Patents Examined by Gene L. Kim
  • Patent number: 6059705
    Abstract: A paperboard blank processing apparatus including a rotatably mounted processing head for operating upon successive paperboard blanks is disclosed. A paperboard blank registration sensor is provided upstream from the processing head for detecting a preprinted registration mark on a surface of an approaching paperboard blank. A controller is responsive to the registration sensor for determining whether the approaching paperboard blank is in proper registration with the rotary processing head. A registration correction window is defined by the controller and includes upper and lower limits defining upper and lower maximum correction values for bringing the angular position of the processing head into proper register with the linear position of the approaching paperboard blank. The controller further defines an averaging window containing the registration correction window wherein the registration correction window may be shifted within the averaging window in response to consistent registration errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: United Container Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Meyer L. Ruthenberg, Douglas H. Silate, Barry E. Larkin
  • Patent number: 6041573
    Abstract: An apparatus for charging a closed metallic canister with a gas under pressure comprising means for forming a gas filling opening in the canister, and dispensing means for sequentially injecting a high pressure gas through the gas filling opening to charge the canister, and depositing and fusing a fusible body in the gas filling opening, while continuing to inject gas into the canister and utilize the force of the gas to urge the dispensing means into sealing engagement with the canister being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: RWC, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Richardson, Jr., James Harrington
  • Patent number: 6000201
    Abstract: A transferring device for transferring filled tea bags from a single track tea packaging machine to a two-track processing machine has a pivoting device with a pivot arm and a tea bag receptacle for receiving a vertically positioned tea bag. The pivoting device has a pivot drive for alternatingly pivoting the receptacle to the left and to the right about 90.degree. into a first and a second end position. A first swiveling device is provided for swiveling a tea bag, contained in the receptacle in the first end position, into a horizontal position. A second swiveling device is provided for swiveling a tea bag, contained in the receptacle in the second end position, into a horizontal position. A first tea bag pusher for moving the tea bag from the first swiveling device onto a first track of a two-track transport device for transporting the tea bag to a processing machine is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: TEEPAK Spezialmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Nippes, Friedhelm Funda
  • Patent number: 5996317
    Abstract: A method for providing confidentiality to a facsimile transmission includes the step of advancing a back enclosure sheet into a print engine. The method further includes the step of advancing the back enclosure sheet out of the print engine and to an envelope forming station. The method yet further includes the step of securing the back enclosure sheet to a front enclosure sheet so as to form an envelope at the envelope forming station. The method also includes the step of advancing a confidential sheet into the print engine. The method moreover includes the step of printing information associated with a page of the facsimile transmission onto the confidential sheet with the print engine. The method also includes the step of advancing the sheet out of the print engine and into the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Privatizer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Baker, George M. Cross
  • Patent number: 5996309
    Abstract: In the manufacture of certain types of packets, rotary folding units (10) are used which have along their perimeter a plurality of hollow folding mandrels (14) projecting at one side. On these mandrels, blanks, namely inner blank (10) and pouch blank (11) are folded in succession. Holding bands (34, 59) serve to position the blanks exactly on the folding mandrels (14), said bands extending outside the movement region of the folding mandrels (14) and lying with a holding bight (35) against the side of the folding mandrels (14), or the blanks, lying radially on the outside, fixing same as they do so.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hans-Jurgen Bretthauer
  • Patent number: 5987855
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sealing unsealed surgical suture packages by applying heat and sealing pressure substantially simultaneously to both the sealed edge and the unsealed edge of an unsealed surgical suture package, thereby forming a sealed surgical suture package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford A. Dey, Milton Cary Houston, David A. Szabo
  • Patent number: 5979148
    Abstract: A sealing assembly includes a first roller having a sealing ridge attached thereto. The sealing assembly includes a second roller. The sealing ridge is positioned in operative contact with the second roller during a first mode of operation. The sealing ridge is positioned out of operative contact with the second roller during a second mode of operation. The first roller rotates during the first mode operation. The second roller is held stationary during the first mode of operation. A method of sealing an envelope in a document security apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Privatizer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Baker, Christopher J. Cooney, Robert J. Nadeau, George M. Cross, Mark E. Spitler
