Patents Examined by Veronica Martin
  • Patent number: 11738896
    Abstract: An application unit in a packaging machine attaches a material blank to containers in a container group so as to form a multipack. At least one pressing element connect the material blank to the containers while they are conveyed along a transport plane. A drive unit moves the pressing element with a tool plate between out-of-engagement and engagement positions with the containers. The drive unit has mutually parallel and spaced-apart first and second drive disks to be rotated about respective first and second axes of rotation. The first and second axes of rotation are horizontal and located at the same height but not coaxial with each other. The pressing element is articulated to the first drive disk by a first joint axis and to the second drive disk by a second joint axis such that the tool plate is oriented horizontal during rotation of the two drive disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Van Triel, Thomas Jöhren
  • Patent number: 11731255
    Abstract: This driving tool includes: a pressure accumulator (26) in which a compressible gas is accumulated; a striking part which operates in a first direction to strike a fastener with a pressure of the compressible gas; and a driving part which causes the striking part to operate in a second direction opposite to the first direction and to increase the pressure of the pressure accumulator (26). The driving tool further includes: a cylinder chamber (98) in which the compressible gas to be supplied to the pressure accumulator (26) can be contained; a holder (44) forming the pressure accumulator (26) and the cylinder chamber (98); a piston (97) which is disposed in the holder (44) and is operable to reduce the volume of the cylinder chamber (98); and a switching valve (92) capable of connecting and disconnecting the cylinder chamber (98) and the pressure accumulator (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ueda, Koji Shioya
  • Patent number: 11724377
    Abstract: A preferably pliers type stapler is disclosed with a staple loading structure that is both simplified and easy to operate. A lower handle and base are connected to the body through a pivoting and cam system. A single motion pulls the lower handle and base away from the body to expose a staple track location for loading staples at a bottom of the body. Preferably the same single motion releases the track to move outward from a rear of the body. In one embodiment a compact simplified structure using a preferably torsion spring provides a low cost reliable spring energized system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Worktools, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel S. Marks
  • Patent number: 11723659
    Abstract: A surgical fastener applier including a housing containing a compartment, an elongated member extending distally from the housing, first and second jaws and a firing mechanism. The firing mechanism is movable between a first position and a second position to effect firing of fasteners into the tissue clamped between the first and second jaws. A power pack is removably loadable into the compartment, the power pack having a motor and an engagement member removably engageable with the firing mechanism within the compartment when the power pack is loaded into the compartment to effect movement of the firing mechanism. An interchangeable battery pack is removably loadable into the power pack for powering the motor. Bearings restrict axial and radial movement of the firing and articulation assembly in the power pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: REVMEDICA, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Wenchell, Jr., C. Robert Satti, III, Peter Nielsen, Jeffrey M. Ott
  • Patent number: 11723716
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a motor assembly, a shaft defining a shaft axis, a distal head, a rotary drive member, and a distal head lock member movable between a first position where the distal head is unlocked from the shaft and a second position where the distal head is locked to the shaft is disclosed. The motor assembly comprises a motor and a controller configured to operate the motor in first and second operating modes. The distal head comprises an end effector movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The distal head is rotated about the shaft axis when the distal head lock member is in the first position and the rotary drive member is actuated. The end effector is moved from the open configuration toward the closed configuration when the distal head lock member is in the second position and the rotary drive member is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Kevin M. Fiebig, Joshua P. Morgan, Nicholas M. Morgan, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Patent number: 11717296
    Abstract: A surgical fastener applier including a housing containing a compartment, an elongated member extending distally from the housing, first and second jaws and a firing mechanism positioned within the housing. The firing mechanism is movable between a first position and a second position to effect firing of fasteners into the tissue clamped between the first and second jaws. A cover on the housing is openable to access the compartment. A power pack is removably loadable into the compartment, the power pack having a motor and an engagement member removably engageable with the firing mechanism within the compartment when the power pack is loaded into the compartment to effect movement of the firing mechanism from the first position to the second firing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: REVMEDICA, INC.
