Patents Examined by Stephen F. Gerrity
  • Patent number: 11883023
    Abstract: A tissue fastening device includes a body including a plurality of sidewalls defining a channel, an anvil having a proximal end and a distal end and pivotally coupled to the body and the anvil moves between an open position and a closed position, and a locking mechanism to lock the anvil in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc
    Inventors: Ramon Estevez, Paul Smith, Kathryn Venuto, Christopher R. Deuel, Douglas Melanson, Ian Bourdon
  • Patent number: 11884437
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in delivering cup-like containers to a container receiving path of a packaging station includes: a first infeed tower and a second infeed tower, each of the first infeed tower and the second infeed tower having: a stationary upper segment and a movable lower segment, wherein the movable lower segment is movable between a load position, in alignment with the stationary upper segment for receiving cup-like containers from the stationary upper segment, and an unload position, in alignment with the container receiving path for delivering cup-like containers to the container receiving path; a transfer gate controllable to block feed of cup-like containers from the stationary upper segment down into the movable lower segment; and an outlet gate controllable to block feed of cup-like containers down out of the movable lower segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: RENNCO LLC
    Inventor: Brian C. Bowerman
  • Patent number: 11884428
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a big-bag transfer station for API seed crystals. The transfer station may permit the filling of smaller containers, such as bags or pouches, from a large container, such as a big bag. The transfer station may permit the transfer without contaminating the atmosphere of the room in which the station is housed. Additionally, the transfer station may limit cross-contamination between filling cycles by employing single-use liners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Lonza Ltd.
    Inventors: Luca Colonna, Leander Stoffel, Thomas Buchner, Viktor Schnyder
  • Patent number: 11884441
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a conveying device for advancing a web along a web advancement path at least to a tube forming station where the web is formed into a tube and for advancing the tube along a tube advancement path, a tube forming and sealing device configured to form and to longitudinally seal the tube, a tensioning device upstream of the tube forming station and configured to control the tension of the tube and a control unit configured to control packaging machine operation. The tensioning device comprises a main drive roller rotatable around a main rotation axis and a main drive motor configured to actuate rotation of the main drive roller around the main rotation axis. The control unit is configured to control the main drive motor such that angular speed and/or angular acceleration of the main drive roller is cyclically varied to control the tension of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Marco Melandri, Paolo Bergami, Gianluca Pagliani, Lorenzo Martini, Stefano Costa, Roberto Panciroli, Claudio Ferrari
  • Patent number: 11884528
    Abstract: A capping machine for caps made of compressible material includes a compression box and compression units, each being housed in a cavity in the compression box and defining a cap compression seat. A bottle centering device is associated with each compression unit and is mechanically associated with the compression box at a housing seat on a lower face. The capping machine includes a fastener for removably retaining each bottle centering device in its respective housing seat. The fastener includes for each bottle centering device a movable engagement element movably associated with the lower face moveable between: a locking position, wherein the movable engagement element interferes with the respective bottle centering device creating an undercut to retain the bottle centering device inside the housing seat; and an unlocking position, wherein the movable engagement element does not interfere, allowing the bottle centering device to freely engage or disengage the housing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: MBF S.P.A.
    Inventors: Giuliano Boscaro, Alessandro Ticinelli, Andrea Stella
  • Patent number: 11864757
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses for a reloadable cartridge assembly. An example apparatus includes a first elongated member including a staple cartridge configured to eject a number of staples and a second elongated member pivotally coupled to the first elongated member, wherein the second elongated member includes a number of pockets configured to receive and form the number of staples ejected from the staple cartridge, and wherein a furthest distal pocket of the number of pockets is less than 6 millimeters (mm) from a distal end of the second elongated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lexington, Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon Amariglio, Andrew Marecki
  • Patent number: 11864762
    Abstract: Surgical instruments, such as clamping and cutting instruments, are provided. In one aspect, a surgical stapling instrument comprises first and second jaws and a drive member configured to move in a distal direction through at least one of the jaws. The instrument further includes a locking member movable between a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, and a second position impeding distal translation of the drive member, and a switch movable from a proximal position to a distal position. When the switch is in the proximal position, it releasably maintains the locking member in the first position, and when the switch is in the distal position, it allows the locking member to move to the second position. This inhibits or prevents actuation of a knife when there is a spent or previously fired cartridge loaded in the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Wixey
  • Patent number: 11858677
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus for small piece goods, the use of the packaging apparatus, and a method for producing a blister tube are provided. The packaging apparatus includes a packaging material guiding device for providing a shaped packaging material web suitable for receiving small piece goods, a longitudinal joining device which is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device and a transverse joining device which is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device. The transverse joining device joins the shaped packaging material web together at predetermined intervals transversely to the direction of travel to form a transverse joining area. The transverse joining device includes two joiners, a first joiner having a plurality of embossers that are individually movable transversely to the direction of travel and are arranged so that they can be extended from the first joiner and retracted into the first joiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Torben Schüttfort
  • Patent number: 11851313
    Abstract: A cap attachment-detachment device includes an operation portion that moves in an up-and-down direction, and grips and rotates a cap so as to attach the cap to or attach the cap from a container. The operation portion includes a first grip claw, a second grip claw and the pressing member. The first grip claw and the second grip claw are provided to be opposite to each other and configured to be capable of applying an obliquely upward force inwardly to an upper portion of a side surface of the cap. The pressing member is configured to be capable of coming into contact with an upper surface of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Numata, Tadanobu Shibabuki
  • Patent number: 11851223
