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).
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Patent number: 11300283Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20210207795Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 10982842Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: 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
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Patent number: 10960421Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 2, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Asim Altin, Antonius Petrus Maria De Veer, Kai Flockenhaus, Terrence M. Fulkerson, William R. Hoversten, Thomas Loparo, Klaus Michels, Richard William Vine
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Publication number: 20200191377Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20200139389Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2020Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Asim Altin, Antonius Petrus Maria De Veer, Kai Flockenhaus, Terrence M. Fulkerson, William R. Hoversten, Thomas Loparo, Klaus Michels, Richard William Vine
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Patent number: 10539318Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: 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
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Patent number: 10525490Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Asim Altin, Antonius Petrus Maria De Veer, Kai Flockenhaus, Terrence M. Fulkerson, William R. Hoversten, Thomas Loparo, Klaus Michels, Richard William Vine
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Publication number: 20190070620Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: Asim ALTIN, Antonius Petrus Maria DE VEER, Kai FLOCKENHAUS, Terrence M. FULKERSON, William R. HOVERSTEN, Thomas LOPARO, Klaus MICHELS, Richard William VINE
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Patent number: 10150124Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Asim Altin, Antonius Petrus Maria De Veer, Kai Flockenhaus, Terrence M. Fulkerson, William R. Hoversten, Thomas Loparo, Klaus Michels, Richard William Vine
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Publication number: 20180274778Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2018Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 9849474Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Brian D. Mather, Terrence M. Fulkerson, Thomas Loparo, Michael F. Riley, Benjamin J. Becker
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Publication number: 20170173610Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Nordson CorporationInventors: Asim ALTIN, Antonius Petrus Maria DE VEER, Kai FLOCKENHAUS, Terrence M. FULKERSON, William R. HOVERSTEN, Thomas LOPARO, Klaus MICHELS, Richard William VINE
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Publication number: 20150190823Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: Nordson CorporationInventors: Brian D. Mather, Terrence M. Fulkerson, Thomas Loparo, Michael F. Riley, Benjamin J. Becker
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Patent number: 6752323Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 23, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: John P. Roos, Thomas A. Loparo, William L. Palmer, Joseph C. Waryu, Stephen P. Stewart, Charles F. Nagy, Lenzie L. Borders, John C. Dillon
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Patent number: 5941456Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 29, 1998Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Joseph C. Waryu, Thomas A. Loparo, Sean Scott Davis
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Patent number: 5941463Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 21, 1997Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Nordson CoporationInventors: Glen Herstek, Joseph C. Waryu, Thomas A. Loparo
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Patent number: 5481260Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 28, 1994Date of Patent: January 2, 1996Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Jeffrey M. Buckler, Thomas A. Loparo, Joseph C. Waryu
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Patent number: 5405087Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 4, 1994Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Joseph C. Waryu, Thomas A. Loparo, Guy H. McMillan, Mark W. Norvotny, Jeffrey M. Buckler
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Patent number: D485150Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventor: Thomas A. Loparo