Patents by Inventor Gregory H. Butcher
Gregory H. Butcher 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: 11826809Abstract: A container, such as a beverage or food can is provided, which includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a bottom portion extending between the first and second sidewalls. The material of the bottom portion is stretched relative to the first sidewall and the second sidewall to form a thinned preselected profile, such as a dome. The material of the container at or about the dome has a substantially uniform thickness. The container is formed from a blank of material, which has a base gauge prior to being formed. After being formed, the blank of material of the container at or about the dome has a thickness less than the base gauge. Tooling having a clamp bead, or a progressive clamp bead, for selectively forming a blank of material into a container, as well as an associated method are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2019Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Aaron E. Carstens, James A. McClung, Patrick K. McCarty, Gregory H. Butcher
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Patent number: 11806772Abstract: A hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly for a can bodymaker is provided. The hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly is separate from the ram body. The outboard guide bearing assembly includes a carriage assembly and a number of elongated journals. The carriage assembly includes a ram coupling, a crank coupling, and body defining a number of journal passages. The ram body is coupled to a ram coupling. The crank coupling is structured to be coupled to a crank arm. Each journal extends through a carriage assembly body journal passage. In this configuration, the ram body may form a can body in a traditional manner, but fluid bearing assembly fluid is not applied to the ram body. Instead, the fluid bearing assembly fluid is applied to the journals.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Butcher, Aaron E. Carstens, Kenneth E. Carper, Russell Bauer, Ian Kenneth Scholey
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Patent number: 11731186Abstract: A container, such as a beverage or food can is provided, which includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a bottom portion extending between the first and second sidewalls. The material of the bottom portion is stretched relative to the first sidewall and the second sidewall to form a thinned preselected profile, such as a dome. The material of the container at or about the dome has a substantially uniform thickness. The container is formed from a blank of material, which has a base gauge prior to being formed. After being formed, the blank of material of the container at or about the dome has a thickness less than the base gauge. Tooling having a clamp bead, or a progressive clamp bead, for selectively forming a blank of material into a container, as well as an associated method are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Aaron E. Carstens, James A. McClung, Patrick K. McCarty, Gregory H. Butcher
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Patent number: 11633773Abstract: A domer station having a domer assembly, a housing assembly, and a stacked piston assembly is provided. The domer assembly is movably disposed within a domer body passage located in the housing assembly and structured to move between a forward, first position and a retracted, second position. The stacked piston assembly includes a plurality of pistons, preferably three pistons, disposed in series and a pressure supply. The pistons are disposed behind the domer in pressure chambers. The pistons have a constant pressure applied thereto and are biased towards the domer. The pistons are, however, each restrained by a stop and do not contact, or operatively engage, the domer when the domer is in the domer first position.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Butcher, James A. McClung, Paul L. Ripple
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Publication number: 20210402453Abstract: A domer station having a domer assembly, a housing assembly, and a stacked piston assembly is provided. The domer assembly is movably disposed within a domer body passage located in the housing assembly and structured to move between a forward, first position and a retracted, second position. The stacked piston assembly includes a plurality of pistons, preferably three pistons, disposed in series and a pressure supply. The pistons are disposed behind the domer in pressure chambers. The pistons have a constant pressure applied thereto and are biased towards the domer. The pistons are, however, each restrained by a stop and do not contact, or operatively engage, the domer when the domer is in the domer first position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Butcher, James A. McClung, Paul L. Ripple
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Publication number: 20210316353Abstract: A hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly for a can bodymaker is provided. The hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly is separate from the ram body. The outboard guide bearing assembly includes a carriage assembly and a number of elongated journals. The carriage assembly includes a ram coupling, a crank coupling, and body defining a number of journal passages. The ram body is coupled to a ram coupling. The crank coupling is structured to be coupled to a crank arm. Each journal extends through a carriage assembly body journal passage. In this configuration, the ram body may form a can body in a traditional manner, but fluid bearing assembly fluid is not applied to the ram body. Instead, the fluid bearing assembly fluid is applied to the journals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Butcher, Aaron E. Carstens, Kenneth E. Carper, Russell Bauer, Ian Kenneth Scholey
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Patent number: 11141771Abstract: A domer station having a domer assembly, a housing assembly, and a stacked piston assembly is provided. The domer assembly is movably disposed within a domer body passage located in the housing assembly and structured to move between a forward, first position and a retracted, second position. The stacked piston assembly includes a plurality of pistons, preferably three pistons, disposed in series and a pressure supply. The pistons are disposed behind the domer in pressure chambers. The pistons have a constant pressure applied thereto and are biased towards the domer. The pistons are, however, each restrained by a stop and do not contact, or operatively engage, the domer when the domer is in the domer first position.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Butcher, James A. McClung, Paul L. Ripple
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Patent number: 11077478Abstract: A hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly for a can bodymaker is provided. The hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly is separate from the ram body. The outboard guide bearing assembly includes a carriage assembly and a number of elongated journals. The carriage assembly includes a ram coupling, a crank coupling, and body defining a number of journal passages. The ram body is coupled to a ram coupling. The crank coupling is structured to be coupled to a crank arm. Each journal extends through a carriage assembly body journal passage. In this configuration, the ram body may form a can body in a traditional manner, but fluid bearing assembly fluid is not applied to the ram body. Instead, the fluid bearing assembly fluid is applied to the journals.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Butcher, Aaron E. Carstens, Kenneth E. Carper, Russell Bauer, Ian Kenneth Scholey
