Patents Examined by Thanh K Truong
  • Patent number: 11286071
    Abstract: A system and a method for packaging compacted powders are provided, wherein the system comprises a first tube (TC), wherein a screw conveyor (C) is positioned inside the first tube (TC) which is configured so as to rotate around an axis (ac) inside the first tube (TC) in order to convey the powders towards an outlet (UT) of the first tube (TC); the system (100) comprises a rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) in the proximity of the output (UT); the rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) comprises in its inside cutting means (F) which are configured so as to cut the compacted powders leaving the first tube (TC) when the rotatable terminal (TI) rotates, wherein the rotatable terminal (TI, TIC) is positioned so as to contact the end of the first tube (TC) which defines the output (UT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ICA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Gino Rapparini
  • Patent number: 11284896
    Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes a surgical stapling apparatus and a staple cartridge surgical buttress assembly. The surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongate tubular body extending distally from the handle assembly, and an end effector extending distally from the elongate tubular body. The end effector includes an anvil assembly and a staple cartridge assembly. The staple cartridge surgical buttress assembly includes a surgical buttress and a leash. The surgical buttress includes a body having an annular configuration and legs extending from the body. The body is positioned against a tissue facing surface of the staple cartridge assembly and the legs are positioned against a housing of the staple cartridge assembly. The leash is threaded through at least one of the legs and extends proximally from the surgical buttress towards the handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Stanislaw Marczyk, Russell Pribanic, Suresh Kumar Prema Mohanasundaram, Rajesh Palakunnath
  • Patent number: 11279016
    Abstract: A system includes first and second power tools that each have a percussion mechanism, a motor, and a transmission. The transmission includes a striking mechanism and is configured to transfer a driving motion of the motor to an insert tool held in a tool holder. The transmission has a guide tube that is identical in some regions along a working axis and accommodates a striker. The guide tube is rotatably coupled to the motor by a first transmission unit. The striker is driven to linearly oscillate by a piston of a second transmission unit. A ratio between a diameter of the tool holder and a diameter of the guide tube is 1.8 times greater in the first power tool than in the second power tool. A striking energy of the second power tool is mechanically reduced compared to a striking energy of the first power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Kurz, Thomas Brinkmann, Lars Schmid, Pascal Schmitz, Hardy Schmid, Patrick Heinen, Jan Koalick
  • Patent number: 11279098
    Abstract: A method reduces the microbiological loading of container products made at least partially of at least one plastic material. As part of a first production process, a plastic granulate (29) is fed to an extruder device (19), which melts the granulate (29). As part of a subsequent production process, the melted granulate is forwarded onto a blow-molding, filling and sealing machine for obtaining the respective container product. At least in parts of the first production process, the plastic material undergoes at least one of the following treatment steps: high-energy radiation and/or plasma treatment and/or a gas having a sterilizing effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: KOCHER-PLASTIK MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Groh, Christoph Bohn, Michael Spallek
  • Patent number: 11259806
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument configured for use with a staple cartridge that contains a plurality of staples configured to be ejected therefrom by a camming assembly supported therein. The surgical stapling instrument includes a first jaw that is configured to removably support the surgical staple cartridge therein. A second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position. A cartridge verification member is configured to block distal advancement of the camming assembly from the unfired position unless the cartridge verification member detects a verification feature on the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chad P. Boudreaux, Jason L. Harris, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Patent number: 11260517
    Abstract: A power tool is provided that, in one version, includes a front housing that supports an output drive, and a back cap located opposite the front housing. The back cap receives at least one fastener of the plurality of fasteners. A motor housing supports a motor and is located between the front housing and the back cap. The motor includes a rotor that is configured to rotate about a motor axis to drive rotation of the output drive. The fastener is disposed through the back cap, and secures to the front housing coupling the front housing, the motor housing, and the back cap together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Christopher Bartoszek, Joshua Odell Johnson, Sean C. Ely, Douglas Fornell Leavitt, Dennis Naksen
  • Patent number: 11254455
