Patents Examined by Jacob A Smith
  • Patent number: 11897103
    Abstract: There is provided a working end for a nail driving tool for use in installing a siding component having a nailing strip. The working end has a body with a front end, rear end, sidewall, and a nail aperture between the front end and the rear end. A first guide is formed by a recess in the front end and is configured to align the nail aperture with the nailing strip by engaging a surface of the siding component. A receptacle is formed in the rear end of the body and is configured to receive the nail driving tool. One or more protrusions on the front end are spaced from the nail aperture. The one or more protrusions are configured to engage the nailing strip and align the nail aperture with a nail-receiving aperture of the nailing strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventors: Desmond Tse, Tomas Walter
  • Patent number: 11897226
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a produce bag. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a completely recyclable and compostable grocery-type bag for use with produce and other goods. Ideally, the bag is a calendared single-ply paper with heat-sealed seams that is resistant to destruction from moisture. While produce is contemplated, the bag can be used to contain virtually any product. Preferably, such a bag would have a window or an opening so that produce can be viewed and readily identified. The present invention is further directed to a process for creating and filling the above bag. Using a standard printing machine, the adhesive is printed onto the paper in register to desired locations on the paper to form the seams of the bag and, optionally border a window area to be cut out of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: THE PAPER PEOPLE LLC
    Inventors: Mark Resch, Neil Bretl
  • Patent number: 11897744
    Abstract: A beverage bottle filling machine and a method of filling beverage bottles and similar containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Muszinski, Thomas Stolte
  • Patent number: 11897747
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers and related technologies are disclosed. The apparatus has at least one container-transportation belt, wherein the container-transportation belt is configured to carry at least one container between a first location and a second location, wherein the at least one container-transportation belt has a width which is smaller than a diameter of the at least one container. The apparatus may also include at least one belt. At least one container is carried on the at least one belt between a first location and a second location, wherein a bottom of the at least one container contacts a top surface of the at least one belt. At least one lifting mechanism raises the at least one container off the at least one belt by contacting the bottom of the at least one container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ABC FILLERS, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph A DiCarlo
  • Patent number: 11896553
    Abstract: A continuous skin packaging and coating apparatus and a coating method for tablets. The continuous skin packaging and coating apparatus comprises a lower coating film unreeling roller, a waste edge reeling roller, an upper coating film unreeling roller, a lower coating film heating component, an upper coating film heating component, a first mold provided with a first tablet placing hole, a second mold provided with a second tablet placing hole, a heat-sealing plate, a cutting component, a blank tablet implanting component, and an operating mesa. The lower coating film unreeling roller and the waste edge reeling roller are provided on either side of the operating mesa. The lower coating film heating component, the blank tablet implanting component, the upper coating film unreeling roller, the upper coating film heating component, the heat-sealing plate, and the cutting component are sequentially provided above the operating mesa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventors: Huimin Hou, Chunping Yuan, Huiping Zhang, Chunlin Luo, Mingying Qian, Zhengfang Wang, Yunmei Ren
  • Patent number: 11897648
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the technical field of food processing, and in particular, relates to an adaptive quantitative sub-packaging method for fried rice with multiple side dishes in a central kitchen and an apparatus therefor. The present invention mainly includes self-construction of a key side dish recognition model, self-evaluation of the key side dish recognition model, adaptive quantification of batch fried rice, and the apparatus matched with the three-step operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Jiangsu University
    Inventors: Xiaobo Zou, Chuang Li, Jiyong Shi, Xiaowei Huang, Zhihua Li, Tingting Shen, Xuetao Hu, Jiukai Zhang, Jianbo Xiao, Zhiming Guo
  • Patent number: 11897223
    Abstract: A bale of stock packaging material includes a continuous tube of paperboard material, the continuous tube of paperboard material being flattened and folded back and forth on itself into a fan-folded bale. The continuous tube of paperboard can be a single piece of paperboard with two opposed edges that are folded to overlap with each other. The paperboard material can include a corrugated layer. The opposed edges can be adhered together to form a single seam that runs lengthwise along the continuous tube of paperboard. The adhesive can be applied between the two edges which can join to form the single seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventor: Greg P. Magnell
