Patents by Inventor Steven M. Swonke

Steven M. Swonke 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: 5561962
    Abstract: A compact disc (CD) is inserted into a sleeve as the sleeve is continuously advanced past a load position at which the CD is removed from a vertical spindle by a pivotally mounted lift arm and inserted into an open edge of the sleeve with the arm moving at the same linear speed as the sleeve. Each of the sleeves is supplied from a magazine by timing belts to a conveyor belt. The pivotally mounted arm picks up the CD through an arcuate groove on its bottom surface having a vacuum applied thereto. The arm also has a pressurized air hole for insuring that the open edge of the sleeve is sufficiently open to receive the CD. After the CD is inserted into the sleeve, two linearly spaced push-in units complete full insertion of the CD into the sleeve. If the sleeve does not have a CD inserted, it is automatically removed from the conveyor belt after passing the first push-in unit. The sleeve is held on the conveyor belt by a vacuum and is held by the vacuum against a straight surface of a guide edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Everhard Automation Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Everhard, Alan L. Everhard, Gregory J. Omvig, Steven M. Swonke