The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 26, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 28, 1998
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for opening an open end of a pouch, an overwrap, or the like so as to facilitate the insertion of an object thereinto includes a number of processing stations, such as a storage station where a supply of pouches is stored and an opening station where an open end of a pouch transported thereto from the storage station is opened so as to receive an object. A transporting mechanism, which includes a suction-type gripper, transports a pouch from the storage station to the opening station and then from the opening station to another station, which may or may not be a processing station. The suction-type gripper of the transporting mechanism continuously grips a pouch throughout its movement from station to station. The opening station may be provided with its own pair of suction-type grippers which cooperate to open a pouch which has been transported to the opening station. Other processing stations include an inspection station for inspecting a pouch transferred from the opening station and a sealing station for sealing a properly filled pouch. The last station is an unloading station having its own suction-type gripper adapted to receive a sealed pouch which is handed off by the suction-type gripper of the transporting mechanism.