Patents Examined by Thomas Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 9855651
    Abstract: In an angle-grinder with a rotating handle and a latch for fixing the handle in two different rotational positions, an interlock mechanism is provided for greater security against unwanted rotation of the handle when the tool is being used. The interlock mechanism is moved to a locking position by depressing the trigger to start the motor, and thus provides a safety lock backing up the latch, in case the latch is accidentally released during use. In its unlocking position the interlock mechanism may prevent actuation of the trigger when the handle is not properly aligned in one of its operating positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC POWER TOOLS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yun Qiang Xin, Gong Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9856044
    Abstract: A tape closure device for securing the neck of a bag with a tape closure includes an automated control system, a tape feed assembly configured to provide a continuous length of tape and a closure application assembly. The closure application assembly also includes an encoder wheel that outputs to the automated control system a signal representative of the length of tape provided to the closure application assembly from the tape feed assembly during the closure cycle. The tape closure device further includes a motorized cutting member that is connected to the automated control system and configured for selective activation by the automated control system in response to the signal provided by the encoder wheel. The selective activation of the motorized cutting member allows the tape closure device to create a tape closure that based on the length of tape drawn into the closure application assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Burford Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmy R. Frazier, Scott Clemons, Jerry Pack
  • Patent number: 9848875
    Abstract: An anvil-attachable layer for use with a surgical stapler, or fastening instrument, wherein a proximal end portion of the layer is attached to a staple cartridge assembly, for example. The layer may be attached to the staple cartridge assembly by an adhesive, weld, or a staple-cartridge-based clamp, wherein the attachment is weak enough to allow the layer to pull away from the staple cartridge assembly with stapled tissue. Alternatively, the layer can include two or more lateral slits that define a connector region that can be cut by a knife of a surgical stapler to release the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Taylor W. Aronhalt, Bret W. Smith, Katherine J. Schmid, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Cortney E. Henderson, Charles J. Scheib, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 9820737
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, an articulating tool assembly and a locking assembly is disclosed. The handle portion includes a movable handle. The body portion extends distally from the handle portion and defines a first longitudinal axis. The articulating tool assembly defines a second longitudinal axis and is movable from a first position where the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position where the second longitudinal axis is at an angle to the first longitudinal axis. The locking assembly includes a member that is advanceable distally with respect to the body portion. The member engages the articulating tool assembly upon manipulation of the movable handle to move an anvil and a cartridge assembly in approximation with one another to help maintain the articulating tool assembly in its first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: John W. Beardsley, Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Patent number: 9820742
    Abstract: Jaw assemblies for a surgical stapler are provided. The jaw assemblies comprise a first jaw having a first clamping surface and a plurality of staples disposed therein and second jaw assembly having a second clamping surface. The jaw assemblies can be actuated from a closed configuration in which the first clamping surface contacts or is adjacent to the second clamping surface to an open configuration in which the second jaw is pivoted away from the first jaw to a stapling position in which the second clamping surface is parallel to the first clamping surface and spaced apart from the first clamping surface. A pivoting link or sliding pivot joint can couple the second jaw to the first jaw to facilitate motion between the closed position, the open position, and the stapling position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Covach, Matthew M. Becerra, Gary M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9808249
    Abstract: A connection portion for attaching a disposable loading unit to the shaft of a surgical instrument. The connection portion can include a rotatable collar, which can be rotated relative to the disposable loading unit and the shaft. The connection can include a spring for biasing the collar and/or the disposable loading unit into a locked orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventor: Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 9808248
