Patents Examined by John Sipos
  • Patent number: 7404280
    Abstract: Bagging machines may include a packing density measurement system. The packing density measurement system includes an anchor assembly and a force measurement assembly. The anchor assembly includes at least one drag member adapted to be operatively coupled to the bagging machine and to extend rearwardly beneath at least a portion of a bag to resist forward movement of the bagging machine. The force measurement assembly is operatively coupled to the anchor assembly and is adapted to measure the anchoring force applied to the bagging machine. The anchor assembly may be adjustable, either manually or automatically, to allow control over the anchoring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: SRC Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Cullen
  • Patent number: 7401446
    Abstract: An improved high-throughput system for screw-capping a continuous supply of bottles with a continuous supply of screw-caps. The system generally comprises a conveyor having opposed parallel gripper belts for ushering bottles single-file along a continuous supply and transporting them to a capping station for screw-capping (the spacing of said gripper belts being adjustable to accommodate bottles of various sizes), an adjustable-incline cap feeding chute for delivery of caps to the capping station, a capping head for receiving bottles and caps from said conveyor and feeding chute, respectively, and for applying the caps onto the bottles with programmable torque. The capping head is fully adjustable and comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling operation of the entire capping system. Indexed readouts for calibration are provided at all primary adjustment points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: National Instrument, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Perazzo, Peter T. Vandegeijn
  • Patent number: 7392633
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for supplying and processing packages arranged on carrier elements, especially drinks packages, using a continuous conveyor belt on which the carrier elements are arranged. The aim of the invention is to be able to further process carrier elements which are continuously supplied by means of a conveyor belt in a processing station in a reliable manner with few technical resources. To this end, two advancing rollers are provided to the right and to the left of the conveyor belt, the rotational axes thereof being perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor belt; two rotating clock belts are provided in the running direction of the conveyor belt, behind the advancing rollers; said clock belts rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of the conveyor belt, and respectively comprise a strand facing the other clock belt; and the strands facing each other run parallel to each other, at a distance corresponding to the width of the carrier elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: SIG Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Heil, Thomas Vetten
  • Patent number: 7392639
    Abstract: A method for forming a top seal on a carton being conveyed along a processing path on a form, fill and seal packaging machine using a top sealer including opposing sealing jaws is provided. The carton includes top fin panels configured for sealing to one another to form a top seal. The method includes actuating a first control valve to provide communication between a first pressurized fluid source and a first port of an actuator for moving the actuator toward a first position. The actuator is operatively connected to the sealing jaws to move the sealing jaws in a clamping direction while moving toward the first position. A second control valve is actuated to inhibit fluid escape from the actuator through a second port of the actuator to inhibit movement of the sealing jaws in the clamping direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Evergreen Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Cletus Emerich Kreher, George Allen Morden
  • Patent number: 7389628
    Abstract: A method for joining an initial section (3) of a film tube (2) which is wound up in a band-like manner on a reel (1) with an end section (4) of a second film tube (5) extending over subsequent processing stations, especially a packaging system, in an at least partly band-like manner, in which it is provided that at least one upwardly pivoting tab (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) each is formed by the placement of a cut in the initial and end sections (3, 4) of the two film tubes (2, 5) to be joined, with a tab (4a, 4b) of the end section (4) being placed on a tab (3a, 3b) of the initial section (3) and the superimposed tabs (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) are mutually joined in a tension-proof manner. The production of a tension-proof connection of the initial and end sections (3, 4) of the film tubes (2, 5) occurs here by welding, with welding methods on the basis of ultrasonic sound being preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Inventor: Karl Deininger
  • Patent number: 7389632
    Abstract: Small objects are loaded into blisters of a passing packaging film in a fill station of a packaging machine. An apparatus for distributing the objects to the blisters has a pair of generally parallel rods extending along respective axes and having inner and outer ends. Respective guides support the rods for movement parallel to their axes, and a bar extends transversely between the outer ends. An actuator mechanism periodically synchronously rotating the rods. Respective couplings between each of the outer ends and the bar transversely shifting the bar relative to the rods on rotation of the rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Seiffert, Harald Litke, Diana Zugenmaier, Roland Koch
  • Patent number: 7389626
