Patents by Inventor Richard L. Dunlap
Richard L. Dunlap 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).
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Patent number: 8164457Abstract: A method for making a container including a radio frequency identification label is provide. In an embodiment the method includes placing a radio frequency identification (RFID) label into a mold; positioning the RFID label so that an outer portion of the label is substantially flush with the mold surface; and molding a container such that the outer portion of the RFID label is substantially flush with the outer surface of the side wall of the container. An article, which may be formed using the foregoing method, is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2009Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, William A. Slat
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Patent number: 7871683Abstract: A blow molded container (10) having a trimmed nonround opening (12) is blow molded from a preform (36) and then positioned by a positioner (50) of a nonround trimmer (16) that includes a rotary driven arm assembly (56) having a knife holder (60). A guide (66) guides the knife holder (60) in a nonround path to perform the trimming.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, Richard C. Darr
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Patent number: 7866073Abstract: A plastic container with the sidewall thereof including a label panel and a label adhered to the label panel. The label includes micro-optics as at least part of the label to create an image of depth in the micro-optic area.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2005Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, William A. Slat
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Publication number: 20090237215Abstract: A method for making a container including a radio frequency identification label is provide. In an embodiment the method includes placing a radio frequency identification (RFID) label into a mold; positioning the RFID label so that an outer portion of the label is substantially flush with the mold surface; and molding a container such that the outer portion of the RFID label is substantially flush with the outer surface of the side wall of the container. An article, which may be formed using the foregoing method, is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, William A. Slat
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Patent number: 7226560Abstract: A blow molded container (10) having a trimmed nonround opening (12) is blow molded from a preform (36) and then positioned by a positioner (50) of a nonround trimmer (16) that includes a rotary driven arm assembly (56) having a knife holder (60). A guide (66) guides the knife holder (60) in a nonround path to perform the trimming.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, Richard C. Darr
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Patent number: 7000512Abstract: A blow molded container (10) having a trimmed nonround opening (12) is blow molded from a preform (36) and then positioned by a positioner (50) of a nonround trimmer (16) that includes a rotary driven arm assembly (56) having a knife holder (60). A guide (66) guides the knife holder (60) in a nonround path to perform the trimming.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, Richard C. Darr
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Publication number: 20040099109Abstract: A blow molded container (10) having a trimmed nonround opening (12) is blow molded from a preform (36) and then positioned by a positioner (50) of a nonround trimmer (16) that includes a rotary driven arm assembly (56) having a knife holder (60). A guide (66) guides the knife holder (60) in a nonround path to perform the trimming.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, Richard C. Darr
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Patent number: 6649119Abstract: A plastic blow molding system (20) and a method for blow molding utilize an in-mold labeler (24) and a method for in-mold labeling a rotary plastic blow molding machine (22) includes a dispensing assembly (38) having a dispensing wheel (42) that is rotatably mounted on a base (40) and supports a plurality of dispensing head assemblies (46) each of which includes a support (48) and a dispensing head (50). An actuator (56) including first and second cam mechanisms (58, 64) moves the support (48) of each dispensing head assembly (46) along the rotary path of movement of an adjacent open mold (30) of the blow molding machine and angularly positions the support in alignment with a moving mold parting plane of the adjacent open mold in a manner that permits high speed operation of the in-mold labeling. Label transfer apparatus (160) provides high speed labeling of the dispensing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault
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Patent number: 6649118Abstract: An in-mold labeler (24) and a method for in-mold labeling a rotary plastic blow molding machine (22) includes a dispensing assembly (38) having a dispensing wheel (42) that is rotatably mounted on a base (40) and supports a plurality of dispensing head assemblies (46) each of which includes a support (48) and a dispensing head (50). An actuator (56) including a first cam mechanism (58) and a second cam mechanism (64) moves the support (48) of each dispensing head assembly (46) along the rotary path of movement of an adjacent open mold (30) of the blow molding machine and angularly positions the support in alignment with a moving mold parting plane of the adjacent open mold in a manner that permits high speed operation of the in-mold labeling.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault
