Patents Assigned to Illinois Tool Works
  • Patent number: 10723117
    Abstract: A conveyor system for a stencil printer includes a pair of rail members extending through a frame and configured to transport the substrate through the stencil printer. A lift tool assembly is configured to support the substrate at a transport height and a print height. The lift tool assembly includes a lifter portion configured to be engaged by a support of the lift table assembly. A foot of the lifter portion has at least two permanent magnets configured to secure the foot of the lifter portion to the support when engaging the support to the lifter portion, and at least one vacuum pocket formed in a bottom surface of the foot of the lifter portion. The vacuum pocket is configured to selectively secure the lifter portion in place on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mariano, William A. Losiewicz, Thomas C. Prentice
  • Patent number: 10725299
    Abstract: An example head-worn device includes a camera, a display device, weld detection circuitry, and pixel data processing circuitry. The camera generates first pixel data from a field of view of the head-worn device. The display device displays second pixel data to a wearer of the head-worn device based on the first pixel data captured by the camera. The weld detection circuitry determines whether a welding arc is present and generates a control signal indicating a result of the determination. The pixel data processing circuitry processes the first pixel data captured by the camera to generate the second pixel data for display on the display device, where a mode of operation of said pixel data processing circuitry is selected from a plurality of modes based on said control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Nishank Patel, Praveen Dandu
  • Patent number: 10724562
    Abstract: A line retainer includes a bridge portion, a first arm, and a second arm. The first arm extends from the bridge portion and includes a locking portion. The second arm extends from the bridge portion and includes a retaining barb. The retaining barb extends toward the locking portion and is configured to catch the locking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Chlystek, Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 10722969
    Abstract: A welding system comprising a user manipulatable device, a proximity sensor positioned on said user manipulatable device, an engine capable of operation in an energy conservation mode and an operating mode, and a generator operatively coupled to the engine. The generator may provide at least one of (1) a welding current output or (2) an auxiliary power output. The engine may operate (1) in the operating mode when the proximity sensor outputs the first output signal, and (2) in the energy conservation mode when the engine is not operating in the operating mode. The proximity sensor may be configured to output the first output signal when an operator of said welding system is in-range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20200232495
    Abstract: A clip assembly is configured to adjustably secure to a first component and a second component. The clip assembly includes a rail member that is configured to connect to the first component, and an attachment member that is configured to connect to the second component. The rail member is linearly adjustable in relation to the attachment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Owen Lepper, Eric David Kendall
  • Patent number: 10711610
    Abstract: A bumper sized to fit a cylinder of a fastener driving tool includes a side profile of the bumper defined by a plurality of flat regions and a plurality of convex regions around an outer periphery of the bumper. Included in the bumper are an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface. The flat and convex regions are disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the bumper in an alternating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Thomas Mina, James Louis Kuhnwald
  • Patent number: 10704450
    Abstract: A piston cooling jet includes a first body and a second body. The first body includes a housing having an inlet fluidly coupled with nozzle outlets. The second body is coupled to the first body to form an interior chamber disposed inside the first body and the second body. The interior chamber is fluidly coupled with the inlet and the nozzle outlets. The interior chamber directs fluid received via the inlet through the nozzle outlets and out of the piston cooling jet assembly in a direction towards a spray target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Mark, Joseph Kuhn
  • Patent number: 10703089
    Abstract: A conveyor system for a stencil printer includes a pair of rail members, with the pair of rail members extending through a frame and configured to transport the substrate through the stencil printer. The conveyor system further includes, for each rail member, a lift tool assembly coupled to the rail member. The lift tool assembly includes a lifter portion, a main plate secured to the lifter portion, and a clamping member coupled to the main plate. The clamping member is configured to move horizontally between a substrate engaged position and a substrate disengaged position. The lift tool assembly further includes a thin foil coupled to the main plate. The thin foil is configured to move vertically and horizontally, independent from the clamping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Mariano, William A. Losiewicz
  • Patent number: 10695856
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for short circuit welding is disclosed. They reduce the current prior to the short clearing by adjusting waveform parameters in response to past cycles. One or more parameter of the output is monitored and compared to one or more targets, and future waveform parameters are adjusted so that the monitored parameters are more likely to reach the one or more targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Justin M. Durik, Robert R. Davidson
