Patents Assigned to Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11883909
    Abstract: Systems and methods to design part weld processes are disclosed. An example system for monitoring welding of components of a workpiece with multiple arc welds in a fixture includes: one or more weld sensors configured to collect data associated with the multiple arc welds; and a computing device configured to: access a weld program; provide weld instructions defined in the weld program and associated with a sequence of welds for the workpiece, the weld instructions comprising a visual slide including an image of the workpiece and a visual indication of a first location of a first weld; based on the weld program, display the visual slide at a first zoom level; based on the weld program, display the visual slide at a second zoom level; and monitor first weld data from the one or more sensors during a first weld to determine a status of the first weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Ivkovich, Leland Falde, Vincent Romano, Adam Pliska, Todd McEllis, Ben Buhr
  • Patent number: 11883910
    Abstract: A retrofit module includes at least one of a current sensing component that has a first circuit or a voltage sensing component that has a second circuit. The current sensing component and the voltage sensing component may be disposed in a torch head of a welding or plasma cutting torch. The current sensing component is configured to measure a welding or plasma cutting current of the torch head, and the voltage sensing component is configured to measure a welding or plasma cutting voltage of the torch head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Walker
  • Patent number: 11883911
    Abstract: Welding power supplies, wire feeders, and systems to measure a weld circuit resistance via communications over the weld circuit are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes: a power conversion circuitry configured to: convert input power to output a signal via a weld circuit; and convert the input power to output welding-type power via the weld circuit; a voltage monitor configured to measure a power supply output voltage of the signal; communications circuitry configured to receive, via the weld circuit, a communication of a second voltage measurement; and control circuitry configured to: determine a resistance and/or and inductance of a portion of the weld circuit based on the power supply output voltage measurement, the second voltage measurement, and a weld circuit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Adam E. Anders
  • Patent number: 11882906
    Abstract: A fastener assembly includes an insert and a base. The insert has a first plurality of teeth. The base defines a cavity to receive the insert and includes a second plurality of teeth to engage with the first plurality of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Joel R. Lee
  • Patent number: 11879871
    Abstract: Safety systems requiring intentional function activation and material testing systems including safety systems requiring intentional function activation are disclosed. An example material testing system includes: an actuator configured to control an operator-accessible component of the material testing system; an operator interface comprising a plurality of inputs; and one or more processors configured to: control the actuator based on at least one of a material testing process or an input from the operator interface; and require two or more inputs to be received within a predetermined threshold time to permit at least one operation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Elizabeth Pope, Elena Rose Mangano, Andrew DeWolfe
  • Patent number: 11878626
    Abstract: An illumination module (1) for highlighting a region of a vehicle component, such as a charging or tank recess (20) or a handle assembly, includes a light source support (2) having at least one light source (3) and a housing (4), in which the light source support with the at least one light source is received. The housing includes a light outlet region (5), via which light can be decoupled from the housing (4). The illumination module (1) further includes a light diffuser (6) optically coupled to the light outlet region of the housing, which diffuser includes a first light outlet region (7), via which light can be decoupled for direct illumination or highlighting of the region of the vehicle component and which includes a second light outlet region (8), which is spatially separated from the first light outlet region (7) via which signal light can be decoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Roland Och, Joachim Oberst, Andreas Rudolf, Matthias Hegwein, Matthias Gans
  • Patent number: 11878379
    Abstract: Apparatus for fastening a component to a carrier component, in particular a body part, includes a base body, wherein the base body includes an actuating element via which the apparatus can be subjected to a force acting in the assembly direction in order to transfer the apparatus from a pre-assembly position into a final assembly position, wherein the assembly direction extends orthogonally to a surface of a carrier component, and wherein the actuating element comprises at least one catching element, which, in the pre-assembly position, engages with a correspondingly formed pre-assembly catching element of the base body and, in the final assembly position, engages with an assembly catching element of the base body, wherein a connection of the catching element to the assembly catching element verifies that the final assembly position is reached, such that the actuating element forms a visual assembly verification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Limpert, Oscar Medina
  • Patent number: 11878625
    Abstract: A grommet that comprises a main body, a cavity, an outer wall, a pair of windows, a pair of support legs and a neck ring. The main body extends along an axis of the grommet. The cavity is recessed downward from an upper surface of the main body along the axis. A first channel is formed between a first outer wall portion and a first side face of the main body, and a second channel is formed between a second outer wall portion and a second side face of the main body. The pair of windows are respectively provided in the first outer wall portion and the second outer wall portion and are respectively in communication with the first channel and the second channel. The pair of support legs are respectively connected to lower edges of the pair of windows through bottoms thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Wenxu Cheng
  • Patent number: 11881362
    Abstract: A food equipment device, such as a warewasher, includes a powered component, the powered component being one of a heating element or a pump or a fan, and a power line path for delivering power to the powered component. A contactor is provided for controlling power delivery to the powered component, the contactor including main power contacts connected in the power line path and auxiliary contacts that operate the same as, or opposite to, the main power contacts. A monitoring system is operatively connected to the auxiliary contacts to monitor an open or closed state of the auxiliary contacts and includes a voltage source operatively connected to one of the auxiliary contacts and an electrical sensor for detecting one of (i) a voltage condition of the other auxiliary contact or (ii) a current flow condition between the auxiliary contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Leszek P. Byczkowski, Alexander R. Anim-Mensah