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Patent number: 6644647Abstract: Label transfer apparatus (160) and a method for transferring labels (54) from a label stack (164) for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding utilize a transfer head (168) that is movable on a rotary table (186) with additional transfer heads (168), adjacent a label magazine (162) with an exposed end (172) from which the labels are sequentially dispensed. The transfer head includes a pair of vacuum openings (174) to which a vacuum is supplied and an actuator (176) moves the transfer head with a rolling motion to engage the one vacuum opening with the label to initially pull an extremity (180) of the label, to subsequently pull an intermediate portion (182), and to finally engage the other vacuum opening with the label to pull an opposite extremity (184) of the label away from the label stack in a manner that permits high speed labeling.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2001Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault
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Publication number: 20030146549Abstract: An in-mold labeler (24) and a method for in-mold labeling a rotary plastic blow molding machine (22) includes a dispensing assembly (38) having a dispensing wheel (42) that is rotatably mounted on a base (40) and supports a plurality of dispensing head assemblies (46) each of which includes a support (48) and a dispensing head (50). An actuator (56) including a first cam mechanism (58) and a second cam mechanism (64) moves the support (48) of each dispensing head assembly (46) along the rotary path of movement of an adjacent open mold (30) of the blow molding machine and angularly positions the support in alignment with a moving mold parting plane of the adjacent open mold in a manner that permits high speed operation of the in-mold labeling.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2001Publication date: August 7, 2003Applicant: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault
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Publication number: 20030006536Abstract: A plastic blow molding system (20) and a method for blow molding utilize an in-mold labeler (24) and a method for in-mold labeling a rotary plastic blow molding machine (22) includes a dispensing assembly (38) having a dispensing wheel (42) that is rotatably mounted on a base (40) and supports a plurality of dispensing head assemblies (46) each of which includes a support (48) and a dispensing head (50). An actuator (56) including first and second cam mechanisms (58, 64) moves the support (48) of each dispensing head assembly (46) along the rotary path of movement of an adjacent open mold (30) of the blow molding machine and angularly positions the support in alignment with a moving mold parting plane of the adjacent open mold in a manner that permits high speed operation of the in-mold labeling. Label transfer apparatus (160) provides high speed labeling of the dispensing assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2001Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault
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Publication number: 20030006545Abstract: Label transfer apparatus (160) and a method for transferring labels (54) from a label stack (164) for in-mold labeling prior to blow molding utilize a transfer head (168) that is movable, preferably on a rotary table (186) with additional transfer heads (168), adjacent a label magazine (162) with an exposed end (172) from which the labels are sequentially dispensed. The transfer head includes a vacuum opening (174) to which a vacuum is supplied and an actuator (176) moves the transfer head with a rolling motion to engage the vacuum opening with the label to initially pull an extremity (180) of the label, to subsequently pull an intermediate portion (182), and to finally pull an opposite extremity (184) of the label away from the label stack in a manner that permits high speed labeling.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2001Publication date: January 9, 2003Applicant: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault
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Patent number: 6367360Abstract: Apparatus (10) for trimming a blow molding (12) includes a rotary trimming assembly (16) rotatively mounted and driven on a trimmer head (14). The trimming assembly (16) includes a tube (18) of a rotary member (46) aligned with the blow molding such that operation of an actuating mechanism (20) provides cam actuated movement of a knife holder (48) to perform the trimming which allows the trimmed off blow molding portion to move through the tube (18) away from the trimmed blow molding in preparation for the next trimming cycle. A vacuum source (36) draws a vacuum within a conduit (34) connected to the tube (18) to provide the movement of the trimmed off blow molding portion away from the trimmer head.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1999Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault
