Patents Examined by Daniel Moon
  • Method for packing food
    Patent number: 5689937
    Abstract: A reproducible and reliable method for packaging food which may include an automatic temperature control system. The film is sealed to the tray at a first location spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of the tray. The film is then severed. At appropriate times, excess heat may be removed from the inside of the sealing and severing apparatus. The upper housing of the severing apparatus may have a cooling vent which is automatically operated to exchange the hot atmosphere which is collected in the upper part of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: World Class Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Gorlich, Robert F. McPherson, Jr.
  • Method and an apparatus for forming and filling packages
    Patent number: 5687549
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and filling packages in which a flexible strip (10) of plastic material is folded in a central region, in a first station (1), to form a folded web (20) of two substantially opposed walls (21a,b) with first (22) and second (23) end regions disposed in the longitudinal direction of the web. In the first end region (22), the walls are interconnected with one another, and, in the second end region (23) the walls are separate from one another and provided with thickened material. In a second station (2) the web is formed with successively located storage pockets (26), and in a third station (3) the thickened material is engaged and the pockets (26) are opened so as to be filled with material, whereafter the pockets are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Joker System Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Jan Jostler, Ingemar Broden
  • Isolation module for molding and packaging articles substantially free from contaminants
    Patent number: 5687542
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for manufacturing articles, such as syringe barrels, substantially free from contaminants. The apparatus is an enclosure defining at least a class 100 and MCB-3 environment, and includes a molding isolation module and a packaging isolation module. Any contaminants that may exist within the enclosure are removed by the use of horizontal and vertical laminar airflows directed into air filter units. Further, the molding temperature may be selected such that it renders the fabricated articles substantially free from contaminants. The molding isolation module and packaging isolation module keep the fabricated articles substantially free from contaminants from the time the articles are molded to the time the articles are placed in sealed containers for shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Medrad, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lawecki, Eugene A. Gelblum, Michelle Robinson, Ralph E. Wolstenholme, Eugene B. Wolstenholme
  • Plant for the industrial production of long-life ready-to-eat, cooked foods
    Patent number: 5685125
    Abstract: A plant is described which includes a continuous heat processing autoclave (1) for cooking and sterilizing food measured into tray-like containers (9). The open containers (9), loaded on to trays (12), are advanced through the autoclave (1) by a conveyor (40) operated stepwise. A cooling chamber (6) communicates at one end with the autoclave (1) through a pre-cooling and air-lock tunnel (7) and at the other with a sterile environment in which a sterile closure unit seals the containers (9) of cooked food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Rossi & Catelli
    Inventors: Camillo Cattelli, Roberto Notari
  • Universal spoon for loading dough into containers
    Patent number: 5685127
    Abstract: A preferred form of a packing apparatus of the present invention for loading a dough product into a container opening includes a frame and a loading member joined to the frame. The loading has a first opening for receiving the dough product to be packed, and a second opening through which the dough product exists off the loading member and into the container. An inner surface joins the first opening to the second opening. The inner surface has an extending tang disposed at the second opening. The extending tang is insertable within the container opening. A support member supports the container proximate the second opening for insertion of the dough product into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventor: James W. Finkowski
  • Method and apparatus for cooling asphalt
    Patent number: 5682758
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for cooling asphalt, which includes a cooling zone, such as a cooling chamber through which coolants such as air and water are blown or drawn, and an elongated conveyor for transporting asphalt molds through said cooling zone after said asphalt molds have been lined with plastic and filled with hot asphalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Petro Source Refining Partners
    Inventor: Glenn R. Jones
  • Coupled cutting blade and heat element for use with vacuum packaging machinery
    Patent number: 5682727
    Abstract: A combined cutting blade and heat bar for use with a vacuum packaging device having a lid for sealing over the cavity of a base is disclosed. The cutting blade and heat bar are connected to one another and movable via a single actuating mechanism mounted to the lid. In use, in one step the combined mechanism is lowered with the heat bar unheated and the cutting element cuts slits in the bag for evacuation of the air. After air evacuation, the combined mechanism is lowered with the heat bar heated, melting the bag closed behind the slitted area of the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Koch Supplies, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Harte, James S. Colmer, Michael L. Kennedy
  • Bagging machine for inserting semi-compressible articles into preformed bags
    Patent number: 5682734
    Abstract: A bagging machine for inserting semi-compressible articles into preformed bags having a product loading arm vertically and horizontally mounted to the bag loading surface of a frame that can be programmed to move downwardly to engage a plurality of articles to be bagged and move them horizontally into an opened bag for subsequent removal to a remote location. A suction device engages a bag to positively open the bag to receive the compressed articles. A hold-down device also functions to direct the packaged articles downwardly and into a position for movement to a remote location. The bagging machine can be joined with a compactor and programmed to automatically receive compacted pluralities of articles for subsequent bagging. The compactor and bagging machine become fully automatic when a displacing device is associated with the compactor to move the compressed articles to the bag loading surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Inventor: James E. Laster
