Web stabilization on a slip and cut applicator

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 7618513
  • Patent Number
    7,618,513
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, May 31, 2005
    19 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 17, 2009
    14 years ago
Abstract
This invention proposes a new, improved method and apparatus for applying web segments to a traveling web. Ears, or wings, are placed on a running web of disposable diapers. Because these webs are often asymmetrical or otherwise incompatible with the principle of slipping over the surface of a moving vacuum roll, the webs may float from side to side or otherwise be drawn out of square by asymmetrical forces. A vacuum groove is provided on a vacuum roll to counter these effects. Alternatively, a ridge with vacuum about the ridge is provided, also to pull a machine direction line of material into the groove or over the ridge, thereby giving the web some degree of cross-directional stability.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to disposable undergarments and more specifically, to methods and apparatuses for processing disposable undergarments.


Various types of automatic manufacturing equipment have been developed which produce the desired results with a variety of materials and configurations. This equipment generally includes slip-and-cut applicators to which this invention is principally directed.


This invention is directed primarily at slip-and-cut applicators, which are typically comprised of a cylindrical rotating vacuum anvil; a rotating knife roll; and a transfer device. In typical applications, a tape web or an ear web can be fed along a vacuum face of the rotating anvil. A knife-edge, mounted on the rotating knife roll, cuts subsequent ears from each other against the anvil face. This knife-edge is preferably moving at a surface velocity similar to that of the anvil's circumference. Once cut, the web segment is held by vacuum drawn through holes on the anvil's face as it is carried at the anvil's speed downstream to the transfer point where the web segment is transferred to the traveling web.


A common problem associated with slip-and-cut applicators occurs at the point of cut. Since the web being cut is traveling at a very low velocity compared to the anvil and knife velocity (perhaps 1/20th), the engagement of the knife with the ear web tends to induce a high tensile strain in the ear web. Having been placed under such a high level of stress, the ear web can recoil violently when the cut is finally completed, causing loss of control of the ear web. This “snap-back” effect increases with the thickness of the ear web. Thicker webs tend to prolong the duration of engagement with the knife before completion of the cut, thereby increasing the build-up of strain. This is a common process problem that is usually addressed by the provision of various shock-absorbing devices. One possible solution might have been to reduce the surface velocity of the knife, but substantially different velocities between the knife and anvil result in rapid wear of the knife edge and/or anvil face, depending on relative hardness.


Continual improvements and competitive pressures have incrementally increased the operational speeds of disposable diaper converters. As speeds increased, the mechanical integrity and operational capabilities of the applicators had to be improved accordingly. As a further complication, the complexity of the web segments being attached has also increased.


Slip-and-cut apparatus' are well known for their ability to cut relatively short segments of one web and place them accurately on another, higher speed web. Certain materials, however, behave badly in these applications. The tension pulsation caused by the cutting may cause the material to snap back, losing its natural track down the moving surface of the anvil roll. This is especially common with thick webs. Other materials, such as nonwoven fabrics, may be difficult to control because they are very porous and provide little resistance to air flow to keep the material on track. Still other materials, such as certain perforated films may possess texture qualities which tend to be very unstable on the anvil surface, acting instead like a puck on an air hockey table.


These problems are further exacerbated by using materials with a very low modulus of elasticity. Here, even very low levels of vacuum at the anvil surface may cause the material to stretch with the advancing movement of the anvil. The sudden change of tension seen when the knife cuts this over-stretched web can result in severe snap-back and complete loss of position, relative to the intended centerline. Likewise, webs with very high moduli may snap back violently when the web is cut.


An even more challenging requirement is to control an asymmetrical web, such as a diaper ear web as it passes through the slip-and-cut process. For instance, as described in co-pending application titled “High Speed Vacuum Porting” filed the same day as the present application, the ear web also encounters control difficulties. In such instances, the web has a very narrow continuous ribbon section along one edge, and carries with it a chain of die-cut ears, which must be controlled. This application does not have lines of web tension in the ear section, and while vacuum is generally required to maintain some control of the ears, any excessive draw produced by such vacuum will tend to skew the ear on the anvil as the vacuum-induced drag produced by the faster-moving anvil and felt by the ears is out of line with the ribbon segment.


