Patents by Inventor Ernest Barfield Widner
Ernest Barfield Widner 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).
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Patent number: 11911992Abstract: Systems for providing efficient manufacturing of sheet or box structures, corrugate sheets, or other products of varying size and structure often with pre-applied print (“pre-print”) are provided herein. The systems include various features and modules that enable automated control of the corrugator, including the knives, slitters, scorers and cut-to-mark detection system(s), are contemplated. Colored markings may be used to indicate an order change section between two order sections of a roll plan for the manufacturing process. The colored markings are detected as the corrugator runs and, once detected, a controller determines a next set of order instructions—e.g., to match the upcoming order. Thus, an order change may occur, thereby enabling automated control of the corrugator based on the new order instructions. Computer readable markings may enable checking of the actual position in the roll plan to an intended position, enabling stopping or changing of the corrugator operation if needed.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corrugated LLCInventors: Ernest Barfield Widner, Amith Subhash Chandra Jain, Robert Dennis Seay
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Publication number: 20220380159Abstract: Systems for providing efficient manufacturing of sheet or box structures, corrugate sheets, or other products of varying size and structure often with pre-applied print (“pre-print”) are provided herein. The systems include various features and modules that enable automated control of the corrugator, including the knives, slitters, scorers and cut-to-mark detection system(s), are contemplated. Colored markings may be used to indicate an order change section between two order sections of a roll plan for the manufacturing process. The colored markings are detected as the corrugator runs and, once detected, a controller determines a next set of order instructions—e.g., to match the upcoming order. Thus, an order change may occur, thereby enabling automated control of the corrugator based on the new order instructions. Computer readable markings may enable checking of the actual position in the roll plan to an intended position, enabling stopping or changing of the corrugator operation if needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Ernest Barfield Widner, Amith Subhash Chandra Jain, Robert Dennis Seay
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Patent number: 11485101Abstract: Systems for providing efficient manufacturing of sheet or box structures, corrugate sheets, or other products of varying size and structure often with pre-applied print (“pre-print”) are provided herein. The systems include various features and modules that enable automated control of the corrugator, including the knives, slitters, scorers and cut-to-mark detection system(s), are contemplated. Colored markings may be used to indicate an order change section between two order sections of a roll plan for the manufacturing process. The colored markings are detected as the corrugator runs and, once detected, a controller determines a next set of order instructions—e.g., to match the upcoming order. Thus, an order change may occur, thereby enabling automated control of the corrugator based on the new order instructions. Computer readable markings may enable checking of the actual position in the roll plan to an intended position, enabling stopping or changing of the corrugator operation if needed.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corrugated LLCInventors: Ernest Barfield Widner, Amith Subhash Chandra Jain, Robert Dennis Seay
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Publication number: 20220009234Abstract: A system for cleaning printheads used for printing on a roll of web product is provided herein. The system includes at least one printhead configured to print ink on the roll of web product to form a roll of printed web product, and a cleaning device comprising a wipe. The system further includes a controller configured to perform a cleaning operation by causing application of a cleaning additive to a portion of the wipe and causing the cleaning device to translate across the printhead to cause the portion of the wipe to be wiped across the printhead to clean the printhead. The wipe is applied with a fluid, such as water, or a non-wetted cleaning product. Multiple passes of the cleaning device can be utilized, such as where the portion of the wipe has different or no cleaning additives. Cleaning assistance, such as vibration or heat, can be utilized.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Rachel Joyce KLEIN, Daniel David KIMMERLY, Brian James REILLY, Michael T. PAYNE, Timothy C. HOLSCHER, Ernest Barfield WIDNER
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Publication number: 20210229850Abstract: A system for tracking a box and correlating a quality characteristic of the box to a packaging line equipment effectiveness, includes: an applicator that applies a unique identifier to a pre-erected box, the identifier being associated with at least one quality characteristic of the pre-erected box; a first machine reader that reads the applied identifier; a machine readable database that stores the read identifier and the associated at least one quality characteristic; a converter that converts the pre-erected box into an erected box; a second machine reader that reads the identifier of the associated erected box; a hardware material handler that advances the erected box through the packaging line; and, a first processing circuit responsive to executable instructions, and in response to determining that the erected box is involved in a disruption in the packaging line, correlates the captured identifier of the associated erected box with the associated disruption.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Ernest Barfield Widner, Michael T. Payne
