Patents Examined by Nicholas E Igbokwe
  • Patent number: 11464601
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a controller, a staple firing system, and an RFID system is disclosed. The controller is in communication with a first RFID reader and a second RFID reader of the RFID system and the staple firing system. In various embodiments, the controller verifies the presence of the staple cartridge in the surgical instrument upon receiving the first signal from the first RFID tag. Also, in various embodiments, the controller verifies that the staple cartridge is an unfired staple cartridge upon receiving the second signal from the second RFID tag. The controller can also be configured to track the progress of the staple firing stroke through the RFID system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross
  • Patent number: 11447316
    Abstract: A packaged-body producing method that minimizes damage to packaged bodies due to constriction or the like and that enables formation of packaged bodies in various shapes is provided. The method includes a first step in which a plurality of packages 10 accommodating toilet paper rolls or the like are stacked, and recesses are provided at predetermined positions of the stacked form; a second step in which a packaging film 20 is spirally wound on the sides of the package stack form; and a third step in which the packaging film 20 is wound so as to cover the circumference, including an upper end portion and a lower end portion, of the package stack form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CORELEX SHIN-EI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 11447277
    Abstract: Systems and methods for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas when the tube is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Herbert Carrington Longest, Jr., Jarrod W. Chalkley, Tamika S. Murrell, Leah A. Meyers, Jeremy J. Straight, Travis M. Garthaffner
  • Patent number: 11446891
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for positioning a plurality of tool heads in a converting machine for converting sheet material into box templates, comprising: providing a plurality of tool heads located at a first set of individual positions within a converting area, moving the plurality of tool heads within the converting area in a first movement by means of a transport mechanism that is arranged to be coupled individually to each tool head, moving at least one of the plurality of tool heads in relation to the transport mechanism in a second movement, wherein the plurality of tool heads are moved to a second set of individual positions by the first and second movement, and wherein the second movement takes place during the first movement. The invention also relates to a tool heads positioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: PACKSIZE LLC
    Inventors: Bo Fredander, Johan Blomberg
  • Patent number: 11446805
    Abstract: A hydraulic hammer for a working machine configured for digging a surface includes a housing, a chisel, sensors, and a controller. The housing is coupled to the working machine. The chisel is partially enclosed by the housing and extendable from the housing for digging the surface at a contact location. Each of the sensors is configured for generating a signal indicative of a projecting distance between one of the sensors and the surface. The controller is configured for receiving the signals, determining an angle between the chisel and a plane substantially tangent to the contact location, and reorienting the chisel so that the chisel is substantially orthogonal to the contact location with the angle at substantially ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Hatim Bookwala
  • Patent number: 11440166
    Abstract: An impact tool and method can include: a motor; a trigger; a controller configured to control driving power supplied to the motor using a semiconductor switching element according to an operation of the trigger; a striking mechanism configured to drive a tip tool continuously or intermittently by rotation force of the motor, the striking mechanism including a hammer and an anvil. The controller drives the semiconductor switching element at a high duty ratio when the trigger is manipulated. The motor can be driven so that the duty ratio is lowered before a first striking of the hammer on the anvil is performed and the first striking is performed at a low duty ratio lower than the high duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: KOKI HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Iwata, Yoshihiro Komuro
  • Patent number: 11440688
    Abstract: A method for manufacture and filling with a sterile liquid of a tubular packaging includes: providing a container with liquid therein, providing a tube, filling the tube with the liquid from the container, dividing the tube into tubular segments by successive welding operations, and separating the tubular segments at the welded seams. After each welding operation the tube is displaced over a distance corresponding to a desired length of the tubular segments, or multiple thereof. During each welding operation pressure can be exerted locally on and energy can be supplied to the tube. Exertion of pressure and the supply of energy can be staggered in time. During each welding operation a temperature at the welded seam can be kept constant. During each welding operation a welding parameter can be measured, and the welding operation can be controlled on the basis of the measured value of the welding parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: MU-DROP B.V.
