Abstract: A shockproof spindle includes a spindle inserted into an elastomer having a compressible structure, and a sleeve having a hollow cylinder, sequentially. The sleeve caps the elastomer while the elastomer is pressed on the top of the base fixed at the bottom end the spindle to expose the chute of the spindle. The ball is then disposed in the chute of the spindle and the chute of the sleeve. After the sleeve is released to return the elastomer to its normal state, the sleeve, the elastomer and the spindle are held together by the ball which is retained in the chutes of the spindle and the sleeve. A C-shaped plate is then inserted between the elastomer and the base.

Abstract: An inventive method, system and apparatus are provided for syringe handling, and more particularly, for syringe labeling, filling and capping operations. To facilitate syringe handling, an inventive apparatus includes a plurality of syringe bodies interconnected in a predetermined orientation by a belt. Such belt may be of pliable construction and may define a predetermined spacing in between adjacent ones of the syringe bodies, such predetermined spacing corresponding with a distance between holders provided in a handling apparatus. The syringe handling apparatus may provide for the placement of contents-related information on belt segments between adjacent syringe bodies and for separating the belt segments, wherein a flap is left interconnected to each syringe body. The syringe handling apparatus may alternatively or also provide for automated filling of the syringe bodies wherein cap removal, filling and cap replacement operations are completed free from manual handling.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging products having different shape and dimensions, such as for example food products of different size, into pre-formed bags of appropriate size, such as for example heat-shrinkable bags of thermoplastic material, comprises a conveyor for carrying in sequence a plurality of products to be packaged from a product loading portion to a product packaging bracket end portion thereof, means for detecting the dimensions of each product to be packaged while it moves from said product loading portion to said product packaging bracket end portion of said at least one conveyor and a plurality of bag dispensing devices for dispensing a plurality of bags varying in at least one dimension thereof.

Abstract: A nail gun having a contact arm normally biased in a direction away from a workpiece by compression springs. A free end of the contact arm is brought into abutment with a workpiece and a trigger is pulled for driving a nail thereinto. In the trigger pulling operation, an inner end of the contact arm is engaged with a trigger arm which is biased by a plunger spring through a plunger. Because the contact arm is held on the workpiece, the plunger is moved to provide ON state against biasing force of the plunger spring. Immediately after the nail driving, a nail gun body is moved in a direction away from the workpiece relative to the contact arm. This causes disengagement of the trigger arm from the inner end, to relatively move the nail gun body toward the workpiece by the biasing force of the compression springs. This means relative movement of the contact arm in the direction away from the workpiece.

Abstract: A surgical stapler anvil provides an expanded leg-receiving target area for a staple forming pocket in a compact staggered array by narrowing the lateral width of the leg-clinching portion of a laterally adjacent pocket. Advantageously, the lateral spacing between adjacent rows of staple forming pockets can remain small, while the leg-receiving target area for laterally adjacent rows of pockets is significantly expanded. The staple forming pockets include two mirror image leg-forming cups. The cups are longitudinally aligned with their respective ascending leg clinching portions adjoining in the center of the pocket. Laterally spaced guide surfaces extend upwardly and outwardly from the clinching surface at the bottom of the cup to define an expanded leg-receiving target area at the distal ends of the pocket. Substantially planar laterally outward portions of the guide surface intersect with the guide surface of a laterally adjacent pocket to form a non-linear ridge.

Abstract: A capping apparatus 1 includes torque sensor 12 which detects an output torque when a chuck 7 is driven for rotation by a motor 9. Initially, a cap 5 is held by the chuck 7. The cap 5 is fitted over a mouth of a vessel 2, and then the chuck 7 is rotated through one revolution in a clamping direction. A resulting output torque is detected by the torque sensor 12, and the output torque rapidly increases at the position where the threads on the cap 5 and the vessel 2 abut against each other (an incipient position of meshing engagement P). The cap 5 is rotated through a given angle of rotation as referenced to the incipient position of meshing engagement P, thus threadably engaging the cap 5 with the vessel 2. The invention allows a uniform clamping of cap 5 at the completion of the capping operation.

