Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Loparo

Thomas A. Loparo 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: 11300283
    Abstract: A light assembly coupled to a spray gun for spraying electrostatically charged coating material is disclosed. The spray gun includes a gun body comprising a barrel, a nozzle assembly extending from the barrel in a longitudinal direction, a voltage multiplier, and an actuator assembly configured to transition the voltage multiplier between an activated state and a deactivated state. The light assembly includes a light and circuitry electrically connected to the light. The circuitry is configured to supply electrical energy inductively obtained by the circuitry to the light when the voltage multiplier is in the activated state. The light assembly can also include a housing, a lens cover releasably attached to the housing, and a control member for changing a characteristic of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Terrence M. Fulkerson, Brian D. Mather, Jared J. Bell, Michael Thomas, Jeffery A. Perkins, John A. Greco, Thomas Loparo, Stephen P. Lovass, Gregory S. Dawson, John Palazzo, Martin T. Vicens, John J. Binder, Jeffery Dailidas, James Khoury
  • Publication number: 20210207795
    Abstract: A light assembly coupled to a spray gun for spraying electrostatically charged coating material is disclosed. The spray gun includes a gun body comprising a barrel, a nozzle assembly extending from the barrel in a longitudinal direction, a voltage multiplier, and an actuator assembly configured to transition the voltage multiplier between an activated state and a deactivated state. The light assembly includes a light and circuitry electrically connected to the light. The circuitry is configured to supply electrical energy inductively obtained by the circuitry to the light when the voltage multiplier is in the activated state. The light assembly can also include a housing, a lens cover releasably attached to the housing, and a control member for changing a characteristic of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Terrence M. FULKERSON, Brian D. Mather, Jared J. Bell, Michael Thomas, Jeffery A. Perkins, John A. Greco, Thomas Loparo, Stephen P. Lovass, Gregory S. Dawson, John Palazzo, Martin T. Vicens, John J. Binder, Jeffery Dailidas, James Khoury
  • Patent number: 10982842
    Abstract: A light assembly coupled to a spray gun for spraying electrostatically charged coating material is disclosed. The spray gun includes a gun body comprising a barrel, a nozzle assembly extending from the barrel in a longitudinal direction, a voltage multiplier, and an actuator assembly configured to transition the voltage multiplier between an activated state and a deactivated state. The light assembly includes a light and circuitry electrically connected to the light. The circuitry is configured to supply electrical energy inductively obtained by the circuitry to the light when the voltage multiplier is in the activated state. The light assembly can also include a housing, a lens cover releasably attached to the housing, and a control member for changing a characteristic of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Terrence M. Fulkerson, Brian D. Mather, Jared J. Bell, Michael Thomas, Jeffery A. Perkins, John A. Greco, Thomas Loparo, Stephen P. Lovass, Gregory S. Dawson, John Palazzo, Martin T. Vicens, John J. Binder, Jeffery Dailidas, James Khoury
  • Patent number: 10960421
    Abstract: A feed center for powder coating material includes a hopper, an extraction duct, and a control valve. The hopper is in fluid communication with a fluidizing pressure source. The extraction duct is in fluid communication with at least one suction source. The control valve connects the extraction duct with an extraction port of the hopper. The control valve is operable between a first position for applying suction from the at least one suction source to the hopper, and a second position providing an exterior opening in at least one of the control valve and the first extraction duct for exhausting pressurized fluid from the hopper and/or collecting at least some of the air and powder that is exhausted from the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Asim Altin, Antonius Petrus Maria De Veer, Kai Flockenhaus, Terrence M. Fulkerson, William R. Hoversten, Thomas Loparo, Klaus Michels, Richard William Vine
  • Publication number: 20200191377
    Abstract: A light assembly coupled to a spray gun for spraying electrostatically charged coating material is disclosed. The spray gun includes a gun body comprising a barrel, a nozzle assembly extending from the barrel in a longitudinal direction, a voltage multiplier, and an actuator assembly configured to transition the voltage multiplier between an activated state and a deactivated state. The light assembly includes a light and circuitry electrically connected to the light. The circuitry is configured to supply electrical energy inductively obtained by the circuitry to the light when the voltage multiplier is in the activated state. The light assembly can also include a housing, a lens cover releasably attached to the housing, and a control member for changing a characteristic of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Terrence M. Fulkerson, Brian D. Mather, Jared J. Bell, Michael Thomas, Jeffery A. Perkins, John A. Greco, Thomas Loparo, Stephen P. Lovass, Gregory S. Dawson, John Palazzo, Martin T. Vicens, John J. Binder, Jeffery Dailidas, James Khoury
