Dean P Stefanac

US Patent:

6620374, Sep 16, 2003

Filed:

May 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/681757

Inventors:

Dean P. Stefanac - Menomonee Falls WI
Thomas J. Bowers - New Berlin WI
Donald H. Wiseman - Waukesha WI
William C. Weller - Menomonee Falls WI

Assignee:

Pillar Industries - Brookfield WI

International Classification:

C21D 162

US Classification:

266259, 266249, 219650

Abstract:

A system and method for inductively heating and then quench hardening a portion of a workpiece, such as a several threads of a screw or bolt are disclosed. The system includes a conveyor system having a rotary conveyor for separating, aligning, and transporting each of the workpieces in aligned succession through an induction heater positioned about the rotary conveyor to heat-treat at least a portion of each of the workpieces. A sensor determines whether a workpiece is heat-treated to a minimum temperature and causes an ejector to separate heat-treated workpieces that have reached the minimum temperature from heat-treated workpieces that have failed to reach the minimum temperature. The separated workpieces are then quenched in a tank separately removed automatically.

US Patent:

57185255, Feb 17, 1998

Filed:

Jan 5, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/583451

Inventors:

Bernd D. Bruhnke - Waukesha WI
Robert L. Schanke - New Berlin WI
Dean P. Stefanac - Brookfield WI

Assignee:

Brady USA, Inc. - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

B41J 1100

US Classification:

400586

Abstract:

A method and apparatus is disclosed for printing and dispensing labels for precise and accurate placement on an article. The present invention also minimizes label queue and the distance between the point of printing and the point of label dispensing. The invention has a retractable print head for printing information on a label while the label moves from a preprinting position to a fixed label dispensing position. The print head is movable to a dispensing position thereby allowing access to the printed label at the fixed label dispensing point by a transfer device. A dispenser having a stripper plate is provided to receive the web having the printed label thereon from the print head while in a printing position. The stripper plate strips the liner from the printed label after the transfer device comes in positive contact with the printed label by moving to a dispensing position. The printed label can then be placed on an article with extreme accuracy.