Patents by Inventor Janusz Figiel

Janusz Figiel 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).

  • Publication number: 20170166335
    Abstract: A strapping tool for tensioning overlapping sections of steel strap around a load and forming a notch-type seal in a seal element positioned over the overlapping sections of steel strap includes a body having a foot, a tensioning section and a sealing section. The tensioning section has a tensioner motor assembly operably mounted to the body. The tensioner motor assembly has an electrically powered tensioner motor. A tensioning wheel is operably connected to the tensioner motor. The sealing section has a notcher assembly that includes an electrically powered notcher motor operably mounted to the body. The notcher assembly includes a linkage and at least one pair of jaw elements. The linkage is configured to pivot ends of the jaw elements toward one another in a sealing cycle to form the notch-type seal in the seal element. A control system controls operation of the tensioner motor and the notcher motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Jason R. Nasiatka, Janusz Figiel, Wayne J. Skonieczny, JR.
  • Patent number: 9630265
    Abstract: A powered cutter for strap includes a housing, a power supply mounted to the housing, a motor positioned at least in part in the housing and a drive train operably connected to the motor. A cutting head includes a plunger, a cutting blade operably mounted to the plunger, a hold-down biasedly mounted to the plunger, a foot and a shear edge. The drive train is operably connected to the plunger. The plunger moves toward the foot to move the hold-down into contact with the strap, securing the strap against the foot, and as the hold-down secures the strap, the cutting blade contacts and cuts the strap at the shear edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Janusz Figiel, Jason R. Nasiatka
  • Publication number: 20170008652
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a tool setting management system and method that provides a tool having a tool setting that a user cannot modify by directly physically manipulating any tool setting modification device of the tool and that enables the user to modify the tool setting using a device wirelessly connected to the tool. Generally, the tool setting management system enables a user to wirelessly pair a user device with a tool. The tool has at least one modifiable tool setting, but does not include any component physically manipulatable by the user to modify the tool setting. Once paired with the tool, the user device enables the user to input a tool setting modification, and sends the tool setting modification to the paired tool. Upon receipt, a controller of the paired tool modifies the stored tool setting in accordance with the received tool setting modification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Janusz Figiel, Walter L. Boss, Wayne Skonieczny, JR., Mark Ragusa, Guido Simon Leine
  • Publication number: 20160376041
    Abstract: A tool for tensioning a strap around a load and a method of operating the tool are provided. The tool includes a housing having a gripping portion, a power supply, a motor disposed within the housing, a tensioner head having a drive shaft driven by the motor, a tension feed wheel rotatable with the drive shaft and a nosepiece rotatably mounted to the tensioner head. The nosepiece includes a strap feed path and a tension foot having a substantially planar load engaging surface. A clutch plug is secured to the tension foot opposed from the feed wheel. A biasing element urges the nosepiece in a predetermined direction relative to the tensioner head. An operating handle is coupled to the tensioner head and nosepiece and is configured to rotate the tensioner head and nosepiece relative to one another in a first direction against a force from the biasing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Wayne J. Skonieczny, JR., Walter L. Boss, Janusz Figiel
  • Patent number: 9468968
    Abstract: A tensioner for strap includes a housing, a battery, a motor, a tension head having a tension wheel operably connected to the motor and a nosepiece having a pinch element. The nosepiece is mounted to the tension head for movement relative thereto. An actuator handle is mounted to the nosepiece to move the pinch element toward and away from the tension wheel. A strap sensor is operably connected to a controller and senses the presence or absence of strap between the tension wheel and the pinch element. A home position switch senses pinch wheel proximity to the tension wheel. The nosepiece is moved away from the tension head to introduce strap to the tool and the home position switch changes state to signal the controller to permit actuation of the motor when the strap sensor senses the presence of strap between the pinch element and the tension wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Janusz Figiel, Michael J. Kaufman, Jason R. Nasiatka, Joseph J. Gardner, Walter L. Boss
  • Publication number: 20160167814
    Abstract: A tool for sealing overlying courses of a strap that includes a gripping unit, a power supply unit detachably affixed to one end of the gripping unit, and a motor in the gripping unit. A cam is coupled to the motor and a notching unit is coupled to the cam by a plurality of linkages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Janusz Figiel, Ka Kuen Leung, Jason R. Nasiatka, John W. Croll
  • Patent number: 9272799
    Abstract: A tool for sealing overlying courses of a strap that includes a gripping unit, a power supply unit detachably affixed to one end of the gripping unit, and a motor in the gripping unit. A cam is coupled to the motor and a notching unit is coupled to the cam by a plurality of linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Janusz Figiel, Ka Kuen Leung, Jason R. Nasiatka, John W. Croll