    Abstract: An apparatus for making inflated articles from a film web having two juxtaposed film plies. One version of the apparatus generally includes a first rotary sealing device for producing transverse seals that bond the film plies together, an inflation assembly for directing gas between the film plies, and a second rotary sealing device for producing a longitudinal seal between the film plies. The longitudinal seal intersects the transverse seals so that the gas is enclosed between the longitudinal seal, transverse seals, and film plies to thereby form an inflated article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Laurence B. Sperry, Eric A. Kane, Brian A. Murch, Ross Patterson
  • Patent number: 7383672
    Abstract: A package assembly (10) that includes a strip (11) of flexible plastic material. Attached to the strip (11) at spaced positions longitudinally of the strip (11) are bags (12). The bags (12) are sealingly closed and include end sealed areas (13 and 14). Each bag (12) is attached to the strip (11) by a respective one of the end sealed areas (13). Each end sealed area (13) can be peeled from the strip (11) to enable removal of the bag (12). In an alternative embodiment, the bags (12) are arranged in sets (17). A machine (28) is adapted to form the package assembly (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: TNA Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Alfred Alexander Taylor, Luigi Di Palma
  • Patent number: 7373765
    Abstract: A shipping carton adapted to hold sheet products in packages is provided. The shipping carton includes a carton having an internal compartment configured to hold packages of sheet products. The carton has a first pull tab and a second pull tab. A tear strip is connected to the first pull tab and it extends about an inner surface of an inner perimeter of the carton to connect to the second pull tab. The tear strip is configured such that when a user pulls as least one of the first and second pull tabs, the carton is separated into two separate containers. A shipping assembly and a method of using a shipping carton are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra N. Welchel, Joseph Mitchell, Richard I. Wolkowicz, Ning Yang
  • Patent number: 7370455
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for sealing food containers using a sealing film. The apparatus includes a base, a container holder for holding a food container; a heater platen positioned within the base, and a pressure applicator positioned on a surface of the heater platen, the pressure applicator applies pressure to the heater platen causing the heater platen to move into engagement with the sealing film to thereby seal the sealing film to portions of the food container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Oliver Products Company
    Inventors: Kevin J. Dewey, Donald J. Van Weelde, James A. Van Doorne
  • Patent number: 7367170
    Abstract: (Liquid) flavoring agents and other substances are transferred to cigarettes immediately prior to or during the packaging operation of the cigarettes (12). An advantageous solution is that of the substances being transferred directly to free ends of the cigarettes (12) once cigarette groups (11) have been formed and during transportation of these groups. As an alternative, the substances can be transferred to the inside of an inner wrapper of the cigarette group in particular to a folding tab of a base wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Thomas Häfker, Axel Leifheit, Ralph Sgodzai
  • Patent number: 7356978
    Abstract: A method for producing a pack (1) for groups (2) of rolls of products comprises the following steps: forming of a tube of film (3) around a frame (5) forming a channel (6) for the passage of the product groups (2); creation of a first seal (S1) on the front edges (7) of the film (3); insertion in the channel (6) of product groups (2), fed until they are close to the closed front end (7) of the film (3); further feeding of the product groups (2) with simultaneous feeding of the film (3) and formation of the further portion of the pack (1) beyond the frame (5); creation of a second, longitudinal seal (S2) on the overlapping longitudinal edges of the film (3) simultaneously with the further feed step; creation of a third seal (S3) on the rear edges (11) of the film (3) designed to close the pack (1) at the rear of the product groups (2) bagged; between the step of insertion of product groups (2) in the channel (6) and the further feeding of the product groups (2), there being a step of feeding the film (3) wound
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Tissue Machinery Company S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Dall'Omo, Christian Zagnoni
  • Patent number: 7354447
    Abstract: A disposable loading unit. The disposable loading unit includes a housing assembly, a knife assembly connected to the housing assembly, and an agent cartridge connected to the housing assembly. The agent cartridge houses a medical agent. The disposable loading unit is configured to deliver the medical agent proximate a cutting surface of the knife assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Leslie M. Fugikawa
  • Patent number: 7347034
    Abstract: Sleeving equipment for egg packages includes a sleeve dispenser that cuts and dispenses a sleeve one by one, a sleeve control jig that controls a sleeve that is dispensed by the sleeve dispenser, a first egg package conveying device that conveys egg packages before the sleeve is positioned around the egg package, an egg package inserter that inserts the egg package into the sleeve, a second egg package conveying device that conveys the egg package and the sleeve placed around the egg package and a heat tunnel that heat shrinks the sleeve whereby the sleeve is fixed to the egg package. The sleeve dispenser cuts and dispenses the sleeve in vertical direction, and the sleeve control jig rotates the sleeve into horizontal direction before the egg package inserter insert the egg package into the sleeve. The egg package inserter inserts the egg package into the sleeve horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Dongheum Kwon
