Patents Examined by Andrew M Tecco
  • Patent number: 11505346
    Abstract: A packaging machine for producing packs with a group of cigarettes as pack content, having individual manufacturing units which are arranged adjacent to one another on a manufacturing line and which are (non-destructively) separable from one another in each case in the region of or along (imaginary) parting planes between them and are removable from the manufacturing line as required, wherein the packaging machine can be converted from a first configuration, in which a first pack type can be manufactured, into a second configuration, in which a second pack type which differs from the first pack type can be manufactured, by removing at least one separable manufacturing unit from the manufacturing line, by replacing at least one separable manufacturing unit with another separable manufacturing unit and/or by adding at least one further separable manufacturing unit to the manufacturing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Michael Schlenker, Henry Buse
  • Patent number: 11505351
    Abstract: A device for coating containers includes at least one vacuum device for generating a vacuum, and at least one treatment station for coating containers with a plasma, wherein the treatment station is in fluid communication with the vacuum device and wherein the treatment station has at least one treatment device which can be introduced into a container, a conveyor device for transporting containers on a transport path P and at least one support element to receive at least one container, wherein the support element is movable in a direction perpendicular to the transport path P of the containers and is suitable for introducing the container into a treatment station, wherein a closure element is arranged on the support element and the closure element is suitable for closing the treatment station in an airtight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventors: Jochen Krueger, Michael Neubauer
  • Patent number: 11504121
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a body portion and a tool assembly extending from the body portion. The tool assembly includes a jaw member, and a first connector assembly disposed within the jaw member. The first connector assembly includes a first connector housing and first and second connector members extending from the first connector housing. The surgical stapling instrument further includes a cartridge assembly selective receivable within the jaw member. The cartridge assembly includes a second connector assembly configured for electrical connection with the first connector assembly. The second connector assembly includes a second connector housing and first and second contact members disposed within the second connector housing. The first and second connector members of the first connector assembly are configured to engage the respective first and second contact members of the second connector housing when the cartridge assembly is received within the jaw member of the tool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Cappola
  • Patent number: 11504935
    Abstract: A machine for forming cardboard boxes (B) from flat plates (P), which comprises a feeder of plates with a loader of plates, a sucker mechanism and a conveyor of plates; and a box forming station with a male device with a first rotary electric motor coupled to a first rotational monitoring device, and a male vertically insertable in a mold to form the boxes (B). A pusher member of the conveyor and a suction head of the suction mechanism are both movable by a same second rotary electric motor coupled to a second rotational monitoring device. The first rotary electric motor (11), the second rotary electric motor, the first rotational monitoring device and the second rotational monitoring device are jointly configured to controllably move the male independently of the controlled and synchronized movement of the pusher member and the suction head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TELESFORO GONZALEZ MAQUINARIA S.L.U.
    Inventor: Telesforo Gonzalez Olmos
  • Patent number: 11505343
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and program product may determine load stability for a load to be wrapped based upon sensing the response or reaction of the load to a disturbance applied to the load, e.g., through intentionally moving, shaking, tilting, pushing, impacting or otherwise applying an input force to the load and sensing the response using one or more sensors. The sensed response may then be used to determine a load stability parameter that may be used in the control of a load wrapping apparatus when wrapping the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: LANTECH.COM, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell, Richard L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11498304
    Abstract: Methods and structures are provided for a dunnage system to facilitate efficient coupling together of supply units of pre-configured sheet stock material, such as, for example, separate units of fanfold stacks of pre-configured sheet stock material, in a manner of continuous supply with a continuous pocket extending longitudinally between the separate supply units, so that they can interact with an expander of the dunnage system without disruption as one supply unit is depleted and a next supply unit is fed through the dunnage system. Also, various methods, apparatus, and systems are provided to facilitate smooth operation of a dunnage machine of the dunnage system to reduce a tendency of the pre-configured sheet stock material to jam and to increase the tendency of dunnage product generated to reflect a desired shape and stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: INTERTAPE POLYMER CORP.