Abstract: A rotational float system (44) that is meant to be used with existing side load protection systems and that may be selectively operated to permit a digger derrick rotation motor (20) or other rotatable equipment to freely rotate toward a side load to ease operation of and prevent damage to the digger derrick (10) and to assist in the correct installation of screw anchors. The rotational float system (44) includes valve structure (46) interposed between the ports (32, 34) of a hydraulic rotation motor (20) and a control mechanism (48) for selectively opening and closing the valve structure (46). The valve structure (46) is normally biased to a closed position and the control mechanism (48) is normally open. When the control mechanism (48) is operated, it opens the valve structure (46) to connect the ports (32, 34) of the rotation motor (20) to one another.

Abstract: A method and a system of transporting a commodity includes the step of placing the commodity in a flexible hermetic container. The commodity is stored in the flexible hermetic container for at least a specific time period. The commodity is then moved from the flexible hermetic container to a shipping container having an insect barrier liner. The commodity is transported in the shipping container. The specific time period is a sufficient time period to kill substantially all of the insects that have infested the commodity prior to placement in the flexible hermetic container. In one embodiment, a vacuum is drawn on the flexible hermetic container to reduce the specific time period and an optional small amount of pesticide can be injected into the flexible hermetic container to which a vacuum has been applied to further reduce the specific time period. An inert gas is used to reduce the specific time period.

Abstract: A semi-automatic gift or package wrapping method and apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a machine frame that provides a work surface with measuring and wrapping sections. A sheet feed and cutting mechanism feeds paper from a role in two steps with a time pause in between for enabling a user or operator to partially wrap the package with part of the first section of dispensed paper web. Thereafter, the second section of paper web is dispensed and the web cut transversely at a trailing edge. Multiple selectable supply rolls are optionally provided, or a single roll machine can be used. Longitudinal cutters trim the sides of the paper to obtain a custom desired width for the full cut sheet. A user interface display controls machine functions such as start, continue and sheeter. In the sheeter mode, a selected number of sheets of a selected size can be dispensed and cut for use at another workstation to warp other boxes of known uniform size (i.e. shirt boxes at a department store).

Abstract: A packaging line and method for packaging separate products such as, for instance, magazines, CDs, DVDs and combinations thereof in a continuous manner, comprising: a product assembling path (2) which is provided with a conveyor and feeders arranged therealong; a packaging module provided with folding means for forming a packaging tube from a continuous packaging web, and a cross separating device for separating, in cross direction, separate packages filled with product from the packaging tube; a control for controlling the discharge of the products from the feeders, for controlling the transport speed of the conveyors and for controlling the speed of the cross separating device, the control being designed for processing information about the length of each product to be packaged and for setting in-process, per product, the horizontal, and optionally, the vertical, stroke length of the cross separating device such that packages with different lengths for products of different lengths can be manufactured in

Abstract: A battery-operated electrical tool (10) is provided with a machine housing (11) that has a longish, substantially rod-shaped housing portion (12) containing an electric drive motor (13) and an end portion (15) on which a terminal connection surface (16) with push-in receptacle (17) for the detachable attachment of a battery packet (14) is provided, which said battery packet is provided with a connection part (18) that comprises a seating surface (19) matched to the connection surface (16) for seating on said connection surface, and comprising a push-in part (20) engaging in the push-in receptacle (17). The end portion (15) is inflected toward one side in relation to the housing portion (12) out of the direction of longitudinal extension. The terminal connection surface (16) of the end portion (15) extends within a plane (21) that is oriented skew in relation to a plane (22) extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (23) of the housing portion (12).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for analyzing the accuracy of a fold (3) which is produced via a folding apparatus for printed products. In the process, with the printed products (1) being shingled, sensors (4) detect the position of the fold with respect to markings (5) which are printed onto the printed product, the folding accuracy and other quantities connected therewith being determined therefrom with the aid of computers.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a transfer device for inserting a product into a package and a circulating leaflet supply device comprising a plurality of tong-like holders which are sequentially disposed, each for receiving one leaflet and for bringing that leaflet into a region of the transfer device between the product and the package such that it can be inserted together with the product into the package. An opening unit with several stops, which can be actuated independently of each other, is disposed in the transport path of the holders for opening the holders to release the leaflet. The stops can be brought into an inoperative position in which the holders pass by the stops without releasing the leaflet. In this connection, the leaflet supply device comprises first holders to be opened by a first stop, and second holders to be opened by a second stop, and successive, sequential holders cooperate with and can be opened by different stops.

