Patents by Inventor Donald L. Van Erden

Donald L. Van Erden 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: 6074597
    Abstract: A meltblowing method and apparatus for dispensing an adhesive through a plurality of first orifices of a die assembly fabricated from a plurality of laminated members to form a plurality of adhesive flows at a first velocity, and dispensing air through a plurality of second orifices in the die assembly to form a plurality of air flows at a second velocity. The plurality of first and second orifices arranged in an alternating series so that each of the plurality of first orifices is flanked on substantially opposing sides by one of the plurality of second orifices, wherein the plurality of first and second orifices are oriented to direct non-convergently the plurality of adhesive flows and the plurality of air flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kui-Chiu Kwok, Donald L. Van Erden, Hugh J. Zentmyer
  • Patent number: 6044621
    Abstract: A zipper strip for a reclosable bag or package includes a male interlocking profile and a female interlocking profile. The male interlocking profile includes a male interlocking member and a male web coextruded therewith. In like manner, the female interlocking profile includes a female interlocking member and a female web. The male interlocking member snappingly engages into the female interlocking member to join the profiles to one another. One of the male and female webs is wider than the other in at least one of two directions from the male and female interlocking members, the greater width being represented by at least one flange extending widthwise beyond the other web. The zipper strip is designed to be attached to thermoplastic sheet material by sealing the at least one flange thereto without sealing the male and female webs to each other. Methods for securing the zipper strip to thermoplastic sheet material, and for making packages on a horizontal form-fill-and-seal machine, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Art Malin, Donald L. Van Erden, James G. Kohl, Jr., Michael J. McMahon
  • Patent number: 6017412
    Abstract: A method for attaching reclosable zipper strips transversely to thermoplastic film material which may be used to make reclosable bags or packages in a form-fill-seal machine is claimed. The zipper strip includes a male profile and a female profile. The male profile includes a male interlocking member and an integral web comprising a trailing flange and, optionally, a leading flange. Likewise, the female profile includes a female interlocking member and an integral web comprising a trailing flange and, optionally, a leading flange. As the film material is advanced into the form-fill-seal machine in bag length increments, the interlocked zipper strip is disposed on the film material transversely thereto with the trailing flange oriented in a direction opposite to the motion of the film material. The zipper strip is then sealed to the film material at its extremities. In this manner the male and female profiles are sealed to each other and to the film material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Art Malin, Michael J. McMahon, Lawrence Share
  • Patent number: 6014795
    Abstract: A slide zipper assembly comprising an interlocked zipper and a slider is provided. The zipper has a first profile and a second profile. The profiles have arms ending in hooks that are engaged when the zipper is in a closed position. The slider is disposed for movement along the zipper. The slider has an opening end and a closing end. At the opening end the slider has a separator that extends downwardly to engage a profile arm to bend the same so that its hook disengages from the hook of the opposite profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. McMahon, Donald L. Van Erden, Robert G. Kobetsky, Art Malin, Zdenek Machacek
  • Patent number: 5975397
    Abstract: In a combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool with a combustion chamber, a piston chamber communicating with the combustion chamber, a driving piston movable within the piston chamber between an initial position and a terminal position, and a driving blade mounted to the driving piston so as to be conjointly movable with the driving piston, the driving piston, the driving blade, and the piston chamber are arranged so that combustion in the combustion chamber imparts energy to the driving piston and the driving blade so as to drive the driving piston and the driving blade from the initial position toward the terminal position with the driving blade preceding the driving piston, over a stroke having a length sufficient to enable the driving blade to transfer more than eight tenths of the maximum, transferable energy to a fastener engaged by the driving blade as the driving piston and the driving blade approach the terminal position. The piston chamber has an inner, cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Kui-Chiu Kwok, G. Michael Volan
  • Patent number: 5953796
    Abstract: A slide zipper assembly comprising an interlocked zipper and a slider is provided. The zipper has a first profile and a second profile. The profiles have arms ending in hooks that are engaged when the zipper is in a closed position. The slider is disposed for movement along the zipper. The slider has an opening end and a closing end. At the opening end the slider has a separator that extends downwardly to engage a profile arm to bend the same so that its hook disengages from the hook of the opposite profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. McMahon, Donald L. Van Erden, Robert G. Kobetsky, Art Malin, Zdenek Machacek
