Patents Assigned to Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11958141
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide welding-type arc starting and stabilization with reduced open circuit voltage are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; and control circuitry configured to: control the power conversion circuitry to output a voltage pulse at a first voltage; determine whether the power conversion circuitry outputs current during the voltage pulse; in response to determining that there is less than a threshold output current during the voltage pulse, control the power conversion circuitry to turn off an output or output a second voltage that is less than the first voltage; and in response to determining that the power conversion circuitry outputs at least the threshold output current during the voltage pulse, control the power conversion circuitry to output the welding-type power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Vogel, Michael D. Madsen
  • Patent number: 11958144
    Abstract: A self-adjusting wire feeder mounting assembly includes a mount fixedly connectable to a multi-axis robotic arm, and a slidable, floating adapter plate for mounting of a wire feeder thereon. The adapter plate is coupled with and slidable about the mount, and the adapter plate is moveable relative to the mount when a force is applied to the wire feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ryan M. Lizotte, Lloyd J. Steed
  • Patent number: 11961417
    Abstract: An example weld training system includes a display device; an input device; a processor; and machine readable instructions cause the processor to demonstrate to a user an effect of a combination of welding-related variables by: enabling the user to design a weld procedure using the input device by selecting weld parameters including weld current and weld voltage; simulating a welding operation on a simulated workpiece using the selected weld parameters in a welding model and a simulated physical welding environment to determine a modeled result of the welding operation; displaying a simulation animation of the welding operation on the display device according to the simulation; displaying the modeled result of the weld on the display device using at least one of an image of a surface of a weld bead or a cross-section of the weld bead and the simulated workpiece; and displaying information about an anomaly present in the weld determined based on the simulation, the information about the anomaly comprising at l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 11957291
    Abstract: A system (10) for loading at least one conveyor warewasher (1, 1?) with washware includes a feed conveyor belt (11) for delivering washware to at least one loading region of the conveyor warewasher (1, 1?) and a detection system (15), in particular an optical one, configured to detect at least one of the following parameters of the washware on the feed conveyor belt (11) when delivering the washware (9a, 9b, 9c) to the loading region: (i) a type of the washware, (ii) a degree of soiling of the washware, and/or (iii) an order of the washware and/or an alignment of the washware relative to the feed conveyor belt (11). The detection system (15) has an assigned evaluation device, which is configured to control the delivery of the washware to the at least one loading region as a function of at least one of the detected parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Martin Schrempp, Harald Disch, Adrian Boldt
  • Patent number: 11958142
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control pulse welding are disclosed. An example welding-type system includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; and control circuitry configured to control the power conversion circuitry to output the welding-type power in a plurality of pulse cycles, each pulse cycle comprising a background phase, a ramp up phase, a peak phase, and a ramp down phase. Controlling the power conversion circuitry involves: during the ramp up phase of the pulse cycles, controlling the power conversion circuitry in a current-controlled mode and switching to controlling the power conversion circuitry in a voltage-controlled mode when a peak transition voltage is reached; and during the ramp down phase of the pulse cycles, controlling the power conversion circuitry in a current-controlled mode and switching to controlling the power conversion circuitry in a voltage-controlled mode when a background transition voltage is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Steven Knoener, Lucas Charles Johnson, Zach W. MacMullen, Charles Ace Tyler, Christine Dong
  • Patent number: 11953100
    Abstract: A valve apparatus, in particular for a cooling system of a vehicle, includes a housing having at least two fluid connectors, a valve device which can be adjusted at least between a first valve position and a second valve position, and a drive for adjusting the valve device between the first valve position and the second valve position. The valve apparatus includes a fail-safe adjustment device in order to transfer the valve device from the first valve position into the second valve position in the event of an incident in which the power supply, in particular that of the vehicle, is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Peter Quade, Torsten Hauk
  • Patent number: 11950743
    Abstract: A dishwasher (1), in particular a commercial dishwasher (1), which is in the form of a box-type dishwasher and has a treatment chamber (2) which can be closed and in which washware can be treated in accordance with a predefined or predefinable treatment program, wherein a washware detector apparatus (51) is designed to detect the type of washware to be, wherein the washware detector apparatus (51) has an optical identification system, which is oriented toward the washware to be treated, and an evaluation device, wherein the optical identification system is designed to record at least a portion of the light reflected by the washware to be treated as a reflection image, and wherein the evaluation device is designed to automatically distinguish between different types of washware on the basis of the recorded reflection image, wherein the extent of the reflection provides information about the type of washware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Harald Disch, Björn S. Himmelsbach, Markus Heidt, Verena Wiedenhöfer
  • Patent number: 11950739
    Abstract: A wash arm (1) for a commercial dishwasher (50), with a wash arm housing (2) which extends in a longitudinal direction and in which at least one inlet for supplying washing liquid and at least one nozzle opening for spraying the supplied washing liquid are formed, wherein at least one cleaning opening (4) with an assigned opening/closing mechanism (5) is provided preferably at at least one end region of the wash arm housing (2), wherein the opening/closing mechanism (5) is designed to automatically open for thorough rinsing of at least one region of the wash arm housing (2) in particular as required and to automatically close for ending the thorough rinsing of the at least one region of the wash arm housing (2) in particular as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Adrian Boldt
  • Patent number: 11952809
