Abstract: The present invention provides a device including an article carry-in mechanism (1A) that transports an article (w) to a packaging position (P), an article carry-out mechanism (1B) that carries the article (w) away from the packaging position (P), and a relaying mechanism (1C) disposed between the article carry-in mechanism (1A) and the article carry-out mechanism (1B). The relaying mechanism (1C) receives and supports the transported article (w) from below in a center part of the article (w) in a direction of its width.

Abstract: The method for drying filter rods comprises the steps of providing a filter rod, providing a support surface for receiving the filter rod and guiding the filter rod on the support surface by a guide element arranged above the support surface. The method further comprises the step of supplying a gas stream of compressed gas having a pressure between 0 and 6 bar to the filter rod through the guide element when the filter rod is transported along the support surface, before wrapping the filter rod with a wrapping material.

Abstract: A method for forming a package including a stack of absorbent tissue paper material and a packaging, the tissue paper material in the stack forming panels having a length, and a width perpendicular to the length, the panels being piled on top of each other to form a height extending between a first end surface and a second end surface of the stack, and the packaging encircling the stack so as to maintain the stack in a compressed condition in the package, with a selected packing density D0 of the stack, and a selected packing height H0; the method including: forming the stack of absorbent tissue paper material; compressing each portion of the stack in a direction along the height to assume a temporary height H1 being c1×H0, where c1 is between 0.30 and 0.95; and applying the packaging to the stack.

Abstract: A powered surgical instrument comprising a housing, an elongate shaft, an articulation joint, a rotary drive member configured to rotate in response to rotary motion from an electric motor, a coupling portion, and a stapling attachment releasably attachable to the coupling portion is disclosed. The stapling attachment is secured to the coupling portion by rotating one of the stapling attachment and the coupling portion relative to the other of the stapling attachment and the coupling portion. The stapling attachment comprises an elongate channel configured to receive a staple cartridge. The stapling attachment further comprises an anvil, a drive screw, and a firing member operably engaged with the drive screw. The coupling portion operably couples the rotary drive member and the drive screw when the stapling attachment is attached to the elongate shaft. The firing member is advanced distally within the stapling attachment when the drive screw is rotated.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that comprises an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. A surgical end effector is pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about an articulation axis that is laterally offset from the shaft axis and extends transversely relative thereto. An end effector driver link is operably coupled to the surgical end effector and an articulation driver that is supported for longitudinal travel in distal and proximal directions upon application of articulation motions thereto. A flexible de-articulation member is coupled to the elongate shaft assembly and the surgical end effector to apply de-articulation motions to the surgical end effector.

Abstract: An apparatus is arranged for packaging sheet material, in particular banknotes, vouchers, checks, separation cards, etc., with a packaging device, packaging material dispensed from a roll for packaging the sheet material, and a control device controlling the apparatus. A monitoring device is provided for the packaging material, and the control device evaluates a signal of the monitoring device during the packaging of sheet material, in order to derive therefrom whether packaging material is present on the roll.

Abstract: The method relates to a method for filling a container (13, 32) with carbonized liquid filling material and for closing the filled container, in which the filling material is introduced in a filling station (10, 30) by a filling head (11, 33) at defined filling pressure into the container (13, 32), wherein the filling head (11, 33) is firstly moved from an idle position, which permits supplying and inserting a container (13, 32) into the filling station (10, 30), into a working position toward the inserted container, in which an end region (16) of the filling head seals off the opening (14) of the container, the container (13, 32) is then filled, the filling head (11, 33) is moved after completion of the filling phase back out of the working position into an idle position spaced apart from the container (13, 32) and the container (13, 32) is then closed in the filling station (10, 30) using a cap (20) at least enough that filling material can no longer escape, and the container (13, 32) is then removed from t

Abstract: A fastener cartridge can include, one, a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities and, two, a plurality of fasteners positioned in the fastener cavities. The cartridge body can further comprise extensions extending from the deck having different sizes and/or configurations. The extensions can control the flow of tissue relative to the deck and/or support the fasteners as they are ejected from the fastener cavities.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft, an end effector comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and an elongate channel is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation joint, a first articulation member, a second articulation member, and a firing member comprising a first cam member and a second cam member. The first articulation member is pivotally coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate channel and pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft. A distal end of the second articulation member is pivotally coupled to a proximal portion of the first articulation member. The first articulation member articulates at a first rate when the end effector is rotated to an articulated position. The second articulation member articulates at a second rate when the end effector is rotated to the articulated position. The first rate and the second rate are different.

Abstract: A surgical stapling attachment configured to be operably attached to and detached from a surgical robot is disclosed. The surgical stapling attachment comprises an attachment interface, a shaft extending from the attachment interface, and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a firing member, a first closure member, a second closure member, a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein, a cartridge jaw, and an anvil jaw movable relative to the cartridge jaw. The first closure member is configured to be actuated by the surgical robot to move the anvil jaw relative to the cartridge jaw between an unclamped configuration and a first clamped configuration. The second closure member is configured to be actuated by the surgical robot independent of the first closure member to move the anvil jaw relative to the cartridge jaw between the first clamped configuration and a second clamped configuration.