    Inventors: Hubertus Eduard Hilbrink, Leonardus Hubertus Maria Lammers
  • Patent number: 11434028
    Abstract: A method of applying a sealing strip onto a web of packaging material comprising advancing the web along a web advancement path; applying a first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto a longitudinal edge of the web, sealing the first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto the longitudinal edge, detecting and/or determining a correct alignment of the sealing strip with respect to the web. The detecting and/or determining of the correct alignment comprises acquiring an image of a second longitudinal portion of the sealing strip and a reference marker of a strip application apparatus, analyzing the acquired image to determine at least a first transversal distance between the reference marker and a longitudinal border of the second longitudinal portion; and evaluating the correct alignment/misalignment as a function of at least the first transversal distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Marco Ricco', Gabriele Borasi, Giuseppe Esposito
  • Patent number: 11434033
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for vacuum stoppering a medical container. The device includes a main body defining an internal volume that has a variable pressure chamber configured to be connected to a vacuum pump. A stopper holder system is arranged in communication with the variable pressure chamber and is configured to receive and hold a stopper aligned with the direction of travel of a piston rod. A piston rod is moveable inside the internal volume of the main body along a longitudinal axis between a proximal rest position and a distal operative position wherein the piston rod pushes the stopper into the medical container. A container holder system provided in the main body, is arranged distally relative to the stopper holder system and in communication with the variable pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson France
    Inventors: Gwenn Le Dimet, Julien Gagliano
  • Patent number: 11414229
    Abstract: The invention relates to a closing device for closing containers which have a filling opening, such as bottles or cans, comprising a positioning apparatus for arrangement of a container to be closed into a position for closing, a flushing apparatus with a nozzle device for blowing in flushing gas, in particular inert gas, into a container to be closed though its filling opening prior to closure, a closing element setting apparatus for attachment of a closing element to a container to be closed in a position which closes its filling opening and thus the container and a control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: BAUSCH + STRÖBEL MASCHINENFABRIK ILSHOFEN GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Neber, Daniel Spieler, Tim Gögelein
  • Patent number: 11412778
    Abstract: A feeding device (8, 8?, 8?, 8??) for feeding a continuous strip (9) into a continuous fibrous band, in a tobacco industry machine for manufacturing rod-like elements, wherein the fibrous band is formed to a form of a continuous rod (CR) comprising the continuous strip (9) surrounded by the continuous fibrous band, the feeding device (8, 8?, 8?, 8??) comprising: a strip supply unit (10) for feeding the continuous strip (9); a strip feeding unit (11) for feeding the continuous strip (9) into the middle of the continuous fibrous band; wherein the feeding device (8, 8?, 8?, 8??) is configured such that the strip feeding unit (11) is located in the machine for manufacturing the rod-like elements between a fibrous band preparation unit (4) and a garniture unit (15) for forming the continuous rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO MACHINERY Poland Sp. z o.o.
    Inventors: Bartosz Cieslikowski, Andrzej Lisowski
  • Patent number: 11413732
    Abstract: A control method of an impact wrench for setting an expansion anchor carries out a first sequence in response to a button being pressed. In a first phase, a rotary impact is repeatedly exerted on a screw element of the expansion anchor and a torque transmitted from the rotary impact to the screw head is estimated. The first phase S1 is continued until the estimated transmitted torque exceeds a threshold value specified for the expansion anchor. In a second phase, a number of rotary impacts specified for the expansion anchor are exerted on the screw head. If the button is released before the end of the first sequence, a premature release of the button and the phase in which the button was released is stored in a memory. In response to the button being pressed when a premature release is stored in the memory, a second sequence is carried which depends on the phase in which the button was previously released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Dieter Gaul
  • Patent number: 11400577
    Abstract: An impact tool includes a motor, a driving mechanism, a tool body, an elastically-connected part elastically connected to the tool body to be movable at least in a front-rear direction relative to the tool body, a detecting mechanism configured to detect pressing of a tool accessory against a workpiece, and a control part configured to control driving of the motor based on a detection result of the detecting mechanism. The detecting mechanism includes a movable member that is provided in one of the tool body and the elastically-connected part and configured to be moved by relative movement of the other of the tool body and the elastically-connected part in the front-rear direction, and a detector that is provided in the one of the tool body and the elastically-connected part and configured to detect rearward pressing of the tool accessory by detecting movement of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Furusawa, Kanako Hirono, Kei Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11389936