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to packaging apparatuses and methods adapted to wrap absorbent paper product in a continuous sheet of film formed into tube shape with an asymmetric opening. A former may include a plurality of forming members, wherein each forming member includes an outer surface connected with an inner surface along an edge. In operation, a continuous sheet of film advances around the edges of the forming members and forms an opening. In addition, opposing longitudinal edges of the continuous sheet are guided into an overlapping arrangement that forms the plastic film into a tube shape that extends downstream from the opening in the machine direction. The opening is symmetrical about a first axis and is asymmetrical about a second axis. Absorbent paper product to be packaged advances in the machine direction through the opening and into the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Pawel M. Siczek, Brian C. Schwamberger, Gustav André Mellin
  • Patent number: 11247794
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a tissue bundle from a stack of folded absorbent tissues. The method includes the steps of forming a stack of folded absorbent tissues; compressing the stack to an initial density in a first compression step; wrapping the stack a first time in a supporting wrapper to form an initial bundle and maintain the initial density; subsequently applying a second compression step to compress the stack to a final density that is higher than the initial density; and wrapping the stack a second time to form a final bundle and to maintain the final density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Hans Wallenius, Björn Larsson
  • Patent number: 11247815
    Abstract: Screw cap, loading piston, and method for aligning the screw cap and the loading piston in relation to each other and a method for screwing a screw cap onto a threaded neck portion of a packaging container. The screw cap can include a base portion having a top and a bottom surface, an annular portion raised from the base portion, the annular portion having an inner and an outer surface, and at least one first threaded portion arranged on the inner surface of the annular portion, wherein the base portion can include engagement means, such that the screw cap can engage a tool with at least one complementary engagement means in a process of screwing the cap onto the container with the complementary threaded neck portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Håkan Berg, Magnus Virgili
  • Patent number: 11235453
    Abstract: An electric working machine in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a motor, a controller, and a setter. The controller is configured to change a rotational state of the motor, in response to an establishment of a condition for change after the motor is initiated, from a low speed rotation to a high speed rotation. The setter is configured to set, based on a situation in the motor in the low speed rotation, a control variable of the motor in the high speed rotation and/or the condition for change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ichikawa, Goshi Ishikawa, Shinichi Hira, Yasuhito Kawai, Masahiro Watanabe, Takuya Kusakawa
  • Patent number: 11234374
    Abstract: A wrapping device for wrapping a bale with a wrapping material for a baler includes a separating device having a knife arrangement and a blocking device. The separating device is movable between at least one wrapping means separating position and an inactive position. The blocking device prevents the separating device from being moved into the wrapping means separating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Pascal Gresset, Frederic Perrotin
  • Patent number: 11234694
    Abstract: A method comprises providing an articulation tool including an articulation mechanism comprising a proximal link and a distal link, end effector, elongated shaft, rotating member, and an articulation lock comprising a first lock configured to prevent pivoting of the elongated shaft about a yaw axis, a second lock configured to prevent pivoting about a pitch axis, and an actuator to actuate both locks simultaneously. The method further comprises driving movement of the proximal link which causes corresponding movement of the distal link, adjusting the actuator between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration in which the links and end effector are held in a fixed orientation with respect to the elongated shaft, and driving rotation of the rotating member which causes rotation of the elongated shaft while the links and end effector are held in the fixed orientation and rotation of the end effector about the end effector longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Lewis Isbell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11235433
    Abstract: A dust collector for use with a power tool comprises a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, a suction fan positioned in the housing and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, a dust container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the fan, a filter at least partially arranged in the dust container, and a filter cleaning mechanism. The filter cleaning mechanism includes an anvil, a striker moveable between a first striker position, in which the striker is spaced from the anvil, and a second striker position, in which the striker is in contact with the anvil. The filter cleaning mechanism further includes an actuator moveable between a first actuator position and a second actuator position, in which the actuator is moved closer to the anvil than in the first position, and a first spring biasing the striker toward the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph R. Beeson, Daryl S. Richards, Tyler S. Sigafoose, Cheng Liang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11230398
    Abstract: A method and a feeding apparatus for feeding spacers for cigarette packs are disclosed, in which each spacer comprises a substantially rectangular flat body, the spacers being insertable in cartons for cigarette packs to space out packs with dimensions smaller than the standard dimensions; the spacers are stacked on a pallet that is positioned in a withdrawal station; the stacks of spacers are withdrawn from the withdrawal station and transferred to a respective hopper by passing each stack of spacers through an upper opening of the hopper, to then unload the spacers one by one through a lower opening of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Parazza, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11229995
