William R Wawczak

US Patent:

7568269, Aug 4, 2009

Filed:

Aug 22, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/466321

Inventors:

Mark R. Atkins - St. Charles IL, US
William R. Wawczak - Glen Ellyn IL, US

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

B23P 11/00

US Classification:

2924351, 29432, 29798

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.

US Patent:

8151432, Apr 10, 2012

Filed:

Mar 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/045669

Inventors:

William J. Daniels - Orland Park IL, US
William R. Wawczak - Glen Ellyn IL, US
Pan Yim Ng - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

B23P 17/00

US Classification:

2952501, 294071, 29700, 29798, 269289 MR, 269900

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.

US Patent:

20100319175, Dec 23, 2010

Filed:

Jun 1, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/520388

Inventors:

William James Daniels - Orland Park IL, US
Patrick John Dubiel - Belmont OH, US
David Alan Ollom - Wheeling WV, US
William R. Wawczak - Glen Ellyn IL, US

Assignee:

FLEXIBLE STEEL LACING COMPANY - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

B25B 27/14

US Classification:

292811, 292815, 29283

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.

US Patent:

20130025108, Jan 31, 2013

Filed:

Jul 26, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/191128

Inventors:

Pan Yim Ng - Chicago IL, US
Kenneth J. Bargo - Chicago IL, US
William R. Wawczak - Glen Ellyn IL, US
Gregory Westphall - Naperville IL, US

International Classification:

B23P 19/00
B23P 11/00

US Classification:

29432, 2924351

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.

US Patent:

62168517, Apr 17, 2001

Filed:

Oct 22, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/177238

Inventors:

Gary Edward Mitas - Downers Grove IL
William Robert Wawczak - Glen Ellyn IL
Thomas Stanley Wujek - Chittenango NY

Assignee:

Flexible Steel Lacing Company - Downers Grove IL

International Classification:

B65G 1700
F16G 300

US Classification:

1988442

Abstract:

A strip of riveted belt fasteners is provided manufactured in a punch press or the like to form multiple belt fasteners at a time with the fasteners each being attached to an end of a conveyor belt by way of a single rivet extending through single apertures in upper and lower plates of each of the fasteners. The small fasteners herein are provided with sufficient strength to be used in abusive hay baler applications while the fasteners must travel about small pulleys, e. g. 3" to 3. 5" inches in diameter. Further, the installation of this rivet belt fastener in the field is about as simple as driving a nail requiring a portable applicator tool and a hammer. That is, the fasteners can be riveted attached to the belt end by way of a low cost applicator tool that includes recessed hardened anvil surfaces integrally formed in the body thereof to upset initially rivets which are driven through the belt with a separably attached pilot nail. The hollow rivet end flares out against the hardened anvil surfaces of the tool with the surfaces being inclined for curling of the rivet end back up into an enlarged recess in the overlying plate aperture. As the rivet is driven, the belt compresses with the rivet end being upset; and upon removal of the driving force, the belt decompresses to draw the curled, upset rivet end into the plate aperture.

US Patent:

20210071736, Mar 11, 2021

Filed:

Nov 20, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/100490

Inventors:

- Downers Grove IL, US
Daniel J. Kuiper - Alto MI, US
Jason Carr - Kent City MI, US
Nekheel Gajjar - Lisle IL, US
William J. Daniels - Orland Park IL, US
William Robert Wawczak - Glen Ellyn IL, US

International Classification:

F16G 3/00
B27F 7/32
F16G 3/04

Abstract:

In one aspect, a system is provided for securing fasteners to a conveyor belt end. The system includes a fastener bed to support fasteners, the fastener bed including a plurality of aligned fastener holes configured to receive staples of lower plates of the fasteners. The system further includes an applicator comprising a plurality of operating members operable to interface with the fastener holes of the fastener bed to advance the applicator along the fastener bed, secure the applicator relative to the fastener bed, and drive legs of the staples through the conveyor belt and into apertures of upper plates of the fasteners. The applicator is operable to urge upper plates of the fasteners against the conveyor belt end and bend the staple leg end portions against the upper plates of the fasteners to secure the fasteners to the conveyor belt end.