Abstract: A device for treating containers, for example, for filling and closing containers in filling plants is described. The device includes an isolator chamber in which the treatment of the containers takes place, and an outlet disposed beneath the isolator chamber for discharging fluids, wherein the outlet has a housing for receiving ejected containers and a suction device for extracting gases from the isolator chamber.

Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The rotary lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is rotatably coupled to the drive pin and includes a non-cylindrical outer peripheral surface defining a plurality of engagement sections. A tooth of the driver blade is configured to engage one of the engagement sections when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a tissue thickness compensator is disclosed. The tissue thickness compensator comprises an external layer and tubular elements. The tubular elements are interconnected and positioned within the external layer. The tubular elements comprise apertures defined therein and the tubular elements are configured to collapse as pressure is applied to the tissue thickness compensator by tissue during the firing motion. The apertures enable fluids from the tissue to permeate the tissue thickness compensator.

Abstract: A powered fastener driver includes a driver blade movable from a top-dead-center position to a bottom-dead-center position for driving a fastener into a workpiece, a drive unit for providing torque to move the driver blade toward the top-dead-center position, and a rotary lifter engageable with the driver blade. The lifter having a body and a drive pin coupled to the body. A roller is positioned on the drive pin and engages with a tooth of the driver blade when moving the driver blade from the bottom-dead-center position toward the top-dead-center position. The roller includes a first engagement section that receives an end portion of the tooth and a second engagement section. An engagement member engages the second engagement section for aligning the first engagement section of the roller with the end portion of the tooth to facilitate meshing between the end portion of the tooth and the roller.

Abstract: A cartridge of a surgical instrument includes a housing, a drive member, and a knife member. The knife member is driven distally by the drive member and is configured to cut when moved distally. During an initial distal movement of the drive member, the knife member is coupled with the housing to restrain the knife member from moving distally. Subsequent to the initial distal movement of the drive member, the drive member drives the knife member toward the distal end.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring an attachment, such as a breaker head, for a mining machine. The system includes a breaker head, a wireless identification tag, a sensor, and an electronic processor. The wireless identification tag is coupled to the breaker head and includes a tag memory storing an identifier of the breaker head and an antenna. The sensor is configured to generate measurement data associated with the breaker head. The electronic processor is configured to receive measurement data from the sensor, generate a notification based on the measurement data, and transmit the notification to the wireless identification tag. Additionally, the wireless identification tag is configured to store the notification. The notification can then be later retrieved from the wireless identification tag by various devices, such as a further mining machine or a reader device of maintenance personnel.

Abstract: The film sealing and wrapping machine with a rotary cut and seal jaw is provided. The rotary cut and seal jaw has an internal sliding mechanism which provides for smooth and quiet operation. The rotational speed of the jaw may be varied to increase through put and to provide for a title bag around products. The rotary cut and seal jaw may comprise a seal bar and pressure pad may both be spring loaded to self align the seal bar and pressure pad during the sealing and cutting process. Lastly, a gap defined by a belt disposed upstream and downstream of the seal bar and pressure pad may be mechanically linked to the pressure pad through a control carriage.

Abstract: A compressed air nailer comprises a control line configured to trigger a driving process when a valve pin is displaced relative to a valve sleeve into an actuated position. The valve sleeve is configured to move between a triggering position and a locked position. A switching surface is coupled to at least one of a trigger and a placing sensor and configured to actuate the valve pin. An outer sleeve is configured to guide the valve sleeve. The switching surface is positioned at a switching surface position relative to the outer sleeve when both the trigger and the placing sensor are actuated. The switching surface is configured to displace the valve pin into the actuated position when the valve sleeve is positioned in the triggering position. The switching surface does not displace the valve pin into the actuated position when the valve sleeve is positioned in the locked position.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for connecting a surgical reload to an electromechanical handle assembly, includes a trocar assembly release mechanism configured to releasably secure the trocar assembly within an outer tube. The release mechanism includes a release button supported in the outer tube and movable between an extended condition and a depressed condition; a spring clip slidably supported in the outer tube and connected to the release button; and a pair of lock cam pins supported within the outer tube, wherein each lock cam pin is secured to a respective leg of the spring clip, and wherein each lock cam pin is selectively receivable within a respective opening of the pair of openings formed in the trocar housing. The spring clip includes a backspan connected to the release button; and a pair of legs extending from the backspan.

Abstract: A surgical tool for use with a robotic system that includes a tool drive assembly that is operatively coupled to a control unit of the robotic system that is operable by inputs from an operator and is configured to robotically-generate output motions. A drive system is configured to interface with a corresponding portion of the tool drive assembly for receiving the robotically-generated output motions and applying the output motions to a drive shaft assembly which is configured to apply control motions to a surgical end effector operably coupled thereto. A manually-actuatable control system operably interfaces with the drive shaft assembly to facilitate the selective application of manually-generated control motions to the drive shaft assembly.

