Patents Examined by Thomas Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 10232479
    Abstract: A power tool includes a housing, a motor positioned substantially within the housing, a drive mechanism supported by the housing and coupled to the motor, a battery pack electrically coupled to the motor, and an isolation system. The isolation system includes an interface member positioned substantially within the housing. The interface member receives a portion of the battery pack to electrically couple the battery pack to the motor. The isolation system also includes a plurality of isolators coupled between the housing and the interface member to isolate the battery pack from the housing during operation of the power tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Troy C. Thorson, Jeffrey M. Wackwitz, Andrew J. Weber
  • Patent number: 10219957
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for aseptically filling of flexible packages containing dry cloth. Such a method may include a first stage that is performed in a non-sterile environment. The first stage may include cutting a first substantially dry cloth to a predetermined size; inserting the first cloth into a flexible package; sealing a first end of the flexible package; and sterilizing the flexible package. The method may also include a second stage performed in a sterile environment. The second stage may include filling the flexible package with a medical solution such that the substantially dry cloth absorbs at least a portion of the medical solution; and sealing the an open end of the flexible package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Parthun, Edward Danavi
  • Patent number: 10220969
    Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, Jr., Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley
  • Patent number: 10207834
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically rolling a napkin around a set of dining utensils, wherein the apparatus can repeat the method quickly to individually wrap a plurality of sets of utensils in napkins. The apparatus comprises a housing for a first transfer unit for receiving a set of unwrapped utensil and a napkin and configured to automatically deliver the unwrapped utensils and napkin to a platform for wrapping. A lift plate holds a plurality of napkins and delivers a single napkin to unwrapped silverware. A rolling assembly rotatable around the unwrapped utensils and the napkin is configured to hold the utensils and to roll the napkin around the unwrapped utensils and to deliver the wrapped utensils to a second transfer unit configured to provide the wrapped utensils to a bin for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Beck
  • Patent number: 10196165
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot, a hand attached to the robot, and a controller configured to control operation of the robot. The controller includes an initial control unit configured to rotate the hand in a state where the hand holds the screw cap tightened onto a conical tube in a first attitude, and a normal control unit configured to rotate the hand in a state where the hand holds the screw cap in a second attitude different from the first attitude after the hand is operated by the initial control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Kohei Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 10189586
    Abstract: A process for the manufacturing and filling of plastic containers, the process comprising the steps of: positioning a preform with relation to a mold assembly of two or more components, the preform generally being fabricated from a plastic and being provided with a longitudinal axis and presenting a stretchable portion and a non-stretchable portion; stretching the preform along its longitudinal axis; injecting a fluid into the interior volume of the preform, the fluid being under such pressure as to cause the preform to plastically deform until achieving the desired size and shape; and releasing the container from the mold assembly and sealing the container, and in which at least a portion of the stretchable portion of the perform is at a temperature below its vitreous transition temperature (Tg) and, preferably, at ambient temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: DISCMA AG
    Inventor: Klaus Hartwig
  • Patent number: 10178992
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that that defines a shaft axis and includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument further includes a rotary articulation member that is supported for rotation travel about a rotary axis that is transverse to the shaft axis. A first distal articulation driver assembly and a second distal articulation driver assembly operably interface with the surgical end effector and the rotary articulation member such that rotation of the rotary articulation member causes the first and second distal articulation drivers to articulate the surgical end effector relative to the shaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Austin E. Wise, Adam D. Hensel, Daniel V. Jones, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Lauren S. Weaner, Morgan R. Hunter, Austin M. Fischer, Chester O. Baxter, III, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 10160557
    Abstract: An ice bagging system and method according to which ice is automatically disposed in respective bags provided from a first source of bags, and ice is automatically disposed in respective bags provided from a second source of bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: REDDY ICE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark C. Metzger
  • Patent number: 10144122
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an electric machine tool having an electric motor for driving a rotating insertion tool, the electric machine tool is operated in one of multiple operating modes, and at least one parameter of the machine tool is detected. The instantaneous operating state of the electric machine tool is ascertained and evaluated based on the detected parameter. A protective function is activated when the presence of a critical operating situation is recognized during the evaluation of the instantaneous operating state. The instantaneous operating mode of the electric machine tool is detected, and the evaluation of the instantaneous operating state is adapted in each case to the instantaneous operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Steurer
  • Patent number: 10131460
    Abstract: The invention relates to container sleeving system and method. Sleeves of heat shrinkable foil are arranged around the container. The sleeves are supplied by ejecting the sleeve from the sleeve supply. Containers are supplied form a container supply. The sleeve supply arranges the sleeve around the container by moving the sleeve upwardly around the container. A heat shrink oven is arranged for fixing the sleeve to the container. A conveyor transports containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI SEAL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Ernst Christiaan Koolhaas
  • Patent number: 10106363
    Abstract: A flap folding arrangement is disclosed. The flap folding arrangement includes an axially extending rim that initially contacts a flap of a product to partially fold the flap as the product is dropped from a feed conveyor into a first pocket of a rotator pan. A controller is adapted to rotate the rotator pan away from a first position which drives the flap into contact with a flap-folding flange and a radially extending rim until the product is positioned at a second position under a flap-folding gate. The controller is adapted to drive a product discharger into contact with the product to drive the product out of the first pocket and away from the folding assembly after rotation of the rotator pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: PACKAGING PROGRESSIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Faust, Andrew Ticknor
  • Patent number: 10079453
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical tool with battery pack ejection assist mechanism. The electrical tool includes a housing receiving a motor and a transmission mechanism, a tool accessory driven by the motor for the operation, a battery pack slidably mounted to the housing for providing power and a locking mechanism for locking the battery pack after being mounted. The electrical tool further includes an ejecting assembly for assisting in the ejection of the battery pack when the locking mechanism unlocks the battery pack, the ejecting assembly includes a contacting member for contacting and ejecting the battery pack and a driving member for driving the contacting member for ejecting the battery pack. The contacting member is movably connected to the housing, and the driving member is arranged in the housing and contacts the contacting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Chevron (HK) Limited
    Inventors: Fangjie Nie, Li Li
  • Patent number: 10046870
    Abstract: A flexible bag and a method for filling a flexible bag which is collapsed when empty, wherein at least one fastening means is provided on a surface of the flexible bag such that at least two upper parts of the flexible bag can be held together by this at least one fastening means during a first part of filling of the flexible bag, whereby the fastening means is designed to release when the bag is filled to a certain amount such that the two upper parts being held together by the fastening means will lose contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES CORP.
