Patents by Inventor Joseph Albert Watkins

Joseph Albert Watkins 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).

  • Patent number: 5933657
    Abstract: A method for forming a film scroll and assembling the film scroll into a non-lighttight camera body begins in a darkroom by winding a filmstrip into a film feed roll from a filmstrip source, such as a stockroll onto a winding quill after attaching a formed leading portion thereto. According to the present invention, an outer end of the film feed roll is attached to a film spool of a film cartridge to form a prewound scroll and cartridge assembly for loading into respective chambers of the non-lighttight camera body section. A cover is then fixed to the camera body section to make the camera lighttight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph Albert Watkins, James Edmund Fredell, Duane Blair Kirk
  • Patent number: 5784938
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting a web, including a frame ((70, 186); a crank (188) mounted for rotation on the frame; an upper platen (210); a pair of linear guides (212) for the upper platen; a first crank arm (196) connected between the upper platen and the crank; a lower platen; second and third crank arms (218, 220) connected between the lower platen and the crank; an upper die shoe (262) mounted to the upper platen; a lower die shoe (260) mounted to the lower platen; a pair of linear guides (264) between the die shoes; and a system (287-290, 298-300) for rotating the crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph Albert Watkins, Thomas Allen Sisson
  • Patent number: 5709330
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting and moving a leading end of a web, including a frame (70, 186); a crank (188) mounted for rotation on the frame; an upper platen (210); a pair of linear guides (212) for the upper platen; a first crank arm (196) connected between the upper platen and the crank; a lower platen; second and third crank arms (218, 220) connected between the lower platen and the crank; an upper die shoe (262) mounted to the upper platen; a lower die shoe (260) mounted to the lower platen; a pair of linear guides (264) between the die shoes; a slide (96) mounted on the frame; a shuttle arm (98) mounted on the slide for movement between the die shoes; an actuator arm (114) pivotably connected to the shuttle arm; a vacuum head (88) pivotably mounted to the shuttle arm; a cam follower (144, 146) connected to pivot the vacuum head; a cam (148, 158) pivotably mounted to the frame for engaging the cam follower; a link (258) rigidly connected to the cam; a fourth crank arm (252) pivotably connected between the link a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph Albert Watkins, Thomas Allen Sisson
  • Patent number: 5659802
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) and methods are disclosed for loading a camera frame (100) for subsequent inclusion in a single-use camera, the camera frame including an exposure opening (102), a chamber (104) on one side of the exposure opening for receiving a light-tight film cartridge (18) enclosing a spool (19) to which is attached a trailing end of a filmstrip (36), and a chamber (108) on an opposite side of the exposure opening for receiving a scroll (268) formed from the filmstrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph Albert Watkins, Duane Blair Kirk
  • Patent number: 4048004
    Abstract: Apparatus for moving a tool such as an ultrasonic transducer into and out of engagement with a workpiece comprises actuating means including a piston and a toggle linkage between the piston and the tool. One end of the linkage is coupled to the tool, and the other end engages resilient means which yields after the tool first engages the workpiece and then moves resiliently toward its original position to maintain the tool in contact with the workpiece as yielding occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1977
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Joseph Albert Watkins