Abstract: An instrument drive connector includes a housing assembly, an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing assembly, and a first drive assembly at least partially disposed within the housing assembly and the elongated shaft. The first drive assembly includes a first drive screw, a first input drive coupler non-rotatably coupled to a proximal end of the first drive screw, a first drive nut threadedly engaged with a threaded body portion of the first drive screw and longitudinally movable relative thereto in response to rotation of the first drive screw, and a locking link. The locking link includes an elongated body having a proximal end portion coupled to the first drive nut and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a proximal non-locking position and a distal locking position, and a distal end portion including a switch actuation assembly including a switch actuating arm biased towards the distal locking position.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism for use in a rotary power tool having a motor comprises an input member to which torque from the motor is transferred and an output member movable between a first position in which the output member is engaged with the input member for co-rotation therewith, and a second position in which the output member is disengaged from the input member. The clutch mechanism further comprises a biasing member biasing the output member into the first position and an electromagnet which, when energized, moves the output member from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A tool is provided for applying fasteners to a workpiece. The tool as a magazine that carries multiple fasteners and is carried by a housing. A driver blade is provided to drive a lead fastener into a workpiece. The driver blade has a driving edge with a profile that includes driving projections, having curved contact surface for contact with curved edges of the fastener, and a relief portion therebetween that is recessed relative to both projections and contact surfaces. Further, the tool includes a lockout assembly for limiting movement of the driver blade and contact trip, thereby limiting activation of the motor. The pusher may include a pusher lockout surface that is designed for movement in an opposite direction to a feed direction by the contact trip as well as configured to slide over a locking art of the contact trip when the fasteners are empty or nearly empty.

Abstract: A converting machine is used to convert sheet material into packaging templates for assembly into boxes or other packaging. The converting machine includes a converting assembly that performs a transverse conversion function, a longitudinal conversion function, and an angled conversion function on the sheet material to create the packaging templates. The converting machine includes a tool head with a converting instrument. The orientation of the converting instrument is adjustable to enable performance of the angled conversion function and at least one of the longitudinal conversion function and the transverse conversion function.

Abstract: A machine that forms groups of containers by wrapping containers in a film blank includes an adhesive applicator that is arranged along a film-transporter for applying adhesive onto an inner side of the film blank and along longitudinal side edges of the film blank before the containers are wrapped. The placement of the adhesive avoids distortion of images or text that are printed on the film blank due to shrinkage.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a method for filling multiple containers with a pharmaceutical product is disclosed, which comprises decontaminating sealed nested materials in a transfer chamber, removing from the sealed nested materials one or both of a container nest holding the multiple containers and a closure nest holding multiple closures, transferring from the transfer chamber to a controlled environment enclosure the removed nest, aseptically filling the containers with the pharmaceutical product, and closing the containers with the multiple closures. The nests are configured to allow multiple closures and containers to be simultaneously aligned concentrically, and closed simultaneously. Spring-loaded retaining structures on the closure nest allow it to releasably retain multiple closures above the corresponding multiple containers. In some embodiments the spring-loaded features are monolithically integrated with the closure nest.

Abstract: A compressed air nailer comprises a control line configured to trigger a driving process when a valve pin is displaced relative to a valve sleeve into an actuated position. The valve sleeve is configured to move between a triggering position and a locked position. A switching surface is coupled to at least one of a trigger and a placing sensor and configured to actuate the valve pin. An outer sleeve is configured to guide the valve sleeve. The switching surface is positioned at a switching surface position relative to the outer sleeve when both the trigger and the placing sensor are actuated. The switching surface is configured to displace the valve pin into the actuated position when the valve sleeve is positioned in the triggering position. The switching surface does not displace the valve pin into the actuated position when the valve sleeve is positioned in the locked position.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a layer of material can comprise a body, a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion can be releasably secured to a staple cartridge of a surgical end effector, and the distal end portion can be releasably secured to an anvil of the surgical end effector. The layer of material can comprise a tissue thickness compensator.

Abstract: A robotic case packer is provided. The packer includes a case conveying apparatus, a case set up station, a case loading station, downstream of the case set up station, and a loaded case closure station, downstream of the case loading station, the case conveying apparatus receiving and conveying a case blank for case set up, case loading and loaded case closure operations, a process flow path as to case operations delimited by the case conveying apparatus. The case set up station, characterized by a case set up robot operable in a process flow path direction, secures a case blank from a source of case blanks and transfers the blank to the case conveying apparatus. The case loading station, characterized by a case loading robot operable across the process flow path direction, transfers an article group for case loading into a set up case conveyed by the case conveying apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a discharge apparatus for discharging an assembly of interconnected guiding elements, having a support having at least one support section configured to support the assembly of interconnected guiding elements and the flexible pouch containers carried therein; a gripping unit configured to grip a first guiding element of the guiding element assembly and displace the first guiding element together with one or more interconnected further guiding elements of the guiding element assembly in a transport direction substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the first guiding element; and a disconnection unit configured to disconnect at least the gripped and displaced first guiding element from a neighboring second guiding element, the disconnection unit having a movable wedge and a wedge drive unit configured to move the wedge between the first and second guiding elements, thereby disconnecting the first guiding element from the second guiding element.