Patents Examined by Alexander M Valvis
  • Patent number: 10472107
    Abstract: The invention relates to an advancing device (10) for advancing a film web (200) in a bag filling installation (100, having a main advancing drive (20) with at least one driven main advancing roller (22) for advancing the film web (200), wherein for an adjustment of the tensile stress of the film web (200) in the transport direction (T) of the film web (200) an auxiliary advancing drive (30) is disposed before the main advancing drive (20) with at least one driven auxiliary advancing roller (32) for advancing the film web (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: WINDMÖLLER & HÖLSCHER KG
    Inventors: Hans-Ludwig Voss, Oliver Huil, Ralf Udally, Thomas Hawighorst, Rüdiger Große-Heitmeyer, Roman Smid
  • Patent number: 10470940
    Abstract: A device for forming and applying accessory elements to a continuous band of absorbent material, includes a unit for feeding a continuous strip to a conveyor roller, a unit for cutting the strip in a continuous and alternating succession of first and second pieces, a first and a second roller rotating about respective axes parallel to the first direction, each including a movement device acting along a circumferential direction around the respective axis and configured for imparting to each unit a respective motion between positions for picking up and releasing the pieces. A unit for applying a pair of pieces to the band is equipped with a separating unit equipped with a spacer device for moving first and/or second carriages along a separating direction between close and far axial positions, wherein the spacer device includes a plurality of linear actuators each associated with a respective first carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GDM S.P.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Piantoni, Valerio Soli
  • Patent number: 10472106
    Abstract: A machine for making capsules containing a product includes a forming station for forming in a sheet of thermoformable plastic material at least a casing of a capsule having a cavity, a shearing station with a punch and a die for cutting the sheet so as to separate the capsule along a respective edge, and a filling station for dosing the product into the cavity. During the cutting, the punch moves to cut the sheet with the die and then lift and detach the capsule from the sheet. The punch and the die are movable away from each other for placing the capsule on the sheet, and a through opening is created in the sheet by separating the capsule. The through opening has a passage section smaller than external dimensions of the edge to allow the sheet to support and move the capsule along an advancing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SARONG S.P.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Bartoli, Flavio Traldi, Alessandro Grillenzoni
  • Patent number: 10464077
    Abstract: A combination showerhead with swing button switching includes a fixing holder mounted to a supporting arm and including an inlet passage connected to the supporting arm and at least two diversion passages; a first showerhead mounted to the fixing holder and connected to at least one of the at least two diversion passages; a second showerhead connected to another of the at least two diversion passages; and a switching mechanism including a diversion plate rotatable relative to the fixing holder and cooperating with the inlet passage and the at least two diversion passages to switch waterways; a transmission part fixed on the diversion plate; and a swing button that is swingable relative to the fixing holder and that is connected to the transmission part so that swinging of the swing button drives the transmission part and causes the diversion plate to rotate. The fixing holder further includes a fixing seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fengde Lin, Mingfu Zhang, Jincan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10463368
    Abstract: A surgical stapler is described herein which includes a shaft portion and a tool assembly supported on a distal end of the shaft portion. The tool assembly includes an anvil and a cartridge body which rotatably supports a plurality of staples within notches. At least one firing cam is provided to sequentially to engage and rotate each of the staples to fire the staples from the cartridge body. Each of the staples includes first and second legs axially offset from each other and interconnected by an intermediate portion. At least one firing cam is provided to sequentially to engage and rotate each of the staples to fire the staples from the cartridge body. The at least one firing cam includes axially offset cam members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 10464700
    Abstract: A method for making an intermediate component (11) of a single use capsule (1) for extraction or infusion beverages includes the step of: arranging a first strip (S1) of thermoformable filtering material above rigid bodies (2); joining the first strip (S1) of thermoformable filtering material to the rigid bodies (2) at respective rims (7); forming the first strip (S1) of thermoformable filtering material to achieve a filter (8) that defines a chamber (5) for a dose of product. A machine for making intermediate components of single use capsules (1) for extraction or infusion beverages includes: a feeding system (40); a transport system (50); a joining station (60); and a forming station (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: GIMA, S.P.A.
