Patents by Inventor Mark R. Gabel
Mark R. Gabel 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: 10603805Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignees: Esys Automation, LLC, 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark A. Compton, Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Christopher J. Marcus, Mark R. Gabel
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Patent number: 10428900Abstract: A ballasting weight (20) having a length, width, thickness, first side, second side, top, and bottom, and a cross-sectional profile comprising a notch forming a groove (28) extending longitudinally along the length of the first side of the ballasting weight (20), wherein the groove (28) is operatively adapted so as to facilitate the automatic dispensing and/or applying of the ballasting weight (20), e.g., on the rim flange of a wheel rim adjacent to its flange lip, and a device for so dispensing and/or applying the ballasting weight.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Benjamin D. Belknap, Mark R. Gabel, James S. Biondich, John Scott Taylor
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Publication number: 20180031438Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool and an arm control module. The tool is mechanically coupled to an arm and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The arm control module actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck of a cutting apparatus to receive a piece of non-segmented wheel weight material. A blade of a cutting apparatus passes between the edge of the deck and the leading edge of the tool to cut the piece from the non-segmented wheel weight material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2017Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: Mark A. COMPTON, Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, David L. MCDOLE, John K. FUNCHEON, Mark R. GABEL, Benjamin D. BELKNAP
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Patent number: 9784636Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool that is mechanically coupled to an arm. The tool includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The apparatus includes an arm control module that actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck to receive a wheel weight. The apparatus includes a cutting apparatus for separating the wheel weight from a supply feed of wheel weight material. The apparatus includes a sensor that detects presence or absence of the wheel weight on the tool.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Esys CorporationInventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, David L. McDole, John K. Funcheon, Mark R. Gabel, Benjamin D. Belknap
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Publication number: 20170225347Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2017Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Mark A. COMPTON, Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Christopher J. MARCUS, Mark R. GABEL
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Patent number: 9724986Abstract: A device for applying an adhesive-backed elongated seal (e.g., a weatherstrip seal) to a surface of a substrate. The device comprises a release liner removal tool having a stripper portion. The stripper portion comprises a spacer and a release liner guide surface. The spacer has a leading edge, an angled trailing edge, a central axis and a thickness profile that separates the adhesive on the back of the seal from the substrate surface while allowing the body of the seal to contact the substrate surface, when the stripper portion is positioned between the seal and the surface. The angled trailing edge has a transverse radius of curvature allowing the release liner to be removed from the adhesive, bent-backwards-over the trailing edge, and pulled-off along a portion of the guide surface, while the seal is adhered along its length to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark R. Gabel, Benjamin D. Belknap
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Patent number: 9630335Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one module that receives a desired weight value to correct an imbalance of a wheel/tire assembly and converts the desired weight value to a corresponding weight amount of a wheel weight material; a roller disposed so as to be on a first side of the wheel weight material, a contact surface disposed so as to be on an opposing side of the wheel weight material, a forcing element that compresses the wheel weight material between the roller and the contact surface, a motor that drives the roller according to the weight amount, a blade selectively actuated to separate the weight amount from the wheel weight material, and either (i) a device that selectively adds a witness mark on the wheel weight material, and/or (ii) a diverter that selectively diverts the separated weight amount to a first location or a second location.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignees: Esys Corporation, 3M Innovative Properties Co.Inventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, Christopher J. Marcus, Mark R. Gabel
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Publication number: 20160369868Abstract: A ballasting weight (20) having a length, width, thickness, first side, second side, top, and bottom, and a cross-sectional profile comprising a notch forming a groove (28) extending longitudinally along the length of the first side of the ballasting weight (20), wherein the groove (28) is operatively adapted so as to facilitate the automatic dispensing and/or applying of the ballasting weight (20), e.g., on the rim flange of a wheel rim adjacent to its flange lip, and a device for so dispensing and/or applying the ballasting weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Benjamin D. Belknap, Mark R. Gabel, James S. Biondich, John Scott Taylor
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Publication number: 20160193745Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Mark A. COMPTON, Christopher J. MARCUS, Mark R. GABEL
