para Exposure apparatus and exposure method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides an exposure apparatus and an exposure method. The method comprises: utilizing an exposure light source to provide light rays to the photo-resist layer, wherein the light rays pass through the mask and the transparent substrate to reach the photo-resist layer; and utilizing a reflective plate to reflect the light rays passing through the transparent substrate and the photo-resist layer back to the photo-resist layer. The present invention can reduce a line space of a pattern of the photo-resist layer. Full Article
para Automatic performance apparatus storing and editing performance information By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Sep 1990 08:00:00 EDT An automatic performance apparatus includes a memory device, an input device, a write device, a switching device, and a write control device. The memory device stores performance information. The input device inputs the performance information. The write device sequentially writes the performance information at predetermined addresses of the memory device on the basis of an operation of the input device. The switching device commands rewriting. In response to a command from the switching device, the write control device returns a write address of the memory device to an immediately preceding start point of a predetermined music composition unit having two or more notes, thereby enabling an easy and accurate edit of the once stored performance information. Full Article
para Tuning method and apparatus for keyboard musical instrument By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Sep 1990 08:00:00 EDT A tuning apparatus for a keyboard musical instrument, having a load applicator for applying a load of a predetermined value to a string set up in place, a calculating device for calculating a deviation between a displacement value of the string produced when the load is applied to the string and a preset value of displacement predetermined to give a required frequency of vibration, and a rotating device for turning a tuning pin until the deviation calculated by the calculating device is reduced to zero. Full Article
para Method and apparatus for representing musical information By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Oct 1990 08:00:00 EDT A method for electronically processing and storing musical information involves separating the musical information into a plurality of segments, each representing some portion of a measure, and assigning a sequential time dimension value to each segment. The musical information is also separated into plurality of channels, with each channel representing a sound source and having a sound dimension value assigned to it. The musical information for a given channel and segment is stored in a memory array by associating the musical information corresponding to a given channel and segment with the memory array node specified by the time dimension value and sound dimension value assigned to the given channel and segment. Full Article
para Signal processing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 08:00:00 EDT A signal processing apparatus executes a plurality of microprograms stored in a microprogram memory device in a time-sharing manner, so as to perform arithmetic operations on a digital signal entered by a signal input device. A delay memory device that delays the digital signal. The delay memory device has a plurality of delay areas that are independently provided for the respective microprograms, such that each of the microprograms that is being executed uses a corresponding one of the plurality of delay areas so as to delay the digital signal, and a common area that can be accessed by all of the microprograms. As a result, data such as tables for use in common by the plurality of microprograms can be stored, and the stored data can be easily used by each microprogram, without making the system complicated or increasing the cost of the apparatus. Full Article
para Percussion instrument mounting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a percussion instrument onto a stand. The apparatus comprises a support portion and a retaining portion, the support portion comprising a support member arranged for attachment to the stand and including a shaft, the retaining portion comprising a gripping member having a pair of elements spaced apart from each other and one or more spreader means arranged to urge the spaced apart elements away from each other, wherein the support and retaining portions are adapted to mount the percussion instrument therebetween, the shaft engageable with the retaining portion, the elements of the gripping member normally biased to a first position that is capable of retaining the shaft between the elements in a locked position in the said retaining portion, the elements movable to a second position in which the retaining portion can be received on or removed from the first position on the shaft, the elements movable from the first position to the second position by activation of the or each spreader means. Full Article
para Method and apparatus for efficient zone switch operation in a broadband wireless access system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wireless access system and, more particularly, a method and apparatus for more efficiently performing zone switch are disclosed. The method of performing zone switch by an advanced mobile station (AMS) in a mixed-mode advanced base station (ABS) which operates in a mixed mode of a broadband wireless access system includes receiving a ranging response (RNG-RSP) message including system information of an AMS support zone from a legacy zone (LZone) of the ABS, and performing ranging to the AMS support zone using the system information. Full Article
