Abstract: The technology described herein generally relates to an automated packaging apparatus and system that packages loose particles into a conical container as well as the final folded packages. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied to successive paper cones. The apparatus packs the crumbled leaves into the cones, closes the wide top portion of the cone into a precise shape, and then runs a quality control check to ensure that the final filled cone meets preset specifications.

Abstract: A tool assembly for use with a surgical stapling device includes structure on an anvil assembly and/or a cartridge assembly to obstruct blood from flowing through spaces in a staple line as the staple line is being formed by the stapling device. In aspects of the disclosure, the tool assembly includes protrusions to compress tissue adjacent to spaces in the staple line as the staple line is being formed and tissue is being cut.

Abstract: An impact tool includes a motor, a first hammer, an anvil, and a second hammer. The first hammer is configured to be rotated by driving of the motor. The anvil is configured to be hammered in a rotation direction by the first hammer. The second hammer is configured to be switchable between a state being linked and a state not being linked to the first hammer. The impact tool ensures selections of a first hammering mode in which only the first hammer hammers the anvil and a second hammering mode in which the first hammer and the second hammer hammer the anvil.

Abstract: A fastening tool is provided, wherein a relief valve piston (65) is arranged that blocks an air passage from an air plug (58) to an accumulator chamber (50) and that opens/closes a flow path of a discharge port of compressed air from the accumulator chamber (50) to the atmosphere. When a state in which a trigger lever (21) is pulled while a push lever is released continues for a prescribed time or longer, a portion of the compressed air in the accumulator chamber (50) is released to the outside from the discharge port to notify the operator that the trigger lever (21) has not returned. If the trigger lever (21) is not returned even after the notification, the compressed air in the accumulator chamber (50) is discharged to the atmosphere at once and an air passage from an air plug (58) to the accumulator chamber (50) is blocked.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly having an actuation sled assembly that includes an actuation sled and a knife movably supported on the actuation sled. The tool assembly includes structure for moving the knife in relation to the actuation sled between extended and retracted positions in response to movement of the actuation sled through a staple cartridge of the tool assembly. Movement of the knife moves a cutting edge of the knife in relation to the actuation sled within a tissue gap defined by the tool assembly to impart a degree of vertical motion to the cutting edge of the knife. This enables the tool assembly to leverage micro-serrations on the cutting edge of the knife to enhance cutting efficiency of the knife.

Abstract: An ammunition packaging apparatus and system is reconfigurable to package a select caliber of ammunition by changing a set of components to those associated with the selected caliber of ammunition and selecting the corresponding operating procedure. An ammunition collating and packaging apparatus can be quickly reconfigured from packaging a first caliber of ammunition to packaging a second caliber of ammunition by quickly replacing a define set of components and modifying operationally timings to correspond to the selected caliber.

Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor, an output shaft, a drive force transmission configured to reduce drive speed of the motor and transmit drive force of the motor to the output shaft; a trigger that can be pulled by a user; a rotation speed changing circuitry configured to change a rotation speed of the output shaft that corresponds to a maximum pulled amount of the trigger to a limited rotation speed that is lower than a maximum rotation speed of the output shaft in a non-limited rotation speed mode; and a rotation speed control circuitry configured to control a rotation speed of the motor in correspondence with a pulled amount of the trigger to obtain the rotation speed of the output shaft that is changed by the rotation speed changing circuitry.

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: A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed that includes a first jaw configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and a second jaw that is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position. A closure lockout is movable between a locked position wherein the second jaw is retained in the open position by the closure lockout and an unlocked position wherein the second jaw is movable to the closed position. The closure lockout is configured to interface with an unlocking feature on a surgical staple cartridge supported in the first jaw such that when the unlocking feature operably interfaces with the closure lockout, the closure lockout moves to the unlocked position. The stapling instrument may further include a firing member lockout system for preventing movement of a firing member unless a camming assembly of the staple cartridge is in an unfired position.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for customized fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) comprising the production of the customized goods in a main production process stream or a side stream. The method further comprises temporarily storing the customized goods in a side stream process and subsequently re-inserting said goods into the main production process stream. The customized goods may be finally packaged in a dedicated pack or in a pack that also contains non-customized goods. The method is suitable for, but not limited to, articles such as diapers, absorbent products, tissues and other hygienic products.

Abstract: A net knife assembly for a baler is provided. The net knife assembly includes a linkage drive system including a drive linkage coupled to a motor. The net knife assembly includes a knife carrier coupled to the linkage drive system and configured to be positioned in a home position and a cut position. The net knife assembly includes a tensioning member coupled to the linkage drive system. The motor is configured to rotate the drive linkage of the linkage drive system, rotation of the drive linkage rotating the knife carrier between the home position and the cut position. Upon rotation of the knife carrier through a center position relative to the tensioning member, the tensioning member accelerates rotation of the knife carrier into the home position or the cut position.

