Patents Examined by Chinyere Rushing-Tucker
  • Patent number: 10232967
    Abstract: Distributor unit for transferring tablets and putting them in order, from a loading zone to an unloading zone, and for distributing the tablets in an orderly and controlled manner in organized blisters present in a blister strip. The distributor unit comprises belt-type feed means in which a feed belt is provided, along at least part of its length, and along at least part of its width, with a plurality of open through seatings each having at different times sizes coordinated with those of the tablets to be distributed, said open through seatings having a transverse interaxis about equal to, and a longitudinal interaxis equal to or less than, that of the blisters in the blister strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Ivano Baroncini
  • Patent number: 10232501
    Abstract: A power tool that is capable of more reliably keeping a torque at a constant is provided. An adjustment member is provided with: an engagement hole that is detachably attached to the adjustment member, and serves as an engagement part that engages with a torque adjustment device that serves as a clutch handle for rotating the adjustment member; and a lid that is attached to an opening in such a manner as to cover the engagement hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sawano, Hidenori Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10196162
    Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping batches of products for insertion into a carton includes a lifter for lifting a batch from a first height to a second height at which a pusher pushes the batch into a tunnel toward a loading zone along a direction of movement, a station for feeding wrapping film to a folder that supports and guides the film around the tunnel; a longitudinal sealer configured to join two longitudinal flaps of the film to form a tubular shape; a transverse sealer positioned close to a rear end of the tunnel for joining the top and bottom flaps of the tubular film; and a pair of panels for containing/retaining the batch coming out from the tunnel; the panels being slideable along respective side walls of the tunnel to modify the operating length of the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TISSUE MACHINERY COMPANY S.p.A.
    Inventor: Michele Rasi
  • Patent number: 10173798
    Abstract: An apparatus for inserting one or more goods into a moving cover includes a cover transport, and at least one separating device configured to engage with a first part of the cover and to maintain the first part of the cover separate from a second part of the cover during at least a part of the movement of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: BOEWE SYSTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Hoepner, Thomas Huber, Joseph Batzer, Helmut Foerg, Reinhard Seiler
  • Patent number: 10159550
    Abstract: A method of manufacture for a vaginal insert. The vaginal insert may have a core, a cover, and a removal element. In various embodiments, the cover can be conformed to the vaginal insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Chadwick I. Romzek, Claudiu Andrei Bouruc, Todd W. Wilkes, David John Enz, Jesse J. Pasterski, Kurt G. Krupka, Brian Wayne Tomac, Sarah Anne Olson
  • Patent number: 10106280
    Abstract: A wrapping unit (1) for a packaging line (2) comprises a conveyor (6) for feeding a succession of products (3) in a first direction (7) and a wrapping station (9) arranged along the conveyor (6) for wrapping a film (5) of wrapping material around said products (3), said wrapping station (9) comprising a wrapping device (13) provided with a plurality of wrapping members (15), each of said wrapping members (15) extending in a second direction (11) perpendicular to said first direction (7), said wrapping unit (1) further comprising a stability control group (12) for preventing said products (3) from tipping along said conveyor (6), said stability control group (12) comprising a plurality of anti-tip devices (33), each of said anti-tip devices (33) being associated, during operation, with a respective product (3) to move together with said respective product (3) through said wrapping station (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Morselli, Fabio Ferrari, Tony Kinas, Mathias N. Coulomb
  • Patent number: 10092292
    Abstract: An end effector for a surgical instrument comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw and is configured to provide an anvil for forming staples. The anvil has staple forming pockets. Each staple forming pocket comprises first and second staple forming surface regions configured to receive respective first and second staple legs. The first and second staple forming surface regions each have a respective length that is greater than half of the length of the staple forming pocket. The staple forming surface regions may include convex surfaces that drive staple legs laterally. The pocket minimizes re-entry of staple leg tips into tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Chad P. Boudreaux, Charles J. Scheib, Douglas B. Hoffman, Janna B. Volz, Megan O'Connor, Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs, Robert P. Kruth
  • Patent number: 10093013