    Inventor: Matthew David Ouellette
  • Patent number: 10046875
    Abstract: Packing machine and packing method for producing an inner container of a slide-open package of tobacco articles by folding an inner blank about a wrapped group of tobacco articles; the inner blank is folded, by way of first folding means, so as to form a hinged lid; in a feed station, the partly folded inner blank is coupled to the wrapped group of tobacco articles so that a rear wall of the wrapped group of tobacco articles rests on a panel of the inner blank corresponding to a rear wall of the inner container; and the inner blank is folded, by second folding means arranged downstream from the feed station, about the wrapped group of tobacco articles to complete the production of the inner container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Luca Cavazza, Valeria Capelli, Cristian Dakessian, Michele Squarzoni
  • Patent number: 9932161
    Abstract: An apparatus is improved to successively make plastic bags each of which includes an end surface provided with a spout, by employing the general feeding way of panel material, to be simple in structure, low in cost, high in speed and to make it possible to successively make the plastic bags two by two. A first folded portion is formed in a first web of panel material 1. An aperture is formed in a second web of panel material 2. A spout is inserted into the aperture, the spout and the second web of panel material 2 being heat sealed with each other. The second web of panel material 2 is guided by a guide device 18 to be folded after being heat sealed so that a second folded portion should be formed in the second web of panel material. The spout is turned over by the second folded portion. The second folded portion and the first folded portion are heat sealed with each other while the second folded portion and the second web of panel material 2 are heat sealed with each other about the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: Fuji Seal International, Inc., Totani Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Ohmae, Mikio Totani, Hiroshi Nagata, Masakazu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9908228
    Abstract: A hammer drill includes a housing, a first ratchet fixed to the housing, a spindle rotatably supported by the housing about an axis, and a second ratchet coupled for co-rotation with the spindle. The second ratchet is engageable with the first ratchet in response to rearward displacement of the spindle to impart a hammering action on the spindle. The hammer drill further includes a thrust bearing having an arm extending away from the axis, and a selector ring having a post extending toward the arm. The selector ring is rotatable between a first position in which the post is engageable with the arm to limit the rearward displacement of the spindle and prevent engagement of the first and second ratchets, and a second position in which the post is misaligned with the arm to permit the rearward displacement of the spindle and engagement of the first and second ratchets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: William A. Elger
  • Patent number: 9907552
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a motorized end effector, and a control system. The end effector extends distally from the body and comprises a stapling assembly operable to drive staples into tissue. The control system is in communication with the end effector. The control system comprises a motor, a firing trigger, a switch assembly, and a movable member in communication with the firing trigger. A resilient member is engaged with the movable member. The firing trigger and the resilient member are configured to cooperate to move the movable member into engagement with the switch to thereby activate the motor. The switch assembly is configured to couple a power source with the motor to thereby activate the motor in response to actuation of the firing trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: John P. Measamer, Richard L. Leimbach
  • Patent number: 9908649
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a paper sheet processing apparatus includes a supply unit, a pick-up mechanism, an inspection device, a stacking device, and a wrapping device configured to wind a band around a stacked paper sheet bundle and wrap the stacked paper sheet bundle. The wrapping device includes a clamp mechanism configured to curve the stacked paper sheet bundle by pressing both side portions of the stacked paper sheet bundle, a band winding device configured to wind a wrapper band around the curved stacked paper sheet bundle, and a heater configured to heat-seal an end of the wrapper band. The clamp mechanism includes a press member configured to adjust a degree of curvature of the stacked paper sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Jun Okamoto, Kenichi Hirose
  • Patent number: 9903159
    Abstract: The method comprises the following operations: delivering a moving power to at least one linear actuator (1, 7) arranged to move a mast (5) mounted so as to swing with respect to a self-propelled structure (3) among a plurality of moving operating configurations; delivering an actuating power to a winch (8) which is supported by said self-propelled structure (3) and adapted to allow the winding or unwinding of a respective traction element which is constrained to a drilling assembly, in particular a bank of telescopic or kelly bars (12) to which a drilling tool can be associated; at least temporarily preventing a relative axial movement between said drilling assembly (12) and said mast (5) during the passage between at least two consecutive operating configurations; and automatically controlling the delivery of said moving power in a coordinated manner with the delivery of said actuating power when said axial movement is hindered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SOILMEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Bettini, Massimo Morellini
  • Patent number: 9861358
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a surgical instrument, which includes a handle assembly and an elongate member having two jaw members. The second jaw member is movable in relation to the first jaw member between an open position and a closed position. The first jaw member is supported by the elongate body and contains a plurality of fasteners. The elongate member extends distally from the handle assembly and defines both a longitudinal axis and a distal portion. A switch is placed about the handle assembly to allow the handle assembly to operate in multiple modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Stanislaw Marczyk, Russell Pribanic, Adam J. Ross, Michael A. Zemlok