Patents Examined by Chukwurah Nathaniel
  • Patent number: 6450389
    Abstract: A stapler device for stapling corners of objects such as boxes and frame together. The stapler device includes an elongate support member having a generally flat bottom side, a top side, a front end and a back end; and also includes a lever assembly having a front end and a back end and being hingedly attached to the elongate support member; and further includes a staple impact assembly being removably and securely mounted at the front end of the elongate support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Carl D. Clouse
  • Patent number: 6443239
    Abstract: A pneumatic rotary tool including a housing and an output shaft projecting from the housing for transmitting torque to an object. An air motor drives rotation of the output shaft in the forward and reverse directions. Air passages extend from an air inlet to the motor for delivering pressurized air to the motor. A spring biases the lower portion of a valve within the air passage in a closed position, to restrict the flow of air through the air passage. The upper portion of the valve comprises a stem. When an operator squeezes a trigger on the pneumatic rotary tool, a deflector connected to the trigger deflects the stem to a first angularly deflected position, the valve thereby allows a relatively low rate of air flow to the motor for low-speed operation thereof. As the operator continues to squeeze the trigger, the stem is deflected to a second angularly deflected position, allowing a relatively high rate of air flow to the motor for high-speed operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: S.P. Air Kabusiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Izumisawa
  • Patent number: 6438929
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a filling device (13) for filling a tube T of packaging material having an open upper end and a closed lower end with contents in a predetermined amount at a time, and a device (14) for forming containers C by sealing and cutting the filled tube T transversely thereof into a length corresponding to one container at a time. The amount of contents to be filled into the container and the capacity of the container are so determined that the capacity is greater than the amount of contents to be filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kume, Takashi Arao, Michio Ueda
  • Patent number: 6438928
    Abstract: A device for use in boxing pliable objects having a footprint into boxes. The boxing device includes a trapdoor unit, a box conveying unit, a tamping unit, and a control unit. The trapdoor unit has coplanar sliding trays that are adapted to be rapidly and simultaneously moved apart from a horizontal closed position, wherein the trays are close together with each, to a horizontal opened position, wherein the trays are slid apart by a distance sufficiently large to pass the footprint of the plurality of objects and permit the objects to fall therethrough in a flat manner into open boxes below. The box conveying unit moves empty open boxes to a position underneath the trapdoor unit. The tamping unit has tamping plates which tamps the objects into the box, and the control unit which controls the operation of the trapdoor unit, the box conveying unit, and the tamping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Supertonics, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel C. Huang, Frank F. J. Huang, Frank Pannier
  • Patent number: 6427423
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an apparatus for insertion of coupons or other material into hinge lid pack cigarettes. The apparatus of the present invention inserts the coupons in between the foil wrapped pack of cigarettes and the inner frame portion of the hinged lid pack. The apparatus of the present invention is comprised of a coupon inserter, a third wheel pocket and rail system wherein the pockets travel rotationally with the third wheel after receiving a coupon and thereafter allow the foil wrapped cigarette pack to be inserted thereon. The rail of the hinged lid pack assembly machine has been modified to receive these coupons in conjunction with the coupon multistage inserter or dispenser and all act cooperatively such that the coupons are inserted in timed relation to the rotational speed of the third wheel of the packager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Hinzman, Mark Baker, Rickey Johnson, Weston Johnson
  • Patent number: 6428456
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming containers with reinforced edges, comprising: a roll for feeding a flexible film; a forming collar upstream of a first tube around which the film is wrapped; a device for heat-sealing the longitudinal flaps of the film wrapped around the tube so as to form an enclosure, wherein the first tube tapers into a second tube and at the tapering region there is provided at least one insertion element which acts at right angles to the surface of the film, so as to form at least one rib which is directed toward the inside of the enclosure, and further comprising a sealing device for at least partially heat-sealing the at least one rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: BP EUROPACK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sergio Visona', Giorgio Trani, Marion Sterner
  • Patent number: 6412255
    Abstract: For assembling mail items, a type of envelope is selected from different types. Another station is accordingly set and a flat object is packaged in an envelope of the selected type. Prior to the assembly of a series of mail items, a set of basic finishing instructions applying to the series is activated. This set contains a first and a second set of instructions, each for selecting a first respectively second one of the different types of envelopes and with an instruction for an associated first respectively second setting of the other station, and a selection criterion for selecting, per individual mail item, one of the sets of instructions. Thus, within the framework of a preset set of basic finishing instructions, another one of the available types of envelope can simply be selected per mail item to be assembled individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Neopost B.V.
