Abstract: A surgical apparatus is disclosed. An actuation mechanism is operable from a proximal portion of the surgical apparatus and a tool assembly is pivotally positioned on a distal portion of the surgical apparatus. The tool assembly is movable between a first position in which the tool assembly is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the surgical apparatus, and a second position in which the tool assembly is pivoted away from the longitudinal axis of the surgical apparatus. An articulation mechanism is positionable to move the tool assembly between the first and second positions. A drive mechanism includes a first shaft operably engaged with a second shaft at an articulation joint. The drive mechanism is configured to transfer rotational motion from the first shaft to the second shaft.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a shaft, an end effector extending distally from the shaft, and a housing extending proximally from the shaft. The housing comprises a first shroud portion, a second shroud portion, a working assembly nested in the first shroud portion, wherein the working assembly is detachable from the first shroud portion, wherein the second shroud portion is removably couplable to the first shroud portion to permit the working assembly to be detached from the first shroud portion, and at least one securing member movable to secure the working assembly to the first shroud portion.

Abstract: A device and a method for manufacturing an item of packaging for a group (27) of smokable articles (11), in particular cigarettes, having a wrapping, preferably an inner wrapping, of, in particular, a thin packaging material, such as paper, tinfoil or the like, in which a material web (31) of the packaging material is severed into individual blanks (10) and in which the article groups (27) to be wrapped are in each case wrapped with the individual blanks (10). Flavoring and/or aromatic portions (42) for the smokable articles are applied to the packaging-material web (31), which flavoring and/or aromatic portions (42), after application, are at least in regions reduced in their height by a processing means, preferably in that they are spread flat and/or pressed flat by the processing means (47).

Abstract: A deep-drawing packaging machine includes a sealing device that clamps and seals a top film and a bottom film by an upper mold and a lower mold, clamping tabs that clamp both-side edges of at least one of the top film and the bottom film, and a carrying device that carries at least one of the top film and the bottom film clamped by the clamping tabs. The clamping tabs are configured such that a gap is generated between the clamping tabs and the top film and the bottom film, positioned in a range clamped by the upper mold and the lower mold, when the upper mold and the lower mold of the sealing device are closed.

Abstract: A surgical stapler is described herein which includes a shaft portion and a tool assembly supported on a distal end of the shaft portion. The too assembly includes an anvil and a cartridge body which rotatably supports a plurality of staples within notches. At least one firing cam is provided to sequentially to engage and rotate each of the staples to fire the staples from the cartridge body. In embodiments, the cartridge body includes two spaced legs which support two linear rows of staples. Each of the spaced legs of the cartridge body is supported within one of a first and a second cartridge channel. The cartridge channels are fixed to opposite sides of a pivot member which is pivotally supported at a distal end of the shaft portion between the shaft portion and the tool assembly such that translation of the first and second cartridge channels in opposite directions effects articulation of the tool assembly in relation to the shaft portion.

Abstract: A machine for applying support members to opposing sides of opposing edges of a sheet material includes a support tab applicator assembly that applies a first portion of a support tab along a longitudinal edge of a first side of the sheet material, a support tab finisher assembly that applies a second portion of the support tab disposed opposite the first portion to a second side of the sheet material disposed opposite the first side, and a hole punch assembly that cuts a hole through the sheet material. The machine also may include a strengthening film applicator assembly that applies a strengthening film along a longitudinal length of the first side of the sheet material and/or across the support tab.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for a closure is disclosed where the closure is for applying to an opening. The sealing assembly includes a substantially rigid cap portion for seating the sealing assembly in a roof portion of the closure and an insert portion attachable to the cap portion. The insert portion includes a flexible skirt portion extending from the insert portion and operable to contact an inner wall region of the opening on application of the closure to the opening. In one embodiment, the sealing assembly is for closures for sealing bottles of sparkling wine and the like.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The instrument comprises a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector, and an articulation mechanism. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle assembly. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion. The articulation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector for articulating the end effector. The articulation mechanism comprises a lever, a knob, a plate and a lower clutch. The plate is disposed at least partially within a portion of the knob. The lower clutch is disposed in mechanical engagement with the plate. The plate is disposed at least partially between the lower clutch and the knob. The lower clutch is keyed to the plate to limit rotation therebetween. The lower clutch is keyed to the knob to limit rotation therebetween.

Abstract: The specification discloses a wrapping film handling mechanism (4) for use with loaded pallet wrapping machinery (10) including a rotatable turntable (11) on which a loaded pallet is placed for wrapping, plastic wrapping film being dispensed onto the loaded pallet with a wrapping direction opposite to a rotation direction of the turntable (11), the film handling mechanism (4) having a pair of gripping jaws (24, 25) pivotally mounted to move between a first inactive and lowered position and a second elevated active position, each said gripping jaw (24, 25) having a gripping portion (84, 85) along one zone that engages wrapping film when the gripping jaws (24, 25) are in the second elevated active position, the handling mechanism including actuation means (114, 115, 31, 90, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97, 120) to move said gripping jaws (24, 25) selectably from said first lowered inactive position to said second elevated active position, said pair of gripping jaws (24, 25) being urged by spring means (42) towards one of sa