  • Publication number: 20200139389
    Abstract: A feed center for powder coating material includes a hopper, an extraction duct, and a control valve. The hopper is in fluid communication with a fluidizing pressure source. The extraction duct is in fluid communication with at least one suction source. The control valve connects the extraction duct with an extraction port of the hopper. The control valve is operable between a first position for applying suction from the at least one suction source to the hopper, and a second position providing an exterior opening in at least one of the control valve and the first extraction duct for exhausting pressurized fluid from the hopper and/or collecting at least some of the air and powder that is exhausted from the powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Asim Altin, Antonius Petrus Maria De Veer, Kai Flockenhaus, Terrence M. Fulkerson, William R. Hoversten, Thomas Loparo, Klaus Michels, Richard William Vine
  • Patent number: 10539318
    Abstract: A light assembly coupled to a spray gun for spraying electrostatically charged coating material is disclosed. The spray gun includes a gun body comprising a barrel, a nozzle assembly extending from the barrel in a longitudinal direction, a voltage multiplier, and an actuator assembly configured to transition the voltage multiplier between an activated state and a deactivated state. The light assembly includes a light and circuitry electrically connected to the light. The circuitry is configured to supply electrical energy inductively obtained by the circuitry to the light when the voltage multiplier is in the activated state. The light assembly can also include a housing, a lens cover releasably attached to the housing, and a control member for changing a characteristic of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Terrence M. Fulkerson, Brian D. Mather, Jared J. Bell, Michael Thomas, Jeffery A. Perkins, John A. Greco, Thomas Loparo, Stephen P. Lovass, Gregory S. Dawson, John Palazzo, Martin T. Vicens, John J. Binder, Jeffery Dailidas, James Khoury
  • Patent number: 10525490
    Abstract: A feed center for powder coating material includes a hopper, an extraction duct, and a control valve. The hopper is in fluid communication with a fluidizing pressure source. The extraction duct is in fluid communication with at least one suction source. The control valve connects the extraction duct with an extraction port of the hopper. The control valve is operable between a first position for applying suction from the at least one suction source to the hopper, and a second position providing an exterior opening in at least one of the control valve and the first extraction duct for exhausting pressurized fluid from the hopper and/or collecting at least some of the air and powder that is exhausted from the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Asim Altin, Antonius Petrus Maria De Veer, Kai Flockenhaus, Terrence M. Fulkerson, William R. Hoversten, Thomas Loparo, Klaus Michels, Richard William Vine
  • Publication number: 20190070620
    Abstract: A feed center for powder coating material includes a hopper, an extraction duct, and a control valve. The hopper is in fluid communication with a fluidizing pressure source. The extraction duct is in fluid communication with at least one suction source. The control valve connects the extraction duct with an extraction port of the hopper. The control valve is operable between a first position for applying suction from the at least one suction source to the hopper, and a second position providing an exterior opening in at least one of the control valve and the first extraction duct for exhausting pressurized fluid from the hopper and/or collecting at least some of the air and powder that is exhausted from the powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Asim ALTIN, Antonius Petrus Maria DE VEER, Kai FLOCKENHAUS, Terrence M. FULKERSON, William R. HOVERSTEN, Thomas LOPARO, Klaus MICHELS, Richard William VINE
  • Patent number: 10150124
    Abstract: A feed center for powder coating material includes a hopper, an extraction duct, and a control valve. The hopper is connectable in fluid communication with a fluidizing pressure source. The extraction duct is connectable in fluid communication with at least one suction source. The control valve connects the extraction duct with an extraction port of the hopper. The control valve is operable between a first position for applying suction from the at least one suction source to the hopper, and a second position providing an exterior opening in at least one of the control valve and the first extraction duct for exhausting pressurized fluid from the hopper and/or collecting at least some of the air and powder that is exhausted from the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Asim Altin, Antonius Petrus Maria De Veer, Kai Flockenhaus, Terrence M. Fulkerson, William R. Hoversten, Thomas Loparo, Klaus Michels, Richard William Vine
