Patents Examined by Joshua G Kotis
  • Patent number: 11504835
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Joh. Friedrich Behrens AG
    Inventors: Martin Theberath, Florian Jung, Joachim Bauer
  • Patent number: 11504116
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Katherine J. Schmid, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Cortney E. Henderson, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Charles J. Scheib
  • Patent number: 11505341
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Douglas Machine Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Allan Danner, Jr., Christopher Todd Davis, Aaron M. Frederick, Richard W. Lukanen, Jr., David L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11498711
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Fuji Seal International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeroen Gerrit Anton Gebbink, Marinus Antonius Leonarda Van Heck, Stijn Antonius Petrus Verhoeven
  • Patent number: 11491597
    Abstract: A fastening device for a dust extraction device is configured to detachably connect the dust extraction device to a hand-held power tool. The fastening device includes a first connection unit and a second connection unit. The first connection unit is configured to connect the dust extraction device to the hand-held power tool by form closure. The second connection unit is configured to connect the dust extraction device to the hand-held power tool by force closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Wierzchon
  • Patent number: 11485533
    Abstract: A system and method that causes at least one item to be placed within a portion of an elastic film positioned across a top surface of a container, the portion including a center portion in which the at least one item is placed. Air may be extracted from the container to create a vacuum within the cavity and to expand the center portion to create a void in the center portion within the cavity. Air may flow into the container to release the vacuum and contract the center portion of the elastic film as the void is decreased and eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Stuart Hoffman, Eric K. Wyman, Paul Roy Raines
  • Patent number: 11478951
    Abstract: A rule to be inserted into a die-board that is pressed onto a plate matter, the rule including: a multi-edge cutting blade having a cutting blade edge, the cutting blade edge divided into multiple sections with multiple spacings between the multiple sections; and a plurality of connecting pieces configured to fit into the multiple spacings and to provide support for the multiple sections of the cutting blade edge when the rule is pressed onto the plate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Seoul Laser Dieboard System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyong Chan Lim
  • Patent number: 11465792
    Abstract: A device for packaging elongated items such as firewood pieces is described herein. The device includes: an elevated structure having an upper platform for receiving the elongated items from a separate conveyor; a diverter located on or above the platform for changing the direction of movement of the elongated items; and one or more elevator shafts having open bottoms. The elevator shafts are located adjacent to the platform and configured for receiving the elongated items after contact with the diverter and for holding the elongated items on support structures while a stack of elongated items is formed. The release of the stack of elongated items from the elevator shafts occurs via the open bottoms of the elevator shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: AND Y KNOT INNOVATION AND SALES INC.
    Inventor: Melvin Douglas Kapicki
  • Patent number: 11459137
    Abstract: A tray sealing machine is provided with a frame on which a sealing tool is arranged. The sealing tool comprises a lower tool in which a tray to be sealed can be received and an upper tool including a hood, a sealing component arranged in the interior of the hood, and a sealing component carrier on which the sealing component is arranged. The hood is movable relative to the sealing component and has a gas connection configured for connection to a corresponding gas connection of the tray sealing machine. The lower tool and the hood are configured to form a sealing chamber in a closed state of the sealing tool. The sealing tool further comprises a line connecting the gas connection to the sealing chamber in the closed state. The hood is movable relative to the frame and the sealing component carrier is unmovable relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Mader, Albert Gabler, Dominik Harlacher
  • Patent number: 11459872
    Abstract: A method for determining efficiency of a drilling process comprising the steps of: transferring energy via a tool member to the material in which drilling is to be performed by means of a drilling configuration; detecting waves which are propagating in said tool member of said drilling configuration during drilling as a result of energy provision; detecting said waves by means of at least two sensor means arranged on mutually opposite sides of said tool member adjacent to, on a certain distance from, said tool member, which sensor means are based on inductive and/or capacitive detection of said waves in said tool member; and based on results of said detection, determining said efficiency of said drilling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: EPIROC ROCK DRILLS AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Samuel Enblom, Erik Jakobsson, Mattias Göthberg
  • Patent number: 11453521
    Abstract: An apparatus for conforming a dunnage element about contents in a container includes an array of pushers having biased end portions that are movable relative to one another and having end faces for engaging the dunnage element. The end faces of the pushers are biased to an extended state and are movable against the bias in response to engagement of the end faces with the contents and with the dunnage element between the end faces and the contents. At least one of the pushers is movable against the bias separately from a remainder of the pushers to enable conformance of the array to the shape of the contents. The pushers are mounted to a carrier at respective mounts. A motive device is coupled to the carrier and is configured to collectively move the mounts vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Sia, Uwe Klärner, Rémi Parisse
  • Patent number: 11448591
