Patents by Inventor Ron F. Gropp

Ron F. Gropp 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).

  • System and method for severing or perforating a web
    Patent number: 7988607
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method is provided for perforating a web such as a paper tissue or paper toweling into distinct and perforated sheets. The invention provides a laser array capable of providing an incident beam of light upon the surface of the web. The web travels at relatively high speed on a web support mechanism. The web is contacted by the laser light source, which is directed at predetermined locations upon the web to provide a perforation or severing of the web. The employment of a laser in the practice of the invention provides the ability to precisely measure and vary the length of the perforations along the web in a more efficient manner, for a precise cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Baggot, Ron F. Gropp, Steve Wojcik
  • System for cutting a moving web in the cross direction to form sheets of a given length at high web speeds
    Patent number: 6945922
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method is provided for perforating a web such as a paper tissue or paper toweling into distinct and perforated sheets. The invention provides a laser array capable of providing an incident beam of light upon the surface of the web. The web travels at relatively high speed on a web support mechanism. The web is contacted by the laser light source, which is directed at predetermined locations upon the web to provide a perforation or severing of the web. The employment of a laser in the practice of the invention provides the ability to precisely measure and vary the length of the perforations along the web in a more efficient manner, for a precise cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Baggot, Ron F. Gropp, Steve Wojcik
  • System and method for severing or perforating a web
    Publication number: 20030104912
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method is provided for perforating a web such as a paper tissue or paper toweling into distinct and perforated sheets. The invention provides a laser array capable of providing an incident beam of light upon the surface of the web. The web travels at relatively high speed on a web support mechanism. The web is contacted by the laser light source, which is directed at predetermined locations upon the web to provide a perforation or severing of the web. The employment of a laser in the practice of the invention provides the ability to precisely measure and vary the length of the perforations along the web in a more efficient manner, for a precise cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: James L. Baggot, Ron F. Gropp, Steve Wojcik