para Apparatus and method for operating multiple beamforming transceiver in wireless communication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for operating a base station in a wireless communication system in order to support a plurality of characteristics is provided. The method includes allocating resource periods for respective characteristics, transmitting system information including information on the characteristics, transmitting a reference signal with the characteristic corresponding to the relevant resource period through at least one of the resource periods, and receiving feedback information determining channel qualities for all of the characteristics. Full Article
para Method for controlling interference in a radio communications system and apparatus thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Method and Apparatus thereof, for controlling intercell interference in a radio communications system having a plurality of user equipment and a plurality of access nodes including the steps of: a user equipment of said plurality connected to a serving access node, upon determining that an access node of said plurality is causing interference, transmitting a request to said serving access node; said serving access node forwarding said request to an apparatus controlling said interfering access node over an X2 interface, and said apparatus, instructing said interfering access node to execute said request. Full Article
para Uplink grouping and aperture apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method includes selecting a subset k of N accessible antennas to use to process a transmission received at the N antennas and sent by a user equipment, and processing the transmission from the user equipment at least by using baseband information from the k antennas. An apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: selecting a subset k of N accessible antennas to use to process a transmission received at the N antennas and sent by a user equipment; and processing the transmission from the user equipment at least by using baseband information from the k antennas. Additional apparatus, computer programs, and computer program products are disclosed. Full Article
para Information processing apparatus, computer-readable recording medium, and control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT An abnormality detection unit provided in at least one node among a plurality of nodes included in an information processing apparatus detects abnormality in a data transmission path of data transmission using a shared memory area sharable in a single node and other node, which is included in the storage unit provided in the single node or other nodes. An error information generation unit provided in the single node generates error information, based on the abnormality detected by the abnormality detection unit, and generates an interrupt with respect to a processor within a self node. The processor provided in the single node performs recovery processing, based on the error information according to the interrupt. Full Article
para Data transmitting apparatus, data receiving apparatus, data transreceiving system, data transmitting method, data receiving method and data transreceiving method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A data transmitting apparatus is provided. The data transmitting apparatus includes a packet generator configured to generate a packet including a plurality of sub packets and a transmitter configured to transmit the generated packet to a data receiving apparatus. Each of the plurality of sub packets includes audio data corresponding to content among a plurality of contents. Full Article
para Method and apparatus for measurement for inter-cell interference coordination in radio communication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wireless communication system and, more specifically, a measurement method and apparatus for inter-cell interference coordination in a wireless communication system are disclosed. Herein, a method for supporting measurement of a User Equipment (UE) by a first base station in a wireless communication system includes the steps of acquiring information of downlink subframe configuration of a second base station, determining measurement objects of downlink resource of the first base station based on the downlink subframe configuration of the second base station; transmitting information of the measurement objects to the UE, and receiving measurement result for the measurement objects from the UE. Full Article
para Reception apparatus, reception method, and reception program By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Nov 2015 08:00:00 EST A reception apparatus is configured to receive data including a plurality of packets each of which has information on a time point when the packet is generated; to extract a terminal packet which is a packet included in the data received and which has information on a time point which is nearest to a current time point; and to control an operation clock by comparing the information on the time point included in the terminal packet with information on an elapsed time obtained by adding information on a time point, which is included in a terminal packet of preceding data, to an elapsed time from when the preceding data is received to the current time point. Full Article