  • Patent number: 11897279
    Abstract: An envelope processing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope conveyed to an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position. A first envelope length calculator calculates a first envelope length of the envelope in an envelope conveyance direction in which the envelope is conveyed in a close state in which a flap of the envelope closes. A flap opener opens the flap while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope. A second envelope length calculator calculates a second envelope length of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller calculates a flap length of the flap in the envelope conveyance direction based on the first envelope length and the second envelope length. The controller controls enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope based on the flap length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Yoshizawa, Michitaka Suzuki, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Shinji Asami, Takahiro Matsuda, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga
  • Patent number: 11897650
    Abstract: An unpacking system having a folding-out device for folding outwards an initially folded-in packaging portion of an item of packaging for an object, and having a stretching device for stretching an item of packaging for an object. The item of packaging herein is in particular a pouch, and the object is in particular a pharmaceutical or cosmetic object. The unpacking system furthermore has a transportation installation for transporting the object in a transportation direction. The packaging portion in the stretching device is stretched parallel with the transportation direction. A filling system is disclosed having such an unpacking system, and methods are disclosed for folding outwards, for stretching, and for unpacking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: GRONINGER & CO. GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Franke, Josef Veile
  • Patent number: 11896218
    Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos, Devanathan Raghavan, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Anil K. Nalagatla, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Adam D. Hensel, Seth D. Holdmeyer, Kevin M. Fiebig, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Chester O. Baxter, III
  • Patent number: 11897112
    Abstract: A cooling assembly for a power tool includes an air mover configured to be disposed within a housing assembly at a first end of a generally longitudinal enclosure proximate to a handle enclosure. The air mover is configured to direct air into the housing assembly and then generally perpendicularly to a longitudinally extending direction of the generally longitudinal enclosure. The cooling assembly also includes a duct configured to connect to the air mover and be in fluid communication with the air mover to direct air into the handle enclosure. The duct includes an inflow segment defining a first area for receiving the air from the air mover, an outflow segment defining a second area for directing the air from the air mover into the handle enclosure, and a connecting segment connecting the inflow segment to the outflow segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Vairavasundaram Swaminathan, Scott Turner, William Durham
  • Patent number: 11896048
    Abstract: A filter part (1) for use in an aerosol generating article and a method of manufacturing the filter part (1). The filter part (1) includes an aerosol permeable core (11) surrounded by a sleeve (12). The sleeve (12) is formed of linear, axially oriented fibres and the core (11) is formed of expanded, randomly oriented fibres. The method includes forming two or more strips (2a, 2b) into segments surrounding a conveying path, bringing the segments together into a sleeve former (7) to form the sleeve (12) and introducing loose fibres (52) between the segments upstream of the sleeve former (7) such that they are drawn therein in a random orientation and compressed between the segments as they are brought together to form a filter rod (8) with an aerosol permeable core (11) within the sleeve (12). The filter rod (8) is then cut to form the filter part (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Rui Nuno Batista, Eva Ferrari, Yves Jordil, Poh Yoke Tritz
  • Patent number: 11896222
    Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed comprising a firing member, a motor configured to advance the firing member, a current sensor, and a control system configured to set a target firing speed range of the firing member based on a current draw of the motor sensed by the current sensor, set a threshold current draw range corresponding to the target firing speed range of the firing member, advance the firing member at a firing speed within the target firing speed range, monitor a current draw of the motor as the firing member is driven, compare the monitored current draw to the threshold current draw range, and adjust the firing speed of the firing member based on the monitored current draw crossing below a first non-zero current value corresponding to the threshold current draw range or above a second non-zero current value corresponding to the threshold current draw range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Daniel J. Mumaw, Jason L. Harris, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11897227
