Patents Examined by Eyamindae Jallow
  • Patent number: 9272804
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatic bundle transport, positioning, wrapper entry, wrapper opening, wrapper loosening, wrapper removal and wrapper dunnage takeaway. The wrapper is made from pliable material, thin film or similar material and which can comprise a variety of package types and sizes of mail, media or other items. Additionally the method and apparatus of the invention performs the tasks of wrapper removal and discharge without damaging the item contents within. A bundle unwrapping machine according to the invention includes a conveyor by which bundles are presented to the unwrapping machine for opening. An opening mechanism includes a pair of openers positioned to engage a bundle on opposite sites. The bundle is transported into an opening zone in which it is supported for engagement with the openers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Pippin
  • Patent number: 9266706
    Abstract: The present invention refers no a plant for filling bottles or containers with continuous calibration and to a continuous calibration method of such a plant. The calibration method (100) is characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting of collecting (110) at least one set of data relating to filling and/or closing parameters of containers or bottles (16) treated through the same tap or filling valve (15) of the filling plant (10) and/or through the same closing and/or capping head (14) of the filling plant (10); based on the data collected, calculating (120) statistical data associated with the tap or filling valve (15) and/or with the closing and/or capping head (14); updating (130) the statistical data based on new data collected and monitoring the progression thereof; in the case of a variation of the statistical data over time, adjusting the tap or filling valve (15) and/or the closing and/or capping head (14) associated with the statistical data so as to compensate for the variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignees: FT SYSTEM S.R.L., AROL S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Forestelli, Alberto Cirio
  • Patent number: 9266657
    Abstract: The container includes a lower wall and an erect side wall limiting an upper opening of a housing for accommodating a flexible pouch containing a fluid; containment elements including a containment wall, the gap between its peripheral edge and the side wall being limited; the containment wall adapted to be applied against the pouch and held fixed in this position by holding elements arranged in the container and borne by the containment elements by a structural and functional combination, and being movable between an inactive retracted state and an active expanded state, in which a distal end part is either moved away from the side wall or applied there against without any chance of sliding; and adapted to be applied at any desired location of a zone of the side wall such that the containment wall can be applied and held against the pouch regardless of how full the latter is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SARTORIUS STEDIM FMT SAS
    Inventors: Stephane Baud, Bastien Guillot
  • Patent number: 9259892
    Abstract: A creasing machine (1) for forming creases in sheets (11) of flexible material, said creasing machine (1) including a creasing mechanism (5), a transport mechanism (3) for transporting sheets (11) of material through the creasing mechanism, and a control means (7) for controlling operation of the creasing mechanism (5) and the transport mechanism (3), said creasing mechanism (3) including first and second creasing members (25,27) and a drive mechanism (28) for driving the creasing members (25,27), wherein the creasing members (25,27) are arranged to move in the direction of movement of the sheet (11) and at least one of said creasing members (25,27) is moveable towards the other creasing member (25,27) to produce a crease in a sheet (11) located between those members (25,27), and wherein the control means (7) is arranged to substantially match the speed of movement of the creasing members (25,27) with the speed of the sheet to enable the sheet to be creased while moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Morgana Systems Limited
    Inventors: Wilfred Macleod Garner, Richard John Kelley
  • Patent number: 9254563
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power tool that can be used at a position away from the external power source. The power tool includes a housing, a motor, an end tool, a battery pack, and an inverter. The motor is supported by the housing and driven by alternate-current power. The end tool is supported by the housing and rotatably driven by the motor. The battery pack outputs direct-current voltage. The inverter is disposed outside the housing and is configured to convert the direct-current voltage outputted from the battery pack into alternate-current voltage and supplies the motor with alternate-current power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Toshihiko Tachibana, Yasuo Etou, Miyoji Onose, Ai Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9247770
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is provided for forming a rod for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements. A continuous supply of a filter material is formed into a continuous filter rod by a rod-forming unit. An object insertion unit is configured to insert a plurality of first objects and a plurality of second objects into the continuous filter rod. A rod-dividing unit is configured to subdivide the continuous filter rod, at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal axis thereof, into a plurality of filter rod portions such that each filter rod portion includes at least one first object and at least one second object disposed therein, with the first objects being different from the second objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
