Patents Examined by N. Sanders
  • Patent number: 9061409
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the application, a device for driving a fastening element into a substrate has an energy-transfer element for transferring energy to the fastening element. The energy-transfer element can move preferably between a starting position and a setting position, wherein the energy-transfer element is located, before a driving-in procedure, in the starting position and, after the driving-in procedure, in the setting position. According to another aspect of the application, the device comprises a mechanical-energy storage device for storing mechanical energy. The energy-transfer element is then suitable preferably for transferring energy from the mechanical-energy storage device to the fastening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl Franz, Ulrich Schiestl, Harald Fielitz
  • Patent number: 9061780
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging method for packing plastic injection moulded parts (9), including: simultaneously removing K parts (9) from K cavities (3), and depositing the parts (9) in an intermediate storage (5) and loading V packaging units (8), each having A parts (9), from the intermediate storage (5). A plurality of depositing positions (6) arranged next to each other in a deposition plane (7) is used as intermediate storage (5), and the K parts (9) are deposited equally divided among U subgroups (11) in the intermediate storage (5), and K parts (9) are removed from the K cavities (3) and are divided evenly among the U subgroups (11) until each subgroup (11) has L parts (9), wherein the quantity L of the parts (9) of a subgroup (11) corresponds to the quantity A of parts (9) to be loaded into a packaging unit (8), or an integral divisor of A. The invention further relates to a packaging device and to an injection moulding machine having such a packaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Waldorf Technik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Boos
  • Patent number: 9061873
    Abstract: A method for producing plastic containers includes feeding plastic preforms to a shaping unit, shaping the plastic preforms to plastic containers, and filling the plastic containers with a liquid. The method further includes closing the plastic containers with plastic closures, wherein the plastic closures are produced of a plastic material and are heated during the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: KRONES, AG
    Inventor: Heinz Humele
  • Patent number: 9056691
    Abstract: Bag deflating devices and methods of using the bag deflating devices are provided. In a general embodiment, the invention provides a bag deflating device comprising a first gripper and a first mechanical finger attached to the first gripper and constructed and arranged to move with the first gripper. The first mechanical finger comprises an elongated rod and a support plate attached to the elongated rod and defining at least one aperture. The bag deflating device further comprises a second gripper opposing the first gripper and a second mechanical finger attached to the second gripper and constructed and arranged to move with the second gripper. The second mechanical finger comprises an elongated rod and a support plate attached to the elongated rod and defining at least one aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Jason M. Mills, Richard A. Schulte
  • Patent number: 9051071
    Abstract: A device and method for the manufacturing of a pack including at least one article. The device includes a strapper for strapping a strip around the at least one article. The strapping is strapped around the outside of the article horizontally and/or vertically and/or cross-wise. A device generates a definable tensioning force of the strapping. A detector for the detection of properties of the article(s) is coupled and/or effectively connected to the device for generating a definable tensioning force of the strapping. A regulation and/or control method for a strapping device is also provided. Recorded properties of the articles to be wrapped and/or of the strapping material to be used are used as control values for the tensioning force and/or back tensioning force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Kurt Perl, Michael Hartl, Christian Napravnik
  • Patent number: 9017240
    Abstract: A transporting apparatus for transporting flat, sheet-like material through one or more processing stations of a sheet-processing machine includes at least one upper conveying apparatus and at least one lower conveying apparatus with conveying devices which are in contact with one another. The upper and lower conveying apparatuses are fastened in such a way that they can be altered freely in length. A sheet-processing machine with a transporting apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Diehr, Martin Mertens, Sedat Padar
  • Patent number: 9016032
    Abstract: A round baler is provided having a web wrap apparatus with a feeder transporting web to a bale chamber. The feeder has a lower fixed carrier and an upper pivotable feeder plate. In order to assure, that the web is caught, when it is transported by baling elements into the bale chamber, the feeder is provided with at least one partially or totally elastic web sheet extending toward the bale chamber and acting on a free portion of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Emmanual Chapon, Pascal Gresset
  • Patent number: 9016395
    Abstract: An impact tool includes a housing, a motor supported in the housing and defining a first axis, an output shaft rotatably supported in the housing about a second axis oriented substantially normal to the first axis, and an impact mechanism coupled between the motor and the output shaft and operable to impart a striking rotational force to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventor: John S. Scott
  • Patent number: 9010073
    Abstract: The main objective of this invention is a Mobile plant for dosing, mixing and packaging of powdery products, characterized because it is comprised of a carrying structure and several areas for: reception and weighing, loading, mixing, sack filling, sewing and labelling, metal detection, palletizing and cleaning. This invention is included within the industrial plants technical sector of manufacturing and mixing of powdery products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Inversiones HIK16, S.L.