para Channel-sounding method using a plurality of antennas, and apparatus for same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Feb 2016 08:00:00 EST The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for transmitting an SRS in a multi-antenna system. The method comprises the steps of: acquiring specific information for discriminating a first antenna group and a second antenna group from among a plurality of antennas, wherein said first antenna group includes one or more antennas which are set to a turned-on state to perform communication with a base station, and said second antenna group includes one or more other antennas which are set to a turned-off state; transmitting an SRS to the base station if a predetermined condition is satisfied, under the condition that the second antenna group is set to the turned-off state; and setting the second antenna group to a turned-off state after the transmission of the SRS. Full Article
para Apparatus for adjusting a position of a bicycle derailleur By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprises a control unit that provides a first signal to operate a first derailleur a gear shift distance from a first origin sprocket to a first destination sprocket. The control unit receives a condition signal that indicates a condition resulting from at least one of the first derailleur and a second derailleur; and an adjustment controller moves the first derailleur an adjustment distance less than the gear shift distance in response to the condition signal. Full Article
para Bicycle derailleur adjusting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bicycle derailleur adjusting apparatus for adjusting a bicycle derailleur includes a controller. The bicycle derailleur includes a base member adapted to be mounted to a bicycle, a movable member, a linkage coupled between the base member and the movable member, and an actuator configured to move the movable member of the bicycle derailleur among a plurality of derailleur positions. The controller is configured to control the actuator based on a travel value indicative of a travel distance of the movable member between adjacent derailleur positions to update the derailleur positions of the movable member. Full Article
para Driving device and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A driving device includes a stretched member, and a first rotation member and a second rotation member that support the stretched member in a stretched manner. The first rotation member has a first rotation axis, and the second rotation member has a second rotation axis. The first rotation member includes a plurality of members arranged in an axial direction of the first rotation axis. Full Article
para Belt unit, fixing device and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A belt unit includes an endless belt member, a first roller provided on an inner circumferential surface side of the belt member, and a stretching member provided on the inner circumferential surface side of the belt member. The stretching member is configured to stretch the belt member. A circumferential length of the belt member at a center portion in a widthwise direction of the belt member is shorter than a circumferential length of the belt member at an end portion in the widthwise direction of the belt member. Full Article
para Method and apparatus for conveying a cellulosic feedstock By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for conveying a cellulosic feedstock are disclosed. The apparatus, such as a holding tank, has a passage. At the outlet to the passage, a conveyance member is provided to convey the cellulosic feedstock laterally across the outlet. The conveyance member, e.g., at least one screw conveyor, may have a variable pitch along its length. The method comprises passing the cellulosic feedstock through an impregnation chamber to an outlet of the impregnation chamber; passing the cellulosic feedstock from the outlet of the impregnation chamber to an inlet of a holding tank; passing the cellulosic feedstock downwardly through the holding tank; maintaining a generally constant residence time in the holding tank; and subsequently subjecting the cellulosic feedstock to a hydrolysis process. Full Article
para Mixing apparatus and process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device mixing ingredients for coloring hair includes a mixing bowl and a housing removably placed atop the mixing bowl so that a pair of agitators rotatably and coaxially mounted within the housing extend downward into the mixing bowl, being driven in opposite directions at the same speed by a mechanism powered by a hand crank, which can be turned in either direction to cause one of the agitators to move a liquid inward within the mixing bowl while the other agitator moves the liquid outward. In an alternative version of the device, the agitators are driven by an electric motor. Full Article
para Apparatus and method for entraining fluids By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of entraining a second fluid in a first fluid is provided. The method comprises supplying a first fluid to a processing passage (4) having an inlet (6) and an outlet (8), and supplying an entrainment fluid to a nozzle (10) which opens into the processing passage (4) intermediate the passage inlet (6) and the passage outlet (8). A second fluid which will undergo a change of phase and/or state when added to the first fluid is also provided, and supplied to a first port (22) opening into the processing passage (4) adjacent the nozzle (10). The entrainment fluid is injected from the nozzle (10) into the processing passage (4) so as to form a dispersed phase of the first and second fluids in a continuous vapor phase, and the vapor phase is condensed downstream of the nozzle (10). A device suitable for carrying out such a method is also provided. Full Article