It is known in the prior art to run a straight web entirely within a groove, such as in commercial embodiments of U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,513. However, this prior art does not provide the desired cross-directional control of webs wider than the groove.


It is therefore, an object of this invention to maintain cross-directional control of the ribbon segment, keeping it parallel to the target web. Likewise, any web that might tend to stray from its natural parallel entry line might benefit from the invention.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Ears, or wings, are placed on a running web of disposable diapers. Because these webs are often asymmetrical or otherwise incompatible with the principle of slipping over the surface of a moving vacuum roll, the webs may float from side to side or otherwise be drawn out of square by asymmetrical forces. A vacuum groove is provided on a vacuum roll to counter these effects. Alternatively, a ridge with vacuum about the ridge is provided, also to pull a machine direction line of material into the groove or over the ridge, thereby giving the web some degree of cross-directional stability.


In a typical configuration of a slip-and-cut applicator, there is a pattern of vacuum holes distributed to evenly draw the entering web onto the anvil's surface and thence into the cut point where the knife edge engages the anvil. The present invention provides a solution by means of a machine-direction groove along a line of vacuum holes at a place where the main tension lines in the in-feeding material are continuous. This groove, with its vacuum, will draw the web into the groove, thereby provide a degree of axial stiffness and a corresponding obstruction and resistance to cross-directional movement.


Such a groove is normally wider than the diameter of the vacuum holes, which fall into the groove, but is also normally kept narrow and shallow so as to avoid producing a visible wrinkle in the material. A typical width and depth might be 3 mm wide by 1 mm deep. In another embodiment, the anvil may be provided with a series of circumferential grooves, thereby providing the material with a corrugated bed of parallel grooves on which the advancing material may ride.


Still another embodiment achieves similar results by means of a raised ridge, rather than a groove. Such a ridge provides the material with the necessary obstruction and stiffness resistant to cross-directional movement. In such embodiments, vacuum holes are positioned on either side of such a ridge so as to better hold the material against said ridge.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a Prior Art process;



FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an anvil roll of the present invention carrying an ear web;



FIG. 2
a is a an ear carried by the anvil roll of the present invention;



FIG. 3 is a front view of an anvil roll of the present invention;



FIG. 3
a is a partial cross sectional view of an anvil roll of the present invention;



FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of an anvil roll of the present invention;



FIG. 5 is a front view of a second alternate embodiment of an anvil roll of the present invention;



FIG. 5
a is a partial cross sectional view of a ridge patter applied on an anvil roll of the present invention.



FIG. 5
b is a partial cross sectional view of an alternate ridge pattern of the present invention.





DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention, which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention.


Referring more particularly to the drawings there is seen in FIG. 1 a diagrammatic illustration of a prior art process for applying tabs to webs in a diaper making process. The present invention can use this prior art method of affixing the tabs 12 to the web 10, with a different anvil, the new anvil 114 described below. Web 10 is a composite material used in formation of diapers which is generally formed of various layers of material such as plastic back sheets, absorbent pads and nonwoven topsheets. A series of ears 12 are applied to web 10. In the illustrated process a rotatable vacuum anvil 14 is used to supply the ears 12 to web 10. Anvil 14 has internally reduced air pressure or vacuum (shown diagrammatically on FIG. 2), and a plurality of openings 24 are provided through its surface to enable suction of the tab segments 12 against the anvil surface 14. A web of the ear tab forming material 16 is fed by rollers 20 and 22 against the anvil surface 14 where it is cut into segments by a rotary knife 18.


In the prior art, the surface of the anvil roll 14 has vacuum holes 24 on its smooth surface. In a typical configuration of a slip-and-cut applicator, there is a pattern of vacuum holes 24 distributed to evenly draw the entering web onto the surface of anvil 14 and thence into the cut point where the knife edge 18 engages the anvil 14.


Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of an anvil roll 114 is shown carrying an ear web, or forming material 16. This material 16 is comprised of two portions, 12a and 12b as shown in FIG. 2a. Segment 12a is more specifically referred to as the tab section of the ear 12, segment 12b is a ribbon section of the ear 12.


The ear forming material 16 is cut into individual ears 12 by the rotary knife 18 as shown in FIG. 1, along lines such as the dashed lines shown in FIG. 2.