  • Patent number: 5974770
    Abstract: There is provided a press capable of solving a new problem of breakage of springs and surely applying the pressure for a long period of time in the lateral sealing process in a high-speed filling and packaging apparatus for manufacturing package containers each having a rectangular shape in cross section and filled with a fluid content such as juice. In the press comprising seal bars and a pair of engaging members which are respectively provided at both ends of the seal bars for producing a sealing pressure when they engage with each other for permitting said seal bars to nip a packaging material web which is filled with a fluid content and formed in a tubular shape, the press employs fluid such as air as a means for advancing a piston rod to which the movable engaging member is secured and a pressure sensor is provided for detecting the change of pressure of fluid in an air supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kume, Hiroshi Katayama, Shigenori Tawa, Michio Ueda
  • Patent number: 5966900
    Abstract: An automated bagging system fills and closes a bag by delivering an air jet to open the bag. A pair of horns engage the inner surfaces of the bag wherein the bag is subsequently filled. A bag transfer mechanism engages the outer surface of the bag with pinch belts and the pinch belts transfer the bags to a bag closing apparatus to close the filled bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Burford Corp.
    Inventors: Charles E. Burford, Jerry Dale Pack
  • Patent number: 5966910
    Abstract: The machine includes groups of bushes (1) of dimensions suitable for the superposed and aligned containment of a base cover (14), of a tablet (52) and of a lid cover (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Angiolino Ribani, Nerio Mirri, Marco Marescalchi, Aristide Cane'
  • Patent number: 5964686
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method of forming one or more box blanks (20) from a generally-rectangular sheet of material, comprising the steps of: providing a frame (28) for supporting and guiding the sheet; placing a sheet of material on the frame; controllably moving the sheet in a longitudinal direction relative to the frame; providing at least one longitudinal score line (21) on the sheet as the sheet moves relative to the frame; punching a first hole in the sheet; cutting a first slot (23) in the sheet between one longitudinal edge thereof and the first hole; punching a second hole in the sheet at a position spaced transversely across from the first hole; cutting a second slot (23) in the sheet between the other longitudinal edge thereof and the second hole; providing a transverse score line (22) on the sheet between the first and second holes; punching longitudinal slots in the sheet to severe the flaps (24) from the glue tab (27); and cutting the sheet to the length required for the desired shap
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Griffin Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald D. Bidlack, Igor Shmelkin
  • Patent number: 5961432
    Abstract: Anti-falsification paper is provided in which a thread is exposed at window portions provided on the surface of the paper, and which does not produce any cockles even when wound up continuously in a roll and has good appearance in terms of design. This anti-falsification prevention paper is combination paper having at least two paper layers including an outermost layer and an inner layer. Window portions are formed in the outermost layer at intervals in a longitudinal direction of the paper. In the window portions there are formed watermarks of letters or pictures, and a thread inserted between the outermost layer and the other layer is exposed at these window portions. The ratio between the length (X) of the window portions in the longitudinal direction of the paper and the length (Y) in the same direction of non-window portions between the window portions is set at 3:1 to 1:2 to securely prevent the formation of cockles during the winding of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Tokushu Paper Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Murakami, Youichi Fujimoto, Tadahiro Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 5956930
    Abstract: A method of forming an envelope in a document security apparatus includes the step of advancing a first enclosure sheet and a second enclosure sheet to a sealing station within the document security apparatus. The method includes the step of holding both the first enclosure sheet and the second enclosure sheet stationary relative to the sealing station. The method also includes the step of securing the first enclosure sheet to the second enclosure sheet during the holding step. A document security apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Privatizer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Baker, Walter J. Steinmayr, Donald Barker, George M. Cross, Mark E. Spitler
  • Patent number: 5954624
