Prior art

I will now search the USPTO database for patent 11273944 and then analyze its cited prior art.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 11273944

US patent 11273944 cites several prior art documents. The most relevant citations, along with their details and potential anticipatory claims, are as follows:

1. US5177930A

• Full Citation: US5177930A: "Carton forming apparatus with servo control"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 1993-01-12; Filing date: 1989-03-10
• Brief Description: This patent describes a carton forming apparatus that uses servo control. The detailed description of US11273944 explicitly states that its "container forming assembly 100... may be constructed in the manner of a container forming apparatus described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,930, the teachings of which is incorporated by reference herein".
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): US5177930A potentially anticipates aspects of Claim 1 (specifically the container forming assembly providing varying sized containers) and Claim 2 (container forming assembly being an apparatus for forming paperboard containers from flat blanks) of US11273944, given the explicit incorporation by reference and description of the container forming assembly's operation in US11273944.

2. US8074578B2

• Full Citation: US8074578B2: "Linear synchronous motor power control system and methods"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2011-12-13; Filing date: 2006-07-05
• Brief Description: This patent describes a linear synchronous motor power control system. US11273944 states that its "drive module 222 may be constructed in the manner of LSM stators known in the art... and generally in the manner of the guideway described and shown in incorporated-by-reference U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,074,578 and 8,863,669".
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): US8074578B2 potentially anticipates elements of Claim 1 (linear synchronous motor guideway), and more specifically Claims 4 and 5 (details of the drive modules and their arrangement in an endless loop), due to the direct reference and description of the LSM guideway components.

3. US8863669B2

• Full Citation: US8863669B2: "Versatile control of a linear synchronous motor propulsion system"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2014-10-21; Filing date: 2011-06-07
• Brief Description: This patent details a versatile control system for a linear synchronous motor propulsion system. Similar to US8074578B2, US11273944 refers to this patent for the construction of its drive modules and guideway.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): US8863669B2 potentially anticipates elements of Claim 1 (linear synchronous motor guideway) and Claims 4 and 5 (drive modules and their arrangement), given the explicit incorporation by reference and description in US11273944.

4. US20150158611A1

• Full Citation: US20150158611A1: "Variable pitch packaging apparatus and methods"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2015-06-11; Filing date: 2013-12-06
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a variable pitch packaging apparatus and related methods. The concept of "variable pitch" is a key feature discussed in US11273944, which states that "the distance between containers C on the container shuttle assembly 200 is referred to as the 'pitch'" and describes the ability to dynamically set varying distances between shuttles.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference could be highly relevant for anticipating aspects of Claim 1 related to the shuttles being "spaced apart to accommodate and receive the plurality of varying sized containers," and the overall adaptive nature of the assembly. The "variable pitch" and "automatic size change means" discussed in US11273944 (which directly relate to adjusting the spacing between shuttles) could be anticipated by the concepts in this prior art.

5. EP2865602A1

• Full Citation: EP2865602A1: "A system and method for packaging products"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2015-04-29; Filing date: 2013-10-23
• Brief Description: This European patent application describes a system and method for packaging products. While a direct detailed description of its contents isn't available from the patent text of US11273944, its inclusion as a cited reference suggests it covers general packaging system components or methods that are relevant to the broader field of the invention.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Without more specific details on the contents of EP2865602A1, it is difficult to pinpoint exact claims. However, given its general description, it could potentially anticipate broader aspects of Claim 1 concerning a "container packaging assembly comprising a container forming assembly, a container shuttle assembly, and a product transport assembly."

6. US9309017B2

• Full Citation: US9309017B2: "Item loading apparatus"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2016-04-12; Filing date: 2010-02-24
• Brief Description: This patent describes an item loading apparatus. As US11273944 relates to an "adaptive container loading assembly," this prior art could cover mechanisms for loading items into containers, potentially including robotic or automated loading systems.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent may anticipate aspects of Claim 1 related to the "product transport assembly positioned adjacent the container shuttle assembly and having a robot arm to position product in the plurality of varying sized containers."

7. US9731854B2

• Full Citation: US9731854B2: "Product packaging system"
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: 2017-08-15; Filing date: 2013-11-22
• Brief Description: This patent describes a product packaging system. Given the title and the nature of US11273944, this reference likely covers overall systems for packaging products, which might include elements of container handling, product insertion, and transport.
• Potentially Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could potentially anticipate general system configurations described in Claim 1, particularly the combination of a container forming, shuttle, and product transport assembly.