Patents by Inventor Jeff Kaetterhenry
Jeff Kaetterhenry 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: 8677916Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine is provided with a common drive that drives the needles and loopers. It may also drive the presser foot assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, a drive motor drives a rotating drive shaft. The drive shaft has an off-center drive assembly connected to it that rocks a needle rocker shaft as well as looper rocker shafts, and also a presser foot shaft. The off-center drive includes a pair of eccentrics on the drive shaft at each side of the machine. Each eccentric oscillates a linkage plate that is fixed to a shaft such as the needle rocker shaft and is also linked to the looper rocker shafts and the presser foot shaft. The eccentric thereby reciprocates the needles and oscillates the loopers, as well as reciprocates the presser foot plate, in permanent synchronization.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff A. Kaetterhenry
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Publication number: 20120234147Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and slitting soft goods has multiple slitting systems with respective slitting blades mounted on a cross rail. A slitting blade positioning system is movable parallel with the cross rail and operable to move slitting systems along the cross rail. A material feed motor is connected to a feed roller and operable to move the soft goods past the slitting system. A control is first operable to cause the slitting blade positioning system to move identified slitting systems to desired positions on the cross rail. Thereafter, the control operates a drive shaft motor to rotate slitting blades mounted on the drive shaft and the material feed motor, thereby moving the soft goods past the slitting blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANYInventors: Terrance L. Myers, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Ivan Habek, Stjepan Vadlja
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Patent number: 8210079Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and slitting soft goods has multiple slitting systems with respective slitting blades mounted on a cross rail. A slitting blade positioning system is movable parallel with the cross rail and operable to move slitting systems along the cross rail. A material feed motor is connected to a feed roller and operable to move the soft goods past the slitting system. A control is first operable to cause the slitting blade positioning system to move identified slitting systems to desired positions on the cross rail. Thereafter, the control operates a drive shaft motor to rotate slitting blades mounted on the drive shaft and the material feed motor, thereby moving the soft goods past the slitting blades.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Terrance L. Myers, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Ivan Habek, Stjepan Vadlja
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Publication number: 20120097083Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine is provided with a common drive that drives the needles and loopers. It may also drive the presser foot assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, a drive motor drives a rotating drive shaft. The drive shaft has an off-center drive assembly connected to it that rocks a needle rocker shaft as well as looper rocker shafts, and also a presser foot shaft. The off-center drive includes a pair of eccentrics on the drive shaft at each side of the machine. Each eccentric oscillates a linkage plate that is fixed to a shaft such as the needle rocker shaft and is also linked to the looper rocker shafts and the presser foot shaft. The eccentric thereby reciprocates the needles and oscillates the loopers, as well as reciprocates the presser foot plate, in permanent synchronization.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANYInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff A. Kaetterhenry
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Patent number: 8061288Abstract: A multi-needle chain-stitch quilting machine and method of operation thereof are provided that imparts relative motion between the needles and the material that is controlled so as to pull needle thread tails from the needle side of the quilted material. The feature of controlling thread tails may be optional to provide selection of either a high speed mode of operation without thread tail control or a quality mode of operation with reduction or removal of needle thread tails from the face of the quilted material. Thread trimmers may be included at each needle location on the looper side of the material to cut both needle and looper threads.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2009Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff Kaetterhenry
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Patent number: 7918170Abstract: A quilting machine has at least one needle and looper set for forming chain-stitched patterns on a thick multilayered material such as a mattress ticking, preferably a panel of the continuous web clamped stationary on a frame. The stitch forming elements are mounted on separate heads that move independently transversely relative to the panel on a bridge that moves longitudinally relative to the panel. The bridge is longitudinally moved by a servo and the heads are transversely moved on the bridge by separate linear servos. The needle and looper are each driven by a linear servo having an armature to which the element is directly fixed to reciprocate without intervening mechanical linkage assemblies. A controller drives the servos to chain-stitch patterns, differentially move the heads transversely to account for transverse needle deflection and to phase the needle and looper to compensate for longitudinal needle deflection.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2002Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Terrance L. Myers, James Bondanza, Roland Bulnes, Jeff Kaetterhenry, James T. Frazer, Glenn E. Leavis