    Abstract: A combined housing for a power tool has an inner housing body and an outer layer body attached to the outside of the inner housing body. The combined housing has at least one vibration-suppressing area. The vibration-suppressing area is provided with a plurality of vibration-suppressing structure units and each vibration-suppressing structure unit has a unit channel formed by the inner housing body and a unit groove formed by the outer layer body and arranged on one end of the unit channel. The unit groove and the unit channel of each vibration-suppressing structure unit form a vibration-suppressing cavit, and the outer layer body serves as the outside of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Chervon (HK) Limited
    Inventors: Derek Smith, Yan Ding, Shihe Nie, Lai Liu
  • Patent number: 10071468
    Abstract: A hand-power tool includes at least one oscillation-damping device that has at least one damping spring, a damping mass, and a mechanism housing. The oscillation-damping device has at least two retaining parts that at least partly enclose the damping mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alex Kuhnle, Matthias Tauber, Juergen Bochert, Carsten Diem, Willy Braun, Christian Wiedemann, Joerg Kaiser, Patrick Heinen, Roger Hahn, Thomas Speda
  • Patent number: 10065752
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of packing leaf tobacco preserve the integrity of tobacco, help retain freshness and moisture content of tobacco, and also help eliminate insect infestation. A method of packing tobacco includes supplying a quantity of tobacco into a plurality of open containers; closing the opening containers; inserting the closed containers within a flexible, non-porous bag having a closeable opening; closing the opening of the bag; and extracting air from the bag so as to create a sub-atmospheric pressure therein. The bag is configured to hold one or more tobacco containers, such as C48 or A48 cartons. In some embodiments the bag may be configured to hold up to six containers, such as C48 or A48 cartons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Alliance One International, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcos Andre Steffens
  • Patent number: 10023330
    Abstract: Included are apparatus and methods for preparing a yarn package for a small portion of yarn that provides substantially uniform tension on removal. The method includes providing an amount of yarn up to two pounds which is introduced to a small package with vacuum applied at the bottom of the container and vibration to assist yarn uniform packing of the yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: David W. Schumann
  • Patent number: 10016884
    Abstract: A pneumatic nail gun operated in automatic actuation mode includes a gun body, a trigger valve, and a shuttle valve. The gun body defines therein a main chamber and is provided with a forward air conduit and a return air conduit. The forward air conduit provides a path for the pressurized air in the main chamber to force a valve stem of the shuttle valve to conduct a forward movement for a drive stroke. The return air conduit provides a path for the pressurized air in the cylinder to force the valve stem to conduct a return movement after the nail gun has completed the drive stroke. By depressing an actuating bar of the trigger valve a single time, the valve stem can be forced to conduct repeated forward and return movements, and thus the nail gun can conduct repeated drive strokes for stably striking a nail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: DE POAN PNEUMATIC CORP.
    Inventors: I-Tsung Wu, Hai-Lun Ma, Zhen-Liang Liao
  • Patent number: 10010322
    Abstract: A surgical stapler comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a firing member configured to move at least partially through the end effector, a stop configured to create a lockout condition by impeding an advancement of the firing member through the end effector, and a sensor configured to detect the lockout condition. The surgical stapler further comprises a handle. The handle comprises an electric motor configured to transmit a force to the firing member. The handle further comprises a control system configured to control the electric motor. The sensor is in communication with the control system. The control system controls the electric motor to adjust the force transmitted to the firing member when the lockout condition is communicated to the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, John N. Ouwerkerk, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey S. Swayze
  • Patent number: 10011381
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the treatment or processing of containers that serve for storing, or contain, substances for medical, pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, wherein the containers are conveyed automatically, by a conveyor, past at least one processing station or pass it for the treatment or processing. In the process, a plurality of containers is conveyed by the conveyor while being held by a carrier in a regular arrangement. The containers held on the carrier are raised to a raised position for the treatment or processing at or in the respective processing station and are lowered after the treatment or processing, to be held again on the carrier in the regular arrangement. The carrier is configured such that the containers can be held on the carrier during the entire process. A negative pressure acts on the bottoms of the containers in order to lower them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Gregor Fritz Deutschle, Joern Wassenberg, Alexander Wansel, Kai Wissner
  • Patent number: 10010324
