Patents by Inventor Richard L. Johnson

Richard L. Johnson 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: 20240133308
    Abstract: A rotary machine, such as a turbomachine of a gas turbine engine, for example, including a rotor and a rotor seal assembly. The rotor is rotatable about a rotational axis and has a rotor seal face. The rotor seal assembly includes a seal body, one or more primary fluid conduits formed in the seal body, and a retraction assembly. The seal body has a seal face and is positionable to form a fluid-bearing gap between the seal face of the seal body and the rotor seal face. The one or more primary fluid conduits are fluidly connected to the fluid-bearing gap to supply a fluid to the fluid-bearing gap. The retraction assembly is connected to the seal body to move the seal body in a retraction direction away from the rotor seal face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: David Yamarthi, Prateek Jalan, Grant Portune, Steven Douglas Johnson, Mark L. Hopper, Richard A. Wesling, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger
  • Patent number: 11925336
    Abstract: A system and method used to deliver a valve delivery system carrying a valve to a target valve annulus in the heart includes a cable percutaneously introduced into a vasculature of a patient and positioned to run from a femoral vein, transseptally through the heart, to a femoral artery. The valve delivery system device is passed over an end of the cable at the arterial side and is secured to the cable. The valve delivery system device is pushed in a distal direction while the venous end of the cable is pulled in the proximal direction, to advance the valve delivery system to the target valve annulus. A left ventricle redirector positionable on the cable from the venous end has a distal end actively steered during advancement and positioning of the valve delivery device, exerting forces that steer the distal nose of the valve delivery device as it moves towards the valve annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Synecor LLC
    Inventors: Richard S Stack, William L Athas, Kevin W Johnson
  • Patent number: 11926089
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for assisting in affixing a screen protector to a display of an electronic device. The apparatus includes a base including a platform configured to support the electronic device. The apparatus includes a lid configured to cover at least a portion of the base and the supported electronic device. The lid includes an aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Otter Products, LLC
    Inventors: Richard W. Vinson, Zachariah J. Pickett, John P. Fitzgerald, Douglas A. Kempel, Jamie L. Johnson, Ross V. Bulkley, Adam J. Havens, Grady E. Barfoot
  • Publication number: 20230322425
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product perform automatic load profiling to optimize a wrapping operation performed with a stretch wrapping machine. Automatic load profiling may be performed, for example, to determine a density parameter for a load that is indicative of load stability such that one or more control parameters may be configured for a wrapping operation based upon the density parameter. Automatic load profiling may also be performed, for example, to detect a load with a nonstandard top layer, e.g., a load with a top or slip sheet, a load with an easily deformable top layer, a load with a ragged top surface topography and/or a load with an inboard portion, such that a top layer containment operation may be activated during wrapping to optimize containment for the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11731793
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product perform automatic load profiling to optimize a wrapping operation performed with a stretch wrapping machine. Automatic load profiling may be performed, for example, to determine a density parameter for a load that is indicative of load stability such that one or more control parameters may be configured for a wrapping operation based upon the density parameter. Automatic load profiling may also be performed, for example, to detect a load with a nonstandard top layer, e.g., a load with a top or slip sheet, a load with an easily deformable top layer, a load with a ragged top surface topography and/or a load with an inboard portion, such that a top layer containment operation may be activated during wrapping to optimize containment for the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20230249862
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product monitor a wrap force during a wrap cycle to dynamically control the dispense rate of a packaging material dispenser to meet a desired containment force to be applied to a load. A conversion may be performed between wrap force and containment force for the monitored wrap force or a containment force parameter to facilitate the performance of a comparison between the monitored wrap force and a containment force parameter associated with the desired containment force to be applied to the load. A wrap force parameter may also be dynamically adjusted, and in some instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored wrap force, and may be used to meet a load containment force requirement for a load. In other instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored packaging material breaks to reduce the occurrence of packaging material breaks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson, Jeremy D. McCray
  • Patent number: 11685567
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product monitor a wrap force during a wrap cycle to dynamically control the dispense rate of a packaging material dispenser to meet a desired containment force to be applied to a load. A conversion may be performed between wrap force and containment force for the monitored wrap force or a containment force parameter to facilitate the performance of a comparison between the monitored wrap force and a containment force parameter associated with the desired containment force to be applied to the load. A wrap force parameter may also be dynamically adjusted, and in some instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored wrap force, and may be used to meet a load containment force requirement for a load. In other instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored packaging material breaks to reduce the occurrence of packaging material breaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson, Jeremy D. McCray
  • Patent number: 11597554
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product monitor a wrap force during a wrap cycle to dynamically control the dispense rate of a packaging material dispenser to meet a desired containment force to be applied to a load. A conversion may be performed between wrap force and containment force for the monitored wrap force or a containment force parameter to facilitate the performance of a comparison between the monitored wrap force and a containment force parameter associated with the desired containment force to be applied to the load. A wrap force parameter may also be dynamically adjusted, and in some instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored wrap force, and may be used to meet a load containment force requirement for a load. In other instances, the dynamic adjustment may be responsive to monitored packaging material breaks to reduce the occurrence of packaging material breaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson, Jeremy D. McCray
  • Publication number: 20230039675
