Patents by Inventor John W. Clifford
John W. Clifford 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: 6817566Abstract: A web handling apparatus includes a base, a housing, a splicing head mounted in the housing, and first and second non-rotatable swing out roll shafts, each shaft having opposite first and second ends. The roll shafts are normally positioned in the housing substantially parallel to the splicing head so that web can travel through the splicing head to on from web rolls on the roll shafts. A web accumulator mounted to the housing conducts web to or from the splicing head and the housing is movably mounted to the base so that the housing can move relative to the base in either direction parallel to the roll shafts. An actuator connected between the housing and the base moves the housing relative to the base in response to signals from a web position sensor so as to minimize the side lay of web extending to or from the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Butler Automatic, Inc.Inventors: John W. Clifford, Andrew P. Butler, Peter E. Bianchetto, Pierre Gachet, Robert Mavilia
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Patent number: 6758260Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly having a housing defining first and second quadrants. An air mixing door is mounted to the housing downstream of an inlet and upstream of an outlet. The air mixing door has a first position directing substantially all of the air through the first quadrant, a second position directing substantially all of the air through the second quadrant, and a third position directing a flow of air through both of the first and second quadrants. A first seal is mounted to a first side of the air mixing door and a second seal is mounted to a second side of the air mixing door. A diffuser is mounted to at least one of the sides of the air mixing door and has a plurality of passageways to interrupt a flow of air passing around the air mixing door when the air mixing door initially moves from one of the first and second positions to the third position, thereby controlling an initial flow of air into at least one of the quadrants.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventor: John W. Clifford
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Publication number: 20040084561Abstract: A web handling apparatus includes a base, a housing, a splicing head mounted in the housing, and first and second non-rotatable swing out roll shafts, each shaft having opposite first and second ends. The roll shafts are normally positioned in the housing substantially parallel to the splicing head so that web can travel through the splicing head to on from web rolls on the roll shafts. A web accumulator mounted to the housing conducts web to or from the splicing head and the housing is movably mounted to the base so that the housing can move relative to the base in either direction parallel to the roll shafts. An actuator connected between the housing and the base moves the housing relative to the base in response to signals from a web position sensor so as to minimize the side lay of web extending to or from the apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2002Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: John W. Clifford, Andrew P. Butler, Peter E. Bianchetto, Pierre Gachet, Robert Mavilia
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Publication number: 20040069444Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly having a housing defining first and second quadrants. An air mixing door is mounted to the housing downstream of an inlet and upstream of an outlet. The air mixing door has a first position directing substantially all of the air through the first quadrant, a second position directing substantially all of the air through the second quadrant, and a third position directing a flow of air through both of the first and second quadrants. A first seal is mounted to a first side of the air mixing door and a second seal is mounted to a second side of the air mixing door. A diffuser is mounted to at least one of the sides of the air mixing door and has a plurality of passageways to interrupt a flow of air passing around the air mixing door when the air mixing door initially moves from one of the first and second positions to the third position, thereby controlling an initial flow of air into at least one of the quadrants.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventor: John W. Clifford
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Patent number: 6460844Abstract: An apparatus for selectively streaming and merging side-by-side sheets is provided. In general, sheets enter in a side-by-side orientation onto an input feed surface and are directed selectively upwardly or downwardly onto overlying upper and lower feed surfaces by a diverter assembly having two diverter sides. The diverter sides can be independently moved to direct sheets upwardly or downwardly. The upper feed surface and lower feed surface have opposing edge guides. The upper feed surface and lower feed surface can be moved with respect to each other so that the edge guides are placed one sheet width apart or more than two sheet widths apart. By orienting the two diverter halves, and setting the desired distance between the upper and lower edge guides, sheets can pass along each of the upper and lower surfaces in a side-by-side streamed or over-lapping merge orientation.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: John W. Clifford, Steven P. Lewalski, Matthew D. Bouche, Bruce J. Taylor
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Patent number: 6312208Abstract: A system for stacking continuous folded forms or web coming from a folder and separator and moving to a conveyor. A table is positioned adjacent and in line with the conveyor and in a position for receiving a horizontally-extending stack of folded forms disposed on the table top. The table is a tiltable table and is able to be tilted from a substantially-horizontal position to a substantially-vertical position to likewise move the stack from a horizontal to a vertical stack position. A cart is movable to a position adjacent to the tilted table for receiving from the table the vertical stack for support on the cart. The cart can include a plurality of storage locations that can each be provided with a stack.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, Peter Bianchetto
