Patents by Inventor Rainer Ropers
Rainer Ropers 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: 7287717Abstract: A dispenser having a start-assist for starting rotation of a coil for dispensing flexible material from the coil includes a frame, a support, a shaft mounted to the support for supporting the coil and configured for rotation with the coil and an arm mounted about the shaft by a one-way element. The arm is connected to the shaft for rotation such that when the arm rotates in a first direction the one-way element engages the shaft to rotate the shaft and when the arm rotates in a second, opposite direction the one-way element is disengaged from the shaft to permit the shaft to freely rotate. When the flexible material is pulled from the coil the arm is rotated in the first direction to begin rotation of the coil by tension in the flexible material.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2005Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.Inventors: Rainer Ropers, Richard K. Balling, Kevin A. Bruzzesi
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Patent number: 7121193Abstract: A flexible strap guide for an overhead strapper having a feed head for feeding the strapping material from a supply to a strapping head being mounted to a movable platen. The guide includes an elongated flexible spine formed from a plurality of hinged elements. Each of the elements is hingedly connected to and independently movable relative to each adjacent element. The elements define a central channel therein defined by a contiguous inner periphery. A hollow tubular element is positioned within the flexible spine and is flexible with the spine. The tubular element defines a pathway for movement of the strapping material therethrough between feed head and the strapping head. The guide is flexible at points between the feed head and the strapping head and is configured to permit movement of the strapping head upward and downward and to retain the hollow tubular element in an unobstructed condition as the strapping head moves upward and downward.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2005Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard K. Balling, Rainer Ropers, Timothy B. Pearson
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Publication number: 20060175458Abstract: A dispenser having a start-assist for starting rotation of a coil for dispensing flexible material from the coil includes a frame, a support, a shaft mounted to the support for supporting the coil and configured for rotation with the coil and an arm mounted about the shaft by a one-way element. The arm is connected to the shaft for rotation such that when the arm rotates in a first direction the one-way element engages the shaft to rotate the shaft and when the arm rotates in a second, opposite direction the one-way element is disengaged from the shaft to permit the shaft to freely rotate. When the flexible material is pulled from the coil the arm is rotated in the first direction to begin rotation of the coil by tension in the flexible material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2005Publication date: August 10, 2006Applicant: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.Inventors: Rainer Ropers, Richard Balling, Kevin Bruzzesi
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Publication number: 20060174780Abstract: A flexible strap guide for an overhead strapper of the type for feed a strapping material around a load, positioning, tensioning and sealing the strapping material around the load, the overhead strapper having a feed head for feeding the strapping material from a supply to a strapping head, the feed head being stationary and spaced from a strapping head, the strapping head being mounted to a movable platen, the extends between the feed head and the strapping head. The guide includes an elongated flexible spine formed from a plurality of hinged elements. Each of the elements is hingedly connected to and independently movable relative to each adjacent element. The elements define a central channel therein defined by a contiguous inner periphery. A hollow tubular element is positioned within the flexible spine and is flexible with the spine. The tubular element defines a pathway for movement of the strapping material therethrough between feed head and the strapping head.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2005Publication date: August 10, 2006Applicant: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.Inventors: Richard Balling, Rainer Ropers, Timothy Pearson
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Publication number: 20050217215Abstract: A stacking and strapping apparatus is configured to stack a first load layer on a pallet, horizontally strap the load, stack a second load layer on the first load layer and horizontally strap the second load layer. The apparatus includes a frame, a sealing head operably mounted to the frame, a feed head operably mounted to the frame and a strap chute mounted to the frame. The strap chute is stationary and is fixedly mounted to the frame in a generally horizontal plane and has an opening therein for receiving the sealing head. The strap chute defines the boundaries of a vertical path for movement of the pallet, the first load layer and the second load layer. A draw plate is disposed above the strap chute.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2004Publication date: October 6, 2005Applicant: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.Inventors: Rainer Ropers, Richard Balling, James Roberts, Donna Roberts
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Publication number: 20050211111Abstract: An overhead strapper is of the type for feeding a strapping material around a load, positioning, tensioning and sealing the strapping material around the load. The strapping machine includes a frame, an upper horizontally oriented platen mounted to the frame for vertical movement along the frame a modular strapping head mounted to and movable with the platen and a modular feed head mounted to the frame, spaced from the strapping head. A strap guide is mounted in part to the frame and in part to the platen. The strap guide provides a varying length pathway from the feed head to the strapping head. A strap chute is mounted to the frame. Strap material is fed into the strapping machine through the feed head, through the guide and into the strapping head. The strap traverses through the strapping head into the strap chute and back to the strapping head for retraction, tensioning and sealing to itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2004Publication date: September 29, 2005Applicant: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.Inventors: Rainer Ropers, Calvin Kasel, James Roberts, Donna Roberts, Joseph Ream
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Patent number: 6502373Abstract: An insulation strapping machine comprises a vertically reciprocable platen and horizontally reciprocable opposed pairs of compressors which are able to have their relative positions adjustably controlled such that the platen and compressors cooperate together so as to form or define a variably sized package cavity within which the variously different or different sized articles, packages, or materials to be strapped can be disposed for properly achieving a strapping or packaging operation. A vertically movable package stop is incorporated within the package cavity conveyor system so as to predeterminedly longitudinally center articles, packages, or materials of various different length dimensions within the package cavity, and each one of the package compressors can develop 10,000 pounds of compressive force so as to achieve a predetermined amount of compression with respect to certain insulation materials.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1999Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Allison Dudley Tipton, Rainer Ropers, James Roberts
