Patents Examined by Gloria R. Weeks
  • Patent number: 12226886
    Abstract: A method for operating a machine tool, in particular an angle grinder, including a tool rotatably bringable into operative connection with a driven shaft, the machine tool having a drive device for actuating the driven shaft, a control device for actuating the drive device and at least one sensor device operatively connected to the control device. The method has the following steps: determining a speed value of the driven shaft; determining a speed value of the tool using the sensor device, which interacts with the tool, controlling an output device and/or controlling, in a predefined manner, the drive device via the control device when a difference between the determined speed value of the driven shaft and the determined speed value of the tool is greater than a defined limit value. A machine tool for carrying out a method of this kind is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Koschel, Jan Friedmann, Stoyanka Ivanova
  • Patent number: 12220798
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor, a lifter, a firing pin, an electromagnet, a driving circuit, a latch, and a controller. The lifter is driven by the motor to drive the firing pin to perform a firing action. The driving circuit provides electric current to excite the electromagnet. The latch is moved by the electromagnet from a blocking position where the latch blocks the firing pin to move in a firing direction to a non-blocking position where the latch does not block the firing pin when the electromagnet is in an excited state. The controller, during an excitement period, controls the driving circuit to provide constant current for a first time period to excite the electromagnet to the excited state, and provide pulsating current for a second time period to keep the electromagnet in the excited state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: BASSO INDUSTRY CORP.
    Inventors: Cheng-En Tsai, An-Gi Liu, Chang-Sheng Lin, Fu-Ying Huang
  • Patent number: 12220740
    Abstract: A representative fastening tool which fastens a work piece by utilizing a fastener that includes a pin in which a shaft portion and a head portion are integrally formed and a hollow shaped collar which is engageable to the pin, wherein the work piece is disposed between the head portion and the collar. The fastening tool includes a pin holding portion which can hold an end part region of the shaft portion, wherein the fastener is fastened in a state that the collar and the head portion clamp the work piece and the end part region is integral with the shaft portion, wherein the controller has the pin holding portion move in the first direction to conduct the fastening of the fastener by a motor drive control mode defined as a drive control of the motor based on motor drive current and motor drive electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michisada Yabuguchi
  • Patent number: 12213674
    Abstract: A surgical device includes a power source, a motor coupled to the power source, and a transmission assembly movable by the motor. The device also includes a reload coupled to the transmission assembly. The reload includes a plurality of staples ejectable by the transmission assembly. The device further includes a distance sensor configured to monitor operation of the transmission assembly and output distance data. The device additionally includes a controller configured to operate the motor to move the transmission assembly proximally from a distal position until a hard stop is reached, and determine whether the plurality of staples have been previously ejected based on the distance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Alexander J. Hart, Charles R. Kollar, James P. Delbo, Haley E. Strassner, Steven H. Joyce
  • Patent number: 12207820
    Abstract: A surgical stapling anvil is disclosed comprising an anvil body including a tissue-facing surface, a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a longitudinal slot. The longitudinal slot comprises a first portion configured to receive a cutting edge of a firing member therethrough and a second portion configured to receive an anvil-camming portion of the firing member therethrough. The anvil further comprises an anvil cap welded to the anvil body, wherein the anvil cap comprises a welded portion and a non-welded portion, wherein the non-welded portion comprises a non-welded width, and wherein the non-welded width is less than or equal to about 105% of the width of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Anil K. Nalagatla, Jerome R. Morgan, Gregory J. Bakos, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 12193662
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body having a firing actuator, a shaft, a motor, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is configured to activate in response to a firing actuation of the firing actuator. The end effector is operable to staple and sever tissue and includes a cutting edge configured to selectively translate longitudinally between a proximal position and a distal position in response to an activation of the motor. The control circuit is configured to generate a forward motor control signal to pulsate the cutting edge. The forward motor control signal includes a first time duration including movement of the cutting edge distally from the proximal position to a second longitudinal position, a second time duration including ceased movement of the cutting edge, and a third time duration including movement of the cutting edge distally from the second longitudinal position toward the distal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Joseph D. Paulowski, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Johnnie Bell
  • Patent number: 12195223