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Patent number: 6305857Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a continuous pinless web that is free of tractor pin feed holes within a utilization device that is originally adapted to feed web having tractor pin feed hole strips along its widthwise edges is provided. The utilization device can comprise an IBM high-volume laser printer having an image transfer drum synchronized to a pair of tractor pin feed drive units. A drive roller is operatively connected to the lower pin feed unit according to a preferred embodiment. A registration controller is utilized to synchronize the movement of the web with the operation of the utilization device element using a differential and a separate registration motor. The image transfer drum and drive roller are each synchronized to a central drive motor that generates pulses via an encoder. The pulses track the movement of the image transfer drum. A mark sensor reads marks on the web to synchronize actual movement of the web with the image transfer drum using the registration motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1999Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, William F. Bolza, Tamas Hetenyi, Richard A. Sjostedt
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Patent number: 6120043Abstract: A system for stacking continuous folded forms or web coming from a folder and separator and moving to a conveyor. A table is positioned adjacent and in line with the conveyor and in a position for receiving a horizontally-extending stack of folded forms disposed on the table top. The table is a tiltable table and is able to be tilted from a substantially-horizontal position to a substantially-vertical position to likewise move the stack from a horizontal to a vertical stack position. A cart is movable to a position adjacent to the tilted table for receiving from the table the vertical stack for support on the cart. The cart can include a plurality of storage locations that can each be provided with a stack.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1998Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, Peter Bianchetto
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Patent number: 6000595Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a continuous pinless web that is free of tractor pin feed holes within a utilization device that is originally adapted to feed web having tractor pin feed hole strips along its widthwise edges is provided. The utilization device can comprise an IBM high-volume laser printer having an image transfer drum synchronized to a pair of tractor pin feed drive units. A drive roller is operatively connected to the lower pin feed unit according to a preferred embodiment. A registration controller is utilized to synchronize the movement of the web with the operation of the utilization device element using a differential and a separate registration motor. The image transfer drum and drive roller are each synchronized to a central drive motor that generates pulses via an encoder. The pulses track the movement of the image transfer drum. A mark sensor reads marks on the web to synchronize actual movement of the web with the image transfer drum using the registration motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1997Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, William F. Bolza, Tamas Hetenyi, Richard A. Sjostedt
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Patent number: 5692999Abstract: A system for stacking continuous folded forms or web coming from a folder and separator and moving to a conveyor. A table is positioned adjacent and in line with the conveyor and in a position for receiving a horizontally-extending stack of folded forms disposed on the table top. The table is a tiltable table and is able to be tilted from a substantially-horizontal position to a substantially-vertical position to likewise move the stack from a horizontal to a vertical stack position. A cart is movable to a position adjacent to the tilted table for receiving from the table the vertical stack for support on the cart. The cart can include a plurality of storage locations that can each be provided with a stack.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1994Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, Peter Bianchetto
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Patent number: 5653438Abstract: A high speed sheet feeder for use with utilization devices that process sheets comprises a source of sheets, that can include a web cutter and a transport unit having a surface along which the sheets travel in a downstream direction. The surface can include a pair of conveyors that act as sheet justifiers and have at downstream ends thereof wait stations that can comprise pairs of nip rollers. Sheets are halted at each wait station and simultaneously passed along the surface as a sheet request signal is received from the utilization device. The transport unit can further include a bump/turn module that receives sheets from the conveyors and passes them at 90.degree. angle to their initial direction of travel into the utilization device via a port in the utilization device adapted to feed sheets upon request.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, William F. Bolza
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Patent number: 5582087Abstract: A high speed sheet feeder for use with utilization devices that process sheets comprises a source of sheets, that can include a web cutter and a transport unit having a surface along which the sheets travel in a downstream direction. The surface can include a pair of conveyors that act as sheet justifiers and have at downstream ends thereof wait stations that can comprise pairs of nip rollers. Sheets are halted at each wait station and simultaneously passed along the surface as a sheet request signal is received from the utilization device. The transport unit can further include a bump/turn module that receives sheets from the conveyors and passes them at a 90.degree. angle to their initial direction of travel into the utilization device via a port in the utilization device adapted to feed sheets upon request.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1993Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, William F. Bolza
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Patent number: 5558318Abstract: A system for conveying folded web and forming discrete stacks of folded web comprising a conveyor that receives a stack of folded output web from a web folder and separator. The conveyor drives the web from an upstream end, adjacent the web folder and separator, to a downstream end. A supporting surface, which can comprise a plurality of pivoting rails biased by a spring, selectively supports the web remote from and off of the conveyor so that a compressed stack can be formed adjacent the folder and separator. At selected times, the stack is moved by the supporting surface into communication with the folder and separator so that it can be conveyed downstream. An elevator platform can be located at the downstream location for receiving successive stacks thereon. The elevator ascends and descends so that the tops of the successive stacks are aligned with the conveyor for receipt of a further stack thereon.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1994Date of Patent: September 24, 1996Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, Stephen E. Silva, Peter E. Bianchetto, John W. Clifford, Bruce J. Taylor
