Patents by Inventor Richard H. Weachock

Richard H. Weachock 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).

  • Non-contact dancer mechanisms, web isolation apparatuses and methods for using the same
    Patent number: 8397539
    Abstract: A non-contact dancer mechanism for conveying a web of brittle material includes a guide rail and a variable position web support plenum adjustably positioned on the guide rail. The variable position web support plenum may include an arcuate outer surface with a plurality of fluid vents for emitting a fluid to support the web of brittle material over and spaced apart from the arcuate outer surface thereby preventing mechanical contact and damage to the web of brittle material. A support plenum counterbalance may be mechanically coupled to the variable position web support plenum, wherein the support plenum counterbalance supports at least a portion of the weight of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail. Apparatuses incorporating the non-contact dancer mechanism and methods for using the non-contact dancer mechanism for handling continuous webs of brittle material are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Chester H. H. Chang, Kevin A Cole, Sean M. Garner, Gary E. Merz, Richard H. Weachock
  • NON-CONTACT DANCER MECHANISMS, WEB ISOLATION APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20110198378
    Abstract: A non-contact dancer mechanism for conveying a web of brittle material includes a guide rail and a variable position web support plenum adjustably positioned on the guide rail. The variable position web support plenum may include an arcuate outer surface with a plurality of fluid vents for emitting a fluid to support the web of brittle material over and spaced apart from the arcuate outer surface thereby preventing mechanical contact and damage to the web of brittle material. A support plenum counterbalance may be mechanically coupled to the variable position web support plenum, wherein the support plenum counterbalance supports at least a portion of the weight of the variable position web support plenum on the guide rail. Apparatuses incorporating the non-contact dancer mechanism and methods for using the non-contact dancer mechanism for handling continuous webs of brittle material are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Chester H.H. Chang, Kevin A Cole, Sean M. Garner, Gary E. Merz, Richard H. Weachock