Patents by Inventor Wallace S. Stewart

Wallace S. Stewart 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: 5531847
    Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method for forming individual pillowed chips of light lock material are provided. An ultrasonic horn and ultrasonic anvil are used to form pillows in a composite web of light lock material. The pillowed web material is then notched and cut to produce individual chips of light lock material. Each individual chip has one pillowed edge and one non-pillowed, notched edge. The pillowing and notching facilitate placement of the individual chips of light lock material into a film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wallace S. Stewart, Gary E. Merz, Dale C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5512132
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for cutting small pieces of fabric by means of an ultrasonic horn and a hollow open centered cutting anvil. The cutting operation includes a pick mechanism incorporating two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position before, during, and after the cutting operation. The pick head mechanism is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces, referred to as chips, in a subsequent assembly operation performed by the pick head.The assembly operation relates to attachment of small pieces of fabric by means of two miniature ultrasonic horns. The horns are combined with a pick and place mechanism which incorporates two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position during the manufacturing process. This pick and place head, when attached to a robotic arm, is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces repeatedly in a thermoplastic cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wallace S. Stewart, Danny L. Greisch
  • Patent number: 5480501
    Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method for placing individual pillowed chips of light lock material in a cartridge are provided. A vacuum plate mounted on a pivotable arm picks up a chip and releases it into a cartridge. The cartridge has a recessed area into which the pillowed edge of the chip fits. Once positioned with the cartridge, utilizing a tuck plate, the chip is sealed in place using an ultrasonic horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wallace S. Stewart, Gary E. Merz, Dale C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5447588
    Abstract: Webs (12, 14) to be spliced are provided with end edges (24, 26) which are positioned with an overlap (38), covered by a metal buffer strip (60) and joined by application of ultrasonic energy (54, 62, 64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Merz, Wallace S. Stewart, Dale C. Marshall, Harold Moore
  • Patent number: 5433816
    Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method for forming individual pillowed chips of light lock material are provided. An ultrasonic horn and ultrasonic anvil are used to form pillows in a composite web of light lock material. The pillowed web material is then notched and cut to produce individual chips of light lock material. Each individual chip has one pillowed edge and one non-pillowed, notched edge. The pillowing and notching facilitate placement of the individual chips of light lock material into a film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wallace S. Stewart, Gary E. Merz, Dale C. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5368464
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for cutting small pieces of fabric by means of an ultrasonic horn and a hollow open centered cutting anvil. The cutting operation includes a pick mechanism incorporating two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position before, during, and after the cutting operation. The pick head mechanism is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces, referred to as chips, in a subsequent assembly operation performed by the pick head.The assembly operation relates to attachment of small pieces of fabric by means of two miniature ultrasonic horns. The horns are combined with a pick and place mechanism which incorporates two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position during the manufacturing process. This pick and place head, when attached to a robotic arm, is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces repeatedly in a thermoplastic cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wallace S. Stewart, Danny L. Greisch
  • Patent number: 5356682
    Abstract: Webs (12, 14) to be spliced are provided with end edges (24, 26) which are positioned with an overlap (38), covered by a metal buffer strip (60) and joined by application of ultrasonic energy (54, 62, 64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wallace S. Stewart, James W. Morsch