Abstract: A flexible electroluminescent film, and packaging material and packages made therefrom, that incorporates electroluminescent material within the polymer packaging film layers to enable the film to be illuminated without an external light source. The film may also comprise various thin-film items, such as power source, inverter, switch, integrated circuit, radio receiver, and speaker, all within the film layers. The film can be used in existing form and fill packaging machines without substantial modifications to the machines.

Abstract: An extruder die assembly and method for using same is disclosed which is designed for adaptation to a wide variety of commercial-grade extrusion devices common in the food industry. The extruder die assembly is inserted into an appropriate compartment within an extrusion device such that a first extrudate is directed down a coaxially aligned passageway within the forming section and combined with a fluid additive in the injection section whereupon the resulting food mass is compressed through a converging nozzle bore in the nozzle section to produce an extruded food product. The forming section and injection section are fabricated as a matching set.

Abstract: The seasoning applicator applies seasoning onto snack food products such as potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, and the like in a two-dimensional seasoning pattern. A two compartment sifting assembly has a first top layer having a screen where seasoning is initially deposited. Upon vibration, the seasoning is passed through the top layer screen into a lower compartment. Therein, the seasoning is further distributed across the surface of the lower layer screen, which generally has a screen with smaller openings than the top layer screen. This promotes the even distribution of seasoning through the lower screen. Thereby, a two-dimensional seasoning pattern is created for depositing on a moving bed of snack food products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for regulating the throughput of a rotary turret heat-sealing machine, without changing the rotational speed of the rotary turret. An indexing clutch is controlled to feed cans into the rotary turret such that only a predetermined number of sealing heads are used to seal cans fed therein. The predetermined number of cans is calculated based on a desired throughput rate. Dwell times, temperatures, and pressures can remain constant while varying radically the can throughput.

Abstract: The process for making a shaped snack chip uses various components to form a chip having depth such as a bowl-shaped tortilla chip. The chips are formed by sheeting into an initial flat shape. The chips are then passed along for shaping by a mold and plunger conveyor. Once plunged to the mold shape, the chips are reduced in moisture content by baking and frying. After frying, oil is evacuated from the chips whereafter salt and flavoring is applied, if desired, prior to being packaged.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the production of a braid shaped puffed extrudate. A tube or other peripheral containment vessel is placed at the exit end of an extruder die that produces two or more extrudate streams. A circular air stream is then introduced into the peripheral containment vessel downstream of the glass transition point, thereby causing the extrudate streams to braid together within the containment vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding a currency note into a currency processing machine. This note feeder includes a transporter for transporting notes from a note stack onto a processing belt inside the currency processing machine. The note feeder also includes a mediating transporter that takes the note from the transporter and feeds the note onto the processing belt. The note feeder also includes sensors for determining when the note has left a first feeding area and entered a second feeding area and to determine whether multiple notes have entered the second feeder section. The note feed also includes and a sensor that determines when the note has entered onto the processing belt. Based on information received from the sensors, the transporter starts and stops thus providing uniform spacing between notes.

Abstract: An improved container for food and other perishable products comprising a simple construction and a multi-functional cap. The receptacle portion is a blow molded plastic, while a outer layer comprising a shrink-wrap graphics carrier is applied over the receptacle and cap. The multi-functional cap nests over and seals the mouth end of the container, inverts to seat on the mouth of the container as a bowl, and nests over the base of the container for storage while the container is in use.

Abstract: The system and method for molding a shaped snack chip use various components to form chips having depth such as a bowl-shaped tortilla chip. Essentially flat chip preforms are fed to a series of molds disposed about a mold conveyor. The preforms are then passed along for shaping by a mold and plunger conveyor. A continuous conveyor with plungers extending outward is synchronized to operate in conjunction with the mold conveyor. At desired and determined intervals, a multiple of plungers extend downward and into the molds thereby molding the chip preforms into shaped chips. The shaped chips are evacuated from the molds and subjected to additional processing.

Abstract: A tubing centralizer for borehole drilling disclosed. The centralizer includes a retaining collar and an outer sleeve. In a method for installing the centralizer onto a joint of tubing, the retaining collar is mounted onto the joint of tubing and the outer sleeve is installed thereover.

Abstract: Banknotes are processed using a machine equipped with a number of modules by which predetermined numbers of notes are ordered in bundles secured with at least one band and then transferred to a unit to be strapped in groups; an intermittently driven conveyor equipped with pockets operates in conjunction with the modules to direct the bundles in a predetermined succession, according to a previously established sequence, toward a stacker located at an outfeed end of the conveyor. The bundles are stacked in set numbers to form groups in which the predetermined succession is maintained as the single bundles pass along a stacking axis, preserving an initial sequence of code and serial number with which the banknotes are fed initially into the bundling modules.

Abstract: The method for producing an expanded, shaped pellet products with an annular cavity includes extruding a mixture to form a tubular extrudate. This is formed by extruding dough around and through a die insert having one or more sources for injecting air, other inert gas, or liquid into an annular cavity into a portion of the tubular extrudate. After exiting the extruder, the shaped extrudate initially expands at it exits the extruder die but is then stretched so as to substantially return the extrudate to an unexpanded state. Thereafter, the stretched extrudate is cut into shaped pellets with annular cavities. Upon being further heated, for example, in a hot air puffer, the pieces are puffed to produce expanded, shaped snack products with annular cavities without the need for a dehydration and/or conditioning step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and machine for banding groups of bank notes in which a web is projected towards a banding station by a pair of motor-driven rollers, until the end of the web reaches a gripper unit which is mobile, driven by a support and drive device, which draws the web along a closed path defined by a plurality of guide pins until it reaches a final position which coincides with the starting position; upon completion of the feed stage the guide pins move to a position in which they are no longer in contact with the web, which is recovered by the rollers so that the web forms a loop around the group; a cutting device and a sealing device complete the banding stage by cutting and securing a band around the group.