Patents by Inventor Terence LaRocca

Terence LaRocca 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).

  • Publication number: 20170240307
    Abstract: An automatic loader and packager station inserts and packages sensitive silicone vaginal rings into sealable pouches, wherein the silicone material is malleable, viscous and sticky, making it hard to accurately insert and seal the rings in a medically sealed package. The circular vaginal rings are axially elongated to reduce their width into the loading position, for accurate loading into scalable package pouches, without contamination of exterior openings of the respective package pouches into which the vaginal rings are inserted for sealed distribution. To accommodate malleable, viscous and/or sticky vaginal rings from manufacture to insertion into sealable pouches, the vaginal rings are moved upon a low friction, preferably roller-based conveyor before being loaded into the sealable pouches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventor: Terence LaRocca
  • Patent number: 6964146
    Abstract: A portable pouch opener for countertop positioning for opening and filling a bag includes a portable housing positionable upon a desktop bench workspace. The housing has a magazine containing a supply of bags to be opened and filled. A first suction device is mounted for being moved into engagement with a bag in the magazine. The first suction device has a source of vacuum to activate the first suction device when placed into contact with one wall of the bag. Vacuum from the first suction device is withdrawn from the bag, attaching the bag to the first suction device, to remove the bag from the magazine and bring it to an opening position. An opposite facing wall of the bag is in contact with a second suction device having a source of vacuum, so that said opposite facing wall is engaged by said second suction device. Then the first suction device is retracted to separate the walls of the bag to produce an opening into the bag, allowing the bag to be filled and optionally sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Adaptive Manufacturing Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Terence LaRocca
  • Publication number: 20040020170
    Abstract: A portable pouch opener for countertop positioning for opening and filling a bag includes a portable housing positionable upon a desktop bench workspace. The housing has a magazine containing a supply of bags to be opened and filled. A first suction device is mounted for being moved into engagement with a bag in the magazine. The first suction device has a source of vacuum to activate the first suction device when placed into contact with one wall of the bag. Vacuum from the first suction device is withdrawn from the bag, attaching the bag to the first suction device, to remove the bag from the magazine and bring it to an opening position. An opposite facing wall of the bag is in contact with a second suction device having a source of vacuum, so that said opposite facing wall is engaged by said second suction device. Then the first suction device is retracted to separate the walls of the bag to produce an opening into the bag, allowing the bag to be filled and optionally sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Terence LaRocca