Patents by Inventor Christopher T. Schaafsma
Christopher T. Schaafsma 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).
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Patent number: 11851008Abstract: A bracket assembly for mounting a camera to a vehicle includes a bracket body and a glare shield that extends along the bracket body. A longitudinal axis is centrally disposed between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the glare shield. At least one slit extends through the glare shield and spans between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Karly R. Miller, Prasun K. Majumdar, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Edward F. Bulgajewski
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Publication number: 20220289126Abstract: A bracket assembly for a vehicle includes a bracket body having a glare shield and a circuit. The bracket assembly further includes an electrical device that is electrically connected to the circuit of the bracket body. The circuit comprises a plurality of leads extending along the bracket body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Karly R. Miller, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Craig W. Gurtatowski, Danny C.F. Leitao, Dennis M. Mark, Edward F. Bulgajewski, Scott Bair
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Publication number: 20220289120Abstract: A bracket assembly for mounting a camera to a vehicle includes a bracket body and a glare shield that extends along the bracket body. A longitudinal axis is centrally disposed between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the glare shield. At least one slit extends through the glare shield and spans between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Karly R. Miller, Prasun K. Majumdar, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Edward F. Bulgajewski
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Patent number: 9821546Abstract: A digital cliché pad printing system includes a conveyor for conveying a substantially non-elastic support medium, a material deposition jetting device for depositing a curable material onto the support in a desired pattern, the desired pattern having at least one void space, means for curing the material in the desired pattern, the cured material defining a cliché having a top surface, an ink delivery system for depositing ink in the at least one void space and for wiping ink from the top surface and a pad configured to contact the cliché to transfer ink from the void space to the pad the pad also configured to move into contact with an object to which the ink is transferred. A digital cliché media and method are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Christopher T. Schaafsma, Christopher J. Sobaszek
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Patent number: 8607699Abstract: A rotating cliché pad printer includes a frame, a flat cliché operably mounted to the frame, an ink cup configured to reside on the cliché and a pad applicator. The cliché includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink thereon in the etched region. The ink cup is configured to reside on the cliché and to deposit ink into the at least one etched region. The cliché and ink cup are rotatably movable relative to one another. The pad applicator includes at least one pad adapted to move into and out of contact with the at least one etched region to receive ink from the etched region. The pad is further configured to contact an associated object to transfer the received ink to the associated object.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Dana Pulvino, Tracy Kucaba, Christopher T. Schaafsma
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Patent number: 8463574Abstract: A method for aligning a sphere to a desired orientation includes imaging a non-surface alignment feature of the sphere and calculating a current orientation of the sphere based on an image of the non-surface alignment feature. Using these calculations, a relationship between the current orientation of the sphere and the desired orientation of the sphere is calculated and communicated to a motion control device, and aligning the sphere into the desired orientation using the motion control device.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Christopher T. Schaafsma, Robert F. Hitchcock
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Patent number: 8408122Abstract: An auto alignment pad printer for transferring print to an associated object includes a frame, a fixture for supporting the associated object and a cliché operably mounted to the frame. The cliché includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink in the etched region. An ink cup is configured to deposit ink into the etched region. A pad applicator includes a pad support having at least one pad thereon. The pad is adapted to move into and out of contact with the etched region to receive ink from the etched region and to contact an object to transfer the received ink to the object. A pad applicator alignment assembly includes a first set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the cliché and/or the frame near to the cliché, and a second set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the fixture for supporting the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Marc C. Piscitello, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Gerald L. Voegele, Jesse C. Darley
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Publication number: 20100175571Abstract: A digital cliché pad printing system includes a conveyor for conveying a substantially non-elastic support medium, a material deposition jetting device for depositing a curable material onto the support in a desired pattern, the desired pattern having at least one void space, means for curing the material in the desired pattern, the cured material defining a cliché having a top surface, an ink delivery system for depositing ink in the at least one void space and for wiping ink from the top surface and a pad configured to contact the cliché to transfer ink from the void space to the pad the pad also configured to move into contact with an object to which the ink is transferred. A digital cliché media and method are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Christopher T. Schaafsma, Christopher J. Sobaszek
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Publication number: 20090281763Abstract: A method for aligning a sphere to a desired orientation includes imaging a non-surface alignment feature of the sphere and calculating a current orientation of the sphere based on an image of the non-surface alignment feature. Using these calculations, a relationship between the current orientation of the sphere and the desired orientation of the sphere is calculated and communicated to a motion control device, and aligning the sphere into the desired orientation using the motion control device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Christopher T. Schaafsma, Robert F. Hitchcock
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Publication number: 20090277349Abstract: A rotating cliché pad printer includes a frame, a flat cliché operably mounted to the frame, an ink cup configured to reside on the cliché and a pad applicator. The cliché includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink thereon in the etched region. The ink cup is configured to reside on the cliché and to deposit ink into the at least one etched region. The cliché and ink cup are rotatably movable relative to one another. The pad applicator includes at least one pad adapted to move into and out of contact with the at least one etched region to receive ink from the etched region. The pad is further configured to contact an associated object to transfer the received ink to the associated object.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Dana Pulvino, Tracy Kucaba, Christopher T. Schaafsma
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Publication number: 20090277347Abstract: An auto alignment pad printer for transferring print to an associated object includes a frame, a fixture for supporting the associated object and a cliché operably mounted to the frame. The cliché includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink in the etched region. An ink cup is configured to deposit ink into the etched region. A pad applicator includes a pad support having at least one pad thereon. The pad is adapted to move into and out of contact with the etched region to receive ink from the etched region and to contact an object to transfer the received ink to the object. A pad applicator alignment assembly includes a first set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the cliché and/or the frame near to the cliché, and a second set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the fixture for supporting the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Marc C. Piscitello, Christopher T. Schaafsma, Gerald L. Voegele, Jesse C. Darley