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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sterilizing and filling vessels which are kept in a sterile environment while being filled are capped before filling and immediately thereafter are ready to be displaced into a potentially contaminating environment while retaining a predetermined SAL are disclosed. Such vessels can be syringes use for dispensing Avastin or conventional syringes. Also method and apparatus for making an eye drop bottle using a conventional medical syringe which can be used in kits made according to the present invention are disclosed. In addition, a method for modifying conventional eye drop bottles for use in kits made according to the instant invention is disclosed. Further, a method for linking single convenience kits to form increased numbers of vessels filled by the same single act, used to fill a single convenience kit, is also disclosed.

Abstract: To reduce size increase, a power tool includes a motor, an output shaft located frontward from the motor, rotatable by the motor, and having an insertion hole extending rearward from a front end of the output shaft, a bearing supporting the output shaft in a rotatable manner, a locking member supported by the output shaft and movable to a locking position for locking a tip tool placed in the insertion hole and to an unlocking position for unlocking the tip tool, a bit sleeve surrounding the output shaft, and movable to a movement-restricting position for restricting radially outward movement of the locking member and to a movement-permitting position for permitting radially outward movement of the locking member, and an operable member operable to move the bit sleeve and at least partly overlapping the bearing in an axial direction.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body, a sensor array, and a thermal control system is disclosed.

Abstract: A shrink wrapping apparatus, and associated process, includes a housing (turbine) having a wall forming a passage dimensioned to receive the associated container assembly and associated sleeve. The passage has an inlet and an outlet spaced therefrom. A steam/hot air path communicates with the passage to provide steam from an associated steam source to at least a portion of the passage in order to shrink wrap the associated sleeve on the associated container assembly as the container assembly and sleeve move through the passage. The apparatus also includes a stop member for engaging the associated container assembly and holding in the passage for a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A refill includes a peripheral wall defining a space capable of accommodating staples therein. The peripheral wall includes a bottom wall having a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a third side connecting end portions of the first side and the second side, a first side wall standing from the first side, a second side wall standing from the second side and opposing the first side wall, and a front wall positioned above the third side and connecting the first side wall and the second side wall. A first opening is formed on the first side wall and the front wall to extend across a boundary between the first side wall and the front wall.