    Abstract: The present invention relates to linear, straight through electron beam machines that incorporate a rotary coupling system to easily attach and manually or automatically rotate field defining members such as applicators and/or shields to the electron beam machines. The rotary coupling systems also incorporate functionality for using different kinds of optical signals to automatically provide illumination, reference mark projection, and/or distance detection. The optical signals generated downstream from heavy collimator components and are transmitted along the central axis of the field defining elements so that function and accuracy are maintained as the components rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Michael F. Turk, Christopher J. Patane, Richard L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11505343
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product may determine load stability for a load to be wrapped based upon sensing the response or reaction of the load to a disturbance applied to the load, e.g., through intentionally moving, shaking, tilting, pushing, impacting or otherwise applying an input force to the load and sensing the response using one or more sensors. The sensed response may then be used to determine a load stability parameter that may be used in the control of a load wrapping apparatus when wrapping the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: LANTECH.COM, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11401063
    Abstract: An automatic roll change system for a stretch wrapping machine may include multiple mechanically-actuated load stations capable of being actuated by a common actuator assembly, as well as pivotable support members for use in positioning packaging material in a tortuous path for loading into a packaging material dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: LANTECH.COM, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Johnson, Curtis W. Martin, Jeremy D. McCray
  • Patent number: 11174056
    Abstract: A wrapping apparatus and method utilize a controlled intervention to vary a dispense rate relative to a predicted dispense rate calculated based upon a predicted demand for packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: LANTECH.COM, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Jeremy D. McCray, Richard L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11135449
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods and apparatus that use machine vision techniques to rapidly and automatically guide objects into desired docking configurations. The present invention is based at least in part upon using multi-depth, rotationally symmetric targets that are observed from two or more observation perspectives. By taking advantage of parallax effects associated with the multi-depth topography of the target, the apparent positions of target features in captured image information encodes position and angular alignment of the objects relative to each other in three dimensional space. The practice of the present invention provides a fast, accurate, reliable and automatic approach to achieve hard or soft docking configurations in the electron beam therapies as well as to implement real-time gating and tracking during the course of a treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: INTRAOP MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard L. Johnson, Christopher J. Patane, David H. Whittum
  • Patent number: 11111045
    Abstract: A wrapping apparatus and method utilize a corner rotation angle-based wrap control that controls the rate at which packaging material is dispensed based on the rotational position of one or more corners of the load determined during relative rotation established between the load and a packaging material dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: LANTECH.COM, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Jeremy D. McCray, Richard L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11111046
    Abstract: A wrapping apparatus and method utilize a rotational data shift to a wrap speed model to offset system lag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: LANTECH.COM, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Jeremy D. McCray, Richard L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11104464
    Abstract: A wrapping apparatus and method recalculate the calculated location of at least one corner of a load at one or more elevations during relative rotation between the load and a packaging material dispenser to accommodate variations in length, width and/or offset of the load at different elevations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: LANTECH.COM, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Jeremy D. McCray, Richard L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210229843
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product perform automatic load profiling to optimize a wrapping operation performed with a stretch wrapping machine. Automatic load profiling may be performed, for example, to determine a density parameter for a load that is indicative of load stability such that one or more control parameters may be configured for a wrapping operation based upon the density parameter. Automatic load profiling may also be performed, for example, to detect a load with a nonstandard top layer, e.g., a load with a top or slip sheet, a load with an easily deformable top layer, a load with a ragged top surface topography and/or a load with an inboard portion, such that a top layer containment operation may be activated during wrapping to optimize containment for the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11034470
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product perform automatic load profiling to optimize a wrapping operation performed with a stretch wrapping machine. Automatic load profiling may be performed, for example, to determine a density parameter for a load that is indicative of load stability such that one or more control parameters may be configured for a wrapping operation based upon the density parameter. Automatic load profiling may also be performed, for example, to detect a load with a nonstandard top layer, e.g., a load with a top or slip sheet, a load with an easily deformable top layer, a load with a ragged top surface topography and/or a load with an inboard portion, such that a top layer containment operation may be activated during wrapping to optimize containment for the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: LANTECH.COM, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210139174
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product may determine load stability for a load to be wrapped based upon sensing the response or reaction of the load to a disturbance applied to the load, e.g., through intentionally moving, shaking, tilting, pushing, impacting or otherwise applying an input force to the load and sensing the response using one or more sensors. The sensed response may then be used to determine a load stability parameter that may be used in the control of a load wrapping apparatus when wrapping the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210107691
    Abstract: An automatic roll change system for a stretch wrapping machine may include multiple mechanically-actuated load stations capable of being actuated by a common actuator assembly, as well as pivotable support members for use in positioning packaging material in a tortuous path for loading into a packaging material dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Richard L. Johnson, Curtis W. Martin, Jeremy D. McCray