Patents Examined by Scott A Howell
  • Patent number: 11142356
    Abstract: Method for filling and closing a package including the operations of introducing two arms through the mouth, each one having or bearing a gripping tool and impressing a mutual distancing movement on the arms to expand the package with a retention mechanism which operates outside the package to grasp the walls of the package arranged between the arms and the retention mechanism while the retention mechanism approaches and fits over the gripping tool of each arm, such that when the arms move in the direction of the mouth of the package, the arms carry the grasped walls of the package to produce folds towards the interior of the package. For flexible tubular net packages, the at least one gripping tool on each arm has the shape of a protuberance and that the method includes passing through a wall of the package with the gripping tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Girnet Internacional, S.L.
    Inventor: Ezequiel Giro Amigo
  • Patent number: 11144808
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: JOY GLOBAL UNDERGROUND MINING LLC
    Inventor: Renier Koekemoer
  • Patent number: 11136152
    Abstract: Packer machine and wrapping method to manufacture a packet of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups of tobacco articles; the following are provided: a coupling wheel which rotates with continuous motion around a rotation axis and supports a pair of coupling pockets; a feeding station in which a first group of tobacco articles is fed to a first coupling pocket and, subsequently, a second group of tobacco articles is fed to a second coupling pocket; an actuating device which brings, downstream of the feeding station, the two coupling pockets closer to each other, until the two coupling pockets are side by side; and a releasing station, in which the two groups of tobacco articles are extracted together from both the coupling pockets arranged side by side, so that the two groups of tobacco articles are side by side when they come out of the coupling pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Massimo Fortini, Franco Falcinelli, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11129680
    Abstract: A surgical stapler comprising a projector configured to project an image onto the tissue of a patient which assists the user of the surgical stapler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, David C. Yates
  • Patent number: 11116594
    Abstract: An adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting an end effector and a surgical device includes a housing configured to connect to the surgical device, a shaft assembly extending from the housing, a cable drive assembly, and a coupling member. The cable drive assembly includes a cable supported in the housing. The coupling member is secured to the cable and configured to connect to the end effector. The coupling member is movable relative to the shaft assembly in response to movement of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: John Beardsley
  • Patent number: 11117726
    Abstract: A gusseted stand-up flexible pouch including a pouch-forming structure. The pouch-forming structure including first and second body panels, first and second side gussets, a bottom gusset and at least one interior gusset. The bottom gusset extends between the first and second body panels. Each of the first and second side gussets is joined to the first and second body panels. The at least one interior gusset is joined to the first and second body panels. The at least one interior gusset is located between the first and second side gussets. The at least one interior gusset divides an interior of the stand-up flexible pouch into a plurality of compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: 1958658 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Herrington, Michael L. Bedrosian
  • Patent number: 11104472
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing containers from paper or paper-like material. The container has a lateral surface made of a wound sheet-like segment, of which segment edges arranged on longitudinal sides overlap and form a region of overlap, and a pan-like termination element. The lateral surface and the termination element are connected to one another in an essentially liquid-tight manner by a skirt, and at least one pressing ram is provided for pressing and sealing the skirt, the pressing ram subjecting the skirt to essentially radially directed pressure. The pressing ram has a radially projecting protrusion in a portion provided for the purpose of acting on a boundary portion of the region of overlap of the lateral surface of the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MICHAEL HÖRAUF MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH UND CO. KG
    Inventor: Uwe Messerschmid
  • Patent number: 11097506
    Abstract: A method for making said flexible includes forming a flexible pouch having an open top. A dividing seal extends from the open top to the bottom of the pouch so as to define two pouch openings and two pouch spaces. Substances are introduced into the pouch spaces by a first nozzle and a second nozzle inserted into a respective first space and second space and filling the pouch body through the first and second nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: R. Charles Murray
  • Patent number: 11059156
    Abstract: An impact tool that realizes an ON-lock function with a simple mechanism and makes it possible to switch between activation and deactivation of the ON-lock function with few operation processes is provided. A hammer drill having at least two operating modes including a hammer mode in which an impact force is transmitted to a tool bit whereas a rotational force is not transmitted thereto includes: a motor as a power source; a trigger lever and an ON-lock button that are operated by an operator; a sensor that detects whether a selected operating mode is the hammer mode or not; and a controller that controls the motor based on an operation of the trigger lever and the ON-lock button. When the ON-lock button is operated while the hammer mode is selected, the controller performs ON-lock control to maintain the motor in the operating state even when the trigger lever is not operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: KOKI HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Abe, Takahiro Ookubo, Hideyuki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11047528
    Abstract: A power tool is provided including a housing, a brushless direct-current (BLDC) electric motor disposed inside the housing, power switches disposed between a power supply and the electric motor and including high-side switches and low-side switches, and a control unit configured to control a switching operation of the power switches to operate the electric motor and electronically brake the motor by simultaneously activating the high-side switches or the low-side switches to stop the rotation of the motor upon detection of a condition prompting the braking of the motor. The control unit is configured to detect the condition that prompts the braking of the electric motor, set a braking profile for braking the electric motor based on the detected condition, and execute braking of the electric motor using the braking profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Vanko, Marcell E. Coates, Daniel F. Nace, Matthew J. Velderman, Sean M. Kelly, James E. Goble
  • Patent number: 10987103
