Patents Examined by Stephen F. Gerrity
  • Patent number: 11926490
    Abstract: Apparatus extracting, from trays, bottles with mouths facing downwards includes an advancement line stopping the trays at a rest station; a handling organ; and a bottle pickup and transfer mechanism having a suction plate, with suction seats receiving and retaining the bottles internally. A frame with a housing receives and releasably retains the suction plate. The frame rotates about a first axis to a first operating position near the rest station and to a second operating position near the handling organ. Grippers and moving mechanisms pick up and move the suction plate above the tray with the seated bottles, raise the plate with the bottles, and then position the plate at the housing in the first operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Marchesini Group S.P.A.
    Inventor: Dario Anatrini
  • Patent number: 11919667
    Abstract: A sheet storage apparatus and a sheet handling apparatus that allow attaching or removing of a storage bag with a simple structure and less space are provided. The sheet storage apparatus of the present disclosure includes an attachment unit including an attachment portion to which a storage bag for sheets is attached, a moving unit that moves the sheets toward an inside of the storage bag, and a first slide unit that slides at least any one of the attachment unit and the moving unit such that a relative position between the attachment unit and the moving unit is changed between a first position in which the attachment portion is covered with the moving unit and a second position in which the attachment portion is exposed to allow attaching or removing of the storage bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GLORY LTD.
    Inventor: Yoichi Takemura
  • Patent number: 11919666
    Abstract: A strapping tool is disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the strapping tool includes a motive power source and a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes a first punch and a die, the first punch and die configured to crimp or cut a notch in a strapping seal member and a piece of strapping so as to secure the piece of strapping around a package or bundle of items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Golden Bear LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Robert Sikora, Charles Russell Patzer
  • Patent number: 11918214
    Abstract: A shipping wedge (10) for a staple cartridge includes a body (12), an elongate fin (22), at least one tooth (32), and a knife stop (20). The elongate fin (22) is supported on a bottom surface (16) of the body (12). The tooth (32) extends from the bottom surface (16) on the proximal portion of the body (12) and is positioned to be received within a recess formed in the staple cartridge (102). The knife stop (20) extends from a top surface (14) of the proximal end of the body and is positioned to obstruct movement of a knife bar (122) of the staple cartridge (102) when the shipping wedge (10) is attached to the staple cartridge (102). A sled stop member (26) extends from the bottom surface (16) on the proximal portion of the body (12) of the shipping wedge (10) and is positioned to obstruct movement of an actuation sled of the staple cartridge (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Qianhong Yang, Hui Zhan
  • Patent number: 11912481
    Abstract: A removable sealing strip and method is provided for sealing a lid removably secured to a top portion of a container. The removable sealing strip includes a strip removably affixed to a substrate and has a first portion extending from a first end thereof, a second portion extending from the first portion, and a third portion extending between the second portion of the strip and a second end thereof. The strip is foldable along a fold line such that an inner surface of the first portion of strip binds to an to inner surface of the second portion of the strip so as to define a tab on the strip. The inner surface of the third portion of the strip is affixable to the lid and to the top portion of the container to substantially inhibits removal of the lid from the top portion of the container. The tab is configured to facilitate removal of the third portion of the strip from the lid and the top portion of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kenco Label & Tag Co., LLC
    Inventors: Aharon A. Karan, Tzvi Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 11912450
    Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging products in cartons including a product feed for feeding products, wherein the products have a length P, wherein the product feed has a stacking apparatus that stacks a first group of products, which are positioned next to one another in a row with a length R, vertically above or below a second group of products, which are likewise positioned next to one another in a row with a length R that is a multiple of the length P, wherein a product slot is positioned at the end of the product feed, at which product slot stacked rows of products with the length R are collected, wherein a slide with a length S is positioned at the product slot, and slides the stacked rows of products having a length that at least corresponds to the length S in a substantially horizontal sliding direction into a carton at a carton packing station, wherein the length S is shorter than the length R by at least one times the length P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Carsten Schürkamp
  • Patent number: 11911032