  • Patent number: 7347033
    Abstract: A method of packing pairs of wrapped groups of cigarettes in wallet packets with a hinged lid, whereby a blank—having a first portion defining a body, and a second portion defining a hinged lid of a relative wallet packet—is fed into a respective pocket—having a respective pair of adjacent seats—of a packing wheel to define, with the relative first portion, two adjacent receptacles separated from each other by a central rib; the two receptacles are fed through a loading station to successively receive respective wrapped groups of cigarettes having respective collars, and one receptacle is then turned over onto the other to define the body of the relative wallet packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: G.D Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Giordano Gamberini, Marco Ghini, Marco Brizzi
  • Patent number: 7343720
    Abstract: A capping device fits caps onto containers by applying an axial force to the caps as they are threaded onto the containers. The capping device utilizes a spindle rotatable about an operational axis for imparting rotation to a capper unit. A connector coupled to the capper unit is releasably coupled to the spindle by a quick release mechanism. The quick release mechanism is normally biased in the locked position and is configured to automatically move from the unlocked position back to the locked position when the connector mates with the spindle as a user re-connects the capping unit back to the spindle. Methods of releasing and re-connecting the capping unit to the spindle are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Adcor Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Brown
  • Patent number: 7337596
    Abstract: A capsule orienting and separation apparatus is provided which allows a multiplicity of gelatin capsule shells to be uniformly oriented in a separable condition and for the caps of those shells to be separated from the capsule bodies. The apparatus allows a multiplicity of capsule shells all to be concurrently oriented in an upright disposition by a manually operated mechanism. The capsule caps are all uniformly oriented atop the capsule bodies and are exposed for gripping by a capsule cap lift assembly. The capsule caps are concurrently lifted from the capsule bodies while the capsule bodies remain in position in a matrix of openings in a capsule receiving tray. The capsules can then be filled with capsule filler material and tamped down as appropriate. The capsule caps are then all concurrently replaced on the capsule bodies and the capsule caps and capsule bodies are then concurrently permanently sealed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventors: Dene Barrett, Earle Wilkins
  • Patent number: 7334378
    Abstract: A packaging machine and a weighing apparatus low in equipment cost, small in installation space, and allowing a reduction in time required from the manufacture of packaged bodies to the completion of weighing to increase productivity. The stick packaged bodies are weighed by a weighing load cell in the housing of the stick packaging machine. Accordingly, the stick packaged bodies must not be fed to a weighing stage apart from the packaging machine by a belt conveyor. Therefore, the equipment cost can be reduced, and the installation space for the stick packaged bodies including peripheral equipment can also be reduced. In addition, the productivity can be increased since the time required for the stick packaged bodies to pass a weighing requirement to be formed in products is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Plus One Techno & Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Noumi
  • Patent number: RE40284
    Abstract: A fill-through-the-top reclosable package includes first and second opposing body panels joined to each other along a pair of sides and a bottom bridging the pair of sides. The package is provided with a reclosable fastener extending along a package top disposed opposite the bottom. The fastener includes first and second opposing tracks. The first track includes a male profile, while the second track includes a female profile adapted to releasably interlock with the male profile. To provide tamper evidence, the first and second tracks may be joined to each other along an area of weakness. When making the package, the first track is first attached to the first panel, the package is filled with a product via a fill opening between the second track and the second panel, and then the second track is attached to the second panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Toby R. Thomas, Samuel D. Aversa, John D. Athans
  • Patent number: RE40453
    Abstract: In an automated prescription pill dispensing system, a multiplicity of pill dispensers are provided each operable to count out and dispense pills from supply hoppers. The dispensers are controlled by a computer which selects up to five of the dispensers to operate and control the selected pill dispensers to count out pills simultaneously. The pill dispensers dispense the pills into the first set of output hoppers, from which the pills can be released into a second output hopper under the control of the computer. The computer will release the pills from the second output hopper corresponding to a selected pill dispenser through a snout into a pill vial in response to sensing the presence of a pill vial at the snout. The computer controls a prescription label printer to print prescription labels for the pill vials. The computer also controls indicator lights to indicate which dispensing cell is selected and ready to have pills released from the second output hopper corresponding thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Lasher, Dennis W. Rice, Michael J. Szesko, Michael L. Mahar