    Inventors: Dario Rea, Fabio Franceschi
  • Patent number: 10464718
    Abstract: A plastic material wave bag assembly having a sheet-like first side panel and a sheet-like second side panel oriented in opposed congruent relationship to one another when in a folded condition. The wave bag assembly includes a single use closure adhesive strip disposed and oriented primarily laterally across an interior wall of the upper panel section of the first side panel at a location below the handle apertures. The closure adhesive strip is configured to selectively close and maintain the upper panel sections in a closed condition while the remaining portions of the first and second side panels are maintained in the receiving condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: PAN PACIFIC PLASTICS MFG., INC.
    Inventor: Hin Siang Michael Tan
  • Patent number: 10464202
    Abstract: Power tools with housings or hammer cases include a thin wall titanium shell tapering from a smaller forward section to a larger rearward section; with at least the rearward section having a wall with a substantially constant wall thickness and an interface flange that includes an outer perimeter profile that is curvilinear and defines a plurality of outwardly extending detents that provide an interference fit with the wall of the hammer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Connor Allan Hayes, James Francis Bouchard, Randolph Robert Ruetsch, Michael Sikorski
  • Patent number: 10456802
    Abstract: An atomizing apparatus includes a container that accommodates a solution and a mist generator that forms the solution into a mist. An inner hollow structure is located in the container. The atomizing apparatus supplies a carrier gas into a gas supply space. The atomizing apparatus includes a connecting portion formed therein. The connecting portion connects a hollow of the inner hollow structure and the gas supply space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBIHSHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Orita, Takahiro Shirahata, Takahiro Hiramatsu, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10457432
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing packages of infusion products, such as a bag filled with a dosed quantity of a product, a tag and a length of thread attached at opposite ends to the bag and to the tag respectively, includes a forming group of the filled bag, a feeding group of the formed bag and of the tag, a cutting and feeding group of the length of thread, and a sewing head of the length of thread to the bag and to the tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Daniele Coi, Giacomo Noferini, Stefano Nanni
  • Patent number: 10457430
    Abstract: An apparatus for coupling one or more can carriers to a plurality of cans is disclosed herein. The apparatus may include rails for guiding the cans as the cans move through the apparatus. Push members may be moved into the space between the rails to push the cans through the apparatus towards a member and at least one roller. The member (e.g., a hopper) may position a can carrier above the cans. The at least one roller may be positioned to provide a downward force on the can carrier to attach the can carrier to the top of the cans as the cans are moved past the at least one roller by the push members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: American Canning Machines, LLC
    Inventors: Michael T. Daniel, Donna H. Daniel, David C. Racino
  • Patent number: 10458379
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body with a bore; an injector needle located within the bore and engageable with a needle seat to control fuel injection through an injector outlet; an armature member, the armature member being engageable with an armature seat on the injector needle, the injector needle in part and the armature member in part defining a control chamber; an actuator arrangement arranged to control fuel pressure within the control chamber such that fuel pressure variations within the control chamber controls movement of the injector needle relative to the needle seat wherein the actuator arrangement is arranged to be capable of moving the armature member from a seated position in which it engages the armature seat to an unseated position in which the armature member has moved relative to the armature seat in order to bring the control chamber into fluid communication with a low pressure drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventors: Thierry Thibault, Cyrille Lesieur, Rodolphe Dratch
  • Patent number: 10451293
    Abstract: A concealed bridge assembly is provided for supporting adjacent lateral edges of cooktop units that are mounted in a kitchen countertop. The concealed bridge assembly can be used for traditional raised mounting of cooktop units or true-flush mounting of cooktop units. When used with traditional mountings, the concealed bridge assembly has a top that is sized to be flush with the countertop surface and the approximate length of the countertop opening. If true-flush mounting is desired, the top of the concealed bridge assembly is flush with the top surface of a kerf cut in the countertop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Duane M. Kobos
  • Patent number: 10449647
    Abstract: A feed unit for drilling and/or tapping comprising a housing, a quill in the housing movable between retracted and extended positions, the quill rotationally supporting a spindle for carrying a rotary tool, a screw for moving the quill between said positions, a ball spline shaft in the housing coaxial with the spindle, a ball spline nut having recirculating steel balls rolling in raceways on the ball spline shaft, the spindle radially supporting the ball spline shaft within the quill with zero clearance through the ball spline nut, rotation of the ball spline shaft being imparted to the spindle through the ball spline nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ZAGAR INC.