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Patent number: 10977749Abstract: A method of tracking a box and correlating a quality characteristic of the box to an overall equipment effectiveness of a packaging line that manipulates the box during a product packaging process includes: at a location, associating a unique identifier with a pre-erected form of the box, capturing at least one quality characteristic of the box, and storing the at least one quality characteristic and the associated unique identifier in a database; moving the pre-erected form of the box to another location; at the another location, converting the pre-erected form of the box into an erected box, manipulating the erected box through the packaging line, and in an event where the erected box is involved in a disruption in the packaging line correlating the unique identifier of the associated erected box with the associated disruption and saving a record of the disruption and the unique identifier in a storage medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2016Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corrugated LLCInventors: Ernest Barfield Widner, Michael T. Payne
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Publication number: 20190016081Abstract: Systems for providing efficient manufacturing of sheet or box structures, corrugate sheets, or other products of varying size and structure often with pre-applied print (“pre-print”) are provided herein. The systems include various features and modules that enable automated control of the corrugator, including the knives, slitters, scorers and cut-to-mark detection system(s), are contemplated. Colored markings may be used to indicate an order change section between two order sections of a roll plan for the manufacturing process. The colored markings are detected as the corrugator runs and, once detected, a controller determines a next set of order instructions—e.g., to match the upcoming order. Thus, an order change may occur, thereby enabling automated control of the corrugator based on the new order instructions. Computer readable markings may enable checking of the actual position in the roll plan to an intended position, enabling stopping or changing of the corrugator operation if needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Ernest Barfield Widner, Amith Subhash Chandra Jain, Robert Dennis Seay
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Publication number: 20170323400Abstract: A method of tracking a box and correlating a quality characteristic of the box to an overall equipment effectiveness of a packaging line that manipulates the box during a product packaging process includes: at a first location, associating a unique identifier with a pre-erected form of the box, capturing at least one quality characteristic of the box, and storing the at least one quality characteristic and the associated unique identifier in a database; moving the pre-erected form of the box to a second location; at the second location, converting the pre-erected form of the box into an erected box, manipulating the erected box through the packaging line, and in an event where the erected box is involved in a disruption in the packaging line correlating the unique identifier of the associated erected box with the associated disruption and saving a record of the disruption and the unique identifier in a storage medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2016Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Ernest Barfield Widner, Michael T. Payne
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Publication number: 20160207660Abstract: A container has a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The container may include a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides to form an interior when in the folded configuration. The top may be formed of one or more panels and may include one or more tabs. The tabs may be positioned on the top at a location spaced from lateral edges of the top and/or lateral edges of the sides adjacent the top. The tabs may extend from or be formed from one or more panels forming the top, may be folded over an edge connected to the top, and engaged with a panel of the top. The container may include one or more openings in and/or through the bottom of the container, where the openings may be configured to receive tabs when containers are stacked to create stability in stacks of the containers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: Georgia-Pacific Corrugated LLCInventors: Michael Joseph Paiva, Ernest Barfield Widner, William Walter Letson
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Publication number: 20150041481Abstract: The present application provides a multi-piece box. The multi-piece box may include a body blank with a number of body panels and a number of second blanks with a second blank panel. The second blanks may be attached to the body blank. One or more of the body panels may include a first dimension along a first direction, the second blanks may include a second dimension along the first direction, and the second dimension may be greater than the first dimension such that the second blank panels may create a protruding end with respect to the one or more body panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORRUGATED LLCInventors: Christopher Evan Dean, Yavuz Aksan, Wayne P. Gasior, Ernest Barfield Widner, Khurram Ramzan Ali
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Patent number: 8851362Abstract: A container includes a plurality of panels integrally arranged with respect to each other and with respect to a set of orthogonal x, y and z axes, the z-axis defining a direction line in which the container is configured to support a stacking load. The plurality of panels include a first panel having a first planar surface, and a second panel having a second planar surface, wherein the first panel and the second panel form a contiguity with a fold line disposed therebetween, and wherein the first planar surface is disposed parallel to the x-z plane or the y-z plane. The container further includes a compression reinforcement feature having a planar edge oriented orthogonal to the first planar surface and perpendicular to the z-axis, the planar edge being disposed a distance away from the fold line but at a distance no greater than half a thickness of the first panel, the first panel having a void between the fold line and the planar edge.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corrugated LLCInventors: Yavuz Aksan, Ernest Barfield Widner, Wayne P. Gasior