    Inventors: Simon C.S. Chan, Wen Yong Jiang
  • Patent number: 11497489
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument may include a first distal articulation driver operably coupled to the surgical end effector and a second distal articulation driver that is coupled to the surgical end effector. At least one driver member may operably engage the first and second distal articulation drivers such that when the first distal articulation driver is moved in a distal direction, the least one driver moves the second distal articulation driver in a proximal direction and when the first distal articulation driver is moved in the proximal direction, the at least one driver member moves the second distal articulation driver in the distal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Morgan R. Hunter, Darwin L. Schultz
  • Patent number: 11490893
    Abstract: A surgical stapler has a tool assembly including an anvil and a staple cartridge having a series of staples which are supported and configured to be rotatably ejected from the staple cartridge into the anvil to suture tissue. In embodiments, the surgical stapler includes a cartridge that supports a plurality of rotatable pushers. Each pusher supports a curved, substantially U-shaped staple having a single tissue penetrating distal leg portion and a proximal leg portion. The pusher is rotatable to drive the distal leg portion into an anvil to deform the staple into a substantially D-shaped configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Stanislaw Marczyk, Ernie Aranyi, Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 11491755
    Abstract: A method of forming reinforced packages. The method can comprise moving a blank in a machine direction on a blank conveyor, and forming a tubular web while moving a first web of material and a second web of material in the machine direction. The forming the tubular web can comprise at least partially sealing at least a portion of the first web and the second web together to form a sealed margin of the tubular web. The method further can comprise forming a liner by cutting the tubular web, forming an attached blank by attaching the liner to the blank, and moving the attached blank in the machine direction on the blank conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph C. Walsh
  • Patent number: 11485000
    Abstract: A power tool and method of detecting impacts of a power tool that includes a motor driving a hammer to impact an anvil. A motor control unit is configured to determine a motor characteristic indicative of a speed of the motor. When the motor characteristic indicates that the speed of the motor is below a speed threshold, the motor control unit employs an acceleration-based technique to detect a first impact based on a change in motor acceleration and generate a first impact indication in response to detecting the first impact. When the motor characteristic indicates that the speed is above the speed threshold, the motor control unit employs a time-based technique to detect a second impact based on an elapsed time and generates a second impact indication in response to detecting the second impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Alex Huber, Matthew Wycklendt, Matthew Mergener, Cole Conrad, Wing Fung Yip
  • Patent number: 11485526
    Abstract: There is described a packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages-comprising conveyor for advancing a web of packaging material along an advancement path, an isolation chamber, a tube forming device adapted to form a tube from the, in use, advancing web of packaging material, a sealing device adapted to longitudinally seal the tube, a support structure carrying at least the tube forming device, a filling device for continuously filling the tube formed by the tube forming device, a package forming unit adapted to form and seal the packages from the, in use, advancing tube formed by the tube forming device and filled by the filling device. The support structure comprises at least one support column at least indirectly carrying the tube forming device and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Boccolari, Paolo Benedetti, Filippo Ferrarini, Luca Poppi
  • Patent number: 11485102
    Abstract: A machine to work a box-like element or similar includes a cutting unit to cut a strip-like element on a corresponding lying plane in a first substantially plane configuration; a loading unit with a thrust blade translatable in a first direction; a folding and insertion unit having a housing seating of the strip-like element that is directed substantially orthogonally to said lying plane, so that after translation of the thrust blade in said first direction the strip-like element is introduced into said housing seating, assumes a “U” shape and has flaps and a connection part; said folding and insertion unit being translatable in a second direction to at least partly insert said flaps in a slit in the box-like element; and an attachment unit of part of said flaps inside said box-like element on which the slit is made, so that the connection part protrudes from the box-like element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: BARTOLI PACKAGING S.R.L.
