Patents Examined by Louis Tran
  • Patent number: 6723033
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering predetermined amounts of particulate material and/or plasticizer to a location remote from the particulate material, and a cigarette filter and a cigarette made according to the method and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: George Robert Scott, Charles Gary Atwell, Martin T. Garthaffner
  • Patent number: 6718732
    Abstract: A capping device and method for installing overcaps onto a plurality of aerosol cans moving on a manufacturing line is disclosed. The capping device has a pressure plate with a cap contact surface on one side and a bearing surface on an opposite side. The contact surface is oriented to face overcaps that are rested on a plurality of aerosol cans moving past the pressure plate on the manufacturing line. The contact surface is rotated about an axis so that an installation segment of the contact surface moves in concert with the plurality of aerosol cans. A pressure wheel has a rotatable circumferential surface arranged to bear against a part of the pressure plate to further bear the installation segment into contact with the overcaps of the plurality of aerosol cans. As the cans move past the pressure wheel and plate, the overcaps are installed on the aerosol cans by force applied via the installation segment of the contact surface that is moving along with the cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Kovara, Steven B. Mineau, Leon S. Samuelson, Mark S. Wishau
  • Patent number: 6715260
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing, loading and singularly dispensing bags in a bag bundle from a dispensing hook includes a bag bundle formed from a plurality of stacked bags. Each bag has apertures are defined in the front panel and the rear panel adjacent the open top, these apertures having an opening of a selected dimension normal to the vertical side walls with an upper edge. A dispensing hook is used having parallel sides separated by a width complimentary to the selected dimension of the apertures to provide a secure, snug fit when the bag bundle is placed on the dispensing hook at the registered apertures. The dispensing hook defining a bag holding surface complimentary to the upper edge of the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Bob DeMatteis Co.
    Inventor: Robert B. DeMatteis
  • Patent number: 6708860
    Abstract: A setting tool for driving fastening elements into constructional components and parts and including a guide tube (3) for guiding a fastening element out, a device for displacing the fastening element through the side cut-out (13) formed in the guide tube (3) into interior of the guide tube (3), and a feeler element extending into the interior of the guide tube (3) opposite the side cut-out (13) with a depth by which the feeler element extends into the interior of the guide tube (3) being determined by a fastening element to-be-displaced into the interior of the guide tube (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Joachim Thieleke
  • Patent number: 6702038
    Abstract: A hydraulic motor, especially for driving of rotating tools, consisting of a chamber (2) provided with an inlet (10) for supplying fluid, and with at least one outlet hole (6), before which, on a holding device, a rolling rotor (7) is seated, the rolling rotor (7) is formed by a body of rotational shape. That the chamber (2) is at least in its internal surface of rotational shape and of a tapering diameter. The chamber (2) is on its side of the maximum diameter open, and on the side of its minimum diameter limited by means of a wall (3), in the middle of which a hole (4) is provided, through which a shaft (5) passes with a clearance, the shaft (5) carrying the rolling rotor (7). The shaft (5) is inside the chamber (2) provided with a recess (8), the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the hole (4) in the wall (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventors: Miroslav Sedlacek, Stanislav Hostin
  • Patent number: 6691493
    Abstract: Packs of rod-shaped smokers' products comprise containers of a material which permits monitoring of their contents by a suitable detector serving to generate signals which indicate the presence of characteristic indicia on one or more packed smokers' products. Such signals are encoded and the encoded information is applied to the respective containers. The information can be decoded and compared with signals furnished by the detector in order to ascertain whether or not the smokers' products are genuine, i.e., made by the manufacurer whose trademark(s) and/or other identifying information appear or appears on the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG
    Inventor: Gottfried von Bismarck
  • Patent number: 6685077
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a plastic staple from fastener stock includes a housing, an ejection mechanism for dispensing the staple, a severing mechanism for separating the staple from the fastener stock and an indexing mechanism for advancing the fastener stock into the housing. The ejection mechanism includes a pair of needles, a pair of movable slides, a pair of ejector rods and an actuator pin extending perpendicularly between the slides. The severing mechanism includes a pivotally mounted cam having a non-linear slot which receives the actuator pin and a knife blade coupled to the cam. The indexing mechanism includes a feed slide and a rotatable feed dog for displacing the feed slide. The feed slide includes a pair of inwardly compressible spring arms which sequentially engage the fastener stock. During the ejection process, the actuator pin travels horizontally within the housing and selectively pivots the cam and the feed dog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Davignon, Daniel Gilbertson