    Abstract: A paperboard container and method of forming such container having a rolled brim is disclosed. The container being formed of a paperboard material having a caliper of at least approximately 0.007 inches, a rolled brim arc length of less than about 0.25 inches, an outer radius of curvature of the container cut through the plane normal to the axis of the rolled brim arc length adjacent the rolled brim being less than approximately 1.5 inches with the paperboard material forming the container having at least approximately 8 lbs/3,000 ft.sup.2 ream of size press adhesive included therein and preferably approximately 13 lbs/3,000 ft.sup.2 ream of paperboard material. One particular container includes dimensions wherein the outer radius of curvature of the container cut through the plane normal to the axis of the rolled brim arc length adjacent the rolled brim is approximately 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventor: Erland R. Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 5950404
    Abstract: An apparatus for packing articles contains successively in a conveying direction a feed station, where the articles to be packed are fed into the installation, a station for opening the pack and a station for sealing the filled pack. The two stations, optionally also a compressing station, are successively located on rails, to which they can be fixed in random positions. Consequently it is possible to modify the mutual spacings of the stations and the absolute positions of the stations. This makes it possible to adapt the apparatus to different pack sizes, different articles to be packed and further differing circumstances, whilst still allowing short conveying paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: OPTIMA-Maschinenfabrik Dr. Buhler GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Erich Meyer, Andreas Rothbauer, Dietmar Schmetzer
  • Patent number: 5951453
    Abstract: A package in the form of a recloseable bag includes a bag body including front and back walls, and a profile strip fastener assembly sealingly mounted on the inside surface of the front wall. The profile strip fastener assembly includes a pair of releasably interlocking profile strips. One of the profile strips is connected to the inside of the front wall of the bag, while the other one of the profile strips includes a flange portion which extends from the profile strips to and adjacent end seal of the bag. A method of forming recloseable bags is disclosed, which method can be employed with a form, fill, and seal machine for effecting the efficient packaging of products in recloseable bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Innoflex Incorporated
    Inventor: James W. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5946890
    Abstract: Soft-case packet plus method and device for manufacturing same and other packets. On soft-case packets for cigarettes, blanks for an inner wrapping (17) and an outer soft pouch (18) made of paper or the like are folded in usual fashion on a hollow folding mandrel (10) of a rotary folding unit (12). Folding flaps of the soft pouch (18) are connected to one another by glue in the region of a side wall (23) and in the region of a base. The glue is applied by glue nozzles during the manufacture of the packet as a row of glue spots (26, 41) to the respective folding flaps, i.e. to an inner flap (24) lying radially on the outside in relation to the rotary folding unit (12) and to the inner side of an outer base flap (39) extending in the direction of the perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Thomas Hafker, Hans Jurgen Bretthauer
  • Patent number: 5946887
    Abstract: A container and lid sealing apparatus comprising a frame structure including a sealing position, support beams, a shiftable container support which includes a container retainer and shiftable on drawer rails from a position for loading and unloading a container into and out of the retainer, to the sealing position for sealing a lid on the tray, the drawer rails being vertically depressible with the container support, when under vertical force, to move it down onto the support beams, an upper heater platen suspended above the tray support, and an air actuator actuable to force the upper heater platen downwardly with force onto a container and lid on the support. The force is equally distributed on all portions of the platen to seal a lid onto a container. A cam switch is positioned to be actuated by the support in the sealing position for controlled activation of an air logic system to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Oliver Products Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Lastovich, Perry R. DeYoung
  • Patent number: 5944647
    Abstract: Folding methods were developed for a typical commercial microwave popcorn bag to control its linear expansion and enable it to remain centered in a small (less than one cubic foot) microwave oven with a rotating turntable while the bag is being expanded by the gases of the popping corn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventor: John A. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5944646
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a female die and a male die. A sheet of material is positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The apparatus further includes means for supplying a stream of air between the female die and the formed article to release the formed article from the female die and means for holding the formed article against the male die as the male die and the female die are positioned from a forming position to a discharge position whereby the formed article is removed from the female die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Joseph G.. Straeter, William F. Straeter, Frank Craig, Michael J. King, William C. Funk