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Patent number: 9290289Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, a forcing member, an implement, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value to correct an imbalance of a wheel/tire assembly. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a corresponding first amount of a wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of the wheel weight material. The motor drives the first roller according to the first amount. The forcing member presses the second roller in a first direction that forms an angle with an axis of the first roller. The implement selectively forms a mark on the wheel weight material. The cutting head is selectively actuated to separate the first amount from the wheel weight material.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignees: Esys Corporation, 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, Christopher J. Marcus, Mark R. Gabel
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Publication number: 20150306945Abstract: A device for applying an adhesive-backed elongated seal (e.g., a weatherstrip seal) to a surface of a substrate. The device comprises a release liner removal tool having a stripper portion. The stripper portion comprises a spacer and a release liner guide surface. The spacer has a leading edge, an angled trailing edge, a central axis and a thickness profile that separates the adhesive on the back of the seal from the substrate surface while allowing the body of the seal to contact the substrate surface, when the stripper portion is positioned between the seal and the surface. The angled trailing edge has a transverse radius of curvature allowing the release liner to be removed from the adhesive, bent-backwards-over the trailing edge, and pulled-off along a portion of the guide surface, while the seal is adhered along its length to the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY,Inventors: Mark R. Gabel, Benjamin D. Belknap
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Patent number: 9021850Abstract: Chamfer cutting devices are described. The chamfer cutting devices include a mounting bracket, an electromagnet rigidly attached to the mounting bracket, a hold/release arm magnetically coupled to the electromagnet, a chamfer former rigidly attached to the hold/release arm, wherein the chamfer cutter comprises two bending beams, each terminating in a chamfer point, and a blade rigidly connected to the mounting bracket and positioned between the chamfer points. Dispensers incorporating such chamfer cutting devices and methods of chamfer cutting are also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2010Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Mark R. Gabel
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Publication number: 20150090032Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool and an arm control module. The tool is mechanically coupled to an arm and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The arm control module actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck of a cutting apparatus to receive a piece of non-segmented wheel weight material. A blade of a cutting apparatus passes between the edge of the deck and the leading edge of the tool to cut the piece from the non-segmented wheel weight material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Mark A. COMPTON, David L. MCDOLE, John K. FUNCHEON, Mark R. GABEL, Benjamin D. BELKNAP
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Patent number: 8943940Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool and an arm control module. The tool is mechanically coupled to an arm and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The arm control module actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck of a cutting apparatus to receive a piece of non-segmented wheel weight material. A blade of a cutting apparatus passes between the edge of the deck and the leading edge of the tool to cut the piece from the non-segmented wheel weight material.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignees: Esys Corporation, 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, David L. McDole, John K. Funcheon, Mark R. Gabel, Ben D. Belknap
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Publication number: 20140000432Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, a forcing member, an implement, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value to correct an imbalance of a wheel/tire assembly. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a corresponding first amount of a wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of the wheel weight material. The motor drives the first roller according to the first amount. The forcing member presses the second roller in a first direction that forms an angle with an axis of the first roller. The implement selectively forms a mark on the wheel weight material. The cutting head is selectively actuated to separate the first amount from the wheel weight material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicants: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, ESYS CORPORATIONInventors: Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Mark A. COMPTON, Christopher J. MARCUS, Mark R. GABEL
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Patent number: 8505423Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignees: Esys Corporation, 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, Christopher J. Marcus, Mark R. Gabel
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Publication number: 20120097696Abstract: Chamfer cutting devices are described. The chamfer cutting devices include a mounting bracket, an electromagnet rigidly attached to the mounting bracket, a hold/release arm magnetically coupled to the electromagnet, a chamfer former rigidly attached to the hold/release arm, wherein the chamfer cutter comprises two bending beams, each terminating in a chamfer point, and a blade rigidly connected to the mounting bracket and positioned between the chamfer points. Dispensers incorporating such chamfer cutting devices and methods of chamfer cutting are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2010Publication date: April 26, 2012Inventor: Mark R. Gabel