Patents Assigned to Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240246775
    Abstract: A system for controlling a flow of articles includes two or more conveyor sections driven in a feed direction to convey articles. A plurality of sensors, each sensor associated with a conveyor section, count the articles in each lane. An accumulator conveyor is associated with a conveyor section and runs in an opposite direction to permit accumulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Douglas A. IMES
  • Patent number: 12046960
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a collector ring assembly for use in a rotor comprising a collector (or slip) ring body and a shaft in which the collector ring body and shaft each have mating features so that the collector ring body may be lockably attached to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathon James Nelson
  • Patent number: 12042889
    Abstract: A welding system having a welding power supply, a wire feeder coupled to the welding power supply, and a welding torch coupled to the wire feeder and configured to output wire from the wire feeder is provided. In particular, the welding system includes a wireless module (e.g., gateway) disposed within a component of the welding system, or as an independent component within the welding system. For example, the wireless module may be disposed within the welding power supply, the wire feeder, or the welding torch. The wireless module is configured to wirelessly transmit to and receive welding information, such as operator identification information, from a wireless personal device. The wireless personal device is uniquely associated with a welding operator operating the welding system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Todd Earl Holverson
  • Patent number: 12044415
    Abstract: An oven includes a cooking chamber for receiving food product to be cooked, a door movable between an open condition and a closed condition relative to the cooking cavity, a heating system for generating heat and a fan system for moving heated air through the cooking cavity. A controller is configured for controlling the heating system and the fan system. The controller includes an associated memory storing a first set of operating parameter values and a second set of operating parameter values. The controller is configured to identify whether the oven is in the cook state or the idle state. The controller uses the first set of operating parameter values to control the heating system and the fan system during the cook state, and uses the second set of operating parameter values to control the heating system and the fan system during the idle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jason M. Stephens, Robert Keehan
  • Patent number: 12042887
    Abstract: Systems and methods for weld monitoring systems with unknown downtime disabling are described. In some examples, a local monitoring station may perform activity tracking as part of a larger weld monitoring system. A welding device may send welding data to the local monitoring system, which may be used to determine a current activity. A user may also manually input an activity to use as the current activity. If the local monitoring station is unable to determine a current activity from the welding data or user input, then the local monitoring station determines that an unknown downtime has occurred. If the local monitoring station cannot determine a reason for the unknown downtime, the welding device may be disabled until the user provides a reason for the unknown downtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Leland D. Falde, Stephen P. Ivkovich, Vincent N. Romano, Craig Jeffords
  • Patent number: 12036630
    Abstract: Disclosed welding-type systems include a welding-type power source to generate output power for a periodic welding process that operates in an arc mode, an open circuit mode or a short circuit mode. A wire-feeder advances an electrode wire toward a workpiece. A controller adjusts the current to below a threshold value during the arc mode to result in the open circuit mode prior to occurrence of a short circuit event based on one or more welding process parameters. In some examples, the controller determines the occurrence of the short circuit event based on the one or more welding process parameters, and adjusts the current to rise above a second threshold level to adjust a heat generated in the welding wire in response to the occurrence of the short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Hutchison, Dustin Wagner
  • Patent number: 12038390
    Abstract: Disclosed are image based counting systems and methods. Image based counting systems and methods employ one or more imaging devices (e.g., one or more color cameras) and one or more illumination devices (e.g., one or more illumination sources to provide variable and/or dynamic lighting). In some examples, the image based counting system provides illumination to a tray upon which one or more items (e.g., pills) are placed. The illuminated items are then imaged by the one or more imaging devices based on one or more imaging techniques or processes to determine and/or present information associated with one or more properties of the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Whittier, Eric Holland, Dave Lang, Kevin Detert
  • Patent number: 12036845
    Abstract: An air vent (1) for a vehicle, wherein the air vent (1) has a housing whose housing wall (5a, 5b) regionally delimits an air duct (3) for air flowing through the air vent (1) along a main flow direction (H), wherein at least one region (7, 8) of the housing wall (5a, 5b) is designed adaptively such that said region (7, 8) is able to be moved out into the air duct (3) and/or pivoted into the air duct (3), as required, in order to deflect the air, flowing through the air duct (3), from the main flow direction (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ulrike Baumann, Günther Krämer
  • Patent number: 12039881
    Abstract: Systems are disclosed relating to a mobile device mounted to a welding helmet such that a wearer of the welding helmet can see a display of the mobile device when wearing the welding helmet. In some examples, the mobile device is mounted such that a camera of the mobile device is unobscured and positioned at approximately eye level, facing the same way the wearer's eyes are facing. In some examples, the simulated training environment may be presented to the user via the display screen of the mobile device, using images captured by the camera of the mobile device, when the mobile device is so mounted to the welding helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignees: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., SEABERY NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Justin Monroe Blount, Jessica Marie Marhefke, Nicholas James Dessart, Mitchell James Muske, Pedro Marquinez, Pavel Gunia, Victor López Márquez, David Barroso de la Rosa, Sergio Garrido Jurado, Jesús Calvo Pérez, Javier Castilla Gutiérrez
  • Patent number: 12037821
    Abstract: A system for a replenishment door of a vehicle includes a body having a port and defining a latch aperture, a door pivotably attached to the body with a hinge, a system controller, and a latch assembly. The door is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The latch assembly is configured for securing the door to the housing in the closed position. Further, the latch assembly includes a housing and a light source disposed within the housing, the light source being configured to project light through the housing, and the system controller being configured to control an intensity of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Constantin Mahler, Thomas Lechner-Watzlik