Referring now to FIG. 3, a front view of an anvil roll 114 of the present invention is shown carrying an ear 12 in phantom. In this embodiment, a machine-direction groove 115 along a line of vacuum holes 24 is provided at a place where the main tension lines in the in-feeding material such as ear forming material 16 is continuous, such as the ribbon portion 12b. This groove 115, with its vacuum applied through holes 24 as shown, will draw the web into the groove 115, and thereby provide a degree of axial stiffness and a corresponding obstruction and resistance to cross-directional movement. It is preferred that vacuum holes 24 reside both within the groove 115 and outside of the groove 115 on the surface of the anvil roll 114 as shown.


Still referring to FIG. 3, anvil insert 140 is provided across the groove 115 to provide a surface to engage rotary knife 18 at the desired location. Insert 140 creates a bridge for the ribbon 12b to ride upon so that the ribbon 12b can be introduced in a cutting position relative to the knife 18 as the knife 18 is shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, insert 140 could simply be machined into the roll 114.


Referring now to FIG. 3a, a partial cross sectional view of the anvil roll 114 along line 3a-3a′ from FIG. 2 is shown. As can be seen, the groove 115 visible. A preferred embodiment of the groove 115 is that the groove 115 is slightly wider than the diameter of the vacuum holes 24, which fall into the groove 115, but is also normally kept narrow and shallow so as to avoid producing a visible wrinkle in the material. A typical width and depth might be 3 mm wide by 1 mm deep. It is also preferred that the groove 115 be wider than the ribbon 12b of the ears 12.


In operation, the ears 12 are carried by the anvil 114. The ears 12, and preferably the ribbon portion 12b, are passed over the groove 115, and drawn slightly into the groove 115. The vacuum applied to the groove 115 slightly holds the ears 115 along the ribbon 12a of the ears thereby providing stability from either non-machine direction rotation, or non-machine direction pulling or pushing.


Referring now to FIG. 4, a front view of an alternate embodiment of the anvil roll 114 of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the anvil 114 is provided with a series of radial grooves 115 in the machine direction, thereby providing the material with a corrugated bed of parallel grooves 115 on which the advancing material (not shown) may ride.


Referring now to FIG. 5, a front view of a second alternate embodiment of the anvil roll 114 of the present invention is shown. This embodiment achieves the desired obstruction and stiffness resistant to cross-directional movement by means of a raised ridge 125 (or series of ridges 125, not shown), rather than a groove 115. The ridge 115 is provided with vacuum holes 24 that are positioned on either side of the ridge 125 so as to better hold the material against said ridge 125.


Referring now to FIG. 5a, a partial cross sectional view of the anvil roll 114 along line 5a-5a′ from FIG. 4 is shown. As can be seen, the ridge 125 is visible. In this embodiment, the ridge 125 provides a spine about which cross-directional stability is added to the advancing ribbon.


Referring now to FIG. 5b, a partial cross sectional view of an alternate ridge pattern 125 is shown. In this embodiment, the ridge 125 may be dimensioned similarly to the groove 115 described previously.


In operation, similar to that described with the groove system above, the die-cut ears are applied the moving web, also similar to that shown in FIG. 1. The ears are passed on top of the ridge 125, and drawn about the ridge 125 slightly by the vacuum holes provided near to the sides of the ridge 125. This vacuum along a length of the ears thereby also provides stability from either non-machine direction rotation, or non-machine direction pulling or pushing, similar to that described with the groove system and method above.


It can be seen that either the ridge or the groove/vacuum system described above can comprise means for maintaining cross-directional stability in an advancing in-feeding web, because the in-feeding web will be provided with a degree of resistance from non-machine directional movement by the slight fixation to the machine direction vacuum holes 24.


The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention.