    Abstract: A replaceable staple cartridge is disclosed which is seatable in a jaw of a surgical stapling instrument. If the staple cartridge is not fully seated in the jaw, the closure of the surgical stapling instrument will fully seat the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chester O. Baxter, III, Michael J. Stokes
  • Patent number: 11912456
    Abstract: A bagmaking and packaging device includes a transverse sealing unit, a first tube member, and a gas flow path member. The first tube member is disposed above the transverse sealing unit and extends in an up and down direction. The first tube member allows a packaging material to become wrapped around it to thereby form the packaging material into a tubular shape. At least part of the gas flow path member is disposed inside the first tube member. The gas flow path member delivers nitrogen into the packaging material formed into the tubular shape. The first tube member includes a cutout portion that extends in the up and down direction. The cutout portion is formed so that the nitrogen can move between a space between the packaging material formed into the tubular shape and the first tube member and the inside space of the first tube member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Yamane, Makoto Ichikawa, Satoshi Hashimoto, Ryuichi Kurosawa, Rintaro Moritani
  • Patent number: 11912506
    Abstract: A modular, scalable prescription dispensing and verification system includes a four-tiered central conveyor, dispensing control system with stored patient orders for creating dispensing and routing itineraries, carriers transporting itineraries and dispensed medications, induction station, pairs of processing stations divided by the conveyor, including automated and manual dispensing, verification, cold chain, and ambient packaging. Crossover conveyors transport carriers between dispensing station pair members for dispensing multiple products per station pair. One conveyor tier returns empty carriers to induction, another transports carriers from each dispensing station to verification, then to packaging, another transports carriers from induction to dispensing, then to additional dispensing, another conveys carriers from induction to dispensing stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Tension International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Terzini, Kenneth S. Myers
  • Patent number: 11903582
    Abstract: A surgical device having at least one rotary input screw in the end effector is provided. A rotary input screw can extend through a central longitudinal portion of the end effector. The end effector can include an improved closure system, firing systems, leveraging and alignment features between the staple cartridge and the surgical device, staple cartridges having multi-staple drivers, single-firing knifes and lockout/safety features for the same, and/or modified staple patterns, for example. Certain components can be 3D-printed components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Chester O. Baxter, III, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Adam D. Hensel
  • Patent number: 11905104
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of making an aerosol container. A polymeric container may be provided. The container may have a closed end bottom and a neck longitudinally opposed to the closed end bottom. The container has an internal container volume. A valve and a bag may be provided and a portion of the valve and the bag may be disposed within the container. The bag has a first bag volume. A portion of the at least one of the neck and the bag may contact a portion of the valve to form a temporary seal. Propellant may be introduced into the container. The bag may be collapsed from the first bag volume to a second bag volume. The pressure of the propellant and the pressure within the bag equilibrate. The valve may be joined to the container and the propellant may be sealed within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert Paul Cassoni, Matthew Aaron Neumann
  • Patent number: 11905154
    Abstract: A capping plant (10) for capping containers (100) made of thermoplastic material, includes a capping unit (11) of a rotating carousel type comprising a plurality of capping stations (111) and a first profile (114) arranged so as to contact a part of a tubular body (100a) of the containers (100) which is exposed towards an outside of the rotating carousel of the capping unit (11); a star-wheel (12) located downstream of the capping unit (11); an outfeed conveyor (13) located downstream of the star-wheel (12); a connection cross-member (17) between the first profile (14) and the outfeed conveyor (13), the outfeed conveyor (13) is integrally constrained to a first portion (17a) of the connection cross-member (17) and the first profile (114) is integrally constrained to a second portion (17b) of the connection cross-member (17); an actuating device (18) configured to adjust the height of the connection cross-member (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GEA PROCOMAC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gianmaria Raboini, Vittorio Bellini
  • Patent number: 11905053
    Abstract: A biodegradable whole leaf pillow tea bag is provided, along with a system and method for manufacturing biodegradable whole leaf pillow tea bags. The method for manufacturing the whole leaf pillow tea bags includes the steps of providing a biodegradable infusion substrate having two opposing edge; creating a sleeve from the biodegradable infusion substrate by infusing the two opposing edges of the substrate together and closing the sleeve at its bottom; placing whole leaf tea in the bottom of the sleeve; vertically feeding the sleeve containing the whole leaf tea into a heat sealing machine that will, at predetermined intervals create heat seals across the sleeve to create pillow bags; cutting the pillow bags from one another across the heat seal. In one example, the biodegradable infusion substrate may contain hemp and/or the whole leaf tea may be infused with CBD oil or other supplements. The same method of manufacturing may be used to create a biodegradable pillow bag containing coffee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Vanessa Braxton
