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:
Nov. 11, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2000
David D. Demarest, Parsippany, NJ (US);
John F. Blanch, Tinton Falls, NJ (US);
Timothy Lenihan, Morrisville, PA (US);
Andres Folch, Bethlehem, PA (US);
William F. Smith, Ringoes, NJ (US);
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Abstract
A device for singulating surgical needles from a bulk supply of needles including a vibratory bowl assembly for receiving said bulk supply of needles. The bowl assembly having a floor to receive the needles, a track extending from the floor to a needle discharge point and a selectively vibrating motor to vibrate the surgical needles into a single file along the track; a discharge device having first and second needle receiving pockets, the device positioning the first and the second needle receiving pockets below said needle discharge point; a controller for selectively vibrating the vibratory bowl and selectively positioning the first and second needle pockets below the needle discharge point, the controller singulating individual needles from the single file of needles into the first and second needle receiving pockets; a discharger for discharging the singulated needles in the first and second needle pockets in a spaced relationship on a conveyor for subsequent imaging at an inspection station.