The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2001
Koji Sato, Shimane-ken, JP;
Yasushi Ishimoto, Shimane-ken, JP;
Gaku Akishige, Shimane-ken, JP;
Noboru Hanai, Tottori-ken, JP;
Takeshi Kuboi, Shimane-ken, JP;
Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus for producing fine metal balls comprising a crucible for holding a metal melt and equipped with orifices for ejecting the metal melt; a vibration rod for giving vibration to the melt held in the crucible ; a vibrator for giving vibration to the vibration rod ; a means for transmitting the vibration of the vibrator to the vibration rod ; and a chamber in which melt droplets ejected through the orifices are solidified while dropping, the vibration-transmitting means having one end in contact with the vibrator and the other end abutting a support member connected to the vibration rod ; the vibration-transmitting means having a cross section decreasing as it nears the support member