Patents by Inventor Vonn Sawatzky

Vonn Sawatzky 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: 9896289
    Abstract: A method of automatically mounting a sheet from a cutting table onto a spacer frame of an insulating glass unit begins with identifying a position and orientation of a specified sheet on the cutting table and moving a robotic sheet pickup apparatus to a corresponding position to that identified for the sheet. An edge of the specified sheet is lifted off of the table, beginning with mechanical suction that brings a corner of the sheet to within proximity of a primary vacuum suction of the pickup apparatus. In particular, the pickup apparatus may have a substantially planar platen with a set of channels coupled to a vacuum source. Once the sheet is fully picked up by vacuum suction, the sheet is laid upon a top surface of a tilt table, which can be simply the platen inverted. The table (or platen) is tilted to bring a corner of the sheet to abut against physical fences. Once the position and orientation of the sheet is so known, the sheet is oriented to correspond to a frame, and attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Southwall Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Vonn Sawatzky, Tom Engbersen, Christian H. Stoessel, Kayur A. Patel, Mark Cargill, Carlos Salinas, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140261962
    Abstract: A method of automatically mounting a sheet from a cutting table onto a spacer frame of an insulating glass unit begins with identifying a position and orientation of a specified sheet on the cutting table and moving a robotic sheet pickup apparatus to a corresponding position to that identified for the sheet. An edge of the specified sheet is lifted off of the table, beginning with mechanical suction that brings a corner of the sheet to within proximity of a primary vacuum suction of the pickup apparatus. In particular, the pickup apparatus may have a substantially planar platen with a set of channels coupled to a vacuum source. Once the sheet is fully picked up by vacuum suction, the sheet is laid upon a top surface of a tilt table, which can be simply the platen inverted. The table (or platen) is tilted to bring a corner of the sheet to abut against physical fences. Once the position and orientation of the sheet is so known, the sheet is oriented to correspond to a frame, and attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Southwall Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Vonn Sawatzky, Tom Engbersen, Christian H. Stoessel, Kayur A. Patel, Mark Cargill, Carlos Salinas, JR.
  • Publication number: 20070229683
    Abstract: A color wheel comprises a plurality of light filters mounted on a hub or other mounting surface for rotation. The outer circumferential edge of the filters extend radially beyond the outer circumferential edge of the mounting surface. The mounting surface is beveled at its outer circumferential edge. The filters are mounted by adhesive between each filter and the mounting surface. The adhesive extends into at least a portion of the area between the bevel and the filters. Color wheel assemblies comprise such color wheels mounted to a rotational motor. The outer circumferential edges of the filters are aligned with each other to the same radial distance from the central rotational axis. In certain exemplary embodiments the filters are wedge shaped, having contact with adjacent filters only at their radially outer periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Bookham Technologies plc
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Larson, Jerry Gene Gage, Peter C. Egerton, Vonn Sawatzky, Christopher Weiland Hall, Michael A. Scobey