  • Publication number: 20180274778
    Abstract: A light assembly coupled to a spray gun for spraying electrostatically charged coating material is disclosed. The spray gun includes a gun body comprising a barrel, a nozzle assembly extending from the barrel in a longitudinal direction, a voltage multiplier, and an actuator assembly configured to transition the voltage multiplier between an activated state and a deactivated state. The light assembly includes a light and circuitry electrically connected to the light. The circuitry is configured to supply electrical energy inductively obtained by the circuitry to the light when the voltage multiplier is in the activated state. The light assembly can also include a housing, a lens cover releasably attached to the housing, and a control member for changing a characteristic of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Terrence M. Fulkerson, Brian D. Mather, Jared J. Bell, Michael Thomas, Jeffery A. Perkins, John A. Greco, Thomas Loparo, Stephen P. Lovass, Gregory S. Dawson, John Palazzo, Martin T. Vicens, John J. Binder, Jeffery Dailidas, James Khoury
  • Patent number: 9849474
    Abstract: A selectively configurable spray gun may include a gun body comprising a selectable forward section and a rearward section. The rearward section may be connected with either of two or more selectable forward sections so as to selectively configure the spray gun to operate either with a dense phase powder supply configuration or a with dilute phase powder supply configuration. The rearward section may include a selectable powder flow path that is connectable at an inlet end to a source of dense phase powder and at an outlet end to a selectable spray nozzle in the selectable forward section that may optionally include a diffuser. An adapter may be used to connect the rearward section with a selectable spray nozzle or air cap. A manual spray gun embodiment is also presented. A selectively configurable spray gun for use with a dense phase powder supply may include a smaller diameter powder tube that extends through a larger diameter powder tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Brian D. Mather, Terrence M. Fulkerson, Thomas Loparo, Michael F. Riley, Benjamin J. Becker
  • Publication number: 20170173610
    Abstract: A feed center for powder coating material includes a hopper, an extraction duct, and a control valve. The hopper is connectable in fluid communication with a fluidizing pressure source. The extraction duct is connectable in fluid communication with at least one suction source. The control valve connects the extraction duct with an extraction port of the hopper. The control valve is operable between a first position for applying suction from the at least one suction source to the hopper, and a second position providing an exterior opening in at least one of the control valve and the first extraction duct for exhausting pressurized fluid from the hopper and/or collecting at least some of the air and powder that is exhausted from the powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Asim ALTIN, Antonius Petrus Maria DE VEER, Kai FLOCKENHAUS, Terrence M. FULKERSON, William R. HOVERSTEN, Thomas LOPARO, Klaus MICHELS, Richard William VINE
  • Publication number: 20150190823
    Abstract: A selectively configurable spray gun may include a gun body comprising a selectable forward section and a rearward section. The rearward section may be connected with either of two or more selectable forward sections so as to selectively configure the spray gun to operate either with a dense phase powder supply configuration or a with dilute phase powder supply configuration. The rearward section may include a selectable powder flow path that is connectable at an inlet end to a source of dense phase powder and at an outlet end to a selectable spray nozzle in the selectable forward section that may optionally include a diffuser. An adapter may be used to connect the rearward section with a selectable spray nozzle or air cap. A manual spray gun embodiment is also presented. A selectively configurable spray gun for use with a dense phase powder supply may include a smaller diameter powder tube that extends through a larger diameter powder tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Brian D. Mather, Terrence M. Fulkerson, Thomas Loparo, Michael F. Riley, Benjamin J. Becker
  • Patent number: 6752323