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Patent number: 6186767Abstract: A dispensing head (36) for an in-mold labeling system includes a lever assembly (106) rotatively driven by a rotary drive member (74) and having a pair of levers (108) that are adjustable with respect to the rotary drive member independently of each other. Each lever (108) has a cam and follower connection (112) to an associated label carrier (38) such that rotation of the rotary drive member (74) provides movement of the label carriers (38) between retracted and label transfer positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1999Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault
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Patent number: 6183238Abstract: An in-mold labeling system for use with a rotary blow molding machine (10) includes first and second electrical servomotors (46, 64) and first and second cam mechanisms (48, 66) respectively driven by the servomotors to move a dispensing head (36) between supply and delivery locations and to move a label carrier (38) on the dispensing head between retracted and label transfer positions independently of each other. A sensor (92) of the system senses rotation of a rotary wheel (12) of the machine to operate first and second electrical controllers (84,86) that respectively operate the first and second electrical servomotors (46,64) in coordination with the machine operation but independently of each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1999Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford, David M. Amirault
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Patent number: 5167968Abstract: Apparatus (30) for finishing a blow molding (24) is disclosed as including a rotary head (42) on which a first knife holder (44) is provided for mounting a knife (46) for radial movement with respect to the rotational axis (A). A second knife holder is mounted in a diametrically opposite relationship to the first knife holder and actuated so as to maintain a balanced relationship during rotation of the rotary head. An actuating mechanism (48) actuates the knife holder (44) to move the knife (46) radially inward with respect to the rotational axis (A) during rotation of the head (42) to cut the blow molding received thereby and thereby provide finishing that removes excess material. The actuating mechanism (42) is preferably constructed as a cam actuator (50) including a cam follower (56) and a cam (58) that operate after a first portion (52) of the rotary head (42) is stopped from continued axial movement as a second portion (54) of the rotary head continues to be moved axially during the rotation.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1991Date of Patent: December 1, 1992Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford
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Patent number: 5067890Abstract: An in-mold label supply system (20) for a plastic blow molding machine (22) has particular utility for use with rotary wheel type blow molding and includes a hopper assembly (68) including a feed hopper (70) for positioning discrete sheet-like labels (72) in a vertical feed stack (74). A feeder (76) of the system includes a feed member (78) that selectively grips the lowermost label (72) of the feed stack (74) to provide delivery thereof to a conveyor (80) for conveyance to the blow molding machine (22) where a label dispenser (82) transfers the label (72) to a mold (24) of the machine for placement within a mold cavity section (28). A gate (104) of the feeder (76) cooperates with the feed member (78) to permit only the lowermost label (72) to be fed from the feed stack (74) to the conveyor (80). The feed member (78) is preferably embodied by a feed roller (114) to which pressurized gas and a vacuum are alternately fed to control the label feeding.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1990Date of Patent: November 26, 1991Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: Richard L. Dunlap, Edward L. Sanford
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Patent number: 4954070Abstract: An in-mold label dispenser (42) for supplying labels to a plastic blow molding machine mold (32) whose mold sections open and close along a first direction (A) is disclosed as including a dispensing head (48) mounted for rectilinear movement between withdrawn and inserted positions along a second direction (B) perpendicular to the first direction (A) and supporting at least one label carrier (52) that provides transfer of labels (57) from a label supply (46). An actuator (50) moves the dispensing head (48) and a cam mechanism (58) moves each label carrier (52) between a retracted position and a label transfer position to provide the in-mold label operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1989Date of Patent: September 4, 1990Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventor: Richard L. Dunlap
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Patent number: 4909723Abstract: An in-mold label dispenser (20) for use with a multiple cavity mold (28) of a plastic blow molding machine (22) includes dispensing heads (54) adjustably supported on a movable shuttle (52) to permit adjustment of the location of label positioning within the molds. An adjustable support assembly (58) supports the dispensing heads (54) with respect to each other, and a drive mechanism (70) drives the shuttle and label carriers (56) of the dispensing heads to provide the in-mold labeling operation. The drive mechanism (70) includes first and second drives (80,84) that respectively drive the shuttle (52) and the label carriers (56).Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1988Date of Patent: March 20, 1990Assignee: Plastipak Packaging, Inc.Inventors: William A. Slat, Richard L. Dunlap