Patents by Inventor Todd L. Eck

Todd L. Eck 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: 7134333
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length of double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight through a channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Gross, Todd L. Eck
  • Patent number: 7086284
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length of double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight through a channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Gross, Todd L. Eck
  • Patent number: 6862933
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduced an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length ot double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight though the channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping, movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Gross, Todd L. Eck
  • Publication number: 20030183003
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dispensing all amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length of double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight through a channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Peter L. Gross, Todd L. Eck
  • Patent number: 6616089
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length of double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight through a channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Gross, Todd L. Eck
  • Patent number: 6547338
    Abstract: A weight for correcting imbalance in a rotary element includes a number of discrete weights. The number of discrete weights is selected to substantially correct the imbalance. A piece of double sided tape has sufficient length for the number of discrete weights to be adhered to the length of double sided tape. A removable film protects the side of the tape opposite the side to which the discrete weights are adhered. The film reduces the likelihood of contamination until the film is removed to expose the side of the tape opposite the side to which the discrete weights are adhered, permitting the weight to be applied to the rotary element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Gross, Todd L. Eck
  • Publication number: 20020152811
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length of double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight through a channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works
    Inventors: Peter L. Gross, Todd L. Eck
  • Publication number: 20020135223
    Abstract: A weight for correcting imbalance in a rotary element includes a number of discrete weights. The number of discrete weights is selected to substantially correct the imbalance. A piece of double sided tape has sufficient length for the number of discrete weights to be adhered to the length of double sided tape. A removable film protects the side of the tape opposite the side to which the discrete weights are adhered. The film reduces the likelihood of contamination until the film is removed to expose the side of the tape opposite the side to which the discrete weights are adhered, permitting the weight to be applied to the rotary element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Peter L. Gross, Todd L. Eck