Patents Examined by Jacob A Smith
  • Patent number: 11931874
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a housing, a cylinder disposed within the housing, a piston positioned and moveable within the cylinder, and a driver blade. The driver blade includes a body defining a first end having an aperture defined therein and a second end opposite the first end. The aperture is sized to receive a fastener to attach the driver blade to the piston. The driver blade is moveable with the piston from a first position toward a second position along a longitudinal axis during a fastener driving operation. A nosepiece at least partially defining a fastener driving track through which fasteners are driven. A total length of the fastener driver as measured between a distal end of the nosepiece and a distal end of the cylinder is less than 11.4 inches (289.6 mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Leo Mikat-Stevens
  • Patent number: 11932996
    Abstract: A nail punching machine for driving in or pulling out rail spikes includes a driving mechanism, which is driven by an electric drive motor. The electric drive motor is supplied with electric power by an accumulator. The nail punching machine is held by an operator by at least one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: ROBEL BAHNBAUMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventor: Otto Widlroither
  • Patent number: 11919670
    Abstract: A displacement device for moving a truncated cone at a base of a container from an as-blown position to a displaced position. The base includes a deep base ring between a standing surface and the truncated cone. The displacement device includes a collar sized and shaped to be received within the deep base ring. A plunger includes a head at an end of a shaft extending through the collar. The head is sized and shaped to be received within the receptacle of the collar. The plunger is movable from a retracted position, at which the head is seated within the receptacle, to an extended position at which the head extends out from within the receptacle to allow the head to contact the truncated cone and move the truncated cone from the as-blown position to the displaced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: AMCOR RIGID PACKAGING USA, LLC
    Inventor: James Stelzer
  • Patent number: 11919325
    Abstract: An enclosing-sealing apparatus includes a flap opener that opens a flap of an envelope while the envelope is conveyed to an enclosing position. A first envelope detector is disposed upstream from the flap opener in an envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction. A second envelope detector is disposed downstream from the flap opener in the envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller determines the open state of the flap based on a first detection result sent from the first envelope detector and a second detection result sent from the second envelope detector. The controller performs troubleshooting for enclosing the enclosure into the envelope if the controller determines that the open state of the flap is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kunieda, Michitaka Suzuki, Shinji Asami, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Takahiro Matsuda, Makoto Hidaka, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Shingo Yoshizawa, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga
  • Patent number: 11919271
    Abstract: A production line (1) for making a covered box (8) comprises: a forming machine (2), configured to receive a cardboard box blank (6) and to fold it to form the box and including a plurality of folders (21) and a movement system configured to receive the box blank (6) oriented horizontally, and comprising a plurality of columns (23), extending along the vertical direction (V) and configured to abut against the base (6a) of the box blank (6) and to move it along a vertical direction (V); a gluing unit (3), configured to receive a covering blank (7) and to spread glue on the covering blank (7); a positioning device (4), configured to position the box on the covering blank (7); a covering machine (5), configured receive the box coupled to the respective covering blank (7) from the positioning device (4) and to fold the covering blank (7) into contact with the box in such a way as to cover the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: EMMECI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessio Giovanneschi, Pablo Baroni
  • Patent number: 11912553
    Abstract: An apparatus for closing a container with a container closure, for example for closing a drinks container with a roll-on closure, a screw type closure, a press-on closure, a crown cap and/or a press-in closure, comprising a lifting unit which can be displaced in a longitudinal direction and which has a guide unit for predetermining a position of the lifting unit in the longitudinal direction and a closure receiving member which is connected to the lifting unit via a pretensioning device for retaining a container closure and for applying the container closure to a container opening of a container which is intended to be closed with a head pressure which is predetermined by the pretensioning device, and an adjustment apparatus for automatically adjusting the head pressure which is predetermined by the pretensioning device; it further relates to a closure member which comprises an above-mentioned apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Markus Schoenfelder
  • Patent number: 11912444
