Patents by Inventor William James Watt
William James Watt 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: 11577484Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a web control guide for an inflation and sealing assembly of a protective packaging formation device for inflating a web material into a chain of inflated cushions. The web control guide is positioned along a material path at a transverse spacing from a first compression element and constrains a first thickness of the material path measured normal to the longitudinal and transverse directions of the material path. The transverse spacing and constrained thickness dimension are sufficiently small to prevent transverse movement of the flexible material towards the first compression element to avoid excessive heating of the web material outside a sealing zone.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLCInventors: William James Watts, Julian Michael Moore, Charles Anthony Daigle, Joseph Vincent Prisco
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Publication number: 20210187893Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a web control guide for an inflation and sealing assembly of a protective packaging formation device for inflating a web material into a chain of inflated cushions. The web control guide is positioned along a material path at a transverse spacing from a first compression element and constrains a first thickness of the material path measured normal to the longitudinal and transverse directions of the material path. The transverse spacing and constrained thickness dimension are sufficiently small to prevent transverse movement of the flexible material towards the first compression element to avoid excessive heating of the web material outside a sealing zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: William James Watts, Julian Michael Moore, Charles Anthony Daigle, Joseph Vincent Prisco
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Patent number: 10974858Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an inflatable-cushion inflation and sealing device. The device includes an inflation assembly configured for insertion between first and second overlapping film plies. The inflation assembly includes a fluid conduit configured to direct a fluid in between the plies to form one or more cushions. The fluid conduit includes a nozzle. The inflation assembly includes a cutting member. The cutting member includes a blade holder with a blade and a blade guard mounted thereon. The blade guard has a safety position in which the blade is covered and a retracted position in which the blade is exposed. Installation of the blade holder onto the inflation assembly automatically positions the blade in the working position with the blade guard retracted. Removing the tray from the inflation assembly automatically positions the blade in the safety position by covering the blade with the blade guard.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLCInventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Paul F. Ostwald, William James Watts
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Patent number: 10967600Abstract: A protective packaging formation device is provided herein. The device includes an inflation assembly having a fluid conduit that directs fluid between overlapping plies of a polymeric web. The device also includes a driving mechanism that drives the film in a downstream direction. The device also includes a sealing mechanism that includes a thin film heater that heats the plies to create a longitudinal seal that seals the plies of film together. The driving mechanism drives the web such that the web slides across the heating assembly in a downstream direction to trap fluid between the plies.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2017Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLCInventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Paul F. Ostwald, William James Watts
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Patent number: 10787284Abstract: An inflatable-cushion inflation and sealing device is provided. The device includes an inflation assembly that inflates with a fluid a cushion cavity disposed between overlapping portions of first and second plies of a film, which plies form a flexible structure. The device also includes a sealing mechanism having a first compression element having a curved surface operable to bend the flexible structure about a bend axis, a second compression element positioned such that the first and second compression elements are operable to receiving the flexible structure at a first pinch area in which the first compression element and the second compression element are positioned against the flexible structure to pinch the flexible structure, and a third compression element configured for receiving the flexible structure at a second pinch area in which the first compression element and the third compression element contact the flexible structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLCInventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Paul F. Ostwald, William James Watts
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Patent number: 10369760Abstract: Provided is a protective packaging formation device for sealing a flexible web. The device includes a housing having multiple housing supports disposed to collectively define different support plane areas for contact with an underlying surface. The housing is positionable in a multiple different dispensing orientations by placing the housing in different housing supports. The device also includes a web support depending from the housing. The web support includes a one end positioned distally from the housing and a second end positioned proximal to the housing. The web support supports a supply of a flexible web in a position extending from the housing beyond the housing support. The device also includes an adjustable stand connected to one end of the web support and extending down to the underlying surface such that the stand limits the tilting of the housing in the direction in which the web support extends from the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: PREGIS INNOVATIVE PACKAGING LLCInventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Paul F. Ostwald, William James Watts
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Publication number: 20190130417Abstract: Systems and methods to maintain digital chain of custody of containers and products loaded therein are described. A container may be verified, and products to be loaded into the container may be identified. Video data may be captured throughout the loading process, and the video data, together with product information, may be combined to generate a digital container model. Further, a monitoring device may be included within the container to gather data during shipment. During shipment, the digital container model may be provided to and reviewed by a recipient of the container. Upon arrival of the container, monitoring data of the monitoring device may also be reviewed by the recipient. Based on reviews of the digital container model and the monitoring data, digital chain of custody may be established and maintained for all or a portion of the products in the container from loading to arrival.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: William James Watt, James Li-Chung Chen, Christopher Angelo Rocca
