Patents by Inventor Sean P. Follen

Sean P. Follen 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: 11945669
    Abstract: A web unwinding and splicing system includes a turret unwind having a turret arm with rotatable shafts at opposing ends thereof to unwind a running web of an expiring web material roll and unwind a waiting web of a new web material roll. A web splicing unit operable with the turret unwind includes a web deflection device that bumps the running web onto the waiting web to splice the running web with the waiting web and a cutting device that selectively severs the running web, thereby creating a leading portion of the running web that is spliced to the waiting web and a trailing portion of the running web that remains separate from the waiting web. A vacuum system is positioned proximate the running web to suction in the trailing portion of the running web left on the expiring web material roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Follen, Robert E. Andrews
  • Publication number: 20220324669
    Abstract: A web unwinding and splicing system includes a turret unwind having a turret arm with rotatable shafts at opposing ends thereof to unwind a running web of an expiring web material roll and unwind a waiting web of a new web material roll. A web splicing unit operable with the turret unwind includes a web deflection device that bumps the running web onto the waiting web to splice the running web with the waiting web and a cutting device that selectively severs the running web, thereby creating a leading portion of the running web that is spliced to the waiting web and a trailing portion of the running web that remains separate from the waiting web. A vacuum system is positioned proximate the running web to suction in the trailing portion of the running web left on the expiring web material roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: SEAN P. FOLLEN, ROBERT E. ANDREWS
  • Patent number: 11325801
    Abstract: A machine for producing disposable products anticipates when a current run of a product size is coming to an end, and therefore begins loading of material rolls intended for the next product size or code that will be run. An integrated production facility layout automatically orders and stocks raw material based on production plans, and commands a production machine to produce specific products of differing configurations, and automatically loads appropriately sized raw materials into the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: CURT G. JOA, INC.
    Inventors: Sean P. Follen, Robert E. Andrews
  • Patent number: 11174117
    Abstract: A web splicing apparatus is disclosed that includes a web unwinding unit configured to hold a running web material roll and a new web material roll and to unwind webbing from the running web material roll and a web splicing unit operable with the web unwinding unit to selectively splice the webbing of the running web material roll with webbing of the new web material roll. The web splicing unit further includes a cutting assembly configured to selectively sever the webbing of the running web material roll, a web deflection device, an actuator system configured to linearly translate the web deflection device in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and a locking mechanism operable in a locked state and an unlocked state to selectively prohibit and enable movement of the web deflection device in the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky A. Wakefield, Sean P. Follen, Donald R. Dodelin, Jeffrey W. Fritz
  • Publication number: 20200385228
    Abstract: A machine for producing disposable products anticipates when a current run of a product size is coming to an end, and therefore begins loading of material rolls intended for the next product size or code that will be run. An integrated production facility layout automatically orders and stocks raw material based on production plans, and commands a production machine to produce specific products of differing configurations, and automatically loads appropriately sized raw materials into the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Sean P. Follen, Robert E. Andrews
  • Publication number: 20200087093
    Abstract: A web splicing apparatus is disclosed that includes a web unwinding unit configured to hold a running web material roll and a new web material roll and to unwind webbing from the running web material roll and a web splicing unit operable with the web unwinding unit to selectively splice the webbing of the running web material roll with webbing of the new web material roll. The web splicing unit further includes a cutting assembly configured to selectively sever the webbing of the running web material roll, a web deflection device, an actuator system configured to linearly translate the web deflection device in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, and a locking mechanism operable in a locked state and an unlocked state to selectively prohibit and enable movement of the web deflection device in the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Ricky A. Wakefield, Sean P. Follen, Donald R. Dodelin, Jeffrey W. Fritz
  • Patent number: 9907706
    Abstract: The present invention provides machinery used to create products (for instance disposable products). The machinery is operated at high speed, with the machine occupying a small footprint. Materials can be fed into the manufacturing process vertically (from above or below), using assembly stations to feed completed components into the system at appropriate stations. Additionally, restocking of raw components can be accomplished by robotic means of transferring the raw material from staging areas into infeeding or splicing stations, without the need for human operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Andrews, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Gottfried Jason Hohm, Adam D. DeNoble, Tyler W. Pagel, Christopher A. Schwartz, Christopher J. Nelson, Darren R. Horness, Alan J. Rabe, Sean P. Follen, Brian G. Jankuski
  • Publication number: 20180052438
    Abstract: Systems and methods for position sample correlation, wherein a data sample is preferably processed by one or more independent programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and correlated to a servo position from a motion control processor with very high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventor: SEAN P. FOLLEN
  • Publication number: 20170151098
    Abstract: The present invention provides machinery used to create products (for instance disposable products). The machinery is operated at high speed, with the machine occupying a small footprint. Materials can be fed into the manufacturing process vertically (from above or below), using assembly stations to feed completed components into the system at appropriate stations. Additionally, restocking of raw components can be accomplished by robotic means of transferring the raw material from staging areas into infeeding or splicing stations, without the need for human operators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: ROBERT E. ANDREWS, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Gottfried Jason Hohm, Adam D. DeNoble, Tyler W. Pagel, Chistopher A. Schwartz, Christopher J. Nelson, Darren R. Horness, Alan J. Rabe, Sean P. Follen, Brian G. Jankuski
  • Publication number: 20170101281
    Abstract: A machine for producing disposable products anticipates when a current run of a product size is coming to an end, and therefore begins loading of material rolls intended for the next product size or code that will be run. An integrated production facility layout automatically orders and stocks raw material based on production plans, and commands a production machine to produce specific products of differing configurations, and automatically loads appropriately sized raw materials into the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Follen, Robert E. Andrews
  • Patent number: 9566193
    Abstract: The present invention provides machinery used to create products (for instance disposable products). The machinery is operated at high speed, with the machine occupying a small footprint. Materials can be fed into the manufacturing process vertically (from above or below), using assembly stations to feed completed components into the system at appropriate stations. Additionally, restocking of raw components can be accomplished by robotic means of transferring the raw material from staging areas into infeeding or splicing stations, without the need for human operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Andrews, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Gottfried Jason Hohm, Adam D. DeNoble, Tyler W. Pagel, Christopher A. Schwartz, Christopher J. Nelson, Darren R. Horness, Alan J. Rabe, Sean P. Follen, Brian G. Jankuski
  • Publication number: 20130056576
    Abstract: The present invention provides machinery used to create products (for instance disposable products). The machinery is operated at high speed, with the machine occupying a small footprint. Materials can be fed into the manufacturing process vertically (from above or below), using assembly stations to feed completed components into the system at appropriate stations. Additionally, restocking of raw components can be accomplished by robotic means of transferring the raw material from staging areas into infeeding or splicing stations, without the need for human operators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Andrews, Jeffrey W. Fritz, Gottfried Jason Hohm, Adam D. DeNoble, Tyler W. Pagel, Christopher A. Schwartz, Christopher J. Nelson, Darren R. Horness, Alan J. Rabe, Sean P. Follen, Brian G. Jankuski