Patents Examined by Jacob A Smith
  • Patent number: 12220386
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) including a base portion (810) and a counting tray (830) provided on the base portion (810). The counting tray (830) is tilted about a first axis to empty medications into a first package and tiled above a second axis to empty medications into a second package. The pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) also includes a camera system (950) to capture images of the counting tray (830), the packages, and a label on the packages. The pharmaceutical counting device (160, 800) verifies whether a correct number and type of medications are received on the counting tray (830).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: RXSAFE LLC
    Inventor: William K. Holmes
  • Patent number: 12214457
    Abstract: A fastening tool includes: a cylindrical rotation guide member extending in one direction and rotatably supported; a holding member having an opening in which a driver bit is detachably inserted, and configured to move in an axis direction along the extension direction of the rotation guide member inside the rotation guide member and to rotate together with the rotation guide member; and a moving member configured to move the holding member in a front and rear direction along the rotation guide member; a rotation member; and a transmission member connected to the moving member and having flexibility to be wound along an outer periphery of the rotation member. The rotation member is rotated by the motor, so that the moving member is moved with the transmission member in one direction in which a screw engaged with the driver bit is pressed against a fastening target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Yamashita, Yusuke Osawa, Kazuya Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 12214477
    Abstract: A fastening tool having a dry fire lockout assembly connected to and operatively engaged with a magazine assembly that prevents the tool from driving a fastener with there is less than a predetermined number of fasteners in the magazine assembly and an indicator that notifies the user that there is less than a predetermined number of fasteners in the magazine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventor: Luke Moloznik
  • Patent number: 12214923
    Abstract: A food processing machine includes a plurality of tool parts which are exchangeable and which each comprise at least one electronic data storage in which a tool identification is stored for identifying the respective tool parts, and a controlling system for reading the tool identifications. The controlling system is configured to determine, based on the tool identification read by it from the at least one data storage of an exchangeable tool part installed at the food processing machine, processes basically implementable with this tool part which are possible for an operation of the tool part, and to determine an intersection of detailed processes by a comparison of these processes with processes basically performable by the food processing machine based on machine equipment employed for the tool part and firmly installed in the food processing machine, by which the tool part can be controlled by the machine equipment provided for it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmueller Se & Co. KG
    Inventors: Florian Felch, Felix Mayer, Markus Heineke
  • Patent number: 12208563
    Abstract: A deep-drawing arrangement is for deep-drawing a continuously supplied film strip. The deep-drawing arrangement includes a transporter which revolves continuously around a fixed machine frame and which has plate elements and mold cavities and a cyclically timed deep-drawing apparatus, wherein the mold cavities can be acted on with a pressure reduction. The plate elements are permanently connected to each other via connection lines. A plate element is in the form of a connection element having at least one pressure reduction connection. The pressure reduction connection is connected to a pressure reduction source. The plate elements are permanently acted on with the pressure reduction during operation via the connection lines and the pressure reduction connection. Each plate element has at least one switching valve for connecting the pressure reduction which is permanently applied in the plate element to the associated mold cavities as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Harro Hoefliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Thaler, Daniel Birkhold
  • Patent number: 12208501
    Abstract: A rotary power tool includes a housing having a motor housing portion and a handle portion extending therefrom. An electric motor is positioned within the motor housing portion. The rotary power tool further includes a trigger switch configured to activate and deactivate the motor. The rotary power tool further includes a non-contact speed selector switch that is separate from the trigger switch and configured to adjust a rotational speed of the motor. The non-contact speed selector switch is positioned in a foot of the handle portion opposite the motor housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maxwell L. Merget, Jingyuan Liang, Michael R. Sande, Michael Halverson, Ian Duncan, Nicholas C. Mantych, Alex Huber
  • Patent number: 12207677
    Abstract: A device for rolling a sheet includes a main casing which extends between a front face and a rear face and includes a cap which includes a first receiving slot, a sliding element translationally movably mounted in the main casing, from the front face of the casing and including a shell including a second receiving slot, a rotary element rotatably movably mounted and including a shaft housed inside the main casing, from the rear face of the casing, the shaft including an open third receiving slot, and a stop surface. In the closed position of the rolling device, the first and second slots are aligned along the same vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: REPUBLIC TECHNOLOGIES (NORTH AMERICA) LLC
