Patents by Inventor Gary William Schukar
Gary William Schukar 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: 7569081Abstract: A method is provided for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting involves transporting, with use of a movable vacuum, an end portion of the membrane web from a first location to a second location. With use of respective first and second vacuums at the first and second locations, and after removal of the movable vacuum, the end portion of the membrane web is releasably secured at the first and second locations. The membrane web is cut within a gap defined between a single catalyst pattern of the membrane web end portion and an adjacent catalyst pattern to produce a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is precisely positioned to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2004Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar, Mark Hyland Smith, Steven Mark Spicer
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Patent number: 7018500Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for singulating thin and substantially porous material layers arranged in a stack. A pick head is positioned above the stack of material layers. An adhesive tape is stabilized against the pick head through use of a vacuum between the adhesive tape and the pick head. Contact is effected between the stabilized adhesive tape and the top material layer. The pick head is moved to move the top material layer from the stack to a predetermined location. While at the predetermined location, the adhesive tape is detached from the top material layer. The singulation apparatus and method are particularly well suited for destacking individual porous fluid transport layers (FTLs) from a magazine of FTLs during automated fuel cell assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2004Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Warren David Eaton, Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar
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Apparatus and method for converting a fuel cell membrane web to precisely positioned membrane sheets
Publication number: 20040168305Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting involves transporting, with use of a movable vacuum, an end portion of the membrane web from a first location to a second location. With use of respective first and second vacuums at the first and second locations, and after removal of the movable vacuum, the end portion of the membrane web is releasably secured at the first and second locations. The membrane web is cut within a gap defined between a single catalyst pattern of the membrane web end portion and an adjacent catalyst pattern to produce a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is precisely positioned to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2004Publication date: September 2, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar, Mark Hyland Smith, Steven Mark Spicer -
Patent number: 6756146Abstract: Stacking porous and non-porous material layers involves applying vacuum to a first porous layer to stabilize same relative to a support structure. The support structure and/or a non-porous layer are moved to establish contact between the non-porous layer and the first porous layer. The first porous and non-porous layers define a sub-assembly. While applying vacuum to the sub-assembly, one or both of the support structure and a second layer are moved to establish contact between the second layer and the non-porous layer. Vacuum applied to the sub-assembly maintains positional stability of the sub-assembly layers relative to the support structure while the second layer is moved into contact with the non-porous layer. Vacuum is subsequently removed to facilitate transporting of the material layer stack. Material layers of a fuel cell, including first and second fluid transport layers and a membrane, are well suited for automated stacking.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: John Russell Mlinar, Gary William Schukar
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Patent number: 6740131Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting involves transporting, with use of a movable vacuum, an end portion of the membrane web from a first location to a second location. With use of respective first and second vacuums at the first and second locations, and after removal of the movable vacuum, the end portion of the membrane web is releasably secured at the first and second locations. The membrane web is cut within a gap defined between a single catalyst pattern of the membrane web end portion and an adjacent catalyst pattern to produce a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is precisely positioned to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2002Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar, Mark Hyland Smith, Steven Mark Spicer
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Publication number: 20030188413Abstract: Stacking porous and non-porous material layers involves applying vacuum to a first porous layer to stabilize same relative to a support structure. The support structure and/or a non-porous layer are moved to establish contact between the non-porous layer and the first porous layer. The first porous and non-porous layers define a sub-assembly. While applying vacuum to the sub-assembly, one or both of the support structure and a second layer are moved to establish contact between the second layer and the non-porous layer. Vacuum applied to the sub-assembly maintains positional stability of the sub-assembly layers relative to the support structure while the second layer is moved into contact with the non-porous layer. Vacuum is subsequently removed to facilitate transporting of the material layer stack. Material layers of a fuel cell, including first and second fluid transport layers and a membrane, are well suited for automated stacking.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2002Publication date: October 9, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: John Russell Mlinar, Gary William Schukar
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Apparatus and method for converting a fuel cell membrane web to precisely positioned membrane sheets
Publication number: 20030190521Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for automated converting of a web of a thin patterned catalyst-coated membrane to separate membrane sheets for fuel cell assembly. The membrane typically has a thickness of about one thousandth of an inch. Automated web converting involves transporting, with use of a movable vacuum, an end portion of the membrane web from a first location to a second location. With use of respective first and second vacuums at the first and second locations, and after removal of the movable vacuum, the end portion of the membrane web is releasably secured at the first and second locations. The membrane web is cut within a gap defined between a single catalyst pattern of the membrane web end portion and an adjacent catalyst pattern to produce a membrane sheet. The membrane sheet is precisely positioned to a desired orientation to facilitate subsequent processing of the membrane sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2002Publication date: October 9, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar, Mark Hyland Smith, Steven Mark Spicer -
Publication number: 20030190226Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for singulating thin and substantially porous material layers arranged in a stack. A pick head is positioned above the stack of material layers. An adhesive tape is stabilized against the pick head through use of a vacuum between the adhesive tape and the pick head. Contact is effected between the stabilized adhesive tape and the top material layer. The pick head is moved to move the top material layer from the stack to a predetermined location. While at the predetermined location, the adhesive tape is detached from the top material layer. The singulation apparatus and method are particularly well suited for destacking individual porous fluid transport layers (FTLs) from a magazine of FTLs during automated fuel cell assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2002Publication date: October 9, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Warren David Eaton, Gary William Schukar, John Russell Mlinar