Patents Examined by Stephen F. Gerrity
  • Patent number: 12214916
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine arrangement, in particular for processing pharmaceutical products, comprising a processing station (2) for filling and sealing containers, in particular with pharmaceutical products, a handling device (3) for feeding and removing the containers into the machine arrangement, wherein the handling device (3) is designed to feed and remove containers only from exactly one side of the machine arrangement into the machine arrangement, wherein the processing station (2) has at least one work region (4) for receiving an empty container, at which the empty container is filled and sealed, wherein the processing station (2) has at least one storage region (5) for the temporary storage of filled and sealed containers, and wherein the handling device (3) is designed to feed empty containers to the processing station (2) and remove filled and sealed containers from the storage region (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Syntegon Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Schwandt, Steffen Haefelein, Bjoern Krause, Christopher Klemm, Andreas Kuba, Sebastian Gran
  • Patent number: 12213667
    Abstract: Surgical stapler systems can include lockout mechanisms to restrict further movement of a jaw assembly and provide different functionality when a jaw assembly is empty and when a partially or fully fired reload cartridge is present in the jaw assembly. When the jaw assembly is empty, the empty jaw assembly lockout mechanism can arrest an open-close stroke of the jaw assembly. When an at least partially fired reload is present in the jaw assembly, a fired reload lockout mechanism can allow operation of the jaw assembly through a substantial portion of an open-close stroke, but restrict actuation of the jaw assembly in a firing stroke. The separate lockout mechanisms can be embodied in a single lockout lever actuatable by lockout actuators to three distinct positions or by two independently-operable lockout levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. B. Roberts, Timothy M. Hopkins, Quinton A. Quintana
  • Patent number: 12214919
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tape packing apparatus and method. The tape packing apparatus including: a supporting frame; a drive unit configured to install on the supporting frame; a tape head pressing arm configured to install on the supporting frame and connected to the drive unit, and the drive unit configured to drive the tape head pressing arm to move to a packing position such that the tap head is pressed onto an object to be packed; a cutting module configured to install on the supporting frame and connected with the driving unit, and the driving unit is constructed to drive the cutting module to the packing position to cut the tape. The tape packing apparatus provided by the embodiment of the present invention has good packing effect, can effectively shortens the packing time, has high packing efficiency, and saves manpower and costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventor: Meng Hsiu Wu
  • Patent number: 12202056
    Abstract: A drill (1) for drilling railway sleepers comprises a support structure (2), a motor unit (3) supported by the support structure (2), a handle (4) connected to the support structure (2), at least one control member (5) arranged at the handle (4) for actuating the motor (3), a spindle (7) supported by the support structure (2) and operable by the motor (3), to rotate about a spindle axis (16), wherein a drilling tip (8) can be coupled to said spindle, a protective casing (11) connected to the support structure (2) and sliding in the direction of the spindle axis (16) between an axially protracted position, in which it envelops the tip (8) and an axially retracted position, in which the tip (8) protrudes from the protective casing (11), wherein the handle (4) comprises two gripping portions (36, 37), for the user's two hands, situated on two diametrically opposite sides of the drill (1) with respect to the spindle axis (16), and the motor unit (3) comprises an electric motor which can be powered by means of a r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Cembre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gualtiero Barezzani, Michele Orizio
  • Patent number: 12202659
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of producing a packaging container for bulk solids. The packaging container has an inner compartment and a transport closure closing the inner compartment, the transport closure being provided with a pressure relief valve, the method includes the steps of forming a tubular container body having an upper body opening; presenting the container body to an upper body opening sealing station comprising a plunger piston comprising a bottom plate, the bottom plate having a through hole; closing the upper body opening by pressing the transport closure into the upper body opening such that a pressure above an ambient pressure is produced within the tubular container body, allowing gas to exit the valve and the valve to be pre-conditioned; and attaching the transport closure to the container body wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: GPI Systems AB
    Inventor: Simon Holka
  • Patent number: 12202227
    Abstract: A polymeric film includes a polyester substrate layer and a heat-sealable polymeric layer disposed on one surface of the polyester substrate layer. In some cases, the heat-sealable polymeric layer includes a copolyester A having a glass transition temperature Tg(A) in an amount WA and a copolyester B having a glass transition temperature Tg(B) in an amount WB. In certain cases, (i) WA>WB; (ii) WA is at least 50 wt % by total weight of the heat-sealable polymeric layer; (iii) WB is at least 10 wt % by total weight of the heat-sealable polymeric layer; (iv) Tg(A)>Tg(B); (v) Tg(B) is in the range of ?35° C. to ?10° C.; and (vi) Tg(A) is in the range of ?15° C. to 5° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Mylar Specialty Films U.S. Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Shengsheng Liu, Nebojsa Pantelic
  • Patent number: 12195219
    Abstract: There is provided an automatic medicine packing machine for automatically packing medicines on a dose basis according to prescription information. The automatic medicine packing machine includes a medicine cassette mounting part in which a plurality of medicine cassettes for supplying the medicines are mounted; a medicine collecting part configured to collect the medicines supplied according to the prescription information; a medicine packing part configured to pack the medicines collected by the medicine collecting part on the dose basis; a medicine cassette storage part in which a plurality of medicine cassettes are placed and stored; and a medicine cassette replacement system configured to grip the medicine cassette and replace the medicine cassette between the medicine cassette mounting part and the medicine cassette storage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: JVM CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jun-ho Kim
  • Patent number: 12195224
    Abstract: An apparatus for the production and filling of food containers includes at least one device for forming a sheet made of polymeric material to provide accommodation receptacles which have at least one access opening, at least one filling unit adapted to fill, through the access opening, the accommodation receptacles with at least one type of food, and at least one sealing unit to seal the access opening with a closure film. The apparatus includes at least one device for removing portions, and at least one laser emitter for providing a weakening portion at a respective connecting edge between adjacent accommodation receptacles. The polymeric material is chosen from polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene and copolymers thereof. The apparatus includes a first section which accommodates the filling unit, the sealing unit, and the device for removing portions, and a second section, separate from the first section, which accommodates the laser emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: SACMI IMOLA S.C.
