Patents Examined by Hemant M. Desai
  • Patent number: 9695027
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a kit, comprising: —at least one capsule (10) for insertion in a beverage production machine and containing nutritional ingredients, preferably infant formula ingredients, the capsule having a cup-like base body (10b) comprising an opening (11) being closed off by an outlet face (10c), and —at least one capsule opening device (1) provided separately to the capsule (10), the capsule (10) and the opening device (1) being provided with means for mechanically associating the opening device (1) to the capsule (10) by the consumer, preferably without using tools, the capsule opening device (1) comprising an integrally formed opening member (2) arranged to be operated by a user and designed for opening said outlet face (10c) of the capsule (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Ines Magniet, Sophie Abraham, Stephane Hentzel, Heinz Wyss, Nicole Langenegger, Catia Filipa Monteiro Pimenta de Sousa, Marie Georgina Feuvrier-Roy, Alain Meier
  • Patent number: 9694414
    Abstract: The invention relates to a deep-drawing packaging machine with a lifting gear for a forming station, sealing station or cutting station, wherein the lifting gear provides guides and lifting spindles which are arranged outside a collision region of a movable tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Elmar Ehrmann, Klaus Weiss
  • Patent number: 9694923
    Abstract: A closer for containers, in particular bottles, with a closing head acting in a clean room and with an electric motor comprising at least one rotor and at least one stator, with the closing head connected with the rotor, and an element for clean room separation is formed between the rotor and the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Markus Schoenfelder, Stefan Poeschl
  • Patent number: 9687996
    Abstract: A staple-refill 11 is provided with: a casing 12 in which a plurality of sheet-type connected staples 10 are stacked and accommodated; and a notch portion 18 which is formed on one side surface 12a of the casing 12. The notch portion 18 has a shape to enable a push lever 66 of a stapling machine 1 to pass in a detaching operation of the casing 12 from a main-body of the stapling machine 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: MAX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinpei Sugihara, Futoshi Kameda
  • Patent number: 9688428
    Abstract: A stretch wrapping machine structure contains: a rotary disc including a column on which a guide way is arranged; an abutting plate including a rotating stem and a pushing portion adjacent to the rotating stem; a hot pressing sheet including a cutter seat, a driven bar, and a press segment; a holder including a V-shaped cross section and formed in a plate shape, the holder also including an actuation member, an actuating post, an operating segment, and a third cylinder; a biasing rod including a driving peg and a push segment; a controlling unit secured on a predetermined position of one side of the column; an air blowing unit located at a predetermined position of the holder. Thereby, an object is held on the rotary disc and is packed by a plastic film quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Jun-Kui Liu
  • Patent number: 9682852
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a tube (54) of pocket material (22) for manufacturing a pocket spring string includes a cartridge (30) for guiding the pocket material (22). The cartridge (30) has at least one first element (61) and at least one second element (62). A relative position between the at least one first element (61) and the at least one second element (62) may be set in a direction (60) perpendicular to an axis (50) of the cartridge (30), in order to adjust a spacing between sides of the cartridge (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Spuhl AG
    Inventor: Hans Knöpfel
  • Patent number: 9681871
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device is disclosed including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly. The anvil assembly is translatable relative to the cartridge assembly between a spaced position, where the anvil assembly is spaced from the cartridge assembly, and an approximated position, where the anvil assembly is in close cooperative alignment with the cartridge assembly for clamping tissue disposed therebetween. A lockout sleeve is slidably supported on the cartridge assembly and translatable relative to the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly between a first position and a second position. The lockout sleeve is configured to engage the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly when the lockout sleeve is in the second position to inhibit translation of the anvil assembly relative to the cartridge assembly from the spaced position to the approximated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 9675359
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, a head portion and a preload assembly is disclosed. The head portion is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated body portion and includes an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. The preload assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the shell assembly and enables longitudinal movement of the shell assembly with respect to the elongated body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 9676586
    Abstract: A method of converting a supply of sheet stock into a relatively less dense dunnage product, including the following steps of (i) providing a stack of fan-folded sheet material having fold lines parallel to a width dimension; and (ii) drawing sheet stock material from the stack in a direction parallel to the width dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Richard L. Gwynne, Steven M. Toneff
  • Patent number: 9669596
    Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Robert C. Cheich, David V. Murphy, Steven M. Toneff, Maurice Jozef Paulus Anthonius Savelberg, Raymond Paulus Hubertus Nollé, Pedro Erik Willem Winkens
  • Patent number: 9669535
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a motor housing structured to receive at least a portion of an electric motor, a tool housing including a first half and a second half, wherein the tool housing defines an end taper, a tool attachment in mechanical communication with the electric motor, and a retention member including an inner taper structured to interface with the end taper of the tool housing to resist relative motion between the tool housing and the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Jefferey Clifford Yaschur, Sean Christian Ely
  • Patent number: 9668729