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Patent number: 10888913Abstract: A shell, a container employing the shell, and tooling and associated methods for forming the shell are provided. The shell includes a center panel, a circumferential chuck wall, an annular countersink between the center panel and the circumferential chuck wall, and a curl extending radially outwardly from the chuck wall. The material of at least one predetermined portion of the shell is selectively stretched relative to at least one other portion of the shell, thereby providing a corresponding thinned portion. The tooling includes a pressure concentrating forming surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Aaron E. Carstens, James A. McClung, Paul L. Ripple, Gregory H. Butcher, Patrick K. McCarty
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Patent number: 10814376Abstract: A can bodymaker ram assembly is provided. The ram assembly includes an elongated, generally hollow ram body and a tension assembly. The ram body includes a proximal end, a medial portion, and a distal end. The tension assembly includes an elongated support member. The tension assembly support member includes a proximal end and a distal end. The tension assembly support member is substantially disposed within the ram body with the tension assembly support member proximal end coupled to the ram body proximal end, and the tension assembly support member distal end coupled to one of the ram body medial portion or the ram body distal end.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Butcher, Aaron E. Carstens, Kenneth E. Carper, Russell Bauer
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Patent number: 10695818Abstract: A shell, a container employing the shell, and tooling and associated methods for forming the shell are provided. The shell includes a center panel, a circumferential chuck wall, an annular countersink between the center panel and the circumferential chuck wall, and a curl extending radially outwardly from the chuck wall. The material of at least one predetermined portion of the shell is selectively stretched relative to at least one other portion of the shell, thereby providing a corresponding thinned portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: James A. McClung, Aaron E. Carstens, Gregory H. Butcher, Paul L. Ripple
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Publication number: 20200156136Abstract: A can bodymaker includes a housing assembly, a drive mechanism, a ram assembly, a domer assembly, and a ram body dampening assembly. The ram assembly includes an elongated ram body. The drive mechanism is operatively coupled to the ram assembly so that the drive mechanism imparts a reciprocating motion to the ram body. The ram body dampening assembly is disposed adjacent the ram body path of travel. The ram body dampening assembly includes a housing and a dampening member. The dampening member is disposed immediately adjacent the ram body path of travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Applicant: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Butcher, Aaron E. Carstens, lan Kenneth Scholey, Daniel A. Jansen
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Publication number: 20200147665Abstract: A container, such as a beverage or food can is provided, which includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a bottom portion extending between the first and second sidewalls. The material of the bottom portion is stretched relative to the first sidewall and the second sidewall to form a thinned preselected profile, such as a dome. The material of the container at or about the dome has a substantially uniform thickness. The container is formed from a blank of material, which has a base gauge prior to being formed. After being formed, the blank of material of the container at or about the dome has a thickness less than the base gauge. Tooling having a clamp bead, or a progressive clamp bead, for selectively forming a blank of material into a container, as well as an associated method are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2019Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Aaron E. Carstens, James A. McClung, Patrick K. McCarty, Gregory H. Butcher
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Publication number: 20200102116Abstract: A can closure includes a body with a center panel and a peripheral curl. The can closure body has one of a reduced panel depth, a very reduced panel depth, an extremely reduced panel depth, or a beverage can reduced panel depth.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Applicant: Butcher Design, LLCInventor: GREGORY H. BUTCHER
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Patent number: 10589334Abstract: A can bodymaker includes a housing assembly, a drive mechanism, a ram assembly, a domer assembly, and a ram body dampening assembly. The ram assembly includes an elongated ram body. The drive mechanism is operatively coupled to the ram assembly so that the drive mechanism imparts a reciprocating motion to the ram body. The ram body dampening assembly is disposed adjacent the ram body path of travel. The ram body dampening assembly includes a housing and a dampening member. The dampening member is disposed immediately adjacent the ram body path of travel.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Gregory H. Butcher, Aaron E. Carstens, Ian Kenneth Scholey, Daniel A. Jansen
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Patent number: 10525519Abstract: A container, such as a beverage or food can is provided, which includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a bottom portion extending between the first and second sidewalls. The material of the bottom portion is stretched relative to the first sidewall and the second sidewall to form a thinned preselected profile, such as a dome. The material of the container at or about the dome has a substantially uniform thickness. The container is formed from a blank of material, which has a base gauge prior to being formed. After being formed, the blank of material of the container at or about the dome has a thickness less than the base gauge. Tooling having a clamp bead, or a progressive clamp bead, for selectively forming a blank of material into a container, as well as an associated method are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventors: Aaron E. Carstens, James A. McClung, Paul L. Ripple, Gregory H. Butcher
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Publication number: 20190389626Abstract: A disposable container includes a single headed can body, a closure coupled to the can body and a cradle. The single headed can body includes a generally convex base and a generally cylindrical sidewall defining an open end. The can body convex base and can body sidewall are unitary. The closure is coupled to the can body open end. The disposable cradle is coupled to the can body convex base.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Applicant: Butcher Design, LLCInventor: Gregory H. Butcher
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Patent number: 10384830Abstract: A tab is provided, which includes a body having first and second opposing ends, a nose portion disposed at or about the first end of the body, a lift portion disposed at or about the second end of the body of the tab, and a rivet receiving portion disposed proximate the nose portion. The rivet receiving portion includes a generally planar portion, a rivet hole having a perimeter, and an upturned portion extending upwardly from the generally planar portion about the perimeter of the rivet hole. The upturned portion reinforces the rivet hole and has an arcuate cross section profile. An integral rivet extends through the rivet hole and is staked to affix the tab to a can end. The upturned portion is devoid of any corners or edges both before and after the integral rivet is staked.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: STOLLE MACHINERY COMPANY, LLCInventors: Mark Richard Mitchell, Craig Allen McEldowney, Robert H. Brussell, Gregory H. Butcher
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Patent number: D880303Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventor: Gregory H. Butcher
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Patent number: D881014Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventor: Gregory H. Butcher