    Inventor: Santiago Sanchez Vila
  • Patent number: 12195220
    Abstract: To provide a drug discharge device capable of reducing complexity when distributing a drug into a manual distribution device. A drug discharge device includes a manual distribution member 15 that includes a plurality of recessed portions 20 in which a solid drug is distributed, discharge means that discharges the drug distributed in the recessed portions 20 to a downstream side directly or via another member, and a control device that controls the discharge means, in which the discharge means is capable of individually discharging a drug corresponding to a predetermined recessed portion 20, the control device assigns the same drug to the recessed portions 20 in adjacent regions based on prescription information including information on a drug to be provided to a plurality of patients or one patient, and the discharge means discharges the drugs in a predetermined order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Koike
  • Patent number: 12194706
    Abstract: A presser assembly is provided for supporting a carton blank. The presser assembly includes a housing having a cavity formed therein. A presser plunger is telescopically received in the housing. The presser plunger is slidable between a first retracted position wherein the presser plunger is at least substantially received with the cavity in the housing and an extended position wherein the presser plunger projects from the open end of the housing. A magnetic biasing structure urges the presser plunger toward the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Blanking Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell A. Kempka, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12187503
    Abstract: A container for holding a food product. The container can comprise a base layer and a liner at least partially attached to an inner surface of the base layer, a flange comprising a central panel of the base layer, an opening extending in the central panel, and a sidewall comprising at least a panel foldably connected to the central panel along the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Tye, Elliot Hithersay
  • Patent number: 12186872
    Abstract: A rotary-to-linear lifter for fastener driving tools is provided that has independently movable lifter pins that lift a driver with driver protrusions during a lift stroke. The lifter includes a central lifter shaft that rotates during a lift stroke, a solenoid that actuates, a plurality of lifter pins, and a lifter base. When the solenoid actuates, the lifter pins protrude from the top of the lifter base, and when not actuated, the lifter pins retract inside the lifter base. Each lifter pin has a set of forward and rearward springs that allow for longitudinal pin movements along the lifter's axis of rotation. If there is interference during a lift stroke, individual lifter pin(s) become blocked, and mostly remain inside the lifter base, until the lifter rotates the affected pin away from the interference. Then that lifter pin will again protrude from the lifter base, ready to engage the driver protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventor: Thomas A. McCardle
  • Patent number: 12179329
    Abstract: In a method for identifying a deflection or a breakdown of a machine tool, in particular a hand-held machine tool, with an oscillating output movement, in particular a linearly oscillating output movement, at least one physical characteristic of the machine tool, in particular of a motor, a powertrain component, and/or a machining tool of the machine tool, is detected continuously or periodically by means of a detection unit. The method further includes detecting a deflection or a breakdown of the machine tool with an analysis unit on the basis of at least two values, which are identified at different times, of the characteristic of the machine tool, wherein each of the at least two values of the characteristic are associated with at least one respective substantially identical value of a discrete position characteristic of the oscillating output movement, in particular the linearly oscillating output movement, of the machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ruggero Indino, Daniel Dennis, Alejandro Rostro Quijano, Simon Riggenmann
  • Patent number: 12172405
    Abstract: A method of forming a tray includes obtaining a blank, positioning the blank in a blank feeder assembly of a system for forming a tray, moving the blank from the blank feeder assembly to a nipping assembly, and moving the blank to a tray forming assembly, the tray forming assembly including a tray forming apparatus. The method further includes positioning the blank between a first tray forming portion of the tray forming apparatus and a second tray forming portion of the tray forming apparatus, the first tray forming portion includes a forming block that defines an interior, and the second tray forming portion includes a tray forming member, and driving the forming block into engagement with the blank and the tray forming member such that the blank and the tray forming member are at least partially received in the interior of the forming block to form a tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph C. Walsh, Robert L. Conatser, Mark Woodward
  • Patent number: 12172788
