Patents Examined by Thanh K Truong
  • Patent number: 11738894
    Abstract: A cyclic packaging process, such as VFFS or HFFS, packages a product with a viscosity of ?100,000 centipoise without leaving substantial air pockets in the package, by utilizing a means (38) for restricting upstream flow of viscous product in the strand of tubing (24). The result is that packages of uniform weight of the viscous product can be made without substantial air pockets therein, and without having to use metal clips. An apparatus (10) for carrying out the process is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Cryovac, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Gray Caudle, Matthew F. Ellis, Csaba F. Kiss, Joseph E. Moon, Dwight H. Smith, Michael P. Daly
  • Patent number: 11731792
    Abstract: A kitting machine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the machine includes an actuator configured to move a surface or receptacle to a position associated with item retrieval; and a controller configured to control operation of the actuator to position an item in the position associated with item retrieval, in a manner that is synchronized at least in part with operation of a robotic retrieval device configured to retrieve the item from the position associated with item retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Dexterity, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir Menon, Gerald Brantner, Zhouwen Sun, Robert Hegdahl, Kevin Jose Chavez
  • Patent number: 11717292
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a tissue fastening device may include a handle assembly including at least two actuators. The tissue fastening device may also include a first body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis. The tissue fastening device may also include a fastening device coupled to a distal end of the first body. The fastening device may include a longitudinal body including a channel, a cartridge configured to include a plurality of fasteners, a longitudinal channel configured to receive a device for cutting tissue, an anvil rotatable relative to the cartridge, and a fastener actuator. The fastener actuator may be coupled to one actuator of the at least two actuators and configured to move proximally relative to the cartridge to deploy the plurality of fasteners from the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Smith, Ramon Estevez, Allyn Narcisse Jensrud, Laura Christakis, Alec Orlofsky, Mingxiang Xu, Samuel Raybin, Daniel Peter, John B. Golden
  • Patent number: 11696755
    Abstract: A stapling device includes an adapter assembly and a reload assembly that includes a reload release mechanism that is movable from a locked position in which the reload assembly is locked onto the adapter assembly to an unlocked position in which the reload assembly can be removed from the adapter assembly. The adapter assembly of the stapling device includes a lockout that prevents movement of the reload release mechanism to the unlocked position unless the stapling device is in a non-articulated, unfired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Justin P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11679484
    Abstract: A hand-held power tool includes a drive unit configured to drive an insertion tool in at least one non-percussive operating mode. The drive unit includes a percussion mechanism for percussive driving of the insertion tool in an associated percussion mode. The hand-held power tool further include a user guidance unit configured to be actuated by a user and a communication interface configured to communicate with the user guidance unit and to receive, from the user guidance unit, changeover instructions for changing over the drive unit between the at least one non-percussive operating mode and the associated percussion mode in an application-specific manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Bantle, Thomas Duerr, Juergen Gairing
  • Patent number: 11673699
    Abstract: A method is described of filling and/or sealing a packaging container. The packaging container can include a packaging laminate and having a top portion and a lower portion including one or more side walls and an open base. The method can include: supporting the packaging container with the open base uppermost on a support with an upstanding portion, wherein the support engages the top portion of the packaging container and engages part of the one or more side walls via the upstanding portion of the support; and filling the packaging container via its open base and/or sealing the open base of the packaging container, wherein the support ensures dimensional stability of the packaging container during the filling and/or sealing step. A related apparatus, support and packaging container are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Joel Jönsson
  • Patent number: 11667017
    Abstract: A drive-in tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece, wherein the tool comprises in particular: a safety device (8) which is coupled with the trigger element (6) and is set up to bring about a transfer of the drive-in tool (1) from a trip-ready state (100) into a secured state (101) after expiry (820) of a delay time which proceeds from an activation (810) of the safety device (8), wherein the safety device (8) comprises a control volume (15), wherein the safety device (8) comprises an activation element (33) which is changeable between a first and a second position by way of the trigger element (6), wherein in the first position of the activation element (33) a first pneumatic connection is defined between the control volume (15) and the gas pressure source connection (23), which is hereafter referred to as charging connection (27.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Olaf Hähndel
  • Patent number: 11660106