Claims
  • 1. An anvil roll comprising: a substantially cylindrical anvil body, said anvil body having a generally curviplanar outer surface,at least one groove provided on said anvil body, said at least one groove extending through said outer surface of the anvil body, said at least one groove oriented in a machine direction,a source of vacuum coupled to said anvil body;a first plurality of vacuum holes provided on said outer surface of said anvil body, said first set of vacuum holes being outside of every at least one groove, said first plurality of holes communicative with said source of vacuum;a second plurality of vacuum holes provided in at least one of said at least one groove, said second plurality of holes communicative with said source of vacuum;an advancing in-feeding web positioned across said at least one groove, a portion of said web drawn into said at least one groove to provide the cross-directional stability.
  • 2. An anvil roll according to claim 1, the anvil roll further comprising an insert across said at least one groove for engaging a cutting structure.
  • 3. An anvil roll according to claim 1, said anvil roll further comprising an integral cutting surface across said at least one groove.
  • 4. An anvil roll comprising: a substantially cylindrical anvil body;a source of vacuum coupled to said anvil body;a plurality of vacuum holes provided on an outer surface of said anvil body, said holes communicative with said source of vacuum;a ridge extending outwardly from said outer surface of said anvil body, said ridge oriented in a machine direction;a plurality of vacuum holes provided proximally to said ridge, wherein at least one vacuum hole is provided on a first lateral side of said ridge and at least one vacuum hole is provided on a second lateral side of said ridge;an advancing in-feeding web positioned across said ridge, a portion of said web drawn over said ridge to provide the cross-directional stability.
  • 5. A method of applying ribbon to a moving web, said method comprising: providing an anvil roll with at least one ridge, said ridge extending outwardly from the outer surface of the anvil roll;applying vacuum to the surface of the anvil roll on a first lateral side and a second lateral side of said ridge;passing an advancing ribbon about said ridge;passing said ribbon about said ridge and over said vacuum;whereby said vacuum and said ridge provide cross-directional stability to said advancing ribbon.
US Referenced Citations (375)
Number Name Date Kind
135145 Murphy Jan 1873 A
293353 Purvis Feb 1884 A
312257 Cotton et al. Feb 1885 A
410123 Stilwell Aug 1889 A
432742 Stanley Jul 1890 A
643821 Howlett Feb 1900 A
1393524 Grupe Oct 1921 A
1605842 Jones Nov 1926 A
1686595 Belluche Oct 1928 A
1957651 Joa May 1934 A
2009857 Potdevin Jul 1935 A
2054832 Potdevin Sep 1936 A
2117432 Linscott May 1938 A
2128746 Joa Aug 1938 A
2131808 Joa Oct 1938 A
2164408 Joa Jul 1939 A
2167179 Joa Jul 1939 A
2171741 Cohn et al. Sep 1939 A
2213431 Joa Sep 1940 A
2254290 Joa Sep 1941 A
2254291 Joa Sep 1941 A
2282477 Joa May 1942 A