    Abstract: A method for conditioning a hard gelatin capsule (50) having any moisture content to a dry and non-brittle state when packed for at least one week in a cavity (45) of a blister base (40) closed by a lid film (35) comprising an aluminium foil, wherein the hard gelatin capsule (50) is a hard starch capsule manufactured from collagen and the hard gelatin capsule (50) contains pharmaceuticals and wherein the dry state of the hard gelatin capsule (50) means a relative humidity of less than 50% at room temperature and the non-brittle state means that the hard gelatin capsule (50) does not break when pressed out of the cavity (45) of the blister base (40) through the lid film (35). The lid film (35) and/or the blister base (40) comprise/s a moisture-regulating buffer layer (20) with a predefined humidity. The moisture-regulating buffer layer (20) consists of a polymer or polymer mixture containing 1 to 60 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: AMCOR FLEXIBLES SINGEN GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Brandl
  • Patent number: 11911881
    Abstract: A rotary tool includes a motor having an axis of rotation extending in a forward-rearward direction of the rotary tool. A grip part is located below the axis of rotation in an up-down direction that is perpendicular to the forward-rearward direction. A planet gear is configured to be driven by the motor. An internal gear meshes with the planet gear and is movable in the forward-rearward direction to change a speed. A sun gear meshes with the planet gear, and an output shaft is configured to be rotationally driven by the sun gear. A sensor is configured to detect the forward-rearward movement of the internal gear, the sensor being disposed downward of the sun gear in the up-down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Araki, Motohiro Omura, Akira Ito
  • Patent number: 11904567
    Abstract: A carton blank feeding and shuttle machine includes a first driven belt supported by a first plurality of pulleys and a second driven belt supported by a second plurality of pulleys, a first rod attached to the first driven belt and a second rod attached to the second driven belt. Each of the rods extend across the first and second opposing sides. At least one controller controls motions of (a) the first driven belt and (b) the second driven belt, and a plucking head is supported by the first and second rods such that the first and second driven belts create common motion to move the plucking head along a transport path and relative motion to extend and retract the plucking head. A linkage assembly includes a plurality of links configured to move a plucking head along a shaft in response to movements of the first and second belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kliklok LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Godden, John Pate
  • Patent number: 11897742
    Abstract: A cap sterilization device (50) includes a sterilant spraying chamber (52) in which a sterilant is sprayed onto a cap (33) and an air-rinsing chamber (53) in which the cap (33) onto which the sterilant has been sprayed in the sterilant spraying chamber (52) is subjected to air-rinsing. A sterilant spraying wheel (74) that conveys the cap (33) while rotating the cap (33) is disposed in the sterilant spraying chamber (52). An air-rinsing wheel (75) that conveys the cap (33) onto which the sterilant has been sprayed while rotating the cap (33) is disposed in the air-rinsing chamber (53). The air-rinsing chamber (53) is disposed vertically above the sterilant spraying chamber (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hayakawa, Seiji Kuwano, Yoshinori Satou
  • Patent number: 11897662
    Abstract: In order to allow a bag to be easily unsealed by sliding both sides of the bag in a longitudinal direction of a zipper tape irrespective of the rigidity of the zipper tape, a zipper-tape bag according to an aspect of the invention includes: a bag body including at least a pair of facing surfaces; and an elongated zipper tape whose cross sectional profile includes first and second bases each bonded to corresponding one of facing surfaces, and mutually engageable first and second engagement portion respectively protruded from the first and second bases, the zipper tape including an intermediate hinge at at least one point in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: IDEMITSU UNITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takumi Todaka
  • Patent number: 11896217
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a shaft, an end effector rotatably connected to the shaft about an articulation joint, and an articulation drive is disclosed. The articulation drive comprises a lock configured to hold the end effector in position when the articulation drive is not being operated. The articulation lock self-unlocks when the articulation drive is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: John Kevin Bruce, Richard L. Leimbach, Brett E. Swensgard
  • Patent number: 11897225
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for assembling thermally insulated containers are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus for inserting a first insulating liner panel and a second insulating liner panel into a rectangular box to form a thermally insulated container includes a first station with a flap opening assembly, a second station with a first liner panel insertion assembly for inserting a first liner panel within the box, and a third station with a second liner panel insertion assembly for inserting a second liner panel within the box. A box transfer system is configured to transfer the box between the first station, the second station, and the third station. A flap guide system maintains the at least two of the lid flaps of the box in the open configuration as the box is transferred from the first station to the third station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cascades Canada ULC