    Abstract: A fastening tool having a nail stop which positions a nail for driving and is made at least in part of a contact material which can be investment cast and/or hardened. The contact material can resist wear from the action of driving the nail and the movement of a driver blade. The nail stop can be configured to align nails fed from a magazine and can be offset from the longitudinal centerline of the fastening tool. The nail stop can have a head contact length which is 0.5% to 95% of the length of the nail to be driven. The nail stop is used in methods for positioning a nail for driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Black Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Larry E. Gregory, Michael P. Baron, Lee M. Brendel, Todd A. Hagan, Stuart E. Garber
  • Patent number: 11220366
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a label-placement module having a first feeder assembly, including a horizontal delivery platter for receiving a label, and a first drive wheel, positioned adjacent to a distal end of the horizontal delivery platter and rotatable to move the label on the horizontal delivery platter in a first direction. The label-placement module may include a second feeder assembly coupled to an actuator that moves the second feeder assembly vertically to a delivery position associated with the container. The second feeder assembly having a vertical delivery platter for receiving the label from the horizontal delivery platter and a second drive wheel rotatable to move the label forward in the first direction towards the container such that at least a portion of the label may be clamped between the container and a lid of the container thereby attaching the label to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Darius Scott, Joseph Joice, Jon Joseph Tribe, Satyam Ulhas Deshmukh
  • Patent number: 11214394
    Abstract: A process for packaging a product (P) arranged in a support (4) comprising unrolling a film (10a), transversely cutting the unrolled portion of film (10a) and preparing cut film sheets (18), moving the cut film sheets (18) to a packaging assembly (8) defining at its inside a packaging chamber (24), progressively moving a number of supports (4) inside the packaging chamber (24) of a packaging assembly (8), keeping the packaging chamber (24) open for a time sufficient for a number of supports (4) and for a corresponding number of film sheets (18) to properly position inside said packaging chamber (24), hermetically closing the packaging chamber (24) with the film sheets held above the respective support (4) and at a distance sufficient to allow gas circulation inside the support (4), optionally causing one or both of: a gas withdrawal from the hermetically closed packaging chamber (24) and gas injection of a gas mixture of controlled composition, heat sealing the film sheet (18) to said support (4), wherein the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Cryovac, LLC
    Inventor: Riccardo Palumbo
  • Patent number: 11207072
    Abstract: A stapling apparatus includes a body portion, a staple cartridge disposed within the body portion, and a buttress removably attached to the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of staple receiving slots defined in a tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge, with each staple receiving slot of the plurality of staple receiving slots including a staple disposed therein. The buttress includes a plurality of tabs at an outer edge of the buttress. The buttress is releasably retained on the staple cartridge by at least one tab of the plurality of tabs extending into a staple receiving slot of the plurality of staple receiving slots defined in the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Scott J. Prior
  • Patent number: 11207067
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a channel that is configured to support a replaceable surgical staple cartridge therein. An anvil is movably supported on the channel and is configured to selectively move between an open position and a closed position. A rotary driven closure system operably interfaces with the anvil and is configured to move the anvil between the open position and the closed position upon application of rotary opening and closing motions thereto. The instrument also includes a rotary driven firing drive shaft and an axially movable firing member that is in driving engagement with the rotary driven firing drive shaft and is configured for sliding engagement with the channel and the anvil upon application of rotary firing motions to the rotary driven firing drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Patent number: 11210887
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a cashbag sealing system. The system comprises a banknote transport mechanism operable to transport a banknote to a storing unit. The storing unit includes a banknote storing bag detachably coupled to the storing unit, and an escrow plate operable to escrow the banknote before the banknote transported to the storing unit is stored in the banknote storing bag, wherein the escrow plate is operable to move from a horizontally extending hold position to a downwardly or obliquely downwardly extending release position, and wherein the banknote transported to the storing unit is escrowed on the escrow plate when the escrow plate is located at the hold position. The system further comprises a sensor configured to detect a presence of the banknote on the escrow plate, and measure a level of banknotes in the banknote storing bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Crane Payment Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmytro Baydin, Pavlo Tsushko, Yurii Rudenko, Vitaliy Kochubey, David Charles Deaville, Vjatseslav Balovnev