  • Patent number: 10697200
    Abstract: A door locking mechanism for an appliance provides a bolt that may be moved by an actuator between an extended and retracted position. A bolt stop mechanism blocks movement of the bolt in retraction at one of two positions, depending on how the bolt was extended before the retraction. In this way the bolt automatically retracts when the door is not present because this causes extra extension of the bolt and an over-travel position need not be directly sensed reducing controller complexity or wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Osvatic, Kenyon A. Hapke
  • Patent number: 10695868
    Abstract: Laser hybrid welding systems adapted to identify and/or fix a weld defect occurring during a laser hybrid welding process are provided. Embodiments of the laser hybrid welding system may include one or more devices that provide feedback to a controller regarding one or more weld parameters. One embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes sensors that are adapted to measure the weld voltage and/or amperage during the welding process and transmit the acquired data to the controller for processing. Another embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes a lead camera and a lag camera that film an area directly in front of the weld location and directly behind the weld location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 10696079
    Abstract: The invention relates to a printer device for thermal printing or embossing of a carrier film coated with a coloring matter on a substrate, wherein the printer device has a roller arrangement for accommodating the carrier film and for moving the carrier film along a conveyor path, stepper motors for driving the roller arrangement, a thermal print head for printing or embossing the coloring matter from the carrier film onto the substrate, and a swivel arrangement, which can be deflected over a swivel range, for engaging with a swivel roller of the roller arrangement and for exerting a tensile force on the carrier film. The printer device is characterized in that, with regard to an engagement with the carrier film, the swivel roller is arranged along the conveyor path directly adjacent to the thermal print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Franzke, Lars Schoberl, Stefan Balling
  • Publication number: 20200200207
    Abstract: A stud clip is configured to securely couple a fastener to a component. The stud clip includes a first portion, a second portion that is configured to retain a portion of a fastener, and a flexible tether that integrally connects the first portion to the second portion. The first portion is configured to fold relative to the second portion via the flexible tether into a folded state. The stud clip is moveable between the folded state and an extended state in which the second portion is distally located from the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Liebelt, Sean A. Tomaselli
  • Patent number: 10688641
    Abstract: This relates to a driving tool for driving fastening means, nails/staples, into a workpiece, a trigger lever, which can be actuated manually, and a workpiece contact element, which can be actuated by placing the tool onto the workpiece, the tool operates in a single shot mode, in which each individual sequence of an actuation of the workpiece contact element with subsequent actuation of the trigger lever triggers a driving-in cycle, the tool operates in a bump firing mode, in which, with the trigger lever continuously actuated, each individual actuation of the workpiece contact element triggers a driving-in cycle, a resetting assembly providing, by means of which the tool is resettable from the bump firing mode into single shot mode in an automatic, time-controlled resetting operation. It is proposed that a signaling assembly, which emits a feedback signal to the user before, after or during each automatic resetting operation, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Torsten Weigmann, Klaus Von Soest, Olaf Haehndel
  • Patent number: 10688596
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the manufacture of a solid wire using additive manufacturing techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fine powdery material is sintered or melted or soldered or metallurgically bonded onto a metal strip substrate in a compacted solid form or a near-net shape (e.g., a near-net solid wire shape) before being turned into a final product through forming or drawing dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Hsu
  • Patent number: 10690166
    Abstract: A method of applying a corrosion-resistant coating to a fastener that includes preheating an area of the fastener to be coated to elevate a temperature of the area and spraying the preheated area of the fastener with a molten or semi-molten metal. In one embodiment, a corrosion-resistant coating applicator includes a support structure, a rotatable slotted fastener conveyer supported by the support structure, a feeder configured to feed fasteners to the rotatable slotted fastener conveyer, a fastener aligner configured to make head portions of the fasteners aligned with each other, a heater configured to heat head portions of the fasteners as the fasteners are being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer, and a sprayer configured to apply a corrosion-resistant coating to the heated head portions of the fasteners being conveyed by the slotted fastener conveyer. The present disclosure also provides corrosion-resistant coated fasteners made using the coating methods and/or coating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Horst, Donald E. Bergstrom
  • Patent number: D888546
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory George Buczynski
  • Patent number: D889221
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Liebelt
  • Patent number: D891235
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Liebelt, Sean A. Tomaselli
  • Patent number: D891241
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Buczynski, Clinton Pitt