  • Patent number: 5897043
    Abstract: A piston velocity control and stability control system is provided for a combustion powered tool having a self contained combustion engine. The system includes a ring that may be adjusted relative to exit ports in a cylinder of the combustion engine. The ring includes openings which may be incrementally aligned between a completely exposed, and a substantially closed position relative to the exit ports. Displaced air volume within the cylinder exits through the exit ports as a piston advances down the cylinder, and the velocity of the piston will be greatest when the exit ports are completely exposed. User initiated reduction of the effective size of the exit ports by adjustment of the ring will reduce piston velocity as described per application. A nosepiece used to guide the driver blade and position the blade over a fastener is isolated from the cylinder so that the nosepiece remains stable relative to the workpiece upon combustion and until the driver blade strikes the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley C Veoukas, Kui-Chiu Kwok, Donald L Van Erden, George M Velan
  • Patent number: 5837349
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness and flatness characteristics for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of opposed milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Manuel C. Enriquez
  • Patent number: 5806747
    Abstract: In a combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool with a combustion chamber, a piston chamber communicating with the combustion chamber, a driving piston movable within the piston chamber between an initial position and a terminal position, and a driving blade mounted to the driving piston so as to be conjointly movable with the driving piston, the driving piston, the driving blade, and the piston chamber are arranged so that combustion in the combustion chamber imparts energy to the driving piston and the driving blade so as to drive the driving piston and the driving blade from the initial position toward the terminal position with the driving blade preceding the driving piston, over a stroke having a length sufficient to enable the driving blade to transfer more than eight tenths of the maximum, transferable energy to a fastener engaged by the driving blade as the driving piston and the driving blade approach the terminal position. The piston chamber has an inner, cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Kui-Chiu Kwok, G. Michael Velan
  • Patent number: 5802810
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping and securing film about a load by positioning a first arm retaining an end portion of film toward the load, wrapping a layer of film about the first arm so the first arm is between the wrapped film and the load, withdrawing the first arm retaining the film from between the wrapped film and the load, and releasing the end portion of film retained by the first arm to position and secure a first film portion between the wrapped film and the load. The load is further wrapped and a second arm is subsequently positioned toward the load, and a layer of film is wrapped about the second arm so the second arm is between the wrapped film and the load. A roped film portion is captured and retained by the first and second second arms. The roped film is then severed and an end portion of the severed film is retained by the first arm for subsequently wrapping another load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Wojcik, Donald L. Van Erden, Werner K. Diehl
  • Patent number: 5799855
    Abstract: A piston velocity control and stability control system is provided for a combustion powered tool having a self contained combustion engine. The system includes a ring that may be adjusted relative to exit ports in a cylinder of the combustion engine. The ring includes openings which may be incrementally aligned between a completely exposed, and a substantially closed position relative to the exit ports. Displaced air volume within the cylinder exits through the exit ports as a piston advances down the cylinder, and the velocity of the piston will be greatest when the exit ports are completely exposed. User initiated reduction of the effective size of the exit ports by adjustment of the ring will reduce piston velocity as described per application. A nosepiece used to guide the driver blade and position the blade over a fastener is isolated from the cylinder so that the nosepiece remains stable relative to the workpiece upon combustion and until the driver blade strikes the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley C. Veoukas, Kui-Chiu Kwok, Donald L. Van Erden, George M. Velan
  • Patent number: 5722578
    Abstract: In a combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool with a combustion chamber, a piston chamber communicating with the combustion chamber, a driving piston movable within the piston chamber between an initial position and a terminal position, and a driving blade mounted to the driving piston so as to be conjointly movable with the driving piston, the driving piston, the driving blade, and the piston chamber are arranged so that combustion in the combustion chamber imparts energy to the driving piston and the driving blade so as to drive the driving piston and the driving blade from the initial position toward the terminal position with the driving blade preceding the driving piston, over a stroke having a length sufficient to enable the driving blade to transfer more than eight tenths of the maximum, transferable energy to a fastener engaged by the driving blade as the driving piston and the driving blade approach the terminal position. The piston chamber has an inner, cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Kui-Chiu Kwok, G. Michael Velan