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Publication number: 20170282479Abstract: A protective packaging formation device is provided herein. The device includes an inflation assembly having a fluid conduit that directs fluid between overlapping plies of a polymeric web. The device also includes a driving mechanism that drives the film in a downstream direction. The device also includes a sealing mechanism that includes a thin film heater that heats the plies to create a longitudinal seal that seals the plies of film together. The driving mechanism drives the web such that the web slides across the heating assembly in a downstream direction to trap fluid between the plies.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Paul F. Ostwald, William James Watts
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Publication number: 20170282480Abstract: Provided is a protective packaging formation device for sealing a flexible web. The device includes a housing having multiple housing supports disposed to collectively define different support plane areas for contact with an underlying surface. The housing is positionable in a multiple different dispensing orientations by placing the housing in different housing supports. The device also includes a web support depending from the housing. The web support includes a one end positioned distally from the housing and a second end positioned proximal to the housing. The web support supports a supply of a flexible web in a position extending from the housing beyond the housing support. The device also includes an adjustable stand connected to one end of the web support and extending down to the underlying surface such that the stand limits the tilting of the housing in the direction in which the web support extends from the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Paul F. Ostwald, William James Watts
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Publication number: 20170275033Abstract: An inflatable-cushion inflation and sealing device is provided. The device includes an inflation assembly that inflates with a fluid a cushion cavity disposed between overlapping portions of first and second plies of a film, which plies form a flexible structure. The device also includes a sealing mechanism having a first compression element having a curved surface operable to bend the flexible structure about a bend axis, a second compression element positioned such that the first and second compression elements are operable to receiving the flexible structure at a first pinch area in which the first compression element and the second compression element are positioned against the flexible structure to pinch the flexible structure, and a third compression element configured for receiving the flexible structure at a second pinch area in which the first compression element and the third compression element contact the flexible structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2017Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Paul F. Ostwald, William James Watts
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Publication number: 20170275036Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an inflatable-cushion inflation and sealing device. The device includes an inflation assembly configured for insertion between first and second overlapping film plies. The inflation assembly includes a fluid conduit configured to direct a fluid in between the plies to form one or more cushions. The fluid conduit includes a nozzle. The inflation assembly includes a cutting member. The cutting member includes a blade holder with a blade and a blade guard mounted thereon. The blade guard has a safety position in which the blade is covered and a retracted position in which the blade is exposed. Installation of the blade holder onto the inflation assembly automatically positions the blade in the working position with the blade guard retracted. Removing the tray from the inflation assembly automatically positions the blade in the safety position by covering the blade with the blade guard.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2017Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Paul F. Ostwald, William James Watts
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Patent number: 9517899Abstract: A system for unloading inventory items includes an inventory holder, an unloading station, and a mobile drive unit. The inventory holder stores inventory items. The unloading station includes a barrier that is operable to prevent inventory items from moving past the barrier as the inventory holder moves past the barrier. The mobile drive unit is operable to move the inventory holder toward the unloading station and to move the inventory holder past the barrier.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William James Watt, Timothy Aaron Bragg, Andrew Stubbs, Matthew David Verminski, John P. Dugan
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Publication number: 20130251480Abstract: A system for unloading inventory items includes an inventory holder, an unloading station, and a mobile drive unit. The inventory holder stores inventory items. The unloading station includes a barrier that is operable to prevent inventory items from moving past the barrier as the inventory holder moves past the barrier. The mobile drive unit is operable to move the inventory holder toward the unloading station and to move the inventory holder past the barrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William James Watt, Timothy Bragg, Andrew Stubbs, Matthew D. Verminski, John P. Dugan
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Patent number: 8444369Abstract: A method for unloading inventory items includes storing an inventory item on an inventory holder and moving the inventory holder toward an unloading station with a mobile drive unit. Additionally, the method includes moving the inventory holder past a barrier of the unloading station. The method further includes preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier as the mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder past the barrier.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William James Watt, Timothy Bragg, Andrew Stubbs, Matthew D. Verminski, John P. Dugan
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Publication number: 20110103924Abstract: A method for unloading inventory items includes storing an inventory item on an inventory holder and moving the inventory holder toward an unloading station with a mobile drive unit. Additionally, the method includes moving the inventory holder past a barrier of the unloading station. The method further includes preventing the inventory item from moving past the barrier as the mobile drive unit moves the inventory holder past the barrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2009Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Kiva Systems, Inc.Inventors: William James Watt, Timothy Bragg, Andrew Stubbs, Matthew D. Verminski, John P. Dugan