    Inventors: Vernon Brent Barnes, Robert William Benford, Timothy Frederick Thomas, Stephen Thomas Matthews, John Larkin Nelson, Travis Eugene Howard
  • Patent number: 9242842
    Abstract: A device for producing containers for liquid includes a shaping unit for shaping plastic preforms into plastic containers and a filling unit for filling the plastic containers with a liquid medium. At least one transporting device, which is used as an interface, lies between a discharging region of the shaping unit and a feeding region of the filling unit, the transporting device transporting plastic containers at least along some sections and individually between the shaping unit and the filling unit. The transporting device is designed such that at least one further process unit can be inserted between the shaping unit and the filling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Christoph Klenk
  • Patent number: 9238515
    Abstract: A filling assembly for filling of a tube of packaging material having a seal starting at a first level, comprises a conduit arranged to lead liquid into the tube of packaging material below said first level and a passage arranged to eject gas through openings into the tube of packaging material below said first level. The filling assembly is characterized in that a gasket is arranged to provide a seal between said filling assembly and said tube of packaging material upstream said openings such that the overpressure P1 downstream the gasket may exceed an ambient pressure Pa upstream the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Jens Persson, Göran Hermodsson, Jonas Nilsson, Simo Vallenback
  • Patent number: 9238524
    Abstract: A cup made of paper material having a fillable interior is provided. The cup is formed by a conical sleeve and a bottom. The bottom is attached to the sleeve at the lower end of the interior with a bottom skirt in an essentially liquid-tight way. The sleeve and/or the bottom in the area of the bottom skirt and/or the bottom skirt itself includes, at least in one area along the periphery, an outwardly projecting widening. A lower edge of the widening forms a standing surface for the cup. The widening can form a structure for holding another cup of the same type, which structure can act together with a similar cup during stacking. The cup can include a heat-insulting outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: PTM PACKAGING TOOLS MACHINERY PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Uwe Messerschmid, Werner Stahlecker
  • Patent number: 9233784
    Abstract: A metallic container end closure is provided that generally comprises a dispensing opening and a vent opening. The vent opening improves pourability through the dispensing opening and provides an alternative option for consuming the contents of the container. The end closure may include features to ease opening of the vent opening, such as stiffeners and/or vent form features. Additionally, the end closure may include various safety features, such as a safety fold. In some configurations, the container end closure does not include a pull tab for opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Jacober, Howard C. Chasteen
  • Patent number: 9221295
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for stuffing envelopes is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of prime movers, a plurality of sensors disposed throughout the apparatus, and a central controller. The prime movers, the sensors and the central controller are operably interconnected such that the central controller directly receives signals from the sensors and from the plurality of prime movers for real-time control of at least one prime mover from the plurality of prime movers based upon determined movement of at least one of a discrete sheet of material, a stack of sheets of material or a stuffed envelope through at least a portion of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Kern Global LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Herapath, George Forystek
  • Patent number: 9221226
    Abstract: A personalized packaging production system includes an in-feed tray, an out-feed tray, a cutting table disposed intermediate the in-feed tray and the out-feed tray and an interchangeable cutting/creasing assembly. A sheet feeder is positioned between the in-feed tray and the cutting table to feed media sheets from the in-feed tray to the cutting table, and an exit nip is positioned between the out-feed tray and the cutting table to remove media sheets from the cutting table to the out-feed tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Linn C. Hoover, William J. Nowak, Robert A. Clark, Peter J. Knausdorf, Thomas J. Wyble
  • Patent number: 9221227
    Abstract: A method for producing bags containing fiber material, comprises the steps of forming at least one continuous layer of fiber material; separating in succession portions of fiber material from the continuous layer and moving them along a predetermined path; feeding each portion of fiber material to respective containment and compaction elements of a first transfer conveyor; feeding an ordered succession of bags containing respective portions of fiber material to respective supporting elements of a second transfer conveyor; transferring the portions of fiber material from the first transfer conveyor inside respective containment bags carried by the second transfer conveyor; transferring the containment bags housing respective portions of fiber material from the respective supporting elements of the second transfer conveyor to a fourth transfer conveyor; and moving in succession the bags housing respective portions of fiber material to a folding unit at which the bags are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: G.D S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti
  • Patent number: 9211974
