Patents by Inventor Eric John Kirker

Eric John Kirker 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: 5990450
    Abstract: A rotary conveyor comprising an annular array of a plurality of circumferentially spaced work piece support members for receiving a corresponding plurality of work pieces. They conveyor further include a first drive ring coaxially associated with the array for rotating the work pieces in the work piece support members. The drive ring is rotatable with respect to the array such that relative movement between the drive ring and the array causes the work pieces to rotate. The invention further includes a rotary oven for depositing and curing resin on work pieces having a shaft thereon. The oven comprises an annular array having a plurality of circumferentially spaced work piece support members. Each work piece support member has a sprocket mounted on its radially inward end and is shaped so as to receive a work piece in its radially outward end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Odawara Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric John Kirker, William R. Patterson, Jr., Donald Ray Hall, David L. Hall
  • Patent number: 5813518
    Abstract: A conveyor system in which the lateral distance between the parallel conveyor belts can be easily adjusted includes two parallel guide-rails for guiding the two endless parallel belts riding in the guide-rails. One guide rail is mounted to a plurality of fixed supports, while the other guide rail is mounted to a plurality of laterally mobile supports. Each of the mobile supports include a pinion gear rotatably mounted thereto, where each pinion gear is engaged with a laterally fixed rack mounted on a standing assembly. The pinion gears are also coupled together such that they rotate in unison, thereby guaranteeing that each of the mobile support columns translate laterally in unison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Odawara Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric John Kirker
  • Patent number: 5735219
    Abstract: An open base adjustable pallet for supporting work pieces comprising: at least one carriage rod; a first support member mounted for travel along the carriage rod, the first support member including (a) a torsion spring having a helical portion which encircles the carriage rod and engages the carriage rod when the spring is relaxed and disengages from the second carriage rod when the second spring is compressed; and a second support member mounted on the of carriage rod, wherein the first support member is capable of being adjusted along of carriage rod relative to the second support member, thereby enabling the pallet to receive work pieces of differing sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Odawara Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric John Kirker, Taggert R. McGough, William R. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5658477
    Abstract: Welding a stack of stator laminations is accomplished with an arbor and a nest tool. The nest tool has a base from which extend plural lamination stacking members. The arbor is reciprocated with respect to the nest tool to extend through the center of a stack of laminations. A welding torch reciprocates relative to a stack of laminations to perform the welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Odawara Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric John Kirker, William Robert Patterson