Patents Examined by Chukwurah Nathaniel
  • Patent number: 6695070
    Abstract: A magnetic impact device includes at least one hammer relatively movable with respect to at least one chuck. One of the at least one hammer and the at least one chuck has at least one magnet. Another of the at least one hammer and the at least one chuck has at least one magnet or magnetic material. A driving unit is configured to move the at least one hammer relatively to the at least one chuck to magnetically generate impact motion of the at least one chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Halit S. Gokturk, Yoshihiro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6695071
    Abstract: A drill head for holding a drill steel includes a drill housing having an internal cavity defined by an upper opening and a lower portion with a lower opening extending therethrough. The internal cavity includes a pair of concentric axially aligned sleeves. An internal sleeve has an inner surface for receiving a drill steel and an outer tapered surface. An external sleeve has an internal tapered mating surface for receiving the internal sleeve. The drill head also includes a sliding member for receiving hydraulic pressure to move the internal sleeve on the tapered surface of the external sleeve into gripping engagement of the drill steel. A Belleville spring provides an opposing force to normally maintain the internal sleeve out of gripping engagement with the drill steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Donald L. DeVall
  • Patent number: 6685079
    Abstract: A full thickness resection device comprises a control handle including an actuator wherein, when the device is in an operative position within a body lumen of a patient, the control handle remains outside the patient's body and a working head assembly coupled to a control handle by a flexible sheath, wherein, when the device is in the operative position; the working head assembly is located within a body lumen of the patient adjacent to a portion of tissue to be treated, the working head assembly including a tissue stapling mechanism including first and second tissue stapling members moveable relative to one another in combination with a first cable extending from the actuator through the flexible sheath to the first tissue stapling member so that, when the actuator is operated to draw the first cable proximally from the sheath, the first tissue stapling member is moved in a first direction relative to the second tissue stapling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Satish K. Sharma, David I. Freed, Nicholas Patronik, Jeffrey M. Wendlandt
  • Patent number: 6685078
    Abstract: A setting tool including a stud guide (2) located in the tool housing (1), a hopper (3) extending sidewise of the stud guide and having a guide channel extending parallel to a longitudinal extent of the hopper (3) and having two guide regions (4, 5), a displaceable drawer (9) arranged in the guide channel, a scroll spring (7) provided in the drawer (9) for retaining the drawer (9) in its initial position and having its free end secured to the hopper (3), a cover (13) for closing the hopper and displaceable along the hopper (3) between closed and open positions, the cover (13) having an element (14) for displacing the drawer (9) from its initial position to its transporting position in which the drawer (9) clears a section of the guide channel for insertion of the nail magazine, and elements (6, 20) for formlockingly connecting the drawer (9) to the hopper (3) in the transporting position of the drawer (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Wohlwend, Dionys Schalbetter, Johann Büchel, Robert Jakob
  • Patent number: 6681977
    Abstract: An end plating machine for a wood tie having opposite ends comprising a frame including horizontally spaced-apart first and second end frames with the frame including tie in-feed and out-feed portions. First and second tie dampers are positioned adjacent the first and second end frames for clamping the ends of a tie positioned therebetween. First and second power rams are mounted on the first and second end frames, respectively, for driving an end plate into the ends of the tie while the tie is being clamped by the first and second tie clampers. First and second end plate hoppers are positioned on the first end frame and third and fourth end plates hoppers are positioned on the second end frame. A movable shuttle plate is provided on each of the end frames as is a plate transporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Robbins Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Gordon E. Matlock
  • Patent number: 6679414
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for driving a fastener from a detachable magazine. The tool includes a tool housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a power source enclosed by the housing. A nosepiece is attached to the housing and has a channel and a first alignment structure. The magazine is removably attached to the tool and has a magazine housing and a shear block that is mounted to the proximal end of the magazine housing. There is a second alignment structure and a face on the shear block such that the channel and the face form a barrel when the first alignment structure is engaged with the second alignment structure and the magazine is removably attached to the tool. Upon firing of the tool, the fastener is propelled by the power source, through the barrel and into the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Rotharmel
  • Patent number: 6666367
