Abstract: A pneumatic rotary tool includes a housing, a directional changeover mechanism, and a speed regulating mechanism. The housing includes a top body and a handle. The top body is fitted with a pneumatic motor. The handle defines a forward air channel, a reverse air channel, and an air supply passage. The air supply passage is controlled by a valve being operated by a trigger so that the air supply passage communicates with the forward and reverse air channels. The direction changeover mechanism is mounted in the top body along a transverse line and passes through the forward and reverse air channels for changing the rotational direction of the pneumatic motor. The speed regulating mechanism is mounted in the handle for adjusting the flow of compressed air entering the forward air channel. The tool can be operated conveniently to change the rotational direction and the output torque of the pneumatic motor.

Abstract: Gusset boards of a blown film extrusion apparatus have nose portions that can be positioned in the path of a tube of blown film traveling between the nose portions where the nose portions engage with opposite sides of the tube of blown film and form gussets in the tube of blown film. The nose portions of the gusset boards can also reduce their width dimensions which enables the nose portions to be moved away from the path of blown film traveling between the gusset boards when gussets formed in the opposite sides of the tube of blown film are not needed.

Abstract: A vertical form fill and seal system supports a sheet of material having material segments and a tube sized for drawing edges of the elongated sheet of material together in an overlapping configuration to form the sheet into a substantially tube shape. The VFFS also includes a sealer that seals the edges of the material to one another and a gusseting mechanism sized for forming a gusseted tuck in each of a left panel portion of the material and a right panel portion of the material. A cutting mechanism removes a first portion and a second portion of a first segment of the material segments in order to form a first cut and a second cut in the first segment and a sealing mechanism folds and seals the first segment at the first cut and at the second cut to provide an end wall with a substantially flat, rectangular-shaped footprint.

Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a motor positioned substantially within the housing, a drive mechanism supported by the housing and coupled to the motor, a battery pack electrically coupled to the motor, and an isolation system. The isolation system includes an interface member positioned substantially within the housing. The interface member receives a portion of the battery pack to electrically couple the battery pack to the motor. The isolation system also includes a plurality of isolators coupled between the housing and the interface member to isolate the battery pack from the housing during operation of the power tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for aseptically filling of flexible packages containing dry cloth. Such a method may include a first stage that is performed in a non-sterile environment. The first stage may include cutting a first substantially dry cloth to a predetermined size; inserting the first cloth into a flexible package; sealing a first end of the flexible package; and sterilizing the flexible package. The method may also include a second stage performed in a sterile environment. The second stage may include filling the flexible package with a medical solution such that the substantially dry cloth absorbs at least a portion of the medical solution; and sealing the an open end of the flexible package.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

Abstract: A loading unit for engagement with a surgical instrument. The loading unit includes a proximal body portion, an end effector, an actuation sled, and pushers. The actuation sled is longitudinally translatable within a cartridge assembly. The pushers are disposed within the cartridge assembly. Each pusher includes a camming surface configured for engagement with the actuation sled. The camming surface of each pusher in a first row is longitudinally aligned with the camming surface of each pusher in a second row. The first row of pushers is laterally offset from the second row of pushers.

Abstract: A surgical stapler configured for intraoral use. The surgical stapler includes an elongated barrel section that allows for surgical staples to be applied to difficult-to-reach locations within a patient's oral cavity. The distal end of the barrel is configured to releasably engage a cartridge containing a plurality of spring-biased surgical staples. When actuated, the surgical stapler ejects a single staple, which slides along a pair of elongated arms extending from the barrel. The distance between the elongated arms increases towards their distal ends, thereby gradually opening the spring-biased staple as it slides therealong until the staple comes to rest within slots on the arms. The user can then place the staple at the wound site and then unhook the arms from the staple. Once free from the arms of the surgical stapler, the staple then closes around the wound site.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically rolling a napkin around a set of dining utensils, wherein the apparatus can repeat the method quickly to individually wrap a plurality of sets of utensils in napkins. The apparatus comprises a housing for a first transfer unit for receiving a set of unwrapped utensil and a napkin and configured to automatically deliver the unwrapped utensils and napkin to a platform for wrapping. A lift plate holds a plurality of napkins and delivers a single napkin to unwrapped silverware. A rolling assembly rotatable around the unwrapped utensils and the napkin is configured to hold the utensils and to roll the napkin around the unwrapped utensils and to deliver the wrapped utensils to a second transfer unit configured to provide the wrapped utensils to a bin for storage.