para Method and apparatus for conveying a cellulosic feedstock By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for conveying a cellulosic feedstock is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an enclosed volume having a lower surface comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending portions. Each longitudinally extending portion has an inner surface that is arcuate in transverse section. A plurality of conveyance members are provided within the enclosed volume. Each conveyance member is associated with one of the inner surfaces and configured to sweep the one of the inner surfaces. Additionally, a method for treating a cellulosic feedstock is disclosed. The method comprises providing a cellulosic feedstock being less than 100% saturated moisture. The cellulosic feedstock is introduced into a longitudinally extending enclosed volume, and conveyed longitudinally through the enclosed volume while being mixed. Full Article
para Method and an apparatus/universal combine for agitation of liquids By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of mixing together liquids or liquid/solid combinations, and mixing apparatus/universal combine utilizing a vertical spinning container or vessel having a rib, or a cross rib in its bottom wall. The container is spun about a vertical axis with no wobbling component to the motion. Meshed elements are used for high shear mixing. Start/stop routines, and variable acceleration/speed values are used, to facilitate complete mixing. Use of ‘impeller’ blade stirrers is completely eliminated. Full Article
para Mixing apparatus for frozen products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for mixing frozen desserts has a mixing chamber, and a spindle with driving portion for rotating the spindle. The mixing chamber has two main parts having a funnel and a top chamber forming a closed mixing chamber when brought together. The spindle is accommodated through the top chamber. Full Article
para Apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials is described. A dental impression material mixing machine comprises a water dispenser fluidly coupled to a hollow mixing axle, the mixing axle extending through a pulley, wherein an inner circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a water conduit and an outer circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a hub connector, a closeable valve inserted at a water entrance to the water conduit and electronically coupled to a water pump, an electronically commutated motor rotatably coupled to the pulley, wherein the hub connector receives a tubular rotatable hub of a disposable mixing vessel comprising dry dental impression powder, and wherein water is dispensed from the water dispenser into the disposable mixing vessel through the water conduit and hub orifice. Full Article
para Mixing apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mixing apparatus includes a housing having an inner chamber, an inlet, and an outlet; an outlet conduit having a first and second end, the second end providing communication between the inner chamber and the outlet; and one or more dispersion members configured to mix one or more fluids, the one or more dispersion members extending between the outlet conduit and the housing. The dispersion members include a plate having a first and second side, a first opening in the plate for receiving an outlet conduit of the mixing device, and a plurality of second openings in the plate. The plurality of second openings has a first and second side. The first and second sides of the plurality of second openings have chamfered edges. Full Article
para Clay mixing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A clay mixing apparatus includes a mixing chamber, a rotor arranged within the mixing chamber, a drive unit arranged to rotate the rotor, an ejecting unit, a pressure reducing unit; and an exhaust flow path. The rotor includes a shaft rotated by the drive unit, an extruding member and a mixing member. The mixing member includes a plurality of arms and a plurality of blades arranged at tip ends of the arms. The exhaust opening is opposed, in a radial direction about the center axis, to a portion of the mixing member lying near the extruding member and/or a portion of the extruding member lying near the mixing member. Full Article
para Apparatus for mixing and controlling the temperature of laboratory vessel contents By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to an apparatus for mixing and controlling the temperature of laboratory vessel contents with an accommodating device in detachable connection with an exchangeable block for accommodating and controlling the temperature of laboratory vessels and with a drive by which the accommodating device can be set in a mixing motion, and with a temperature control device with a heat source or sink in heat-conducting connection with the exchangeable block at least through in each case at least one adjoining contact face firstly on the accommodating device and secondly on the exchangeable block, which is characterized in that the detachable connection is maintained by a spring element which, by virtue of its spring force, horizontally clamps together a first undercut between the accommodating device and the exchangeable block in at least one first direction. Full Article