    Abstract: A container assembly is provided which includes a container selectively moveable between an erect condition and a collapsed or substantially flattened condition. A packaging material for support objects is disposed within an object receiving space of the container and secured thereto so that the packaging material remains in the object receiving space of the container when the container is in either the erect condition or the collapsed or substantially flattened condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Wanda M. Weder & William F. Straeter
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Andrew Weder
  • Patent number: 9174754
    Abstract: An induction sealing device for heat sealing packaging material for producing sealed packages of pourable food products and fed in a first direction, the sealing device having an inductor device which interacts with the packaging material by at least one active surface; a supporting body made of heat-conducting material and housing the inductor device; an insert made of magnetic flux-concentrating material and housed in the supporting body; and a member made of plastic material, and having at least a first portion interposed, in the first direction, between the supporting body and the insert so as to be at least partly surrounded by the supporting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Palmquist, Andrea Babini, Håkan G. Andersson, Ulf Danielsson
  • Patent number: 9162801
    Abstract: A soft sided container that, when filled, is substantially cuboid in shape and has two flaps extending from upper edges of the front and rear panels. The flaps have fold lines such that, the flaps fold together. Holes cut in upper regions of the flaps form handles. Lengthwise across a top panel of the container is an elongated closure device that opens for accessing of the materials stored within and closes to seal the container. The elongated fastener continues at least partially across two triangular side flaps such that, when open, one of the triangular side flaps serves as a pouring spout. In some embodiments, a side flap retainer is connected between the side flaps to removably hold the side flaps in place against the top of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Bolso, LLC
    Inventor: Elliott A. Mallard
  • Patent number: 9161861
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an absorbent article includes forming a pair of side flap-folded sections by folding a continuous sheet such that end sections in a width direction of the continuous sheet are folded inwardly in the width direction, while the continuous sheet is being transported in a continuous direction of the continuous sheet, producing a flap segment by segmenting the continuous sheet at a predetermined pitch in the continuous direction, joining the flap segment to a continuous body of absorbent main bodies in an overlapped manner, while the continuous body of absorbent main bodies is being transported in a transport direction corresponding to a continuous direction of the continuous body, and dividing the flap segment into a section having the pair of first side flaps and a section having the pair of second side flaps by segmenting the continuous body of absorbent main bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Sakaguchi, Yoshikazu Ogasawara, Noriaki Ito, Tomomi Oku
  • Patent number: 9156610
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for packing products includes a dunnage product. The dunnage product includes a bracket engageable with a shipping container, a shaft connected to the bracket, and a number of elongated flexible members movable along the shaft. The elongated flexible members can be placed between the manufactured products during the packing process. The dunnage product is preferably reusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AM General LLC
    Inventor: John Keleher
  • Patent number: 9150046
    Abstract: An inserting apparatus, for inserting documents into envelopes, comprising: an envelope holder for holding an envelope at least in a document inserting position, a document inserting path arranged upstream of the envelope holder for feeding a document to the envelope, an envelope opening device comprising an opening element adapted to be inserted in the envelope to move an envelope throat and an envelope body away from each other, the opening element comprising an opening element inserting finger arranged to be inserted in an inner space of the envelope, a sensor device with a primary sensor part mounted to the inserting finger and a secondary sensor part mounted to a base part or to the inserting finger of the opening element, wherein the sensor device is adapted to detect if the inserting finger is positioned in between the throat and the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Hendrik Cornelis Fijnvandraat, Christiaan Antoon Munneke
  • Patent number: 9138106
    Abstract: An improved pressure cooker design including a two-piece handle utilizing a common connection point to a cover to increase resistance to damage due to over tightening of connecting screws while simultaneously allowing the use of a conventional handle size with a reduction in overall packaging size. The two-piece handle design includes a cover base portion and a cover grip portion wherein a pair of nuts are mounted within the cover base portion to receive coupling screws at both ends of the nuts for joining the cover and the cover grip portion to the cover base portion. Tightening of the coupling screws provides for continuous metal on metal contact eliminating damage to weaker polymeric materials while allowing a consumer to quickly and easily attach the cover grip portion of the two-piece handle to the cover base portion at a point of use so as reduce overall packaging dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: National Presto Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Shane R. Walker