Patents by Inventor Andrew S. Ayers

Andrew S. Ayers 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).

  • Patent number: 11453026
    Abstract: A slot die assembly for dispensing a fluid onto an article includes an adapter body, a shim package and a die plate. The adapter body includes an adapter conduit configured to receive a fluid. The shim package includes a plurality of shim plates having a shim conduit disposed in fluid communication with the adapter conduit and configured to receive the fluid from the adapter conduit. The shim package further includes a connecting conduit disposed in fluid communication with the shim conduit, a reservoir disposed in fluid communication with the connecting conduit, and a slot disposed in fluid communication with the reservoir. The slot is configured to dispense the fluid onto an article. The die plate is disposed in abutting relationship to the shim package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew S. Ayers
  • Publication number: 20190299240
    Abstract: A slot die assembly for dispensing a fluid onto an article includes an adapter body, a shim package and a die plate. The adapter body includes an adapter conduit configured to receive a fluid. The shim package includes a plurality of shim plates having a shim conduit disposed in fluid communication with the adapter conduit and configured to receive the fluid from the adapter conduit. The shim package further includes a connecting conduit disposed in fluid communication with the shim conduit, a reservoir disposed in fluid communication with the connecting conduit, and a slot disposed in fluid communication with the reservoir. The slot is configured to dispense the fluid onto an article. The die plate is disposed in abutting relationship to the shim package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventor: Andrew S. Ayers
  • Patent number: 10150136
    Abstract: A fluid application device having an applicator head, a slot die assembly and a securing mechanism for securing the slot die assembly to the applicator head is provided. The slot die assembly includes a die extruder comprising one or more fluid input ports configured to receive a fluid from the applicator head, a shim positioned adjacent to the die extruder, and a plate positioned adjacent to the shim on a side of the shim opposite from the die extruder. The securing mechanism includes a securing component at one of the applicator head and the slot die assembly and a corresponding securing component at the other of the applicator head and slot die assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Mel Steven Lessley, Jonathan David Cunningham, Andreas Pahl, Andrew S. Ayers
  • Patent number: 10137472
    Abstract: A dual pattern shim assembly, for use in conjunction with hot melt adhesive dispensing systems, permits various different overlapping or overlying deposition or application patterns, having different length dimensions, different width dimensions, different coating thicknesses, and different longitudinal positional locations or dispositions with respect to each other, to be achieved during a single pass of the underlying substrate with respect to the hot melt adhesive contact die applicator or head. In this manner, different or multiple adhesive deposition or application procedures are able to effectively be accomplished simultaneously so as to effectively simplify and shorten the overall assembly lines and production times required for the fabrication or manufacture of various different particular products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Andrew S. Ayers
  • Patent number: 10081022
    Abstract: A slot die assembly for applying at least one material onto a substrate includes an adapter having a passive heat transfer device, a shim package fluidically connected to the adapter, the shim package having a first material discharge slot and a second material discharge slot, and a die plate having a one or more fluid channels fluidically connected to the shim package. The assembly also includes one or more mounting studs extending from the adapter, the mounting studs configured to engage a parent machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Andrew S. Ayers
  • Publication number: 20180117602
    Abstract: A slot die assembly for applying at least one material onto a substrate includes an adapter having a passive heat transfer device, a shim package fluidically connected to the adapter, the shim package having a first material discharge slot and a second material discharge slot, and a die plate having a one or more fluid channels fluidically connected to the shim package. The assembly also includes one or more mounting studs extending from the adapter, the mounting studs configured to engage a parent machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventor: Andrew S. Ayers
  • Patent number: 9889599
    Abstract: An applicator for applying two materials to a substrate includes a central module configured to receive a first material, a tee block configured to receive a second material, a pair of outer modules spaced from and disposed on opposite sides of the central module, each outer module fluidically connected to and configured to receive the second material from the tee block, and a slot die assembly disposed in fluid communication with the central module and the pair of outer modules, the slot die assembly configured to receive the first and second materials from the central and outer modules, respectively, and discharge the first material over a first width and the second material over a second width greater than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Andrew S. Ayers
  • Publication number: 20170266687
    Abstract: A fluid application device having an applicator head, a slot die assembly and a securing mechanism for securing the slot die assembly to the applicator head is provided. The slot die assembly includes a die extruder comprising one or more fluid input ports configured to receive a fluid from the applicator head, a shim positioned adjacent to the die extruder, and a plate positioned adjacent to the shim on a side of the shim opposite from the die extruder. The securing mechanism includes a securing component at one of the applicator head and the slot die assembly and a corresponding securing component at the other of the applicator head and slot die assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Mel Steven Lessley, Jonathan David Cunningham, Andreas Pahl, Andrew S. Ayers
  • Publication number: 20170072411
    Abstract: A slot die assembly for applying at least one material onto a substrate includes an adapter having a passive heat transfer device, a shim package fluidically connected to the adapter, the shim package having a first material discharge slot and a second material discharge slot, and a die plate having a one or more fluid channels fluidically connected to the shim package. The assembly also includes one or more mounting studs extending from the adapter, the mounting studs configured to engage a parent machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Andrew S. Ayers
  • Publication number: 20170072624
    Abstract: An applicator for applying two materials to a substrate includes a central module configured to receive a first material, a tee block configured to receive a second material, a pair of outer modules spaced from and disposed on opposite sides of the central module, each outer module fluidically connected to and configured to receive the second material from the tee block, and a slot die assembly disposed in fluid communication with the central module and the pair of outer modules, the slot die assembly configured to receive the first and second materials from the central and outer modules, respectively, and discharge the first material over a first width and the second material over a second width greater than the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Andrew S. Ayers
  • Patent number: 7506828
    Abstract: A quick installation hot melt adhesive dispensing nozzle assembly, for use in connection with hot melt adhesive dispensing modules, comprises a nut member which is adapted to threadedly engage a hot melt adhesive dispensing module seat member, and a hot melt adhesive dispensing nozzle member which is initially assembled together with the nut member. A plurality of orientation pins are adapted to effectively interconnect the nozzle member to the dispensing module seat member such that a particular angular orientation of the nozzle member, and therefore the angular orientation of the dispensing ports defined within the nozzle member, may be predeterminedly positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hot melt adhesive dispensing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew S. Ayers, Scott J. Hudanish
  • Publication number: 20080245298
    Abstract: A dual pattern shim assembly, for use in conjunction with hot melt adhesive dispensing systems, permits various different overlapping or overlying deposition or application patterns, having different length dimensions, different width dimensions, different coating thicknesses, and different longitudinal positional locations or dispositions with respect to each other, to be achieved during a single pass of the underlying substrate with respect to the hot melt adhesive contact die applicator or head. In this manner, different or multiple adhesive deposition or application procedures are able to effectively be accomplished simultaneously so as to effectively simplify and shorten the overall assembly lines and production times required for the fabrication or manufacture of various different particular products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Andrew S. Ayers