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a body, a shaft, and an end effector. The end effector has a staple cartridge, a lower jaw, an anvil, and a firing beam. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a lower cartridge tray. One or both of the cartridge body or the lower cartridge tray comprises at least one notch. The lower jaw is configured to be coupled with the cartridge body and comprises protrusions. The protrusions of the lower jaw align with the notches of the cartridge body and/or lower cartridge tray when the lower jaw and staple cartridge are coupled. The body comprises a handle portion and a series of actuators capable of closing the anvil on the staple cartridge and driving the firing beam to vertically drive a plurality of staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventor: Douglas B. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9776746
    Abstract: A process for wrapping a stack of goods in film, wherein a portion of film is drawn from a film supply, cut, opened by a film opening means and pulled over the stack of goods by a travelling pulling means, wherein, after being drawn off and cut, the portion of film is transported lengthwise by a film transport means to the film opening means, characterized in that the portion of film is transported from the cutting unit as far as the film opening means by being gripped by frictional engagement between at least two conveyor members pressed together and circulating endlessly in a transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: BEUMER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Tellen, Dirk Göbel, Andreas Weitenberg
  • Patent number: 9776824
    Abstract: A method and unit for folding light incontinence pads having a substantially rectangular shape elongate according to a longitudinal axis and comprising a central absorbent pad and an outer edge, according to which a first end portion of the incontinence pad is folded on a central portion of the incontinence pad about a first fold line transversal to the longitudinal axis, a second end portion of the incontinence pad is folded on the first end portion about a second fold line transversal to the longitudinal axis, and elasticated segments of the edge located between the first and second fold lines are folded on the central portion; the step of folding the elasticated segments of the edge being between a first sub-step of partly folding the first end portion and a second sub-step of completely folding the first end portion on the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GDM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Rosani, Gabriele Pastrello, Luca Bugini, Matteo Piantoni, Alberto Perego
  • Patent number: 9758266
    Abstract: A drive assembly (17) to move tubular bag material past a former and deliver a tubular bag material to a packaging machine. The drive assembly (17) includes a pair of drive belts (6) that are parallel and driven in unison by means of a drive pulley (29) and either pulleys (30, 31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TNA Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Alfred Alexander Taylor
  • Patent number: 9751177
    Abstract: A drive arrangement in a pneumatic power tool includes a pneumatic motor with an output shaft, and a spindle for mounting a cutting element and which externally includes both a thread and an axial groove. A drive rotation of the spindle is driven by a drive gear that is engaged with the axial groove on the spindle and that is drivingly connected to the output shaft so as to rotate at a constant speed with respect to the output shaft. A feed gear is threaded upon the spindle and may be rotated with respect to the spindle in order to advance and retract the spindle. The feed gear is driven by one intermediate feed gear which is interchangeably drivingly connectable to the output shaft via a first and a second gear connection, respectively, so as to advance or retract the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO INDUSTRIAL TECHNIQUE AB
    Inventors: Ulf Mikael Eriksson, Wilhelm Mattias Georgsson
  • Patent number: 9751275
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly of a rolled-up sheet and a holder. The rolled-up sheet has edge regions which touch each other near a first pair of opposite edges, wherein a flat end region is formed. A curved center region is rolled around a longitudinal axis to form a rolled-up end region. The holder is provided with a first support surface for supporting the flat end region of the rolled-up sheet, and with a bearing part for supporting one of the first pair of opposite edges. The holder furthermore has a clamping part which can be fixed in a holding position with respect to the first support surface in which the rolled-up sheet can be clamped between the clamping part and the first support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: XPOZER B.V.
