Patents by Inventor Gerald Meador
Gerald Meador 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: 11731183Abstract: A turret head assembly for forming an article includes at least one smoothing roller. Each of the at least one smoothing roller is rotatably mounted on a respective at least one roller support member. The turret head assembly further includes an upper ring member and a lower ring member. The upper and lower ring members include respective apertures located in the centers thereof. The at least one roller support member extends between the upper ring member and the lower ring member. The turret head assembly further includes a turret head-assembly support member defining a turret-head axis. The turret-head-assembly member extends through the respective apertures in the upper and lower ring members.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: BELVAC PRODUCTION MACHINERY, INC.Inventors: Brian S. Gearhart, Erika Sheaffer Love, Gerald Meador
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Patent number: 11724302Abstract: An expansion tool for expanding an article. The expansion tool includes a lead-in portion extending outwardly from a first end of the expansion tool and a first pilot portion extending from the lead-in portion. The first pilot portion has a first diameter. The expansion tool further includes a second pilot portion being generally parallel with the first pilot portion. The second pilot portion has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The expansion tool further includes a forming portion bridging the first pilot portion and the second pilot portion. The forming portion is generally sloped. The expansion tool further includes an expansion portion extending from the second pilot portion toward a second end of the expansion tool. The expansion portion has a third diameter larger than the second diameter.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: BELVAC PRODUCTION MACHINERY, INC.Inventor: Gerald Meador
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Publication number: 20220203430Abstract: An expansion tool for expanding an article. The expansion tool includes a lead-in portion extending outwardly from a first end of the expansion tool and a first pilot portion extending from the lead-in portion. The first pilot portion has a first diameter. The expansion tool further includes a second pilot portion being generally parallel with the first pilot portion. The second pilot portion has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The expansion tool further includes a forming portion bridging the first pilot portion and the second pilot portion. The forming portion is generally sloped. The expansion tool further includes an expansion portion extending from the second pilot portion toward a second end of the expansion tool. The expansion portion has a third diameter larger than the second diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2022Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventor: Gerald Meador
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Patent number: 11253904Abstract: An expansion tool for expanding an article. The expansion tool includes a lead-in portion extending outwardly from a first end of the expansion tool and a first pilot portion extending from the lead-in portion. The first pilot portion has a first diameter. The expansion tool further includes a second pilot portion being generally parallel with the first pilot portion. The second pilot portion has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The expansion tool further includes a forming portion bridging the first pilot portion and the second pilot portion. The forming portion is generally sloped. The expansion tool further includes an expansion portion extending from the second pilot portion toward a second end of the expansion tool. The expansion portion has a third diameter larger than the second diameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2016Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: BELVAC PRODUCTION MACHINERY, INC.Inventor: Gerald Meador
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Publication number: 20190255593Abstract: A cam for use in trimming earing from an open end of an article following at least one forming process. The cam includes a cam profile for actuating a cam follower to which the article is coupled. The cam profile includes a generally sloped rising portion, a generally sloped retracting portion, and a working portion bridging the rising portion and the retracting portion. The working portion includes generally sloped sections separated by at least one recess or dwell.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2017Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Gerald Meador, Nageswara Rao Nagisetty
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Patent number: 10300521Abstract: An apparatus for forming a curl on an article includes a first forming tooling having a first set of rollers mounted on a common head. The first set of rollers has a respective groove having a first groove radius. The apparatus further includes a first rotating turret configured to load the article into the first forming tooling. The apparatus further includes a second forming tooling having a second set of rollers mounted on a common head. The second set of rollers has a respective groove having a second groove radius. The second groove radius is larger than the first groove radius. The apparatus further includes a second rotating turret configured to load the article into the second forming tooling. The apparatus further includes a first transfer star wheel configured to transfer the article from the first rotating turret to the second rotating turret.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: BELVAC PRODUCTION MACHINERY, INC.Inventor: Gerald Meador
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Publication number: 20180326469Abstract: A turret head assembly for forming an article includes at least one smoothing roller. Each of the at least one smoothing roller is rotatably mounted on a respective at least one roller support member. The turret head assembly further includes an upper ring member and a lower ring member. The upper and lower ring members include respective apertures located in the centers thereof. The at least one roller support member extends between the upper ring member and the lower ring member. The turret head assembly further includes a turret head-assembly support member defining a turret-head axis. The turret-head-assembly member extends through the respective apertures in the upper and lower ring members.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Brian S. Gearhart, Erika S. Love, Gerald Meador
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Publication number: 20180250728Abstract: An expansion tool for expanding an article. The expansion tool includes a lead-in portion extending outwardly from a first end of the expansion tool and a first pilot portion extending from the lead-in portion. The first pilot portion has a first diameter. The expansion tool further includes a second pilot portion being generally parallel with the first pilot portion. The second pilot portion has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The expansion tool further includes a forming portion bridging the first pilot portion and the second pilot portion. The forming portion is generally sloped. The expansion tool further includes an expansion portion extending from the second pilot portion toward a second end of the expansion tool. The expansion portion has a third diameter larger than the second diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2016Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventor: Gerald Meador
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Publication number: 20180133782Abstract: An apparatus for forming a curl on an article includes a first forming tooling having a first set of rollers mounted on a common head. The first set of rollers has a respective groove having a first groove radius. The apparatus further includes a first rotating turret configured to load the article into the first forming tooling. The apparatus further includes a second forming tooling having a second set of rollers mounted on a common head. The second set of rollers has a respective groove having a second groove radius. The second groove radius is larger than the first groove radius. The apparatus further includes a second rotating turret configured to load the article into the second forming tooling. The apparatus further includes a first transfer star wheel configured to transfer the article from the first rotating turret to the second rotating turret.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventor: Gerald Meador
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Patent number: D766721Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.Inventor: Gerald Meador