US 11383405

An analysis of US Patent 11,383,405 is provided below.

Title: Methods for producing ceramic molded body and ceramic structure

Assignee: NGK Insulators Ltd

Inventors:

• Keita Ito
• Yuichi Tajima
• Yoshimasa Kondo

Filing Date: December 29, 2020

Issue Date: July 12, 2022

Abstract:
The patent describes a method for producing a ceramic molded body. The process involves using an extrusion molding machine with a temperature control portion to shape a ceramic molding material. The extruded body is then cut to a predetermined length, and its dimensions are measured. A key aspect of the invention is the pre-established relationship between the temperature of the control portion and the dimensions of the cut ceramic body. This relationship is used to calculate and set an appropriate temperature for the temperature control portion based on the real-time measurements of the cut body, thereby controlling the dimensions of the final product.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim outlines a method for manufacturing a ceramic molded body with improved dimensional accuracy. The process involves three main steps: (1) extruding a ceramic material through a molding machine that has a temperature-controlled section; (2) cutting the extruded ceramic into pieces of a specific length; and (3) measuring the dimensions of the cut piece before it is dried. The core of the method is a feedback loop: a pre-determined relationship between the temperature of the machine's control section and the size of the final cut piece is used. By measuring a freshly cut piece, the manufacturer can calculate the ideal temperature needed to ensure dimensional accuracy and adjust the machine accordingly for subsequent production.

• Claim 6: This claim extends the method described in Claim 1 to produce a finished ceramic structure. It specifies that the ceramic molded body, created using the process in Claim 1, undergoes two additional steps: a drying step and a firing (or baking) step to create the final, hardened ceramic structure.

Litigation Search:

A search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 was conducted, and no cases specifically citing US patent 11,383,405 were found. It should be noted that this search is not exhaustive of all possible litigation venues.