Abstract: A bushing assembly for a reciprocating device is provided. The bushing assembly includes a hollow bushing housing, a collet guide member, and an adjuster mechanism. The hollow bushing housing has a substantially cylindrical shape and an angled inner sidewall. The collet guide member is disposed radially inward from and contacts the angled inner sidewall of the hollow bushing housing. The adjuster mechanism contacts a lower surface of the collet guide member and urges the collet guide member along the angled inner sidewall of the hollow bushing housing.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot, a hand attached to the robot, and a controller configured to control operation of the robot. The controller includes an initial control unit configured to rotate the hand in a state where the hand holds the screw cap tightened onto a conical tube in a first attitude, and a normal control unit configured to rotate the hand in a state where the hand holds the screw cap in a second attitude different from the first attitude after the hand is operated by the initial control unit.

Abstract: A process for the manufacturing and filling of plastic containers, the process comprising the steps of: positioning a preform with relation to a mold assembly of two or more components, the preform generally being fabricated from a plastic and being provided with a longitudinal axis and presenting a stretchable portion and a non-stretchable portion; stretching the preform along its longitudinal axis; injecting a fluid into the interior volume of the preform, the fluid being under such pressure as to cause the preform to plastically deform until achieving the desired size and shape; and releasing the container from the mold assembly and sealing the container, and in which at least a portion of the stretchable portion of the perform is at a temperature below its vitreous transition temperature (Tg) and, preferably, at ambient temperatures.

Abstract: A machine for packaging articles includes a frame; a feeder feeding film to a packaging station to wrap articles. A sealing unit includes at least two sealing elements movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position and a close-together position where the two sealing elements cooperate to seal the film interposed between them. First and second mechanisms having first and second motors move the sealing unit. The second motor is operatively coupled to at least one of the two sealing elements. The first and/or the second mechanisms include at least one articulated arm, respectively. A control unit is operatively connected to the first motor and to the second motor to drive them in proper relationship to move the two sealing elements relative to each other and relative to the frame according to a predetermined law of motion.

Abstract: A filling device for aseptic filling of pouches comprising a pouch fill assembly having a movement assembly, a plug removing assembly and a filling assembly. The movement assembly defining an aseptic zone and configured to direct a pouch having a spout and a plug sealing the spout through the pouch fill assembly from an inlet to an outlet. The plug removing assembly having at least one plug removing station including a grasping assembly, a plug retaining structure and an actuator assembly. The filling assembly having at least one filling station structurally configured to dispense a flowable material into the pouch through the spout.

Abstract: A product to be shipped is placed on a platform. A conveyor belt moves the product and platform toward a packaging station where mold forms at least define a space which encloses the product. Expanding foam is then injected via injector lines into the space. Once the expanding foam has at least partially hardened, the mold forms may be retracted and the package is moved to a next station for at least one of finishing, loading, or storing. The foam thus becomes the shipping package for the product. This eliminates the need to store shipping containers of multiple standardized sizes and shapes, and to fill the standardized shipping containers with dunnage. The mold forms also provide for customized exterior shapes for the shipping package.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that that defines a shaft axis and includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument further includes a rotary articulation member that is supported for rotation travel about a rotary axis that is transverse to the shaft axis. A first distal articulation driver assembly and a second distal articulation driver assembly operably interface with the surgical end effector and the rotary articulation member such that rotation of the rotary articulation member causes the first and second distal articulation drivers to articulate the surgical end effector relative to the shaft axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing and converting a container includes a platform for slidably accommodating a sheet of packaging material, an actuation mechanism for feeding the sheet through the platform, and a gluing device for applying glue to a portion of the sheet. The apparatus further includes a magnet applicator assembly housing a plurality of magnets, a slug applicator assembly housing a plurality of slugs and a folding mechanism to align the sheet in a final glued form. The magnet applicator assembly applies magnets to the sheet at a pre-determined time, and the slug applicator assembly applies slugs to the sheet at a pre-determined time. The magnet and the slug are attached to the sheet by the glue applied by the gluing device. The magnet aligns with the slug forming a reclosable connection.

Abstract: An ice bagging system and method according to which ice is automatically disposed in respective bags provided from a first source of bags, and ice is automatically disposed in respective bags provided from a second source of bags.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a wrapping material system in a harvester, particularly to a latching mechanism that allows a material support cylinder to be unlocked and automatically ejected from its locked position. The latching mechanism comprises a support plate, connected to a harvester sidewall and configured for supporting the material support cylinder, and a lever plate, connected to the support plate at a pivot point and configured for locking in the material support cylinder in a closed position and ejecting the material support cylinder from the locked position when moved to an open position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for introducing a modified atmosphere into a package and sealing that package with a film are disclosed. Cooperating upper and lower bell members having internal volumes in fluid communication with one another via a duct configured to cause sequential pressure differentials between the volumes permit the sealing film to be controllably retracted from and applied to outflow holes so as to allow evacuation of ambient air using a single constant vacuum source, rather than requiring precision timing controls and/or multiple vacuum sources. Another dedicate circuit introduces the modified atmosphere into the package, and a sealing unit such as a heat welder subsequently seals the film against the package.