  • Publication number: 20240227415
    Abstract: A printing system is provided that may include plural stations that load objects to be printed upon into the printing system, print indicia on the objects, cure the indicia printed on the objects, inspect the indicia printed on the objects, re-orient the objects, and/or unload the objects from the printing system. The printing system also may include a conveyance assembly extending between the stations. The conveyance assembly may independently and/or separately move the objects between or among the stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Boucher, Ryan Patrick Boucher, Jack Quillin, Brian Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20240225292
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a frame made from a first material having a first hardness, the frame including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The seat assembly further includes a fabric component coupled to the first side of the frame, and a plurality of grooves are disposed within the second side of the frame. Each insert of a plurality of inserts are disposed within each respective groove in the plurality of grooves. Each insert of the plurality of inserts comprises a second material and the second material has a second hardness that is less than the first hardness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: CRAIG OOMEN, SAM SMITH, RANDY SAYERS, KELLY WASHBURN
  • Publication number: 20240228120
    Abstract: A reclosable enclosure includes front and back panels and a reclosable mechanism. The front panel and the back panel are coupled to each other and form an interior cavity therebetween. The front panel is configured to form an access slot that extends widthwise along the front panel. The reclosable mechanism is coupled to an interior side of the front panel along the access slot. The reclosable mechanism has a first profile and a second profile forming a zipper. The first profile includes a user tab that is accessible through the access slot. The user tab is configured to assist in separating the first and second profiles to provide an opening to the interior cavity of the reclosable enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Trammel, David Matthews
  • Patent number: 12032394
    Abstract: A valve assembly used to control fluid flow rate. The valve assembly comprises a valve plunger and a shield. The valve plunger forces fluid having a flow rate to flow between an inlet and an outlet in response to an applied actuator force. The actuator force is applied to a first side and the fluid is applied to a second side of the valve plunger. The shield minimizes or eliminates a destabilizing force caused by static pressure, created by fluid interaction on the second side. The shield is either coupled to, formed in, or suspended from underneath the valve plunger and extends a length into the outlet. The valve assembly further comprises an orifice between the inlet and the outlet wherein the orifice comprises at least one planar surface and at least one non-planar surface. The shield shields a section of the second side from the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Staudt, Bradley G. Carman, Mana Mokhtabad Amrei, Anthony B. Kehoe
  • Patent number: 12030375
    Abstract: A covering device (100) for a vehicle, includes: a cover (10); a drive element (40a, 40b) formed to enable a movement of the cover, wherein the drive element brings about a force which acts on the cover. The covering device has a force-limitation apparatus (30a, 30b) which limits the force brought about by the drive element to a limit force so that the covering device is protected in the event of an overload acting on the covering device and/or a user is protected when using the covering device. An actuator (200) has a drive apparatus (210) with a drive element (211); an output drive element (290); and a force-decoupling apparatus (230). The force-decoupling apparatus is formed so that it at least temporarily does not output a force taken up by the drive element or at least temporarily outputs it in a delayed manner to the output drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Zsolt Wilke, Andreas Rudolf, Christian Beck, Matthias Hegwein
  • Patent number: 12031055
    Abstract: A composition is provided that includes aliphatic urethane acrylate; a multifunctional crosslinking agent; photoinitiator; a chemical initiator system of a peroxide or azo group containing catalyst, and a cure promoter; and a particulate filler. The composition is amenable to rapid cure to a sandable condition as compared to conventional products. By adjusting the amount of particulate filler present, a product is provided that operates as a primer, a putty, or a filler. A method of vehicle body repair includes the application of an uncured layer of the composition to the vehicle body. The uncured layer is exposed to UV radiation to induce cure of the uncured layer to form a coating in a time of between 2 and 20 minutes even with an ultraviolet wavelength emitting light emitting diode (UV LED).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mehdi Habibpour, Matthew J. Lertola, Grant Shouldice
  • Patent number: 12030142
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding type power is disclosed. A welding type power supply includes an input circuit, a controller and an output circuit. The input circuit receives an input power signal and provides an intermediate power signal. The output circuit receives the intermediate power signal and provides a welding type power output. The output circuit has an inverter with at least two inverter switches, and a clamp circuit that limits the voltage across the inverter. The clamp circuit captures and buffers the excess energy, and returns the excess energy to an input of the inverter over a plurality of switching cycles. The controller has control outputs connected to the input circuit and the output circuit, to control them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Joseph Henry
  • Patent number: 12031018
    Abstract: A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers, such as soft drink and other beverage containers, is formed from a polymer composition which provides the carrier with improved elastic recovery following installation of the containers, along with tensile strength and tear resistance. The polymer composition includes about 10% to about 95% by weight of a post-consumer recycled plastic that includes recycled branched low-density polyethylene and recycled linear low-density polyethylene polymers, zero to about 90% by weight of a branched low-density polyethylene polymer having a density of about 0.910 to about 0.950 grams/cm3, and greater than zero to about 65% by weight of an elastomeric ethylene copolymer that includes about 60% by weight to less than 100% by weight ethylene and greater than zero to about 40% by weight of a vinyl acetate comonomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Samaras, Rachell L. Slovik, Patrick R. Van Tholen
  • Patent number: 12024321
    Abstract: A machine for packaging multiple containers wherein a flexible carrier stock is fed across a jaw drum. A plurality of containers are moved through the machine whereby the carrier is subsequently positioned over the plurality of containers so that flexible carrier stock engages with two or more of the containers to form a package. The jaw drum and other operative components of the machine are preferably vertically adjustable to accommodate a range of container sizes and carrier configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: James A. Rouzer, Michael Burns, Kenneth J. Chess, Jacob L. Miller, Phillip E. Lullo
  • Patent number: D1034070
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jesse W. Gruber, Thomas P. Jones