Patents by Inventor Bruce C. Seaton

Bruce C. Seaton 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: 20230390847
    Abstract: A stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a support assembly coupled to the frame, and a print head gantry coupled to the frame. The print head gantry includes an elongate beam that rides along rails provided on the frame and a print head assembly supported by the print head gantry in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a print head having a squeegee blade assembly configured to roll solder paste along the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a solder paste bead recovery system configured to remove a bead of solder paste from a top surface of the stencil and to deposit the bead of solder paste onto a new replacement stencil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Matthew F. Schumacher, Bruce C. Seaton, Kenneth J. King
  • Patent number: 11827044
    Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch, Patsy A. Mattero, Joan N. Schopf, Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid
  • Patent number: 11766730
    Abstract: A stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a support assembly coupled to the frame, and a print head gantry coupled to the frame. The print head gantry includes an elongate beam that rides along rails provided on the frame and a print head assembly supported by the print head gantry in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a print head having a squeegee blade assembly configured to roll solder paste along the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a solder paste bead recovery system configured to remove a bead of solder paste from a top surface of the stencil and to deposit the bead of solder paste onto a new replacement stencil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Matthew F. Schumacher, Bruce C. Seaton, Kenneth J. King
  • Publication number: 20220258512
    Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch, Patsy A. Mattero, Joan N. Schopf, Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid
  • Publication number: 20220241883
    Abstract: A stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a support assembly coupled to the frame, and a print head gantry coupled to the frame. The print head gantry includes an elongate beam that rides along rails provided on the frame and a print head assembly supported by the print head gantry in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a print head having a squeegee blade assembly configured to roll solder paste along the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a solder paste bead recovery system configured to remove a bead of solder paste from a top surface of the stencil and to deposit the bead of solder paste onto a new replacement stencil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Matthew F. Schumacher, Bruce C. Seaton, Kenneth J. King
  • Publication number: 20220219447
    Abstract: Systems and methods of removing and cleaning a stencil in a stencil printer include removing a used stencil from a stencil printer with the assistance of a movable cart, transporting the used stencil by the movable cart to a cleaning station, removing the used stencil from the movable cart, delivering the used stencil to the cleaning station, cleaning the stencil, removing a cleaned stencil from the cleaning station, and delivering the cleaned stencil to the movable cart for future use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew F. Schumacher, Weidong Wang, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch
  • Patent number: 11351804
    Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch, Patsy A. Mattero, Joan N. Schopf, Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid
  • Patent number: 11318549
    Abstract: A stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a support assembly coupled to the frame, and a print head gantry coupled to the frame. The print head gantry includes an elongate beam that rides along rails provided on the frame and a print head assembly supported by the print head gantry in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a print head having a squeegee blade assembly configured to roll solder paste along the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a solder paste bead recovery system configured to remove a bead of solder paste from a top surface of the stencil and to deposit the bead of solder paste onto a new replacement stencil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Matthew F. Schumacher, Bruce C. Seaton, Kenneth J. King
  • Publication number: 20200391531
    Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch, Patsy A. Mattero, Joan N. Schopf, Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid
  • Publication number: 20200391500
    Abstract: A delivery device is configured to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer. The delivery device includes a housing configured to support replacement and/or replenishment items, the housing having wheels or casters to enable the housing to roll along a relatively flat surface, at least one support structure configured to store items for the stencil printer, and one or more device configured to transport items from the delivery device to the stencil printer and from the stencil printer to the delivery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: James Lynch, Matthew F. Schumacher, Bruce C. Seaton, Weidong Wang, Isaiah M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200391314
    Abstract: A stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a support assembly coupled to the frame, and a print head gantry coupled to the frame. The print head gantry includes an elongate beam that rides along rails provided on the frame and a print head assembly supported by the print head gantry in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a print head having a squeegee blade assembly configured to roll solder paste along the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a solder paste bead recovery system configured to remove a bead of solder paste from a top surface of the stencil and to deposit the bead of solder paste onto a new replacement stencil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Matthew F. Schumacher, Bruce C. Seaton, Kenneth J. King
  • Publication number: 20200391530
    Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, Bruce C. Seaton, James Lynch, Patsy A. Mattero, Joan N. Schopf, Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid
  • Publication number: 20200391499
    Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, the stencil having apertures formed therein, a support assembly coupled to the frame, the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil, a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes, the print head assembly including a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil, and a robotic arm configured to perform functions within the stencil printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: James Lynch, Matthew F. Schumacher, Bruce C. Seaton, Weidong Wang
  • Publication number: 20200396843
    Abstract: A method of performing a fully automated, single changeover process within a stencil printer includes identifying at least one item for replacement within the stencil printer, transporting an item to the stencil printer by a single change movable cart, removing a used item identified for replacement and delivering the used item to the movable cart, and installing a new item within the stencil printer from the movable cart. A system to perform a fully automated, single changeover process within a stencil printer includes a single change movable cart configured to transport an item to the stencil printer, remove a used item scheduled for replacement, and install the item within the stencil printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: William A. Losiewicz, James Lynch, Matthew F. Schumacher, Bruce C. Seaton, Weidong Wang