Patents Examined by Hemant Desai
  • Patent number: 11332322
    Abstract: An assembly for adjusting the position of a gripper of fill machine. The assembly includes a gripper slidably mounted to a rail and carriage movable along guide rails. The carriage has an engagement arm which engages the gripper. The width of a pouch is entered into an entry portal which is connected to the controller. A controller activates a motor to move the carriage and engagement arm to a new position. The engagement arm is rotated to lock and unlock the gripper from the rail. A sensor locates the position of the gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: R. Charles Murray, Olaf Clemens
  • Patent number: 11332354
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) for automated capping and de-capping of test tubes (112) having an ejector pin (230) system for individualized cap (113) ejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Stig Christensen, Lars Hovendahl, Michael Gabs Kaagaard Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11325734
    Abstract: A heat shrinking apparatus 1 includes: a conveyance unit 11 conveying a package 3 obtained by wrapping an object(s) 5 with a heat-shrink film 4; an endless belt 21 disposed below a conveying surface of the conveyance unit, rotating along a conveying direction of the conveyance unit; and a hot air jet unit 19(20) jetting out hot air from an inside to an outside of a belt surface of the endless belt facing the conveying surface, wherein: the endless belt has a hot air passing portion 30 extending in a belt width direction; the hot air jet unit jets out the hot air toward the conveying surface through the hot air passing portion; and the endless belt rotates following a movement of the package so that a seal portion(s) 6a(6b) provided at a front end and/or a rear end of the package is/are heat-shrunk with the hot air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: OMORI MACHINERY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 11324501
    Abstract: Closure systems and members for actuating jaws of a surgical end effector. The closure systems include a closure member that is configured to interact with corresponding portions of the jaws to establish improved closure and clamping loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III, Gregory J. Bakos, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 11325729
    Abstract: A lid pick and place system having a primary magazine assembly and a pick and place assembly. The primary magazine assembly includes a base plate and at least one guide rod extending therefrom to define an elongated lid chamber with at least one lid bore. Rotation of the at least one guide rod within the at least one guide rod bore directs at least a portion of a lower offset flange beyond a lid bore perimeter and into a path of the elongated lid chamber. The pick and place assembly includes a connecting rod with a suction cup. A linear movement assembly is structurally configured to move the connecting rod linearly closer and further from the lower surface of the base plate. A rotative movement assembly structurally configured to rotate the connecting rod relative to the lower surface of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Winpak Lane, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Davis
  • Patent number: 11304695
    Abstract: A surgical instrument assembly comprising a proximal shaft assembly comprising a proximal drive member and a distal shaft assembly attachable to and detachable from the proximal shaft assembly is disclosed. The distal shaft assembly comprises a distal drive member configured to be coupled to and decoupled from the proximal drive member, wherein the distal drive member is configured to be actuated through a drive stroke by the proximal drive member. The drive stroke comprises a beginning of stroke position, an end of stroke position distal to the beginning of stroke position, and a home position. The proximal drive member and the distal drive member are configured to be coupled to and decoupled from each other when the proximal drive member and the distal drive member are in the home position, wherein the home position is not at the beginning of stroke position or the end of stroke position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Patent number: 11305493
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a product viewing window in a container. The container has at least a body ply and a liner ply, wherein the body ply has at least one aperture therethrough. The liner ply is adhered across the aperture, forming a window into the container. A window-finishing machine that comprises at least two platens and, optionally, a machine pocket positioned between them, a heating element extending through at least one of the platens, and a pressurized air device engages a container. The heating element heats the window of the container to the desired temperature, pressurized air is injected into the container such that the window is forced at least partially through the aperture of the container (and optionally into contact with the machine pocket wall), and the container window is then cooled to the desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Kenan James Clougherty
  • Patent number: 11298114
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to adapter assemblies for use with and to electrically and mechanically interconnect electromechanical surgical devices and surgical loading units, and to surgical systems including handheld electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical loading units to the handheld electromechanical surgical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: David Nicholas, Russell Pribanic
  • Patent number: 11291441
    Abstract: A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector comprising at least one sensor. The surgical instrument may also comprise an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle may comprise a control unit electrically coupled to the shaft such that the shaft radiates signals as an antenna from the control unit to the sensor and receives radiated signals from the sensor. Other components electrically coupled to the shaft may also radiate the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: James R. Giordano, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11292628
    Abstract: A machine for forming filter bags for infusion products starting from pieces of filter material each containing a dose of infusion product and having, the pieces, a corresponding longitudinal axis of extension, including a carousel rotating about a main axis of rotation and including gripping elements movable in rotation about the main axis along a closed circular trajectory; each gripping element configured to receive and retain a piece of filter material along an operating path; an operating station configured to perform an operation on the piece of filter material retained by a corresponding gripping element; each gripping element including an articulation device configured for obtaining a further rotation about a secondary axis of rotation, transversal to the main axis of rotation, to rotate and position the corresponding piece of filter material with its longitudinal axis of extension parallel to the main axis of rotation at the operating station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Simone Badini, Sauro Rivola
