Patents by Inventor Manuel C. Blanco

Manuel C. Blanco 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: 11310897
    Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosure provides for an ionized air blower that can be used to neutralize static charge on a target surface or provide a charge on the target surface. The ionized air blower may comprise a fan configured to generate airflow toward a target surface, an ionizer configured to produce positive ions and negative ions in the airflow, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to control one or both of a speed of the airflow from the blower and ionization of the airflow. The ionization is performed by a selected one of ion imbalanced mode or ion balanced mode of the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Gorczyca, Steven J. Mandrachia, Manuel C. Blanco, Richard D. Rodrigo
  • Publication number: 20200113036
    Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosure provides for an ionized air blower that can be used to neutralize static charge on a target surface or provide a charge on the target surface. The ionized air blower may comprise a fan configured to generate airflow toward a target surface, an ionizer configured to produce positive ions and negative ions in the airflow, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to control one or both of a speed of the airflow from the blower and ionization of the airflow. The ionization is performed by a selected one of ion imbalanced mode or ion balanced mode of the blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: John A. Gorczyca, Steven J. Mandrachia, Manuel C. Blanco, Richard D. Rodrigo
  • Patent number: 9356434
    Abstract: An ionization system includes a power supply and an ionizer. In a first operating state, properties of an output are set to fixed non-zero baseline levels, and in a second operating state, are set to neutralizing levels. The fixed baseline level is different than the neutralizing level for at least one of the properties. A downstream charge sensor measures an object charge. A controller switches the power supply between the first and second states during a sequence of alternating first and second time periods, during the first time period only, senses a current flow to the ionizer, during the second time period only, receives measured charge data from the sensor, during the second time period only, adjusts the neutralizing levels based on the charge data, and during the first or second time period, calculates an upstream object charge based on sensed current flow or determines a relative ionizer condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Gorczyca, Manuel C. Blanco, Steven J. Mandrachia
  • Publication number: 20160049774
    Abstract: An ionization system includes a power supply and an ionizer. In a first operating state, properties of an output are set to fixed non-zero baseline levels, and in a second operating state, are set to neutralizing levels. The fixed baseline level is different than the neutralizing level for at least one of the properties. A downstream charge sensor measures an object charge. A controller switches the power supply between the first and second states during a sequence of alternating first and second time periods, during the first time period only, senses a current flow to the ionizer, during the second time period only, receives measured charge data from the sensor, during the second time period only, adjusts the neutralizing levels based on the charge data, and during the first or second time period, calculates an upstream object charge based on sensed current flow or determines a relative ionizer condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: John A. GORCZYCA, Manuel C. BLANCO, Steven J. MANDRACHIA
  • Patent number: 8681470
    Abstract: A method for optimizing performance of a static neutralizing power supply coupled to a controller and configured to provide an output to at least one ionizer includes, (a) during a first time period, sensing a current flow to the at least one ionizer, and (b) comparing, in the controller, an expected current flow to the sensed current flow. A difference between the expected and sensed current flows is proportional to a charge on an object to be neutralized proximate the at least one ionizer. The method further includes (c) adjusting, by the controller and based on the comparison, one or more properties of the output to the at least one ionizer to neutralize the charge on the object during a second time period following the first time period, and (d) periodically repeating steps (a)-(c) for successive first and second time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Gorczyca, Manuel C. Blanco, Steven J. Mandrachia
  • Publication number: 20140054470
    Abstract: A method for optimizing performance of a static neutralizing power supply coupled to a controller and configured to provide an output to at least one ionizer includes, (a) during a first time period, sensing a current flow to the at least one ionizer, and (b) comparing, in the controller, an expected current flow to the sensed current flow. A difference between the expected and sensed current flows is proportional to a charge on an object to be neutralized proximate the at least one ionizer. The method further includes (c) adjusting, by the controller and based on the comparison, one or more properties of the output to the at least one ionizer to neutralize the charge on the object during a second time period following the first time period, and (d) periodically repeating steps (a)-(c) for successive first and second time periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: John A. GORCZYCA, Manuel C. BLANCO, Steven J. MANDRACHIA
  • Patent number: 8289673
    Abstract: A bipolar ionization apparatus includes a positive high voltage power supply having an output with at least one positive ion emitting electrode connected thereto and configured to generate positive ions. A negative high voltage power supply has an output with at least one negative ion emitting electrode connected thereto and is configured to generate negative ions. A controller for an ionizer outputs a positive high voltage ionization waveform and a negative high voltage ionization waveform. The controller simultaneously adjusts an amplitude and a duty cycle of each of the waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Gorczyca, Manuel C. Blanco, Steven J. Mandrachia
  • Patent number: 8039789
    Abstract: A method of determining a relative condition of an ionizer in an ionization system includes placing the ionization system in a calibration mode, stepping the ionization system through one or more of a range of adjustments, collecting calibration data at each step and storing the calibration data in a memory, placing the ionization system in an operating mode, collecting real-time data regarding an output of the ionization system, comparing the real-time data to the calibration data and determining difference values therebetween, and using the difference values to determine the relative condition of the ionizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Gorczyca, Manuel C. Blanco, Steven J. Mandrachia
  • Publication number: 20090127452
    Abstract: A method of determining a relative condition of an ionizer in an ionization system includes placing the ionization system in a calibration mode, stepping the ionization system through one or more of a range of adjustments, collecting calibration data at each step and storing the calibration data in a memory, placing the ionization system in an operating mode, collecting real-time data regarding an output of the ionization system, comparing the real-time data to the calibration data and determining difference values therebetween, and using the difference values to determine the relative condition of the ionizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Gorczyca, Manuel C. Blanco, Steven J. Mandrachia
  • Publication number: 20090128981
    Abstract: A bipolar ionization apparatus includes a positive high voltage power supply having an output with at least one positive ion emitting electrode connected thereto and configured to generate positive ions. A negative high voltage power supply has an output with at least one negative ion emitting electrode connected thereto and is configured to generate negative ions. A controller for an ionizer outputs a positive high voltage ionization waveform and a negative high voltage ionization waveform. The controller simultaneously adjusts an amplitude and a duty cycle of each of the waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: John A. Gorczyca, Manuel C. Blanco, Steven J. Mandrachia