Patents by Inventor Donald E. Lanigan

Donald E. Lanigan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5105859
    Abstract: A filling machine including a manifold having a supply inlet and supply outlet and one or more nozzles connected to the manifold by individual time controlled valves. A circulation system is provided connecting a supply and the manifold for continuously circulating liquid through the manifold from the supply inlet to overflow the supply outlet such that the supply outlet determines the liquid level in the manifold and the head pressure at one or more nozzles. The manifold is structured to have a manifold section with a supply inlet on the manifold section and a stand pipe connected to the manifold section. The stand pipe includes the supply outlet and is vented to atmosphere. By varying the height of the stand pipe or the location of the outlet, the level within the manifold and the head pressure at the nozzles is adjusted. For sequential filling, bulk fill nozzles are controlled by a single timer and one or more fine fill nozzles are controlled by individual timers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: National Instrument Company
    Inventors: Richard N. Bennett, Donald E. Lanigan
  • Patent number: 4756137
    Abstract: A capping machine in which open containers are successively brought to a capping station where a respective container is held against rotation to permit closing of the open container by rotating movement of a cap fed from a reservoir to a pick-up station; a head frame assembly of the machine includes a spindle assembly carrying a chuck at the lower spindle end and drivingly connected by way of an adjustable clutch and by way of a positive drive connection with a driving motor; additionally, the spindle assembly includes a double-acting pneumatic cylinder to cause reciprocation of the spindle in its axial direction; the various components of the head frame assembly are balanced about a pivot shaft on which they are mounted for pivot movement in unison so that the actuating force for pivoting the head frame assembly can be kept relatively small; in operation, the head frame assembly is pivoted from a capping position where the chuck is in alignment with the open end of the container, into a pick-up position whe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: National Instrument Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Lanigan