Patents by Inventor Louis R. HEDTKE, JR.

Louis R. HEDTKE, JR. 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: 10603805
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: Esys Automation, LLC, 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Compton, Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Christopher J. Marcus, Mark R. Gabel
  • Publication number: 20180031438
    Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool and an arm control module. The tool is mechanically coupled to an arm and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The arm control module actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck of a cutting apparatus to receive a piece of non-segmented wheel weight material. A blade of a cutting apparatus passes between the edge of the deck and the leading edge of the tool to cut the piece from the non-segmented wheel weight material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Mark A. COMPTON, Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, David L. MCDOLE, John K. FUNCHEON, Mark R. GABEL, Benjamin D. BELKNAP
  • Patent number: 9784636
    Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool that is mechanically coupled to an arm. The tool includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The apparatus includes an arm control module that actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck to receive a wheel weight. The apparatus includes a cutting apparatus for separating the wheel weight from a supply feed of wheel weight material. The apparatus includes a sensor that detects presence or absence of the wheel weight on the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Esys Corporation
    Inventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, David L. McDole, John K. Funcheon, Mark R. Gabel, Benjamin D. Belknap
  • Publication number: 20170225347
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Mark A. COMPTON, Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Christopher J. MARCUS, Mark R. GABEL
  • Patent number: 9630335
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one module that receives a desired weight value to correct an imbalance of a wheel/tire assembly and converts the desired weight value to a corresponding weight amount of a wheel weight material; a roller disposed so as to be on a first side of the wheel weight material, a contact surface disposed so as to be on an opposing side of the wheel weight material, a forcing element that compresses the wheel weight material between the roller and the contact surface, a motor that drives the roller according to the weight amount, a blade selectively actuated to separate the weight amount from the wheel weight material, and either (i) a device that selectively adds a witness mark on the wheel weight material, and/or (ii) a diverter that selectively diverts the separated weight amount to a first location or a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: Esys Corporation, 3M Innovative Properties Co.
    Inventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, Christopher J. Marcus, Mark R. Gabel
  • Publication number: 20160193745
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Mark A. COMPTON, Christopher J. MARCUS, Mark R. GABEL
  • Patent number: 9290289
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, a forcing member, an implement, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value to correct an imbalance of a wheel/tire assembly. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a corresponding first amount of a wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of the wheel weight material. The motor drives the first roller according to the first amount. The forcing member presses the second roller in a first direction that forms an angle with an axis of the first roller. The implement selectively forms a mark on the wheel weight material. The cutting head is selectively actuated to separate the first amount from the wheel weight material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Esys Corporation, 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, Christopher J. Marcus, Mark R. Gabel
  • Publication number: 20150090032
    Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool and an arm control module. The tool is mechanically coupled to an arm and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The arm control module actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck of a cutting apparatus to receive a piece of non-segmented wheel weight material. A blade of a cutting apparatus passes between the edge of the deck and the leading edge of the tool to cut the piece from the non-segmented wheel weight material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Mark A. COMPTON, David L. MCDOLE, John K. FUNCHEON, Mark R. GABEL, Benjamin D. BELKNAP
  • Patent number: 8943940
    Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool and an arm control module. The tool is mechanically coupled to an arm and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The arm control module actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck of a cutting apparatus to receive a piece of non-segmented wheel weight material. A blade of a cutting apparatus passes between the edge of the deck and the leading edge of the tool to cut the piece from the non-segmented wheel weight material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Esys Corporation, 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Louis R. Hedtke, Jr., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, David L. McDole, John K. Funcheon, Mark R. Gabel, Ben D. Belknap
  • Publication number: 20140000432
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, a forcing member, an implement, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value to correct an imbalance of a wheel/tire assembly. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a corresponding first amount of a wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of the wheel weight material. The motor drives the first roller according to the first amount. The forcing member presses the second roller in a first direction that forms an angle with an axis of the first roller. The implement selectively forms a mark on the wheel weight material. The cutting head is selectively actuated to separate the first amount from the wheel weight material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicants: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, ESYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Mark A. COMPTON, Christopher J. MARCUS, Mark R. GABEL
  • Publication number: 20110283790
    Abstract: An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool and an arm control module. The tool is mechanically coupled to an arm and includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The arm control module actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck of a cutting apparatus to receive a piece of non-segmented wheel weight material. A blade of a cutting apparatus passes between the edge of the deck and the leading edge of the tool to cut the piece from the non-segmented wheel weight material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: ESYS Corporation
    Inventors: Louis R. Hedtke, JR., Matthew W. King, Scott R. Claxton, Mark A. Compton, Christopher J. Marcus
  • Publication number: 20100175522
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a receiving module, a conversion module, first and second rollers, a motor, and a cutting head. The receiving module receives a desired weight value. The conversion module converts the desired weight value to a first length of wheel weight material based on a linear density of the wheel weight material. The first and second rollers engage first and second opposing sides of a continuous strip of the wheel weight material. The linear density of the wheel weight material is approximately constant along the continuous strip. The motor directly drives the first roller based on the first length. The cutting head is selectively actuated to cut the wheel weight material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: ESYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis R. HEDTKE, JR., Matthew W. KING, Scott R. CLAXTON, Mark A. COMPTON, Christopher J. MARCUS