Patents by Inventor Mark Gacka

Mark Gacka 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: 20050103883
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for removing powder overspray from the exterior surfaces within a spray booth, especially the exterior surfaces of a spray gun assembly. These surfaces may include the spray gun housing and nozzle, a tube mount housing for the tube mount configurations, and in some embodiments the various hoses and lines that are coupled to the spray gun in a bar mount configuration. In one embodiment, powder overspray is removed from such surfaces or other surfaces within the spray booth by applying a cleaning or powder removal agent/article in contact with the surfaces to knock off, wipe, blow or otherwise remove the powder overspray. The cleaning agent/article may take many forms, including but not limited to fluids including air or liquid, negative pressure or suction, charged ions, positive pressure within the spray gun assembly, or any number and variety of cleaning devices such as but not limited to brushes, cloth, sponges, wipers and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph Schroeder, Brian Mather, Jeffrey Shutic, Mark Gacka
  • Patent number: 5821504
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for 360.degree. induction heating of a can body to cure or partially cure a protective coating applied thereto. The can bodies are inductively heated by placing them in a medium frequency, oscillating magnetic field generated by a multiple turn induction coil helically wound around the transport path of the can body. By using a medium-frequency field and by centering the can bodies with respect to the induction coil, the can bodies may be evenly and uniformly heated around 360.degree. of their circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara Sprenger, Mark Gacka, Robert A. Sprenger, deceased
  • Patent number: 4815666
    Abstract: A powder spray gun for use in spraying particulate powder material of different colors is constructed of a number of individual parts which are quickly and easily disassembled from one another so that each part which comes into contact with particulate powder material can be individually cleaned in changing over from one powder to another. The powder spray gun comprises a mounting block which carries a rearward barrel member and a powder inlet tube, a forward barrel member connected to the rearward barrel member, a nozzle and pattern adjustment sleeve both carried on the forward barrel member and an electrostatic cable assembly received within a barrel liner which extend axially along the length of the spray gun. All but one of the connections between these parts are made by O-rings which frictionally engage facing surfaces of the parts so that they are easily pulled apart, cleaned by a jet of air or the like and then reassembled in preparation for spraying another color of particulate powder material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Gacka, Thomas E. Hollstein, John C. Traylor