    Abstract: A device for applying an article to a moving object includes an applicator member having a base element and an arm element. The arm element is telescopically coupled to the base element such that the arm element is movable between a retracted state and an extended state. A biasing member biases the arm element towards its extended state and an actuator shaft is pivotably connected to the base element. The actuator shaft is eccentrically arranged and rotatable about a first rotation axis RA1, and a support member is pivotable about a second rotation axis RA2 and slidingly supports a mid-section of the arm element. An applicator head is cyclically movable between a retrieval position and an application position in response to rotation of the eccentrically arranged actuator shaft about the first rotation axis RA1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Ecolean AB
    Inventor: Tobias Persson
  • Patent number: 12185751
    Abstract: A cigarette filter comprises a first filter portion comprising an irregularly folded and packed polymer sheet, and a first cigarette filter wrapping paper surrounding the polymer sheet, wherein the polymer sheet comprises a first polymer layer containing polyolefin or polyester and a second polymer layer positioned on the first polymer layer and containing polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soo Ho Kim, Jin Chul Yang, Man Seok Seo, Jong Yeol Kim, Youn Keun Oh, Tae Hoon Kim, Moon Soo Yoon
  • Patent number: 12187474
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing and packaging dosed quantities of solid drug portions is provided. The apparatus includes multiple dosing stations, each dosing station having an output opening for dispensing solid drug portions, a collector for collecting dosed quantities of solid drug portions dispensed by the dosing stations and forwarding the dosed quantities of solid drug portions to a packager, and multiple fall ducts configured to guide the solid drug portions from the output openings to the collector, each fall duct having an outlet and a number of inlet openings, the output openings of the dosing stations being aligned with the inlet openings of the fall ducts when a fall duct is positioned adjacent to a column of dosing stations. Each fall duct includes a first part and a second part detachably connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: BD Switzerland Sàrl
    Inventors: Eddy R. Lokkers, John Van De Koot
  • Patent number: 12179452
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making bags or pouches is disclosed. It includes a track, at least two sleds that move on the track, and operating stations mounted on the sleds. The film moves along the track, and the sleds move with the film while performing operations on the film. The system can have the sleds stationary while operating for an intermittent machine, and move to reconfigure when the film is moving. The operating stations include one or more of a sealer, a heater, a cooler, an inserter, a knife, a punch, a perforator, a static charger, and a printer. The track forms a continuous path or is linear. A controller controls the sleds and operating stations. The controller includes an operating time and/or a reconfiguration module. The operating time module is responsive to a user set material thickness or a sensed material thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: CMD Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Garris, Paul A. Selle, Timothy Blane Lewis, Christopher Lee White, Peter Todd Hunnicutt
  • Patent number: 12157593
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a bagging machine (01) having at least one vibration sensor (15, 18, 19) and a vibration evaluation device (16), wherein airborne and/or structure-borne signals can be measured with the vibration sensor (15, 18, 19), and wherein the measurement signals of the vibration sensor (15, 18, 19) can be evaluated with the vibration evaluation device (16), wherein a) airborne and/or structure-borne signals produced by the filling material during operation of the bagging machine (01) are measured with the vibration sensor (15, 18, 19) on the format tube (06), b) the measurement signals of the vibration sensor (15, 18, 19) are evaluated by the vibration evaluation device (16), c) a function signal is output depending on the evaluation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: ROVEMA GMBH
    Inventor: Ingo Hamel
  • Patent number: 12151837
    Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to methods and systems for automated food packaging. The method and system includes singulating a plurality of elongate food products into a plurality of individual product pieces, conveying the plurality of individual product pieces along a moving surface, depositing a portion of the individual product pieces into a bucket, where the products are deposited such that a length of greater than about 90% of the individual product pieces are generally aligned parallel with the first side or second side of the bucket. Methods and systems include measuring a height between a top surface of the deposited portion of produce pieces and a top side of the moving surface, vertically lowering the bucket if the measured height is less than a threshold amount, and depositing a second portion of individual product pieces into the vertically lowered bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Leprino Foods Company
    Inventors: Joshua Bartelt, Jim Volk, Roy Markvicka, Ron Cantwell, Sanket Khedkar, Liam Taylor, Mark Carmer
  • Patent number: 12137913
    Abstract: An end effector including an anvil and a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a deck having steps defined thereon for compressing tissue positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge assembly to different pressures. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises staples having different unformed heights removably stored therein. The staples are deformed against the anvil to different formed heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Anil K. Nalagatla, Brian F. DiNardo, Disha V. Estera, Chester O. Baxter, III, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 12140214
    Abstract: Composite gearwheel for an electropneumatic hammer drill, wherein the composite gearwheel has a basic body, consisting of a first material, and an encircling toothing, and wherein the encircling toothing is formed, along a first circular arc, by a toothed body of the composite gearwheel, and is formed, along the remaining second circular arc, by the basic body itself, wherein the toothed body consists of a second material that is different than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Seltmann, Josef Fuenfer
