Patents Examined by John Sipos
  • Patent number: 7299606
    Abstract: In a machine (1) for filling containers with fluid products, different fluid substances are directed by means of a rotary valve assembly (19) into a tank (7) furnished with separate compartments (12, 13, 14, 15), isolated one from another and equipped each with at least one filler valve (8) by which a given quantity of one of the fluid substances is dispensed from the tank (7) into each container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Bonatti, Enrico Galimberti, Stefano Cavallari
  • Patent number: 7287359
    Abstract: A clipper has a punch movable in a reciprocating path from a retracted position to an extended position, a clip rail for feeding a clip into the reciprocating path of the punch, a tag loading window oriented to hold a tag in the reciprocating path of the punch, a die adjacent to the extended position of the punch, a knife movable in a reciprocating path from a retracted position to an extended position, the knife having a top side and a bottom side, the reciprocating path of the knife being adjacent to the die, and a tag lifter plate mounted between the die and the reciprocating path of the knife, the tag lifter plate having a top side, the top side being between the top side of the knife and the bottom of the knife when the knife is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System Corp.
    Inventors: Eggo Haschke, Robert Vedder
  • Patent number: 7281591
    Abstract: A power tool (2) has a handle (6) and a tool body (4) pivotably coupled to the handle (6) by a pivot (76, 78, 102, 104). A motor (16), mechanically coupled to a rotary output (20), is housed in the tool body (4). A trigger switch (32) is housed in the handle (6). A locking mechanism is coupled with the handle and tool body. The locking mechanism enables or prevents pivotal movement of the tool body (4) relative to the handle (6). An electrical connection (36,38) between the handle (6) and the tool body (4) passes through the pivot (76,78,102,104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Gareth Bone
  • Patent number: 7278251
    Abstract: A wrapping material indicator arrangement for a wrapping machine, in particular a rotobaler. The indicator is supported on the circumference of a wrapping material roll, from which wrapping material is withdrawn during a wrapping operation. A rotating counter roll, pressed against the wrapping material roll, drives a rotating wheel mounted on an arm that allows the wheel to translate through an arc. The translation of the wheel and arm indicates the amount of wrapping material left on the wrapping material roll and its rotation allows an operator to monitor the operation of the rotobaler for malfunctions during the wrapping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Frédéric Paillet, Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7272917
    Abstract: Packets of prismatic geometry referable to a longitudinal axis, presenting two larger side faces, two smaller flank faces and two end faces, are overwrapped by a method including a step in which each packet, enveloped initially by a tubular wrap projecting beyond the two end faces, is inserted into a holder of a transfer wheel in such a way that two appendages of the tubular wrap projecting at either end from a first flank face of the packet are flattened over the end faces; the appendages are pinned immediately along two lines coinciding substantially with the corner edges of the end face as the packet enters the relative holder, and held stably in position during a subsequent step of transferring the single packets from a feed station to an outfeed conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Fabrizio Tale′
  • Patent number: 7269929
    Abstract: A heat tunnel for applying heated air to articles enclosed in shrink-wrap film includes at least one air supply unit; a conveyor; and a heat shroud spaced from the conveyor. The air supply unit includes a source of heated air, a fan, a heated air plenum, air ducts, and a return air plenum. Multiple air supply units can be provided along the conveyor to create a heat tunnel of desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Douglas Machine Inc
    Inventors: Bradley Jon VanderTuin, Richard Jerome Schoeneck, Irvan Leo Pazdernik, Bruce Malcolm Peterson, Paul Howard Wagner
  • Patent number: 7269931
    Abstract: An overwrapping machine for packets of cigarettes, wherein a first feed line feeds the packets of cigarettes successively along a first path, and a second feed line feeds sheets of transparent packing material successively along a second path intersecting the first path at a cross station to pair each packet with a respective sheet of packing material; and wherein a guide for the packets is located upstream from the cross station, and has an output end, for the packets, facing the cross station; the guide is movable to and from a forward operating position, in which the guide forms part of the first path, and the output end of the guide is positioned substantially contacting the second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: G.D. Societa per Anzioni