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Patent number: 5558319Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material provides a conveyor for transporting the sheets from a source of sheets. The sheets are conveyed in a stream that is aligned in a downstream direction from a source to a stacking location. A kicker mechanism is located along the conveyor to offset sheets in a direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction. A stacking mechanism is positioned at the stacking location for receiving each sheet from the conveyor and overlaying each sheet into a stack that extends downstream in a horizontal orientation that is substantially parallel to the ground. The kicker mechanism may include an elastomeric foot that engages and withdraws from each selected sheet to drive it transversely to the downstream direction. The sheets may be cut from a continuous web source.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1994Date of Patent: September 24, 1996Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, Thomas Connolly, John R. Fairhurst, Bruce Taylor
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Patent number: 5533719Abstract: A stacker jam detector, for use in a sheet handling device such as a stacker and separator, comprises a source of sheets that directs sheets downstream to a delivery location. The source of sheets includes a sheet sent signal generator that transmits a sheet sent signal in response to transferral of each of the sheets from the source. A moving sensing service, such as an elastomeric wheel, is provided at a delivery location, which can comprise a vertical stack. The surface engages each of the sheets as each of the sheets is transferred to the delivery location. Movement of the sheets thereover causes proportional movement of the sensing surface. A signal, such as a pulse, is generated in response to the movement of the sensing surface. A detector measures the signal and compares the signal received relative to at least one sheet sense signal to a predetermined signal value and indicates whether a sheet has been properly delivered to the delivery location.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1994Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, Thomas Connolly, John R. Fairhurst, Bruce Taylor, John M. Fiske
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Patent number: 5366212Abstract: An apparatus for stacking and separating sheets of web material provides a conveyor for transporting the sheets from a source of sheets. The sheets are conveyed in a stream that is aligned in a downstream direction from a source to a stacking location. A kicker mechanism is located along the conveyor to offset sheets in a direction that is substantially transverse to the downstream direction. A stacking mechanism is positioned at the stacking location for receiving each sheet from the conveyor and overlaying each sheet into a stack that extends downstream in a horizontal orientation that is substantially parallel to the ground. The kicker mechanism may include an elastomeric foot that engages and withdraws from each selected sheet to drive it transversely to the downstream direction. The sheets may be cut from a continuous web source.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1992Date of Patent: November 22, 1994Assignee: Roll Systems, Inc.Inventors: H. W. Crowley, John W. Clifford, Thomas Connolly, John R. Fairhurst, Bruce Taylor
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Patent number: 4948060Abstract: A web roll handling system comprises a roll loading section, a plurality of splicers and at least one robotic vehicle arranged to travel back and forth between the loading section and the plurality of splicers.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1988Date of Patent: August 14, 1990Assignee: Butler Automatic, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Kurz, Alexander Jesensky, Raymond W. Johnson, Tamas Hetenyi, Geoffrey C. Grigg, Stephen C. Dangel, John W. Clifford, Richard A. Butler, Jr.
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Patent number: 4100012Abstract: Web splicing apparatus employs a pair of driven nip rolls which controllably feed web from a running roll into a festoon as web is drawn out of the festoon at a constant rate by a downstream web consuming machine. The nip rolls are driven by a DC motor connected in a closed loop servo system which compares the speed of the web entering the festoon with the web line speed to develop a command signal for the motor. During normal operation, the command signal includes a web velocity trim signal developed by monitoring the position of the festoon dancer relative to a selected reference position so as to minimize tension upsets and to maintain the dancer within its control range. During a splice sequence, the command signal comprises a deceleration ramp having a selected slope to provide controlled deceleration of the web to minimize tension upsets and to permit actuation of the splicing nips prior to actual web stop.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1976Date of Patent: July 11, 1978Assignee: Butler Automatic, Inc.Inventors: Edward F. Meihofer, George F. Corcoran, John W. Clifford
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Patent number: 3990647Abstract: An automatic web splice control system determines when an expiring roll of web of indeterminate caliper reaches a preselected splice radius by sensing when the web roll has diminished to preset first and second radii and measuring the web length resulting from that diminishment to determine web caliper. Then the system computes the roll cross-sectional area between the second radius and the preselected splice radius divided by that caliper to determine in advance the web length that will be drawn from a roll as the roll size diminishes from the second radius to the splice radius. Commencing at the second radius, the system then measures the amount of web drawn from the roll and when that amount equals the precomputed web length, the system generates a splice signal indicating that the roll has diminished to the preselected splice radius.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1975Date of Patent: November 9, 1976Assignee: Butler Automatic, Inc.Inventor: John W. Clifford