    Inventors: Martin Taillon, Simon Provencher, Tommy Damphousse, Dominic Ebacher
  • Patent number: 11897110
    Abstract: A rotary power tool includes a housing having a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom. An electric motor is positioned within the motor housing portion. The rotary power tool further includes a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor. The rotary power tool further includes a non-contact speed selector switch positioned in the housing. The non-contact speed selector switch is configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor. The non-contact speed selector switch is separate from the trigger switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maxwell L. Merget, Jingyuan Liang, Michael R. Sande, Michael Halverson, Ian Duncan, Nicholas C. Mantych, Alex Huber
  • Patent number: 11897105
    Abstract: A pair of stamping pliers for stamping and bonding includes a first handle, a second handle and a stamping nail. The first handle and the second handle are staggered, pivotally connected, and rotated with respect to each other, and the first handle has a stamping seat which is a stamping groove and a guide through hole provided for moving the stamping nail axially. The second handle has a linking portion linkable to the stamping nail, so that when the second handle is rotated relative to the first handle, the linking portion can be linked to the stamping nail to move the stamping nail axially in the guide through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Chin-Chen Huang
  • Patent number: 11896049
    Abstract: The object of the application is an apparatus for the manufacturing of rods of a continuous material strand comprising a feeding unit for feeding the material strand, a guiding unit for guiding the material strand, a compressing unit for compressing the strand and forming a continuous rod of the material strand, and an object feeding unit for feeding an object to the compressing unit, the apparatus being adapted to feed three partial strands of the material strand, whereas the partial strands are fed through the guiding unit to the compressing unit characterised in that the object feeding unit is adapted to insert the object in the radial direction of the formed continuous rod into the compressing unit between the partial strands. The object of the application is also a method for the manufacturing of rods of the continuous material strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. z o. o.
    Inventors: Bartosz Cieslikowski, Radoslaw Figarski
  • Patent number: 11897224
    Abstract: A box forming apparatus includes first holders configured to hold a first side surface of a cardboard sheet, second holders configured to hold a second side surface of the cardboard sheet, an arm, a first mover, and a second mover. The arm has a support that supports the first and the second holders. The first mover changes a position of the first holders relative to the second holders while the arm is being rotated to open the cardboard sheet. The second mover moves the arm in association with opening of the cardboard sheet so that, when the cardboard sheet has been opened, the second mover will have moved the support a predetermined distance in a second direction opposite a first direction, which is a direction heading from a rotational center of the arm to a distal end of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iwasa, Yoshinobu Shimomae
  • Patent number: 11897222
    Abstract: In erecting a carton from a knock-down carton blank, the blank is placed on a base of a bed of a shuttle such that a bottom side panel of the blank abuts the base. The bottom side panel of the blank is then gripped with a gripper of the base and a top side panel of the blank is raised while advancing the shuttle in a horizontal direction so as to open said knock-down carton blank into a carton sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: H. J. Paul Langen
  • Patent number: 11897646
    Abstract: A blister packaging machine manufactures a blister pack including a pocket portion formed in a container film of a belt-like shape and a cover film that closes the pocket portion. The blister packaging machine includes: a conveyor that conveys the container film; a preheater that preheats the container film conveyed by the conveyor; a pocket portion former that forms the pocket portion in the container film softened by the preheater; and a support belt that moves in synchronism with the container film conveyed by the conveyor while supporting a part of the container film other than the pocket portion or a part of the container film other than an area where the pocket portion is to be formed, in at least a location from the preheater to a position downstream of the pocket portion former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Kawai, Tomomi Kikukawa, Satoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11897109
    Abstract: An objective is to provide a technique to securely protect the striking tool even when the striking tool inadvertently falls down. A striking tool including a rotating shaft relatively rotatably connect a main body with a handle, a first elastic member reducing transmitting of vibration from the main body to the handle in a case that the handle relatively rotates to the main body, wherein the handle includes a battery mounting portion to which battery to drive the motor is attachable and the handle is arranged to relatively move to the main body across the rotating shaft, and an adjuster such that the relative movement amount of the handle to the main body in a predetermined direction is adjusted to be larger than the relative movement amount in a direction other than the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyonobu Yoshikane, Mizuki Yamamoto