para Apparatus for moving liquid in container By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for swirling wine within a wine glass or a decanter, or for moving a liquid within a container. A driver is mounted to move a driving element with respect to a housing. A base for holding or removably attaching the glass, the decanter or the container, is moveably mounted with respect to the housing. A receiver and a connector are moveably mounted with respect to each other and with respect to the housing. When the driver moves the base, the base and thus the container follow a path defined by movement of the connector with respect to the receiver. When the glass, the decanter or the other container is mounted with respect to the base, the base moves the glass, the decanter or the container to impart a swirling motion of wine or another liquid within the glass, the decanter or the container. Full Article
para Stirring apparatus for reducing vortexes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention is directed to a stirring apparatus comprising: a plurality of blades having between a 5° to 180° twist along the length of their axis attached perpendicularly to a shaft so that a downward fluid flow is created when the shaft is rotated by a rotary drive; and, a plurality of standards attached to the plurality of blades separating the plurality of blades and arranged parallel to the shaft and rotated between 0° and 25° relative to a plane defined by the blades and the standards so that an inward fluid flow is created when the shaft is rotated and a bottom blade connected to the standards. Full Article
para Fluid agitation apparatus for reducing temperature fluctuation and thermostatic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided are a fluid agitation apparatus using a structure which is simple in shape and short in a fluid passage direction without a movable part so as to produce a sufficient effect from the viewpoint of reducing temperature fluctuation, and a thermostatic apparatus using the fluid agitation apparatus. The fluid agitation apparatus is installed in a fluid passage and includes, in an order from an upstream side thereof: a dividing part for dividing a flow of a fluid into a plurality of flows; a circumvolving part for circumvolving the fluid about an axis in a flow direction of the fluid; and an accelerating part for increasing a flow rate of the fluid. Full Article
para Method and apparatus for high intensity ultrasonic treatment of baking materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention discloses a high intensity ultrasonic treatment method and apparatus that is used in conjunction with an existing commercial dough or batter mixer to enhance the rheological, aeration and textural properties of the dough or batter. This change in properties is a result of the phenomenon of acoustic cavitation induced in the dough or batter by treatment with high intensity ultrasonic waves. The present invention discloses a mixing bowl (20) of an existing mixer system that is preloaded with dough or batter, the bowl (20) is located at the center of an ultrasonic bath tank (101) filled with a working fluid. The effect of ultra-sonic waves with power levels above 1 kW can be observed over the entire or partial mixing period of the dough or batter. The ultra-sonic waves of the present invention are generated by a plurality of ultrasonic wave generators (104A, 104B) and piezoelectric transducers (1) mounted on a stainless steel tank (101). The electrical energy received in each transducer (1) will be converted into appropriate mechanical expansion and contractions in the piezoelectric ceramics of the transducer (1) thus leading to pressure waves being transmitted to the dough or batter to be mixed. The generation and transmission of high intensity ultrasonic waves to the dough or batter affects its rheological, aeration and textural properties. Full Article
para Method and apparatus for forming multiple emulsions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention generally relates to multiple emulsions, and to methods and apparatuses for making multiple emulsions. A multiple emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain one or more smaller droplets therein. The larger droplets may be suspended in a third fluid in some cases. These can be useful for encapsulating species such as pharmaceutical agents, cells, chemicals, or the like. In some cases, one or more of the droplets can change form, for instance, to become solidified to form a microcapsule, a liposome, a polymerosome, or a colloidosome. Multiple emulsions can be formed in one step in certain embodiments, with generally precise repeatability, and can be tailored to include one, two, three, or more inner droplets within a single outer droplet (which droplets may all be nested in some cases). Full Article
para Preparation of saturated ketone morphinan compounds By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides processes for the preparation of saturated ketone morphinan compounds. In particular, the invention provides processes for the conversion of a morphinan comprising an allyl alcohol ring moiety into a morphinan comprising a saturated ketone ring moiety by an isomerization reaction catalyzed by an inorganic salt of a late transition metal. Full Article
para Mounting apparatus for heat sink and fastening assembly of the mounting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST A fastening assembly includes a connecting member, a mounting member mounted to the connecting member, and a sliding member. The mounting member includes a first fixing portion. The sliding member is slidably received in the mounting member and the connecting member. The sliding member includes a first end exposed out of the first fixing portion, and a second end slidably received in the connecting member. The second end of the sliding member is operable to be extended out of or substantially coplanar with an end of the connecting member. The fastening assembly can be utilized to mount a heat sink to a board. Full Article