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the formation of stacks of packagings (152) by stacking infusion bags (140), in which the infusion bags (140) are removed from a conveying stretch (100) on which the infusion bags (140) provided one behind the other are supplied to a removal station (102) in which the infusion bags (140) are removed from the conveying stretch (100) and are arranged resting against one another to form the stack of packagings (100) in a stack holding device (122; 300) which is emptied when a number of infusion bags (140) forming the stack of packagings (152) has been reached, where the removal of the infusion bags (140) from the conveying stretch (100) is not interrupted when the stack holding device (122; 300) is being emptied and at least one infusion bag (140) removed there is arranged upstream of the stack holding device (122; 300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Teepack Spezialmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans Knops, Stefan Lambertz
  • Patent number: 11849944
    Abstract: A surgical device having at least one rotary input screw in the end effector is provided. A rotary input screw can extend through a central longitudinal portion of the end effector. The end effector can include an improved closure system, firing systems, leveraging and alignment features between the staple cartridge and the surgical device, staple cartridges having multi-staple drivers, single-firing knifes and lockout/safety features for the same, and/or modified staple patterns, for example. Certain components can be 3D-printed components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chad P. Boudreaux
  • Patent number: 11851220
    Abstract: A method including transporting fragile fruit into a hopper. The method also includes transferring the fragile fruit from the hopper into a container that is at least partially submerged in a fluid. The method additionally includes raising the container out of the fluid while the fragile fruit are within the container. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HARVEST CROO, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Henry Pitzer, Mark Morrow, Paul Miller, Timothy Vernarsky
  • Patent number: 11851226
    Abstract: A device (10) for sealing three-dimensional objects (16) in the bag opening (14) of a film bag (12) comprises a clamp (36, 38) for the film bag (12), which has a pair of clamping shoes (42, 44) on each side, between which the edge of the film bag (12) is held. A heat sealer (26, 28) is provided for sealing the three-dimensional object (16) in the bag opening (14) of the film bag (12), wherein the heat sealer (26, 28) has a pair of sealing jaws (26, 28) between which the bag opening (14) of the film bag (12) can be sealed. The two clamping shoe pairs (42, 44) of the clamp (36, 38) are moved apart from one another during the sealing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Nico Hjordt, Daniel Birkhold, Timo Graf
  • Patent number: 11844517
    Abstract: A tool assembly for a surgical stapling device includes a first jaw supporting an anvil. A second jaw supports a staple cartridge. A drive member is movable from a retracted position towards an advanced position to move the second jaw in relation to the first jaw from an open position to a clamped position. At least two first pivoting links are operably coupled to a first side of the first and second jaws. At least two second pivoting links are operably coupled to a second side of the first and second jaws. The pivoting links each pivot in response to longitudinal advancement of the I-beam to move the second jaw between the open position and the clamped position. The second surface of the cartridge assembly is maintained in substantially parallel alignment with the first surface of the anvil as the second jaw is moved between the open position and the clamped position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: K V S Manoj Kumar Vadali, Roanit A. Fernandes
  • Patent number: 11844520
    Abstract: A replaceable staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The replaceable staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body, staple cavities defined in the cartridge body, staples removably positioned in the staple cavities, and staple drivers configured to support the staples in the staple cavities. The staple drivers are movable between an unfired position and a fired position. The staple cartridge further comprises a wedge sled, wherein the wedge sled is configured to motivate the staple drivers from the unfired position toward the fired position, and driver retention members extending into the staple cavities. The driver retention members are configured to retain the staple drivers in the unfired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chad P. Boudreaux, Chester O. Baxter, III
  • Patent number: 11844518
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector including a first jaw and a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw is disclosed. One or both of the first jaw and the second jaw comprise an arrangement for maintaining the alignment between the first jaw and the second jaw. The alignment arrangement can also provide tactile feedback to the operator of the surgical instrument that the surgical instrument is reaching a fully-closed position during a closure stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Zhifan F. Huang
  • Patent number: 11840397
    Abstract: A beverage brewing cartridge includes a base including a sidewall having first and second open ends and a cover sealed to a rim of the first open end, and a plug configured to be inserted into the second open end. The cartridge is configured to hold beverage brewing material when the plug is inserted. The cover is configured to be breached to allow pressurized liquid to enter the cartridge to brew a beverage. The plug includes weakened areas configured to open after the pressurized liquid enters the cartridge to allow the beverage to flow from the cartridge. A method of constructing the cartridge includes placing the base in a holder, inserting a portion of brewing material into the base through the second open sidewall end, tamping the brewing material in the base through the second open sidewall end, and inserting the plug into the second open sidewall end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Adrian Rivera
  • Patent number: 11834218
    Abstract: A system for assembling a container and closure comprising an expanding collet which has a plurality of pivoting collet segments, each configured to simultaneously pivot radially outward about a pivot point and comprising. The collet comprises a lip that is engagable with the rim of the open end of the container and an angled tip positioned radially inward from the lip and shaped to press a countersink portion of the closure against an interior wall of the container as the collet segments pivot radially outward. As the container and the chuck are brought together, the rim engages with the lips of the collet segments and causes the angled tips of the collet segments to pivot outward toward the interior wall of the container, thereby pushing the countersink portion of the closure against the interior wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Price, James J. Peoples
  • Patent number: 11834211
    Abstract: Converting line for paper rolls, including at least one converting apparatus adapted to convert paper plies, wound in parent reels, into rolls, a packing machine that in turn includes—a carrier conveyor, on which the rolls coming from the converting apparatus are arranged, —at least one side area at the side of the carrier conveyor, where the rolls are packed, —at least one robot adapted to take the rolls from the at least one conveyor belt and to put them in the at least one side area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Korber Tissue S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Bolognesi, Fabio Pattuzzi, Umberto Scalici
  • Patent number: 11826042
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a firing drive including a leverage selection mechanism is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Shane R. Adams, Frederick E. Shelton, IV