Patents by Inventor Ralph J. Lake, Jr.

Ralph J. Lake, Jr. 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: 5303624
    Abstract: Motor-driven cutting apparatus for cutting sheet media are disclosed, particularly for use with plotter and printer apparatus. The cutting apparatus of one embodiment comprises two cutting members in which at least one of the cutting members is moved both angularly and linearly, e.g., pivoted and reciprocated, relative to the other to cut media placed between the two cutting members. In another embodiment, the cutting members are both simultaneously pivoted relative to each other. Rotary motion of a driving member, e.g. a motor shaft or a shaft coupled to a motor shaft, is converted to combined angular and straight line motion or only angular motion at one or both cutting members by a simplified coupling arrangement which may comprise simple sleeves with eccentric structure and pivot-type joints. Cutting apparatus according to the invention may be used for X-axis and/or Y-axis cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Summagraphics Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Ventham, Ralph J. Lake, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4880191
    Abstract: A data display terminal comprising a cabinet having a base which is provided with an array of apertures to which a tilt-swivel assembly can be detachably secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph J. Lake, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4872023
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing platen mapping for known clearance pen movement in a graphics plotter system having a platen over which paper is moved longitudinally to create one axis, penholding apparatus moved transversely across the platen and the paper to create the other axis, and a controlled raising and lowering mechanism connected to the penholding apparatus for lowering a pen being held therein into contact with, for raising it from contact with the paper, and for providing a relative vertical position value signal. Vertical sensing apparatus is connected to the penholding apparatus for sensing the top surface of the platen. First logic is operably connected to the vertical sensing appartus and to receive the vertical position value signal from the controlled raising and lowering mechanism for calculating and saving a plurality of deviation values indicating the distance deviation of the platen top surface from parallel at a plurality of spaced points across the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Sanders Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph J. Lake, Jr., Franklyn L. Wiley, A. Daniel Coby, John Pluth, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4843707
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing, holding, and hiding cables associated with electronics devices. The preferred embodiment is an extrusion for application to a surface of an electronics device or incorporation into the framework thereof defining a groove capable of routing, holding, and hiding the electrical cable(s). The extrusion has a cross-section comprising a plurality of sides connected to one another to define a desired shape for the extrusion. A pair of the sides have a generally V-shaped orientation with respect to one another thereby forming a longitudinal slot in the extrusion capable of containing the cable therein. The slot-forming pair of sides each includes opposed portions comprising a plurality of adjacent V-shaped segments thereby forming opposed longitudinal teeth in the sidewalls of the slot capable of releasably gripping a cable disposed in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Sanders Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph J. Lake, Jr., Dean-Yuan Liu
  • Patent number: 4800402
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing automatic paper edge finding and sizing in a graphics plotter system having a platen over which paper is moved longitudinally to create one axis, penholding apparatus moved transversely across the platen and the paper to create the other axis, and a controlled raising and lowering mechanism connected to the penholding apparatus for lowering a pen being held therein into contact with, for raising it from contact with the paper, and for providing a relative vertical position value signal. Vertical sensing apparatus is connected to the penholding apparatus for sensing the top surface of the platen. First logic is operably connected to the vertical sensing apparatus and to receive the vertical position value signal from the controlled raising and lowering mechanism for calculating and saving a plurality of values indicating the distance to the platen top surface at a plurality of spaced points across the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: CALCOMP Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph J. Lake, Jr., Franklyn L. Wiley, A. Daniel Coby, John Pluth, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4776097
    Abstract: In a graphics plotter having motor control logic for controlling a motor employed in the process of drawing a series of vector lines comprising a plot, an improvement to the logic for applying optimum control of the motor. The length of each next vector to be drawn is first calculated. The logic for controlling the motor is then self-adjusting as a function of whether the next vector line to be drawn is a short-length vector less than a pre-established length or a long-length vector longer than said pre-established length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Sanders Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph J. Lake, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4683465
    Abstract: A data display terminal comprises a flat display panel assembly pivotably secured to a base by means of a friction sleeve and a torsion spring so that the display panel assembly can be pivoted with respect to said base and can be held at any selected angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph J. Lake, Jr., Timothy R. Stern, George A. Sudol, Vladimir Selepouchin
  • Patent number: 4648737
    Abstract: Means for coupling together two assemblies wherein each assembly includes a hole in which a bracket can be inserted, with the brackets being held together by a lock. Additionally, the assemblies are coupled together by a rotatable locking plate which cannot be rotated to disconnect the assemblies when the brackets and lock are in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph J. Lake, Jr., Thomas P. Iosso
  • Patent number: 4624434
    Abstract: A tilt control apparatus comprises a tiltable display assembly pivotally coupled to a base support member through a hinge structure including a torsion spring and friction producing means which operate to permit the display assembly to be tilted to and held securely at any desired angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph J. Lake, Jr., George A. Sudol
  • Patent number: 4565343
    Abstract: A support mechanism for raising and lowering a terminal monitor comprising an upper assembly and a lower assembly and a plurality of pivotable arms interconnecting the upper assembly and lower assembly. The upper assembly includes an upper plate, which supports the monitor, and an upper slidable plate slidably coupled to it, and the lower assembly includes a base plate and a lower slidable plate slidably coupled to it. Due to the way the pivotable arms are coupled to the various plates, when the upper slidable plate is driven with respect to its associated upper plate, the arms pivot either to raise or lower the upper assembly and its monitor load with respect to the lower assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph J. Lake, Jr., Nanjappa Bakthavachalam, Thomas A. Kachnowski, Kevin S. Buist, David K. Walz, Timothy R. Stern, Frank H. Stephens
  • Patent number: 4544301
    Abstract: Coupling apparatus comprising two plates to be coupled together, with each plate carrying a locking mechanism for receiving a coupling member, the coupling member having two ends, each end being adapted to engage and couple to the locking mechanism on one of the plates whereby the two plates can be rigidly coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph J. Lake, Jr., John Steckowich, Jr., Stephen R. Solomon
  • Patent number: 4498802
    Abstract: Coupling apparatus comprising two plates to be coupled together, with each plate carrying a locking mechanism for receiving a coupling member, the coupling member having two ends, each end being adapted to engage and couple to the locking mechanism on one of the plates whereby the two plates can be rigidly coupled together. Each plate carries two flexible locking tabs which are offset from each other, and the coupling member carries two holes which are offset from each other and each of which is adapted to receive one locking tab of each plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Del Tufo, Ralph J. Lake, Jr., Stephen R. Solomon
  • Patent number: 4231439
    Abstract: A high speed weighing machine, for determining the weight of a package "on-the-fly", with respect to a predetermined weight range, as the package travels across a weigh cell weighing platter, incorporates apparatus for interpreting multiple samplings of the weight bearing on the weighing platter for determining the interval during which the package is fully on this weighing platter and for calculating the average weight registered by the weighing platter during that interval wherein three periods are defined for each weighing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: Franklin Electric Subsidiaries, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Hall, Jr., Ralph J. Lake, Jr., William G. Scholder