Patents Examined by Stephen F. Gerrity
  • Patent number: 12043439
    Abstract: An automatic machine includes: a central frame; a support rotatably connected to the central frame; handling mechanisms for moving the support; a plurality of carriages supported by the support; each carriage supports a bag vertically; a loading station; a spreading station downstream of the loading station; a filling station downstream of the spreading station; a first heat-sealing station downstream of the filling station; an insertion unit that loads a straw in the bag; a second heat-sealing station. The insertion unit is provided in the first heat-sealing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Inventor: Gino Poggi
  • Patent number: 12041883
    Abstract: A bale wrapping system that includes a belt that rotates to form and drive rotation of a bale of an agricultural product. The bale is configured to be wrapped with a wrapping layer of a bale wrap while rotating on the belt. A first portion of the wrapping layer overlaps a second portion of the wrapping layer while disposed on the belt. A glue system sprays a layer of glue onto the wrapping layer. The layer of glue enables the first portion of the wrapping layer to couple to the second portion of the wrapping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Martin J. Roberge, Jonathan E. Ricketts, Jason Douglas McAuley Cousins
  • Patent number: 12042677
    Abstract: A portable tool, such as a spreader tool, cutting tool or combination spreading/cutting tool is for mobile use. The tool has an electric motor, a rechargeable battery received on the tool, a mechanically or hydraulically driven, displaceable piston rod for performing spreading and/or cutting and/or lifting or pressing. An electronic control and regulation unit controls/regulates the electric motor, such as a brushless DC motor. The electronic control and regulation unit specifies a first operating mode in which the electric motor is operated at a first frequency, and a second operating mode in which the electric motor is operated at a second frequency. The operating mode is switchable by an operator of the tool using a manually operable switch between the first and the second operating modes. The rotational speed of a three-phase current electric motor is higher at the second frequency than at the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: LUKAS HYDRAULIK GMBH
    Inventors: Carsten Sauerbier, Uwe Kirchner
  • Patent number: 12035913
    Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, a sled configured to eject said staples from said cartridge body, and a deployable tissue cutting knife. During use, a firing member of a stapling instrument is advanced into the staple cartridge to deploy the tissue cutting knife and advance the sled distally through a staple firing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E Shelton, IV, Seth D. Holdmeyer, Jason L. Harris, Gregory J Bakos, Chester O. Baxter, III
  • Patent number: 12035909
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly and a drive assembly for actuating the tool assembly. The tool assembly includes an anvil assembly that defines a notch and a cartridge assembly that includes a staple cartridge having a cartridge body that supports staples and pushers and an actuation sled that supports a knife. The drive assembly supports a lockout mechanism that is movable between unlocked position and locked positions. The knife includes a protrusion that engages the lockout mechanism to move the lockout mechanism to the unlocked position as the drive assembly is moved from a retracted position towards an advanced position. When a knife is not present within the staple cartridge, the lockout mechanism remains in the unlocked position to prevent advancement of the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Roanit Fernandes, Kenneth M. Cappola
  • Patent number: 12030764
    Abstract: A bottle centering device for a capping machine for caps made of compressible material includes a support structure, associated with a compression box at a cap compression seat and defining an opening for passing a compressed cap and a cap insertion punch. The support structure is mountable on the compression box so that the through opening has a central axis axially centered on the cap compression seat. A bottle centerer defining an invitation seat and a central through opening is configured for engagement by a bottle mouth and is shaped to guide the mouth towards the through opening axially aligning with the central axis. The bottle centerer includes pieces angularly distributed about the central axis and each partially defining a portion of the invitation seat. The pieces are radially movable with respect to the central axis to vary radial dimensions of the invitation seat and the central through opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: MBF S.P.A.
