Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical instrument includes a body configured for coupling to a surgical instrument and defining a longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal ends, and an end effector coupled to the distal end of the body. The end effector includes a staple cartridge assembly having a staple cartridge and an anvil assembly having an anvil plate. A drive assembly is at least partially disposed within the body. The drive assembly includes an actuator member having a roller engageable with at least one of the staple cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly. The roller is configured to rotate upon longitudinal movement of the drive assembly to facilitate movement of the drive assembly and relative movement of the staple cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly between open and approximated conditions.

Abstract: A packaging structure for at least one article includes a pair of generally rectangular support structures with front, side, rear, and interior walls. The walls divide the rectangular support structure into a plurality of triangular sections. The front and interior walls contain a least one opening configured to correspond with the configuration of the article to hold and secure the article in place. The packaging structure is created from a rectangular blank made of foldable material that has a plurality of spaced vertical fold lines, panels, and aligned openings each configured to correspond with the configuration of the article. The packaging structure is formed by folding the blank along the fold lines and securing the blank in the folded condition.

Abstract: A machine for producing bags includes a station for forming a tube, which forms a band of transversely perforated flexible material into a tube, a holding station for retaining the tube, a folding station for forming a bottom at the end of the tube, a folding roller having a folding blade for folding a flap at the end of the tube and a tear-off bar for pinching the tube against the drum, the folding station and the holding station being configured to jointly exert a traction on the tube and detach a portion of the tube. The tear-off bar is disposed behind the folding blade, the machine controlling the rotation of the folding station to synchronize the drum with the front of the tube.

Abstract: Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. Three dimensional adjuncts for use with a surgical stapling assembly and methods for manufacturing the same are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for palletless shipment of gas cylinder arrays. A three-dimensional array of gas cylinders is formed from a plurality of vertically-stacked two-dimensional subarrays. First elongated voids extend through the array in a width direction at a first handle elevation. Second elongated voids extend through the array in a depth direction at a second handle elevation. The first and second elongated voids are bilaterally bounded by handle portions of adjacent gas cylinders, and vertically bounded by upper and lower surfaces of surrounding cylinders. Pairs of tunnel elements are disposed within respective elongated voids and are each configured to releasably receive a corresponding forklift tong. Vertically-disposed pillars may be provided to increase the rigidity and load distribution of the system. Flaps may radiate from the pillars to minimize impact and abrasion between adjacent cylinders during shipment.

Abstract: A machine for forming filter bags for infusion products including a first movement carousel rotating continuously about a first axis of rotation; a plurality of first gripping means positioned along, and movable continuously with, the first carousel; a plurality of first operating stations positioned along, and movable continuously with, the first movement carousel; each first operating station is associated with a corresponding first gripping means; each first operating station is configured to operate on the piece of filter material in order to form, at least partly, a filter bag along a predetermined angular stretch of rotation of the first movement carousel; and a plurality of first translation devices, associated with the first movement carousel and configured for translating, mutually, the first operating stations and the corresponding first gripping means along a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a packed bale of highly compacted filter tow material. A compressed filter tow bale is first provided in cuboid shape in a baler. Then the compressed filter tow bale is packaged, having an air-tight packaging sleeve fully enclosing the compressed filter tow bale. According to the invention, the packaging sleeve is applied to the compressed filter tow bales such that at least 80%, preferably at least 90% and more preferably at least 95%, of the packaging sleeve is directly adjacent to the highly compacted filter tow material and touches, or is at least spaced less than 15 mm from, the highly compacted filter tow material.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus (10) for realising a box (9) starting from a cardboard band (7) for packing a plurality of articles (100) with the box (9), wherein the plurality of articles (100) is contained in a reusable crate (1), the first internal wall (4) of which is positioned such as to minimise the volume of the chamber (5) containing the plurality of articles (100).

Abstract: Provided is a boxing apparatus that may repeatedly push products packaged in a soft packaging material into a box through a lateral opening and to pack the products in a plurality of rows, wherein product-filled rate may be easily enhanced without damaging the products. A boxing apparatus 10 may pack a plurality of rows of bagged products into a box. The boxing apparatus may be provided with a push-in mechanism 50, a shutter, a vertical movement mechanism, and a controller 41. The push-in mechanism may push the products into the box through a lateral opening in the box. The shutter may enter and exit the box through the opening. The vertical movement mechanism may move the box and the shutter up and down relative to each other.

Abstract: A switching device for a portable power tool includes at least one operating mode selection unit, which has at least one movably mounted operating element for selecting an operating mode of the portable power tool. The switching device also has at least one locking unit for locking the operating element in at least one movement position of the operating element. The locking unit has at least one movably mounted locking element which, depending on a locking position of the locking element, triggers an electric and/or electronic signal for switching an operating mode of the portable power tool.

Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank assembly including a tray blank and lid blank includes a frame, a mandrel assembly mounted to the frame, a pre-folding assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel assembly includes a first mandrel and a second mandrel positioned downstream from the first mandrel. The first mandrel has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a first portion of the container, and the second mandrel has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a second portion of the container. The pre-folding assembly is configured to fold a first portion of the blank assembly around the first mandrel to form a partially formed container. The glue panel presser assembly includes a first presser plate configured to form a first manufacturer joint, and a second presser plate configured to form a second manufacturer joint.

Abstract: A method of producing and filling a paperboard packaging container with pulverulent bulk solids includes forming a tubular container body from a paperboard sheet, the body having upper and lower body openings and a container wall extending between the upper and lower body openings and having inner and outer surfaces; closing the upper body opening with a sealing membrane attached to the inner surface; providing an upper reinforcing rim; inserting at least a lower part of the upper reinforcing rim into the tubular container body at the upper body opening; forming a weld seal between the inner surface and the inserted part of the upper reinforcing rim; presenting the body to a filling station with the bottom body opening of the container body directed upward in a vertical direction; filling pulverulent material into the body through the upwardly directed bottom body opening; and closing the bottom body opening.

Abstract: A rotation mechanism includes: a housing; a shaft inserted through a hole provided at the housing; bearings installed at the housing and rotatably supporting the shaft; a rotary member provided at one end portion of the shaft, adapted to be rotated together with the shaft, and having a portion that projects to a radially outer side of the hole and faces the housing with a gap having a predetermined size; and a gas passage adapted to connect the gap to outside of the housing and allow gas contained in a portion of the gap to pass to the outside of the housing.

Abstract: Methods for operating a surgical end effector that includes first and second jaws that are pivotally coupled together and are selectively movable between a fully open position and fully closed position. At least one method includes moving a dynamic clamping assembly through a closure stroke to apply a closure motion to the first and second jaws to move the first and second jaws from the fully open position to the fully closed position. A method also includes moving the dynamic clamping assembly through a firing stroke to perform a surgical function until the dynamic clamping assembly reaches an ending position within the closed first and second jaws. A method also includes moving the dynamic clamping assembly in direction configured to contact at least one positive jaw opening feature on at least one of the first and second jaws with to move the first and second jaws to the fully open position.

Abstract: A self-piercing rivet tape path can extend through a clamshell receiver assembly between the upper and lower receiver bodies and can open between the upper and lower bodies along a longitudinal length of the self-piercing rivet tape path that extends through the clamshell receiver assembly. The upper and lower bodies can separate at a lead rivet cavity and above a proximal end of a discharge cavity of the lower body. A tool-free interlock coupling can rigidly couple the upper and lower receiver bodies together in a closed position. This tool-free coupling can unlock the upper and lower receiver bodies so they are hingedly movable into the open position. The clamshell receiver assembly can be rigidly coupled to an end of a self-piercing rivet spindle to receive self-piercing rivets carried by the tape along the tape path and support a lead self-piercing rivet in alignment with a punch of the spindle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a shaft, an end effector rotatable relative to said shaft about an articulation joint, an articulation system configured to rotate the end effector, and an articulation lock. The articulation lock is configured to selectively couple the articulation system to a frame of the shaft. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument further comprises a lock plate movable within the shaft frame. In such embodiments, the articulation lock is configured to lock the articulation system to the lock plate.

Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor coupled to the displacement member, a display, and a control circuit coupled to the motor and the display. The control circuit is configured to measure distance traveled by the displacement member over a predetermined period of time, cause the display to present a selection menu indicia that is indicative of a velocity mode, receive a user input corresponding to the velocity mode, and set the motor velocity of the displacement member based on the measured distance traveled by the displacement member over the predetermined period of time and the user input.

Abstract: An automatic screw tightening module includes a plate assembly, an input module, a screwdriver module, a transmission module, a movable module, an elastic element and a position sensor. The screwdriver module includes a screwdriver and a screwdriver sleeve. The transmission module is connected with an input terminal of the input module and the screwdriver sleeve for allowing the input terminal, the transmission module and the screwdriver sleeve to be rotated synchronously. The movable module is movably disposed on a base plate of the plate assembly. The movable module includes a bearing, and portion of the screwdriver sleeve is accommodated in the bearing, so that the screwdriver module and the movable module are moved relative to the base plate. The elastic element is disposed on the base plate and connected with the movable module. The position sensor is disposed on the base plate for sensing a displacement of the movable module.

Abstract: A method for packaging liquid products under pressure in thermoplastic containers includes blow-molding a container from a sterilized preform, exposing an exterior of the container to a mixture that includes liquid coolant and either a sterilizing agent or a disinfectant, pressure-filling the container with liquid product, and sealing the filled container.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a composite product has a first folded layer with a first and second superposed portion extending from a respective first and second free end to a first bend connecting the first and second superposed portions, and a second folded layer with a third and fourth superposed portion extending from a respective third and fourth free end to a second bend connecting the third and fourth superposed portions, wherein the first and second folded layers are laid adjacent to each other in order that the second portion of the first folded layer is in contact with the third portion of the second folded layer, the first and second folded layers being oriented with respect to each other in order to extend from a first side including the first, second, third and fourth free ends to a second side including the first and second bend.