    Abstract: Devices and methods for articulating a distal end of a surgical device are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the device includes an articulation joint that includes both an inner guide and an outer sleeve. The inner guide includes one channel extending therethrough that receives both a cutting mechanism and a closure band. Further, an outer surface of the inner guide, in conjunction with the outer sleeve, can define two additional channels that each receive an articulation band for articulating an end effector coupled to the articulation joint. The outer surface of the inner guide can include a plurality of ribs that also help define the two additional channels. Further, the outer sleeve can include a plurality of slots formed in it to improve flexibility and stability. Additional configurations of articulation joints, and configurations of components of a surgical device, are also provided, as are methods for using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Barry C. Worrell, Randolph C. Stewart, Geoffrey S. Strobl
  • Patent number: 11648655
    Abstract: Kickback control methods for power tools. One power tool includes a movement sensor configured to measure an angular velocity of the housing of the power tool, and an orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of the housing. The power tool includes an electronic processor coupled to a switching network and a trigger. To implement the kickback control, the electronic processor is configured to receive measurements of the angular velocity of the housing, receive measurements of the orientation of the housing, determine a binding condition of the power tool based on the measurements of the angular velocity and the measurements of orientation, and control the switching network to cease driving of the brushless DC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Abbott, Timothy R. Obermann, John S. Dey, IV, Benjamin R. Suhr, Richard A. Ryer, Maxwell L. Merget, Douglas R. Fieldbinder
  • Patent number: 11633839
    Abstract: A safety device for tackers includes a safety slide slidably connected to the outlet of the tacker and the safety slide has a stop protruding from the inside thereof. The rod has one end contacts the stop and the other end of the rod has a plastic tip connected thereto. An ignition spring is connected between the plastic tip and a safety switch. A recovery spring is connected to another position of the rod to position the rod. The safety slide is slidably connected to grooves of the tacker. When the safety slide contacts against an object to be stapled, the rod is pushed by the stop and activates the ignition spring to activate the safety switch so as to reduce the impact of the rod and the safety switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Pelletier
  • Patent number: 11628957
    Abstract: A station for feeding closing seals for containers includes at least one fixed magazine of seals which is provided with an outlet from which the seals can be taken individually. The station further includes a carousel for feeding seals which can rotate with respect to a first central rotation axis and is provided with pickers which are radially spaced apart from the first rotation axis. The pickers are individually rotatable about a second rotation axis which is not parallel to the first axis of the carousel. During rotation of the carousel, at least one picker is configured to rotate about the second axis from a position for taking the seal from the magazine to a position for releasing the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A IN SIGLA IMA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Filippo Furlotti
  • Patent number: 11612993
    Abstract: A hand-held impact tool includes a motor, a driving mechanism, a tool body, a main handle, a first detection part, a second detection part and a control part. The tool body is configured such that an auxiliary handle is removably attached thereto. The main handle is connected to the tool body. The first detection part is configured to detect selected one of a plurality of modes. The second detection part is configured to detect whether or not the auxiliary handle is attached to the tool body. The control part is configured to control operation of the impact tool based on detection results of the first detection part and the second detection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hitoshi Iida
  • Patent number: 11607790
    Abstract: Kickback control methods for power tools. One power tool includes a movement sensor configured to measure an angular velocity of the housing of the power tool about the rotational axis. The power tool includes an electronic processor coupled to the switching network and the movement sensor and configured to implement kickback control of the power tool. To implement the kickback control, the electronic processor is configured to control the switching network to drive the brushless DC motor, receive measurements of the angular velocity of the housing of the power tool from the movement sensor, determine that a plurality of the measurements of the angular velocity of the housing of the power tool exceed a rotation speed threshold, and control the switching network to cease driving of the brushless DC motor in response to determining that the plurality of the measurements of the angular velocity exceed the rotation speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Abbott, Timothy R. Obermann, John S. Dey, IV, Benjamin R. Suhr, Richard A. Ryer, Maxwell L. Merget, Douglas R. Fieldbinder
  • Patent number: 11597553
    Abstract: An assembly for producing sealed packaging units (14) from a sheet packaging material, comprises: an advancement device (21) for advancing the sheet packaging material along an advancement direction (F), a longitudinal sealing device for sealing opposite borders of the sheet packaging material along a longitudinal sealing band arranged parallelly to the advancement direction (F), thereby forming a continuous tube (15), a transverse sealing device (29) for sealing the continuous tube (15) transversely to the advancement direction (F), so as to define a sealed packaging unit (14). The transverse sealing device (29) comprises a sealing element (30) and an abutment element (31) that are intended to mutually cooperate during sealing while being located on opposite sides of the continuous tube (15). The sealing element (30) is so configured as to act on a side (27) of the continuous tube (15) on which the longitudinal sealing band is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas Sergio Mancin, Gabriele Schiavi, Luca Gentili, Ivan Orsini