    Inventors: Ivan Suwandi van der Veld, Clemens Leonard van Os
  • Patent number: 9737461
    Abstract: An apparatus for safely retaining an eye implant lens for transport and access for inspection and use in which a holding apparatus has a chamber for holding a lens. In one embodiment the chamber has aligned transparent portions and a lens can be placed in alignment with the transparent portions to enable inspection. Also, a system including the apparatus and a bottle assembly that will hold the apparatus in the bottle. A method for holding an eye implant lens in which a lens is placed in the apparatus which can then be placed in a bottle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: PRESBIBIO, LLC
    Inventor: Vladimir Feingold
  • Patent number: 9738406
    Abstract: A packing method and unit (26) for producing a rigid package (1) with a hollow rib (12; 13); an end portion of a blank (21) is folded about a contrasting body (36; 39) onto a panel (11?) of the blank (21) to form the hollow rib (12; 13); a fastening tab (16; 19), which forms the end part of the end portion, is glued to the panel (11?) to stabilize the hollow rib (12; 13); and the contrasting body (36; 39) is extracted from the hollow rib (12; 13) once the end portion is folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Ivanoe Bertuzzi, Enrico Campagnoli, Marco Garganelli, Andrea Biondi
  • Patent number: 9718431
    Abstract: A method of rolling or folding an airbag to a thin tight tube, includes stretching the airbag during the rolling or folding in length direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Martin Östman
  • Patent number: 9696082
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributing articles is arranged to deliver articles to selected stacking positions in two or more storage units. An article is dispensed to a first article transport and distribution section in a main storage unit, and then either delivered to a stacking position in the main unit or transported through a connecting window onto a second transport and distribution section in a satellite storage unit for delivery to a stacking position in that unit. The procedure is repeated to distribute subsequent bags of ice to selected stacking positions in each unit. Additional satellite storage units may be provided and included in the delivery sequence for distributing bags of ice throughout the units. The storage units may be refrigerated, merchandizing units for bagged ice, with the main storage unit associated with an ice bagged ice supply unit which dispenses bags of ice into the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: REDDY ICE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Henrik Pape
  • Patent number: 9688043
    Abstract: An uninterrupted bag making machine includes a conveyance unit, a conveyance unit driving means, a sealing unit having sealing assemblies, a sealing unit driving means, a perforating unit having a cutting device, a perforating unit, a perforating unit driving means, a breaking unit, and a control unit. With the conveyance unit, a film tube is conveyed to pass through the sealing unit, the perforating unit, and the breaking unit. Furthermore, with the control unit in cooperation with various driving means, the sealing assemblies can be moved in the direction of the film tube being moved, and the cutting device of the perforating unit is rotated in synchronous with the film tube being moved. As such, the film tube can be processed with sealing operations, perforating operations, and breaking operations at predetermined locations along the film tube without an interruption, so that the production rate and capacity can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: COSMO MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chun Liang Lin
  • Patent number: 9688430
    Abstract: Equipment for feeding containers to a packaging machine comprising a magazine containing stacked containers. The equipment comprising a carousel device for collecting and inserting the containers into a conveyor. The magazine is positioned with its lower end slightly above that of the conveyor and suitably upstream thereof, in that a carousel device, rotating about a horizontal axis orthogonal to the direction of continuous advance of the upper run of the conveyor of the packaging machine, is located under the magazine and upstream of the conveyor, in that this carousel device comprises a plurality of suction cup units positioned in a way determined by interaction with cams, and in that the units are designed to grip the container and draw it from the base of the store by gripping the base wall by means of which these units subsequently deposit the container in a dynamic way on to the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: ZAMBELLI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Flavio Zambelli
  • Patent number: 9687972
    Abstract: An impact rotation tool includes a drive source that generates power. An impact force generation unit generates impact force by changing the power generated by the drive source to pulsed torque. A shaft transmits the pulsed torque to the distal tool with the generated impact force. A torque detector generates a signal corresponding to the torque applied to the shaft. A determination unit determines whether or not a torque value obtained from a signal corresponding to the torque has reached a predetermined torque value. A control unit controls the drive source to a predetermined driving state when the determination unit determines that the torque value has reached the predetermined torque value. The determination unit is arranged on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sekino, Toshiharu Ohashi, Tadashi Arimura, Kenichirou Inagaki
  • Patent number: 9682468
    Abstract: A handheld machine tool has a drive motor for driving a tool holder, in which a tool is able to be accommodated. In addition, a cam-action mechanism for generating a hammer function is provided, which includes a cam-action mechanism holder and a notched disk. The cam-action mechanism holder is in contact with a heat-dissipating component situated inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Blum, Heiko Roehm, Tobias Herr