Patents Examined by Dianne Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9585657
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument. The end effector assembly can comprise an anvil, a fastener cartridge including fastener cavities, fasteners removably positioned in the fastener cavities, a piece of buttress material releasably secured intermediate the anvil and the fastener cartridge, a connector, and an actuator configured to overcome the connector when actuated. The connector can secure the piece of buttress material relative to the anvil or the fastener cartridge at a location that is distal to at least one fastener cavity. The actuator can overcome the connector prior to the removal of the fasteners from the fastener cavities. Further, the actuator can extend past the fasteners in the fastener cavities, and can be actuated proximal to the fastener cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Michael J. Vendely, Taylor W. Aronhalt
  • Patent number: 9572573
    Abstract: An anvil introduction system is operable to provide smooth insertion of an anvil of a surgical stapling device through a bodily lumen such as the esophagus. The anvil introduction system is coupled to the anvil and includes a dilation feature. The dilation feature has a collapsed position and an expanded position. The dilation feature may cover staple pockets and an outer edge of the anvil with the dilation feature is in the expanded position. The anvil may be inserted through the bodily lumen with the dilation feature in the expanded position. The dilation feature may then be collapsed in order to complete an end-to-end anastomosis of the bodily lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
    Inventors: Charles J. Scheib, John P. Measamer, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 9561635
    Abstract: A method for producing bags containing fiber material, comprises the steps of forming at least one continuous layer of fiber material; separating in succession portions of fiber material from the continuous layer and moving them along a predetermined path; feeding each portion of fiber material to respective containment and compaction elements of a first transfer conveyor; feeding an ordered succession of bags containing respective portions of fiber material to respective supporting elements of a second transfer conveyor; transferring the portions of fiber material into respective housings of a third transfer conveyor; transferring the portions from the third transfer conveyor inside respective containment bags carried by a second transfer conveyor; transferring the containment bags from the second transfer conveyor to a fourth transfer conveyor; and moving in succession the bags housing respective portions of fiber material to a folding unit at which the bags are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti
  • Patent number: 9463561
    Abstract: The invention concerns a driving tool comprising a rotating motor (16), in particular, an electric motor, a gas spring (8) with an elastically compressible gas volume (9), and a firing piston (5), wherein the gas spring (8) can be tensioned via a tensioning device (10) with the motor, so as to accelerate after a release from the tensioned state the firing piston (5) in a firing direction, wherein at least one part of the tensioning device (10) is located within the gas volume of the tensioning spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl Franz
  • Patent number: 9446870
    Abstract: An automatic silverware wrapping system uses a series of utensil holding magazines that dispense their wares down a chute and onto a napkin holding carrier platen that advances through the system. Once the silverware is on the napkin, an intermediate fold is imparted onto one of the corners of the napkin and then end folds are imparted onto two other corners. Thereafter, the partially folded napkin and its utensils drop down to a pair of roller bearing rails that counter rotate relative to each other in order to roll the napkin up around the silverware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Quiq Silver Inc
    Inventors: Eric Cameron, John Helsel
  • Patent number: 9440343
    Abstract: The pole comprises a securing end, with device securing means and the device actuating means, a gripping end to be gripped by an operator and telecontrolling means for telecontrolling the actuating means. The actuating means are arranged in the device securing means and are directly controlled by the securing end of the pole and thus telecontrolled by the pole and its gripping end under the action of a thrust of the pole towards the support material. The device actuating means comprise safety means arranged to avoid by gravity the control of the actuating means by the securing end of the pole when the spatial position of the pole is inappropriate. The invention also relates to an anchoring device provided with the same safety means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SOCIETE DE PROSPECTION ET D'INVENTIONS TECHNIQUES SPIT
    Inventors: Patrick Herelier, Emmanuel Vallon, Ludovic Rousson
  • Patent number: 9415448
    Abstract: A power drill has a housing holding a planetary gear transmission and a motor. A drive stem rotatable in the housing about the axis is rotationally coupled to the planet carrier, and a chuck body is rotatable on the housing. A driver axially bearing on the jaws is axially shiftable to position jaws in the chuck, and a sleeve threaded to the driver is rotatable to position the jaws in the chuck body. The drive stem can be coupled either to the chuck body for rotating a tool held by the jaws in a screw or drill mode or to the sleeve in a tighten/loosen mode for tool exchange. A first spring bears axially inward against a front face of the transmission ring gear with an adjustable axially inwardly directed force, and a second spring bears axially against a rear face of the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ROEHM GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Schenk, Markus Nusser
