Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for operating an electromechanical surgical system. The electromechanical surgical system includes a hand-held surgical instrument including an instrument housing defining a connecting portion for selectively connecting with a shaft assembly. The system also includes an end effector configured to perform at least one function. The shaft assembly is arranged for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the hand-held surgical instrument. The shaft assembly includes a drive member, a flag member configured to translate axially along the drive member, and a sensor disposed about the drive member. The sensor provides a signal indicating that the end effector has reached an end stop when the flag member contacts that sensor.

Abstract: A surgical fastener apparatus includes a handle, a flexible elongate segment and an end effector having a fastener cartridge with a plurality of fasteners and an anvil, an approximator member movable relative to the longitudinal axis to cause relative movement of the fastener cartridge and the anvil between an open condition and an approximated condition, a fastener drive to deploy the fasteners from the fastener cartridge for crimping by the anvil, at least one tissue grasper at least partially extending along the end effector and movable to engage tissue and draw the tissue between the fastener cartridge and the anvil when in the open condition, and at least one manual actuator to actuate at least one of the approximator member, the fastener drive or the at least one tissue grasper.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus, in particular for packaging smoking articles, includes a wrapping device for wrapping a barrier film around an item to be packaged, such as a pack of smoking articles; and at least one sealing head having a contact surface for contacting the barrier film wrapped around the item and sealing the barrier film along a seam to form a protective enclosure around the item. The contact surface of the sealing head is at least partially discontinuous to provide a non-sealing region in the sealing head. In this way, the non-sealing region can be positioned to at least partially, and preferably wholly, overlie a frangible part or strip provided in the barrier film.

Abstract: An electric striking device is provided, including a main body and a striking unit. The main body includes an interior space and an outlet opening; the striking unit is disposed in the interior space, the striking unit includes an electromagnetic device, a driving member, a steering mechanism and an impacting member, the electromagnetic device drives the driving member to move along a direction perpendicular to an open direction of the outlet opening and further drive the impacting member to move along the open direction of the outlet opening.

Abstract: A machine for packaging flexible hoses in a plastic film has a packaging station provided with an operating device for imparting to a coil of flexible hose a rotary motion around a rotation axis, and an orienting device for imparting to the plastic film an oscillatory motion around a fulcrum axis substantially transverse to the rotation axis of the coil.

Abstract: Robotic pick-and-place automation is used to transfer oral solid pharmaceuticals from moveable trays or canisters. Sensors are used to verify that the pharmaceuticals have been properly placed in the desired pharmaceutical locations precisely according to the patient prescription data. A pharmacist places pharmaceutical products within dispensing trays or canisters to present the pharmaceutical products for picking and placing via the robotic pick-and-place machinery. Once the canister or tray is located adjacent the pick-and-place device, a sensor or imaging unit associated with the pick-and-place device verifies that the pharmaceutical product the size, shape, and/or color of an expected pharmaceutical product that is to be placed within the packaging material in accordance with patient prescription data stored by a computer associated with the system.

Abstract: A machine for making bags is disclosed and includes input, drum, and output sections. The drum section has at least one seal bar on a drum. The sections are mounted to side frames that are single metal plates. The frames are not coated after being formed and/or are comprised of at least one of galvanized steel, galvannealed steel, stainless steel or aluminum. The drum is comprised of first and second plates, and opposing third and fourth plates. The first plate is rotatable with respect to the second plate, and the third plate is rotatable with respect to the fourth plate. The distance from the seal bars to the center of the drum is responsive to the rotation of the plates. The first plate has a plurality of non-radial grooves, and the second plate has a plurality of radial slots, with fixtures in the slots and grooves. The fixtures are connected to seal bars. The non-radial grooves are curved and/or spiraled. The plates are comprised of zinc plated steel and/or are discs.

Abstract: A strapping apparatus (10) for packages, has a packing table (11) on which the package (13) to be strapped lies. The apparatus has vertically oriented supports (17) which are arranged laterally on the packing table (11), a horizontally oriented pressing plate (18) which is arranged on the vertical supports (11) and which is movable in a vertical direction, and a device, situated on the pressing plate (18), for the arrangement of an edge protection means on the package (13) lying on the packing table (11). The device for the arrangement of the edge protection means can be moved from an initial position remote from the package into an arrangement position close to the package (13). The device includes at least one magazine (19), arranged on the pressing plate (18), for the supply of edge protection means and has a first clearance outline profile which is delimited by the packing table (11), the vertical supports (17), the pressing plate (18) and the at least one magazine (19).

Abstract: A flexible structure inflation device, comprising an inflation assembly configured for insertion between first and second overlapping film layers of a web of material, the inflation assembly having a fluid conduit configured directing a fluid in between the layers to inflate the web; and a cutting member held magnetically in an operative position adjacent the inflation assembly to cut the film passing over the inflation assembly.

Abstract: A corrugated sheet processing apparatus (120) is disclosed, comprising feed and guide rollers for selecting, moving and supporting sheets or webs to a corrugator (136) for forming a corrugated sheet; and a control system for controlling the sheet processing equipment (136) or a cutter (148); the sheet processing apparatus (136) further comprising a visual inspection unit (162) for reading printed information markers on at least one printed sheet or web as the printed sheet or web pass through the corrugated sheet processing apparatus (136) or corrugator; and wherein the control system further has a data look-up table whereby the apparatus (120) can identify what products will be produced downstream of the visual inspection unit, and the required settings for the sheet processing equipment or corrugator for those products.