    Abstract: Apparatus having automated loading 15, nailing 22, and stacking 24 areas for wood components, wall panels or wall components is described. The apparatus includes a control panel 14 that allows automated selection 94 of the type of sub-component to be handled, the speed 98 at which the nailing and stacking operation is executed, the compression rate 100 in which the operation is executed and provides automated feedback 106 of the progress of the operation. A guide track 30, stationary 26 and powered 28 compression members and side conveyer belts 16 that work in conjunction with upper 18 and side 20 rollers allow for positioning, clamping, and movement of the raw material 70 into the nailing stage 22 of the operation. The rollers allow for the nailing process 22 before being moved to the stacking system 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Mitek Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ohnesorge, Jason Gregory
  • Patent number: 6655472
    Abstract: A device for producing an abrupt or sudden feed motion contains in a casing a feed device, which can be triggered by a trigger. The force necessary for advancing the feed device is applied by a spring, which is tensioned with the aid of a drive. The tool requires no cartridges for propellant charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Adolf Wuerth GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Siegfried Humm, Dirk Schroeter
  • Patent number: 6651860
    Abstract: An electric tool device (1) for an at least partially rotating and percussive striking driving mechanism with a pneumatic striking mechanism (2), which is driven over a gear assembly (9) by an electronically commutated electric motor (3) with an internal rotor (5) having poles (4) and an external stator (8), having field coils (7) connected with a DC-AC converter of control electronics (6), the power take-off side of the rotor shaft (10) being mounted in the gear assembly (9) and the driving end of the rotor shaft (10) with the freely protruding poles (4) engaging the stator (8), being introduced coaxially into the stator (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Konrad Artmann, Johann Augustin, Martin Mayr, Martin Richter
  • Patent number: 6648079
    Abstract: A protective apparatus for preventing the infiltration of contaminants in a fluid-operated percussion device, having a striking tool (3) that is guided to move in a housing (2) and is driven by a percussion piston in the striking direction (arrow 1), and a seal (7) that is supported at least indirectly on the housing (2), on the one hand, and on the striking tool (3), on the other hand, and has a securing segment that is fixedly disposed with respect to either the housing or the striking tool. The seal (7) is disposed between the inner guide portion (5b) of the striking-tool guide and the theoretical striking plane (4) of the percussive piston on the striking tool (3), when seen in the direction opposite the striking direction (arrow 1), such that the countersurface (3e) for the seal, which countersurface moves relative to the securing segment (7a) of the seal (7) and is in contact with the seal, is unaffected by wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Construction Tools
    Inventors: Thomas Deimel, Markus Mellwig, Heinz-Jürgen Prokop
  • Patent number: 6640521
    Abstract: An unflapped envelope (60) is fed, with its crease line trailing, along a path (42) from an envelope feeder and between the rollers of a reversibly driveable roller pair (43), for onward transfer to, for example, an insertion station. When the crease line reaches a predetermined point in front of the roller pair (43), the drive is reversed and the envelope with the crease line leading directed along a flapper path, including a deflecting surface 46; to a flapping chamber or zone (47), at least until the flap (61) is engageable by a flapper blade (44;44a). The drive is then reversed again and the envelope driven back along the flapper path, a flap opening surface (49) of a flapper blade (44) or a pair of flapper blade elements (44a), causing the flap (61) to be stripped from the body of the envelope (60) as it exits the flapping zone, and proceeds to the insertion station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Barry W. Simkins, Peter Watson
  • Patent number: 6641021
    Abstract: In a fastener-driving tool having a reciprocating driver blade for driving fasteners into a workpiece, a magazine configured for storing and feeding at least one collated strip of fasteners to the driver blade, including a housing defining a feed end, a driving end and a guidance portion disposed between and contacting the two ends, the guidance portion having at least two guidance formations, a first guidance formation configured for engaging the fastener strip at a first location, and the second guidance formation configured for engaging the fastener strip at a second location. In a preferred embodiment, the fastener strip is supported only by the first guidance formation in a first zone of the magazine, and only by the second guidance formation is a second zone of the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Toolworks Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Jablonski
  • Patent number: 6637635
    Abstract: A clinching mechanism has an anvil composed of first (1), second (2) and third (3) plates arranged in a spaced apart stack with the second plate (2) positioned between the other two. The plates (1, 2, 3) are mounted on a housing (43) so as to be slidable relative thereto and the second plate is also connected to the first and third plates (1, 3) so as to be slidably movable relative to said first and third plates between a first aligned position in which at least one edge of the first, second and third plates (1, 2, 3) are aligned to form and anvil face and a second retracted position in which the second plate (2) is retracted from the anvil face. With the second plate in its aligned position, a staple to be clinched in received with its two legs (72) on either side of the second plate (2), the second plate operating to guide the legs (72) into engagement with associated clinching device (7, 8, 17, 18) positioned between the first and second, and the second and third plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Isaberg Rapid AS