  • Patent number: 9399275
    Abstract: A tool machine has a housing assembled by two separate housing parts and an air directing element arranged in the housing, wherein the air directing element is implemented independently from a connection device for connecting the housing parts. The air directing element is forced by a housing part axially in a seat in the other housing part, wherein in the transmission path between the housing parts and the air directing element a spring element is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Esenwein, Manfred Lutz, Thomas Schomisch
  • Patent number: 9388030
    Abstract: The device for processing a product has an element for processing the product and in particular the form of a device that is suitable for connecting a closure element to a container. The device contains means for receiving the product, means for advancing the product, and means for advancing the processing element that is supported on a corresponding shaft. The device contains means that are suitable for moving the carrier shaft of the processing element in the axial direction and means that are suitable for driving the processing element so that the processing element performs a processing rotation, said means acting on the carrier shaft of the processing element in such a way that the means are coordinated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Andrea Barbolini
  • Patent number: 9364219
    Abstract: A staple drive assembly includes an actuation sled and at least one staple pusher. The staple drive assembly is adapted to fit within a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples and a corresponding number of retention slots. The at least one staple pusher includes at least one pusher plate for releasably engaging a backspan of a staple. The staple pusher may include a plurality of pusher plates that may be laterally and longitudinally spaced apart. An actuation member has at least one angled camming surface for engaging a complimentary angled surface of the at least one staple pusher. Camming engagement between the actuation member and the at least one staple pusher causes vertical movement of the at least one staple pusher. Lateral and longitudinal offset of the actuation member camming surfaces and the corresponding staple pusher following surfaces improves stability and control of the staple pusher during firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Lee Ann Olson, Ralph Stearns
  • Patent number: 9352866
    Abstract: A tofu packing apparatus for packing plural tofu blocks in individual packs for sales includes a conveyor for conveying the plural tofu blocks cut to a predetermined size and arrayed at predetermined intervals, and a paired grasp plates be driven in the direction to approach each other. The tofu blocks cut to a predetermined size are grasped with the paired grasp plates, moved to predetermined positions above packaging packs conveyed to predetermined positions with the packaging pack conveyance apparatus, and dropped and packed in the packaging packs through release of grasp by the paired grasp plates. The tofu blocks may be dropped and housed in the packaging packs while at least maintaining the tofu blocks in a holding state by the paired grasp plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO.
    Inventors: Toichiro Takai, Masahide Takeda, Kenji Honda, Toshio Hirata
  • Patent number: 9327862
    Abstract: A sealed package for pourable food products, comprising a quadrangular bottom panel with opposite first front edge and a second rear edge; a quadrangular top panel opposite to bottom panel and comprises a third front edge and a fourth rear edge; a front panel between first and third edges; and a rear panel between second and fourth edges; the distance between first and third edges is smaller than the distance between second and fourth edges; top panel angled with respect to a first plane defined by first and second edges; first and third edge define a theoretical reference plane; front panel comprises opposite fifth and sixth edges between first and second edges; at least one of fifth and sixth front edge extends at least partially on opposite side of theoretical plane with respect to rear panel; front panel comprises at least a first region on opposite side of theoretical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Marcello Barbieri, Siegrid Putzer, Alice Olivieri, Stefania Pertusi, Joyce Nassif
  • Patent number: 9314988
    Abstract: Handle-forming machine for shaping and attaching strap handles to bags or carrier bags, and/or to continuous rolls of paper to make bags or carrier bags, said strap handles being formed by folding substantially into a U shape at least one strip or strap. The handle-forming machine comprises at least one carousel rotating around a main shaft, said carousel in turn comprising one or more cradles for gripping and folding the straps. Advantageously each cradle rotates around a main shaft at least from a feed station of said strap/s, to a folding station into a U shape of each strap and to a loading station of the folded strap, for attachment to the bag or to the continuous roll of paper which the bag will be made from. Moreover the cradle also rotates around its own axis radial to the main shaft, to rotate the position of the relative strap between the folding and loading feed stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: FLAT SYSTEMS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Paolo Zanarella, Marco Zanchin
