Patents by Inventor Thomas Ratledge
Thomas Ratledge 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: 11904914Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment. The machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment. The method also includes analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object. The method further includes determining, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object indicates a potential deficiency of the object and communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert to a component external to the first train car. The alert comprises an indication of the potential deficiency of the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BNSF Railway CompanyInventors: Dennis William Morgart, Joshua John McBain, Corey Tremain Pasta, Aaron Thomas Ratledge
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Publication number: 20210291881Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment. The machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment. The method also includes analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object. The method further includes determining, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object indicates a potential deficiency of the object and communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert to a component external to the first train car. The alert comprises an indication of the potential deficiency of the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Dennis William Morgart, Joshua John McBain, Corey Tremain Pasta, Aaron Thomas Ratledge
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Publication number: 20170232465Abstract: A viscous material noncontact jetting system has a jetting dispenser mounted for relative motion with respect to a surface. A control is operable to cause the jetting dispenser to jet a viscous material droplet that is applied to the surface as a viscous material dot. A device, such as a camera or weigh scale, is connected to the control and provides a feedback signal representing a size-related physical characteristic of the dot applied to the surface. The size-related physical characteristics of subsequently applied dots are controlled by heating and cooling, or adjusting a piston stroke in the jetting dispenser, in response to the size-related physical characteristic feedback. Dispensed material volume control and velocity offset compensation are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Ron Abernathy, Alec J. Babiarz, Nicholas Anthony Barendt, Robert Ciardella, James Everett Cooper, Kenneth S. Espenschied, Erik Fiske, Christopher L. Giusti, Patrick R. Jenkins, Alan Lewis, Raymond Andrew Merritt, Naoya Ian Nagano, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Joe Sherman, Floriana Suriawidjaja, Todd Weston
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Patent number: 9636701Abstract: A viscous material noncontact jetting system has a jetting dispenser mounted for relative motion with respect to a surface. A control is operable to cause the jetting dispenser to jet a viscous material droplet that is applied to the surface as a viscous material dot. A device, such as a camera or weigh scale, is connected to the control and provides a feedback signal representing a size-related physical characteristic of the dot applied to the surface. The size-related physical characteristics of subsequently applied dots is controlled by heating and cooling, or adjusting a piston stroke in the jetting dispenser, in response to the size-related physical characteristic feedback. Dispensed material volume control and velocity offset compensation are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2012Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Ron Abernathy, Alec J. Babiarz, Nicholas Anthony Barendt, Robert Ciardella, James Everett Cooper, Jr., Kenneth S. Espenschied, Erik Fiske, Christopher L. Giusti, Patrick R. Jenkins, Alan Lewis, Raymond Andrew Merritt, Naoya Ian Nagano, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Joe Sherman, Floriana Suriawidjaja, Todd Weston
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Patent number: 9346075Abstract: Modular devices for jetting a fluid material and components for modular jetting devices. The devices may include a pressurized air or positive displacement pump fluid supply module to supply a fluid module inlet. A syringe may feed material through a check valve to a positive displacement pump, which feeds material through another check valve to the fluid module. Inside the fluid module is a valve element moved to contact a valve seat and jet a droplet of material by contact between an external drive pin and a movable element of the fluid module. Either a piezoelectric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or another actuator may move the drive pin. A controller may coordinate the supply of fluid from the positive displacement pump with the rate at which material is jetted. The fluid module and positive displacement pump are easily removable from the jetting device.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Stanley Cruz Aguilar, Mani Ahmadi, Stephen Russell des Jardins, Erik Fiske, Mark Meier, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Robert James Wright
