Patents by Inventor Ronald B. Howes, Jr.
Ronald B. Howes, Jr. 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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Publication number: 20160223996Abstract: A controlling and monitoring control application associated with one or more work operations of one or more utility devices is disclosed. The controller is programmed for controlling one or more external work operations associated with one or more utility devices. An I/O board is connected in communication with the primary controller having a module with a plurality of device-specific control applications associated with one or more device-specific work operations. The housing of the controller includes one or more cable access points for plugging a cable into the controller. The cable access points are sealed to prevent water from entering into the housing. A mounting bracket assembly provides flexibility for mounting the controller at various orientations and/or positions. The controller also includes a DC control circuit for controlling backlight luminance over the entire dimming ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Inventors: Christopher D. Diller, Louis M. Holzman, Ronald B. Howes, JR., Stephen X. Skaff, Quang Van Dao, Christopher A. Buck
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Patent number: 9261866Abstract: A controlling and monitoring control application associated with one or more work operations of one or more utility devices is disclosed. The controller is programmed for controlling one or more external work operations associated with one or more utility devices. An I/O board is connected in communication with the primary controller having a module with a plurality of device-specific control applications associated with one or more device-specific work operations. The housing of the controller includes one or more cable access points for plugging a cable into the controller. The cable access points are sealed to prevent water from entering into the housing. A mounting bracket assembly provides flexibility for mounting the controller at various orientations and/or positions. The controller also includes a DC control circuit for controlling backlight luminance over the entire dimming ratio.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Chris D. Diller, Louis M. Holzman, Ronald B. Howes, Jr., Stephen X. Skaff, Quang Van Dao, Christopher A. Buck
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Patent number: 8702015Abstract: A product dispenser (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 780, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860) for attachment to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer releasably attaches a product (31, 131, 431, 531, 713, 733, 743, 753, 763, 787, 804, 815, 825, 834, 844, 854, 862) to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Gregory G. Griese, John E. Thomas, Jamie W. Lerbs, Steven E. Lentsch, Stephan M. Hubig, Terry J. Klos, Ronald B. Howes, Jr., Eric R. Balz
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Publication number: 20120296447Abstract: A controlling and monitoring control application associated with one or more work operations of one or more utility devices is disclosed. The controller is programmed for controlling one or more external work operations associated with one or more utility devices. An I/O board is connected in communication with the primary controller having a module with a plurality of device-specific control applications associated with one or more device-specific work operations. The housing of the controller includes one or more cable access points for plugging a cable into the controller. The cable access points are sealed to prevent water from entering into the housing. A mounting bracket assembly provides flexibility for mounting the controller at various orientations and/or positions. The controller also includes a DC control circuit for controlling backlight luminance over the entire dimming ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.Inventors: CHRIS D. DILLER, LOUIS M. HOLZMAN, RONALD B. HOWES, JR., STEPHEN X. SKAFF, QUANG VAN DAO, CHRISTOPHER A. BUCK
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Patent number: 8082764Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for indicating satisfactory times for titrating a chemical solution, e.g., cleaning product, used by a utility device to clean and/or sanitize various types of articles. The utility device is described in an exemplary embodiment as being a warewashing machine that applies the chemical solution to articles provided to the machine on racks. The chemical solution is formed in a solution tank from a combination of at least one chemical product and at least one rinse agent. Whereas the chemical product is described as a detergent, the rinse agent is described as water. Over a time period including multiple wash cycles, the chemical product and the rinse agent are added to the solution tank, thereby changing conductivity of the chemical solution.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Ronald B. Howes, Jr., Robert E. May, David Howland
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Publication number: 20110031330Abstract: A product dispenser (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 780, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860) for attachment to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer releasably attaches a product (31, 131, 431, 531, 713, 733, 743, 753, 763, 787, 804, 815, 825, 834, 844, 854, 862) to the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Gregory G. Griese, John E. Thomas, Jamie W. Lerbs, Steven E. Lentsch, Stephan M. Hubig, Terry J. Klos, Ronald B. Howes, JR., Eric R. Balz
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Patent number: 7874501Abstract: A product dispenser (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 780, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860) for attachment to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer releasably attaches a product (31, 131, 431, 531, 713, 733, 743, 753, 763, 787, 804, 815, 825, 834, 844, 854, 862) to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2007Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Gregory G. Griese, John E. Thomas, Jamie W. Lerbs, Steven E. Lentsch, Stephan M. Hubig, Terry J. Klos, Ronald B. Howes, Jr., Eric R. Balz
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Publication number: 20090001192Abstract: A product dispenser (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 780, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860) for attachment to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer releasably attaches a product (31, 131, 431, 531, 713, 733, 743, 753, 763, 787, 804, 815, 825, 834, 844, 854, 862) to the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Gregory G. Griese, John E. Thomas, Jamie W. Lerbs, Steven E. Lentsch, Stephan M. Hubig, Terry J. Klos, Ronald B. Howes, JR., Eric R. Balz
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Patent number: 6910640Abstract: A product dispenser (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 780, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860) for attachment to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer releasably attaches a product (31, 131, 431, 531, 713, 733, 743, 753, 763, 787, 804, 815, 825, 834, 844, 854, 862) to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2003Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Gregory G. Griese, Eric R. Balz, Steven E. Lentsch, Stephan M. Hubig, John E. Thomas, Terry J. Klos, Ronald B. Howes, Jr.
