Patents by Inventor Mark F. Gerrits

Mark F. Gerrits 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: 10760214
    Abstract: A method of producing a paper product by forming a paper web on a paper machine, the web including a plurality of sections, analyzing the web, marking the web, winding the web to form a parent roll after the web has been inspected and marked, assigning an action score to each section of the web, at least one action score having an action value, unwinding a web from a parent roll, reading at least one of a plurality of marks with a mark reading unit, obtaining the action score associated with a second one of the marks, calculating a distance between a mark read by the reading unit and the second one of the marks, changing at least one operational parameter of a converting line based upon the action score of the second of the marks when the distance is less than a threshold, and converting the paper web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Patent number: 10435840
    Abstract: A method of controlling a converting line that produces a paper product. The method includes unwinding a paper web from a parent roll on a converting line having a plurality of operational parameters. The paper web includes a plurality of sections and a plurality of marks, with at least one mark assigned to each of the plurality of sections and each mark associated with a paper rating. At least one of the plurality of marks is read with a mark reading unit. The paper rating associated with the at least one mark read by the reading unit is obtained. At least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the obtained paper rating is changed. The paper web is converted into a paper product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Patent number: 10435839
    Abstract: A paper web includes a surface having a plurality of sections. At least one section of the plurality of sections has a plurality of positions. The plurality of positions each has an equal length and is obtained by subdividing the at least one section. The paper web also includes ink applied to the surface of the paper web at some of the plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Patent number: 10214857
    Abstract: A method of controlling a paper product converting line. The method includes unwinding a paper web from a parent roll on a converting line, the converting line having a plurality of operational parameters, the paper web including a plurality of sections in a sequence, and a plurality of marks, each mark being associated with an action score, at least one action score having an action value, reading at least one of the marks, obtaining the action score associated with a second one of the marks, the second of the marks being a next mark with an action value after the one read mark, calculating a distance between the at least one read mark and the second one, changing at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the action score, and converting the paper web into a paper product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20190024315
    Abstract: A method of producing a paper product by forming a paper web on a paper machine, the web including a plurality of sections, analyzing the web, marking the web, winding the web to form a parent roll after the web has been inspected and marked, assigning an action score to each section of the web, at least one action score having an action value, unwinding a web from a parent roll, reading at least one of a plurality of marks with a mark reading unit, obtaining the action score associated with a second one of the marks, calculating a distance between a mark read by the reading unit and the second one of the marks, changing at least one operational parameter of a converting line based upon the action score of the second of the marks when the distance is less than a threshold, and converting the paper web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Patent number: 10119225
    Abstract: A system for producing a paper product. The system includes a paper machine, an analysis tool, and a converting line. The paper machine forms a paper web having a plurality of sections, inspects the paper web to identify web properties, and marks the paper web with a plurality of marks. The analysis tool assigns action scores to each section of the paper web based upon the identified properties that section of the paper web. The converting line reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web, obtains the action score associated with a second one of the plurality of marks, calculates a distance between the at least one mark read by the reading unit and the second one of the plurality of marks, and changes at least one operational parameter of the converting line when the calculated distance is less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20180223477
    Abstract: A method of controlling a paper product converting line. The method includes unwinding a paper web from a parent roll on a converting line, the converting line having a plurality of operational parameters, the paper web including a plurality of sections in a sequence, and a plurality of marks, each mark being associated with an action score, at least one action score having an action value, reading at least one of the marks, obtaining the action score associated with a second one of the marks, the second of the marks being a next mark with an action value after the one read mark, calculating a distance between the at least one read mark and the second one, changing at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the action score, and converting the paper web into a paper product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20180187373
    Abstract: A method of controlling a converting line that produces a paper product. The method includes unwinding a paper web from a parent roll on a converting line having a plurality of operational parameters. The paper web includes a plurality of sections and a plurality of marks, with at least one mark assigned to each of the plurality of sections and each mark associated with a paper rating. At least one of the plurality of marks is read with a mark reading unit. The paper rating associated with the at least one mark read by the reading unit is obtained. At least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the obtained paper rating is changed. The paper web is converted into a paper product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Patent number: 9963827
    Abstract: A converting line for producing a paper product. The converting line includes a paper web being unwound from a parent roll. The paper web has a plurality of sections with at least one mark, associated with an action score, assigned to each of the plurality of sections. The converting line also includes a mark reading unit, which reads one of the plurality of marks on the paper web. The converting line further includes a controller configured to obtain the action score associated with a second one of the plurality of marks; to calculate a distance between the one mark read by the reading unit and the second one of the plurality of marks; and to change at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the action score of the second one of the plurality of marks when the calculated distance is less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Patent number: 9951472
    Abstract: A converting line for producing a paper product. The converting line includes a paper web being unwound from a parent roll. The paper web has a plurality of sections with at least one mark having a paper rating assigned to each of the plurality of sections. The converting line also includes a mark reading unit that reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web and produces a corresponding output. The converting line includes a controller that receives the output from the mark reading unit, and is configured: (i) to obtain the paper rating associated with the at least one mark read by the reading unit, and (ii) to change at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the paper rating. The converting line also includes a finisher. The paper web is fed to the finisher and converted into a paper product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20180058007