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus (stapler) is provided. The stapler includes a housing, elongated member, and a reload. A cartridge is configured to selectively couple to a first jaw member of the reload and includes one or more resilient members thereon. An anvil operably supported on a second jaw member of the reload is configured to compress one or more fasteners ejected from the cartridge. The anvil includes one or more locking members thereon. A knife is configured to translate through the cartridge and anvil when the first and second jaw members are in a closed configuration. Engagement between the knife and the resilient member(s) causes the resilient member(s) to move from an initial configuration that allows the knife to travel distally past the locking member(s) to a final configuration that allows the locking member(s) to engage the knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Christopher Penna, Lee Ann Olson, Stanislaw Marczyk, Kenneth M. Cappola, Thomas R. Hessler, Ernest Aranyi, Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 9668728
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus (stapler) is provided. The stapler includes a housing, elongated member, and a reload. A cartridge is configured to selectively couple to a first jaw member of the reload and includes one or more resilient members thereon. An anvil operably supported on a second jaw member of the reload is configured to compress one or more fasteners ejected from the cartridge. The anvil includes one or more locking members thereon. A knife is configured to translate through the cartridge and anvil when the first and second jaw members are in a closed configuration. Engagement between the knife and the resilient member(s) causes the resilient member(s) to move from an initial configuration that allows the knife to travel distally past the locking member(s) to a final configuration that allows the locking member(s) to engage the knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Christopher Penna, Lee Ann Olson, Stanislaw Marczyk, Kenneth M. Cappola, Thomas R. Hessler, Ernest Aranyi, Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 9662851
    Abstract: A method for the production of a packing case from a one-piece blank, comprising a band of at least four main panels connected together by parallel fold lines, and furnished with two series of flaps situated on either side, for respectively forming at least partly the bottom and the top of the case. The band comprises a precut transverse line over the main panels to divide the blank into a first and a second half-blank. The half-blanks are separated, the first is placed in a transfer channel, the second is held in a plane higher than that of the transfer channel, the first is transferred to a mandrel while applying adhesive, and the first is wrapped around the mandrel. The transfer channel allows the second to be lowered to the channel, transferred to the mandrel, and wrapped around the first half-blank before folding the flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: OTOR, S.A.
    Inventors: Gerard Mathieu, Thierry Colas, Sebastien Jacomelli
  • Patent number: 9662777
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one aspect, a pneumatic fastener driver including a cylinder and a piston positioned within the cylinder. The piston is moveable between a top-dead-center position and a bottom-dead-center position. The driver also includes a magnetic latch emitting a magnetic field that magnetically attracts the piston and is capable of holding the piston in the top-dead-center position with a magnetic force. The magnetic latch is adjustable to vary the magnetic force acting on the piston for driving fasteners into a workpiece at different depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC POWER TOOLS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Edward A. Pomeroy, John Schnell
  • Patent number: 9662115
    Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed, and includes a surgical fastening apparatus and an access device. The access device defines an internal lumen configured to receive the surgical fastening apparatus. The access device also includes a proximal portion and a distal portion being more flexible than the proximal portion. The access device is reconfigurable between a first condition and a different, second condition in which the distal portion of the access device is configured to fold radially inwardly and proximally upon movement of the surgical fastening apparatus therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Scott Prior
  • Patent number: 9650167
    Abstract: A sealing device is provided which is capable of a two-step holding operation with the use of a linear solenoid. The sealing device includes a stopping mechanism for stopping a movement of a movable part that forms the linear solenoid when the linear solenoid is driven at a predetermined midway point between a start point and an end point after the nozzle part has been moved from the waiting position to the stop position, and for releasing the movable part from a stop to allow the movable part to move again and reach the end point after the nozzle part has been returned from the stop position to the waiting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Fuji Impulse Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazukuni Yamada, Kazuyoshi Tarumoto, Yasuo Hashimoto, Junichi Kawaguchi, Suguru Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9649756
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nail gun outrigger for stabilizing the roll, pitch, and yaw of a nail gun. The outrigger is connected to the distal end of the magazine away from the driving head. For the preferred embodiment, the outrigger includes one or more outriggers that extend perpendicular to the axis of the magazine with feet contacting the nailing surface to control the pitch, roll, and yaw of the nail gun position to obtain consistent perpendicular installation of elastomer sealing pneumatic nails into preformed roofing panels installed on a wooden frame or substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: William C. Litzinger
  • Patent number: 9643309
    Abstract: A portable machine tool switching unit includes a turning knob unit, which has a coupling unit that can be rotatably driven for coupling to at least one switching element, and further includes at least one energy storage element provided for storing switching energy in the case of a preselection. The energy storage element is integrated in the turning knob unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Pascal Schnell, Pasquale Oliverio, David Muff
  • Patent number: 9637255
    Abstract: A load wrapping and transporting vehicle includes a vehicle frame, and a load support is connected to the vehicle frame for supporting a palletized load. An endless track is connected to the vehicle frame and extends about the load support. A spindle supports a roll of wrapping film and is guided by the endless track about the load support to wrap the palletized load with wrapping film dispensed by the roll of wrapping film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: THE RAYMOND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael G. Field, Steve Medwin, John Bryant Kirk