  • Patent number: 6679026
    Abstract: A device for checking the fitting of a threaded cap onto a container is associated with automatic cap-fitting apparatus, particularly of the carousel type, which includes a rotatable platform which can move at least one container about a principal axis of the apparatus and at least one screwing head for screwing a cap onto a respective container so as to close the container as a result of its movement about the principal axis. Each screwing head is arranged to screw a cap onto a container with a predetermined tightening torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventor: Sergio Cirio
  • Patent number: 6675552
    Abstract: A packaging foil is continuously withdrawn from a supply. The foil is folded around the products to be packaged. Cut-off lengths of closing profile sections are inserted with a feed unit between the two longitudinal edges of the foil. In a sealing station, the two longitudinal edges of the foil are sealed together and the foil is then sealed onto the closing profile sections. In another sealing station, transverse sealing seams are formed between the free ends of successive closing profile sections and the tube is cut approximately in the center of the transverse seams. A high packaging output is achieved as a result of the continuous withdrawal of the foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: SIG Pack Systems AG
    Inventors: Rico Kunz, Thomas Strasser, Ernst Wanner, Horst Loewenthal
  • Patent number: 6675911
    Abstract: A coupling mechanism for a power tool is provided on one portion of the tool and comprises a generally cylindrical projection with a side wall having a radial recess extending part-circumferentially along the side wall. A further projection is formed on the side wall which extends in both directions parallel to the axis of the cylindrical projection and in a direction radially outward from the side wall as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Leo Driessen
  • Patent number: 6668525
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for erecting a carton, and a method of and an apparatus for closing a carton. The carton has 180° fold lines with a compressed area at each end and a slit joining the compressed areas. A carton is erected by moving the blank in a first direction against a stop to form a first set of 90° folds, holding the blank stationary with a suction while pushing the blank in a second direction to form a second set of 90° folds, erecting the carton. A filled carton is closed by advancing it through the central opening of a V-shaped member to increasingly fold the carton top panels. The closed carton is sealed by advancing it through a second V-shaped member and into contact with a pivotally supported sealing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventors: Zsolt Toth, Paul A. Chudy
  • Patent number: 6666283
    Abstract: A hand power tool has at least one safety coupling arranged in a drive train, the safety coupling having at least two coupling elements for transmitting a torque around a rotary axis, at least one arresting element which is spring loaded and held in a guiding passage for connecting the coupling elements with one another, a guiding element, a spring providing spring-loading of the arresting element and supported in direction of the arresting element by the guiding element, the guiding element being non rotatably guided relative to an axis extending parallel to the rotary axis by guiding surfaces in the guiding passage, and the arresting element unlatching and keeping in contact with a surface toward which the arresting element is urged by the spring in response to exceeding of predetermined torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Frauhammer, Frank Mueller, Karl Treyz, Heinz Schnerring, Joerg Friedrich, Andreas Strasser, Hubert Steinke
  • Patent number: 6663550
    Abstract: A smoothing device includes guide surface sections for a flat printing material whose leading edge is pulled in a direction of travel over the guide surface sections. The guide surface sections have openings which communicate with throttling ducts that are pressurized with compressed air during operation. The guide surface sections form a smoothing notch and have air passage openings which communicate with a flow duct. The air passage openings are configured to cause pressure conditions when there is an air throughflow during operation such that the flat printing material forms a bead projecting into the smoothing notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Eckart Frankenberger, Michael Gieser, Peter Hachmann, Karl-Heinz Helmstädter, Christian Hieb, Ruben Schmitt, Günter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6662882
    Abstract: A power nut runner with a torque responsive shut-off capacity includes a housing (11,12,13), and a rotation motor (10) connected to an output shaft (28) via a torque responsive release clutch (26) in which torque is transferred via a cam mechanism (31, 35, 36) between a driving clutch half (25) and a driven clutch half (27, 30, 39). A spring (32) is arranged to bias and displace a first one of the clutch halves (27, 30, 39) towards the other in an engagement direction, and a signal emitting release detecting sensor (46), is provided in the housing (11, 12, 13). An activation element (40) is arranged to be thrown off an abutting contact with the spring biassed clutch half (27, 30, 39) to reach an active position beyond its inactive low torque position as the spring biassed clutch half (27, 30, 39) is abruptly returned to its engagement position after an axial release movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Christer Hansson