para Pierce nut manufacturing method and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EDT The present invention is premised upon method of manufacturing rolled pierce nuts having a predetermined profile from a metal rod, more particularly to a method and apparatus delivering greater manufacturing flexibility through the use of multiple stations with flexible inputs and outputs. Full Article
para Apparatus and method of making a heel-less nail By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 08:00:00 EDT A full-round head nail having an offset head is configured with a gusset formed integrally between an undersurface of the offset head and a superior portion of a shank. The head of the nail is relatively thin, and the shank is positioned radially off center of the round head such that no heel is formed at a point tangential to both the head and the shank. The gusset has a lofted surface tapering radially from a roundness at the zero heel to a taper at the toe. The gusset reinforces the junction of the shank with the head, supports the toe of the head, and distributes the force of a load on the head through a longitudinal axis of the shank, preventing the toe from bending or yielding and prevents the shank from yielding to the stresses of the load applied. Full Article
para Apparatuses and methods for rolling angled threads By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT In various embodiments, a tapered thread roll, a set of tapered thread rolls, a thread rolling tool, and a thread rolling method are provided for rolling angled or tapered threads onto a workpiece to create a threaded workpiece. In at least one embodiment, the threaded workpiece may comprise a polished rod or a polished rod precursor as specified by the American Petroleum Institute for use in an oil-field sucker-type pump, for example. Full Article
para Apparatus and method of making a heel-less nail By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A full-round head nail having an offset head is configured with a gusset formed integrally between an undersurface of the offset head and a superior portion of a shank. The head of the nail is relatively thin, and the shank is positioned radially off center of the round head such that no heel is formed at a point tangential to both the head and the shank. The gusset has a lofted surface tapering radially from a roundness at the zero heel to a taper at the toe. The gusset reinforces the junction of the shank with the head, supports the toe of the head, and distributes the force of a load on the head through a longitudinal axis of the shank, preventing the toe from bending or yielding and prevents the shank from yielding to the stresses of the load applied. Full Article
para Apparatus to produce self-piercing and clinch nut and method for producing self-piercing and clinch nut By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST An apparatus to produce a self-piercing and clinch nut includes a first forging die assembly, a second forging die assembly, a third forging die assembly, a transfer mechanism, and a controller. The first forging die assembly is configured to subject a blank to first processing. The second forging die assembly is adjacent to the first forging die assembly and configured to subject the blank to second processing after the blank has undergone the first processing in the first forging die assembly. The third forging die assembly is adjacent to the second forging die assembly and configured to subject the blank to third processing after the blank has undergone the second processing in the second forging die assembly. The controller is configured to control the first forging die assembly, the second forging die assembly, the third forging die assembly, and the transfer mechanism to operate. Full Article
para Method and apparatus for manufacturing nails By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A nail-forming apparatus and method to rapidly form nails typically with circular heads is provided. One aspect relates to a sequential wire piece positioner configured for sequentially positioning wire pieces respectively adjacent a plurality of nail head formers. The wire piece positioner may include several carriages related to moving and forming the wire pieces. Full Article
para Mobile abrasive blasting material separation device and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The process and apparatus for mobile separation and recovery of used contaminants abrasive blasting material from a work site. Entrained contaminants within used blast material are removed by a self-contained mobile platform process using multiple stage cleaning system including dual cyclonic separation, multiple stage dust filters with large debris magnetic drum, airwash and vibratory separation in a flow through containment and blast media separation process. Full Article
para Apparatus and method for monitoring glass plate polishing state By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for monitoring a glass plate polishing state. The apparatus may include a location measuring unit for measuring a location on a glass plate being polished by a polishing machine, a current measuring unit for measuring an electric current flowing into the polishing machine, a memory unit for storing a reference value of the electric current flowing into the polishing machine for each polishing location of the glass plate, and a control unit for determining whether a polishing state is faulty, by comparing a value of the electric current measured by the current measuring unit for each polishing location measured by the location measuring unit with a corresponding reference value of the electric current stored in the memory unit for each polishing location. Full Article
