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AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsPeter L. Gross, Todd L. Eck
Estimating the term…
A system and method are disclosed for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length of double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight through a channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight. A weight applicator automatically receives the amount of imbalance correction weight and is operable to attach it to the rotary element.
Apparatus for dispensing imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a length of tape, the apparatus including a blade and an anvil which cooperate to cut the tape, and a sequencer for sequencing relative movement of the blade and the anvil in a blade-moving stroke and an anvil-moving stroke, respectively.
A method for dispensing imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a length of tape, each individual weight having an outer surface covered by a coating, the method including dividing the tape while maintaining the coating on the individual weights to provide the imbalance correction weight.
Apparatus for dispensing imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a length of tape, the apparatus including a tape divider for dividing the tape, and a sensor for counting individual weights, the tape divider dividing the tape when the sensor has counted a number of individual weights necessary to reduce the imbalance.
A method for dispensing imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a length of tape, the method including counting a desired number of individual weights, and dividing the tape when the desired number of individual weights has been counted to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.
Apparatus for dispensing imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a length of tape, the apparatus including a tape divider for dividing the tape and a guide for directing the imbalance correction weight toward the tape divider, the guide including a wall and a bias mechanism between which the imbalance correction weight is directed, the bias mechanism yieldably biasing a portion of the imbalance correction weight against the wall.
A method for dispensing imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a length of tape, the method including moving the imbalance correction weight through a guide including a wall, yieldably biasing a portion of the imbalance correction weight against the wall, and dividing the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.
A method for dispensing imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a first side of a length of tape, a removable backing being provided on a second side of the tape, the method including removing the backing from a portion of the second side, moving the imbalance correction weight toward a tape divider in response to removing the backing from the portion of the second side, and dividing the tape at the tape divider to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.
Apparatus for dispensing imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a first side of a length of tape, a removable backing being provided on a second side of the tape, the apparatus including a tape divider for dividing the tape and a driver for removing the backing from the second side to move the imbalance correction weight toward the tape divider.
An apparatus for attaching an imbalance correction weight to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a first side of a length of tape, the tape including a second side for attachment to the rotary element, the apparatus including a body including a first surface for pressing the second side against the rotary element, and a clamp including a pair of jaws providing a channel, the jaws being movable relative to the body between extended orientations in which the channel is beyond the first surface and a retracted orientation in which the channel is not beyond the first surface.
A method for attaching an imbalance correction weight to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including one or more individual weights provided on a first side of a length of tape, the tape including a second side for attachment to the rotary element, the method including holding the imbalance correction weight by a clamp, pressing the clamp against the rotary element, and releasing the imbalance correction weight from the clamp in contact with the rotary element.
Apparatus for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element, the imbalance correction weight including a number of individual weights provided on a first side of a length of tape, a removable backing provided on a second side of the tape, the apparatus including a tape divider for dividing the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight, a guide for directing the tape toward the tape divider, a driver for pulling the backing from the second side and moving the imbalance correction weight through the guide, a sensor for sensing the individual weights that move past the sensor, and a controller for receiving signals from the sensor and sending signals to the driver to control movement of the imbalance correction weight and signal to the tape divider to cause the tape divider to divide the tape when the sensor has sensed a desired number of individual weights for the amount of imbalance correction weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.