    Inventors: Giuliano Boscaro, Alessandro Ticinelli, Andrea Stella
  • Patent number: 12030684
    Abstract: Providing a packaging apparatus that can inhibit a reduction in printing quality with respect to a film. A packaging apparatus 1 includes: a film conveyance device 100 that conveys a film F; a moving mechanism that conveys a container C having an opening; a sealing device 40 that seals, with the film conveyed thereto by the film conveyance device, the opening of the container conveyed thereto by the moving mechanism; a printer 140 that is disposed upstream of the sealing device in a conveyance path of the film and prints information in a predetermined position on the film while being conveyed; and a controller that controls the operation of the film conveyance device. The film conveyance device has the accumulation mechanism 120. The accumulation mechanism is disposed between the printer and the sealing device in the conveyance path of the film and temporarily accumulates the film printed with the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Komai, Hideyuki Nomi, Tomohiko Seno
  • Patent number: 12030679
    Abstract: A method for producing a cartridge is proposed, where a fluid is filled into an opening of a container and a closure part is inserted into the container, thereby moving a movable piston arranged within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Eicher, Gilbert Wuttke, Herbert Graessl
  • Patent number: 12024415
    Abstract: A beverage bottle and container handling arrangement for handling beverage bottles, cans, or similar containers, and a method of operating a beverage bottle and container handling arrangement, and an adjustment arrangement configured to adjust components of the beverage bottle and container handling arrangement and a method therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Siegmar Stang, Andreas Krieg
  • Patent number: 12023028
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an end effector secured to the shaft assembly, a firing assembly, an articulation assembly, and an articulation guide. The firing assembly includes a flexible knife bar assembly that is selectively advanceable through the end effector for firing the end effector. The articulation assembly has an articulation link assembly and a pivotable bar guide assembly. The articulation link assembly is coupled to the end effector. The articulation link assembly is actuatable to cause the end effector to move relative to the shaft assembly between an unarticulated position and an articulated position. The articulation guide is associated with the pivotable bar guide assembly to enable the flexible knife bar assembly to advance through the pivotable bar guide assembly when the end effector is disposed in the unarticulated position or the articulated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin P. Williams, Griffin S. Delancy
  • Patent number: 12024323
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a content charging device for a container apparatus in which a liquid is stored, and a content charging method using the same. In the content charging device of the present disclosure, the container apparatus includes an external container in which a storage space is formed and which includes a container-side opening communicating with the storage space; and a pouch assembly installed on the external container. The container apparatus according to the present disclosure is configured to be able to store a viscous liquid, and has an effect of providing a device, a container, and a method of producing the same, capable of wholly using a content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: INNERBOTTLE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sea Il Oh, Yo Kyung Jang
  • Patent number: 12011168
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft and an end effector. The end effector includes a jaw, and a coupling member configured to receive a first and second reload and to removably couple the first and second reload to the end effector. The coupling member is configured to retain the first reload in a closed position relative to the jaw such that the jaw and the first reload have a tissue gap therebetween. The coupling member is configured to retain the second reload in a closed position relative to the jaw such that the jaw and the second reload have a tissue gap therebetween that is larger than the first tissue gap. The instrument is designed to accommodate reloads with different tissue gaps between the first jaw and the reload, thereby allowing an operator to treat tissue of varying sizes, shapes and thicknesses with the same surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Wixey
  • Patent number: 12012245
    Abstract: A bag processing machine includes: a rotation body which is intermittently rotated; a plurality of holding units which are attached to the rotation body and are moved along a circular movement path in accordance with rotation of the rotation body, the movement path being divided into a plurality of processing sections; a fixation support member which is positioned above the rotation body and does not rotate by rotation of the rotation body; and two or more processing devices which are supported by the fixation support member and perform processes on bags held by the plurality of holding units in two or more processing sections respectively of the plurality of processing sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: PACRAFT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kakue Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 12011906