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Patent number: 6707873Abstract: A device which measures individual employee usage of a liquid product or hand soap dispenser as part of an overall hygiene compliance program. The dispenser consists of a self-contained keypad/display module which is attached to a standard hand soap dispenser. An employee enters a unique personal ID code and then activates the dispenser. The dispenser counts all inputs to the dispenser in order to generate meaningful data for management. Alternatively, the dispenser may only track and report total usage and not account for individual employee usage.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2002Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Ecolab Inc.Inventors: Luke P. Thompson, James L. Copeland, Ronald B. Howes, Jr.
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Patent number: 6404837Abstract: A device which measures individual employee usage of a liquid product or hand soap dispenser as part of an overall hygiene compliance program. The dispenser consists of a self-contained keypad/display module which is attached to a standard hand soap dispenser. An employee enters a unique personal ID code and then activates the dispenser. The dispenser counts all inputs to the dispenser in order to generate meaningful data for management. Alternatively, the dispenser may only track and report total usage and not account for individual employee usage.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1998Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.Inventors: Luke P. Thompson, James L. Copeland, Ronald B. Howes, Jr.
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Patent number: 5453821Abstract: A method and apparatus for a two-pulse solenoid embossing system implementing an amplitude feedback circuit, i.e., current monitor (48), to provide precise amplitude and timing control over two current pulses (4, 5), and thereby provide precision control over the position and velocity of the embossing system's print elements (64a, 64b). To maintain the current amplitude during the second current pulse (5), the method and apparatus alternatively switches the power on and off to the solenoid coils (55) with a frequency such that a substantially constant current amplitude is maintained in the solenoid coils (55). The embossing system provides an improved solenoid body assembly (61) including a first stack of steel laminations (93), a center block (82) and a second stack of steel laminations (81). A plunger (62) is slidably connected to the solenoid body assembly (61) by shaft (63). Cavities (79) receive dowel pins (71) which are attached to plunger (62).Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1992Date of Patent: September 26, 1995Assignee: DataCard CorporationInventors: Ronald B. Howes, Jr., Thomas R. Emmons, Dennis J. Warwick
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Patent number: 5320435Abstract: An apparatus for embossing sheet material by applying pressure to punch and die members positioned on both sides of the sheet material using force developed by one or more solenoids to force the punch and die members together to apply an imprinting force. In order to reduce the impact force, noise and wear on the mechanical parts, the solenoid may be energized in two separate steps, the first to move the punch and die members into contact with the surface of the card and the second to apply the embossing force to the punch and die members. Both rotary and linear solenoids may be used with differing coupling linkages in various embodiments of the embossing mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1992Date of Patent: June 14, 1994Assignee: DataCard CorporationInventors: Dennis J. Warwick, Ronald B. Howes, Jr.
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Patent number: 5204802Abstract: A method and apparatus for a two-pulse solenoid embossing system implementing an amplitude feedback circuit, i.e., current monitor (48), to provide precise amplitude and timing control over two current pulses (4, 5), and thereby provide precision control over the position and velocity of the embossing system's print elements (64a, 64b). To maintain the current amplitude during the second current pulse (5), the method and apparatus alternatively switches the power on and off to the solenoid coils (55) with a frequency such that a substantially constant current amplitude is maintained in the solenoid coils (55). The embossing system provides an improved solenoid body assembly (61) including a first stack of steel laminations (93), a center block (82) and a second stack of steel laminations (81). A plunger (62) is slidably connected to the solenoid body assembly (61) by shaft (63). Cavities (79) receive dowel pins (71) which are attached to plunger (62).Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1991Date of Patent: April 20, 1993Assignee: DataCard CorporationInventors: Ronald B. Howes, Jr., Thomas R. Emmons, Dennis J. Warwick
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Patent number: 4937438Abstract: A magnetic stripe encoding apparatus (24) encodes information onto a magnetic stripe (22) of a card (20). A card carriage (26) moves the card (20) along a card transport path between a top rail (28) and a bottom rail (30). The magnetic stripe (22) passes an encoding write head (36) and a read head (40) for writing and verifying information on the stripe (22). Heads (36, 40) mount on a bracket (44) which allows only twisting motion and movement toward and away from the card (20) so that good contact is maintained between the magnetic stripe (22) and the heads (36, 40). One embodiment of the card carriage (26) includes spring biased pawls (60, 62) which are biased into the card transport path for engaging the card (20) and rotate away from the card transport path so that the pawls 60,62 do not engage the card (20).Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1988Date of Patent: June 26, 1990Assignee: DataCard CorporationInventors: Dennis J. Warwick, Ronald B. Howes, Jr.
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Patent number: 4688785Abstract: An embossing module for an automatic embossing machine utilizes a pair of opposed embossing element carrying wheels driven by oscillating bail arms which directly engage the embossing punch and die elements. An electromechanical interrupter mechanically decouples motion of the bail arm from the embossing elements in the event of a failure. The printwheels are driven by separate motors utilizing separate position encoders and common servo command circuits.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1985Date of Patent: August 25, 1987Assignee: Data Card CorporationInventors: Richard C. Nubson, Ronald B. Howes, Jr., Glenn R. Carney, Edward R. Gabel, Robert H. Schmidt, Leroy E. Gerlach, Michael D. Polad
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Patent number: 4519600Abstract: An apparatus for feeding cards from a storage magazine to an automatic embossing system including an input hopper and card picking mechanism for engaging a card after it is stripped from a supply stack in the input hopper. The card is positioned by a transfer mechanism to receive embossed data from rotating embossing wheels. An output hopper receives good cards and rejected cards are deposited into a reject box.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1983Date of Patent: May 28, 1985Assignee: Data Card CorporationInventors: Dennis J. Warwick, Richard C. Nubson, Ronald B. Howes, Jr.