    Inventors: C. Robert Satti, III, Jeffrey M. Ott, Thomas G. Wenchell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11712791
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a driving tool. The driving tool includes an ejection part, a pressure accumulator, a striking part, a driving part, and a housing. The driving tool includes a cylinder forming at least a part of the pressure accumulator, and a piston formed in the striking part. The driving part and a wire material are entirely disposed outside, in the radial direction of the cylinder, a region in which the piston is arranged, and outside a region in which the piston slides in an operating direction of the striking part with respect to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Shioya, Takashi Ueda
  • Patent number: 11684367
    Abstract: A surgical assembly comprising a distal connector portion, a stapling assembly, and a sensor is disclosed. The stapling assembly comprises an end effector and a proximal connector portion configured to releasably connect to the distal connector portion. The end effector comprises an anvil and an elongate channel adapted to receive a staple cartridge. At least one of the anvil and the elongate channel is movable to a clamped configuration. The proximal connector portion comprises first bayonet-mount lugs and second bayonet-mount lugs. The sensor is configured to detect connections by the proximal connector portion. The surgical assembly further comprises an end-of-life indicator for the stapling assembly based on connections by the proximal connector portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Gregory J. Bakos
  • Patent number: 11684409
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument (10) with two branches (11, 12) that are pivotably supported at each other by means of a pivot joint (13) is disclosed. The pivot joint (13) has a support pin (34) and a support cavity (37). The support pin (34) is particularly torque-proof connected with one of the branches (11) or (12) and rotatably supported in the support cavity (37) of the respective other branch (12) or (11). Between the branches (11, 12) a seal (45) is provided that sealingly abuts at the two branches (11, 12) and that surrounds the support pin (34) completely in the circumferential direction. Preferably, the support pin (34) is sealingly connected with the respective branch (11, 12) at its axial ends. In doing so, entering of contaminants in the area between the support pin (34) and the support cavity (37) from all sides or access possibilities is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ERBE ELEKTROMEDIZIN GMBH
    Inventor: Rolf Weiler
  • Patent number: 11679574
    Abstract: Method for producing a padding product, comprising the following steps: providing a flat, elongate paper strip, which has a central region extending in the longitudinal direction and two-layered or multi-layered adjacent edge regions, which are not joined to one another, opening up adjacent edge regions, and crumpling the paper strip along the central region, characterized in that before the crumpling along the central region the edge regions are turned over towards the center region, and a device for producing a padding product, and a padding product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Slovencik
  • Patent number: 11679479
    Abstract: A power tool includes an air spring cylinder. A piston is movably positioned within the cylinder and a driver blade and a rack are attached to the piston. The power tool includes a lifter gear including a lifter gear wheel portion, and a plurality of teeth extending radially from the lifter gear wheel portion and configured to engage the rack. A hub includes a first end operably connected to a motor output and a second end including a hub wheel portion. A first receptacle is provided in one of the lifter gear and the hub and a first bearing element extends from the other of the lifter gear and the hub into the first receptacle. A first elastomeric damper is positioned within the first receptacle between the first bearing element and a bearing element defined portion of the first receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Basso Industry Corp.
    Inventors: Ramon Tam, Peter Wierzchon, Chien-Kuo Po
  • Patent number: 11667020
    Abstract: In a driving tool, during and/or after a driving operation has been completed, a restriction member is retained in an on-position by a cam. An energizing switch is retained in an on-state by an actuation portion of the restriction member. Because of this configuration, if a trigger is released during and/or after the driving operation has been completed, an electric motor continues to be activated, which causes a driver to return to a standby position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shun Kuriki, Yukiyasu Okouchi, Yoshitaka Akiba, Norikazu Baba
  • Patent number: 11666331
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector having a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw to grasp tissue therebetween, an anvil, a staple cartridge comprising staples deployable into the tissue, wherein the staples are deformable by the anvil, and a sensor configured to provide a sensor signal according to a physiological parameter of the tissue. The surgical instrument further includes a control circuit coupled to the sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive the sensor signal, and assess proximity of the sensor to cancerous tissue based on the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chad E. Eckert
  • Patent number: 11667019
    Abstract: A driving mechanism for fastener driving machine, including a rotatable crank; a driving rack element rotatably installed on the crank, which comprises an engaging element, a support element and a driving rack; at least one fixed guide element. The support element and/or engaging element can move along the set trajectory. The present invention has a simple structure, a few parts and stable operation. When the crank rotates, the motion trajectory of the engaging element is straight or approximately O°, so as to reduce the kinetic friction force of load to the maximum extent, preventing wear problem, and guaranteeing constant direction of thrust on the impact unit in the course of compressed energy storage and low eccentric load in late stage, the quick release of driving mechanism is implemented, the operational stability and smoothness of impact unit are guaranteed, the work quality is upgraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Uniwisdom Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Ying Xu