  • Publication number: 20160016682
    Abstract: An electrically powered strapping tool for tensioning and forming a sealless joint in overlapping sections of steel strap around a load includes a body having a foot, a tensioning assembly operably mounted to the body, the tensioning assembly having an electrically powered motor and a tensioning wheel operably connected to the tensioner motor. The tool includes a sealing assembly operably mounted to the body, the sealing assembly having an electrically powered motor and a sealer operably connected to the electrically powered motor. A control system controls operation of the tensioning assembly and the sealing assembly to operate the strapping tool in an automatic mode in which the tensioning assembly and the sealing assembly are sequentially actuated by a single action of the control system by an operator, and in a manual mode in which the tensioning assembly and the sealing assembly are sequentially actuated by multiple actions of the control system by the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Walter L. Boss, Janusz Figiel
  • Publication number: 20150321777
    Abstract: A sealing tool for forming a joint in a seal positioned on overlying courses of strap includes a body, a motor and drive train housed, at least in part, in the body, a power supply and a sealing assembly mounted to the body. The sealing assembly is operably coupled to the motor. The sealing assembly includes at least one jaw having a pair of opposing jaw elements. Each jaw element has two edges for cutting into the seal and the courses of strap and forming a bent tab. The jaw element edges are configured to cut into the seal and the courses of strap material at different distances into a width of the seal and strap material. A method for forming seal and a seal formed by the tool and method are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Jason R. Nasiatka, Janusz Figiel
  • Patent number: 8967217
    Abstract: A strapping tool for tensioning and securing a strap on or around an object or load includes a motor, a tensioning assembly coupled to the motor, and a weld plate assembly coupled to the motor. The motor is actuated in a first direction to control the tensioning assembly to tension the strap during a tensioning operation and the motor is actuated in a second direction to control the weld plate assembly to weld the strap to itself during a welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Joseph J. Gardner, Janusz Figiel, Timothy B. Pearson
  • Publication number: 20150000491
    Abstract: A powered cutter for strap includes a housing, a power supply mounted to the housing, a motor positioned at least in part in the housing and a drive train operably connected to the motor. A cutting head includes a plunger, a cutting blade operably mounted to the plunger, a hold-down biasedly mounted to the plunger, a foot and a shear edge. The drive train is operably connected to the plunger. The plunger moves toward the foot to move the hold-down into contact with the strap, securing the strap against the foot, and as the hold-down secures the strap, the cutting blade contacts and cuts the strap at the shear edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Premark Packaging LLC
    Inventors: Janusz Figiel, Jason R. Nasiatka
  • Patent number: 8715834
    Abstract: A strip of multiple seals, each seal for sealing around overlying courses of strapping material to form a seal of the strapping material onto itself at the overlying courses includes an elongated strip of ductile metal. The strip has a longitudinal direction having edges and defining a longitudinal axis parallel to the edges, and a transverse direction normal to the longitudinal axis. Each seal defines a respective transverse axis. The strip has a plurality of substantially identical slots formed in the transverse direction to define the respective seals. The slots extend toward, but not to, the edges of the strip and define connecting portions between ends of the slot and the respective edges. The slots are equally spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction to define the respective seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Hochleutner, Michael J. Gilman, Kenneth Hoffman, Janusz Figiel
  • Publication number: 20140060345
    Abstract: A tensioner for strap includes a housing, a battery, a motor, a tension head having a tension wheel operably connected to the motor and a nosepiece having a pinch element. The nosepiece is mounted to the tension head for movement relative thereto. An actuator handle is mounted to the nosepiece to move the pinch element toward and away from the tension wheel. A strap sensor is operably connected to a controller and senses the presence or absence of strap between the tension wheel and the pinch element. A home position switch senses pinch wheel proximity to the tension wheel. The nosepiece is moved away from the tension head to introduce strap to the tool and the home position switch changes state to signal the controller to permit actuation of the motor when the strap sensor senses the presence of strap between the pinch element and the tension wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Janusz Figiel, Michael J. Kaufman, Jason R. Nasiatka, Joseph J. Gardner, Walter L. Boss
  • Publication number: 20130085053