  • Patent number: 9278437
    Abstract: A handheld power tool has a tool holder for holding a tool, and a grip housing for holding and guiding the handheld power tool. A relative motion of the tool holder and the grip housing can be transmitted as a switching motion to a microswitch, which switches a drive unit on and off. The tool holder and the grip housing can be moved relative to one another in a direction of rotation, and the switching motion thus comprises a rotary motion of the grip housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Janos Rakaczki, Istvan Szell
  • Patent number: 9271728
    Abstract: A surgical fastener applying apparatus for applying fasteners to body tissue. The apparatus includes a cartridge receiving half-section defining an elongated channel member, an anvil half-section, and a clamping lever. The cartridge receiving half-section releasably receives a cartridge and a firing assembly. The clamping lever includes a protrusion in a sidewall which is receivable in a bifurcated depression formed in a sidewall of the cartridge receiving half-section to releasably retain the clamping lever in a non-clamped position and in a clamped position. The apparatus includes a disposable firing assembly and SULU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Arvind Kumar Gupta, Harshottam Singh Dhakad, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Nikhil R. Katre, Vinayan Vivekanandan
  • Patent number: 9266635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sealing at least a packaging unit by means of a sealing tool lower part carrying the packaging unit, a sealing tool upper part, and a sealing plate. The sealing tool lower part is configured to perform a lifting movement by means of a drive. The invention is characterized in that the lifting movement is performed in a uniform, continuous motion from a lowered position, via an intermediate position in which a packaging unit is clamped, to a final position. The invention further relates to a sealing station for a packaging machine in which the sealing plate is suspended via a damping unit at the sealing tool upper part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Lars Ickert, Andreas Mader, Bernhard Langer
  • Patent number: 9254562
    Abstract: An improved power tool is provided which can alert a user of any halfway selection of a driving mode of a tool bit. A representative power tool is provided which is capable of switching among driving modes different in driving state of a tool bit. The power tool has a mode switching member that switches among the driving modes, a detecting part that detects a drive prohibited state in which any of the driving modes of the tool bit is not selected, and indicating parts that indicate a result detected by the detecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Furusawa, Yoshihiro Kasuya
  • Patent number: 9199424
    Abstract: A method for producing a large-capacity, pliable container, includes the steps of a) producing a tubular bellows-type sleeve, b) cutting lateral folding regions of the folded bellows-type sleeve, d) soldering adjacent cutting edges in such a way as to produce a parallelepipedic inner protective envelope having a square cross-section (1b), e) sticking fixing lugs (13) to two opposite lateral fixing faces (14a, 14b) of the folded bellows-type sleeve, (f) applying a tractive force to the fixing lugs (13) in order to deform, by stretching, the parallelepipedic inner protective envelope having a square cross-section and to obtain a parallelepipedic inner protective envelope having a rectangular cross-section (1), step g) soldering the outer lateral pockets (17a, 17b), and a step B) of assembling the inner protective envelope having a rectangular cross-section (1) with the outer envelope in order to form the large-capacity pliable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TISZA TEXTIL PACKAGING
    Inventor: Jacques Basconnet
  • Patent number: 9199755
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for handling a plurality of tubes or vials, and for applying and removing caps to and from tubes or vials, which may be disposed in a rack. The apparatus and methods are well adapted for automated capping and de-capping using generic or off-the-shelf tubes, vials, and caps, such as are commonly used for laboratory samples and reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph Cohen, Jonathan David Dambman, Jeffrey Lee Martin, Thomas Herbert Gilman
  • Patent number: 9126798
    Abstract: A knife folding machine comprises: a support surface (4) for supporting a lower surface of a sheet (S); a knife blade (5); a pair of folding rollers (6a, 6b) opposed to the knife blade (5) at a fold position with the support surface (4) therebetween. The knife blade (5) is reciprocated between first and second positions by a knife drive unit 7. The first position is away from an upper surface of the support surface, and the second position is adjacent a gap between the folding rollers. The reciprocal movement of the knife blade (5) effects a folding operation every time the sheet (S) is set at the fold position. The sheet (S) is conveyed to the fold position by the conveyer belt (13). The conveyer belt (13) is driven by a first servomotor (11). The control unit (12) controls the rotation of the first servomotor (11) so as to decelerate the sheet (S) before its abutment against the stopper (14) without its rebounding against the stopper (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: HORIZON INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamamoto, Shinya Watanabe, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto, Takehito Yokogi, Tatsuaki Ida, Friedhelm Pfeiffer