    Abstract: A paper web includes a surface having a plurality of sections. At least one section of the plurality of sections has a plurality of positions. The plurality of positions each has an equal length and is obtained by subdividing the at least one section. The paper web also includes ink applied to the surface of the paper web at some of the plurality of positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Patent number: 9845574
    Abstract: A paper web and a method of marking a paper web. The paper web includes a surface having a plurality of sections. At least one section of the plurality of sections has a plurality of positions. The plurality of positions each have an equal length and are obtained by subdividing the at least one section. The paper web also includes ink applied to the surface of the paper web at some of the plurality of positions. The method includes applying a first mark and a second mark to a paper web. The first mark has a start position and is coded to convey an identifier for the paper web. The second mark includes a start position and is coded to indicate a position on the paper web. The start position of the second mark is a predetermined distance after the start position of the first mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Patent number: 9771686
    Abstract: A method of producing a paper product. A paper web is formed on a paper machine. The paper web has a plurality of sections. The web is analyzed to perform at least one of inspecting and identifying properties. The web is marked with a plurality of marks. At least one mark is marked at each of the plurality of sections. Thereafter, the web is wound with a winder to form a parent roll. A paper rating is assigned to each section based upon properties in that section that are identified. The web is unwound from the parent roll on a converting line having a plurality of operational parameters. At least one of the plurality of marks is read with a mark reading unit. The paper rating associated with the at least one mark is obtained. At least one operational parameter of the converting line is changed based upon the rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20160362839
    Abstract: A method of producing a paper product. A paper web is formed on a paper machine. The paper web has a plurality of sections. The web is analyzed to perform at least one of inspecting and identifying properties. The web is marked with a plurality of marks. At least one mark is marked at each of the plurality of sections. Thereafter, the web is wound with a winder to form a parent roll. A paper rating is assigned to each section based upon properties in that section that are identified. The web is unwound from the parent roll on a converting line having a plurality of operational parameters. At least one of the plurality of marks is read with a mark reading unit. The paper rating associated with the at least one mark is obtained. At least one operational parameter of the converting line is changed based upon the rating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Patent number: 9518362
    Abstract: A system for producing a paper product. The system includes a paper machine, an analysis tool, and a converting line. The paper machine forms a paper web having a plurality of sections, inspects the paper web to identify properties, and marks the paper web with a plurality of marks, at least one mark being assigned to each of the plurality of sections. The analysis tool assigns a paper rating to each section of the paper web based upon the identified properties in that section of the paper web. The converting line has a plurality of operational parameters and converts the paper web into the paper product. The converting line reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web, obtains the paper rating associated with the mark read, and changes at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the paper rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20150292155
    Abstract: A converting line for producing a paper product. The converting line includes a paper web being unwound from a parent roll. The paper web has a plurality of sections with at least one mark having a paper rating assigned to each of the plurality of sections. The converting line also includes a mark reading unit that reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web and produces a corresponding output. The converting line includes a controller that receives the output from the mark reading unit, and is configured: (i) to obtain the paper rating associated with the at least one mark read by the reading unit, and (ii) to change at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the paper rating. The converting line also includes a finisher. The paper web is fed to the finisher and converted into a paper product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20150292156
    Abstract: A system for producing a paper product. The system includes a paper machine, an analysis tool, and a converting line. The paper machine forms a paper web having a plurality of sections, inspects the paper web to identify properties, and marks the paper web with a plurality of marks, at least one mark being assigned to each of the plurality of sections. The analysis tool assigns a paper rating to each section of the paper web based upon the identified properties in that section of the paper web. The converting line has a plurality of operational parameters and converts the paper web into the paper product. The converting line reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web, obtains the paper rating associated with the mark read, and changes at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the paper rating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20150292161
    Abstract: A paper web and a method of marking a paper web. The paper web includes a surface having a plurality of sections. At least one section of the plurality of sections has a plurality of positions. The plurality of positions each have an equal length and are obtained by subdividing the at least one section. The paper web also includes ink applied to the surface of the paper web at some of the plurality of positions. The method includes applying a first mark and a second mark to a paper web. The first mark has a start position and is coded to convey an identifier for the paper web. The second mark includes a start position and is coded to indicate a position on the paper web. The start position of the second mark is a predetermined distance after the start position of the first mark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20150292162
    Abstract: A converting line for producing a paper product. The converting line includes a paper web being unwound from a parent roll. The paper web has a plurality of sections with at least one mark, associated with an action score, assigned to each of the plurality of sections. The converting line also includes a mark reading unit, which reads one of the plurality of marks on the paper web. The converting line further includes a controller configured to obtain the action score associated with a second one of the plurality of marks; to calculate a distance between the one mark read by the reading unit and the second one of the plurality of marks; and to change at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the action score of the second one of the plurality of marks when the calculated distance is less than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits
  • Publication number: 20150292163
    Abstract: A system for producing a paper product. The system includes a paper machine, an analysis tool, and a converting line. The paper machine forms a paper web having a plurality of sections, inspects the paper web to identify web properties, and marks the paper web with a plurality of marks. The analysis tool assigns action scores to each section of the paper web based upon the identified properties that section of the paper web. The converting line reads at least one of the plurality of marks on the paper web, obtains the action score associated with a second one of the plurality of marks, calculates a distance between the at least one mark read by the reading unit and the second one of the plurality of marks, and changes at least one operational parameter of the converting line when the calculated distance is less than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew G. Bomstad, Thomas J. Petersen, Joseph A. Schulz, Gregory T. Johnson, Mark F. Gerrits