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Patent number: 8765212Abstract: Methods for applying fluid materials to a substrate, such as circuit board, while continuously moving the fluid dispenser. Some methods generally involve correcting the dispense location for each of the dispensed amounts of fluid material by executing a statistical comparison of either the predicted and actual landing locations on the substrate, or the predicted and actual positions of the dispenser at each of the dispense locations. Other methods generally involve initiating the dispensing of amounts of the fluid material at dispense locations corrected by a correction factor specified in terms of the servo cycle for the movement of the dispenser or by a correction factor specified in terms of partial servo cycles courtesy of a timer.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2007Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Ronald N. Abernathy, Phillip P. Maiorca, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Clifford A. Fowler
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Publication number: 20130048759Abstract: Modular devices for jetting a fluid material and components for modular jetting devices. The devices may include a pressurized air or positive displacement pump fluid supply module to supply a fluid module inlet. A syringe may feed material through a check valve to a positive displacement pump, which feeds material through another check valve to the fluid module. Inside the fluid module is a valve element moved to contact a valve seat and jet a droplet of material by contact between an external drive pin and a movable element of the fluid module. Either a piezoelectric actuator, a pneumatic actuator, or another actuator may move the drive pin. A controller may coordinate the supply of fluid from the positive displacement pump with the rate at which material is jetted. The fluid module and positive displacement pump are easily removable from the jetting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: Nordson CorporationInventors: Stanley Cruz Aguilar, Mani Ahmadi, Stephen Russell des Jardins, Erik Fiske, Mark Meier, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Robert James Wright
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Publication number: 20120285990Abstract: A viscous material noncontact jetting system has a jetting dispenser mounted for relative motion with respect to a surface. A control is operable to cause the jetting dispenser to jet a viscous material droplet that is applied to the surface as a viscous material dot. A device, such as a camera or weigh scale, is connected to the control and provides a feedback signal representing a size-related physical characteristic of the dot applied to the surface. The size-related physical characteristics of subsequently applied dots is controlled by heating and cooling, or adjusting a piston stroke in the jetting dispenser, in response to the size-related physical characteristic feedback. Dispensed material volume control and velocity offset compensation are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: Nordson CorporationInventors: Ron Abernathy, Alec J. Babiarz, Nicholas Anthony Barendt, Robert Ciardella, James Everett Cooper, JR., Kenneth S. Espenschied, Erik Fiske, Christopher L. Giusti, Patrick R. Jenkins, Alan Lewis, Raymond Andrew Merritt, Naoya Ian Nagano, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Joe Sherman, Floriana Suriawidjaja, Todd Weston
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Patent number: 8257779Abstract: A viscous material noncontact jetting system has a jetting dispenser mounted for relative motion with respect to a surface. A control is operable to cause the jetting dispenser to jet a viscous material droplet that is applied to the surface as a viscous material dot. A device, such as a camera or weigh scale, is connected to the control and provides a feedback signal representing a size-related physical characteristic of the dot applied to the surface. The size-related physical characteristics of subsequently applied dots is controlled by heating and cooling, or adjusting a piston stroke in the jetting dispenser, in response to the size-related physical characteristic feedback. Dispensed material volume control and velocity offset compensation are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Ron Abernathy, Alec J. Babiarz, Nicholas Anthony Barendt, Robert Ciardella, James Everett Cooper, Jr., Kenneth S. Espenschied, Erik Fiske, Christopher L. Giusti, Patrick R. Jenkins, Alan Lewis, Raymond Andrew Merritt, Naoya Ian Nagano, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Joe Sherman, Floriana Suriawidjaja, Todd Weston
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Publication number: 20110184569Abstract: A viscous material noncontact jetting system has a jetting dispenser mounted for relative motion with respect to a surface. A control is operable to cause the jetting dispenser to jet a viscous material droplet that is applied to the surface as a viscous material dot. A device, such as a camera or weigh scale, is connected to the control and provides a feedback signal representing a size-related physical characteristic of the dot applied to the surface. The size-related physical characteristics of subsequently applied dots is controlled by heating and cooling, or adjusting a piston stroke in the jetting dispenser, in response to the size-related physical characteristic feedback. Dispensed material volume control and velocity offset compensation are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATIONInventors: Ron Abernathy, Alec J. Babiarz, Nicholas Anthony Barendt, Robert Ciardella, James Everett Cooper, JR., Kenneth S. Espenschied, Erik Fiske, Christopher L. Giusti, Patrick R. Jenkins, Alan Lewis, Raymond Andrew Merritt, Naoya Ian Nagano, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Joe Sherman, Floriana Suriawidjaja, Todd Weston
