Patents by Inventor Dieter B. Heerdt

Dieter B. Heerdt 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: 7732736
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive hose assembly comprises a heater circuit wrapped around an external surface portion of the hose assembly, a temperature sensor, and an elongated thermal fuse which is likewise wrapped around an external surface portion of the hose assembly such that successive spiral turns of the thermal fuse are effectively interposed between successive spiral turns of the heater circuit. The thermal fuse may be electrically connected in series with the heater circuit so as to effectively terminate electrical power to the heater circuit as a result of the melting of the thermal fuse, or alternatively, the thermal fuse may be electrically connected in series with the temperature sensor, so as to detect abnormal temperature levels at substantially any location throughout the length of the hose assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mairi MacLean, Dieter B. Heerdt, Christopher R. Fuller
  • Patent number: 7723647
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive material dispensing system includes a communication system for transmitting information or data between the adhesive supply unit (ASU) and one or more applicator heads, wherein the number of hard wires actually interconnecting the adhesive supply unit (ASU) and the one or more hot melt adhesive material dispensing applicator heads can be reduced by the employment of signal couplers. In addition, the number of applicator heads that can be utilized in conjunction with a particular adhesive supply unit (ASU) can be increased by incorporating the temperature controller, normally disposed upon the adhesive supply unit (ASU), upon the applicator head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter B. Heerdt, Michael Surenbrock
  • Patent number: 7626145
    Abstract: A redundant control circuit comprises a pair of heater circuits for heating a hot melt adhesive hose assembly to a predetermined temperature level, and a pair of temperature sensors which are used to sense the temperature of the hot melt adhesive hose assembly and to control energization of the heater circuits in order to maintain the desired temperature level. A first one of the heater circuits would initially be electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and in a similar manner, a first one of the temperature sensors would likewise be electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Bourget, Dieter B. Heerdt
  • Patent number: 7605351
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive hose assembly has a redundant control circuit fixedly mounted thereon which comprises a pair of heater circuits for heating a hot melt adhesive hose assembly to a predetermined temperature level, and a pair of temperature sensors which are used to sense the temperature of the hot melt adhesive hose assembly wherein the sensed temperature level will be used to control energization of the heater circuits in order to maintain the desired temperature level. A first one of the heater circuits is initially electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and in a similar manner, a first one of the temperature sensors is likewise electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Bourget, Dieter B. Heerdt
  • Publication number: 20090084773
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive material dispensing system includes a communication system for transmitting information or data between the adhesive supply unit (ASU) and one or more applicator heads, wherein the number of hard wires actually interconnecting the adhesive supply unit (ASU) and the one or more hot melt adhesive material dispensing applicator heads can be reduced by the employment of signal couplers. In addition, the number of applicator heads that can be utilized in conjunction with a particular adhesive supply unit (ASU) can be increased by incorporating the temperature controller, normally disposed upon the adhesive supply unit (ASU), upon the applicator head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Dieter B. Heerdt, Michael Surenbrock
  • Publication number: 20080237210
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive hose assembly comprises a heater circuit wrapped around an external surface portion of the hose assembly, a temperature sensor, and an elongated thermal fuse which is likewise wrapped around an external surface portion of the hose assembly such that successive spiral turns of the thermal fuse are effectively interposed between successive spiral turns of the heater circuit. The thermal fuse may be electrically connected in series with the heater circuit so as to effectively terminate electrical power to the heater circuit as a result of the melting of the thermal fuse, or alternatively, the thermal fuse may be electrically connected in series with the temperature sensor, so as to detect abnormal temperature levels at substantially any location throughout the length of the hose assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Mairi MacLean, Dieter B. Heerdt, Christopher R. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20080173635
    Abstract: A redundant control circuit comprises a pair of heater circuits for heating a hot melt adhesive hose assembly to a predetermined temperature level, and a pair of temperature sensors which are used to sense the temperature of the hot melt adhesive hose assembly and to control energization of the heater circuits in order to maintain the desired temperature level. A first one of the heater circuits would initially be electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and in a similar manner, a first one of the temperature sensors would likewise be electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Daniel D. Bourget, Dieter B. Heerdt
