Patents by Inventor Zachary J. Ralston

Zachary J. Ralston 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: 10589473
    Abstract: A machine for welding an overlapped region of two adjacent strips of material and a method of using the same. The machine includes a housing with front and rear ends, a wheel train engaged with the housing for moving the housing across the material; a nozzle on the housing having a welding head at a free end; the nozzle being positionable at least partially beneath the housing's bottom wall for welding the overlapped region; front and rear pressure rollers engaged with the housing, where the front roller is positioned forwardly of the welding head and the rear roller is positioned rearwardly of the welding head; wherein the rear pressure roller applies pressure to the overlapped region when the wheel train moves the housing in a forward direction; and the front pressure roller applies pressure to the overlapped region when the wheel train moves the housing in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Miller Weldmaster Corporation
    Inventor: Zachary J. Ralston
  • Publication number: 20190376231
    Abstract: A machine and method for welding sheets of plastic material. The machine includes a housing with a lower weld bar and an upper weld bar. A vertically-oriented gap is defined in a gripper assembly pivotally mounted to the housing beneath the work surface. A sheet of material is laid over the work surface covering the lower weld bar and gap. The upper weld bar is lowered to hold the sheet in place and a pusher plate is lowered relative to the upper weld bar to push some material into the gap, thereby creating a fold in the material. After withdrawing the upper weld bar and pusher plate, the gripper assembly is pivoted through ninety degrees and lays some of the folded material over the lower weld bar. The upper weld bar is lowered to weld a portion of the folded material and thereby create a pocket in the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Brian D. Henry, Zachary J. Ralston
  • Publication number: 20190077090
    Abstract: A machine for welding an overlapped region of two adjacent strips of material and a method of using the same. The machine includes a housing with front and rear ends, a wheel train engaged with the housing for moving the housing across the material; a nozzle on the housing having a welding head at a free end; the nozzle being positionable at least partially beneath the housing's bottom wall for welding the overlapped region; front and rear pressure rollers engaged with the housing, where the front roller is positioned forwardly of the welding head and the rear roller is positioned rearwardly of the welding head; wherein the rear pressure roller applies pressure to the overlapped region when the wheel train moves the housing in a forward direction; and the front pressure roller applies pressure to the overlapped region when the wheel train moves the housing in a reverse direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventor: Zachary J. Ralston
  • Publication number: 20170266868
    Abstract: A moveable seam welding machine, system, and method of use is provided. The seam welding machine includes at least one sensor that generates at least one data point having geolocation coordinates incorporated or integrally formed therewith. The data point typically relates to the integrity or quality of the welded seam created by the machine. The sensor generates data points which may be evaluated in alarm logic for abnormalities or anomalies. The geolocation coordinates inherent or integral to the data point may be plotted or registered overtop satellite imagery. The coordinates of the anomalies or the registered image, or both, can be provided to the workman or operator so he/she may manually inspect the geolocation at where the abnormal or anomaly data point was generated by the sensor to spot check the welded seam by hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Zachary J. Ralston, Jeffrey P. Sponseller
  • Publication number: 20170259491
    Abstract: A moveable seam welding machine, system, and method of use is provided. The seam welding machine includes at least one sensor that generates at least one data point having geolocation coordinates incorporated or integrally formed therewith. The data point typically relates to the integrity or quality of the welded seam created by the machine. The sensor generates data points which may be evaluated in alarm logic for abnormalities or anomalies. The geolocation coordinates inherent or integral to the data point may be plotted or registered overtop satellite imagery. The coordinates of the anomalies or the registered image, or both, can be provided to the workman or operator so he/she may manually inspect the geolocation at where the abnormal or anomaly data point was generated by the sensor to spot check the welded seam by hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Zachary J. Ralston, Jeffrey P. Sponseller
  • Publication number: 20170113404
    Abstract: A machine for welding an overlapped region of two adjacent strips of material and a method of using the same. The machine includes a housing with front and rear ends, a wheel train engaged with the housing for moving the housing across the material; a nozzle on the housing having a welding head at a free end; the nozzle being positionable at least partially beneath the housing's bottom wall for welding the overlapped region; front and rear pressure rollers engaged with the housing, where the front roller is positioned forwardly of the welding head and the rear roller is positioned rearwardly of the welding head; wherein the rear pressure roller applies pressure to the overlapped region when the wheel train moves the housing in a forward direction; and the front pressure roller applies pressure to the overlapped region when the wheel train moves the housing in a reverse direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventor: Zachary J. Ralston