  • Patent number: 6662530
    Abstract: A dual chamber sachet with a dispensing outlet can be made in a form/fill sequence by attaching the dispensing outlet to the film that is to form the chamber divider wall followed by attaching films that are to form the outer walls of the sachet to the dispensing outlet. The upper and side lateral edges of the sachet then are sealed together to produce a sachet with an open bottom end. The sachet can be produced from three film sources, two film sources with the outer walls being formed from a single film, or from a single film formed into a W-shape. The sachet preferably is filled through the open bottom end and the bottom end then sealed. However the sachet can be top filled through the nozzle. The sachets then are severed one from the other by cutting along a lateral seal and packed into a carton, or preformatted along a lateral seal and cut to produce a string of a set number of sachets. The sachets can have a single use dispensing outlet or a reclosable dispensing outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Joel Millon, Orlando Fuquen, Christopher Joseph Miller, Scott Murray Walsh
  • Patent number: 6655112
    Abstract: A primary packaging unit for film-like or wafer-like administration forms for oral application with an off-cut of an upper web of packaging material and of an lower web of packaging material is characterized in that a plurality of dosage units of a film-like or wafer-like administration form, individually sealed in flat compartments formed without cold or hot forming of the packaging material and spaced at a distance to one another, are present in a primary packaging unit, and there are perforations between the compartments which enable the separation of individual compartments, if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG
    Inventors: Karsten Cremer, Karin Ludwig, Dieter Anhäuser, Klaus Schumann, Peter Steinborn, Uwe Bungarten
  • Patent number: 6655571
    Abstract: To provide a safe fastening element attaching device as well as to improve the operability thereof. The present invention provides a fastening element attaching device for sequentially pushing out the lowest fastening element from an interior of a fastening element group, in which a plurality of fastening elements are formed integrally by a connection bar, comprises a switching mechanism for selectively discharging the foregoing connection bar, which remains after respective fastening elements are pushed out from the foregoing connection bar, from a plurality of places of the main portion of the device. Therefore, the safety of the fastening element attaching device is increased as well as the operability thereof is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignees: Kotec's Co., Ltd., Sanyo Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Ueno
  • Patent number: 6651861
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding stapling elements grouped in sets to a stapling machine which is suitable to insert the elements astride the joint of strips arranged at an angle in order to provide perimetric frames, supporting frames and the like, comprising a magazine which is composed of at least one inclined channel suitable to accommodate a plurality of aligned sets and having a downward outlet for the sets, means for individually releasing the sets from the at least one channel through the outlet, a holder which comprises at least one seat arranged below the outlet of the at least one channel, actuators for actuating the holder between a position for receiving a set from the at least one channel in the at least one seat and a position for positioning the set with respect to the stapling machine so as to align the punch of the machine with the stapling elements to be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Giuseppe Raffoni
  • Patent number: 6651404
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a machine stand and an insulator housing sealingly connected to the machine stand. The connection to the machine stand is made via retainers, disposed on the machine housing, with a profile frame of the insulator housing resting on the retainers. Between the insulator housing and the machine stand, a gap is formed, in which a sealing element is disposed. The packaging machine according to the invention makes standardized machine stands possible, as well as a structure that is simpler from the production standpoint, because less stringent tolerances are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Hertfelder
  • Patent number: 6651859
    Abstract: A device for mating strips joined at an angle for forming rectangular frames having a L-shaped element, acting as movable abutment for the strips, has a symmetrical hinged connection to a pair of linkages, pivotally connected to a free end to the supporting element fixed to the platform, and an arm protruding outside the L-shaped element along the extension of its bisecting line and undergoing elastic centering. The element and linkages are accommodated in the supporting element in two mutually aligned seats which lie transversely to the slot of the platform, and are each constituted by a bush from which a slider protrudes; the slider is pushed, until it rests against an abutment of the bush, by a cylindrical spring which acts between the slider and the screw-type cap used also to adjust the preloading of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Inventor: Giuseppe Raffoni