  • Patent number: 7351937
    Abstract: An electronic control circuit, for use in connection a hot melt adhesive dispensing system having a relatively large applicator head, has a plurality of heater circuits and a plurality of temperature sensors disposed upon different regions of the relatively large applicator head, wherein the electronic control circuitry can effectively interface between the plurality of heater circuits and the plurality of temperature sensors, and the adhesive supply unit (ASU) hose and head connector, so as to control individual ones of the plurality of heater circuits and thereby ensure that all of the heater circuits will maintain the same temperature setting throughout all regions of the applicator head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter B. Heerdt, Andreas Pahl
  • Patent number: 7332692
    Abstract: A redundant control circuit comprises a pair of heater circuits for heating a hot melt adhesive hose assembly to a predetermined temperature level, and a pair of temperature sensors which are used to sense the temperature of the hot melt adhesive hose assembly and to control energization of the heater circuits in order to maintain the desired temperature level. A first one of the heater circuits would initially be electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and in a similar manner, a first one of the temperature sensors would likewise be electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Bourget, Dieter B. Heerdt
  • Patent number: 7213968
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive sensing system and method including detecting (410) multiple areas of a target, for example, a hot adhesive material, by sensing changes in temperature with a corresponding number of thermal sensors, summing (420) an output of the thermal sensors, and evaluating (430) the summed output by comparing the summed output with a reference, the results of which may be assessed relative to a specified tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter B. Heerdt, Paul M. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7208721
    Abstract: A material dispensing system for dispensing material onto a moving substrate (110), including a material dispensing nozzle (102), a material dispensing control signal controller (130) coupled to the material dispensing nozzle, a material dispensing control signal generator (120) coupled to the material dispenser control signal controller, the material dispensing control signal generator sending a material dispensing control signal to the material dispensing control signal controller, wherein the material dispensing control signal controller controls the material dispensing control signal from the material dispensing control signal generator based on the substrate speed input signal, and the material dispensing control signal controller sends the controlled material dispensing control signal to the material dispensing nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Rico R. Valentin, Scott J. Hudanish, Dieter B. Heerdt
  • Patent number: 7150559
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive sensing system and methods including detecting (410) multiple areas of a target, for example a hot adhesive material, by sensing changes in temperature with a corresponding number of thermal sensors, summing (420) an output of the thermal sensors, and evaluating (430) the summed output by comparing the summed output with a variable reference, the results of which may be assessed relative to a specified tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter B. Heerdt, Paul M. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7070325
    Abstract: Hot melt adhesive sensing systems and methods including detecting (410) multiple areas of a target, for example, a hot adhesive material, by sensing changes in temperature with a corresponding number of thermal sensors, summing (420) an output of the thermal sensors, and evaluating (430) the summed output by comparing the summed output with a reference, the results of which may be assessed relative to a specified tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter B. Heerdt, Paul M. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7066642
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive sensing system and methods including detecting (410) multiple areas of a target, for example a hot adhesive material, by sensing changes in temperature with a corresponding number of thermal sensors, summing (420) an output of the thermal sensors, and evaluating (430) the summed output by comparing the summed output with a variable reference, the results of which may be assessed relative to a specified tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter B. Heerdt, Paul M. Jenkins
  • Publication number: 20040218660
    Abstract: A hot melt adhesive sensing system and methods including detecting (410) multiple areas of a target, for example a hot adhesive material, by sensing changes in temperature with a corresponding number of thermal sensors, summing (420) an output of the thermal sensors, and evaluating (430) the summed output by comparing the summed output with a reference, the results of which may be assessed relative to a specified tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Dieter B. Heerdt, Paul M. Jenkins