  • Pick and place system
    Patent number: 5680746
    Abstract: The present invention has at least a continuous belt or chain, a sliding bar, at least two drivers--one for moving and driving the belt--, and a plurality of constraining rollers for guiding the belt around all the other components such that the portion of the belt between the rollers and the extreme ends of the sliding bar is substantially parallel thereto. Suction cups or grippers disposed at regular intervals along the belt and having distance which is greater or equal to that of the tray pitch and frame pitch picks up outputs from a packaging system and places such outputs into carrier trays. The sliding bar accommodates automaticaly troy change without interrupting the operating of the packaging system. By matching the flow of outputs from packaging system with that of the offloading trays, space economy is achieved without requiring modification to existing packaging systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Advanced Systems Automation Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Frank Hornisch
  • Method and apparatus for conveying loaves
    Patent number: 5680743
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of conveying, slicing and packaging half loaves, starting from whole bread loaves. The loaves, which are conveyed perpendicularly to their longitudinal direction, are sliced in halves by a band slicer arranged in the path of conveyance, and one half from each loaf is turned 180.degree. about an axis extending perpendicularly to the plane of conveyance of the loaves, and the halves of each loaf are positioned one behind the other, are sliced into slices and are packaged in bags. The half to be turned is accelerated in forward direction and is brought in front of the other half from the respective loaf during turning. The invention also relates to an apparatus including a turn table to turn said half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Jongerius B.V.
    Inventor: Aldert J. Westra Hoekzema
  • Modular product display and delivery system
    Patent number: 5680744
    Abstract: Briefly described, the present invention includes a product display and delivery system using uniquely tailored, modular, disposable cartridges. In accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention, disposable cartridges having unique features are created from opposed, interlocking sleeves. Also, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, disposable cartridges are releasably joined in modular fashion to allow easy stacking, arrangement, and replacement of the cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Inventors: Armand J. Kramedjian, Terrance Francis O'Brien
  • Packing method and machine for producing twin packets of cigarettes
    Patent number: 5680745
    Abstract: Twin packets of cigarettes, each consisting of two half packets with respective foil wrappings and arranged side by side inside an outer wrapping, are formed on a wrapping line by feeding a single succession of half packets along the input portion of the wrapping line, and successively transferring the half packets to the output portion of the wrapping line by grouping the half packets into twos to form, at the output portion, a single succession of groups, each consisting of two side by side half packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventors: Marco Brizzi, Antonio Gamberini
  • Method of making a food package and an associated apparatus
    Patent number: 5679109
    Abstract: A method of making a food package including a food package tray and a food package jacket. The method involves placing a food package tray on a mandrel such that the inner surface of the tray contacts at least a portion of the mandrel. After this, the food package jacket is placed on the food package tray so that the food package jacket partially surrounds the food package tray. The food package jacket is then secured to the food package tray to make the food package. An associated apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Gics & Vermee, L.P.
    Inventor: Paul W. Gics
  • Universal dough cutting and packing apparatus
    Patent number: 5678394
    Abstract: A dough cutting and packing apparatus capable of processing and packaging dough products of differing dimensions includes a plurality of cutting plates supported adjacent one another to form an endless cutting unit. A container positioning mechanism positions a plurality of containers relative to the openings to receive the dough pieces after they are removed by the reciprocating packing mechanism. A servo motor drive actuation of both the cutter bar indexing drive system and the container advancement system allows for accurate positioning by reprogramming the servo drive for a particular product dimension rather than mechanically changing over to alternate equipment. A self-contained container advancement module can be removed and replaced with another container module suitable for delivering containers of different dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: James W. Finkowski, Jack Rejsa, Robert F. Meyer, Glenn O. Rasmussen
  • Heating and sealing of thermoplastic surfaces
    Patent number: 5678391
    Abstract: A hollow heating head for insertion into an open, spouted, top end closure of a carton comprises an interior chamber with slot-form outlets for hot air supplied to the chamber. The slots include a U-shaped, narrow slot, or its equivalent, extending generally horizontally around two lateral vertical walls and an end vertical wall of the head. Each limb of the U-shape includes horizontal, upper and lower sections and a vertical intermediate section. The base of the U-shape is adjacent the lower sections, is at substantially the same level as the lower sections and is of a shallow V-shape in a vertical plane. The slots also include several vertically extending slots above each of the base and the lower sections of the U-shaped slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Elopak Systems A.G.