  • Patent number: 11291609
    Abstract: A soft capsule manufacturing apparatus for controlling an injection amount, an injection interval and/or an injection rate of core solution by an injection controller, wherein the operation of the injection controller is automatically adjusted and controlled by a control panel, after processing the signal from the detection sensor for checking the injection status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Wan Kyun Lee, Geum Duk Park
  • Patent number: 11285597
    Abstract: A pneumatic tool structure contains an air intake head, a slidable sleeve, a drive unit, a piston, an operation element, a resilient element, a first isolation ring, and a second isolation ring. The air intake head includes a press lever, an air channel, and a connection portion. The connection portion has a first coupling orifice. The slidable sleeve includes a shoulder. The drive unit includes a body, a recessed portion having a defining fringe, a screw bolt, and a chamber. An air discharge conduit is defined between the slidable sleeve and the body. The first segment has a second coupling orifice. The resilient element includes a through hole. The first isolation ring includes a first rim, a second rim, multiple first discharging grooves, and multiple first contact portions. The second isolation ring includes a third rim, a fourth rim, multiple second discharging grooves, and multiple second contact portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventors: Chih-Kuan Hsieh, Ya-Chun Lai
  • Patent number: 11284898
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, a cartridge, and a staple driver actuator. The end effector is operable to manipulate tissue. The end effector comprises a lower jaw, a pivotable anvil, and a translating cutter. The translating cutter is operable to translate relative to the lower jaw and the anvil when the anvil is pivoted toward the lower jaw to manipulate tissue. The cartridge is insertable into the lower jaw and includes a plurality of staples. The staple driver actuator is disposed within the cartridge. The staple driver actuator comprises a secondary cutting element. The translating cutter of the end effector is operable to drive the staple driver actuator distally to staple and cut tissue substantially simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III, Jerome R. Morgan, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Charles J. Scheib, Michael J. Vendely
  • Patent number: 11278281
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes an end effector, a user interface, and a control circuit. The end effector is configured to deploy staples into tissue grasped by the end effector and cut the grasped tissue during a firing stroke. The control circuit is configured to cause at least one parameter setting associated with the firing stroke to be displayed on the user interface, cause interpreted information relevant to the firing stroke to be displayed concurrently with the at least one parameter setting on the user interface, wherein the interpreted information is based on external data, and recommend an adjustment of the at least one parameter setting through the user interface, wherein the recommended adjustment is based on the interpreted information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 11279505
    Abstract: A system for re-securing a bale with defective or broken wrapping. The system has a waterproof material; at least one rope loop wherein the at least one rope loop is hermetically attached to the waterproof material and maintains waterproofing of the waterproof material; at least one rope wherein the at least one rope passes through an aperture defined by the at least one rope loop; and at least one O-ring wherein the at least one of O-ring is attached to a first end of rope of the at least one rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventor: Jesse Hinojosa
  • Patent number: 11273945
    Abstract: Presented and described are a device for separately applying additive packaging material, preferably wrapped straws, supplied as an additive packaging material continuous belt, to packages, in particular cardboard composite packages, having a separating organ for separating the additive packaging material of the additive packaging material continuous belt, a supply means for supplying the additive packaging material continuous belt to the separating organ and for relaying the additive packaging material separated by the separating organ, an application means for applying the separated additive packaging materials to the packages and a transport means for transporting the packages along a package transport path to the application means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Männle, Daniel Hirt, Joachim Bührer
  • Patent number: 11259808
    Abstract: A tool assembly includes an anvil and a cartridge assembly movable from an open position to a closed position, and a locking member movably supported on a distal portion of the cartridge assembly. The locking member is configured to move into a slot of the anvil as the anvil and cartridge assembly move toward the closed position to set a gap distance between the anvil and cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Sabastian K. George, Mohan T. Chiruvolu
  • Patent number: 11259805
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a shaft, an end effector rotatably coupled to the shaft about an articulation joint, and a firing system configured to be moved through the articulation joint and the end effector. The surgical instrument further comprises means configured to facilitate the movement of the firing system through the articulation joint and the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Jeffrey S. Swayze
  • Patent number: 11253257
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle portion, a shaft coupled to the handle portion, a pair of jaw members operably coupled to the shaft, an inflatable member, and a sensor. The inflatable member is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to apply pressure to tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members. The sensor is associated with one of the jaw members and is configured to measure local perfusion pressure in the tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Christopher K. Evans, Matthew Eschbach
  • Patent number: 11247797
    Abstract: Provided is a means which makes it possible to prevent quality deterioration of a facilitated transport membrane for a long period of time. A method for packing the facilitated transport membrane selectively allowing a specific gas to permeate therethrough, includes the steps of: putting the facilitated transport membrane in a packaging body having a transmission rate of not more than 10,000 cm3/(m2·24 h·atm) for the specific gas; preventing a contact between the facilitated transport membrane and the specific gas; and lastly sealing the packaging body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuya Inamoto