    Inventor: Nicholas C. Merlini, III
  • Patent number: 10449563
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method articulating and rotary spray system for fluids that includes a first drive for rotating a mast for different headings and a second drive for rotating a nozzle for different pitches at any time with or without rotation of the mast. The method and system uses a system of interacting gears that rotate a control rod in variable synchronization to control the nozzle pitch relative to the mast heading while the control rod orbits about a center of rotation of the rotating mast along a longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Bay Worx Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Zilai, Charles Horace Camp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10442538
    Abstract: An aircraft de-icing system has a nozzle with at least one movable element configured to move between a first position and a second position to change a spraying configuration of the nozzle between a first configuration and a second configuration. The aircraft de-icing system further has at least one storage reservoir configured for containing a de-icing agent and a pump for pumping the de-icing agent from the at least one storage reservoir to the nozzle. The aircraft de-icing system further has a pressurized air source in fluid communication with the nozzle for delivering pressurized air to the nozzle. The nozzle is configured for selectively mixing varying amounts of the pressurized air and varying amounts of the de-icing agent to provide a spray pattern for application on a surface of an aircraft based on a position of the at least one movable element between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Lee Williams
  • Patent number: 10442065
    Abstract: A stud miss indicator system for a fastener driving tool includes at least one sensor generating at least one signal based on forces generated by a fastener driving operation, a software program configured for receiving the at least one signal, for evaluating the at least one signal as to a fastener being either improperly driven or properly driven, and the program generating at least one appropriate output signal reflective of the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Ray Schieler, Marc David Largo
  • Patent number: 10440903
    Abstract: An irrigation emitter and drip line, and methods relating to same, are provided for reducing the flow and pressure of fluid via an emitter or plurality of emitters defined by two concentric tubes. In one form, the first tube defines an emitter inlet and connected pressure-reducing flow channel and the second tube is extruded over the first tube to enclose the emitter inlet and flow channel and defines an outlet connected to an end of the flow channel opposite the inlet to create an emitter for converting fluid flowing at a high flow rate in the lumen and at the first end of the inlet to a fluid with a low flow rate at the outlet of the emitter. In another form, a drip line is provided having a plurality of such emitters. The emitters capable of being provided with pressure compensation structures to compensate or account for fluctuations in supply line fluid pressure and root growth inhibiting members. Various methods related to the emitter and drip line are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Yung Kim, Mark Richard Edris, Mark M. Ensworth, Michael Leo Donoghue, Samir Shah
  • Patent number: 10441965
    Abstract: A system and method for dispersing fluids from an agricultural vehicle includes a sprayer that dispenses the fluids and a controller cooperative with a plurality of sensors to sense vehicle travel speed, vehicle travel direction, wind speed, wind direction, and the heights of first and second nozzles from the ground surface. The controller includes a memory storing a look-up table having fan angles of the first and second nozzles, and a processor that computes first and second spray pattern on the ground surface based on the fluid dispensed through the respective first and second nozzles. The processor determines an overlap region between the first and second spray patterns, compares the determined overlap region with a pre-determined overlap, and takes corrective action automatically by changing travel speed of the vehicle or changing a duration of time the fluids are dispensed from the first and second nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Johannes Feldhaus, Richard A. Humpal, Dolly Y. Wu
  • Patent number: 10433844
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a surgical end effector and a threaded rotary input shaft. An actuator member is in operable engagement with the surgical end effector and is in selective threaded engagement with the threaded rotary input shaft such that when the actuator member is in an engaged configuration, rotation of said threaded rotary input shaft causes the actuator member to move axially to impart an actuation motion to the surgical end effector and when the actuator member is in a disengaged configuration, rotation of the threaded rotary input shaft will not be imparted to the actuator member. A switch may be employed for selectively moving the actuator between the engaged and disengaged configurations. A locking system may be employed for preventing axial movement of the actuator member when the actuator member is in the disengaged configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chester O. Baxter, III, Jerome R. Morgan, David C. Yates, Jason L. Harris