    Abstract: An end effector can comprise, one, a fastener cartridge including a plurality of fasteners stored therein and, two, an anvil configured to deform the fasteners. The anvil can further comprise extensions extending therefrom which can control the flow of tissue relative to the fastener cartridge and/or support the fasteners as they are ejected from the fastener cartridge. The extensions can having different sizes and/or configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Thomas W. Huitema, Emily A. Schellin, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Geoffrey C. Hueil, Zhifan F. Huang
  • Patent number: 9931746
    Abstract: Handle configurations are disclosed for powered implements having a shaft, allowing the implements to be holdable by both hands of a user. An exemplary implement has an elongated shaft having first and second end portions. A first handhold is adjustably mounted to the shaft and extends outwardly therefrom. A second handhold is adjustably mounted either to the shaft or to an elongated member coupled to the shaft. The elongated member can include a mounting portion and a handle portion providing the second handhold. The mounting portion mounts to the first end portion at a mounting location. The first and second handholds allow operation of the implement by a user with arms in respective neutral arm positions and hands in respective neutral gripping positions. The elongated member allows transmission of a force applied to the second handhold by the user through the elongated member and to the elongated shaft at the mounting location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Todd Rader
  • Patent number: 9932134
    Abstract: A method and a system for setting corner protectors on a load. In operation of one embodiment, an actuator retrieves a two corner protectors from a corner protector storage and provides the corner protectors to a corner protector transferring and setting system. The corner protector transferring and setting system transfers the corner protectors to a side of the load furthest from the actuator and sets the corner protectors against the two adjacent vertically extending corners of that side of the load. The actuator retrieves another two corner protectors from the corner protector storage and sets the two corner protectors against the two vertically extending corners of a side of the load closest to the actuator. A wrapping machine then wraps a film around the corner protectors and the load, thereby securing the corner protectors in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Yrjo Suolahti, Janne Koskela
  • Patent number: 9918881
    Abstract: A method of folding a pant-like disposable absorbent garment includes providing a garment defining first and second waist side regions, a waist center region positioned therebetween, and a crotch region longitudinally below the waist center region. In particular embodiments, the method further includes folding the garment along a transversely extending fold line so as to bring the crotch region into superposed relation with the waist center region; providing a trough having a floor and first and second side walls; placing the waist center region in the trough; and, while the garment is in the trough, folding the garment along longitudinally extending first and second fold lines so as to position the first and second waist side regions, respectively, over the waist center region. The first and second fold lines are adjacent the first and second side walls, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Schoon, Brian R. Vogt, Stephen A. Kolasinski
  • Patent number: 9861362
    Abstract: A surgical device including a first jaw and a second jaw is presented. The surgical device also includes a biasing element that biases the distal end of the first jaw towards the distal end of the second jaw. The device also includes a first driver disposed in the second jaw and coupled to the first jaw. The first driver is configured to cause separation of the first jaw and the second jaw. The device further includes at least one of a cutting element and a stapling element disposed within the second jaw, preferably a blade rotatably mounted on a wedge. A second driver is configured to move the cutting element and/or the stapling element proximally from a distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to at least one of cut and staple a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael P. Whitman, John E. Burbank
  • Patent number: 9845218
    Abstract: A folding device includes a conveying path, a placement portion, a through portion, a first folding member, a second folding member, a rotational driving unit, a rotational position detecting mechanism, a signal receiving unit, and a rotational drive control unit. The rotational drive control unit, when the signal receiving unit receives a signal, determines whether the first folding member is in a state of moving from an initial position to a protruded position or in a state of moving to the opposite direction, and, in a case of being determined to be in the state of moving from the initial position to the protruded position, controls the rotational driving unit to reverse the direction of rotational drive, and in a case of being determined to be in the state of moving to the opposite direction, controls the rotational driving unit to maintain the direction of rotational drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Sachio Izumichi, Seiichi Shirasaki