  • Patent number: 11584551
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing packaging, in particular composite packaging for liquid foodstuffs, having a cross-sectional area that decreases in the pour-out direction in the gable region. The packaging is composed of a sleeve having a gable region having a plurality of gable faces and a pouring element. The apparatus has at least one rotatable mandrel wheel having a plurality of mandrels for holding the sleeves. Additionally, a method for producing such packaging and a gable press for use with the aforementioned apparatus. In order to allow easier and more cost-effective production, it is proposed that the apparatus has a gable press, assigned to a single mandrel wheel position, for folding the gable region, for connecting all the gable faces of the gable region of the sleeve to the pouring element and for sealing the protruding ears in the same mandrel wheel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventors: Christoph Kenn, Ralf Driessen, Thomas Vetten, Michael Heil
  • Patent number: 11583986
    Abstract: An air-path structure of a pneumatic nail gun includes a main chamber formed in a gun body, a piston driving chamber and a timekeeping chamber that continuously releases pressurized air to the outside. The gun body is equipped with a trigger valve and a bar valve, and a security chamber and an auxiliary chamber are formed in the trigger valve; the trigger valve controls the pressurized air in the piston driving chamber to be discharged to the outside; and the bar valve controls the pressurized air in the main chamber to go into the piston driving chamber, the timekeeping chamber and the auxiliary chamber. The security chamber is permanently connected to the main chamber for concentrating upon the pressurized air, and the bar valve controls the pressurized air in the main chamber to be discharged into the timekeeping chamber, so as to improve the safety of pneumatic nail gun when used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: DE POAN PNEUMATIC CORP.
    Inventors: I-Tsung Wu, Chia-Sheng Liang, Hai-Lun Ma, Kai-Peng Hsien
  • Patent number: 11576674
    Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a body portion that defines a longitudinal axis and a tool assembly that articulates about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. An articulation link assembly is supported in the body portion and is movable between retracted and advanced positions to pivot the tool assembly between a non-articulated position and articulated positions. The articulation assembly supports an articulation lock assembly that is movable from a locked position to an unlocked position in response to longitudinal movement of the articulation assembly to facilitate articulation of the tool assembly. The articulation lock assembly stabilize the articulation link assembly within the body portion when the surgical stapling device is fired to minimize occurrence of tremors in the tool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Roanit A. Fernandes, K V S Manoj Kumar Vadali
  • Patent number: 11571802
    Abstract: A metal wire may be provided inside a hanger portion extending with an annular shape and which is integrally formed with an outer casing. An electric power tool may be prevented from falling, etc. due to deformation or breakage of the hanger portion by being reinforced by the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Numata, Hideharu Muto, Yasushi Ogura, Kenichi Tabushi
  • Patent number: 11565838
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for expanding and filling plastic parisons to form plastic containers with a liquid medium, with at least one transforming station which has a hollow mould, inside which the plastic parisons can be expanded into plastic containers and can be simultaneously filled by application of a liquid medium, wherein the transforming station is arranged on a carrier and wherein the transforming station has a filling device which feeds the liquid medium to the plastic parisons under pressure, wherein the transforming station has a pressure chamber to which a gas can be applied, wherein for filling of the plastic parisons the filling device can be introduced into the pressure chamber and after the filling can be removed at least partially, and wherein a closing unit can be introduced into the pressure chamber, in order to close the expanded und filled plastic containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventors: Dominik Meier, Andreas Pense, Cora Hanesch, Andreas Vornehm, Christian Betz
  • Patent number: 11554471
    Abstract: An exhaust valve comprising an elastomeric flap portion (e.g. of silicone) covering one or more exhaust ports in a normally closed position for a combustion driven fastener hand tool is disclosed. The elastomeric flap portion is much shorter than a comparable steel reed valve, allowing it to be disposed in small spaces. A single flat piece of elastomeric material can be configured held fixed to a housing surface along a line between one or more pairs of ports such that a flap portion of the material extends to each side of the line and covers one of the pairs of ports. The flat piece can be conveniently held in position against the housing surface by a rib or standoff on the interior surface of an exterior housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Power Tech Staple and Nail, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Wong, Shih-Yi Chen, Chin-Chuan Chen