Michael Rollins McKinley

Title: Michael Rollins McKinley: Innovator in Manufacturing Technologies

Introduction

Michael Rollins McKinley is a notable inventor based in East Hartford, CT (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of manufacturing, particularly in the development of innovative apparatuses and methods that enhance production efficiency. With a total of 2 patents to his name, McKinley continues to push the boundaries of technology in his industry.

Latest Patents

One of McKinley's latest patents is titled "Apparatus and method for manufacturing elastic hair fasteners." This invention provides an improved method and apparatus for manufacturing elastic hair fasteners that eliminates the need for a metal clamp in the fastener assembly. The apparatus employs an incremental, automatic system that utilizes intricate mechanisms that are pneumatically actuated and controlled electrically. The machine feeds textile feedstock from a bulk supply along a feed track to a predefined staging position. Once the feedstock has reached this position, it is cut into an extension having a predetermined length and a pair of opposed free ends. The extension is rolled into a half circle, and one free end is positioned in a precise location. In this location, adhesive is applied to the free end, and the other half of the extension is thereafter rolled into a half circle, completing the loop. At this point, the two loop ends are positioned adjacent one another so as to be adhesively joined. Once joined precisely, a cold forming clamp is applied to the joined ends for a period of time necessary to fixture the assembly. After fixturing, the cold form clamp is released and a hot form clamp is applied for a period of time to shape the joint of the two ends into an aesthetically pleasing joint free of burrs and irregularities. Once formed, the assembly is complete and the loop is released into a bin for storage.

Another significant patent by McKinley is "Apparatus and method for controllable application of a flowable material to a workpiece." This invention features a controllable device for applying a flowable material, such as anti-seize composition, to a workpiece. It utilizes a plurality of elongated nozzles insertably accommodated through a fixture plate to deposit such material onto the workpiece in a predetermined pattern. The fixture plate is provided with a corresponding number of apertures which accommodate different sizes and numbers of nozzles, allowing material to be applied to a large variety of