Patents by Inventor William E. Schmidt

William E. Schmidt 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: 11904520
    Abstract: Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: AGR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230330912
    Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, William E. Schmidt, Sudha Jebadurai, Robert Cowden
  • Patent number: 11772317
    Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: AGR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Cowden, Sudha Jebadurai, Georg V. Wolfe, William E. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230241831
    Abstract: Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230234276
    Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, William E. Schmidt, Sudha Jebadurai, Robert Cowden
  • Publication number: 20230084114
    Abstract: Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Georg V. WOLFE, Jeff SCHNEIDER, William E. SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 11597135
    Abstract: Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: AGR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20220024110
    Abstract: Systems and methods control the operation of a blow molder. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: AGR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Georg V. WOLFE, Jeff SCHNEIDER, William E. SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20210331372
    Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: AGR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert COWDEN, Sudha JEBADURAI, George V. WOLFE, William E. SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 11155018
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11065804
    Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: AGR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Cowden, Sudha Jebadurai, Georg V. Wolfe, William E. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20200376736
    Abstract: Blow molder system and associated method optimizes the performance, energy efficiency and/or operating costs of the blow molder. A blow molder controller executes a system model that relates blow molder input parameter changes to the characteristics of containers generated by the blow molder. Equipped with energy and/or operating cost data for operating the blow molder, the blow molder controller can select a set of blow molder input parameter changes for the blow molder that: drives the containers produced by the blow molder toward desired container characteristics, in an efficient amount of time, and in cost effective manner, considering the energy costs involved in implementing the changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: AGR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert COWDEN, Sudha JEBADURAI, Georg V. WOLFE, William E. SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 10406694
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to a container gripper assembly comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member may comprise a first plurality of pivotable inserts and the second jaw member may comprise a second plurality of pivotable inserts. The first jaw member may be movable towards the second jaw member to grip a container between the first plurality of pivotable inserts and the second plurality of pivotable inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: William Harkleroad, William E. Schmidt, George Fleeger, Jeremy Fleeger, Paul Di Zinno
  • Publication number: 20190152123
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20190126491
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to a container gripper assembly comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member may comprise a first plurality of pivotable inserts and the second jaw member may comprise a second plurality of pivotable inserts. The first jaw member may be movable towards the second jaw member to grip a container between the first plurality of pivotable inserts and the second plurality of pivotable inserts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: William Harkleroad, William E. Schmidt, George Fleeger, Jeremy Fleeger, Paul Di Zinno
  • Patent number: 10183440
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20180200941
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9868247
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AGR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20170080627
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9539756
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operation of a blow molder are disclosed. An indication of a crystallinity of at least one container produced by the blow molder may be received along with a material distribution of the at least one container. A model may be executed, where the model relates a plurality of blow molder input parameters to the indication of crystallinity and the material distribution and where a result of the model comprises changes to at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters to move the material distribution towards a baseline material distribution and the crystallinity towards a baseline crystallinity. The changes to the at least one of the plurality of blow molder input parameters may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: AGR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Georg V. Wolfe, Jeff Schneider, William E. Schmidt