    Inventors: Silvano Boriani, Stefano Negrini
  • Patent number: 7266935
    Abstract: A new and improved case sealer assembly comprises a pair of oppositely disposed case drive mechanisms for conveying a multiplicity of cases through a sealing station. The drive mechanisms are laterally separated from each other such that an interior space is formed therebetween which effectively defines a sealing station for serially accommodating the multiplicity of cases to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bryce J. Fox, Robert Cheich
  • Patent number: 7263814
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying one or more gases, such as oxygen, to a target area, comprising a top layer and a bottom layer sealed around the perimeter of the layers to form a reservoir between the layers, wherein the top layer is not gas-permeable and the bottom layer is highly gas-permeable, said reservoir containing one or more gases. The present invention also describes methods of using such an apparatus to supply oxygen to a wound for improved wound healing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Oxyband Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Coni F. Rosati
  • Patent number: 7263813
    Abstract: A method of making a reclosable product package (64, 100, 142), a package-making apparatus (10) for the method and the reclosable product package (64, 100, 142) in which block cheese or another product (45) which does not slide well during packaging in placed on a continuous length of thermoplastic packaging film (12). Various folding directions (44, 62, 90, 106, 114) of the packaging film (12) and various placement of reclosable zippers (73, 108, 119) produce various reclosable product packages (64, 100, 142) with various peel seal (40, 41, 87, 88) arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Schneider, Donald L. Crevier, Patricia I. Norek
  • Patent number: 7263815
    Abstract: A Process for feeding products of variable height and length into a continuous packaging apparatus comprising a conveyor with thrusters that receives publishing products or similar, such as newspapers, magazines, books, envelopes, giveaways or other similar products, from a certain number of feeders, a conveyor belt where the packaging in a plastic or paper film takes place, fed continuously above the conveyor belt that foresees, in a downstream area, longitudinal and transversal sealing devices that make finished packages of various sizes in height and length, said process comprising the steps of: varying the pitch on the conveyor belt of the products or groups of products fed by the conveyor with thrusters through continuous variation of the speed of the conveyor belt, and operatively adapting the speed of the sealing devices to the sizes in height and length of the products or groups of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Sitma S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aris Ballestrazzi, Lamberto Tassi
  • Patent number: 7257937
    Abstract: A processing system which enables automation of processing of sheet bodies with a view to raising efficiency of operations, from stacking to packing. A plurality of paper sheaves, which have been produced by cutting and chopping, are transported in a width direction, sequentially fed to a transfer conveyor, transported from the transfer conveyor in a length direction, and fed to a cover sheet application device. At the cover sheet application device, the paper sheaves are superposed with cover sheets, and fed to an inversion apparatus. At the inversion apparatus, the paper sheaves are inverted such that the cover sheets are at upper sides, and are fed out to another cover sheet application device. At this cover sheet application device, the cover sheets are superposed with lower face sides of the paper sheaves. Hence, the paper sheaves, with the cover sheets superposed at both upper and lower faces thereof, are bagged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Nakagiri, Yasuhisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7254930
    Abstract: A stationary tucker bar mechanism attached to a vertical form, fill, and seal packaging machine used to construct a vertical stand-up pouch and a gusseted flat bottom bag. The invention involves producing a vertical stand-up pouch or flat bottom bag from a single sheet of packaging film by forming one or two vertical creases along opposing sides of the packaging film tube prior to forming a transverse seal on the tube. The vertical crease is formed using the stationary tucker bar gusseting mechanism positioned outside the packaging film tube and positioned between two forming plates located inside the packaging film tube. While the tucker bar gusseting mechanism is stationary during operation, it is fully adjustable along multiple axes of orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Joseph Bartel, Anthony Robert Knoerzer, Garrett William Kohl, Steven Kenneth Tucker
  • Patent number: 7254931
    Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes a continuous web having a width and a length, the length comprised of a series of attached sheets. The series of attached sheets is comprised of envelope sheets and content pages. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. The method starts with cutting consecutive attached sheets into separated sheets. The content pages belonging to a same mailpiece are accumulated together. The separated envelope sheet is transported, bypassing the accumulating and turning steps. The accumulated and turned content pages are then merged with the envelope sheet, and the envelope sheet is folded and closed around the accumulated content pages to form a finished enclosing envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Denis J Stemmle, Clare E Woodman, John W Sussmeier, Eric A Belec, Michael J Cummings
  • Patent number: 7252155
    Abstract: A power tool (1) having a striking means (5), by which a percussive tool (2) that can be driven at least partially along an axis (A) struck directly and having a flushing bore (4) extending at least partially longitudinally through a tool shank (3), and having a flushing head (6) having a radially inwardly open transverse bore hole (8) connected in a flow-through fashion with a fluid channel (7). The flushing head (6) has at least one hollow cylindrical sleeve-like guide surface (9), which is fitted for an insertion end (10) of the striking tool (2). The striking means (5) sealed by a seal (11a, 11b) is cup-like. The striking means (5) is moveably guided and made fluid tight by the seal (11a, 11b) to embrace the machine-side part of the insertion end (10) having the machine-side open flushing bore (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesselschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Goetzfried, Udo Hauptmann, Konrad Artmann
  • Patent number: 7249638
    Abstract: An anvil adapted to be received within an impact wrench comprises a round body and a square head. The square head is formed at an end of the round body. A tapered ramp extends from the round body to the square head. A radius is formed in the tapered ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J Bodine, David S Bruner, Alan M Paris
  • Patent number: 7246476
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for high-speed vacuum unitary packaging of portion-cut meats, wherein a vacuum four-side sealed object containing a plurality of portion-cut meats obtained by dividing a livestock meat, such as beef, pork, chicken, or the like, or a large-size fish into many portions, is divided into four-side sealed objects with vacuum being maintained at high speed using an impulse sealer for vacuum unitary packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Best Pack Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Ogiue, Toshio Hanai
  • Patent number: 7243476
    Abstract: A system for tracking items includes a turntable to receive a pallet containing articles having RFID devices, a wrap dispenser to wrap the articles with wrap as the turntable rotates and a transceiver disposed on the wrap dispenser to transmit and receive a signal from the RFID devices while the turntable is rotating and wrapping the articles. A method is provided including loading articles having RFID devices thereon on a pallet, loading the pallet on a turntable, attaching an end of a wrap to at least one of the articles, rotating the turntable to cause the wrap to encircle the articles until all of the articles are constrained in position by the wrap, transmitting a signal to the RFID devices to cause the each RFID device to emit a signal back to the transceiver, and reading the signals from the RFID devices to obtain information contained in the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Schneider
  • Patent number: 7243831
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes: a driver blade adapted to drive nails joined to one another into an object in order; a nose adapted to guide the driver blade and nails; and a guide surface of a projection adapted to guide a head portion of a first nail struck out into an exit hole of the nose so that the second nail is not exposed to the exit hole. The guide surface of the projection is formed to a shape identical with that of the head portions of the nails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ishizawa, Hiroki Kitagawa, Masashi Nishida
  • Patent number: 7240466
    Abstract: A device for producing a tubular pack which is filled with a product, particularly with a foodstuff, comprises a conveying device for conveying a tube filled with the product. A closing device is provided for producing tubular packs. This closing device comprises pinching elements, which can be moved toward one another and which serve to press a closing clasp together that closes the tube. According to the invention, the closing device comprises at least three pinching elements that can be displaced by a displacing element. This results in the exertion of pinching forces, which are directed in a radially inward manner, by the pinching elements onto the closing clasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Franz Vermee GmbH
    Inventors: Frans Vermee, Leonid Larin