Patents by Inventor Ric Keesee

Ric Keesee 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: 20250122029
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling the rotation of turrets with servo motors within a machine line used in the shaping of articles. Error conditions can be detected using the servo motors for resolving issues with the machine line. Control of the turrets by the servo motors allows for each turret to be rotated relative to the other turrets independently for resolving the issues. Absolute encoders are used to return the servo motors and their respective turrets back to being aligned with a virtual axis for synchronous rotation of the turrets within the machine line, despite the turrets not being mechanically coupled together by a series of gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Larry D. McKinney, Dennis E. Green, Jeffrey L. Shortridge, Ric Keesee, Stephen M. Packer
  • Patent number: 12202685
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling the rotation of turrets with servo motors within a machine line used in the shaping of articles. Error conditions can be detected using the servo motors for resolving issues with the machine line. Control of the turrets by the servo motors allows for each turret to be rotated relative to the other turrets independently for resolving the issues. Absolute encoders are used to return the servo motors and their respective turrets back to being aligned with a virtual axis for synchronous rotation of the turrets within the machine line, despite the turrets not being mechanically coupled together by a series of gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. McKinney, Dennis E. Green, Jeffrey L. Shortridge, Ric Keesee, Stephen M. Packer
  • Publication number: 20230024710
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling the rotation of turrets with servo motors within a machine line used in the shaping of articles. Error conditions can be detected using the servo motors for resolving issues with the machine line. Control of the turrets by the servo motors allows for each turret to be rotated relative to the other turrets independently for resolving the issues. Absolute encoders are used to return the servo motors and their respective turrets back to being aligned with a virtual axis for synchronous rotation of the turrets within the machine line, despite the turrets not being mechanically coupled together by a series of gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Larry D. McKinney, Dennis E. Green, Jeffrey L. Shortridge, Ric Keesee, Stephen M. Packer
  • Publication number: 20130321795
    Abstract: A defect tester for detecting a defect in an article in a machine arrangement includes a starwheel having one or more pockets configured to hold respective one or more articles. The defect tester further includes one or more disks. Each of the one or more disks has one or more openings. Each of the one or more openings includes a covering configured to form a seal with an open end of the article. The defect tester further includes one or more detector units configured to detect a range of radiation wavelengths in an interior of the article. The radiation wavelengths are directed on an exterior of the article. The one or more detector units are further configured to communicate to a controller whether a defect has been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Packer, Ric Keesee, Michael Supernaw