    Abstract: A hot melt high temperature material application system with application device pressure monitoring and heated recirculating manifold uses high temperature pressure transducers with each application device such as spray guns to monitor hot melt material application. A material supply line fitting has a calibrated orifice at the interface with a device manifold associated with each application device. In another embodiment, the calibrated orifice is located in a fluid passageway of the device manifold. The calibrated orifice corresponds in size to the opening of a nozzle of the application device. Heated recirculating manifolds are combined with hot melt material supply systems to provide uniform pressure to multiple application devices, and to recirculate material back through the supply system. Each recirculating manifold includes a heater, pressure regulator, and a recirculation path. The manifolds may be directly or remotely connected to one or more hot melt material supply systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Roos, Thomas A. Loparo, William L. Palmer, Joseph C. Waryu, Stephen P. Stewart, Charles F. Nagy, Lenzie L. Borders, John C. Dillon
  • Patent number: 5941456
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a coating gun nozzle used in spraying the inner surface of cans with a coating material comprises a cleaning solution spray nozzle having a cleaning spray extension and a cleaning spray nozzle for spraying a cleaning solution onto the coating gun nozzle to remove oversprayed coating material collecting thereon. The coating gun nozzle is disposed at an end of a coating gun nozzle extension. A single spray shield is disposed over the end of the coating gun nozzle extension, and has a flange portion which extends at least to an external surface of the cleaning nozzle extension to shield the components of the apparatus from oversprayed coating material. A check valve mechanism disposed within the cleaning spray extension prevents cleaning solution from dribbling or drooling from the cleaning spray nozzle. A control system controls the operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Waryu, Thomas A. Loparo, Sean Scott Davis
  • Patent number: 5941463
    Abstract: A spray gun for spraying a fluid has a manifold for connection to a supply of fluid, and a nozzle assembly is attached to the manifold. The nozzle assembly has a spray nozzle producing a generally fan-shaped spray pattern lying generally in a plane. The nozzle assembly is rotatable relative to manifold to permit the plane of the spray pattern to be manually reoriented while maintaining the manifold in a fixed position. The spray gun can be activated to produce the directional spray pattern. The nozzle assembly is manually rotated relative to the manifold while the spray gun is activated, and the spray pattern is observed the spray pattern while rotating the nozzle assembly. The rotatable nozzle assembly permits the plane of the spray pattern to be adjusted without turning the spray gun off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Nordson Coporation
    Inventors: Glen Herstek, Joseph C. Waryu, Thomas A. Loparo
  • Patent number: 5481260
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for monitoring a characteristic of fluid flow through a fluid dispenser that permit adverse flow conditions to be monitored, analyzed and displayed to an operator. The monitor samples either the static or firing pressure a predetermined number of times and calculates an average static and firing pressure over the sampling period. The average pressure values are compared to high and low warning and alarm limits and warning and alarm error codes are produced as a function thereof. In addition, individual sampled values are compared to the high and low warning and alarm limits and pressure values exceeding the limits during a sampling period are counted. Warning and alarm error codes are produced as a function of the counted values exceeding predetermined count values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Buckler, Thomas A. Loparo, Joseph C. Waryu
  • Patent number: 5405087
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a coating gun nozzle used in spraying the inner surface of cans with a coating material comprises a cleaning nozzle of a cleaning gun for spraying a cleaning solution onto the spray nozzle to remove oversprayed coating material collecting thereon. The cleaning nozzle is secured to an end of an elongated cleaning gun extension and is positioned above a spray nozzle secured to one end of a coating gun extension for Spraying cleaning solution onto said spray nozzle. Cover sleeves, forming liquid-tight seals with the cleaning and spray nozzles, have removable friction engagement with the cleaning and spray gun extensions to shield the cleaning and spray guns from oversprayed coating material. A control system controls the operation of the coating and cleaning guns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Waryu, Thomas A. Loparo, Guy H. McMillan, Mark W. Norvotny, Jeffrey M. Buckler
  • Patent number: D485150
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Loparo