Patents Examined by Louis Huynh
  • Can end manufacturing system and press therefor
    Patent number: 6802683
    Abstract: Ends for cans are made in a single press, eliminating the need for separate shell and conversion presses, balancers, track work, and other equipment, as compared to existing can end manufacturing systems, while reducing floor space and capital investment requirements for installation of a new can end line. A sheet of end material or stock is introduced into the press and fed to a series of work stations. The sheet is maintained in a substantially continuous and void free state as the work stations perform forming operations on the sheet of material to form one or more ends therein. After the forming operation is complete, the end is ejected from the press. The maintenance of the sheet of material in a substantially continuous and void free state permits precise movement of the sheet through the press, and registration of the sheet relative to the tooling in the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Co.
    Inventors: Timothy L. Turner, Randall G. Forrest, Carlton Young
  • Apparatus for wrapping groups of products
    Patent number: 6796105
    Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping groups of products with plastic film comprises: a platform that rotates about a vertical axis and supports a group of products which, as the platform rotates, are wrapped with the film to form a package; a reel, from which the film is unwound, which rotates about a vertical axis and which can move up and down in such a way as to wrap the group in height as the platform rotates; a unit for gripping and tearing the film mounted outside the profile of the platform and designed to intercept and grip at least one portion of the film located between the group and the reel (4) once the group has been wrapped, in such a way that, acting in conjunction with a partial rotation of the platform, it tears the film at that portion to form an end or trailing free edge of film torn off by the gripping and tearing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Robopac S.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Rossi
  • Large round baler
    Patent number: 6796109
    Abstract: A large round baler is provided with a wrapping arrangement which supplies wrapping material to a baling chamber inlet at a location above the floor of a baling chamber. The wrapping arrangement includes a wrapping material supply roll positioned at, or in frictional contact with, a feed roll, which conveys the wrapping material and delivers it such that it gravitates downwardly through a gap provided between an anvil and movable part of a cut-off device, the cut-off device being located at the inlet to the baling chamber so that the gravitating material passes into the baling chamber where it is caught between the formed bale and a rotatable bale-forming device which delimits at least a portion of the circumference of the baling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Method and apparatus for packaging ultra fine powders into containers
    Patent number: 6796107
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a powder dispenser portion with an outlet port which opens into a loading chamber. A slide gate valve assembly selectively closes the port and a disc valve assembly is provided above the slide gate valve assembly. Containers are loaded into the loading chamber and are located beneath the port and are then purged with inert gas. The slide gate valve assembly and disc valve assembly are then opened to allow container to be filled with ultra fine powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tetronics Limited
    Inventors: David Edward Deegan, Timothy Paul Johnson, Christopher David Chapman
  • Solid drug filling device
    Patent number: 6792736
    Abstract: A medication filling apparatus for filling a predetermined container with medications, such as tablets, provide improved assemblability and maintainability, and permits safe and reliable filling operations, while maintaining a compact size. The medication filling apparatus is equipped with a plurality of tablet cases for accommodating medications of respective types, a plurality of hoppers provided side by side below the respective tablet cases in a corresponding manner to receive the medications dispensed therefrom, and charging means for guiding the medications dispensed from a dispensing port formed at the bottommost portion of each hopper to a predetermined container and for charging them, and is further equipped with retaining members on which the hoppers are hung, wherein the hoppers are detachably installed to the retaining members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., LTD
    Inventors: Hideyuki Takahashi, Hitoshi Ishiwatari, Manabu Haraguchi, Toshihiko Ota
  • Method and apparatus for manufacturing, filling and packaging medical devices and medical containers
    Patent number: 6792743
    Abstract: Medical devices such as medical containers can be formed of glass and annealed which produces a clean device having a low bio-burden, or formed by plastic molding which produces a clean device. The clean devices are immediately transferred to a controlled environment such as a clean room or localized area to avoid the need to maintain cleanliness levels in an entire room. Syringe tip closures can be introduced into the housing assembly, where syringe barrels and tip closures are cleaned with filtered ionized air and the tip closures are coupled to the barrels. The syringe barrels can be filled with a substance and a closure member attached. While still in the housing assembly the syringe barrels can be formed into an array and placed in a clean outer container, which is then closed and sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Robert B. Odell, Donald J. Porfano, James C. Kropatsch, Jorge J. Campos, Mario de Aguero Servin, Patrick G. Carre
  • System and method for including inserts with goods during automated packaging
    Patent number: 6792737
    Abstract: The invention comprises an insert delivery system for use with an automated packaging machine. Preferably, the system is used to include coupons and the like with products being automatically packaged, such as sliced loaf bread. The system may comprise an insert delivery tray, card conveyor, or carousel and magazine combination, a feeder mechanism, and an insert placer configured to select an insert from the tray, conveyor, or magazine. Preferably, the insert placer includes a vacuum system and moves linearly. Additionally, the feeder mechanism may be positioned either perpendicularly, or parallel, to the scoop assembly, so as to feed an insert onto the scoop assembly at various points along the path of the scoop. The invention also comprises methods of using the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: DSD Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Fatehali T. Dharssi, Dale Lee Klinefelter, Brian Marshall, Raymond E. Noel, Jr.