Abstract: An elbow-type power hand tool including a housing, a motor, a planet gear set, a transmission shaft, and a torque controller mounted in the housing for controlling output torque of the transmission shaft. The power hand tool including a battery pack mounted in the housing that provides electricity to a power drive, an output shaft coupled to the transmission shaft that extends perpendicular to the transmission shaft, and a chuck assembly coupled to an end of the output shaft remote from the transmission shaft for holding a tool bit.

Abstract: A method of wrapping an object with wrapping material includes the steps of wrapping a first wrapping film around the object during a first portion of a wrapping cycle; and simultaneously wrapping the first wrapping film and a second wrapping film around the object during a second portion of the wrapping cycle. The simultaneous wrapping includes bringing the second wrapping film into contact with the first wrapping film thereby causing the second wrapping film to adhere to the first wrapping film, wrapping the object with the adhered first and second wrapping films, and severing the second wrapping film, with a severing device, after a predetermined length of the second wrapping film has been wrapped onto the object.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations using non-contact position sensing are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a track assembly adapted to be attached to a workpiece, a carriage assembly moveably coupled to the track assembly and moveable relative to the workpiece, and a position sensor. The position sensor includes a sensor element adapted to detect at least one edge of an index feature on the workpiece from a distance away from the index feature. In an alternate embodiment, the position sensor may include a sensing circuit that receives an analog signal from the sensing element and provides both analog and digital output signals. In another embodiment, a controller that controls manufacturing operations may be mounted directly on the carriage assembly.

Abstract: An automatic packaging system has a first feed mechanism for feeding a light-shielded photosensitive roll in the direction indicated by the arrow A, an inspection mechanism for reading bar-code information from the light-shielded photosensitive roll, measuring and comparing dimensions of the light-shielded photosensitive roll with the bar-code information to inspect whether the light-shielded photosensitive roll is correct or wrong, a second feed mechanism for feeding the light-shielded photosensitive roll in the direction indicated by the arrow B if the light-shielded photosensitive roll judged as being correct, and a third feed mechanism for feeding the light-shielded photosensitive roll in the direction indicated by the arrow C.

Abstract: A package of a strip of material is formed by slitting or perforating a web to separate the web into side by side strips and fan folding the web to form a plurality of side by side stacks of the strips. The strip of each stack is spliced to the strip of the next stack to form a continuous strip through the package which can be unfolded for supply continuously to an end use machine. The package while compressed is wrapped by a packaging material which includes a bottom rigid plate, a top header and heat shrink bag wrapped around the package and under the bottom plate and heat sealed to a plastic layer covering a bottom surface of the bottom header plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for stretch wrapping a load in an efficient manner so as to tightly and securely wrap the load at a desired tension without rupturing the packaging material. The method and apparatus compensate for variation in demand rate as the load is wrapped so as to apply the wrapping material to a load at a desired force, maintain the desired containment tension on the wrapping material on the load after wrapping, and prevent the wrapping material from rupturing during wrapping. The apparatus combines two systems, power assisted roller stretch (“PRS”) and roller stretch (“RS”) to vary the supply rate of the packaging material as the demand rate varies. The apparatus automatically switches between the two types of prestretch to achieve “high” and “low” wrapping force dependent upon the demand rate. Changes in the demand rate are sensed by monitoring changes in the payoff angle of the packaging material extending between the dispenser and the load.

Abstract: An inventive method, system and apparatus are provided for syringe handling, and more particularly, for syringe labeling, filling and capping operations. To facilitate syringe handling, an inventive apparatus includes a plurality of syringe bodies interconnected in a predetermined orientation by a belt. Such belt may be of pliable construction and may define a predetermined spacing in between adjacent ones of the syringe bodies, such predetermined spacing corresponding with a distance between holders provided in a handling apparatus. The syringe handling apparatus may provide for the placement of contents-related information on belt segments between adjacent syringe bodies and for separating the belt segments, wherein a flap is left interconnected to each syringe body. The syringe handling apparatus may alternatively or also provide for automated filling of the syringe bodies wherein cap removal, filling and cap replacement operations are completed free from manual handling.