Abstract: A push-in mechanism pushes articles into a box that is opened sideways. The push-in mechanism is provided with a box standby part, an article placement part, a push-in plate, a horizontal movement mechanism, and a lifting/lowering mechanism. The box standby part causes the boxes to wait. The article placement part has a placement surface on which the articles are temporarily placed. The push-in plate is installed in a standing state so as to have a pressing surface for pressing the articles toward the box. The horizontal movement mechanism causes the push-in plate to reciprocate horizontally above the placement surface so that the push-in plate moves toward the box or moves away from the box. The lifting/lowering mechanism moves the push-in plate so as to change a separation distance in the height direction between a lower edge of the pressing surface and the placement surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a foam-in-bag dispensing system, including a dispensing apparatus operative to dispense foam precursor, the foam precursor being configured for expanding and solidifying into a polymeric foam, to a dispensing location between first and second web plies extending respectively on first and second sides of the dispensing apparatus; and a bag-status indicator associated for providing an indication to the operator indicative of the readiness of the bag for removal from the device for avoiding premature bag removal.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a package can include a first station for receiving a package from a packaging machine, the package having a trailing seal extending outwardly from a panel of the package. At the first station, the package is received in a forming box, which is rotated about the apparatus. The forming box with the package is rotated to a second station in which a flap folding plate extends to fold the trailing seal and apply a pressure to the panel of the package to flatten the panel of the package against an internal pressure of the package. The forming box then optionally rotates to a third station in which a holding plate maintains the pressure to the panel of the package for an additional dwell time. Finally the forming box rotates to a fourth position in which the package is released from the forming box.

Abstract: Surgical end effectors having an empty and missing cartridge lockout are disclosed. The surgical end effectors can comprise a first jaw, a second jaw rotatably coupled to the first jaw, and a multi-function firing member configured to translate during a firing stroke, wherein the firing member comprises a notch. The surgical end effectors can also include a lockout spring comprising a hook. The notch in the firing member can be aligned to receive the hook during the firing stroke unless an unfired staple cartridge is positioned in the first jaw. A sled assembly of the unfired staple cartridge can be positioned to deflect the hook out of alignment with the notch.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes an outer sheath and a motorized driving mechanism. The body assembly is configured to actuate the driving mechanism. The end effector includes a staple deck, an anvil, a first staple driver, and a second staple driver. The first staple driver is configured to fire a first annular array of staples of the plurality of staples against the anvil to deform the first annular array of staples at a first compressed staple height. The second staple driver is configured to fire a second annular array of staples of the plurality of staples against the anvil to deform the second annular array of staples at a second compressed staple height independent of the first staple driver. The first compressed staple height and the second compressed staple height are different.

Abstract: A machine produces twisted paper for loose file packaging. The machine includes at least one auger to reduce a dimension, such as diameter, of paper as it is pulled from a roll. The material moves past the auger into a twisting assembly wherein the paper is twisted or rotated about a longitudinal axis of the machine inside a pipe or tube. The pipe or tube includes a cutout or interruption in the sidewall within which a wheel resides. The wheel grasps and advances the paper through the twisting assembly as it rotates. As the paper leaves the twisting assembly it is pulled or otherwise fed through an exist region and is cut into segments of small twisted pieces of paper. The twisted segments of paper are of suitable size for use as loose fill packaging.

Abstract: A surgical end effector that includes first and second jaws that are selectively movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other. At least one expandable tissue stop is located on one of the first and second jaws and is configured to extend between first and second jaw surfaces on the first and second jaws as the first and second jaws move between the fully open and the fully closed positions.

Abstract: A deck clip magazine for use with a pneumatic fastener gun and a plurality of generally T-shaped deck clips attached to one another by webbing to form a clip belt. The deck clip magazine has a housing with a channel shaped to receive the clip belt and a front end with an opening to permit egress of the leading clip from the channel. An aperture on the housing is aligned with the barrel of the pneumatic fastener gun and permits fasteners to pass therethrough to secure the generally T-shaped clips in position. The clips are aligned below the aperture by way of an inwardly biased movable stop located adjacent the opening. A cutting mechanism is aligned with the webbing and selectively actuated to sever the webbing between adjacent clips in the clip belt.

Abstract: A packaging kit manufacturing apparatus (600) manufactures a packaging kit (501). The packaging kit manufacturing apparatus (600) includes: a film feeding section (610) that feeds a film (31, 32); a conveyance section (620) that conveys a plate-shaped member (510) such that a leading end of the plate-shaped member (510) pushes the film (31, 32); a welding section (640) that welds the film (31, 32) to form a tubular film (530); a retracting section (650) that retracts the film (32) to fold the plate-shaped member (510) along a fold line (21) before the welding section (640) welds the film (31, 32); and a lift restricting section (660) that restricts lift of the leading end of the plate-shaped member (510) when the film (32) is retracted by the retracting section (650).

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a plurality of magnetic elements configured to articulate an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument can comprise at least one electromagnet which can be selectively activated, or polarized, to generate a magnetic field sufficient to motivate a second magnetic element, such as a permanent magnet and/or an iron core, for example, mounted to the end effector. In certain embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a plurality of magnetic elements configured to open and/or close an end effector of the surgical instrument. In at least one embodiment, a surgical stapling instrument can comprise a plurality of magnetic elements configured to advance and/or retract a firing bar, cutting member, and/or staple sled within the surgical instrument in order to incise and/or staple tissue positioned within an end effector of the surgical instrument.