Patents by Inventor Michael E. Andrea

Michael E. Andrea 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: 6948348
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Publication number: 20040159990
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Publication number: 20040134558
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Patent number: 6758078
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Publication number: 20020195756
    Abstract: A spring coil assembly having a first row of coils arranged in a first spacing pattern and a second row of coils adjacent the first row and arranged in a second spacing pattern that is different from the first spacing pattern. The spring coil assembly can be assembled using an apparatus comprising a main conveyor adapted to convey a plurality of coils along an axis, an assembler which is operable to intertwine a plurality of coils into a spring coil assembly, and a transfer station operable to move a plurality of coils from the main conveyor into the assembler. The transfer station includes a plurality of pusher arms each of which include a gripper which is operable to grasp an individual coil, a carriage supporting the gripper arms and means for shifting the carriage axially relative to the axis so that a plurality of coils carried by the gripper arms are displaced in the direction of travel of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: David Scott Wells, George M. Chembakassery, Michael E. Andrea
  • Patent number: 6430982
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs having a plurality of coils and which includes a wire feed advancing mechanism operative to feed the wire which is formed into coil springs, a pitch control mechanism operative to control the diameter of the coils of the coil springs being formed, a diameter control mechanism operative to control the pitch of the coils of the coil springs being formed, and a control including a storage area containing instructions for operation of the wire feed advancing mechanism, the pitch control mechanism, and the diameter control mechanism, a wire feed controller connected to the wire feed advancing mechanism to control operation thereof, a pitch controller connected to the pitch control mechanism to control operation thereof, a diameter controller connected the diameter control mechanism to control operation thereof, and a programmable switching device connected to the wire feed controller, to the pitch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventors: Michael E. Andrea, Stuart C. Hamill, Wayne D. Jaworski, Horst F. Wentzek
  • Publication number: 20020017334
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil spring forming head which is periodically operative to at least partially form coil springs having a plurality of coils and which includes a wire feed advancing mechanism operative to feed the wire which is formed into coil springs, a pitch control mechanism operative to control the diameter of the coils of the coil springs being formed, a diameter control mechanism operative to control the pitch of the coils of the coil springs being formed, and a control including a storage area containing instructions for operation of the wire feed advancing mechanism, the pitch control mechanism, and the diameter control mechanism, a wire feed controller connected to the wire feed advancing mechanism to control operation thereof, a pitch controller connected to the pitch control mechanism to control operation thereof, a diameter controller connected the diameter control mechanism to control operation thereof, and a programmable switching device connected to the wire feed controller, to the pitch
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Andrea, Stuart C. Hamill, Wayne D. Jaworski, Horst F. Wentzek
  • Patent number: 5950473
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil spring forming machine and transfer conveyor assembly comprising a transfer conveyor operable through a succession of operational cycles and including and endless conveyor assembly and a conveyor drive servo-motor drivingly connected to the conveyor assembly and operative, upon each energization thereof, to drive the conveyor assembly through one operational cycle. A control system operative to automatically and non-selectively cause energization of the conveyor drive servo-motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Frank L. Wells Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Andrea, Stuart C. Hamill, Wayne D. Jaworski, Horst F. Wentzek