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is provided with an operation member and an motion member that rotates with a force of the operation member through the connection part and applies force to an acting member. A fulcrum of a rotating operation of the operation member moves depending on an operation of the operation member. A first length between the fulcrum and a part at which the operation member is applied with the force and a second length between the fulcrum and a part at which the force is applied from the operation member to the motion member are changed.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding rod-shaped articles includes a hopper having at least one mouth for dispensing the articles, subdivided by vertical walls parallel to each other forming vertical channels positioned side by side, each accommodating a stack of the articles At a position above an upper edge of each wall is positioned a cylindrical roller oscillating in both directions about its axis parallel to the axes of the articles for facilitating entry in the channels. The axis of each roller is offset laterally in a horizontal direction relative to the upper edge of the wall below and adjacent to it, and the upper edges of the walls relative to each channel are positioned at different levels such that the width of the passage defined between each pair of adjacent rollers lying above the walls of the channel is slightly greater than the diameter of the article.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for operating an electromechanical surgical system. The electromechanical surgical system includes a hand-held surgical instrument including an instrument housing defining a connecting portion for selectively connecting with a shaft assembly. The system also includes an end effector configured to perform at least one function. The shaft assembly is arranged for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the hand-held surgical instrument. The shaft assembly includes a drive member, a flag member configured to translate axially along the drive member, and a sensor disposed about the drive member. The sensor provides a signal indicating that the end effector has reached an end stop when the flag member contacts that sensor.

Abstract: A pin anchor driver for use with a rotary hammer includes a main shaft having a bore in which a drill bit of the rotary hammer is at least partially receivable, a driver head coupled to the main shaft, and a magnet positioned between the main shaft and the driver head.

Abstract: A method of operating a medical device comprises electrically connecting a power device to the medical device. The method further comprises sensing at least one characteristic of the medical device with the power device. The method further comprises adjusting or maintaining one or more characteristics of an electrical connection feature of the power device according to the at least one observed characteristic such that the electrical connection feature of the power device is operationally compatible with an electrical connection feature of the medical device. The method further comprises operating the power device according to an operational profile associated with the medical device.

Abstract: A method for shrinking selected spaced apart portions of film wrapped around a series of products of similar dimension being conveyed by a conveyor along a path in a selected direction is provide. The method involves the steps of: (a) indexing the conveyor and stopping the conveyor; (b) while the conveyor is stopped, causing heated fluid to flow from one or more nozzles so that a first heated fluid flow impinges upon selected portions of film in the vicinity of a product leading edge and a second heated fluid flow impinges upon selected portion of film in the vicinity of a product trailing edge; (b) repeating steps (a) and (b) multiple times so that, for multiple instances of the product, selected portions of film along both trailing and leading edges of each instance of the product are caused to shrink.

Abstract: A system that converts sheet material into packaging templates includes a converting assembly that performs conversion functions, such as cutting, creasing, and scoring, on the sheet material as the sheet material moves through the converting machine in a first direction. The converting assembly may be mounted on a frame such that the converting assembly is elevated above a support surface. One or more longhead converting tools performs conversion functions on the sheet material in a first direction and a crosshead converting tool performs conversion functions on the sheet material in a second direction in order to create packaging templates.

Abstract: A pneumatic tool includes a housing that contains an installation tunnel, an air supplying channel and first and second air inlets, a control valve installed in the installation tunnel for shifting among first, second and third positions; a controller that is mounted on the control valve and has two paddles; a pushing rod that passes through the controller and the control valve; and a trigger that is attached to the pushing rod. The pneumatic tool provides the controller for a user to selectively operate with his/her left hand or right hand to perform forward/reverse switching and speed adjustment.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for realizing cartons for packing includes feeding a cardboard band (2) for packing along an advancement direction (A) which is parallel to the development direction of the cardboard band (2) and making a first score line (II) and a second score line (12) on the cardboard band (2), so as: to identify a central sector; a first lateral sector (4), and a second lateral sector (5). The method further includes identifying regions of band (8) on the carton (2), making on each region of band (8) at least a first cut (21), a second cut (22), a third cut (23) and a fourth cut (24) oriented transversally so that a first closing wing (49), a first reinforcing wing (51) a second reinforcing wing (52), a second closing wing (50), a third reinforcing wing (53) and a fourth reinforcing wing (54) are defined. The band of carton (2) is cut transversally so as to separate the regions of band (8) from one another, thus obtaining cartons (I) for packing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for continuous fastener feeding for sequentially delivering single fasteners to a fastener installation device are disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first fastener reel for supporting a first fastener tape securing a plurality of fasteners and a second fastener reel for supporting a second fastener tape for securing a plurality of fasteners. A fastener tape joining device positioned downstream of the first and second fastener reels receives the respective first and the second fastener tapes and selectively engage the first and second fastener tapes when one of the fastener tapes becomes depleted of fasteners.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a shaftless end effector is disclosed. The end effector can comprise an anvil assembly including a staple forming surface. The end effector can also comprise a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge therein. The end effector can include a closure system configured to close the anvil. In various instances, the closure system can also form the staples contained within the staple cartridge. The end effector can also include a cutting member configured to cut tissue positioned intermediate the anvil and the staple cartridge. In various instances, the cutting member can be actuated by the closure system. In other instances, the end effector can include an independent system for actuating the cutting member. In various instances, the end effector can be delivered to a surgical site through a trocar and then operated by one or more actuators that are assembled to the end effector.