Patents Examined by Thomas M Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 11905054
    Abstract: The invention comprises a method for packaging a dispensable substance, such as a food product, whipped cream, a hydrocarbon, or an air freshener, the method comprising the steps of: placing a first product component into a container, the container comprising a valve dispensing port; adding a second product component into the container, the second product component comprising at least one of: (1) a solid form of the second product component and (2) a liquid form of the second product component; sealing the container; and warming, after the step of sealing, the second product component in the container at least ten degrees Celsius, where the step of warming results in a phase change of all of the second product component into a gas phase, at least a portion of the gas phase of the second product component dissolving into the first product component to form the dispensable substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventors: W. Davis Lee, Warren R. Kirsch, Christian T. Metcalfe
  • Patent number: 11905056
    Abstract: A cartoning machine including a carton supply station (e.g., a rotary carton supply station, a linear carton supply station, a non-linear carton supply station, or the like) and a handling station operatively coupled to the carton supply station. The carton supply station provides, on a selective basis, cartons, such as carton blanks, pre-formed cartons, or the like. The carton supply station of the cartoning machine provides for movement of magazines with respect to a robot in the handling station that may have a distal end secured in a stationary and fixed location. As such, different magazines with dissimilar cartons may be moved to a picking location adjacent the robot, as dissimilar cartons are required. Further, the cartons within the magazines may be moved to a pre-determined pick-up location such that the robot is repeatably picking a carton from the pre-determine pick-up location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: INTERTAPE POLYMER CORP.
    Inventors: David Showman, Bojan Jovanovic
  • Patent number: 11903584
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The stapling head assembly includes an annular deck member, a plurality of staples, and a driver. The deck member includes a deck surface that has a curved profile defined by a curve extending from the inner diameter of the deck member to the outer diameter of the deck member. The deck member further includes an outer array of staple openings and an inner array of staple openings. The driver is operable to drive the staples through the staple openings. The anvil is operable to compress tissue against the first deck surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Christopher C. Miller, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11901852
    Abstract: A method for detecting a transmission backlash in a hand-held power tool, the hand-held power tool comprising a drive motor that has a drive shaft, a tool spindle, and a transmission that, in respect of drive, connects the drive shaft to the tool spindle, includes actuating, in a first actuation, the drive motor at least until the value of a first variable, representing a drag torque, is at least approximately constant. The method includes, during the first actuation, determining a value of a second variable which is associated with the rotation of the drive shaft of the drive motor during the first actuation, and determining a value of a third variable, representing a transmission backlash, based upon a change in the second variable during the first actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hardy Schmid, Axel Kuhnle, Hagen Philipp Keinath, Matthias Tauber, Sebastian Maier
  • Patent number: 11897645
    Abstract: A packaging machine includes an indexing mechanism (210), a base (220), and a clamping arrangement (250). The indexing mechanism moves a web (10) of preformed bags along a path of travel. The base (220) is downstream of the indexing mechanism (210) along the path of travel and supports an engagement member (240) that includes a finger (242) having a beveled end (244). The clamping arrangement (250) supports a gripper (271) that includes a beveled surface (274) and a gripping surface (272). The base (220) further includes an engagement recess (222). The engagement member (240) is positioned within the engagement recess (220) and the beveled end (274) of the gripper (271) is capable of being disposed within the engagement recess. The indexing mechanism is configured to reverse index the web when the beveled end (274) of the gripper (271) is disposed within the engagement recess (222) so that the finger (242) and the gripper (271) are inserted into the top of one of the bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventor: David Romo
  • Patent number: 11897104
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool including a housing and a workpiece contact element movably connected to the housing, where the workpiece contact element is movable between a rest position and an activated position. A trigger assembly including a bottom assembly and a top assembly is movably connected to the housing. The tool includes an actuation lever movably connected to the bottom assembly of the trigger assembly and movable between a rest position and an engaged position. The top assembly includes a downwardly extending block configured to engage the actuation lever. A damper mechanism is associated with the actuation lever and is configured to control a rate of movement of the actuation lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Hanxin Zhao
  • Patent number: 11897643
    Abstract: The present invention pertains in general to an apparatus and method for the modification of atmosphere in the packaging of perishable items, such as food items, for increased longevity. Embodiments include apparatus and methods which provide a customizable mix of gasses dependent upon the food being stored, and process for the monitoring of estimated pressurized gas canisters remaining within a vessel providing pressurized gasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Preservation Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christina Spencer Bellman, Ryan Artale, Mark Soderberg, Thomas Andrew Trudel