    Inventors: Henrik Stamm Kristensen, M. Maravillas Martinez Lopez
  • Patent number: 9003750
    Abstract: A debris sweep and dry assist device is for use with a strapping machine. The debris sweep and dry assist device is positioned between the strapping machine and an associated strap supply. The device includes a body having a strap inlet and a strap outlet and defining a strap path therethrough. The body has a first wall at about the strap inlet and a second wall at about the strap outlet. The body has a first manifold and a plurality of first branches extending between the first manifold and the first wall to provide a plurality of flow paths from the first manifold to the environs through the first branches. A compressed is gas directed into the first manifold and flows out of the first branches, and is directed onto strap material at a location at about the strap inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A. Bruzzesi, Wayne J. Thas
  • Patent number: 8998060
    Abstract: An apparatus for endosurgical use includes an instrument having an end effector and a staple cartridge insertable into the end effector. The staple cartridge includes staples, staple apertures, a resistive member, and a medical fluid. When coupled to a power source, the medical fluid is vaporized by the resistive member and expelled out the staple apertures onto the stapled tissue. The power source may be contained within the instrument. In one configuration, a resistive strip with strip contacts may electrically couple to a conductor in the end effector. The medical fluid may also be divided into a plurality of sealant pads corresponding to the staple apertures, and the medical fluid may be a depolymerizable cyanoacrylate, a sprayable thermoplastic urethane, or any vaporizable medicament or pharmaceutical. The staple drivers may include one or more apertures to permit the medical fluid to pass through or around the staple drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean B. Bruewer, Cory G. Kimball, Katherine J. Schmid, Brett E. Swensgard, William A. Daunch
  • Patent number: 8998059
    Abstract: An instrument is configured to receive a staple cartridge to staple tissue and expel a fluid from within a container in the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge has an upper deck including staple apertures and orifices formed therein. The orifices are in fluid communication with the containers. The staple cartridge includes staple drivers having a driver body to translate a staple and a container protrusion to expel the fluid out the orifices. The fluid may be expelled while driving the staples out through the staple apertures. The container may be vertically compressible container or, in one alternative, may be a container having a channel and a sealant that is configured to be pierced as the fluid is expelled. Some configurations for the fluid include a hemostatic agent, thrombin, a gel, or a medicament. The containers may also be formed as reservoirs defined within the upper deck and/or cartridge body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig S. Smith, Gregory B. Blair, William B. Weisenburgh, II
  • Patent number: 8992400
    Abstract: In a machine and a method for manufacturing composite filters (F1, F2) for cigarettes or the like, a feed conveyor (S) supplies filter groups (G1, G2) in pairs to two respective feed lines (L1, L2) of a station (16) for forming two continuous filter rods (B1, B2); the machine (100) comprises at least one transfer device (DT) by which the filter groups (G1, G2) are taken up from the feed conveyor (S) and directed along the feed lines (L1, L2), and at least one release device (R), operating along the two feed lines (L1, L2), by which the two filter groups (G1, G2) are taken up from the transfer device (DT) and released in phase one with another along the selfsame feed lines (L1, L2); the rate at which the filter groups (G1, G2) are released by the release device (R) is governed according to the phase value of at least one of the continuous filter rods (B1, B2) relative to the cyclic cutting operation whereby the two filter rods (B1, B2) are cut transversally to make the composite filters (F1, F2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Righetti, Alberto Stagni, Massimo Sartoni
  • Patent number: 8974360
    Abstract: A creasing device forms a crease in a to-be-folded portion of a sheet. The creasing device includes a sheet-information reading unit that reads any one of sheet information and binding information; a determining unit that determines a surface, on which the crease is to be formed, of the sheet according to the one of the sheet information and the binding information read by the sheet-information reading unit; and a creasing unit that forms the crease on the surface determined by the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Akihiro Musha
  • Patent number: 8960487