    Inventors: Roberto Fanciullacci, Alessandro Bovani
  • Patent number: 11484998
    Abstract: An electric torque wrench capable of sensing a manual operating torque includes: an outer housing having an accommodating space at an internal thereof, a motor and a reduction device arranged therein; the reduction device having a reduction gear assembly with a hollow ring gear member; a front end of the ring gear member having at least one extension arm and at least one sensing plane formed thereon; a torque sensing unit arranged on the sensing plane; a driving device installed at the front end of the outer housing and having a working head arranged at the front end thereof; the extension arm of the ring gear member secured and attached onto the driving device. With the torque sensing unit installed on the extension arm, the electric torque wrench can be rotated manually with hand and is able to measure the torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TECHWAY INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Hua Hsu, Wei-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11478244
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a sled and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, an anvil, and a cartridge channel. The staple cartridge includes a proximal end, a distal end, a cartridge body, and staples supported in the cartridge body, wherein the sled is movable to deploy the staples from the cartridge body against tissue captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil. The cartridge channel is configured to removably retain the staple cartridge, wherein a load is required to remove the staple cartridge from the cartridge channel, and wherein the sled is configured to reduce the cartridge removal load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Brian F. DiNardo, Morgan R. Hunter, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Patent number: 11472016
    Abstract: A power tool is arranged to operate in at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode. The power tool is operative to provide a first type of light signal from a light emitting device arranged to light up an object to be processed when the power tool is set in the first operating mode and to provide a second type of light signal when the power tool is set in the second operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO INDUSTRIAL TECHNIQUE AB
    Inventors: Hans Niklas Gisselman, Thomas Roger Bejefalk Thörn
  • Patent number: 11472588
    Abstract: A width-adjustable packaging bag shaper, a bag maker, a packaging machine, and a method. The packaging machine including the bag maker, a traction device and a heat sealing device are respectively arranged above the bag maker, and a width adjustment device adjusts the distances between different sub bottom plates in a front bottom plate and a rear bottom plate by using a leadscrew and slide block mechanism, and then adjusts the width of a bottom plate. The leadscrew and slide block mechanism is used as the width adjustment device of the automatic width-adjustable noodle packaging bag shaper system, and four bottom plates are respectively fixed to the width adjustment device, so the leadscrew and slide block mechanism in operation is accurate in range of adjustment, is suitable for various widths of packaging bags, and has very important significance for the three-dimensional shaping effect of the packaging bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: QINGDAO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, NINGBO SANHAN ALLOY MATERIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changhe Li, Baoteng Huang, Liang Luo, Xianzhi Liu, Yanbin Zhang, Dongzhou Jia, Min Yang, Yali Hou, Zhaorong Bing
  • Patent number: 11472007
    Abstract: An impact torque generator for a hydraulic torque wrench includes a liner, a main shaft, a first drivable blade and a second drivable blade. The liner has two sealing surfaces defined at a position of 180 degree rotational symmetry. For each of the first drivable blade and the second drivable blade, a first sealing surface of the drivable blade is configured to be in contact with one of the sealing surfaces of the liner while a second sealing surface of the drivable blade slides in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the liner so as to create a seal such that a portion of an interior of the liner is divided into a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber so as to generate impact torque on the main shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: URYU SEISAKU LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 11472586
    Abstract: In the present invention, an insertion object (300) and backing-equipped shrink film packaging (200) are lined up in series along the insertion direction. An introduction guide body (120) comprises: a head part (121) having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the a shrink film (220); and an air-blowing port (122) that blows air from the inside thereof toward the outer surface thereof. There are an insertion preparation means in which the introduction guide body (120) is gradually introduced into the shrink film (220) of the backing-equipped shrink film packaging (200) by the sliding movement of a slider device (130), and the shrink film (220) is inflated by air, and an insertion means in which the insertion object (300) is gradually inserted into the inflated shrink film (220), and the insertion object (300) is pulled or pushed to a prescribed position by the insertion means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: SUN-BRIGHT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihide Nishikawa, Keiji Kitaguchi, Chihiro Uchiyama, Katsuyoshi Okuhara
  • Patent number: 11464601
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a controller, a staple firing system, and an RFID system is disclosed. The controller is in communication with a first RFID reader and a second RFID reader of the RFID system and the staple firing system. In various embodiments, the controller verifies the presence of the staple cartridge in the surgical instrument upon receiving the first signal from the first RFID tag. Also, in various embodiments, the controller verifies that the staple cartridge is an unfired staple cartridge upon receiving the second signal from the second RFID tag. The controller can also be configured to track the progress of the staple firing stroke through the RFID system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross
  • Patent number: 11465382
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a box forming machine for forming boxes of different shapes and sizes, comprising a forming station including an operating space, demarcated by upper and lower devices and receiving a box during the forming thereof, without horizontal movement of said box; flexible, pressurizable, and heatable glue conduits connected to a plurality of glue application nozzles, configured for being positioned in different positions consistent with the size of the box to be formed, and at least one electrically-operated valve configured for applying said hot glue in respective relative positions of said glue application nozzles with respect to the box, according to operative parameters associated with the dimensions of the box to be formed, including dimensions of upper and lower flaps of said box and at least one working temperature of a hot glue to be applied previously input in a user interface connected to a control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Telesforo Gonzalez Olmos