ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 5 -- United States Patent no. 12,214,542, issued on Feb. 4, was assigned to THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS LTD. (Tokyo).
"Link device and stretching machine" was invented by Naoaki Yoshimatsu (Tokyo) and Ichiro Nakajima (Tokyo).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Link devices include a plurality of link mechanisms which are coupled so as to form an endless chain and can move along two rails. Each of the link mechanisms includes first and second rail holders, a plurality of guide rollers provided on the first rail holder and moving along one rail while rotating, and a plurality of guide rollers provided on the second rail holder and moving along the other rail while rotating. The plural...