    Inventors: Arve Andersen, Per Olaf Tjelflaat, Bj.o slashed.rn Erling Vembe
  • Suture dispenser
    Patent number: 5675961
    Abstract: Suture dispensers for retaining armed sutures are disclosed. The dispenser disclosed is comprised of two flat panels of material that each have a central opening. A needle park is provided so that the needle is visible in and accessible though the central openings. In preferred embodiments, the needle park is made of a thin sheet of clear material. Several alternate needle park designs are also disclosed. The two panels are preferably locked together using edge locks in the form of corresponding slits and tabs formed on the panels themselves. In addition to being inexpensive, easy to manufacture and easy to fill, the disclosed dispensers is much thinner than current designs and thus requires less storage and shipping space. Methods of loading dispensers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Cerwin, Marvin Alpern, Yufei Huang, Emil Richard Skula
  • Device loading/unloading apparatus for semiconductor device handler
    Patent number: 5675957
    Abstract: A device loading/unloading apparatus for a device handler is disclosed including a customer tray containing a finished device; a test tray having a plurality of carrier modules, the carrier modules forming a space on its bottom so that the device's bottom is mounted to be exposed downward, the carrier modules having a stop member for supporting the device not to fall freely from the space; bottom loading assembly for picking up the device of the customer tray, moving it under the test tray, and loading it to a bottom space of the carrier module; and stop member spreading assembly installed above the test tray to be conveyable in the same direction as the bottom loading assembly and then spreading the stop member by a predetermined interval when the bottom loading assembly loads/unloads the device on/from the space of the carrier module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Mirae Corporation
    Inventor: Du Chul Kim
  • Automated apparatus and method for preparing contact lenses for inspection and packaging
    Patent number: 5675962
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing and transporting articles, such as contact lens sections from a manufacturing line to inspection and packaging stations. The lenses are deposited in a transparent plastic primary package which carries the lenses through the inspection station and becomes part of the primary package when a cover is sealed thereto. The invention includes various assemblies, including lens transfer assemblies, deionized water filling and removal assemblies, a water degassing assembly, a lens inspection assembly, and a lens package sealing assembly. The lenses are removed from pallets at a post hydration station, transported and spatially redistributed, and deposited in the primary packages disposed on a second set of pallets. The packages on the second set of pallets are filled with degassed deionized water. The contact lenses and packages are then transported to an inspection station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace Anthony Martin, Russell James Edwards, Borge Peter Gundersen, Darren Scott Keene, Ture Kindt-Larsen, John Mark Lepper, Niels Jorgen Madsen, Thomas Christian Ravn, Daniel Tsu-Fang Wang, William Edward Holley
  • Method and apparatus for putting cells into a box
    Patent number: 5673540
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for putting small, slender, cylindrical cells in a box in an aligned row. By using the force of a magnet, multiple cells are suspended from the lower side of a conveyor belt, and are aligned and held in this position. By releasing the magnetic force, the cells drop, so that large numbers of cells, in a suspended and aligned state, can be simultaneously put into a cell container waiting below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Sanukiya, Minoru Kouda, Ichiro Murata
  • Method for double folding an insulation batt
    Patent number: 5673538
    Abstract: A fibrous insulation batt having a length and a width and including a first and second section, where each section is approximately one half the length of the batt, is folded so that the first section is generally parallel to and contacting the second section. The batt has two folds across its width and located between the first and second sections. The two folds are spaced apart from each other a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the uncompressed insulation batt. The two sections of the batt remain generally parallel to and contact each other when the batt is laid horizontal and in an unrestrained condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Owens Corning Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Wallace, Charles R. Weir