2286096 Joa Jun 1942 A
2296931 Joa Sep 1942 A
2304571 Joa Dec 1942 A
2324930 Joa Jul 1943 A
2345937 Joa Apr 1944 A
2466240 Joa Apr 1949 A
2481929 Joa Sep 1949 A
2510229 Joa Jun 1950 A
2540844 Strauss Feb 1951 A
2584002 Elser et al. Jan 1952 A
2591359 Joa Apr 1952 A
2618816 Joa Nov 1952 A
2702406 Reed Feb 1955 A
2721554 Joa Oct 1955 A
2730144 Joa Jan 1956 A
2772611 Heywood Dec 1956 A
2780253 Joa Feb 1957 A
2785609 Billeb Mar 1957 A
2811905 Kennedy, Jr. Nov 1957 A
2839059 Joa Jun 1958 A
2842169 Joa Jul 1958 A
2851934 Heywood Sep 1958 A
2875724 Joa Mar 1959 A
2913862 Sabee Nov 1959 A
2939461 Joa Jun 1960 A
2960143 Joa Nov 1960 A
2990081 Neui et al. Jun 1961 A
2991739 Joa Jul 1961 A
3016207 Comstock Jan 1962 A
3016582 Joa Jan 1962 A
3017795 Joa Jan 1962 A
3020687 Joa Feb 1962 A
3021135 Joa Feb 1962 A
3024957 Pinto Mar 1962 A
3053427 Wasserman Sep 1962 A
3054516 Joa Sep 1962 A
3069982 Heywood et al. Dec 1962 A
3086253 Joa Apr 1963 A
3087689 Heim Apr 1963 A
3091408 Schoeneman May 1963 A
3114994 Joa Dec 1963 A
3122293 Joa Feb 1964 A
3128206 Dungler Apr 1964 A
3203419 Joa Aug 1965 A
3230955 Joa et al. Jan 1966 A
3268954 Joa Aug 1966 A
3288037 Burnett Nov 1966 A
3289254 Joa Dec 1966 A
3291131 Joa Dec 1966 A
3301114 Joa Jan 1967 A
3322589 Joa May 1967 A
3342184 Joa Sep 1967 A
3356092 Joa Dec 1967 A
3360103 Johnson Dec 1967 A
3363847 Joa Jan 1968 A
3391777 Joa Jul 1968 A
3454442 Heller Jr. Jul 1969 A
3470848 Dreher Oct 1969 A
3484275 Lewicki, Jr. Dec 1969 A
3502322 Cran Mar 1970 A
3521639 Joa Jul 1970 A
3526563 Schott, Jr. Sep 1970 A
3538551 Joa Nov 1970 A
3540641 Besnyo et al. Nov 1970 A
3575170 Clark Apr 1971 A
3607578 Berg et al. Sep 1971 A
3635462 Joa Jan 1972 A
3656741 Macke et al. Apr 1972 A
3666611 Joa May 1972 A
3673021 Joa Jun 1972 A
3685818 Burger Aug 1972 A
3728191 Wierzba et al. Apr 1973 A
3751224 Wackerle Aug 1973 A
3772120 Radzins Nov 1973 A
3796360 Alexeff Mar 1974 A
3816210 Aoko et al. Jun 1974 A
3847710 Blomqvist et al. Nov 1974 A
3854917 McKinney et al. Dec 1974 A
3883389 Schott, Jr. May 1975 A
3888400 Wiig Jun 1975 A
3903768 Amberg et al. Sep 1975 A
3904147 Taitel et al. Sep 1975 A
3918698 Coast Nov 1975 A
3960646 Wiedamann Jun 1976 A
3991994 Farish Nov 1976 A
4002005 Mueller et al. Jan 1977 A
4003298 Schott, Jr. Jan 1977 A
4009814 Singh Mar 1977 A
4009815 Ericson et al. Mar 1977 A
4053150 Lane Oct 1977 A
4056919 Hirsch Nov 1977 A
4081301 Buell Mar 1978 A
4090516 Schaar May 1978 A
4094319 Joa Jun 1978 A
4103595 Corse Aug 1978 A
4106974 Hirsch Aug 1978 A
4108584 Radzins et al. Aug 1978 A
4136535 Audas Jan 1979 A
4141193 Joa Feb 1979 A
4141509 Radzins Feb 1979 A
4142626 Bradley Mar 1979 A
4157934 Ryan et al. Jun 1979 A
4165666 Johnson et al. Aug 1979 A
4168776 Hoeboer Sep 1979 A
4171239 Hirsch et al. Oct 1979 A
4205679 Repke et al. Jun 1980 A
4208230 Magarian Jun 1980 A
4213356 Armitage Jul 1980 A
4215827 Roberts et al. Aug 1980 A
4222533 Pongracz Sep 1980 A
4223822 Clitheroe Sep 1980 A
4231129 Winch Nov 1980 A
4236955 Prittie Dec 1980 A
4275510 George Jun 1981 A
4284454 Joa Aug 1981 A
4307800 Joa Dec 1981 A
4316756 Wilson Feb 1982 A