    Inventors: Marcus Borjesson, Frank Ambjornsson, Trygrve Gustafsson, Mats Andersson
  • Patent number: 6629397
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine, especially a machine for packing or producing (cigarettes), which has an interface (38, 30, 40) for exchanging data between the machine (35, 36, 37) and a connected network (34, 52, 53). The invention also relates to a machine for packing or producing (cigarettes) which has a visual monitoring device for observing areas of the complex machine which are difficult to access or see, said monitoring device being located in the relevant area of the packing machine. This monitoring device records images of the area of the machine which is difficult to access using a line (24) and reproduces said images on a display screen for example, using a camera. The invention also relates to a network (34, 52, 53) of machines of this type, comprising a computer (42) for monitoring the functions of the connected machines (35, 36, 37) and/or a computer (57) for carrying out maintenance and/or defect repair measures on the connected machines (35, 36, 37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hans-Jürgen Bretthauser, Jörg Kaluschke
  • Patent number: 6622457
    Abstract: An aseptically operating packing machine comprises a processing track with tools for treating a packing sheet arranged in a sterile chamber partially open to the atmosphere. Heated sterile air is blown through a sterile air filter, and a mixing nozzle is arranged downstream directly behind the filter within an ari channel terminating in the sterile chamber. The mixing nozzle is connected to a steam- and sterilizing agent-supply conduit and points downstream towards the sterile chamber. A tank in the sterilizing supply conduit holds the sterilizing agent under constant pressure, and a steam volume regulator is arranged in the steam supply conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hassia Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Gunter Kurth
  • Patent number: 6581231
    Abstract: A ramp apparatus and method for insertion of a four-wheel vehicle into a plastic flood protection car bag which comprises a ramp device having a pair of up-ramp surfaces, a pair of top surfaces and a pair of down-ramp surfaces, and car bag securements on the top surfaces for holding an open edge of the car bag while the four-wheel vehicle is rolled on the up- and down-ramp surfaces and into the car bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventors: Joseph Allain, Jr., Mark Allain
  • Patent number: 6568155
    Abstract: A fruit injector and method for squeezing a fruit segment into a container, particularly, a beer bottle. A channel shaped body includes a plunger and a compression member pivotally connected for movement to the body for compressing a fruit segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Eric Segal
  • Patent number: 6568484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic percussive mechanism for a percussion drill and/or a drill hammer. The inventive mechanism comprises, housed in the housing of the percussive mechanism, an axially reciprocating percussion piston. A drive piston is axially reciprocated in a guide cylinder of said percussion piston. The guide cylinder is provided on its inner face with one or more air compensation pockets. At least one idle opening extends through the guide cylinder. In the percussive action, the idle opening does not communicate with the ambience while in the idle mode the idle opening can be displaced via an idle channel that leads to the ambience and thus connects a cavity that receives a pneumatic piston with the ambience by way of the idle opening. The air compensation pockets and the idle openings allow and optimization of the piston return behavior and of the idle operation of the percussive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Wacker Construction Equipment AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schmid, Mirko Lysek, Rudolf Berger
  • Patent number: 6560949
    Abstract: A method of handling an object using a robot end effector. The method includes providing a robot having an end effector supporting a pair of carriages, providing a pair of fingers for each carriage, moving the end effector over an object, grasping an object with the fingers, moving the object with the end effector to a container, and depositing the object by counter-rotating the pairs of fingers. One or both of the carriages is movable toward the other carriage to engage objects on a conveyor system with the fingers. The robot moves the end effector between the conveyor system and shipping containers for shipping the objects. Because the pairs of fingers counter-rotate, the friction forces between each finger and the tray is offset by the friction forces between the other finger in the pair and the tray. The improved handling method thereby maintains objects substantially in the desired stacking orientation within the shipping container. Preferably, an actuator is provided for each finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Grams, Thomas C. Bauman
  • Patent number: 6553745
    Abstract: The harness accommodating device (1) of the present invention is equipped with a transfer section (10) which is installed on the discharge side of the harness discharge groove (67) of the harness manufacturing apparatus (60) and which temporarily holds the harnesses (80), a chuck (20) which grips and conveys the harnesses (80) held by the transfer section (10), and a bundle receiver (30) which accommodates the harnesses (80) conveyed by the chuck (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp, K.K.
    Inventors: Hiromi Tanaka, Satoshi Suzuki