Patents by Inventor Ronald E. Niemiec

Ronald E. Niemiec 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: 6227769
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for spraying powder into the interior of welded hollow can bodies from a spray gun mounted to the welding arm of a can forming machine. The spray gun can either apply a stripe of highly charged powder on the welded seam areas of hollow can bodies, or can simultaneously apply a coating of powder having a first thickness on the longitudinally welded seam areas and a second thickness less than the first thickness on the remainder of the interior surface. Air is vented off from the powder flow being transported through the welding arm so that the powder to air ratio is increased. Air is introduced at the downstream end of the welding arm to provide a suction force to help draw the powder flow through the welding arm and to increase the velocity of the powder flow for better tribo charging of the powder in the gun and to improve spray pattern stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Edward Wilson, Masafumi Matsunaga, Wataru Kakuta, Raymond J. Merk, Ronald E. Niemiec, Laurence B. Saidman, Gerald W. Crum, William L. Palmer
  • Patent number: 5997643
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for spraying powder into the interior of welded hollow can bodies from a spray gun mounted to the welding arm of a can forming machine. The spray gun can either apply a stripe of highly charged powder on the welded seam areas of hollow can bodies, or can simultaneously apply a coating of powder having a first thickness on the longitudinally welded seam areas and a second thickness less than the first thickness on the remainder of the interior surface. Air is vented off from the powder flow being transported through the welding arm so that the powder to air ratio is increased. Air is introduced at the downstream end of the welding arm to provide a suction force to help draw the powder flow through the welding arm and to increase the velocity of the powder flow for better tribo charging of the powder in the gun and to improve spray pattern stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Edward Wilson, Masafumi Matsunaga, Wataru Kakuta, Raymond J. Merk, Ronald E. Niemiec, Laurence B. Saidman, Gerald W. Crum, William L. Palmer
  • Patent number: 5725670
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for spraying powder into the interior of welded hollow can bodies from a spray gun mounted to the welding arm of a can forming machine. The spray gun can either apply a stripe of highly charged powder on the welded seam areas of hollow can bodies, or can simultaneously apply a coating of powder having a first thickness on the longitudinally welded seam areas and a second thickness less than the first thickness on the remainder of the interior surface. Air is vented off from the powder flow being transported through the welding arm so that the powder to air ratio is increased. Air is introduced at the downstream end of the welding arm to provide a suction force to help draw the powder flow through the welding arm and to increase the velocity of the powder flow for better tribo charging of the powder in the gun and to improve spray pattern stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Edward Wilson, Masafumi Matsunaga, Wataru Kakuta, Raymond J. Merk, Ronald E. Niemiec, Laurence B. Saidman, Gerald W. Crum, William L. Palmer
  • Patent number: 5612096
    Abstract: An apparatus for spraying powder coating material includes a rotatable turret which moves articles to and from a work station. A powder spray gun is operable to spray a pattern onto each of the articles in turn while the article is at the work station. The powder flows through the spray gun as a series of pulses. A diverter assembly is operable to divert a portion of each pulse of powder away from the nozzle to more sharply define the pulse. An excess powder collector draws a flow of powder away from the work station. A virgin powder container supplies powder to a powder collector container which supplies powder to a powder feed container which supplies powder to the spray gun. Sensors associated with the virgin, collector and feed containers ensure that a predetermined quantity of powder is maintained in each container. During transport of powder from the virgin and collector containers, the containers and their associated pumps are vibrated to facilitate the flow of powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas C. Mulder, Ronald E. Niemiec, Joseph Pintelon, Harald Pleuse, Lawrence J. Macartney, Masafumi Matsunaga, Don R. Scarbrough
  • Patent number: 5474609
    Abstract: An apparatus for spraying powder coating material includes a rotatable turret which moves articles to and from a work station. A powder spray gun is operable to spray a pattern onto each of the articles in turn while the article is at the work station. The powder flows through the spray gun as a series of pulses. A diverter assembly is operable to divert a portion of each pulse of powder away from the nozzle to more sharply define the pulse. An excess powder collector draws a flow of powder away from the work station. A virgin powder container supplies powder to a powder collector container which supplies powder to a powder feed container which supplies powder to the spray gun. Sensors associated with the virgin, collector and feed containers ensure that a predetermined quantity of powder is maintained in each container. During transport of powder from the virgin and collector containers, the containers and their associated pumps are vibrated to facilitate the flow of powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas C. Mulder, Ronald E. Niemiec, Joseph Pintelon, Harald Pleuse, Lawrence J. Macartney, Masafumi Matsunaga, Don R. Scarbrough