  • Patent number: 11896224
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a staple cartridge for a surgical instrument having a staple and a staple pusher. The staple pusher has a recess forming a pocket in its top surface for receiving at least the backspan of the staple. The pocket is at least partially surrounded by a circumferential supporting element in the staple pusher body to support the backspan. The pocket provides additional vertical space and support for the staple such that a smaller staple cartridge may provide a substantially similar performance as conventional staple cartridges, allowing for a more compact and maneuverable surgical instrument. In addition, the pocket in the staple pusher allows for a staple having a larger bend radius than conventional staples, thereby providing additional support for the staple and minimizing malformation of the staple during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Ashley Wellman
  • Patent number: 11897653
    Abstract: An applicator assembly (100) for closing a sample container (500) with a plug (16) is proposed. The applicator assembly comprises a magazine (102) configured to store a string (10) comprising polymer-based material, an insertion device (104) configured to insert an end piece (12) of the string at least partly into an opening (502) of the sample container (500), and a drive system (106) configured to supply at least a part of the string (10) from the magazine (102) to the insertion device (104). The applicator assembly further comprises a separator (108) configured to separate the end piece (12) from the string, such that the end piece (12) forms a plug (16) closing the sample container (500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Bruggaier, Diana Illichmann
  • Patent number: 11890014
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device (10) is disclosed including a tool assembly (16) having an anvil assembly (24) and a cartridge assembly (26). The cartridge assembly (26) includes ridges (46) or protrusions (46) formed along peripheral walls of the cartridge assembly (26) to grip and stabilize tissue clamped between the anvil and cartridge assemblies (24,26). The ridges (46) serve as grippers to prevent the tissue from moving during staple formation in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. Improved staple formation can be achieved by stabilizing the tissue during staple formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Xiao Zhou
  • Patent number: 11890011
    Abstract: A tool assembly includes an anvil and a cartridge assembly movable from an open position to a closed position, and a locking member movably supported on a distal portion of the cartridge assembly. The locking member is configured to move into a slot of the anvil as the anvil and cartridge assembly move toward the closed position to set a gap distance between the anvil and cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Sabastian K. George, Mohan T. Chiruvolu
  • Patent number: 11890009
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a body portion and a tool assembly. The body portion includes a base member that defines a longitudinal slot and spaced keyways. The tool assembly includes a mounting member that defines a channel having an open end that is dimensioned to receive the base member of the body portion. The mounting member includes locking tabs that are positioned within the channel. Each of the locking tabs is configured to be received within one of the spaced keyways of the base member to releasably secure the tool assembly to the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: John W. Beardsley
  • Patent number: 11883023
    Abstract: A tissue fastening device includes a body including a plurality of sidewalls defining a channel, an anvil having a proximal end and a distal end and pivotally coupled to the body and the anvil moves between an open position and a closed position, and a locking mechanism to lock the anvil in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc
    Inventors: Ramon Estevez, Paul Smith, Kathryn Venuto, Christopher R. Deuel, Douglas Melanson, Ian Bourdon
  • Patent number: 11884437
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in delivering cup-like containers to a container receiving path of a packaging station includes: a first infeed tower and a second infeed tower, each of the first infeed tower and the second infeed tower having: a stationary upper segment and a movable lower segment, wherein the movable lower segment is movable between a load position, in alignment with the stationary upper segment for receiving cup-like containers from the stationary upper segment, and an unload position, in alignment with the container receiving path for delivering cup-like containers to the container receiving path; a transfer gate controllable to block feed of cup-like containers from the stationary upper segment down into the movable lower segment; and an outlet gate controllable to block feed of cup-like containers down out of the movable lower segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: RENNCO LLC
    Inventor: Brian C. Bowerman