  • Patent number: 11890735
    Abstract: A removal apparatus of a threaded post contains: a drive rod, a connection element, an actuation element, and a slidable sleeve. The connection element includes a locking groove and a notch. The actuation element includes a fitting fringe corresponding to the connection element, a cylindrical neck having a diameter less than a diameter of the fitting fringe, and an engagement disc having a diameter more than the diameter of the cylindrical neck. The diameter of fitting fringe is equal to a diameter of the connection element. The slidable sleeve includes a coupling space having a diameter equal to the diameter of the fitting fringe and the diameter of the connection element. The slidable sleeve is slid so that the coupling space abuts against the fitting fringe and the connection element, and the engagement disc is engaged in the locking groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SPECIALTY TOOL COMPANY
    Inventor: Chun Po Huang
  • Patent number: 11883943
    Abstract: An electric gardening machine includes a rod portion, including a machine tool head; an operation portion, disposed on the rod portion, including a first assembling portion having a first electrical terminal and a pressing member; and a controlling portion, including a shell body having a second assembling portion detachably assembled with the first assembling portion and a control module disposed in the shell body, a second electrical terminal of the control module being in electrical contact with the first electrical terminal, the control module being switchable by the pressing member to supply power to the machine tool head; wherein the shell body includes a first shell member and a second shell member connected with each other, the second electrical terminal is disposed through the first shell member, and the second assembling portion is disposed on the first shell member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Ping-Tzu Ho
  • Patent number: 11884042
    Abstract: Systems and methods for securely identifying an item are disclosed. The method includes receiving an item, selecting a plastic wrap that is opaque and that includes a random pattern of markings, and wrapping the item with the plastic wrap, which protects the protects the item frons visual inspection with the opaque plastic and that secures the item with a unique fingerprint/code formed from the random pattern of markings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Jared Eggett, David Brent Noel
  • Patent number: 11883942
    Abstract: The present invention relates broadly to a flow diverter disposed in a plenum area of a motor cylinder chamber (also referred to as kidney ports). The flow diverter acts as a barrier between a main inlet to the motor and an inlet to the cylinder chamber, and directs air or fluid to vane lifter ports of the motor before the air or fluid flows to the inlet to the cylinder chamber. In addition, the flow diverter can serve to regulate air or fluid flowing into the cylinder chamber to control power of the tool. The flow diverter allows for numerous options of where the main inlet to the motor can be positioned and provides a means of regulating the air or fluid flowing into the cylinder chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Bothmann, Brian King, Raymond E. Kinsley
  • Patent number: 11883941
    Abstract: A hammer drill includes a housing inside which a motor, a tubular tool holder, a driving mechanism, a rotation conversion member, and an inner housing are disposed. The driving mechanism is configured to perform at least one of rotation actuation of the tool holder and hammering actuation of a bit. The inner housing supports the driving mechanism, supports the tool holder via a first bearing, and supports an output shaft via a second bearing. The inner housing is divided into a front housing holding the first bearing and a rear housing that is formed in a separate body from the front housing and holds the second bearing. The inner housing is formed by connecting the front housing to the rear housing in an axis line direction of the tool holder. A seal member sealing outside space of the inner housing inside the housing is disposed in the front housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Machida, Kiyonobu Yoshikane
  • Patent number: 11884436
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging containers of devices for pharmaceutical use includes a robotic arm movable from a gripping position, in which it picks up a container previously sealed by at least one protective sheet, to a release position in which it inserts the container into a bag through a suitable opening provided on a side of the bag; wherein the robotic arm is connected to at least one position control camera configured to read coordinates of a midpoint of the opening with respect to a lying plane on which the bag lies and/or an angle of rotation of the bag with respect to an axis perpendicular to the lying plane, so as to ensure the correct positioning and release of the container inside the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Stevanato Group S.P.A.
    Inventors: Davide Zuffa, Fausto Mazza
  • Patent number: 11883939
    Abstract: A heat dissipating device is adapted to be mounted in an electric nail gun that includes a flywheel being rotatable about an axis, a first pulley being spaced apart from the flywheel, and a transmission belt being trained on the first pulley. The heat dissipating device includes a second pulley, a weight disc and a heat dissipating member that are adapted to be connected coaxially and co-rotatably to the flywheel. The second pulley is adapted to be trained by the transmission belt. The heat dissipating member includes a plurality of fan blades extending in a direction of the axis such that, during co-rotation of the flywheel, the weight disc and the heat dissipating member, the fan blades create a flow of air for cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Basso Industry Corp.
