Patents by Inventor Tracy J. Fowler
Tracy J. Fowler 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: 10124393Abstract: A can body take-away assembly for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly and a domer is provided. The take-away assembly includes a drive assembly and a can body transport assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor and a support member. The take-away assembly motor is operatively coupled to said support member and structured to move said drive assembly support member in a generally horizontal direction. The can body transport assembly includes a number of gripping assemblies. Each gripping assembly is coupled to said drive assembly support member. Each gripping assembly includes a number of pairs of opposed gripping members sized to grip a can body. The gripping assemblies are structured to travel across the path of said ram assembly and to selectively grip a can body.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventor: Tracy J. Fowler
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Publication number: 20180009023Abstract: A can body take-away assembly for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented reciprocating, elongated ram assembly and a domer is provided. The take-away assembly includes a drive assembly and a can body transport assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor and a support member. The take-away assembly motor is operatively coupled to said support member and structured to move said drive assembly support member in a generally horizontal direction The can body transport assembly includes a number of gripping assemblies. Each gripping assembly is coupled to said drive assembly support member. Each gripping assembly includes a number of pairs of opposed gripping members sized to grip a can body. The gripping assemblies are structured to travel across the path of said ram assembly and to selectively grip a can body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Applicant: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventor: Tracy J. Fowler
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Patent number: 9833830Abstract: A can body take-away assembly for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly and a domer is provided. The take-away assembly includes a drive assembly and a can body transport assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor and a support member. The take-away assembly motor is operatively coupled to the support member and structured to move the drive assembly support member in a generally horizontal direction. The can body transport assembly includes a number of gripping assemblies. Each gripping assembly is coupled to the drive assembly support member. Each gripping assembly includes a number of pairs of opposed gripping members sized to grip a can body. The gripping assemblies are structured to travel across the path of the ram assembly and to selectively grip a can body.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventor: Tracy J. Fowler
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Publication number: 20160271679Abstract: A can body take-away assembly for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly and a domer is provided. The take-away assembly includes a drive assembly and a can body transport assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor and a support member. The take-away assembly motor is operatively coupled to said support member and structured to move said drive assembly support member in a generally horizontal direction. The can body transport assembly includes a number of gripping assemblies. Each gripping assembly is coupled to said drive assembly support member. Each gripping assembly includes a number of pairs of opposed gripping members sized to grip a can body. The gripping assemblies are structured to travel across the path of said ram assembly and to selectively grip a can body.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: Stolle Machinery Company, LLCInventor: Tracy J. Fowler
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Patent number: 6547878Abstract: A sealant dispensing system is disclosed which is capable of applying sealant material to irregularly shaped, i.e., non-circular, closure members. To accomplish this, the closure member is loaded onto a rotary chuck in a conventional manner. The sealant applying gun, however, is moveable relative to the end. In this manner, through a combination of rotation of the closure member and movement of the gun, the gun is able to follow the outline of a closure member of any shape. In order to allow non-circular closure members to be loaded onto a chuck, the chuck must first be stopped. After the closure member is loaded, chuck rotation is then initiated. In order to allow this selective chuck rotation, the chuck may be attached to a servo motor. An electromagnet may be located in proximity to each chuck of the sealant dispensing system.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Alcoa Packaging Machinery, Inc.Inventors: Clinton W. Rutledge, Tracy J. Fowler
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Patent number: 6391387Abstract: A sealant dispensing system is disclosed which is capable of applying sealant material to irregularly shaped, i.e., non-circular, closure members. To accomplish this, the closure member is loaded onto a rotary chuck in a conventional manner. The sealant applying gun, however, is moveable relative to the end. In this manner, through a combination of rotation of the closure member and movement of the gun, the gun is able to follow the outline of a closure member of any shape. In order to allow non-circular closure members to be loaded onto a chuck, the chuck must first be stopped. After the closure member is loaded, chuck rotation is then initiated. In order to allow this selective chuck rotation, the chuck may be attached to a servo motor. An electromagnet may be located in proximity to each chuck of the sealant dispensing system.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1999Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Preferred Machining CorporationInventors: Clinton W. Rutledge, Tracy J. Fowler
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Publication number: 20020048633Abstract: A sealant dispensing system is disclosed which is capable of applying sealant material to irregularly shaped, i.e., non-circular, closure members. To accomplish this, the closure member is loaded onto a rotary chuck in a conventional manner. The sealant applying gun, however, is moveable relative to the end. In this manner, through a combination of rotation of the closure member and movement of the gun, the gun is able to follow the outline of a closure member of any shape. In order to allow non-circular closure members to be loaded onto a chuck, the chuck must first be stopped. After the closure member is loaded, chuck rotation is then initiated. In order to allow this selective chuck rotation, the chuck may be attached to a servo motor. An electromagnet may be located in proximity to each chuck of the sealant dispensing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2001Publication date: April 25, 2002Inventors: Clinton W. Rutledge, Tracy J. Fowler
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Patent number: 6113333Abstract: Apparatus for applying a sealant to an outer rim of a can lid supported on a rotating lift chuck for movement into and out of a location beneath a sealant applying gun wherein the can lid is held onto the rotating lift chuck during the application of the sealant by at least a partial vacuum. Also, each sealant applying gun is pivotally mounted between a first location blocking the removal of an underneath lift chuck and a second location permitting the removal of the underneath lift chuck.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1998Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Preferred Machining CorporationInventors: Clinton W. Rutledge, Tracy J. Fowler
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Patent number: 4947686Abstract: An apparatus for use in determining the approximate web tension setting necessary for providing a predetermined web width in a machine, such as a web printer, which is used to process a continuous plastic web of the type which is subject to significant stretching and shrinking in response to relatively small web tension variations, comprising a first web restraining device for holdingly engaging a first end of a length of web material to be tested; a second web restraining device for holdingly engaging a second end of the length of web material to be tested; a force application device for applying a controlled amount of longitudinal stretching force to the length of web material to be tested; and a measuring device for measuring the width of the length of web material to be tested in a mid-region thereof during application of the longitudinal stretching force thereto. The apparatus may also be used for determining web graphics distortion.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1989Date of Patent: August 14, 1990Assignee: Adolph Coors CompanyInventors: Richard H. Wendell, Tracy J. Fowler
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Patent number: 4496417Abstract: A laminating apparatus for laminating extensible plastic film material to a paper backing material to form a laminated composite. The apparatus comprises mechanical stretch control means for controlling the stretch or relaxation of the film material prior to lamination with the paper material. The apparatus also comprises means for monitoring the amount of film stretch in the laminated composite and providing data therefrom to a data processing unit which provides control signals to operate the mechanical stretch controlling means.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1982Date of Patent: January 29, 1985Assignee: Adolph Coors CompanyInventors: Joseph R. Haake, Tracy J. Fowler, James W. Jensen