  • Patent number: 5707660
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like. Heating is provided in connection with the surface of the sheet workpiece which is exposed to the ambient air prior to entry of the workpiece into the nip defined between the pair of rollers such that both surfaces will have similar temperature levels so as to exhibit similar density properties, and still further, the edge portions of the sheet workpiece are also heated so as to advantageously control the degree of flatness of the sheet material or workpiece across the width thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Signode Corporation
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Manuel C. Enriquez, Hans Weltekamper
  • Patent number: 5695709
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing highly-oriented polyester sheet comprises a two-stage drawing process. The first drawing stage is performed within a zero-gap milling and stretching roller assembly comprising a pair of opposed rollers defining a nip therebetween and wherein the rollers are rotated in opposite directions at different lineal surface velocities such that a predetermined draw ratio is defined therebetween. Amorphous polyester sheet is conducted through the nip of the opposed rollers, and as a result of the simultaneous milling and stretching of the polyester sheet, the amorphous polyester is transformed into crystalline polyester as a result of orientation-induced crystallization. The crystalline polyester sheet is heated above the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) immediately downstream of the nip defined between the pair of opposed rollers, and an exit bridle assembly is disposed downstream of the pair of opposed rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Signode Corporation
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Manuel C. Enriquez
  • Patent number: 5688536
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness and flatness characteristics for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of opposed milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Manuel C. Enriquez
  • Patent number: 5685473
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for controlling a fastener-driving tool comprises a workpiece-contacting element, a tool-controlling element movable conjointly with the workpiece-contacting element over a limited range, a spool defining having a threaded connection with the workpiece-contacting element and a swivel connection with the tool-controlling element and having axial ribs alternating with axial ribs, and a spool-restraining element movable along a radial line between a spool-restraining position and a spool-releasing position and biased toward the spool-restraining position. The spool-restraining member is arranged to restrain the spool against rotating at the swivel and threaded connections by projecting into any given one of the grooves, between the fibs nearest to the given one of the grooves, when the workpiece-contacting element is moved inwardly from an outer portion of the limited range but not when the workpiece-contacting element is within the outer portion of the limited range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Yury Shkolnikov, Donald L. Van Erden, Scott A. Howell
  • Patent number: 5660787
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness and flatness characteristics for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of opposed milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Manuel C. Enriquez
  • Patent number: 5649774
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for low cost thermal printing in a thermal printer having a software controlled thermal print head that moves in relation to a print ribbon disposed adjacent to a print area of a printed medium. The thermal print head is selectively energized to heat the print ribbon which deposits the ink onto the printed medium as the print head moves in relation to the print ribbon in a print stroke. The cost of printing is decreased by efficient use of the ink on the print ribbon. Between print strokes, the print ribbon is displaced an incremental interval to position an unused portion of the print ribbon for printing on the printed medium during a subsequent print stroke. The precise displacement of the print ribbon may be software controlled based on the detection of indices disposed at spaced intervals along the print ribbon which further increases the efficient usage of ink on the print ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Harding, Donald L. Van Erden, James W. Stone
  • Patent number: 5597640
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Signode Corporation
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Manuel C. Enriquez, Hans Weltekamper
  • Patent number: 5542508
    Abstract: A fluid free damper, comprising a spindle member; housing means mounted for relative eccentric rotation with respect to the spindle member; and engagement means interposed between the spindle member and the housing means for rotation along with one of the housing means and the spindle member with respect to the other one of the housing means and the spindle member so as to be deformably compressed between the spindle member and the housing means and thereby generate a resistive damping force between the housing means and the spindle member in response to the eccentric rotation of the one of the housing means and spindle member with respect to the other one of the housing means and the spindle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Jan Toczycki