para Polishing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus for polishing an object to be polished (substrate) such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a polishing table configured to support a polishing pad, a polishing head having a top ring configured to press an object to be polished against the polishing pad while the object to be polished is rotated, and a dresser head having a dresser configured to dress the polishing pad. The polishing apparatus has a head cover having a purge gas introducing unit configured to introduce a purge gas into the head cover and an exhausting unit configured to exhaust the interior of the head cover. The pressure in the head cover is set to a pressure level slightly higher than the pressure outside the head cover, and main components of the polishing head are housed in the head cover. Full Article
para Blasting method and apparatus having abrasive recovery system, processing method of thin-film solar cell panel, and thin-film solar cell panel processed by the method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Particularly, a thin-film solar cell panel or the like is processed without necessity of attaching and detaching of mask and washing steps with respect to a workpiece in a fine blasting employing a fine abrasive. A negative pressure space (20) and an opposing negative pressure space (40) having openings (22, 42) are opposed by being spaced at a movement allowable interval of the workpiece such as a thin-film solar cell panel or the like and so as to face one side edge in the same direction as a moving direction of the workpiece. Further, a fine abrasive is injected while relatively moving the workpiece in a moving direction (T) with respect to a blast gun (30) in which an injection hole (31) is disposed within the negative pressure space (20), and the fine abrasive injected into the negative pressure space (20) and/or the opposing negative pressure space (40) and a cut and removed cut scrap such as a thin film layer or the like are sucked and recovered through the intermediary of suction devices (21a, 21b) and/or an opposing suction device (41) respectively communicating with the spaces (20) and/or (40). Full Article
para Method and apparatus for reconditioning digital discs By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An automated method for reconditioning a plurality of digital discs within a reconditioning apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises holding the digital discs in a load area, and then transferring each of the digital discs from the load area to at least one workstation with a disc transfer mechanism. The method also comprises reconditioning each of the digital discs transferred to the workstation with at least one worktool operable to remove a portion of the protective coating of each of the digital discs without removal of the data underlying the protective coating. The method further comprises transferring each of the digital discs from the workstation to an unload area with the disc transfer mechanism, and then holding the digital discs in the unload area for manual retrieval. Advantageously, the digital discs may be automatically reconditioned within the reconditioning apparatus without manual manipulation of the digital discs during the reconditioning process. Various exemplary embodiments of the reconditioning apparatus and associated method are provided. Full Article
para Enclosed polishing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An enclosed polishing apparatus include a housing, a fixing seat, a guiding mechanism, and a chain-driven polishing mechanism. The housing includes a bottom housing and a top housing connected to the bottom housing. The fixing seat is securely placed in the bottom housing. The guiding mechanism is placed in the top housing above the fixing seat. The polishing mechanism is movably mounted on the guiding mechanism above the fixing seat. The polishing mechanism is driven and guided by the guiding mechanism to follow a desired polishing contour on a workpiece. Full Article
para Blade position registering apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST A carriage is moved in a direction including a Y axis component in order to move a turning process tool that is attached to a tool spindle along a horizontal line that is perpendicular to a Z axis, and thus, a turning process is carried out on a workpiece which is attached to a workpiece spindle. Full Article
para Tool stocker, machine tool system, and tool damage detecting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EDT A tool stocker includes main stockers for holding a plurality of tools detachably mounted on a main spindle for machining a workpiece, an auxiliary stocker for holding and transferring tools to and from the main stockers, and a tool transfer mechanism for transferring tools between the main stockers and the auxiliary stocker. The auxiliary stocker includes a plurality of tool pods for removably supporting the tools therein, a rail in sliding engagement with outer surfaces of the tool pods, a chain for moving the tool pods in sliding engagement with the rail, and a motor for actuating the chain. The rail has a recess defined therein in alignment with the tool transfer mechanism, such that the tools transferred by the tool transfer mechanism pass through the recess. Full Article