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Patent number: 7939125Abstract: A viscous material noncontact jetting system has a jetting dispenser mounted for relative motion with respect to a surface. A control is operable to cause the jetting dispenser to jet a viscous material droplet that is applied to the surface as a viscous material dot. A device, such as a camera or weigh scale, is connected to the control and provides a feedback signal representing a size-related physical characteristic of the dot applied to the surface. The size-related physical characteristics of subsequently applied dots is controlled by heating and cooling, or adjusting a piston stroke in the jetting dispenser, in response to the size-related physical characteristic feedback. Dispensed material volume control and velocity offset compensation are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2010Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Nordson CorporationInventors: Ron Abernathy, Alec J. Babiarz, Nicholas Anthony Barendt, Robert Ciardella, James Everett Cooper, Jr., Kenneth S. Espenschied, Erik Fiske, Christopher L. Giusti, Patrick R. Jenkins, Alan Lewis, Raymond Andrew Merritt, Naoya Ian Nagano, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Joe Sherman, Floriana Suriawidjaja, Todd Weston
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Publication number: 20110048575Abstract: A viscous material noncontact jetting system has a jetting dispenser mounted for relative motion with respect to a surface. A control is operable to cause the jetting dispenser to jet a viscous material droplet that is applied to the surface as a viscous material dot. A device, such as a camera or weigh scale, is connected to the control and provides a feedback signal representing a size-related physical characteristic of the dot applied to the surface. The size-related physical characteristics of subsequently applied dots is controlled by heating and cooling, or adjusting a piston stroke in the jetting dispenser, in response to the size-related physical characteristic feedback. Dispensed material volume control and velocity offset compensation are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATIONInventors: Ron Abernathy, Alec J. Babiarz, Nicholas Anthony Barendt, Robert Ciardella, James Everett Cooper, JR., Kenneth S. Espenschied, Erik Fiske, Christopher L. Giusti, Patrick R. Jenkins, Alan Lewis, Raymond Andrew Merritt, Naoya Ian Nagano, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Joe Sherman, Floriana Suriawidjaja, Todd Weston
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Publication number: 20090078720Abstract: Methods for applying fluid materials to a substrate, such as circuit board, while continuously moving the fluid dispenser. Some methods generally involve correcting the dispense location for each of the dispensed amounts of fluid material by executing a statistical comparison of either the predicted and actual landing locations on the substrate, or the predicted and actual positions of the dispenser at each of the dispense locations. Other methods generally involve initiating the dispensing of amounts of the fluid material at dispense locations corrected by a correction factor specified in terms of the servo cycle for the movement of the dispenser or by a correction factor specified in terms of partial servo cycles courtesy of a timer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATIONInventors: Ronald N. Abernathy, Phillip P. Maiorca, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge
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Publication number: 20070145164Abstract: A jetting dispenser has a dispenser body with a fluid channel and a fluid channel outlet within the fluid channel. A valve member is movable within the fluid channel for selective contact with a valve seat near the fluid channel outlet. A jetting nozzle is adapted to be coupled to the dispenser body, adjacent the channel outlet, and has a nozzle body with a plurality of nozzle outlets in fluid communication with the channel outlet via a plurality of fluid passages through the nozzle body. The valve member is moved by a valve driver to contact the valve seat and impart momentum to liquid material supplied to the dispenser such that a plurality of droplets of liquid material are simultaneously jetted from the plurality of nozzle outlets.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2005Publication date: June 28, 2007Inventors: Mani Ahmadi, Alec Babiarz, Robert Ciardella, Liang Fang, Erik Fiske, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge
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Publication number: 20070069041Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing or jetting a viscous material. The systems include an electronic controller and a jetting dispenser operatively coupled with the electronic controller. The systems further include at least one sensor that senses a system dispensing parameter and communicates an output signal representing the sensed parameter to the electronic controller for controlling system operation. In pneumatically-actuated jetting dispensers, a sensor may sense the fluid pressure in the air cavity of the pneumatic actuator. In jetting dispensers with a movable needle valve, a sensor may sense the displacement of the needle shaft. In other jetting dispensers, a sensor may sense the vibration of the jetting dispenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2005Publication date: March 29, 2007Inventors: Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Robert Ciardella, Alec Babiarz, Erik Fiske, Mark Meier, Chris Giusti, Liang Fang
