Patents by Inventor Alan Edward Stein

Alan Edward Stein 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).

  • Publication number: 20240149369
    Abstract: An example welding system includes: a visual acquisition system comprising an imaging device and configured to acquire a visual representation of a weld part and to convert the visual representation into data representative of weld part features; and a part recognition component comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive the digital data; identify one or more features of the weld part in response to receipt of the digital signal; compare the digital signal to stored data of a plurality of weld parts stored in a weld part database to match one or more identified features to a known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; identify weld settings stored in a weld parameter database associated with the matching known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; and send the weld settings to a welding power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Alan Edward Stein, Stephen Paul Ferkel
  • Patent number: 11931836
    Abstract: An example welding system includes: a visual acquisition system comprising an imaging device and configured to acquire a visual representation of a weld part and to convert the visual representation into data representative of weld part features; and a part recognition component comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive the digital data; identify one or more features of the weld part in response to receipt of the digital signal; compare the digital signal to stored data of a plurality of weld parts stored in a weld part database to match one or more identified features to a known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; identify weld settings stored in a weld parameter database associated with the matching known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; and send the weld settings to a welding power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Edward Stein, Stephen Paul Ferkel
  • Publication number: 20210129257
    Abstract: An example welding system includes: a visual acquisition system comprising an imaging device and configured to acquire a visual representation of a weld part and to convert the visual representation into data representative of weld part features; and a part recognition component comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive the digital data; identify one or more features of the weld part in response to receipt of the digital signal; compare the digital signal to stored data of a plurality of weld parts stored in a weld part database to match one or more identified features to a known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; identify weld settings stored in a weld parameter database associated with the matching known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; and send the weld settings to a welding power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Alan Edward Stein, Stephen Paul Ferkel
  • Patent number: 10888947
    Abstract: Various embodiments of welding systems that enable determination of suitable weld settings for a weld part are provided. In one embodiment, a welding system includes a weld part having at least one weld joint to be welded. The welding system also includes a visual acquisition system including an imaging device and being adapted to acquire a visual representation of the weld part and to convert the visual representation into a digital signal representative of the weld part features. The welding system further includes a part recognition system having processing circuitry and memory. The processing circuitry is adapted to receive the digital signal and to compare the digital signal to a database stored in the memory to identify the weld part, weld settings appropriate for welding the weld part, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Edward Stein, Stephen Paul Ferkel
  • Publication number: 20200269339
    Abstract: A welding system includes a welding power source having a user interface disposed thereon and a weld controller disposed therein and being adapted to generate a welding power output for use in a welding operation. The welding system also includes a personal computer having control circuitry disposed therein and being removably interfaced with the welding power source via a docking mechanism. When the personal computer is docked within the docking mechanism, the personal computer is enabled for receiving operator input, and the control circuitry communicates with the weld controller to coordinate control of a welding operation in accordance with the operator input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Alan Edward Stein, John Alan Luck
  • Patent number: 10682720
    Abstract: A welding system includes a welding power source having a user interface disposed thereon and a weld controller disposed therein and being adapted to generate a welding power output for use in a welding operation. The welding system also includes a personal computer having control circuitry disposed therein and being removably interfaced with the welding power source via a docking mechanism. When the personal computer is docked within the docking mechanism, the personal computer is enabled for receiving operator input, and the control circuitry communicates with the weld controller to coordinate control of a welding operation in accordance with the operator input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Alan Edward Stein, John Alan Luck
  • Publication number: 20170151622
    Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a coupling portion that couples to a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) wire drive assembly and receives electrical current flow from the GMAW wire drive assembly. Additionally, the adapter assembly includes a receiving portion that couples with a connector of a welding cable of a non-GMAW torch to provide the electrical current flow to the non-GMAW torch from the GMAW wire drive assembly. Further, the adapter assembly includes an insulating component that affixes around the receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas James Dessart, Brian Randall Bellile, Alan Edward Stein
  • Publication number: 20160016249
    Abstract: A welding system may include a welding power source that provides power for both a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process and a gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process. Further, the welding system may include a wire feeder coupled to the welding power source for providing wire, gas flow, and electrical current flow for the GMAW process. Additionally, the welding system may include an adapter that couples to the wire feeder to provide the electrical current flow and the gas flow for the GTAW process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Randall Bellile, Alan Edward Stein
  • Publication number: 20160016266
    Abstract: A welding system may include a wire feeder configured to receive power from a welding power supply. The wire feeder may also be configured to provide wire, gas flow, and electrical current flow for a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process. Further, the welding system may include an adapter that couples to the wire feeder to provide the gas flow for an alternative welding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Randall Bellile, Alan Edward Stein
  • Publication number: 20140069900
    Abstract: A welding system includes a welding power source having a user interface disposed thereon and a weld controller disposed therein and being adapted to generate a welding power output for use in a welding operation. The welding system also includes a personal computer having control circuitry disposed therein and being removably interfaced with the welding power source via a docking mechanism. When the personal computer is docked within the docking mechanism, the personal computer is enabled for receiving operator input, and the control circuitry communicates with the weld controller to coordinate control of a welding operation in accordance with the operator input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: IIIinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Alan Edward Stein, John Alan Luck
  • Publication number: 20120325792
    Abstract: Various embodiments of welding systems that enable determination of suitable weld settings for a weld part are provided. In one embodiment, a welding system includes a weld part having at least one weld joint to be welded. The welding system also includes a visual acquisition system including an imaging device and being adapted to acquire a visual representation of the weld part and to convert the visual representation into a digital signal representative of the weld part features. The welding system further includes a part recognition system having processing circuitry and memory. The processing circuitry is adapted to receive the digital signal and to compare the digital signal to a database stored in the memory to identify the weld part, weld settings appropriate for welding the weld part, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Edward Stein, Stephen Paul Ferkel