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a battery pack and a battery port. The battery pack includes a latching feature. The battery port is configured to receive the battery pack. The battery port includes a restraining feature. The restraining feature is configured to securely engage the latching feature when the battery port receives the battery pack such that the battery pack becomes fixedly attached to the battery port. At least a portion of the battery port is configured to permanently deform or break upon the removal of the battery pack from the battery port such that the surgical instrument becomes inoperable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin L. Houser, Michael J. Vendely, Michael D. Auld, Brett E. Swensgard
  • Patent number: 10988272
    Abstract: A packaging machine includes a vertical sealing unit, a movable cover, and a linkage mechanism. The vertical sealing unit is provided so as to be retractable from a vertical sealing position for tubular film. The movable cover covers a heated part of the vertical sealing unit. The linkage mechanism transmits a retracting movement of the vertical sealing unit to the cover to thereby cause the cover to move from a position in which it exposes the heated part to a position in which it covers the heated part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazunori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10960994
    Abstract: A vertical fill, form and seal (VFFS) apparatus for particulates that facilitates the close-packing (“settling”) of the particulates such that a smaller package is needed to contain a mass of particulates in a charge to the VFFS apparatus. The former of the VFFS apparatus, and an associated film driver, move up and down synchronously and in a controlled manner. A partially formed bag, below the former, containing particulates is shaken up and down as the former moves up and down, while the packaging film travels downward continuously in the apparatus. The shaking causes the particulates to settle, and to increase in bulk density. This allows use of less packaging, and lowers use of transportation fuel. In an embodiment, an actuator is in mechanical communication with the former (and its associated film driver) to apply a vertical reciprocating force to the former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Joseph Bierschenk
  • Patent number: 10939910
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surgical stapling instrument comprising a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending from the handle assembly, and an end effector supported on a distal portion of the elongated body portion. The end effector includes a curved housing having a base portion and a jaw portion, a curved anvil assembly supported on the jaw portion, and a curved cartridge assembly supported on the base portion. The cartridge assembly defining first and second arrays of staples receiving slots, the first array of staple receiving slots includes three rows of staples and the second array of staple receiving slots includes two rows of staples. A height of the staples in each of the rows of three rows of staples of the first array of staple receiving slots is different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Jeevan Maddur Shankarsetty, Hari Naga Mahesh Kalepu
  • Patent number: 10932784
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to adapter assemblies for use with and to electrically and mechanically interconnect electromechanical surgical devices and surgical reloads, and to surgical systems including handheld electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical reloads to the handheld electromechanical surgical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Patrick Mozdzierz, Ramiro Cabrera, Joseph Eisinger, Scott Firth, John Hryb, Stephen Paul, Paul Richard, Anthony Sgroi, Jr., David Valentine, Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 10912555
    Abstract: A device for fixing a first and a second tissue part or a tissue part and an implant part to each other is provided, providing a fastener including a thermoplastic material and a fastening instrument. The fastening instrument includes a first instrument component with a first contact surface facing toward a distal side and a second instrument component has a foot with a second contact surface distally of the first contact surface and facing toward a proximal side. The first instrument component and the second instrument component are displaceable with respect to each other, so that the fastener is compressible between the first and second contact surfaces by application of a relative force between the components. The instrument also includes an energy source for coupling mechanical energy into one of the instrument components to soften and/or melt an end portion of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: WOODWELDING AG, SPORTWELDING GMBH
    Inventors: Jörg Mayer, Mario Lehmann, Andrea Müller, Andreas Wenger
  • Patent number: 10898189
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided comprising: a first jaw having a distal end and a proximal end wherein the proximal end of the first jaw is attached to a lever arm that includes a levering cam slot having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a second jaw having a distal end and a proximal end wherein the proximal end of the second jaw is secured to a base that includes a linear cam slot aligned with a longitudinal axis of the second jaw axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a pivot rotatably mounting the first jaw to the second jaw, wherein a pivot axis extends between the first jaw and the lever arm; a cam pin configured to extend through and engage the levering cam slot and the linear cam slot; a linear drive member operatively coupled to drive the cam pin to follow the linear cam slot; wherein the cam pin imparts a lever force upon the lever arm that rotates the first jaw way from the second jaw when the cam pin contacts the distal portion of the levering cam slot and wherein the c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. McDonald, II
  • Patent number: 10888048
    Abstract: A system for wrapping a material around a bale in a baler includes a feed system to direct the material through a feed path. A knife mechanism with a fixed knife and a counter-knife alternately cuts the material, and moves out of the feed path for feed of the material. The feed system includes a roll element configured to direct the material between the fixed knife and the counter-knife when the counter-knife is moved out of the feed path. A cylindrical brush rotates freely and is disposed between the roll element and the knife mechanism, the brush having a cylindrical shape. The brush is configured to remove debris when rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob D. Kappelman, Jennifer R. Horner, Henry D. Anstey
  • Patent number: 10888985
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a workpiece-contact element for a fastener pusher. In one embodiment, the workpiece-contact element includes an attachment side, a workpiece-contact surface, and one or more fastener-exit surfaces defining a fastener-exit throughbore having a longitudinal axis and extending through the workpiece-contact surface. The workpiece-contact surface forms an annular protrusion extending away from the attachment side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan, Genaro Cortez
  • Patent number: 10875165
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool including multiple combustion chambers and an exhaust gas recirculation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Chinbay Q. Fan, Patrick Talano, James Haberstroh