    Inventors: Gianni Minganti, Fiorenzo Parrinello, Alberto Di Giacomo
  • Patent number: 12185947
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling an end effector include a computer-assisted device having a drive system configured to actuate a moveable element to a first commanded position and a control unit coupled to the drive system. The control unit is configured to actuate, using the drive system, the moveable element to the first commanded position. The control unit is further configured to monitor a force or torque applied by the drive system to actuate the moveable element to the first commanded position, determine a force or torque limit for the drive system based on the monitored force or torque applied by the drive system in response to determining that the moveable element has reached a first position, and further actuate the moveable element to a second commanded position while limiting a force or torque applied by the drive system based on the determined force or torque limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: J. Scot Hart
  • Patent number: 12187477
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pick-fill-seal type dual lane premade pouch packing machine (200) that reduces the setup time and allows flexibility to change the gripper width as per the pouch size. The machine (200) comprises a plurality of gripper assemblies (150) linearly mounted on two indexing assemblies (110A, 110B) driven by two independent driving mechanisms wherein first gripper fingers (120) are mounted on the first indexing assembly (110A) and second gripper fingers (130) are mounted on the second indexing assembly (110B). Cam followers (140) are fitted on the gripper assemblies (150) either on upper side or lower side thereof such that gripper assemblies (150) with upper side cam-followers (140) and lower side cam-followers (140) are arranged alternately. The independence of cam motion from the indexing assemblies (110A, 110B) allows the indexing distance to be reduced which results in reduction in the machine length and the floor space required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventor: Abhijit Salpe
  • Patent number: 12187468
    Abstract: A mattress packaging device includes a first packaging device and a second packaging device, where the first packaging device includes a first folding and vertical sealing mechanism and two corner sealing mechanisms, the first folding and vertical sealing mechanism is configured for folding and vertically sealing a packaging material opening at the end of a mattress, and the corner sealing mechanisms are configured for folding and transversely sealing front corner and rear corner of packaging material on two sides of the mattress; the second packaging device includes two second folding and vertical sealing mechanisms and two first transverse sealing mechanisms, the second folding and vertical sealing mechanisms are configured for folding and vertically sealing the packaging material on two sides of the mattress, and the two first transverse sealing mechanisms are configured for transversely sealing the packaging material on two sides of the mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Guangzhou Lianrou Machinery & Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jie Liang, Zhiming Tan, Zhiliang Tan
  • Patent number: 12187473
    Abstract: A drying agent bag shaping and pushing device are provided, wherein a transverse moving block is slidably connected to a transverse moving rail, a short connecting block is connected to a long connecting block, a shaping platform is connected to a short connecting block, a lifting frame is provided on the shaping platform, lifting cylinders are connected to two sides of the lifting frame, a clamping cylinder is fixedly connected to a bottom surface of the lifting frame, a clamping plate connecting plate is connected to a cylinder connecting plate, a clamping plate is connected to the clamping plate connecting plate, a positioning plate is provided between the clamping plates, a front end and a rear end of the positioning plate are connected to two sides of the lifting frame, and a material pushing mechanism is provided on a side of the shaping platform away from the traverse moving rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Zhejiang Darcet Technology Co, Ltd
    Inventors: Boon Wah Soh, Yankun Cai
  • Patent number: 12187482
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus for small piece goods, the use of the packaging apparatus, and a method for producing a blister tube are provided. The packaging apparatus includes a packaging material guiding device for providing a shaped packaging material web suitable for receiving small piece goods, a longitudinal joining device which is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device and a transverse joining device which is arranged downstream of the packaging material guiding device. The transverse joining device joins the shaped packaging material web together at predetermined intervals transversely to the direction of travel to form a transverse joining area. The transverse joining device includes two joiners, a first joiner having a plurality of embossers that are individually movable transversely to the direction of travel and are arranged so that they can be extended from the first joiner and retracted into the first joiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Torben Schüttfort
  • Patent number: 12187529
