Patents Examined by Thomas Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 9643375
    Abstract: Provided herein is a device for folding a stack of sheets. The device includes a frame, means for pre-folding a stack of sheets along a crease line into a main plane such that a booklet with a straight back is obtained, means for keeping the pre-folded booklet relative to the frame, a carriage movably arranged to the frame and moveable parallel to the back of the booklet, and a nip arranged to the carriage for receiving the back of the pre-folded booklet. The nip direction forms an angle greater than zero with respect to a direction of movement of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SDD Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Franciscus Roland Oudsen
  • Patent number: 9625340
    Abstract: A gas pressure testing device, which is for checking pressure of gas inside the gas compartment portion of a bag, including: a pressing member (31) disposed on one side of the bag, a receiving member (38) positioned on another side of the bag, and a movable support member (39) having thereon the pressing member and a distance sensor (32). The pressing member being kept urged toward the gas compartment portion by air cylinder (44) is moved toward the bag so that the gas compartment portion is sandwiched by the pressing member and the receiving member. The distance sensor measures the distance (D) at such time to the pressing member and sends a distance signal to a control unit (37). Based on the distance signal, the control unit determines whether or not the gas pressure in the gas compartment portion is within a preset range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYO JIDOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tohru Yoshikane, Shota Morishige
  • Patent number: 9598905
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a drill drive unit and drill string make up and break up unit with a method for use with a dual pipe drill string configuration. The drill drive unit is mounted to a single carriage and includes an outer drive spindle in a position fixed to the carriage with inner drive spindle configured to rotate independent of the outer drive spindle while being able to move longitudinally at least 12 inches relative to the outer drive spindle. The method involves connecting and disconnecting inner shafts and outer shafts of the dual pipe drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Van Zee, Ryan D. Otis, Clint M. Recker, David Wisniewski, Robin W. Carlson
  • Patent number: 9580196
    Abstract: A method for packing bitumen in a continuous process is disclosed. To pack the bitumen, a tray having one or more bitumen-receiving cavities is prepared. The cavity of the tray is coated with polymer film and bituminous film consecutively. Following that, the bitumen, in liquid form, is filled into the coated cavity. Additional layer of bituminous and polymer film are then consecutively laid over the bitumen-filled cavity, encapsulating the bitumen thereto. A system to form such bitumen package is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: EPS OFFSHORE OIL TRADING PLC
    Inventor: Gordon William Thomas
  • Patent number: 9540154
    Abstract: A closure (1) for a container (9), or for an ampoule (9), in which a medicament is accommodated, having a closure cap (2) and a closure stopper (5) accommodated in the closure (2). Detent moldings (6) are formed on the closure cap (2) for latchingly holding the closure (1) on the ampoule (9), and a sliding part (3) is provided which is movable relative to the closure cap (2) in order to displace the closure stopper (5) into the closed position. In order to advantageously provide, with respect to carrying out a freeze-drying process, a closure for a container, or for an ampoule, in which a medicament is accommodated, the closure stopper (5) is displaceable relative to the cap (2) by means of the sliding part (3) in order to move the closure stopper into the closed position. There is also a method for carrying out a freeze-drying process for a medium, or for a medicament, which is accommodated in a container, or in an ampoule (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Datwyler Pharma Packaging International NV
    Inventors: Ronny Prosper Elisabeth Vrijens, Reinhard Louis Jozef Waeben
  • Patent number: 9532780
    Abstract: A surgical fastening apparatus and associated method of use is disclosed. The surgical fastening apparatus includes a handle assembly, a central body portion extending from the handle assembly, and a distal head portion including an anvil head assembly. The anvil head assembly includes an anvil head defining an interior recess, an activator plate, a deformable member, and a securing member. The anvil center rod assembly defines a longitudinal axis and is pivotably connected to the anvil head assembly about a pivot axis. The anvil center rod assembly includes a configured to contact the anvil head assembly upon an actuation of the surgical fastening apparatus. Upon the actuation of the surgical fastening apparatus, the deformable member is configured to deform such that the activator plate is advanced distally into the interior recess to facilitate the anvil head pivoting about the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 9522751
    Abstract: A filling machine includes a plurality of parallel-running conveyor lines, to which packaging jackets are supplied for producing the packaging containers and along which the packaging jackets or the packaging containers produced therefrom are conveyed in a conveying direction. The conveyor lines include a first section and a second section therebehind in the conveying direction the distance between at least two of the conveyor lines in the first and second section transverse to the course of the conveyor lines is different so that at least one of the two conveyor lines in the second section runs with a lateral offset to the first section. A handling apparatus is disposed in the conveying direction upstream of the second section, which apparatus takes the packaging jackets or packaging containers from the conveyor lines in the first section and transfers them to the conveyor lines in the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ELOPAK SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Klaus Baltes, Thomas Ruelker
  • Patent number: 9481479
    Abstract: A container sealing apparatus is provided, comprising a sealing tool having a lower tool half and an upper tool half; a feed lane for transferring one or more containers to and away from means for transferring containers on to the lower tool half of the sealing tool; and a lifting mechanism for moving the lower tool half towards the upper tool half. The container sealing apparatus also comprises an elongate container guide extending along the feed lane and sealing tool to laterally locate containers as they are transported along the teed lane and sealing tool, and control apparatus adapted to adjust the lateral position of at least the part of said container guide extending along said feed lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ISHIDA EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: Lee Michael Vine, Graham Andrew Charles Neale
  • Patent number: 9467037
    Abstract: An electric power tool of an embodiment of the present invention uses a motor provided with a yoke as a drive source, and is configured such that an end portion of an electric component mounted on a drive circuit of the motor is electrically connected to the yoke of the motor through a conductive elastic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shingo Kamiya, Junichi Nishikimi, Yoshifumi Morita
  • Patent number: 9387949
    Abstract: An apparatus for placing preformed bags having an open end and a closed end over an insertion tube for inserting a bale therethrough and into the bag. A plurality of fingers are inserted into the bag open end and are extended for engaging the bag. The fingers and bag opening are traversed to the tube thereby inserting the tube end into the bag opening. The fingers are retracted and removed from the bag. The insertion tube is expanded thereby engaging the interior surface of the bag. Roller drive wheels are placed on the bag over the insertion tube and are rotatably driven and are traversed along the insertion tube for collecting the bag thereon. The roller drive wheels and the plurality of fingers are carried on a common assembly movable along the insertion tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Rethceif Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Allen Honegger