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).

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: 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