    Abstract: An actuating device (1) for a lock of a vehicle, which is arranged, or can be arranged, on a vehicle, wherein the actuating device (1) has an actuating component (10), which is to be grasped manually and which can be brought from a stowed position into a standby position, wherein the stowed position is a position in which the actuating component (10) to be grasped is stowed and wherein the standby position is a position in which the actuating component can be grasped by a user, wherein the actuating component (10) is operatively connected, or can be operatively connected, to at least the lock of the vehicle in such a way that the lock can be opened by actuating the actuating component. A vehicle door having such an actuating device and a vehicle having such a vehicle door are also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Roland Och, Joachim Oberst
  • Patent number: 11951779
    Abstract: A system (40) for transmitting control pressures and/or working pressures from a wheel-hub pressure medium supply (20, 21, 22), in particular from a wheel-hub pressure medium rotary union (21), to a vehicle rim (2) mounted on the wheel hub (1). The system (40) has a receiving part (41), which has a central region (55) with a central opening (44) and at least one extension region (43) projecting radially from the central region (55), at least in some regions. The receiving part (41) can be connected to the wheel hub (1) by means of the at least one radially projecting extension region (43), in a detachable way, and the control pressures and/or working pressures can be transmitted from the wheel-hub pressure medium supply (20, 21, 22) to the opening (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Eva Tritschler, Christiane Schwarz, Roland Braun, Henry Klemm, Martin Spindler, Bruno Schulze Selting
  • Publication number: 20240109688
    Abstract: A container includes an outer box and an insert sized to fit inside the outer box. The insert includes a bottom wall, a first lateral end coupled to the bottom wall, and a second lateral end coupled to the bottom wall. The first lateral end opposes the second lateral end. The first lateral end may include a first outer wall and a first cradle wall spaced apart from the first outer wall. The first cradle wall may include a first cutout shaped to receive a flange at a first end of a spool of material. The second lateral end may include a second outer wall and a second cradle wall spaced apart from the second outer wall. The second cradle may include a second cutout opening shaped to receive a second end of the spool of the material. The insert may be formed from a rigid material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mathew Bednarz, Karah Bishop, Alexander Lewis, Michael J. Schwab
  • Patent number: 11945300
    Abstract: A charging or fueling recess for use in a body opening of a vehicle, which has a recess body and a hinge housing as a rigid part made of a first plastic, wherein the recess body is formed integrally with the hinge housing, wherein the hinge housing has a lower part and an upper part, wherein the charging or fueling recess also has a hinge housing sealing body as a flexible part made of a second plastic which is softer than the first plastic, wherein the hinge housing sealing body is arranged at least sectionally between the lower part and the upper part, wherein the recess body, the hinge housing and the hinge housing sealing body are produced using a two-component injection-molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Werner Krauss
  • Patent number: 11945057
    Abstract: A welding-type power system than includes a power supply, a DC power bus, an energy storage device, and a bi-directional converter. The bi-directional converter configured to connect the DC power bus to the energy storage device, and further configured to convert power from the DC power bus to the energy storage device to charge the energy storage device, and to convert power from the energy storage device to the DC power bus in response to a power demand on the DC power bus. The bi-directional converter further configured to balance the DC power bus. A controller is configured to control the duty cycle of the bi-directional converter in order to balance the DC power bus, and control the flow of power between the energy storage device and the DC power bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: James Frank Ulrich
  • Patent number: 11946696
    Abstract: The present application discloses an end barrier box for blocking ambient gases from entering a hearth of a reflow oven, including: a box body, wherein the box body includes a bottom and a top, the bottom has a mounting bottom plate, the top has an opening, the box body further includes a pair of side walls, and the side walls are oppositely disposed; and a plurality of deflectors, wherein each of the plurality of deflectors is mounted between the pair of side walls, each of the plurality of deflectors includes at least three fins, and the at least three fins are mounted on the mounting bottom plate and extend upward from the mounting bottom plate. According to the end barrier box of the present application, the deflector is set to include at least three fins, so that the deflector can be easily disassembled without disassembling the rails, which is convenient for cleaning and maintenance of the end barrier box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Daopeng Wei
  • Patent number: 11945208
    Abstract: A movable cart includes a housing configured to move along a horizontal surface and a plurality of shelves supported by the housing Each shelf of the plurality of shelves is configured to move between a retracted in which the shelf is positioned within the housing and an extended position in which the shelf extends from the housing. The movable cart further includes a sensing system configured to determine whether each shelf of the plurality of shelves is in the retracted position and a type of item supported by the shelf. Other aspects of the movable cart are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James Lynch, Kenneth J. King, Patsy A. Mattero, William A. Losiewicz
  • Patent number: 11947094
    Abstract: A vision system is used in a stencil printer configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The vision system includes a housing, a dual camera assembly supported by the housing and a prism assembly supported by the housing and configured with the dual camera assembly to provide a first optical path that looks vertically up at a bottom of a stencil and a second optical path that looks vertically down on an electronic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Prentice
  • Publication number: 20240100720
    Abstract: A vacuum head and corresponding method for moving product at the end of a robotic arm includes a housing having a product contact surface. An array of at least two rows and at least three ranks of valves are arranged with respect to the product contact surface. A solenoid is connected with respect to each of the valves to selectively activate air pressure in one or more valves thereby enabling multiple switchable zones on the product contact surface and thereby enable transfer of product between stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Merritt, Brett Alan Stripe
  • Patent number: 11939102
    Abstract: A lifting apparatus for a case on a conveyor system. A chain vertically hangs over a conveyor belt. A hook is positioned on an end of the chain. A piston retracts and releases the chain. The hook interacts with and moves front flaps on cases traveling on the conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Robert Leslie Dillard, Jon Paul Laskis, J. Mark Nunn
  • Patent number: D1019707
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Carey Christopher Costle, Brendan Sangster
  • Patent number: D1022259
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Ross Ferrier