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Patent number: 7789028Abstract: A chain-stitch multi-needle quilting machine and method provide for driving needles and loopers independently or out of phase, particularly during the starting of stitching sequences. Separate drive motors drive needles separately from their loopers. Alternatively, a single motor drives needles and loopers linked through a differential drive or variably-controllable linkage. At the beginning of a stitch sequence, needles and loopers are separately driven in a split start manner by which stitches can be reliably formed by advancing the loopers ahead of the needles so the looper enters a needle thread loop before the needle enters a looper thread loop. Then the needle and looper can be brought into phase later in the first stitch cycle. The split drive can solve other stitch or thread control problems.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael James, Jeff Kaetterhenry, David Brian Scott
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Publication number: 20100218658Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and slitting soft goods has multiple slitting systems with respective slitting blades mounted on a cross rail. A slitting blade positioning system is movable parallel with the cross rail and operable to move slitting systems along the cross rail. A material feed motor is connected to a feed roller and operable to move the soft goods past the slitting system. A control is first operable to cause the slitting blade positioning system to move identified slitting systems to desired positions on the cross rail. Thereafter, the control operates a drive shaft motor to rotate slitting blades mounted on the drive shaft and the material feed motor, thereby moving the soft goods past the slitting blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANYInventors: Terrance L. Myers, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Ivan Habek, Stjepan Vadlja
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Publication number: 20090199752Abstract: A multi-needle chain-stitch quilting machine and method of operation thereof are provided that imparts relative motion between the needles and the material that is controlled so as to pull needle thread tails from the needle side of the quilted material. The feature of controlling thread tails may be optional to provide selection of either a high speed mode of operation without thread tail control or a quality mode of operation with reduction or removal of needle thread tails from the face of the quilted material. Thread trimmers may be included at each needle location on the looper side of the material to cut both needle and looper threads.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2009Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANYInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff Kaetterhenry
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Publication number: 20090071305Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and slitting soft goods has multiple slitting systems with respective slitting blades mounted on a cross rail. A slitting blade positioning system is movable parallel with the cross rail and operable to move slitting systems along the cross rail. A material feed motor is connected to a feed roller and operable to move the soft goods past the slitting system. A control is first operable to cause the slitting blade positioning system to successively move slitting systems to desired positions on the cross rail. Thereafter, the control operates a slitting blade motor to rotate slitting blades and the material feed motor, thereby moving the soft goods past the slitting blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANYInventors: Terrance L. Myers, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Ivan Habek, Stjepan Vadlja
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Publication number: 20070261620Abstract: A chain-stitch quilting machine and method provide for driving the needles and loopers independently or out of phase, and particularly during the starting of a stitching sequences. Separate drive motors, for example, servo motors, drive a needles separately from the corresponding loopers, or alternatively, a single motor drives needles and loopers that are linked through a differential drive or variably-controllable linkage to move differently, for example, shifting the phase of the needles relative to the loopers. The feature is useful at the beginning of a stitch sequence, by driving the needles and loopers separately in a split start manner. The first stitches can be reliably formed by, for example, advancing the looper ahead of the needle to insure the looper enters a needle thread loop before the needle enters a looper thread loop at the beginning of a stitch chain. Then the needle and looper can be brought into phase late in the first stitch cycle and sew in a predictable fashion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2007Publication date: November 15, 2007Applicant: L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANYInventors: Michael James, Jeff Kaetterhenry, David Scott
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Patent number: 7191718Abstract: A quilting machine has at least one needle and looper set for forming chain-stitched patterns on a thick multilayered material such as a mattress ticking, preferably a panel of the continuous web clamped stationary on a frame. The stitch forming elements are mounted on separate heads that move independently transversely relative to the panel on a bridge that moves longitudinally relative to the panel. The bridge is longitudinally moved by a servo and the heads are transversely moved on the bridge by separate linear servos. The needle and looper are each driven by a linear servo having an armature to which the element is directly fixed to reciprocate without intervening mechanical linkage assemblies. A controller drives the servos to chain-stitch patterns, differentially move the heads transversely to account for transverse needle deflection and to phase the needle and looper to compensate for longitudinal needle deflection.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2000Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Terrance L. Myers, James Bondanza, Roland Bulnes, Jeff Kaetterhenry, James T. Frazer, Glenn E. Leavis
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Patent number: 7143705Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method in which provided bridges (21,22) are provided having selectively operable stitching element pairs (90). Either the material or the bridges or both may be moved relative to the frame. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132), with a wide spacing for material passage between the needle and looper plates. Combinations of intermittent and continuous feed and feed transition are employed during tack sequence sewing and other direction reversals in sewing, as well as double needle guards and thread deflection.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: L & P Property Management CompanyInventors: James T. Frazer, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Michael A. James, Terrance L. Myers, Roland Keller, David Brian Scott
