from within the first chamber to the exterior of the body portion. Full Article
rat Apparatuses, systems, and associated methods for forming porous masses for smoke filter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for producing porous masses may include a mold cavity disposed along the material path, at least one hopper before at least a portion of the mold cavity for feeding a matrix material to the material path, a heat source in thermal communication with at least a first portion of the material path, and a cutter disposed along the material path after the first portion of the material path. Full Article
rat Method and apparatus for making a custom made cigar using resealable packaging unit or pouch having multiple cigar wrappers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pouch with multiple tear areas is provided. In one embodiment instructions are provided for resealing with heat. In one embodiment a zip-lock type reseal can be used in place of one of the multiple tear areas. Full Article
rat Method of applying phase transition materials to semi-porous, flexible substrates used to control gas permeability By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Method of applying phase transition substance to impart reduced ignition propensity to a smoking article comprising a tobacco column and a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column and having a porous structure with a base permeability. The method comprising forming a pattern of phase transition material on the wrapper such that, when subjected to the heat of the tobacco column burning firecone, the phase transition material at least partially fills the wrapper porous structure in the vicinity of the burning firecone to form an area on the wrapper having reduced permeability lower than that of the wrapper base permeability. The reduced permeability of the wrapper in the vicinity of the burning firecone imparts reduced ignition propensity such that there is insufficient air flow to sustain combustion of the firecone or insufficient air flow to sustain an intensity of the burning firecone necessary to ignite the substrate. Full Article
rat DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DISPLAY APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An object is to provide a display device of an organic light emitting type suppressing luminance unevenness. The display device includes: a pixel including an organic light emitting element and a pixel circuit that controls a current supplied to the organic light emitting element; a first wiring 41 and a second wiring 42 supplying a first signal used for controlling the pixel circuit to the pixel circuit; and a third wiring 43 suppling a second signal used for controlling the pixel circuit to the pixel circuit. The first wiring 41 to the third wiring 43 are arranged inside an area in which the pixel circuit is arranged in a first direction, and the third wiring 43 is arranged between the first wiring 41 and the second wiring 42. Full Article