  • Patent number: 12138895
    Abstract: A heat sealing product suitable for sealing one or more individual containers, the heat sealing product comprising: (i) a plurality of individual heat seals set out in a configuration substantially corresponding to the shape and configuration of the container(s) to be sealed, the size and shape of the individual heat seals corresponding substantially to the size and shape of the tops of the individual container(s) to be sealed; (ii) a peelable support film layer coated on one side with a low tack adhesive, the low tack adhesive serving to hold the individual heat seals in place on the support film layer in the desired configuration prior to the sealing process; (iii) alignment points in the sealing product adapted to enable the heat sealing product and therefore the individual heat seals of the heat sealing product to be aligned substantially exactly with respect to the individual containers to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: 4titude Ltd
    Inventor: Peter Collins
  • Patent number: 12139283
    Abstract: A method operates a packaging machine for wrapping a packaging film around packaging trays. The method includes: feeding the packaging film to a holding mechanism having two spaced-apart holders that hold the packaging film at two opposite sides; pressing a packaging tray against the packaging film by raising the packaging tray from below; and guiding opposite sides of the packaging film below the packaging tray. The packaging tray is raised by a raising device that raises a lifting platform from a transfer position into a packaging position, the lifting platform receives the packaging tray, and the packaging tray is transported from a loading position to the transfer position by a feed belt. The lifting platform is held in a middle position by the raising device while the feed belt is transporting the packaging tray between the loading position and the transfer position on an intermediate piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: BIZERBA SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Schoen, Kurt Wissmann, Jonas Lauer, Winai Namsuk, Konstantin Rempel
  • Patent number: 12137904
    Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed including an end effector and a drive system configured to effect at least one function of the end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw rotatable relative to said first jaw between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein. The drive system includes a motor and an impact mechanism including a rotary input drivable by the motor and a rotary output drivable by the rotary input. Rotation of the rotary output is configured to effect the at least one function of the end effector. The impact mechanism is configurable between a coupled state, wherein rotation of the rotary input causes corresponding rotation of the rotary output, and a slipped state, wherein the rotary input rotates relative to the rotary output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventor: Mark D. Overmyer
  • Patent number: 12134494
    Abstract: An automatic packager configured to dispense pharmaceuticals into a pharmaceutical pouch and including a verification system. The verification system includes a camera system configured to capture images in a visible spectrum and an infrared spectrum, a heat source configured to heat the pharmaceutical pouch, a visible light source, and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the camera system, the heat source, and the visible light source. The electronic processor is configured to activate the heat source to heat the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch when the pharmaceutical pouch is heated by the heat source. The electronic processor is also configured to activate the visible light source and capture a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the visible light source. The electronic processor is further configured to generate a third image based on the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: RXSAFE, LLC
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 12133649
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongate body, at least one latch member, and a cartridge removal feature. The elongate body is sized and shaped to correspond with a deck of a surgical staple cartridge such that the elongate body is configured to cover a plurality of staple apertures of the surgical staple cartridge. The at least one latch member is configured to removably secure the elongate body to the surgical staple cartridge. The cartridge removal feature is integral with the elongate body. The cartridge removal feature defines a gap that is configured to receive a portion of the surgical staple cartridge. The cartridge removal feature is further operable to remove the surgical staple cartridge from a surgical stapler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmBH International
    Inventors: Scott T. Freidel, Michael E. Setser, Lauren M. Valente
  • Patent number: 12122118
    Abstract: A packaging machine for forming doy-pack bags includes: a base; a reel-holding frame, configured to carry a reel of packaging film or a sheet-holding reel having a band with packaging sheets; a gripping and folding group configured to pick up and fold like a book, by facing two symmetrical parts thereof, either a portion of the packaging film or a packaging sheet; shaping apparatus for shaping a recessed bottom (B) of a doy-pack bag (A); a joiner for sealing the facing side edges of the two symmetrical parts either of a portion of the packaging film or of a packaging sheet; pick-up apparatus adapted to remove the portion of the packaging film or the packaging sheet, folded and with the facing side edges sealed, from the gripping and folding group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Inventors: Lorenzo Speggiorin, Cristina Speggiorin, Marco Speggiorin