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Patent number: 6401438Abstract: An insulation strapping machine comprises a vertically reciprocable platen and horizontally reciprocable opposed pairs of compressors which are able to have their relative positions adjustably controlled such that the platen and compressors cooperate together so as to form or define a variably sized package cavity within which the variously different or different sized articles, packages, or materials to be strapped can be disposed for properly achieving a strapping or packaging operation. A vertically movable package stop is incorporated within the package cavity conveyor system so as to predeterminedly longitudinally center articles, packages, or materials of various different length dimensions within the package cavity, and each one of the package compressors can develop 10,000 pounds of compressive force so as to achieve a predetermined amount of compression with respect to certain insulation materials.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2001Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Allison Dudley Tipton, Rainer Ropers, James Roberts
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Patent number: 6397566Abstract: An insulation strapping machine comprises a vertically reciprocable platen and horizontally reciprocable opposed pairs of compressors which are able to have their relative positions adjustably controlled such that the platen and compressors cooperate together so as to form or define a variably sized package cavity within which the variously different or different sized articles, packages, or materials to be strapped can be disposed for properly achieving a strapping or packaging operation. A vertically movable package stop is incorporated within the package cavity conveyor system so as to predeterminedly longitudinally center articles, packages, or materials of various different length dimensions within the package cavity, and each one of the package compressors can develop 10,000 pounds of compressive force so as to achieve a predetermined amount of compression with respect to certain insulation materials.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2001Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Allison Dudley Tipton, Rainer Ropers, James Roberts
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Patent number: 6393807Abstract: An insulation strapping machine comprises a vertically reciprocable platen and horizontally reciprocable opposed pairs of compressors which are able to have their relative positions adjustably controlled such that the platen and compressors cooperate together so as to form or define a variably sized package cavity within which the variously different or different sized articles, packages, or materials to be strapped can be disposed for properly achieving a strapping or packaging operation. A vertically movable package stop is incorporated within the package cavity conveyor system so as to predeterminedly longitudinally center articles, packages, or materials of various different length dimensions within the package cavity, and each one of the package compressors can develop 10,000 pounds of compressive force so as to achieve a predetermined amount of compression with respect to certain insulation materials.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2001Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Allison Dudley Tipton, Rainer Ropers, James Roberts
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Publication number: 20010005976Abstract: An insulation strapping machine comprises a vertically reciprocable platen and horizontally reciprocable opposed pairs of compressors which are able to have their relative positions adjustably controlled such that the platen and compressors cooperate together so as to form or define a variably sized package cavity within which the variously different or different sized articles, packages, or materials to be strapped can be disposed for properly achieving a strapping or packaging operation. A vertically movable package stop is incorporated within the package cavity conveyor system so as to predeterminedly longitudinally center articles, packages, or materials of various different length dimensions within the package cavity, and each one of the package compressors can develop 10,000 pounds of compressive force so as to achieve a predetermined amount of compression with respect to certain insulation materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2001Publication date: July 5, 2001Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Allison Dudley Tipton, Rainer Ropers, James Roberts
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Publication number: 20010005978Abstract: An insulation strapping machine comprises a vertically reciprocable platen and horizontally reciprocable opposed pairs of compressors which are able to have their relative positions adjustably controlled such that the platen and compressors cooperate together so as to form or define a variably sized package cavity within which the variously different or different sized articles, packages, or materials to be strapped can be disposed for properly achieving a strapping or packaging operation. A vertically movable package stop is incorporated within the package cavity conveyor system so as to predeterminedly longitudinally center articles, packages, or materials of various different length dimensions within the package cavity, and each one of the package compressors can develop 10,000 pounds of compressive force so as to achieve a predetermined amount of compression with respect to certain insulation materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2001Publication date: July 5, 2001Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Allison Dudley Tipton, Rainer Ropers, James Roberts
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Publication number: 20010005977Abstract: An insulation strapping machine comprises a vertically reciprocable platen and horizontally reciprocable opposed pairs of compressors which are able to have their relative positions adjustably controlled such that the platen and compressors cooperate together so as to form or define a variably sized package cavity within which the variously different or different sized articles, packages, or materials to be strapped can be disposed for properly achieving a strapping or packaging operation. A vertically movable package stop is incorporated within the package cavity conveyor system so as to predeterminedly longitudinally center articles, packages, or materials of various different length dimensions within the package cavity, and each one of the package compressors can develop 10,000 pounds of compressive force so as to achieve a predetermined amount of compression with respect to certain insulation materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2001Publication date: July 5, 2001Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Allison Dudley Tipton, Rainer Ropers, James Roberts