4342206 Rommel Aug 1982 A
4364787 Radzins Dec 1982 A
4374576 Ryan Feb 1983 A
4379008 Gross et al. Apr 1983 A
4394898 Campbell Jul 1983 A
4411721 Wishart Oct 1983 A
4452597 Achelpohl Jun 1984 A
4492608 Hirsch et al. Jan 1985 A
4501098 Gregory Feb 1985 A
4508528 Hirsch et al. Apr 1985 A
4522853 Szonn et al. Jun 1985 A
4551191 Kock et al. Nov 1985 A
4586199 Birring May 1986 A
4589945 Polit May 1986 A
4603800 Focke et al. Aug 1986 A
4614076 Rathemacher Sep 1986 A
4619357 Radzins et al. Oct 1986 A
4634482 Lammers Jan 1987 A
4641381 Heran et al. Feb 1987 A
4642150 Stemmler Feb 1987 A
4642839 Urban Feb 1987 A
4650530 Mahoney et al. Mar 1987 A
4663220 Wisneski et al. May 1987 A
4672705 Bors et al. Jun 1987 A
4675062 Instance Jun 1987 A
4693056 Raszewski Sep 1987 A
4701239 Craig Oct 1987 A
4726874 Van Vilet Feb 1988 A
4726876 Tomsovic et al. Feb 1988 A
4743241 Igaue et al. May 1988 A
4751997 Hirsch Jun 1988 A
4753429 Inrvine et al. Jun 1988 A
4756141 Hirsch et al. Jul 1988 A
4764325 Angstadt Aug 1988 A
4765780 Angstadt Aug 1988 A
4776920 Ryan Oct 1988 A
4777513 Nelson Oct 1988 A
4782647 Williams et al. Nov 1988 A
4785986 Daane et al. Nov 1988 A
4795510 Wittrock et al. Jan 1989 A
4801345 Dussaud et al. Jan 1989 A
4802570 Hirsch et al. Feb 1989 A
4840609 Jones et al. Jun 1989 A
4845964 Bors et al. Jul 1989 A
4864802 D'Angelo Sep 1989 A
4880102 Indrebo Nov 1989 A
4888231 Angstadt Dec 1989 A
4892536 Des Marais et al. Jan 1990 A
4904440 Angstadt Feb 1990 A
4908175 Angstadt Mar 1990 A
4909019 Delacretaz et al. Mar 1990 A
4925520 Beaudoin et al. May 1990 A
4927322 Schweizer et al. May 1990 A
4927582 Bryson May 1990 A
4937887 Schreiner Jul 1990 A
4963072 Miley et al. Oct 1990 A
4987940 Straub et al. Jan 1991 A
4994010 Doderer-Winkler Feb 1991 A
5000806 Merkatoris et al. Mar 1991 A
5021111 Swenson Jun 1991 A
5025910 Lasure et al. Jun 1991 A
5045039 Bay Sep 1991 A
5062597 Martin et al. Nov 1991 A
5064179 Martin Nov 1991 A
5080741 Nomura et al. Jan 1992 A
5094658 Smithe et al. Mar 1992 A
5096532 Neuwirth et al. Mar 1992 A
5108017 Adamski et al. Apr 1992 A
5109767 Nyfeler et al. May 1992 A
5110403 Ehlert May 1992 A
5127981 Straub et al. Jul 1992 A
5131525 Musschoot Jul 1992 A
5147487 Nomura et al. Sep 1992 A
5163594 Meyer Nov 1992 A
5171239 Igaue et al. Dec 1992 A
5176244 Radzins et al. Jan 1993 A
5183252 Wolber et al. Feb 1993 A
5188627 Igaue et al. Feb 1993 A
5195684 Radzins Mar 1993 A
5203043 Riedel Apr 1993 A
5213645 Nomura et al. May 1993 A
5223069 Tokuno et al. Jun 1993 A
5226992 Morman Jul 1993 A
5246433 Hasse et al. Sep 1993 A
5267933 Precoma Dec 1993 A
5308345 Herrin May 1994 A
5328438 Crowley Jul 1994 A
5340424 Matsushita Aug 1994 A
5368893 Sommer et al. Nov 1994 A
5407513 Hayden et al. Apr 1995 A
5415649 Watanabe et al. May 1995 A
5421924 Ziegelhoffer et al. Jun 1995 A
5424025 Hanschen et al. Jun 1995 A
5429576 Doderer-Winkler Jul 1995 A
5435802 Kober Jul 1995 A
5449353 Watanabe et al. Sep 1995 A
5464401 Hasse et al. Nov 1995 A
5486253 Otruba Jan 1996 A
5494622 Heath et al. Feb 1996 A
5531850 Herrmann Jul 1996 A
5540647 Weiermann et al. Jul 1996 A