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes various methods of wrapping an item, such as harvested agricultural material, including steps such as unrolling a wrapping material portion from a roll of wrapping material portions, the unrolling starting at a leading end of the wrapping material portion and continuing along a length of the portion towards a trailing end of the portion, each wrapping material portion including a base film, a first adhesive substrate including a bottom adhesive surface attached to a first side of the base film of the wrapping material portion adjacent to the perforation, an outwardly facing first adhesive surface covered by a first release liner with a second adhesive surface facing outwardly and attached to a second side of the base film of the wrapping material portion when on the roll, and further unrolling the wrapping material portion from the roll of wrapping material portions such that the first release liner separates from the first adhesive surface, the first release liner remaining at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Tama Group
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Castillo, Jason Boyd
  • Patent number: 11998256
    Abstract: A method is provided for sterile packaging of a Kirschner wire (K-wire) and cap for shipping and storage, such that the K-wire and cap may be removed from the sterile packaging and used during a surgery. The method comprises sterile packaging the K-wire into a first container, sterile packaging the cap into a second container, and then bundling the first and second containers into a third container. In some embodiments, the first container may be comprised of a sterile interior environment within a double tube container, and the second container may be comprised of peel pouch configured to be unsealed during the surgery. In some embodiments, the K-wire and the cap may be placed together onto a mounting card that is then sterile packaged into a peel pouch that may be unsealed during the surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Rebecca Hawkins Wahl, Alan G. Taylor
  • Patent number: 11999510
    Abstract: A shipping and storage stand for an airplane auxiliary power unit (APU) comprises a support stand assembly that is secured to a rectangular heavy-duty plastic crate. The crate lid is removeable, and the sides can be folded down or removed for APU access. The embodied support stand assembly holds an airplane APU by the designed lift points. The support stand assembly is placed within and bolted to a rectangular crate. The support stand assembly includes an engine cradle frame and shock isolators connected to an anchor frame. The outer crate provides two high stacking. A moisture and dust bag is included for long term storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Henderson
  • Patent number: 11993443
    Abstract: A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis, and at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion. The pressure panel is movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container. The standing surface defines a standing plane, and the entire pressure panel is located between the standing plane and the upper portion of the container when the pressure panel is in the outwardly-inclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: CO2PAC Limited
    Inventors: David Melrose, John Denner, Paul Kelley, Gregory Trude
  • Patent number: 11987406
    Abstract: Machine for stabilising palletised loads includes a functional arrangement, a first movement apparatus generating relative motion about a revolution axis, a second movement apparatus generating relative translation motion of the functional arrangement in a direction parallel to the revolution axis. The functional arrangement includes a support shaft, a motorised drive roller, a contrast roller, and actuator members to create relative movement between the drive roller and the contrast roller in transversal direction with respect to the respective rotation axes between a distanced configuration, in which a gap is defined between the drive roller and the contrast roller to be crossed with clearance by the covering tape unwinding from the reel, and a neared configuration, in which the drive and contrast rollers clamp the covering tape. The support shaft and the contrast and/or drive rollers are mounted on the functional arrangement and oriented in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: A.C.M.I.—SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Giacomo Magri, Giorgio Oppici
  • Patent number: 11987486
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for processing containers. The system may include an apparatus for processing sealed plastic containers having a first headspace pressure. The apparatus may include: an open entry port or tunnel for continuously receiving containers; a sanitizer configured to sanitize outside surfaces of the received containers; a perforator configured to perforate or open a cap or seal of the containers within the apparatus; a sealer configured to seal the perforation or opening formed in the cap or seal of the containers; an open exit port or tunnel for continuously exiting the processed containers; and a conveyor system configured to transport or convey the containers. The system may further include a production line including a filler for filling empty blow-moulded containers with a heated liquid to pasteurize inside surfaces of the containers and a capper for sealing the filled blow moulded containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: DAVID MELROSE DESIGN LIMITED
    Inventors: David Murray Melrose, Campbell Melrose-Allen
  • Patent number: 11981465
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for processing structured tissue material to form a compressed bundle of folded tissues. A web of at least one ply of structured tissue is subjected to a destructuring operation before folding with itself or with another similar web to form a stack. The stack can then be compressed to form the compressed bundle at a pressure that is less than would have been the case, had the structured tissue not first been destructured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLA
    Inventors: Hans Wallenius, Ingela Ljusegren