Patents by Inventor Douglas N. Duehring

Douglas N. Duehring 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).

  • Active center pivot device for controlling sheet tension and method of using same
    Patent number: 9309081
    Abstract: A device for controlling web tension is disclosed. The device includes a carriage in which a first guide roller is spaced from a second guide roller by a frame. The carriage or frame pivots about a pivot location. A moving web is threaded through the carriage in a serpentine path. Rotation of the carriage or frame causes web displacement. When tension disturbances occur in the moving web, the device rotates for accumulating or releasing the web material and thereby dampening tension variations downstream. The pivot dancer device can be placed in a communication with a controller for open loop control or closed loop feedback control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas N. Duehring, Mark G. Dollevoet, Jason M. Rudolph
  • Active Center Pivot Device For Controlling Sheet Tension and Method of Using Same
    Publication number: 20150102152
    Abstract: A device for controlling web tension is disclosed. The device includes a carriage in which a first guide roller is spaced from a second guide roller by a frame. The carriage or frame pivots about a pivot location. A moving web is threaded through the carriage in a serpentine path. Rotation of the carriage or frame causes web displacement. When tension disturbances occur in the moving web, the device rotates for accumulating or releasing the web material and thereby dampening tension variations downstream. The pivot dancer device can be placed in a communication with a controller for open loop control or closed loop feedback control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas N. Duehring, Mark G. Dollevoet, Jason M. Rudolph
  • Feedforward control system for an elastic material
    Patent number: 7047852
    Abstract: A process for providing feedforward control to control the feed rate of an elastic material. The process involves measuring the distance between registration marks on the elastic material prior to cut-off. These measurements are compared to a target cut length. The feed rate of a feed roll is adjusted, based on the target cut length and the distance between the registration marks, to maintain the cut length of the elastic material at the target cut length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Allan Franklin, Aaron Dee Schilpp, Douglas N. Duehring
  • Feedforward control system for an elastic material
    Publication number: 20030075029
    Abstract: A process for providing feedforward control to control the feed rate of an elastic material. The process involves measuring the distance between registration marks on the elastic material prior to cut-off. These measurements are compared to a target cut length. The feed rate of a feed roll is adjusted, based on the target cut length and the distance between the registration marks, to maintain the cut length of the elastic material at the target cut length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Kent Allan Franklin, Aaron Dee Schilpp, Douglas N. Duehring