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Publication number: 20070000603Abstract: A method is provided for forming at least one continuous line of viscous material between two components of an electronic assembly forming two substrates. The method includes the steps of depositing a plurality of spaced apart dots of the viscous material onto a surface of a first one of the substrates and bringing a second one of the substrates into contact with the dots causing the dots to merge together to form at least one continuous line of the viscous material between the two substrates.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicant: NORDSON CORPORATIONInventors: Alec Babiarz, Kristina Babiarz, Liang Fang, Erik Fiske, Christopher Giusti, Horatio Quinones, Floriana Suriawidjaja, Thomas Ratledge
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Publication number: 20050203668Abstract: A fluid dispensing system and method therefore having a PDA controller is provided. The system includes a dispensing apparatus, a positioning system and a general purpose PDA for controlling the system. The PDA optionally includes dispensing system logic for communicating with the dispensing apparatus. The dispensing system logic optionally includes one or more of positioner control logic, create program logic, store program logic, teach logic and recall program logic. The PDA communicates with the positioning system and/or the dispensing apparatus by a wired and/or wireless connection. Optionally a plurality of dispensing systems are networked together and the PDA communicates with one or more dispensing systems via a connection to the network. The network may be wired or wireless, and the PDA may have a wired or a wireless connection to the network.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2004Publication date: September 15, 2005Inventors: Robert Ciardella, Alec Babiarz, Chris Giusti, Thomas Ratledge
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Publication number: 20050161846Abstract: A method and apparatus for underfilling a gap between a multi-sided die and a substrate with an encapsulant material. The die and/or the substrate is heated non-uniformly by a heat source to generate a temperature gradient therein. The heated one of the die and the substrate transfers heat energy in proportion to the temperature gradient to the encapsulant material moving in the gap. The differential heat transfer steers, guides or otherwise directs the movement of the encapsulant material in the gap. The temperature gradient may be established with heat transferred from the heat source to the die and/or the substrate by conduction, convection, or radiation. The temperature gradient may be dynamically varied as the encapsulant material moves into the gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2005Publication date: July 28, 2005Applicant: Nordson CorporationInventors: Horatio Quinones, Liang Fang, Thomas Ratledge
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Publication number: 20050082670Abstract: Apparatus and methods for preapplying discrete amounts of underfill material of a component on a component substrate before the solder bumps of the component are joined by reflow with a packaging substrate to create a microelectronics package. The underfill material is preferably applied by a noncontact dispensing technique as discrete amounts at interstitial areas on an active surface of the component substrate defined between nearest-neighbor solder bumps. The underfill material forms a continuous meniscus of underfill material across the interstitial areas not occupied by the solder bumps and forms a collar encircling each of the solder bumps. The cured underfill material strengthens and improves the reliability of the solder joints formed by the bump reflow.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2004Publication date: April 21, 2005Inventors: Horatio Quinones, Liang Fang, Dave Ellis, Erik Fiske, Thomas Ratledge, Alec Babiarz, Robert Ciardella
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Publication number: 20050001869Abstract: A viscous material noncontact jetting system has a jetting dispenser mounted for relative motion with respect to a surface. A control is operable to cause the jetting dispenser to jet a viscous material droplet that is applied to the surface as a viscous material dot. A device, such as a camera or weigh scale, is connected to the control and provides a feedback signal representing a size-related physical characteristic of the dot applied to the surface. The size-related physical characteristics of subsequently applied dots is controlled by heating and cooling, or adjusting a piston stroke in the jetting dispenser, in response to the size-related physical characteristic feedback. Dispensed material volume control and velocity offset compensation are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2004Publication date: January 6, 2005Applicant: Nordson CorporationInventors: Ron Abernathy, Alec Babiarz, Nicholas Barendt, Robert Ciardella, James Cooper, Kenneth Espenschied, Erik Fiske, Christopher Giusti, Patrick Jenkins, Alan Lewis, Raymond Merritt, Naoya Nagano, Horatio Quinones, Thomas Ratledge, Joe Sherman, Floriana Suriawidjaja, Todd Weston