    Abstract: A tool for sealing overlying courses of a strap that includes a gripping unit, a power supply unit detachably affixed to one end of the gripping unit, and a motor in the gripping unit. A cam is coupled to the motor and a notching unit is coupled to the cam by a plurality of linkages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Janusz Figiel, Ka Kuen Leung, Jason R. Nasiatka, John W. Croll
  • Publication number: 20120295126
    Abstract: A strip of multiple seals, each seal for sealing around overlying courses of strapping material to form a seal of the strapping material onto itself at the overlying courses includes an elongated strip of ductile metal. The strip has a longitudinal direction having edges and defining a longitudinal axis parallel to the edges, and a transverse direction normal to the longitudinal axis. Each seal defines a respective transverse axis. The strip has a plurality of substantially identical slots formed in the transverse direction to define the respective seals. The slots extend toward, but not to, the edges of the strip and define connecting portions between ends of the slot and the respective edges. The slots are equally spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction to define the respective seals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Hochleutner, Michael J. Gilman, Kenneth Hoffman, Janusz Figiel
  • Publication number: 20120210682
    Abstract: A strapping tool for tensioning and securing a strap on or around an object or load includes a motor, a tensioning assembly coupled to the motor, and a weld plate assembly coupled to the motor. The motor is actuated in a first direction to control the tensioning assembly to tension the strap during a tensioning operation and the motor is actuated in a second direction to control the weld plate assembly to weld the strap to itself during a welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Gardner, Janusz Figiel, Timothy B. Pearson
  • Publication number: 20090241298
    Abstract: A seal has pre-cut slits formed in the seal body for securing the seal around a strap. The seal body has positioning tabs or a centering hole to position a hand tool to facilitate bending of the metal seal tabs defined by the pre-cut slits. The pre-cut seal is applied to overlapping sections of the strap and the seal tabs and strap ends are bent into an interlocking engagement sufficient to prevent withdrawal of the strap sections from the seal. A number of slits may be present in the seal depending on the size and shape of the seal, and the same number of slits may be formed on opposing sides of the seal. Different numbers of slits may also be formed, depending on the application. An inner surface of the seal may include a non-slip surface material such as grit or adhesive and/or may be formed with teeth or a knurled surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Janusz Figiel
  • Publication number: 20090188398
    Abstract: A strapping tool for tensioning a strap around a load, adhering the strap onto itself, and cutting a feed end of the strap, includes a body having a foot on which the strap is disposed during a strapping cycle. The body housing and/or forming a part of a tensioning element and including a welding element. One or more pneumatic motors tension the strap and drive the welding element. A pneumatic module is mounted to the body. The module has a compressed gas inlet to the module and is configured for controlling the flow of compressed gas to the one or more motors. A handle is mounted to the body and operably connected to the pneumatic module. The handle is configured for manipulating the tool and includes an actuator for permitting and isolating the flow of compressed gas to the pneumatic module. The handle is orientable so as to allow a user to select a desired handle orientation for operation of the strapping tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jason R. Nasiatka, Janusz Figiel, Ka Kuen Leung
  • Patent number: 7562620
    Abstract: A strapping tool for tensioning a strap around a load, adhering the strap onto itself, and cutting a feed end of the strap, includes a body having a foot on which the strap is disposed during a strapping cycle. The body housing and/or forming a part of a tensioning element and including a welding element. One or more pneumatic motors tension the strap and drive the welding element. A pneumatic module is mounted to the body. The module has a compressed gas inlet to the module and is configured for controlling the flow of compressed gas to the one or more motors. A handle is mounted to the body and operably connected to the pneumatic module. The handle is configured for manipulating the tool and includes an actuator for permitting and isolating the flow of compressed gas to the pneumatic module. The handle is orientable so as to allow a user to select a desired handle orientation for operation of the strapping tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Nasiatka, Janusz Figiel, Ka Kuen Leung
  • Patent number: 7497068
    Abstract: A two-piece strapping tool having a manual tensioner and a battery-operated sealer is disclosed. The tensioner is a feedwheel tensioner that uses a serrated feedwheel to grip a first portion of the strap and a tension gripper to hold a second portion of the strap in a stationary position. The tensioner is configured to matingly receive the sealer between the tensioner's support legs such that the sealer may readily engage the overlapping portions of the strap to be welded. The sealer is battery-operated and uses a vibrational-type weld assembly driven by an electrical motor to weld overlapping portions of the strap. The sealer also includes a cutting assembly to sever the welded strap from a strap source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Nasiatka, Janusz Figiel, David E. Crittenden, Joseph E. Fabin