5545275 Herrin et al. Aug 1996 A
5545285 Johnson Aug 1996 A
5552013 Ehlert et al. Sep 1996 A
5556360 Kober et al. Sep 1996 A
5556504 Rajala et al. Sep 1996 A
5560793 Ruscher et al. Oct 1996 A
5602747 Rajala Feb 1997 A
5624420 Bridges et al. Apr 1997 A
5624428 Sauer Apr 1997 A
5628738 Suekane May 1997 A
5634917 Fujioka et al. Jun 1997 A
5643165 Klekamp Jul 1997 A
5643396 Rajala et al. Jul 1997 A
5645543 Nomura et al. Jul 1997 A
5659229 Rajala Aug 1997 A
5660657 Rajala et al. Aug 1997 A
5660665 Jalonen Aug 1997 A
5683376 Kato et al. Nov 1997 A
RE35687 Igaue et al. Dec 1997 E
5693165 Schmitz Dec 1997 A
5699653 Hartman et al. Dec 1997 A
5707470 Rajala et al. Jan 1998 A
5711832 Glaug et al. Jan 1998 A
5725518 Coates Mar 1998 A
5745922 Rajala et al. May 1998 A
5746869 Hayden et al. May 1998 A
5749989 Linman et al. May 1998 A
5788797 Herrin et al. Aug 1998 A
5817199 Brennecke et al. Oct 1998 A
5829164 Kotitschke Nov 1998 A
5836931 Toyoda et al. Nov 1998 A
5858012 Yamaki et al. Jan 1999 A
5865393 Kreft et al. Feb 1999 A
5868727 Barr et al. Feb 1999 A
5876027 Fukui et al. Mar 1999 A
5876792 Caldwell Mar 1999 A
5879500 Herrin et al. Mar 1999 A
5902431 Wilkinson et al. May 1999 A
5932039 Popp et al. Aug 1999 A
5938193 Bluemle et al. Aug 1999 A
5964970 Woolwine et al. Oct 1999 A
6036805 McNichols Mar 2000 A
6043836 Kerr et al. Mar 2000 A
6050517 Dobrescu et al. Apr 2000 A
6074110 Verlinden et al. Jun 2000 A
6076442 Arterburn et al. Jun 2000 A
6098249 Toney et al. Aug 2000 A
6123792 Samida et al. Sep 2000 A
6171432 Brisebois et al. Jan 2001 B1
6183576 Couillard et al. Feb 2001 B1
6210386 Inoue Apr 2001 B1
6212859 Bielik, Jr. et al. Apr 2001 B1
6250048 Linkiewicz Jun 2001 B1
6264784 Menard et al. Jul 2001 B1
6276421 Valenti et al. Aug 2001 B1
6306122 Narawa et al. Oct 2001 B1
6309336 Muessig et al. Oct 2001 B1
6312420 Sasaki et al. Nov 2001 B1
6314333 Rajala et al. Nov 2001 B1
6315022 Herrin et al. Nov 2001 B1
6336921 Kato et al. Jan 2002 B1
6358350 Glaug et al. Mar 2002 B1
6369291 Uchimoto et al. Apr 2002 B1
6375769 Quereshi et al. Apr 2002 B1
6391013 Suzuki et al. May 2002 B1
6416697 Venturino et al. Jul 2002 B1
6443389 Palone Sep 2002 B1
6446795 Allen et al. Sep 2002 B1
6473669 Rajala et al. Oct 2002 B2
6475325 Parrish et al. Nov 2002 B1
6478786 Gloug et al. Nov 2002 B1
6482278 McCabe et al. Nov 2002 B1
6494244 Parrish et al. Dec 2002 B2
6521320 McCabe et al. Feb 2003 B2
6524423 Hilt et al. Feb 2003 B1
6551228 Richards Apr 2003 B1
6551430 Glaug et al. Apr 2003 B1
6554815 Umebayashi Apr 2003 B1
6572520 Blumle Jun 2003 B2
6581517 Becker et al. Jun 2003 B1
6596108 McCabe Jul 2003 B2
6605172 Anderson et al. Aug 2003 B1
6605173 Glaug et al. Aug 2003 B2
6637583 Andersson Oct 2003 B1
6648122 Hirsch et al. Nov 2003 B1
6649010 Parrish et al. Nov 2003 B2
6659150 Perkins et al. Dec 2003 B1
6659991 Suckane Dec 2003 B2
6675552 Kunz et al. Jan 2004 B2
6684925 Nagate et al. Feb 2004 B2
6743324 Hargett et al. Jun 2004 B2
6766817 da Silva Jul 2004 B2
D497991 Otsubo et al. Nov 2004 S
6820671 Calvert Nov 2004 B2
6837840 Yonekawa et al. Jan 2005 B2