    Abstract: A compressed hollow coreless roll of absorbent paper sheet produced by way of providing a roll of absorbent paper sheet by winding the sheet about a forming core member having a diameter in the range of 30 mm to 50 mm; removing the forming core member such that there is provided a hollow coreless roll of absorbent paper sheet with an axial cavity having a diameter in the range of 30 mm to 50 mm and compressing the hollow coreless roll such that the axial cavity is substantially collapsed. The compressed hollow coreless rolls are readily re-formed into cylindrical shape. Space-saving packages of the rolls are overwrapped with tubular polymer film to provide a flexible reconfigurable package of a series of individually encased rolls. Volume reductions of about 10 to about 20%, about 14% to about 20%, 30%, 40% and more as compared with conventional products are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventors: Sarah A. Lemke, Douglas E. Robinson, Thomas J. Daul, Pamela S. Mueller
  • Patent number: 12179986
    Abstract: Method for processing hot-filled plastic containers are provided. In some embodiments, the method may include hot-filling a plastic container, sealing the container, and conveying the sealed container, each with an inner annular wall and a push-up portion in a first position. In some embodiments, the method may further include creating a vacuum pressure in the hot-filled and sealed container and repositioning the push-up portion from the first position to a second position under a mechanical force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: CO2PAC Limited
    Inventors: David Melrose, John Denner, Paul Kelley, Gregory Trude
  • Patent number: 12180055
    Abstract: A method and a device for hot-filling a liquid product with a flash pasteurizer comprising a first and a second heat exchanger, a filling station, a cooling tunnel for cooling filled containers, and a heat pump. Prior to the filling process, the product is heated to a target temperature in the flash pasteurizer. Coolant is conducted from the cooling tunnel to the second heat exchanger, so that at least a part of the thermal energy of the coolant can be transferred to the product. The product is then conducted from the first to the second heat exchanger, wherein a further part of the thermal energy can be transferred to the second heat exchanger by the heat pump using a heat transfer medium to heat the product to the target temperature. The heat transfer medium is additionally heated by a heater arranged between the heat pump and the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Thomas Oehmichen
  • Patent number: 12179954
    Abstract: A system for assembling a container and closure comprising an expanding collet which has a plurality of pivoting collet segments, each configured to simultaneously pivot radially outward about a pivot point and comprising. The collet comprises a lip that is engagable with the rim of the open end of the container and an angled tip positioned radially inward from the lip and shaped to press a countersink portion of the closure against an interior wall of the container as the collet segments pivot radially outward. As the container and the chuck are brought together, the rim engages with the lips of the collet segments and causes the angled tips of the collet segments to pivot outward toward the interior wall of the container, thereby pushing the countersink portion of the closure against the interior wall of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor Price, James J. Peoples
  • Patent number: 12171428
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a drive member visualization assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, and a drive member capable of actuating along a firing stroke to fire a plurality of staples out of the staple cartridge or to sever tissue. The drive member visualization assembly provides an electronic indication linked to a physical location of the drive member within the upper jaw and the lower jaw during the firing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait, Curtis A. Maples
  • Patent number: 12168539
    Abstract: A high-precision vertical turnover machine for packaging a photovoltaic assembly includes a first drum conveyor line, a horizontal transfer mechanism driving the first drum conveyor line to move left and right between a receiving station and a first turnover station, a first turnover mechanism located on the left side of the first drum conveyor line, a second turnover mechanism located on the left side of the first turnover mechanism, a distance detecting sensor detecting the distance of the front surface of the photovoltaic assembly on the first turnover mechanism or the distance of the rear surface of the photovoltaic assembly on the first turnover mechanism, and a lifting correction transfer mechanism moving, according to a detection result of the distance detecting sensor, the photovoltaic assembly on the first turnover mechanism to a second turnover station and placing the photovoltaic assembly on the second turnover mechanism precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: SUZHOU SC-SOLAR EQUIPMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shuai Fu, Yuelong Huang, Hongfeng He, Guoliang Zu
  • Patent number: 12162179
    Abstract: System and method for producing resilient planks are described. A die punch press is provided to receive and die punch resilient slabs into planks. Die punching the resilient slabs into plural planks can sometimes create a deformity on at least one bottom edge of the plank. The planks are then automatically conveyed from the die punch press to a shaping tool. The shaping tool receives individual planks and forms at least one bevel in the respective plank removing the deformity. The planks can then be stacked and prepared for shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Shaw Industries Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Robert Grunewald