    Inventors: Gerhard Hidding, René Scheltes, Bertus Karel Edens
  • Patent number: 6401836
    Abstract: A pneumatic tool having a housing with at least one exhaust opening and a speed regulating apparatus. The speed regulating apparatus has a cap that is removably mounted on the housing and has at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the at least one exhaust opening. A control ring is provided having at least one aperture in fluid communication with and rotatably mounted over the at least one exhaust port, with the control ring being movable to variably open and close the at least one exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Kevin Heinrichs, John A. McCallops, Mark J. Hamlin, Mario Craciun
  • Patent number: 6397557
    Abstract: A packaging machine includes a fixed structure. A number of forming assemblies are arranged successively along a vertical portion of a path of a strip of packaging material, for gradually superimposing opposite lateral portions of the strip to form a tube having a longitudinal axis. A sealing device seals the lateral portions to each other and forms a longitudinal seam of the tube. An actuating device is operatively connected to an angularly adjustable folding member of one of the forming assemblies, and activated selectively to rotate the folding member about the longitudinal axis. A sensor is disposed along the vertical portion of the path, downstream from the sealing device, and generates a position signal correlated to the angular position of the seam. A control unit receives the position signal and generates a control signal, which is supplied to the actuating device to restore the seam to the desired angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Bassissi, Giorgio Galavotti
  • Patent number: 6393806
    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: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Allain, Joseph Allain, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6394189
    Abstract: A zero gravity robotic tool includes a robotic arm having a distal end. A motor is mounted on the distal end of the robotic arm and is rotated about a motor axis which passes through the center of gravity of the motor and the tool. A prime mover is connected to the robotic arm and to a pivot mechanism for causing the rotation of the motor and the tool about the motor axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Genesis Systems Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Whitney J. Moon, Brian C. Gorge
  • Patent number: 6378276
    Abstract: An agricultural baler including a compression chamber housing, a support axle, springs provided at both sides of the compression chamber housing for supporting the housing on the support axle with a possibility of vertical displacement relative to the support axle, and sensors for determining a distance between the compression chamber housing and the support axle and for generating signals representing in response to sensing the distance a measure of a bale weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Lely Welger Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Dorge, Dieter Wilkens
  • Patent number: 6352498
    Abstract: A material picking device and a forming device for an automatic circulating carton opening machine are fixed on the table of the machine. The material picking device has a revolving unit including a swinging arm, two rotatable gear units fixed at two ends of the swinging arm. Each gear unit has an outermost belt wheel connected to a parallel arm, and a sucking disc fixed with the parallel arm. The forming device has a forming guide plate fixed on an intermediate portion of the table of the machine in front of the revolving unit and located at one side of the moving route of the swinging arm. The two parallel arms fixed with the sucking discs are moved horizontal to let the sucking discs to alternately and continuously pick a carton material board out of the material feed device of the machine to carry onto the forming guide plate for forming a carton shape. So operating of the machine is speeded up largely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Tien Heng Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tuan-Mei Chiu Chen
  • Patent number: 6351926
    Abstract: An improved loading assembly in a packaging system utilizing chains of interconnected preopened bags is disclosed. The assembly includes an elongated chute component including a tubular portion having spaced end loading and exit openings. The chute is movably mounted adjacent a load station for sequential cooperation with bags sequentially registered in and opened at the load station. A gate is mounted on the chute. The gate is movable between a closed position closing the exit opening and an open position for transfer of products being packaged from positions within the chute into registered bags. The gate includes a canning arrangement for moving the gate from its closed to its open position. A spring against the gate for urging the gate toward its closed position. A process of packaging using the assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hodge, Gregg H. Mertens
  • Patent number: 6338235
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of producing, from laminated paper/plastic material, a packaging container with low bacteria contamination which is reformed into a tubular container blank and is provided with an end wall by injection moulding of thermoplastic material at a temperature of at least 200° C., whereafter the interior of the container is subjected to a bacteria-reducing treatment based on a chemical reaction and/or bactericidal irradiation and is filled with the desired contents, and also sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Christer Bentz, Mats Andersson
  • Patent number: 6332535
    Abstract: A pallet includes a loading member made from paper onto which a load is loaded; leg members made from paper which are fixed to the loading member and, as well as supporting the loading member when a load is loaded on the loading member, form an insert body receiving member into which is inserted an insert body used during transportation; and a base member made from paper which is fixed to the opposite side of the leg members to the loading member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Usui, Takehiro Sone
  • Patent number: 6330780
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for filling a container such as a plastic bag with product. The apparatus comprises a fill valve and a chamber formed as an integral unit, in which during a filling operation a container with a cap is in place is offered up to and placed in the bag by gripping devices or jaws, the cap is removed by a capper mechanism the bag is filled with product, and the cap is replaced, all the flow paths and surfaces being sterilised by steam during the filling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: David S. Smith Packaging Limited
    Inventor: Malcolm Shipway
  • Patent number: 6289656
    Abstract: A packaging machine for enclosing items in a package delivers individual items, such as medicine, through a feeder that disposes the item between two strips of packaging material which are then joined together around the item by a closure member thus sealing the item in an individual package. The packaging machine demarcates upper and lower boundaries about the item such that the enclosed item may be separated from a continuously produced strand of packages. The packaging machine includes a selectively operable hole punch portion disposed adjacent the strand of packages for providing a hole in a portion of each package. The hole punch portion includes a punch driving member which is disengable responsive to unexpected resistance encountered by the punch. A cutter/stacker portion adjacent the strand of separable packages separates the strand into individual packages and stacks the packages in a removable magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignees: McKesson Automated Healthcare, Inc., FP Developments, Inc.
    Inventors: Manoj K. Wangu, Frederick Pfleger, Paul J. Eachus, Michele L. Porcelli, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6269612
    Abstract: An automated positive count rotary slat packaging apparatus and related methods include independently rotatable rotary slats. In one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a positive count mechanism disposed in the pill delivery path adjacent the containers and a controller which is capable of generating an alarm or determining when a bottle is filled incorrectly. Accordingly, underfilled containers can be independently filled by further rotating only the respective rotary slat. A drive device for each rotary slat is also provided having frustoconical drive wheels connected to the ends of counterrotating drive shafts. The drive wheels, which are driven by a motor, engage corresponding frustoconical drive surfaces of the rotary slats to thereby rotate the slats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Aylward Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Aylward