Patents by Inventor Darren R. Horness

Darren R. Horness 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: 20250051125
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a transfer mechanism that transfers discrete articles to a receiving member. The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of transfer pucks that carry discrete articles thereon. Each of the transfer pucks includes a puck body with an article carrying surface having vacuum holes formed therein to retain the discrete article thereon via a vacuum. The article carrying surface includes a central region and at least one side region adjacent the central region, the side region aligned lengthwise along the puck body. Each of the transfer pucks also includes one or more resilient puck inserts positioned about a portion of a perimeter of the transfer puck, with each puck insert engaged with the puck body in a respective side region. The puck inserts are sized to protrude above the article carrying surface and are depressible inward toward the article carrying surface upon an application of force thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Christopher A. Schwartz, Darren R. Horness, Jeffrey W. FRITZ, Zachary J. Giffey, Megan A. Rammer
  • Patent number: 9907706
    Abstract: The present invention provides machinery used to create products (for instance disposable products). The machinery is operated at high speed, with the machine occupying a small footprint. Materials can be fed into the manufacturing process vertically (from above or below), using assembly stations to feed completed components into the system at appropriate stations. Additionally, restocking of raw components can be accomplished by robotic means of transferring the raw material from staging areas into infeeding or splicing stations, without the need for human operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Andrews, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Gottfried Jason Hohm, Adam D. DeNoble, Tyler W. Pagel, Christopher A. Schwartz, Christopher J. Nelson, Darren R. Horness, Alan J. Rabe, Sean P. Follen, Brian G. Jankuski
  • Publication number: 20170151098
    Abstract: The present invention provides machinery used to create products (for instance disposable products). The machinery is operated at high speed, with the machine occupying a small footprint. Materials can be fed into the manufacturing process vertically (from above or below), using assembly stations to feed completed components into the system at appropriate stations. Additionally, restocking of raw components can be accomplished by robotic means of transferring the raw material from staging areas into infeeding or splicing stations, without the need for human operators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: ROBERT E. ANDREWS, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Gottfried Jason Hohm, Adam D. DeNoble, Tyler W. Pagel, Chistopher A. Schwartz, Christopher J. Nelson, Darren R. Horness, Alan J. Rabe, Sean P. Follen, Brian G. Jankuski
  • Patent number: 9566193
    Abstract: The present invention provides machinery used to create products (for instance disposable products). The machinery is operated at high speed, with the machine occupying a small footprint. Materials can be fed into the manufacturing process vertically (from above or below), using assembly stations to feed completed components into the system at appropriate stations. Additionally, restocking of raw components can be accomplished by robotic means of transferring the raw material from staging areas into infeeding or splicing stations, without the need for human operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Andrews, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Gottfried Jason Hohm, Adam D. DeNoble, Tyler W. Pagel, Christopher A. Schwartz, Christopher J. Nelson, Darren R. Horness, Alan J. Rabe, Sean P. Follen, Brian G. Jankuski
  • Publication number: 20130056576
    Abstract: The present invention provides machinery used to create products (for instance disposable products). The machinery is operated at high speed, with the machine occupying a small footprint. Materials can be fed into the manufacturing process vertically (from above or below), using assembly stations to feed completed components into the system at appropriate stations. Additionally, restocking of raw components can be accomplished by robotic means of transferring the raw material from staging areas into infeeding or splicing stations, without the need for human operators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Andrews, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Gottfried Jason Hohm, Adam D. DeNoble, Tyler W. Pagel, Christopher A. Schwartz, Christopher J. Nelson, Darren R. Horness, Alan J. Rabe, Sean P. Follen, Brian G. Jankuski