Patents by Inventor William R. Wawczak

William R. Wawczak 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: 8931155
    Abstract: A belt fastener installation tool is provided with a raised belt guiding surface for inserting the belt between upper and lower plates of a belt fastener held in the tool. The raised surface keeps interference with the lower plate during belt insertion between the fastener plates to a minimum. The raised surface can be formed on a separate riser plate member for being secured to an existing belt fastener installation tool; the raised surface can be formed as an integral, one-piece member in combination with the anvil plate of the tool; and the raised surface can be formed integrally with an extruded base of the tool. Gripping structure is also optionally included on the raised surface, such as on the portion thereof under the clamp bar to provide enhanced gripping of the clamped conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: William James Daniels, Patrick John Dubiel, David Alan Ullom, William R. Wawczak
  • Patent number: 8789252
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying staple belt fasteners to conveyor belts are provided that allow staple belt fasteners to be installed on an end of the belt with the use of a single applicator tool and such that all of the staples of the fasteners in the tool are first initially set and then are finally set. In one form, the apparatus has a base with an anvil mounted thereto with the anvil having both initial and final set portions. The belt fastener applicator tool provides for relative shifting of the anvil and a guide device having through openings to align either the initial or final set portions of the anvil with the guide device through openings. The guide device through openings are preferably configured to receive a staple drive member therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Pan Yim Ng, Kenneth J. Bargo, William R. Wawczak, Gregory Westphall
  • Publication number: 20130025108
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying staple belt fasteners to conveyor belts are provided that allow staple belt fasteners to be installed on an end of the belt with the use of a single applicator tool and such that all of the staples of the fasteners in the tool are first initially set and then are finally set. In one form, the apparatus has a base with an anvil mounted thereto with the anvil having both initial and final set portions. The belt fastener applicator tool provides for relative shifting of the anvil and a guide device having through openings to align either the initial or final set portions of the anvil with the guide device through openings. The guide device through openings are preferably configured to receive a staple drive member therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Pan Yim Ng, Kenneth J. Bargo, William R. Wawczak, Gregory Westphall
  • Patent number: 8151432
    Abstract: A system of splicing ends of conveyor belts is provided that enables a splice installer to install splices in an easy and fast manner. In one aspect, the system includes a base having a recess extending therealong configured to fit fastener members of conveyor belt fasteners therein so that the fastener members do not shift as the belt fasteners are attached to the belt ends. In another aspect, removable rivet guide blocks are provided which significantly reduces the weight of an alignment bar having upper plate members of the belt fasteners secured thereto. In addition, the removable guide blocks allow the installer to secure the upper plate members to the alignment bar without having to deal with the heavy weight of multiple guide blocks fixed thereto. A method of splicing belt ends is also provided which includes indexing the removable guide block along the alignment bar during for riveting operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: William J. Daniels, William R. Wawczak, Pan Yim Ng
  • Publication number: 20100319175
    Abstract: A belt fastener installation tool is provided with a raised belt guiding surface for inserting the belt between upper and lower plates of a belt fastener held in the tool. The raised surface keeps interference with the lower plate during belt insertion between the fastener plates to a minimum. The raised surface can be formed on a separate riser plate member for being secured to an existing belt fastener installation tool; the raised surface can be formed as an integral, one-piece member in combination with the anvil plate of the tool; and the raised surface can be formed integrally with an extruded base of the tool. Gripping structure is also optionally included on the raised surface, such as on the portion thereof under the clamp bar to provide enhanced gripping of the clamped conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: FLEXIBLE STEEL LACING COMPANY
    Inventors: William James Daniels, Patrick John Dubiel, David Alan Ollom, William R. Wawczak
  • Publication number: 20090223023
    Abstract: A system of splicing ends of conveyor belts is provided that enables a splice installer to install splices in an easy and fast manner. In one aspect, the system includes a base having a recess extending therealong configured to fit fastener members of conveyor belt fasteners therein so that the fastener members do not shift as the belt fasteners are attached to the belt ends. In another aspect, removable rivet guide blocks are provided which significantly reduces the weight of an alignment bar having upper plate members of the belt fasteners secured thereto. In addition, the removable guide blocks allow the installer to secure the upper plate members to the alignment bar without having to deal with the heavy weight of multiple guide blocks fixed thereto. A method of splicing belt ends is also provided which includes indexing the removable guide block along the alignment bar during for riveting operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: William J. Daniels, William R. Wawczak, Pan Yim Ng
  • Patent number: 7568269
    Abstract: A power operated belt splicing system is provided. In one form, staples are driven through a belt and clinched in a final set using a power driven tool and a force applying member having multiple drive punches. A lower force applying end on a punch preferably has a first portion to drive the staple and a second portion to drive a leading edge of the belt fastener against the belt thereby distributing the drive force over both the staple and the belt fastener. Preferably, the second surface is shaped similarly to the outboard edge of the upper plate. A pair of adjacent punches can substantially simultaneously drive two pairs of preset staples with each pair of preset staples being associated with one of a pair of adjacent hinged belt fasteners thereby attaching a pair of belt fasteners to a belt in a single operation. The initial and final staple set may be done with the same power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Mark R. Atkins, William R. Wawczak
  • Publication number: 20080052889
    Abstract: A power operated belt splicing system is provided. In one form, staples are driven through a belt and clinched in a final set using a power driven tool and a force applying member having multiple drive punches. A lower force applying end on a punch preferably has a first portion to drive the staple and a second portion to drive a leading edge of the belt fastener against the belt thereby distributing the drive force over both the staple and the belt fastener. Preferably, the second surface is shaped similarily to the outboard edge of the upper plate. A pair of adjacent punches can substantially simultaneously drive two pairs of preset staples with each pair of preset staples being associated with one of a pair of adjacent hinged belt fasteners thereby attaching a pair of belt fasteners to a belt in a single operation. The initial and final staple set may be done with the same power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Mark R. Atkins, William R. Wawczak