  • Patent number: 11667414
    Abstract: A vertical bag-making/filling/packaging machine (1) comprises: a film supplying portion (5) which lets out a film (F) from a roll (Fr); a bag-making guide (31) which folds the film (F) into a tubular shape and changes a conveying direction downward; a vertical sealing portion (60) which thermally seals side edges of the film (F) to each other in an up-down direction so as to make the film into a tubular shape; a film conveying portion (50) which conveys the film (F) downward; a filling portion (70) which loads a content (X) into an interior of the film (F); a lateral sealing portion (80) which thermally seals the film (F) in a left-right direction so as to make a bag body; a square-bottom sealing portion (90) which expands a bottom of the bag body to a rectangular shape from an inside and then thermally seals the bottom to form a rectangular bottom surface; and a cutter (89) which cuts off the bag body from the film (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ORIHIRO ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masataka Tsuruta, Akira Yamaguchi, Takayuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11654540
    Abstract: A fastener driver includes a housing, a cylinder supported by the housing, and a moveable piston positioned within the cylinder. A driver blade is attached to the piston and movable therewith between a top-dead-center position and a driven or bottom-dead-center position. The driver blade includes a body having a first side and an opposite, second side with the driving axis passing therebetween, a plurality of teeth extending from the first side of the body, and a plurality of projections extending from the second side of the body. The body and the projections are bisected by a common plane. The teeth extend at an oblique angle from the first side of the body relative to the common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Casey D. Garces, Mitchell T. Neuhoff, Jacob N. Zimmerman, Christopher J. VanAckeren, Grace Whitmore, Marcus Wechselberger, Jason M. Julius
  • Patent number: 11638989
    Abstract: An active safety device and method for fastener tools that includes a first sensor that detects a hazardous target; a first driver that drives the fastener a minimal distance into the material, the fastener being conductive and acting as a second sensor; a second driver that drives the fastener into the material; a processor that receives information from the first sensor and determines if a hazardous target is detected by said first sensor and engages a trigger interlock if the hazardous target is not detected the first driver is engaged and said second sensor provides information on the composition of the material to the processor; wherein the processor engages the trigger interlock when it determines if the composition of the material is classified as a hazardous target and otherwise initiates the second driver to drive the fastener into the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: LANTERN HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Chad Thomas Green, Destin Sandlin, Ty Batchelor
  • Patent number: 11628548
    Abstract: A compressed air nailer comprises a driving tappet connected to a compressed air supply and configured to drive in a fastener. A triggering apparatus is configured to trigger a driving process and a working piston is coupled to a driving tappet. A safety actuator is configured to be displaced between a locked position and an open position, wherein when in the locked position, the safety actuator is configured to inhibit the triggering of the driving process when an actuation of the triggering apparatus occurs. The compressed air nailer further comprises a throttle and a safety control chamber configured to be aerated and deaerated by the throttle. A counterforce generator is configured to generate a counterforce that acts on the safety actuator and is directed in an opposite direction from the actuating force. The counterforce is linearly dependent on an operating pressure of the compressed air nailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Joh. Friedrich Behrens AG
    Inventor: Joachim Bauer
  • Patent number: 11628549
    Abstract: A compressed air nailer comprises a working piston connected to a driving tappet configured to drive a fastener. A trigger and a placing sensor are configured to be actuated to aerate or deaerate a main control line to enable triggering of the driving process. A control valve assembly is configured to define a locked position and an open position by controlling a first pressure in a first control space and a second pressure in a second control space. The first control space is connected to the trigger valve and actuation of the trigger valve is configured to bring the safety valve assembly into the locked position. When the safety valve assembly is in the open position, an actuation of the placing sensor valve is configured to bring the safety valve assembly into the open position when the trigger valve is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Joh. Friedrich Behrens AG
    Inventors: Martin Theberath, Joachim Bauer
  • Patent number: 11623828
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously packing folded laundry articles into a container are described. A packing system includes a refillable cartridge, a queue conveyor having one or more folded laundry articles and stacks of folded laundry articles disposed thereon, at least one retractable conveyor loading end between the refillable cartridge and the queue conveyor for loading the folded laundry articles into the refillable cartridge, a driven lifter for selectively raising and lowering the into and out of the container, and a controller in operative configuration with processors and drives of all of the foregoing and one or more sensors detecting a fill height of the refillable cartridge. The refillable cartridge includes a removable receiving surface that moves from a closed position to an open position during loading of the folded laundry by the retractable conveyor and unloading of the folded laundry into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MONOTONY.AI, INC.
    Inventors: Madeline R. Hickman, Samuel Duffley, Noa M. Rensing, Kayla M. Swiston, Jesse Sielaff, Benjamin D. Bixby