Patents by Inventor Robert L. Mueller

Robert L. Mueller 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).

  • Patent number: 6157513
    Abstract: A cartridge picker assembly may include a frame having a first side wall and a second side wall positioned in spaced-apart relation and a cartridge access end. A lateral guide surface being substantially parallel to a lateral plane is associated with the first side wall of the frame. A thumb assembly is slidably mounted to the first and second side walls of the frame so that the thumb assembly is capable of moving toward and away from the cartridge access end of the frame. A guide member is mounted to the thumb assembly, engaging the lateral guide surface on the first side wall of the frame so that lateral motion of the thumb assembly is controlled as the thumb assembly moves toward and away from the cartridge access end of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Paul C. Coffin, Robert L. Mueller
  • Patent number: 6104693
    Abstract: A cartridge engaging assembly has a frame assembly having a first side member and a second side member positioned in spaced-apart relation. A first horizontal guide surface is positioned on the first side member of the frame assembly and a second horizontal guide surface is positioned on the second side member of the frame assembly. A thumb assembly having first, second, and third bearing members is positioned on the first and second horizontal guide surfaces so that the first bearing member engages the first horizontal guide surface and so that the second and third bearing members engage the second horizontal guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Paul C. Coffin, Robert L. Mueller, Gregg S. Schmidtke
  • Patent number: 6042205
    Abstract: A media holding device incorporating a media locking mechanism is disclosed herein. The media holding device comprises a housing comprising a plurality of media receiving bays formed therein; a plurality of detent mechanisms mounted on the housing and associated with the plurality of bays, each of the detent mechanisms having a media retaining operating position and a media releasing operating position; and a lock mechanism mounted on the housing and having a detent locking operating position and a detent releasing operating position, wherein the detent locking operating position locks the plurality of detent mechanisms in the media retaining operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Paul C. Coffin, Mark Ayars Smith, Robert L. Mueller
  • Patent number: 6025972
    Abstract: A cartridge handling system for storing and accessing at least one data cartridge may comprise a frame having a first cartridge access side and a second cartridge access side. A guide member associated with the frame includes a first section located adjacent the first cartridge access side of the frame and a second section located adjacent the second cartridge access side of the frame. The first and second guide sections of the guide member are connected together so that the guide member comprises a substantially continuous member. A cartridge access device having a cartridge access end engages the guide member so that the cartridge access end is adjacent the first cartridge access side when the cartridge access device is located on the first section of the guide member and so that the cartridge access end is adjacent the second cartridge access side when the cartridge access device is located on the second section of the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Gregg S. Schmidtke, Robert L. Mueller
  • Patent number: 4475241
    Abstract: A packaging film is disclosed which comprises a base sheet coated with a polycarbonate coating. The base sheet may be chosen with substantial latitude. The invention also contemplates a process for making the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: American Can Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Mueller, George O. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 4404241
    Abstract: Multilayered sheet material, a method for producing said material and a package comprising said material are provided. The multilayered material and package produced therefrom have apertures sealed with an extrudable hot melt material which conveys moisture barrier properties and is adapted to soften and permit venting of vapor generated in the package prior to distortion of the package. The packages are adapted particularly for use as containers or as components thereof when used in heating or cooking of foods in microwave ovens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: James River-Dixie/Northern, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Mueller, Jerome A. Cherney
  • Patent number: 4173820
    Abstract: A method for forming a solar array strip including the steps of depositing solder pads on printed circuitry deposited on flexible substrate storing the resulting substrate on a drum, withdrawing the substrate from the drum and incrementally advancing it along a linear path, serially transporting solderless solar cells into engagement with the pads and thereafter heating the pads for thus attaching the cells to the printed circuitry, cleaning excess flux from the solar cells, encapsulating the cells in a protective coating and thereafter spirally winding the resulting array on a drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Robert L. Mueller, Robert K. Yasui
  • Patent number: 4149665
    Abstract: A machine for attaching solar cells to a flexible substrate having printed circuitry deposited thereon. The strip is fed through a first station in which solar cells are elevated into engagement with solder pads for the printed circuitry and thereafter heated by an infrared lamp, a second station at which flux and solder residue is removed, a third station at which electrical performance of the soldered cells is determined, a fourth station at which an encapsulating resin is deposited on the cells, a fifth station at which the encapsulated solar cells are examined for electrical performance and a final station at which the resulting array is wound on a take-up drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Ernest N. Costogue, Roy G. Downing, Orwin Middleton, Robert L. Mueller, Robert K. Yasui, Fred J. Cairo, Jerry K. Person
  • Patent number: 4133697
    Abstract: Providing printed circuitry in a sandwiched relation with a pair of flexible layers of non-conductive material, depositing solder pads on the printed circuitry and storing the resulting substrate on a drum, withdrawing the substrate from the drum and incrementally advancing it along a linear path, serially transporting solderless solar cells into engagement with the pads and thereafter heating the pads for thus attaching the cells to the circuitry, cleaning excess flux from the solar cells, encapsulating the cells in a protective coating and thereafter spirally winding the resulting array on a drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1979
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Robert L. Mueller, Robert K. Yasui