6840616 Summers Jan 2005 B2
6852186 Matsuda et al. Feb 2005 B1
6875202 Kumasaka et al. Apr 2005 B2
6893528 Middelstadt et al. May 2005 B2
6918404 Dias da Silva Jul 2005 B2
6978486 Zhou et al. Dec 2005 B2
7066586 da Silva Jun 2006 B2
7077393 Ishida Jul 2006 B2
7214174 Allen et al. May 2007 B2
7247219 O'Dowd Jul 2007 B2
20010012813 Bluemle Aug 2001 A1
20010017181 Otruba et al. Aug 2001 A1
20020046802 Tachibana et al. Apr 2002 A1
20020059013 Rajala et al. May 2002 A1
20030000620 Herrin et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030015209 Gingras et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030052148 Rajala et al. Mar 2003 A1
20030066585 McCabe Apr 2003 A1
20030083638 Malee May 2003 A1
20030084984 Glaug et al. May 2003 A1
20030089447 Molee et al. May 2003 A1
20030135189 Umebayashi Jul 2003 A1
20040007328 Popp et al. Jan 2004 A1
20040016500 Tachibana et al. Jan 2004 A1
20040112517 Groves et al. Jun 2004 A1
20040140047 Sato et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040164482 Edinger Aug 2004 A1
20050000628 Norrley Jan 2005 A1
20050196538 Sommer et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050230056 Meyer et al. Oct 2005 A1
20050230449 Meyer et al. Oct 2005 A1
20050233881 Meyer Oct 2005 A1
20050234412 Andrews et al. Oct 2005 A1
20050257881 Coose et al. Nov 2005 A1
20050275148 Beaudoin et al. Dec 2005 A1
20060021300 Tada et al. Feb 2006 A1
20060137298 Oshita et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060224137 McCabe et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060265867 Schaap Nov 2006 A1
20070074953 McCabe Apr 2007 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (66)
Number Date Country
1007854 Nov 1995 BE
1146129 May 1983 CA
1153345 Sep 1983 CA
1190078 Jul 1985 CA
1210744 Sep 1986 CA
1212132 Sep 1986 CA
1236056 May 1988 CA
1249102 Jan 1989 CA
1292201 Nov 1991 CA
1307244 Sep 1992 CA
1308015 Sep 1992 CA
1310342 Nov 1992 CA
2023816 Mar 1994 CA
2404154 Oct 2001 CA
2541194 Jan 2006 CA
2559517 May 2007 CA
102006047280 Apr 2007 DE
0044206 Jan 1982 EP
0048011 Mar 1982 EP
0089106 Sep 1983 EP
0206208 Dec 1986 EP
0304140 Aug 1987 EP
0439897 Feb 1990 EP
0455231 Nov 1991 EP
510251 Oct 1992 EP
0652175 May 1995 EP
0811473 Dec 1997 EP
0901780 Mar 1999 EP
990588 Apr 2000 EP
1132325 Sep 2001 EP
1272347 Jan 2003 EP
1571249 Sep 2005 EP
1619008 Jan 2006 EP
1707168 Apr 2006 EP
509706 Nov 1982 ES
520559 Dec 1983 ES
296211 Dec 1987 ES
2255961 Jul 1975 FR
2891811 Apr 2007 FR
191101501 Jul 1911 GB
439897 Dec 1935 GB
856389 Dec 1960 GB
941073 Nov 1963 GB
1096373 Dec 1967 GB
1126539 Sep 1968 GB
1346329 Feb 1974 GB
1412812 Nov 1975 GB
2045298 Oct 1980 GB
2288316 Oct 1995 GB
428364 Jan 1992 JP
542180 Feb 1993 JP
576566 Mar 1993 JP
626160 Feb 1994 JP
626161 Feb 1994 JP
6197925 Jul 1994 JP
10035621 Feb 1998 JP
10-277091 Oct 1998 JP
0602047 May 2007 SE
WO9747265 Dec 1997 WO
WO 9747810 Dec 1997 WO
WO9907319 Feb 1999 WO
WO9913813 Mar 1999 WO
WO9965437 Dec 1999 WO
WO0143682 Jun 2001 WO
WO0172237 Oct 2001 WO
WO2005075163 Jan 2005 WO
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20060266466 A1 Nov 2006 US