Patents by Inventor Robert E. Simms

Robert E. Simms has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11963681
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a body, shaft, and end effector. The shaft couples the end effector and body together. The end effector comprises an anvil and lower jaw configured to receive a surgical staple cartridge. The anvil is configured to pivot toward and away from the staple cartridge and lower jaw. The shaft assembly comprises a knife member configured to longitudinally translate to thereby substantially simultaneously cut clamped tissue and staple the severed tissue. The end effector may comprise lockout features configure to prevent longitudinal translation of the knife member. The end effector or staple cartridge may comprise lockout bypass features configured to prevent lockout of the knife member. These lockout bypass features may operate to permit longitudinal translation of the knife member once or multiple times. The end effector may comprise features configured to ensure proper alignment of the anvil relative to the staple cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jason M. Rector, Douglas B. Hoffman, Robert J. Simms, John C. Schuckmann, Ryan J. Laurent, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jeffrey C. Gagel, Nicholas Fanelli
  • Patent number: 5477285
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a photoreceptor, which is deposited on an interior surface of an output window of a display device, is disclosed. The developing apparatus includes a developing chamber, having a support surface for supporting the output window, a screen structure material reservoir for storing, deagglomerating and feeding the screen structure material, and a triboelectric gun assembly communicating with the reservoir. The gun assembly triboelectric charges and imparts a desired charge polarity to the screen structure material. The gun assembly further includes at least one material dispersing nozzle spaced from the support surface for distributing the charged material for deposition onto the latent image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: George H. N. Riddle, Pabitra Datta, Ronald N. Friel, Dennis R. McCarthy, John J. Moscony, Eugene S. Poliniak, Peter M. Ritt, Robert E. Simms, Carl C. Steinmetz, Harry R. Stork, Charles M. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 5229233
    Abstract: An apparatus for fusing a polymer powder deposited on a surface of a faceplate panel of a cathode-ray tube comprises a housing having a faceplate support surface and enclosing a chamber. A shutter adjacent to the panel support surface separates the faceplate panel from the chamber. A reservoir for holding a solvent is within the chamber and at least one piezoelectric transducer communicates with the reservoir for atomizing the solvent to create a fog. A fan within the chamber distributes the fog onto the polymer powder. A method for fusing the polymer powder onto the faceplate panel also is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: RCA Thomson Licensing Corp.
    Inventors: George H. N. Riddle, Robert E. Simms
  • Patent number: 5132188
    Abstract: A method of electrophotographically manufacturing a luminescent screen on an interior concave surface of a CRT faceplate panel having a major axis with a first center of curvature and a minor axis with a second center of curvature, the method including the steps of utilizing a charging apparatus for uniformly charging a photoconductive layer disposed on the concave surface of the faceplate panel by providing a corona voltage from a corona generator to at least one corona charger which has an arcuately-shaped charging electrode, the corona charger has a center of curvature substantially concentric with a center of curvature of the concave surface of the panel, a support arm attached to the corona charger is pivotably located at the other center of curvature, the corona charger substantially conforms to, and is spaced from the photoconductive layer on the concave surface, and moving the corona charger across the concave surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: RCA Thomson Licensing Corp.
    Inventors: Pabitra Datta, George H. Riddle, Ronald N. Friel, Robert E. Simms, Carl C. Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 5083959
    Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly charging a photoconductive layer disposed on an interior, non-planar surface of a faceplate panel of a CRT during electrophotographic screen processing of the panel includes a corona generator having at least one corona charger and a mechanism for moving the corona charger across the non-planar surface of the faceplate panel. The corona charger substantially conforms to, and is spaced from the photoconductive layer on the non-planar, interior surface of the faceplate panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: RCA Thomson Licensing Corp.
    Inventors: Pabitra Datta, George H. N. Riddle, Ronald N. Friel, Robert E. Simms, Carl C. Steinmetz