    Abstract: A conversion apparatus is provided herein. The conversion apparatus includes a cutting member having an edge configured for cutting the dunnage material. The conversion apparatus also includes a biasing member that is located adjacent to the cutting member such that the dunnage material passes between the biasing member and the cutting member. The biasing member operably contacts the dunnage material thereby biasing the dunnage material against the cutting member. The position of the biasing member relative to the cutting member is such that in response to the dunnage material being retracted back into the conversion apparatus the cutting member begins to sever the dunnage material, but in response to the dunnage material traveling in the dispensing direction the cutting member does not begin to sever the dunnage material due to the relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Pregis Innovative Packaging LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Wetsch, Robert Tegel
  • Patent number: 11801591
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a housing, a cylinder disposed within the housing, and a piston positioned and moveable within the cylinder. The fastener driver additionally includes a nosepiece at least partially defining a fastener driving track through which fasteners are driven, and a driver blade attached to the piston and moveable with the piston to drive the fasteners through the fastener driving track. The driver blade includes an axial guiding projection for guiding the driver blade within the nosepiece, and wherein the projection terminates before a distal end of the driver blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Leo Mikat-Stevens
  • Patent number: 11802033
    Abstract: A capping and de-capping apparatus for capping and de-capping tubes disposed in a tube holding rack having a two-dimensional array of apertures for holding the tubes. The apparatus comprises a rack support for supporting the tube holding rack, a head unit adapted for carrying a cartridge comprising at least one capping and de-capping gripper, a drive system for moving the rack support and the head unit relatively towards and away from one another, in order to cause engagement or disengagement of the capping and de-capping gripper with or from a cap of at least one tube, and a drive system for rotating the capping and de-capping gripper, wherein rotation in one direction causes attachment of the cap to the tube and rotation in the opposite direction causes detachment of the cap from said tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Azenta, Inc.
    Inventors: Lars Weber Hovendahl, Michael Gabs Kaagaard Nielsen, Stig Christensen
  • Patent number: 11793514
    Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a sensor array is disclosed. In various instances, the sensor array comprises a conductive trace embedded in a cartridge body of the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Shane R. Adams, Jason L. Harris, Patrick L. Creamer, David C. Yates
  • Patent number: 11780646
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making airtight packages (100) made of flexible material that are configured to seal an environment inside the package with respect to an external environment, said packages (100) comprising a front panel (1), a back panel (2) and two side gussets (3, 4) provided at opposite ends of the front panel (1) and of the back panel (2) so as to connect the front panel (1) to the back panel (2). The method comprises a first step of folding a sheet (60) made of flexible material along two first fold lines (L1) which are mutually parallel so as to form a tubular element (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ICA SpA
    Inventors: Gino Rapparini, Pietro Crescimbeni
  • Patent number: 11780631
    Abstract: An unpacking system having a folding-out device for folding outwards an initially folded-in packaging portion of an item of packaging for an object, and having a stretching device for stretching an item of packaging for an object. The item of packaging herein is in particular a pouch, and the object is in particular a pharmaceutical or cosmetic object. The unpacking system furthermore has a transportation installation for transporting the object in a transportation direction. The packaging portion in the stretching device is stretched parallel with the transportation direction. A filling system is disclosed having such an unpacking system, and methods are disclosed for folding outwards, for stretching, and for unpacking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: GRONINGER & CO. GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Franke, Josef Veile
  • Patent number: 11772352
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for forming containers. The containers may be cans, including composite cans. The apparatus may include a cylindrical mandrel and a blank may be formed into a cylindrical tube around the mandrel. Rotational apparatuses may engage portions of a blank that may be in a flat configuration and may rotate the portions around the outward cylindrical surface of the mandrel. Free edges of the tubular blank may be sealed by a sealing strip that may be T-shaped in cross section. A cup may be installed in an end opening, such as a bottom end, of the cylindrical tube. The cup may be sealed in the end opening by a seaming process using a seaming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: H. J. Paul Langen