    Abstract: An inspection device used in manufacture of a Press Through Package (PTP) sheet includes a container film including a pocket portion in which a content is placed and a cover film closing the pocket portion. The inspection device includes: an illumination device that irradiates the content with near-infrared light; a spectroscope that disperses reflected light from the content irradiated with the near-infrared light; an imaging device that takes an image of an optical spectrum of the reflected light dispersed by the spectroscope and acquires spectroscopic image data; and a controller that obtains spectral data of the content based on the spectroscopic image data, executes an inspection of the content based on the spectral data of the content, and executes good or poor quality judgment of the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukihiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11439470
    Abstract: Devices and systems are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device by means of a robotic system. In one embodiment, systems and devices are provided for moving an end effector on a distal end of a surgical fastening device. Movement can include rotational movement of the end effector about an axis of the shaft, articulation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and actuation of an end effector, e.g., closing, firing, and/or cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: James T. Spivey, Mark S. Ortiz, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11440719
    Abstract: A shipping box includes a plurality of sides and a plurality of bladders. The sides are arranged as a rectangular solid with fixed sides and a top side. The top side includes an openable cover for access to an interior of the rectangular solid. The rectangular solid has a size determined based on dimensions of an object placed in the interior of the rectangular solid. The bladders are arranged on each of the sides and configured to be inflated as a cushioning mechanism for the object while placed in the interior of the rectangular solid. The bladders are made of a material based on a weight of the at least one object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Suraush Khambati, Budy Notohardjono, Richard M. Ecker, Shawn Canfield
  • Patent number: 11427360
    Abstract: A packaging machine to make an airtight wrapper includes a wrapping sheet wrapped airtight around a structured assembly consisting of an organized group of smoking articles associated with a reinforcement insert. The reinforcement insert includes, in working sequence on one or more cyclical conveyor devices of the wheel or carousel type, a structured assembly formation unit, a combination unit suitable to combine the structured assembly with said wrapping sheet, a wrapping sheet work unit and a welding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 11420781
    Abstract: A method and a baling system includes at least one baler (14) for producing highly compressed bales (2) made of artificial fibers. The baler (14) includes a securing device for applying a securing device (3), in particular strapping, to the compressed bales (2). A packaging device (1) applies a bale casing (4) that is closed on all sides to the secured compressed bales (2). The packaging device (1) includes a production and application device (21) for producing a sleeve-type casing (5) and for the application thereof to the compressed bales (2), as well as a sealing device (22) for closing and sealing axial ends (6, 7) of the sleeve-type casing (5) on the uncovered sides of the bales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: AUTEFA SOLUTIONS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Sauerwein, Dirk Falise
  • Patent number: 11413734
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool with a working cylinder and a piston, the piston outer surface having a lubricant-saturated foam material that stores and dispenses lubricant into the piston-cylinder wall interface, thereby increasing the performance and lifespan of the tool. Another embodiment discloses a two-part piston in which the bottom portion is made of metal and absorbs the main mechanical loading forces of the piston drive and return strokes, and the top portion is made of a non-metallic material that has surfaces that act as sliding bearings against the inner wall of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Bradley, Thomas A. McCardle, Anthony D. Kabbes
  • Patent number: 11400575
    Abstract: A pneumatic tool includes a drive mechanism configured to be actuated by a pneumatic pressure of compressed air, a body housing having the drive mechanism embedded therein, a grip housing connected to the body housing, and an electromagnetic valve configured to control supply of the compressed air to the drive mechanism, wherein the electromagnetic valve is arranged on an opposite side to the body housing, as seen in an extension direction of the grip housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MAX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11399832
    Abstract: An end effector for a surgical stapling apparatus is provided which includes an anvil assembly and a surgical buttress. The anvil assembly includes an anvil body and an anvil plate. The anvil plate includes a bottom surface that defines a plurality of staple forming pockets. The anvil body and the anvil plate are selectively connectable. The surgical buttress includes a buttress body and a plurality of arms extending from the body. The arms are disposable between a top surface of the anvil plate and a bottom surface of the anvil body to support the buttress body against the bottom surface of the anvil plate when the anvil plate and the anvil body are connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Gerald Hodgkinson, Timothy D. Ebner, Peter Hathaway
  • Patent number: 11370099
    Abstract: A cordless, hand-held power tool, such as a hammer drill/driver, an impact driver, an impact wrench, etc., that includes a brushless direct current (“BLDC”) motor. Each of the hand-held power tool includes a removable and rechargeable battery pack, electronics, and a BLDC motor that have been designed and balanced to produce high-performance-capable (e.g., high-power, high-current, high-torque) hand-held power tool. The hand-held power tool is capable of delivering high instantaneous (i.e., short duration) current to the BLDC motor for short-duration high power operation and high continuous (i.e., long duration) current to the BLDC motor for long duration high power operation. Additionally, the short and long duration power is capable of being provided in a smaller (in size) and lighter (in weight) package than any hand-held power tool before it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon L. Verbrugge, Matthew J. Mergener, Matthew P. Wycklendt, Jeffrey C. Hessenberger, Dennis J. Grzybowski