Patents by Inventor Andrew J. Zieger

Andrew J. Zieger 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: 20230066306
    Abstract: A solution applicator assembly comprises an upper body defining an upper channel. The upper body further includes a primary inlet fluidly connected to the upper channel. A lower body defines a lower channel being fluidly connectable to the upper channel to define a central channel. The lower body further defines a primary outlet fluidly connected to the lower channel. A flow control insert is removeably receivable in the central channel for receiving a chemical solution from the upper channel and releasing the solution into the lower channel. The upper body and the lower body are removeably connectable to one another to selectively allow the flow control insert to be removed and positioned in the central channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew J. Zieger, Adam D. Jacques
  • Patent number: 9486971
    Abstract: A belt welding apparatus is provided for joining together the ends of one or more monolithic conveyor belts. In one form, a belt support is configured to support the belt ends in spaced relation to each other and a non-contact heating device is provided for being disposed between the belt ends to generate thermal radiation for joining the belt ends together. In one form, the non-contact heating device is a ribbon heating device. In another form, a drive mechanism is operable to cause relative movement of a pair of platens, for supporting belt ends, toward and away from each other and a heating device between heating and stowed positions. An actuator of the drive mechanism is movable by an operator between at least three operation positions corresponding to three different operation positions of the platens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Zieger, Joannes Stefanus van 't Schip
  • Patent number: 9360084
    Abstract: A belt cutting and splicing apparatus is provided for joining together the ends of one or more monolithic conveyor belts. In one form, a belt support is configured to support the belt ends in spaced relation to each other and a non-contact heating device is provided for being disposed between the belt ends to generate thermal radiation for joining the belt ends together. In another form, a drive mechanism is operable to cause relative movement of a pair of platens, for supporting belt ends, toward and away from each other and a heating device between heating and stowed positions. An actuator of the drive mechanism is movable by an operator between at least three operation positions corresponding to three different operation positions of the platens. An on-board belt cutting mechanism is provided for precision cutting of the belt ends using the same apparatus for both belt cutting and splicing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Zieger
  • Patent number: 8973739
    Abstract: A snap-fit scraper blade is provided for being snap-fit onto a mounting pole. The scraper blade has a blade body including an upper scraping portion and a lower mounting portion. The lower mounting portion has depending legs with inner surfaces that are configured for snap-fitting the scraper blade body onto a square mounting pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Zieger
  • Publication number: 20140283984
    Abstract: A belt cutting and splicing apparatus is provided for joining together the ends of one or more monolithic conveyor belts. In one form, a belt support is configured to support the belt ends in spaced relation to each other and a non-contact heating device is provided for being disposed between the belt ends to generate thermal radiation for joining the belt ends together. In another form, a drive mechanism is operable to cause relative movement of a pair of platens, for supporting belt ends, toward and away from each other and a heating device between heating and stowed positions. An actuator of the drive mechanism is movable by an operator between at least three operation positions corresponding to three different operation positions of the platens. An on-board belt cutting mechanism is provided for precision cutting of the belt ends using the same apparatus for both belt cutting and splicing operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Andrew J. ZIEGER
  • Patent number: 8770253
    Abstract: A belt cutting and splicing apparatus is provided for joining together the ends of one or more monolithic conveyor belts. In one form, a belt support is configured to support the belt ends in spaced relation to each other and a non-contact heating device is provided for being disposed between the belt ends to generate thermal radiation for joining the belt ends together. In another form, a drive mechanism is operable to cause relative movement of a pair of platens, for supporting belt ends, toward and away from each other and a heating device between heating and stowed positions. An actuator of the drive mechanism is movable by an operator between at least three operation positions corresponding to three different operation positions of the platens. An on-board belt cutting mechanism is provided for precision cutting of the belt ends using the same apparatus for both belt cutting and splicing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Zieger
  • Publication number: 20140182782
    Abstract: A belt welding apparatus is provided for joining together the ends of one or more monolithic conveyor belts. In one form, a belt support is configured to support the belt ends in spaced relation to each other and a non-contact heating device is provided for being disposed between the belt ends to generate thermal radiation for joining the belt ends together. In one form, the non-contact heating device is a ribbon heating device. In another form, a drive mechanism is operable to cause relative movement of a pair of platens, for supporting belt ends, toward and away from each other and a heating device between heating and stowed positions. An actuator of the drive mechanism is movable by an operator between at least three operation positions corresponding to three different operation positions of the platens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Zieger, Joannes Stefanus van 't Schip
  • Patent number: 8662283
    Abstract: Compact spring tensioner devices are provided for biasing scraper blades toward a conveyor belt. The spring tensioner devices generally are constructed to have a reduced operational envelope and be reconfigurable for providing a selected one of opposite rotary bias forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Zieger, Brett E. DeVries
  • Publication number: 20130126084
    Abstract: A belt cutting and splicing apparatus is provided for joining together the ends of one or more monolithic conveyor belts. In one form, a belt support is configured to support the belt ends in spaced relation to each other and a non-contact heating device is provided for being disposed between the belt ends to generate thermal radiation for joining the belt ends together. In another form, a drive mechanism is operable to cause relative movement of a pair of platens, for supporting belt ends, toward and away from each other and a heating device between heating and stowed positions. An actuator of the drive mechanism is movable by an operator between at least three operation positions corresponding to three different operation positions of the platens. An on-board belt cutting mechanism is provided for precision cutting of the belt ends using the same apparatus for both belt cutting and splicing operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventor: Andrew J. Zieger
  • Publication number: 20120160634
    Abstract: A snap-fit scraper blade is provided for being snap-fit onto a mounting pole. The scraper blade has a blade body including an upper scraping portion and a lower mounting portion. The lower mounting portion has depending legs with inner surfaces that are configured for snap-fitting the scraper blade body onto a square mounting pole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventor: Andrew J. Zieger
  • Patent number: 8132489
    Abstract: A clamping and cutting apparatus for a conveyor belt is provided. The apparatus includes upper and lower elongate members between which the belt is to be clamped. A clamping mechanism has a screw drive mechanism mounted to the upper member and an end linkage assembly which are operable to generate a more rapid clamping operation of the elongate members on the belt. The upper elongate member can be releasably latched to the lower elongate member for quick connection and removal therefrom. A cutting blade of the apparatus is preferably provided with upper and lower guides to increase the rigidity thereof for increasing cutting accuracy and allowing thicker belts to be cut therewith without increasing blade thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Zieger
  • Publication number: 20110209969
    Abstract: Compact spring tensioner devices are provided for biasing scraper blades toward a conveyor belt. The spring tensioner devices generally are constructed to have a reduced operational envelope and be reconfigurable for providing a selected one of opposite rotary bias forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Andrew J. Zieger, Brett E. DeVries
  • Publication number: 20090007741
    Abstract: A clamping and cutting apparatus for a conveyor belt is provided. The apparatus includes upper and lower elongate members between which the belt is to be clamped. A clamping mechanism has a screw drive mechanism mounted to the upper member and an end linkage assembly which are operable to generate a more rapid clamping operation of the elongate members on the belt. The upper elongate member can be releasably latched to the lower elongate member for quick connection and removal therefrom. A cutting blade of the apparatus is preferably provided with upper and lower guides to increase the rigidity thereof for increasing cutting accuracy and allowing thicker belts to be cut therewith without increasing blade thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Zieger