Abstract: A packaged assembly of a hermetically sealed container and cigarette, and method of forming the assembly. The container is hermetically sealed for airtight conditions for freshness, whereby an interior space is either filled with an inert gas or is evacuated down to a pressure close to 0 atm to remove substantially all air (oxygen) from within. The container may be clear glass to afford good visibility of the cigarette within an interior space thereof. However, a relatively large label may be affixed to the exterior of the container to occlude most of the light from reaching the cigarette.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and a linear surgical stapler are provided. The instrument includes: a suturing mechanism including an anvil assembly and a mounting part for mounting a staple cartridge assembly, in which the staple cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge for accommodating staples, and the anvil assembly includes an anvil matched with the staple cartridge; a staple pushing assembly, configured to push the staples so that the staples are sequentially fired; a transmission assembly, configured for driving the staple cartridge assembly to move relative to the anvil assembly and driving the staple pushing assembly to move to push the staples; and a drive assembly, connected to the transmission assembly and configured for driving the transmission assembly to move.

Abstract: An attachment is configured for use with a powered hammer to drive a rod into the ground. The attachment includes a body and an impact portion defining a first axis. The impact portion is fixed to the body and immovable relative to the body. The impact portion is configured to receive repeated impacts from the powered hammer. The attachment further comprises a receiving portion in which the rod is receivable. The receiving portion defines a second axis that is parallel with the first axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (22) for closing the top side of external cardboard packagings (1). The external cardboard packagings (1) comprise two top closing flaps (3, 4) located opposite each other. Side edges (42) of the closing flaps (3, 4) are connected to each other via two fold-in flaps (5, 6). During closing, at least two external cardboard packagings (1) are positioned in a group (50) contiguous to each other or slightly spaced apart. At least two folding devices (23) are advanceable toward each other to engage the fold-in flaps (5, 6) of each of the at least two external cardboard packagings (1), thus pressing the fold-in flaps (5, 6) toward each other and folding them over their particular second fold edges (60) and third fold edges (7), thereby folding down the top closing flaps (3, 4).

Abstract: An expansion device includes an unexpanded slit sheet roll that is wound on a paper core that is longer than the width of the slit sheet paper roll. The paper core is placed onto a rod member. An adjustable downward pressure is exerted on the paper core and the paper core exerts pressure on the rod member. As the paper is pulled, the downward pressure creates the friction required to enable the unexpanded slit sheet to be unwind and fed while simultaneously expanding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for encapsulating a liquid product, the method comprising blending together a solution of alginate and a thickener and extruding through an appropriately shaped die to form a membrane, applying a calcium rich ion solution to crosslink the membrane and create a water insoluble membrane, filling the water insoluble membrane with the liquid product; and sealing the membrane around the liquid product, encapsulating the liquid product therein.

Abstract: A wrapping machine includes a frame for supporting a wrapping unit arranged to wrap a load with a film of plastic material, and a covering apparatus arranged to supply a covering sheet to be positioned on top of the load. The covering apparatus includes a reel of covering sheet and gripping assembly movable along an unwinding direction and arranged to grasp and unwind from the reel and place above the load the covering sheet. The covering apparatus includes a supporting structure connected to an upper portion of the frame and slidably supporting the gripping assembly, and a supplying unit supporting a respective reel of covering sheet and reversibly coupled to the supporting structure so as to be removable and replaceable with another supplying unit, in particular in case of depletion of the reel of covering sheet.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the packaging of metal thin films deposited on polymeric substrates. The packaging method prevents deleterious change of surface energy/water contact angle as a function of time for metal thin films such as rolls, coils, sheets or strips of sputtered or vacuum deposited metal thin films. Methods and kits directed toward a unique packaging and storage scheme are also disclosed. This results in maintenance of the metal film's hydrophilicity and surface energy for extended periods of time.

Abstract: A control method includes two operating modes carried out in response to a position of a selector switch. The first operating mode provides: carrying out first impacts of the hammer onto the anvil; detecting the event of an impact of the hammer onto the anvil with an impact sensor; detecting an angular position of the anvil with an angle sensor; estimating an individual impact angle of the anvil due to the last detected impact, based on the angular position of the anvil before the last detected impact and the angular position of the anvil after the last detected impact, and comparing the individual impact angle with an individual impact setpoint angle. The first operating mode is ended when the individual impact angle drops below an individual impact setpoint angle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of packing product in a tubular casing is provided. The method includes providing a continuous length of tubular casing, providing an expansion plug within the tubular casing, grasping the casing upstream end with a casing grabber, moving the casing grabber away from the expansion plug towards an outlet end of a product feed conduit, feeding product from the product feed conduit through the casing upstream end into the tubular casing, and cutting the tubular casing downstream of the product to sever an upstream casing segment from the remaining continuous length of tubular casing.