  • Operable sealing mechanism for a strapping band
    Patent number: 6786027
    Abstract: An engageable pawl member is provided so as to be swingable about a supporting shaft so that a pawl tip is movable along a moving path for a strapping band. The engageable pawl member is pulled forwardly in a swinging direction by a helical tension spring to push the pawl tip against the strapping band. The engageable pawl member shifts forwardly, following the movement of the strapping band in a feeding direction, and the strapping band is sandwiched and held between the engageable paw member and a holding guide. Then, the engageable pawl member follows the movement of the strapping band in a direction to pull back, and the engageable pawl member shifts backwardly so that the pawl tip moves in a direction out of the moving path for the strapping band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Nichiro Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Oda, Tetsuya Hoshino, Shuichi Kikuchi
  • Trim-type fastener driving tool
    Patent number: 6786380
    Abstract: A powered tool constructed to drive a fastener into a workpiece includes a nosepiece assembly including a back plate and a front plate combining to define a path for a driver blade, the front plate being pivotally movable relative to the back plate between a closed position, in which the front plate and the back plate are in contact with each other, and an open position. The front plate is movable to an interim deflecting position between the closed position and the open position. A handle portion has an outer surface at least partially defining a grip, and an inner surface at least partially defining a chamber. The handle portion includes a substrate having at least one aperture, and an overmold configured for forming a gripping surface on the outer surface and for extending through the apertures into the chamber for forming a resilient mounting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Driscoll, Robert Scott Buetow, Marc Largo
  • Food container cleaner apparatus and method
    Patent number: 6779317
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for effecting the formation of a packaged food product with the food being contained within a receptacle having a cover adhered to the receptacle. Prior to securing the cover to the receptacle, the surface that is to be sealed to the cover is cleaned by wiping with towel material. The towel material is advanced from a supply to a cleaning position to wipe a cover engaging surface to remove at least a portion of contaminants or foreign material present on the container, thereby improving adhesion of the cover to the receptacle. Towel material can be advanced from time to time from the supply to a take-up mechanism to present clean or fresh towel material at predetermined intervals. A method for cleaning container-sealing surfaces is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Wilhelm, John E. Johnson
  • Package sealing method, manufacturing method of electronic device modules, sealing apparatus, and packaged product
    Patent number: 6775958
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a case housing a product and a lid made of material that transmits a laser beam are fixed to each other with a bonding member interposed between them, and thereafter, a laser beam is focused onto the bonding member through the lid so that the bonding member is melted. By doing so, the case and the lid are welded together via the bonding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Amako, Kazushige Umetsu, Hideo Tanaya
  • Auto-positioning inching control
    Patent number: 6769355
    Abstract: An auto-positioning inching control for a mechanical press allows a press operator to select one of a plurality of preset slide stop zones in which the slide may be stopped. A programmable logic controller is utilized to compute values of clutch dropout which will operatively position the slide in one of a plurality of preselected slide stop zones. An additional inching mechanism may be utilized for further movement of the slide within the preselected slide stop zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: The Minster Machine Company
    Inventor: David Schmitz
  • Method for retaining cotton in bottles
    Patent number: 6769232
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for retaining cotton in a bottle using a cottoner machine which inserts cotton via a pair of rotatable cylinders alignable with a mouth of the bottle, the apparatus including a disk secured to the cylinders via a pair of collars and having a pair of apertures aligned with the cylinders, and the method including a process of positioning a planar surface of the disk closely superjacent the mouth of the bottle after insertion of the cotton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Haida
  • Floating stripping skis for mailing machine
    Patent number: 6766626
    Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for guiding a mail piece traversing a mailing machine. A multi-ski guide can include an inner ski with one or more contact bumps positioned to engage a mail piece prior to its edge encountering a stripper blade. The multi-ski guide can be attached to a take away idler shaft located just prior to the stripping blade. A spring can provide a normal force holding the multi-ski guide down onto the top of the stripping blade. The multi-ski guide can contact the stripping blade with a contact bump. In addition, one or more inner skis can include mail piece guiding contact bumps. Idler segments can be interspersed between the skis included in the multi-ski guide such that the idler segments can guide and straighten a mail piece approaching the stripper blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Rebres, Steven A. Supron, Eric A. Belec, Christopher Uschmann