    Abstract: An electric pulse tool for performing tightening operations, where torque is delivered in pulses to tighten a screw joint, includes an output shaft, a sensor arranged to determine a parameter value associated with the tightening of the screw joint, a processor, and a memory containing instructions executable by the processor. The electrical pulse tool operates to provide torque pulses on the output shaft in a first direction until the determined parameter value associated with the tightening of the screw joint reaches within or above a predetermined first interval including a target parameter value. The electrical pulse tool also operates to provide at least one torque pulse on the output shaft in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction in case the determined parameter value exceeds the target parameter value within a predetermined second interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO INDUSTRIAL TECHNIQUE AB
    Inventors: John Robert Christian Friberg, Daniel Per Erik Asplund
  • Patent number: 11390050
    Abstract: A sheet drying device and method, and a box making machine, wherein provided are: a heating lamp (111) that is disposed facing a printing face of a cardboard sheet (S); a voltage adjusting unit (122) that adjusts the voltage of electrical power supplied to the heating lamp (111); a voltage setting unit (121) that sets the working voltage of the heating lamp (111) by increasing or decreasing a reference voltage according to the thickness of a water-based paint on the cardboard sheet (S), where the reference voltage is a voltage that is less than the rated voltage of the heating lamp (111) by a preset prescribed value; and a controlling device (101) that changes the voltage of the heating lamp (111) to the working voltage set by the voltage setting unit (121) using the voltage adjusting unit (122).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shoichi Aoki, Kengo Yamaguchi, Osamu Yamamoto, Kazuya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11383935
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing food products comprises a product conveyor having a frame and a conveyor unit for conveying products along a conveying direction, wherein the conveyor unit is arranged laterally projecting at the frame with respect to the conveying direction and comprises a work unit which is associated with the processing of the conveyed products and which is arranged at least partly beneath the projecting conveyor unit of the product conveyor. Provision is made that the frame of the product conveyor is supported or held at the work unit via a mechanical connection or extends into a free space defined by the work unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventor: Jorg Schmeiser
  • Patent number: 11377282
    Abstract: A tray and its use for conveying pouches for flexible containers such as Doypacks includes a number of partitions that protrude from the base of the tray so as to form between them spaces for the transverse containment of packs of pouches for flexible containers. The containment spaces are used to contain the packs of pouches in a direction that is transverse to the partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Bianchi, Marco Grassilli
  • Patent number: 11376098
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis, staples removably stored in the staple cavities, a cover releasably attached to the cartridge body, and a sled movable from a proximal unfired position to a distal fired position during a firing motion. The staple cartridge further comprises a first RFID tag affixed to the cartridge body at a first longitudinal position, a second RFID tag affixed to the sled, wherein the proximal unfired position of the sled is at a second longitudinal position which is not at the first longitudinal position, and a third RFID tag affixed to the cover at a third longitudinal position which is not at the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Jason L. Harris, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Patent number: 11345490
    Abstract: A compactor device for compacting a product filling in a container, like a packing box, includes a container support allowing shaking and/or vibrating the container when supported on the container support. The support includes compactor roller bars arranged parallel in a direction transverse to a conveying direction and to support the container. Each compactor roller bar has a rotation axis and a circumferential surface to allow moving the container with a product filling supported on the rollers bars up and down at a selected frequency when, in operation, rotating the compactor roller bars of the plurality of compactor roller bars. The compactor device further has a stopper arrangement blocking conveying the container by the compactor roller bars, and a pressing arrangement with a press to press downwards onto the product filling within the container while, in operation, compacting the product by rotating the compactor roller bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: BLUEPRINT HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Nicolaas Martin Prakken, Vincentius Alphonsus Jozef Peters
  • Patent number: 11338945
    Abstract: A mixing-dosage apparatus for rotary machines for packaging containers includes a mixing portion and a dosage portion. The two portions have a selective fluid connection using a flow control valve, which acts between the two portions so as to feed the dosage duct with consecutive loads of mixed food mass. Each load has a volume that is approximately equal to the volume of the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Filippo Furlotti