    Abstract: A packer machine for producing pouches containing portions of a loose product having: a frame; a conveyor device configured to move two bands of wrapping material along two parallel packing paths; a wrapping station arranged along each packing path at which the corresponding band is wrapped to form a tubular wrap; a longitudinal sealing unit with at least two sealing elements; a feeding device with two feeding ducts around each of which a band is bent to form the corresponding tubular wrap, each being configured to feed, one after the other, the loose product into the corresponding tubular wrap; two movable assemblies, each being mounted on the frame to move along a pressing direction independently of the other movable assembly and supports one single corresponding sealing element; and two actuator devices, each of which applies an elastic force to a corresponding movable assembly independently of the other actuator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: SASIB S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Ghiotti, Sandro Baletti, Alan Belgiovine
  • Patent number: 12172272
    Abstract: A control system for a power tool is disclosed. The control system comprises: a sensing unit configured to sense an operating characteristic of the power tool; a first control unit configured to determine whether the operating characteristic is within a safe operational range, and to output a first control signal at least partially based on the determination; a second control unit configured to determine whether the operating characteristic is within a safe operational range independently of the first control unit, and to output a second control signal at least partially based on the determination; and an output unit configured to receive the first and second control signals and to activate the power tool when the first and second control signals are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Techtronic Cordless GP
    Inventors: Yong Min Li, Li Hua Xie, Zhong Kang Fang, Ji Guang Sun
  • Patent number: 12162666
    Abstract: The present invention relates in particular to a closure (3) for the fluid-tight closing of a vessel (2) filled with a substance (5), wherein the closure (3) is provided with a fluid-tight pressure-transmission element (9) and wherein the closure (3) is provided with a base body (8) to which the pressure-transmission element (9) can be attached in a fluid-tight manner, wherein the pressure-transmission element (9) is deflectable by pressurisation without incurring damage, for biological inactivation of microorganisms present in the substance (5), wherein the closure is configured in such a way that the pressure-transmission element (9), when the vessel (2) is closed with the closure (3), is held (clamped between the vessel (2) and the base body). The invention also relates to a corresponding container (1) and a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Inventors: Benedikt Schellinger, Simon Storz
  • Patent number: 12151505
    Abstract: An envelope processing apparatus inserts an enclosure into an envelope and includes a first conveyor, a first ejector, a second conveyor, a second ejector, and circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the enclosure to an enclosing position. The envelope in which the enclosure is enclosed is ejected to the first ejector. The second conveyor conveys the envelope to the enclosing position via an envelope conveyance passage extended in a substantially vertical and up-and-down direction and conveys the envelope in which the enclosure is inserted to the first ejector. The second ejector is separate from the first ejector. The enclosure is ejected to the second ejector. The circuitry controls a conveyance operation of the first conveyor and the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Matsuda, Michitaka Suzuki, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Atsushi Shinoda, Shingo Yoshizawa, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga
  • Patent number: 12151350
    Abstract: An elastic member is disposed between an internal gear of a gear train and a gear housing. A force is applied to the gear train when a lift mechanism is activated. The force is received and absorbed by the elastic member, thereby reducing the amount of force received by the gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Nagao, Norikazu Baba, Shun Kuriki, Kazusa Fukuda
  • Patent number: 12137906
    Abstract: A surgical system comprising an end effector, a clamp driver, a motor, and a control circuit is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw toward a closed configuration. The clamp driver is movable toward a closure end position. The motor is operably coupled to the clamp driver. The control circuit comprises a processor and a memory, and the control circuit is to: advance, by the motor, the clamp driver to the closure end position; determine a distance between the first jaw and the second jaw in the closed configuration, wherein the closure end position corresponds to the closed configuration; receive a signal indicative of at least one of a staple cartridge identity, type, or characteristic from a corresponding staple cartridge; and detect that the distance is acceptable for staple firing by the end effector based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Daniel J. Mumaw, Jason L. Harris, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 12134177
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a motor, a ball sleeve, an oscillating member with a mounting portion, and an output shaft rotating around an output shaft axis. The oscillating member and the ball sleeve are engaged in an engagement region on the oscillating member, and the geometric center of the engagement region is an engagement center. A first plane bisects the first bearing assembly along a direction of the output shaft axis, and a second plane bisects the second bearing assembly along the direction of the output shaft axis. The height from the engagement center to the first plane is a first height H1, the height from the engagement center to the second plane is a second height H2, and the ratio H1/H2 of the first height H1 to the second height H2 is greater than or equal to 0.5 and less than or equal to 1.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nanjing Chervon Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang Li, Rui Zhan, Zhongquan Xu, Rong Wang, Yi Zhang