Abstract: A method for producing reusable packaging from a carton. A rectangular blank has sides X and Y, a total area xy, 2(a+h)?x?3(a+h)+a, and y?2(h+r)?b?y, where a and b are side dimensions, h is height, and r is width, or width reduced by height h, of the periphery region R of the finished packaging. The method includes: producing folding lines B in the blank parallel to a first side Y at these distances from the latter: B1: a1=h; B2: a2=h+a; B3: a3=2h+a; severing of two severing lines T, each starting from opposite sides X, along one of the folding lines B, or the extension thereof; selecting the distance between two end points ET of the severing lines T which are closer to an axis of symmetry S1, which is parallel to the side X, such that the distance corresponds to a side B? of the finished packaging or length of a side M of a packaging insert.

Abstract: An inspection device includes: an irradiator that irradiates an object with near-infrared light; a spectroscope that disperses reflected light from the irradiated object; an imaging device that takes a spectroscopic image of the reflected light; a processor that: obtains spectral data of a plurality of points on the object, based on the spectroscopic image; defines a group of similar spectral data from among the spectral data of the plurality of points; extracts a group having a largest number of spectral data from the defined group; calculates an average of the spectral data of the extracted group; and detects a type of the object using a predetermined analysis of the object, based on the average.

Abstract: A power tool and method for recording and playing back a motor parameter. The power tool includes a housing, a motor, a trigger, and a controller. The trigger outputs an activation signal based on a user input. The controller receives a user mode selection signal indicating a selected mode. The controller enters the recording mode when the user mode selection indicates the recording mode, and records a motor parameter to generate a recorded motor parameter. The recorded motor parameter covers a first time period in which motor is operating in response to depression of the trigger, a second time period in which motor is inactive in response to release of the trigger, and a third time period in which motor is operating in response to another depression of the trigger. In the playback mode, the controller operates the motor based on the recorded motor parameter upon receiving the activation signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve (4) for a flexible packaging (1), comprising a valve housing (11) to be connected to an aerating and/or venting opening (6) of the packaging and having a first opening (22) and an opposite second opening (35), and a flexible membrane (24) movable between a position which closes the first opening and a position which leaves the first opening clear. The valve is provided with guide means (28) for guiding the movement of the membrane, wherein there is space (40) in the housing adjacently of the membrane for the purpose of forming a passage between the first and second opening when the membrane takes up-its open position. The invention also relates to a flexible packaging with an aerating and/or venting opening and a valve arranged therein. The invention further relates to an assembly of an aerating and/or venting device and such a valve.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for holding a bottle to be closed, comprising a holding element for holding, in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the holding element, a neck ring of the bottle to be closed, and a fastening element for fastening the holding element to a bottle closing device or to a bottle transport device, and having a torque sensor for detecting a torque acting between the holding element and the fastening element. Furthermore, the present disclosure discloses a device for closing a bottle and a method for closing a bottle.

Abstract: A bag clamping device for a material bag filling system is provided. A filling tube portion of a material bag can be blown to be in an upright state from a collapsed state through displacement and lift of an X-axis rail, a Y-axis rail and a Z-axis rail and blow of a pair of blowers. A pair of electric clamps is configured to clamp the filling tube portion. A pair of cantilevers is displaced to the bottom of a material filling device. The filling tube of the material filling device is displaced in a Z direction to enter the material bag for blowing air and filling the material. Through a conveyor belt displaced at the bottom in an X direction to carry the material bag with the filled material to a sealing device for sealing, so as to complete the packaging.

Abstract: In a method of aligning an upper and a lower changeable tool (2, 10, 18) in a device for processing, e.g., sheets of paper, provision is made that with the aid of at least one digital camera (50, 51), the upper changeable tool (2) is aligned with a sheet that has been moved in and the lower changeable tool (18) is aligned relative to the upper changeable tool (2) after the sheet has been moved out.

Abstract: An adjunct material for use with an end effector for a surgical instrument is provided that has different types of features for mating with the end effector. The adjunct is configured to be releasably retained on a jaw, such as a cartridge or anvil, using a plurality of female features formed thereon. Each female feature is configured to encompass a corresponding at least one of male features formed on the jaw in a clearance fit such that the adjunct is able to move with respect to the jaw at least in a first plane parallel to the tissue-facing surface. The male and female features mate such that the adjunct is not retained in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane. The adjunct also includes at least one attachment feature configured to releasably retain the adjunct on the jaw.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector is actuatable between an open state for receiving tissue and a closed state for clamping the tissue. A closure system is operable to actuate the end effector from the open state to the closed state. A firing system is operable to actuate the end effector in the closed state to staple the clamped tissue. A firing lockout mechanism is movable between a lockout state that inhibits actuation of the firing system, and a bypass state that permits actuation of the firing system. The firing lockout mechanism is configured to maintain the lockout state until the end effector assumes the closed state, and is further configured to transition from the lockout state to the bypass state in response to the end effector assuming the closed state.