  • Method and apparatus for unwrapping stretch film from a stretch wrapped palletized load
    Patent number: 6766630
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for unwrapping stretch film from a palletized load. The unwrapping apparatus has two legs between which a load to be unwrapped is positioned, each leg including an upper and lower portion. Upper and lower grippers are attached to the upper and lower portions of each leg, respectively. The grippers are configured for engaging the stretch film and pulling it from the load. The unwrapping apparatus further includes a cutting unit including a cutting tool for cutting the stretch film. The cutting unit is preferably attached to one leg of the unwrapping apparatus. As the cutting unit moves vertically, preferably from a bottom position to a top position, the stretch film is pulled from the load by the grippers and a guide wheel and is cut by the cutting tool. Also provided is a spooler that may be used to spool and dispose of the collected, spooled stretch film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventor: J. Bradley Rutten
  • Medication organizing system
    Patent number: 6761010
    Abstract: An improved medication organizing system for allowing patients to rapidly and easily prepare hermetically sealed dosage packages to set up their medication regime for a week, month, or longer period of time. The device includes seven hoppers to allow the patient to prepare a set of hermetically sealed medication packages for a given time for each day of the week. After being filled, each package in the set of seven packages is hermetically sealed simultaneously by simply loading the set into a sealing unit and pulling a lever. Sealing of the packages does not require manual manipulation of the individual packages by the user, such as would be required for medication organizers utilizing individual packages with zip-lock seals. The medication organizing system allows patients who lack manual dexterity, such as elderly patients, to easily prepare medication dosages for an extended period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: James B. Gibson
  • Method for rebuilding a calender
    Patent number: 6758134
    Abstract: A calender having a supporting frame and a set of rolls attached to vertical portions of the supporting frame so as to form a stack of rolls in which adjacent rolls placed one above another form calendering nips therebetween. The stack including a top roll, a bottom roll and a plurality of intermediate rolls between the top roll and the bottom roll. The intermediate rolls are attached revolvingly to arms pivoted on auxiliary frames attached to vertical portions of the supporting frame. A method of rebuilding a calender in which auxiliary frames are attached to the vertical portions of the existing calender frame and thereafter pivotal arms for the intermediate rolls are mounted on the auxiliary frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Strebel
  • Return mechanism for a cyclic tool
    Patent number: 6755336
    Abstract: Disclosed and taught herein is a novel vacuum return mechanism whereby the operating mechanism of a cyclic tool may be reset to its start position after having completed its operative cycle. A piston connected to the tool's operating mechanism is caused, by action of the tool's operating mechanism, to create a vacuum within a cylinder during the tool's operative cycle. Upon completion of the tool's operative cycle, the vacuum returns the piston, and thereby the tool's operating mechanism, back to their start positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin A. Harper, Richard L. Leimbach, Michael Petrocelli
  • Method and apparatus for the packaging of articles
    Patent number: 6755008
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging articles in bags is proposed, where a packaging magazine is used for receiving and guiding an article to be packaged. An article to be packaged is slid by a slider into the packaging magazine. The packaging magazine then moves together therewith into an opened bag, which is removed from a bag stack. With the bag, which surrounds the packaging magazine, the latter is then slid into the transfer magazine from where further conveying takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Optima Filling and Packaging Machines GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Schmetzer, Klaus Griessmayr
  • Method for wrapping groups of products with stretch film
    Patent number: 6751931
    Abstract: A method for wrapping groups of products with stretch film comprises the following steps: forming groups of products having a front and a longitudinal dimension following a line of feed; winding a stretch film unrolled from a first roll around a plurality of stretching rods positioned inside a film wrapping area and along the product group line of feed; forming a first tubular portion of stretch film; stretching the portion of film by moving the plurality of stretching rods to create an access area, whose transversal dimension is larger than the front, for a single group of products moving along the feed line; releasing the film portion to allow the portion to shrink and thus wrap over the group of products and thus wrapping it; expelling the wrapped package thus obtained onto the feed line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Aetna Group, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mauro Cere′