    Inventors: Chia-Yu Chien, Jian-Rung Wu
  • Patent number: 11878829
    Abstract: A packaging machine is provided for producing single and multiple compartment film wrapped pouches. Multiple linear motors allow aspects of the forming, filling, cutting and discharging to run at different speeds. The pouches are formed, filled and discharged from platens that are secured to movers that proceed through the packaging process by following magnetic fields created by independently controlled linear motors. Overall, cycle time is decreased as a result of speeding up parts of the process, including the platen return process, possible because there is no mechanical connection and not a single conveyor moving the platens while the other parts of the process may be simultaneously slowed down or even temporarily stopped. Changeover of platens, to accommodate different products, such as single compartment pouch to multiple compartment pouches, is also simplified because platens are simply connected to the movers and are thus easily removed and replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NEW SPS POD, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas M. McLenithan, Andrzej Kepinski, John Paselsky, Jeff Williams, Richard McKenzie, Richard Bishop
  • Patent number: 11878828
    Abstract: There is described an outfeed device for a packaging assembly configured to form and seal a plurality of packages containing a pourable product; the outfeed device comprises an input station, at which it receives, in use, the packages, and an output station, at which the packages exit, in use, from the outfeed device; the outfeed device comprises at least one selectively operable cart element cyclically movable along an endless path, comprising a receiving portion defining a receiving seat for picking one single package at a time at input station, housing at least part of the package, and being configured to bring the package from the input station to the output station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A.
    Inventors: Giorgio Mattioli, Massimiliano Barbi, Dino Neri, Massimo Fratti, Richard John Pedretti
  • Patent number: 11878403
    Abstract: A rotary tool includes a tool body, a motor, a determining part, a monitoring part and a criterion changing part. The motor is housed in the tool body and configured to drive the tool accessory. The determining part is configured to determine whether or not excessive rotation of the tool body around the driving axis due to jamming of the tool accessory occurs, according to a specific determination criterion. The monitoring part is configured to monitor information relating to a use state of the rotary tool. The criterion changing part is configured to change the determination criterion according to the use state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hikaru Sunabe, Akihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 11878402
    Abstract: An example hydraulic tool includes: a fluid reservoir; a pump; an electric motor; a cylinder; a piston; a first trigger button; a second trigger button; and a controller configured to perform operations comprising: receiving a first signal when the first trigger button is triggered, responsively, causing the electric motor to rotate in a first rotational direction, thereby: (i) causing the pump to provide fluid to the cylinder, and (ii) causing the piston to move in a first linear direction, thereafter, receiving a second signal when the second trigger button is triggered, and responsively to the second signal, causing the electric motor to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, thereby: (i) opening a fluid path from the cylinder to the fluid reservoir, and (ii) causing the piston to move in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric D. Norquist, James G. Ballard, Kris J. Kanack, Luke J. Skinner, Robert Jensen, Marc S. D'Antuono, Peter Davies
  • Patent number: 11872679
    Abstract: The invention provides a pneumatic nail gun, comprising a gun body, a nail box, a fork and a nail forming device. The gun body comprises a sliding groove, a nail outlet adjacent to the sliding groove and a push block. The nail box and the fork are fixed on the gun body. The nail box is configured to place a plurality of strip nails to be sequentially exposed from the nail outlet. The formed fork comprises two forming surfaces with unequal heights, and the two forming surfaces are adjacent to the nail outlet. The nail forming device comprises two jaw arms, two control arms and a push seat, and the push block drives the two control arms to drive the two jaw arms to rotate and close the two forming jaws, and to drive the push seat to slide on the sliding groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ANN-CHAIN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hui-Cheng Cheng
  • Patent number: 11865686
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a battery-powered stapling tool. A stapling tool includes a drive wheel, a slide comprising a first slide segment and a second slide segment, and a drive shaft receivable by the slide, wherein the drive shaft is coupled to and drivable by the drive wheel such that rotation of the drive wheel in a first rotational direction moves the drive shaft from the first slide segment to the second slide segment back to the first slide segment. The stapling tool further includes a lifting element, wherein the lifting element defines the slide and is drivable by the drive shaft, and an ejector coupled to the lifting element and drivable by the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Hubschmid, Dimitrios Takidis, Michael Wettstein