  • Patent number: 11879794
    Abstract: Described is a compression apparatus for a testing system having a load cell. The disclosed compression apparatus ensures proper seating relative to the load cell to yield accurate compression friction (CF) measurements. The disclosed compression apparatus includes a compression rod and at least one mechanical fastener. The compression rod has a first portion at a distal end and a second portion that defines a threaded bore at a proximal end. The first portion is configured to contact a specimen and the second portion is configured to couple to the load cell. The mechanical fastener is configured to mate with the threaded bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Riddick, Daniel Chouinard, Brian Salem, Christopher Hines
  • Patent number: 11878376
    Abstract: Welding wire preheating systems and methods are disclosed. An example welding method includes: receiving a signal indicative of initiation of welding process; prior to initiating a welding arc based on the received signal, controlling voltage or current applied to a welding electrode to preheat the electrode to a temperature above an ambient temperature but below a melting point of the welding electrode; monitoring feedback voltage to determine a termination of preheating; and terminating preheating prior to initiating the welding arc in accordance with a welding protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard J. Schuh
  • Patent number: 11878903
    Abstract: A tap assembly for dispensing fluid from a flexible container includes a gland for connecting with the container, the gland having an inlet and an outlet. An actuator is in fluid communication with the outlet of the gland, the actuator including a lever, a removable tamper evident tab and a cap, wherein when the tamper evident tab is in position, the actuator is inoperable and the lever and the cap are fixedly joined and wherein, upon removal of the tamper evident tab, the lever is moveable with respect to the cap to dispense fluid from the tap assembly. A connector is latchable with an outlet of the actuator, the connector including an arm to fixedly engage with the lever in a raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Yeong-Heng Koo
  • Publication number: 20240017865
    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: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: James A. ROUZER, Michael BURNS, Kenneth J. CHESS, Jacob L. MILLER, Phillip E. LULLO
  • Publication number: 20240019288
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor assembly for detecting a fluid level within a removable tank of a domestic appliance along an axis, mountable within the domestic appliance, including at least one fluid level electrode including a resiliently deformable contact member adapted to contactingly engage with the removable tank received in the domestic appliance and convey at least one electrical field generated by the capacitive sensor into the removable tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Marco SCLIP, Luca Bruno, Nicola Maino
  • Publication number: 20240017277
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nozzle arrangement (1) for applying fluids (20), in particular thermoplastic materials, to a substrate (21), wherein the nozzle arrangement (1) comprises a base body (14), which can be connected, preferably exchangeably, to a mounting region of a distributor (30), and a front lateral surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas Pahl
  • Patent number: 11873898
    Abstract: Described is a generator for an engine-driven power system. The generator having a generator shaft, a sleeve coupler, a first pulley, and a second pulley. The generator shaft, which is shaped at an end to define a first tapered surface, rotates a rotor relative to a stator. The sleeve coupler is shaped to define a bore with a second tapered surface. The bore receives the end of the generator shaft. The first pulley has a center hole to receive the sleeve coupler. The second pulley shares an axis of rotation with the first pulley and transfers a rotational force to the generator shaft and to the sleeve coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Joe Jochman
  • Patent number: 11872600
    Abstract: A conveyor system is configured to transport the electronic substrates through cleaning modules of a cleaning apparatus. The conveyor system includes a first outer frame member, a second outer frame member, a bottom belt assembly disposed between the first outer frame member and the second outer frame member, and a top belt assembly spaced from the bottom belt assembly. The bottom belt assembly and the top belt assembly are configured to an electronic substrate therebetween to transport the electronic substrate along the conveyor system and through the at least one cleaning module. The bottom belt assembly or the top belt assembly includes a mesh material belt fabricated from heat resistant synthetic fibers. The conveyor system further includes a plurality of pins secured to the bottom belt assembly or the top belt assembly to create at least one lane along a length of the conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John Neiderman, Eric Wayne Becker, Scotty Slavens
  • Patent number: 11873929
    Abstract: A routing clip assembly is configured to secure a tube to a structure. The assembly includes a clip having a main body, and at least one tube-retaining section is defined on a lateral side of the main body. The tube retaining section includes a channel adapted for receipt of the tube. The channel defines a channel axis and is configured to accommodate a variety of tube diameters. The channel includes at least two pairs of fingers, wherein each finger of a given pair connects to the body at a respective hinge on a side of the channel opposite the other finger of the pair. Further, each of the fingers has a distal end that extends generally toward the channel axis. The at least two pairs of fingers are configured to flex between a closed position and an open position to permit insertion of the tube into the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Hann
  • Patent number: 11872658
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to synergically control a welding-type output during a welding-type operation are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes a power conversion circuit configured to convert input power to welding-type power and to output the welding-type power to a welding-type torch; a communication circuit configured to receive a control signal from a remote control device during a welding-type operation; and a control circuit configured to synergically control a voltage of the welding-type power and a wire feed speed based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Bunker
  • Patent number: D1011256
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Morten Friis, Anders Nissen