    Abstract: A beverage can with an integral tab lifter includes a cylindrical can body with a tab-style pop-top opening along an upper surface. A tab lifting flange feature is located along a bottom edge of the can body. The tab of another pop-top beverage can is opened by lifting upwardly on a tab by utilizing the tab lifting flange of a beverage positioned above the lifting tab. The tab lifting flange is an inwardly-protruding lip which extends over a short plane parallel to the lower surface of the beverage can. To open the can, the tab lifting flange of a first can is placed upon the top surface of a second can. The first can is motioned such that the tab lifting flange captures and lifts the tab and opens the second can. In this manner, each can acts as a tab-opener for other cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: William Holt Parke
  • Patent number: 8939231
    Abstract: A power tool, including a housing and a handle having two ends. The first end of the handle being moveably mounted to the housing via a first mounting assembly and the second end being moveably mounted to the housing via a second mounting assembly. One part of the first mounting assembly including a sleeve and the other part including a rod mounted in an axially slideable manner in the sleeve. A biasing mechanism connected between the two parts. One part of the second mounting assembly including a support and the other part including a pin located in the support which is capable of being rotated in the support to enable the second end of the handle to rotate relative to the housing and to move linearly in the support to enable the second end of the handle to move linearly relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Ana-Maria Roberts, Andreas Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8939227
    Abstract: A pressure protection valve is provided which provides a fluid short circuit between a fluid pressure inlet of a hydraulic tool such as a hydraulic hammer and a low pressure region when the pressure at the fluid pressure inlet exceeds a first trigger pressure equal to a predetermined permissible pressure. This prevents damage to the hydraulic tool which can arise through operation at excessive fluid flow or pressure from hydraulic fluid supplied by a carrier vehicle. The pressure protection valve may maintain fluid communication between the fluid pressure inlet and the low pressure region until the pressure at the fluid pressure inlet reduces to a pressure below a predetermined second trigger pressure which is less than the first trigger pressure, to prevent further operation of the tool until the flow of fluid to the fluid pressure inlet has been stopped by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Francis Theobalds
  • Patent number: 8925645
    Abstract: An oil pulse tool includes a motor, an oil pulse unit, an output shaft on which a front end tool is attached, a torque detecting sensor for detecting generation of an impact torque, and an operating portion configured to detect a time period between a first impact torque detected by the torque detecting sensor and a second impact torque detected by the torque detecting sensor. The second impact torque is smaller than the first impact torque. The operating portion carries out a notification when the time period between the first impact torque and the second impact torque is less than a predetermined evaluation value for the time period between the first impact torque and the second impact torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Harada, Tomomasa Nishikawa, Kazutaka Iwata, Shinki Ohtsu, Nobuhiro Takano
  • Patent number: 8882648
    Abstract: Aspects of the methods herein relate to the fabrication of diaper pants wherein side panels connected with the first waist region of a discrete chassis are conveyed in a first direction until a second waist region advances past a nip. The crotch region of the chassis is then redirected into the nip, folding the chassis to position the second waist region into a facing relationship with the first waist region. The folded chassis is then conveyed in a second direction with the side panels positioned on panel conveyors extending laterally outward from the first waist region. As the folded chassis travels in the second direction, the panel conveyors twist to position end regions of the side panels to connect with the second waist region of the folded chassis. The side panels and the waist regions of the folded chassis may also be compressed between the panel conveyors and a roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Uwe Schneider
  • Patent number: 8820433
    Abstract: A power tool that includes a housing, a trigger switch that is mounted to the housing, a tool output member and a motor and transmission assembly. The housing defines a handle. The motor and transmission assembly is coupled to the housing and is configured to drive the tool output member. The motor and transmission assembly include a motor, which is electrically coupled to the trigger switch, and a transmission having a transmission input member, which is drivingly coupled to the motor, and a transmission output member that is drivingly coupled to the tool output member. The motor and transmission are packaged in the housing in a manner that is extremely compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Brent A. Kuehne, Ashok S. Baskar, Michael F. Cannaliato, William G. Harman, Jr., Trevor J. Koenig