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Patent number: 7073453Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method are provided, in most embodiments of which needles (132) reciprocate horizontally through material (12) supported in a vertical quilting plane (16). Two or more bridges (21,22) are provided having separate motion control. Each bridge (21,22) has a row of selectively operable stitching element pairs (90), which may be fixed to or transversely moveable on the bridges (21,22). Either the material or the bridges may be moved relative to the frame. The bridges (21,22) each move transversely and vertically with the stitching elements (90) on each bridge can operate at different speeds. Each of the needle drives (25) and, in some embodiments the looper drives (26), can be selectively activated and deactivated. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132).Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: James T. Frazer, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Michael A. James, Terrance L. Myers, Richard Villacis, Roland Keller, David Brian Scott
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Publication number: 20050178307Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method in which provided bridges (21,22) are provided having selectively operable stitching element pairs (90). Either the material or the bridges or both may be moved relative to the frame. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132), with a wide spacing for material passage between the needle and looper plates. Combinations of intermittent and continuous feed and feed transition are employed during tack sequence sewing and other direction reversals in sewing, as well as double needle guards and thread deflection.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2005Publication date: August 18, 2005Inventors: James Frazer, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Michael James, Terrance Myers, Richard Villacis, Roland Keller, David Scott
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Publication number: 20040237864Abstract: A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method are provided, in most embodiments of which needles (132) reciprocate horizontally through material (12) supported in a vertical quilting plane (16). Two or more bridges (21,22) are provided having separate motion control. Each bridge (21,22) has a row of selectively operable stitching element pairs (90), which may be fixed to or transversely moveable on the bridges (21,22). Either the material or the bridges may be moved relative to the frame. The bridges (21,22) each move transversely and vertically with the stitching elements (90) on each bridge can operate at different speeds. Each of the needle drives (25) and, in some embodiments the looper drives (26), can be selectively activated and deactivated. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: James T. Frazer, Jeff Kaetterhenry, Michael A. James, Terrance L. Myers, Richard Villacis, Roland Keller, David Brian Scott
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Patent number: 6786164Abstract: A modular material supply system for an automated quilting machine having a variety of fill material supply devices, a cover material tick magazine, a fill laminator, and optionally a digital printer. The system is capable of selecting the desired cover and fill materials and supplying them continuously to a laminator to form a layered material, which is then fed to the quilting machine. The flexibility of the modular system reduces the need for system downtime to changeover component materials for producing different quilted products.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: L & P Property Management CompanyInventors: Terrance L. Myers, Jeff A. Kaetterhenry
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Patent number: 6736078Abstract: An apparatus is provided for feeding and slitting mattress covers, quilts and other soft goods supported on a table. The apparatus has a first slitting wheel rotatable by a motor. A second slitting wheel is rotatable by the motor and contacts the first slitting wheel to provide a cutting action. The apparatus further includes upper and lower conveyors operable by the motor for conveying the soft goods past the slitting wheels. The upper conveyor is resiliently vertically movable and applies a compression force against the soft goods as they are moved between the upper and lower conveyors and past the slitting wheels.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Jeff Kaetterhenry, Richard Villacis
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Patent number: RE44885Abstract: A multi-needle chain-stitch quilting machine and method of operation thereof are provided that imparts relative motion between the needles and the material that is controlled so as to pull needle thread tails from the needle side of the quilted material. The feature of controlling thread tails may be optional to provide selection of either a high speed mode of operation without thread tail control or a quality mode of operation with reduction or removal of needle thread tails from the face of the quilted material. Thread trimmers may be included at each needle location on the looper side of the material to cut both needle and looper threads.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff Kaetterhenry
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Patent number: RE45791Abstract: A multi-needle chain-stitch quilting machine and method of operation thereof are provided that imparts relative motion between the needles and the material that is controlled so as to pull needle thread tails from the needle side of the quilted material. The feature of controlling thread tails may be optional to provide selection of either a high speed mode of operation without thread tail control or a quality mode of operation with reduction or removal of needle thread tails from the face of the quilted material. Thread trimmers may be included at each needle location on the looper side of the material to cut both needle and looper threads.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: L&P Property Management CompanyInventors: Michael A. James, Jeff Kaetterhenry, James T. Frazer, Terrance L. Myers