Abstract: The invention concerns equipment receiving continuously and individually delivered objects and arranging these objects into sets for discharge to a packaging station. Two conveyor chains (3, 4) fitted with compartments to receive the objects are mounted transversely to the objects' conveyor belt (2) so that these compartments shall be colinear in the direction of object delivery. A stop (7, 8) is mounted between the two conveyor chains (3, 4) in the extension of the objects' direction of delivery and is designed to open and close the compartment of the conveyor chain (4) located at the rear as seen in the direction of object delivery.

Abstract: A method for flavoring tea with a granular flavoring agent includes the step of removing from a reservoir a predetermined amount of granular flavoring agent. The predetermined amount of granular flavoring agent is placed as a small heap onto a moving endless filter paper strip. Subsequently, a predetermined amount of tea is placed adjacent to or onto the small heap of flavoring agent. The tea and flavoring agent heaped onto the filter paper strip are subsequently enclosed in a tea bag made from the filter paper strip accordingly. The inventive device for performing the method includes a device for moving the endless filter paper strip in an advancing direction. A tea metering device and a metering device for a flavoring agent are positioned directly above the endless filter paper strip whereby the metering device for the flavoring agent is positioned upstream of the tea metering device in the advancing direction.

Abstract: A transfer system for transferring objects into a barrier isolator is provided. The barrier isolator includes a barrier wall to maintain a decontaminated environment in an isolated space. The transfer system includes a port opening located in the barrier wall. A first port barrier film is sealingly located over the port opening. A container is provided which includes an interior cavity which contains a second, replacement port barrier film and which is adapted to further receive and hold decontaminated objects to be delivered through the port opening and into the isolated space. A container barrier film is sealingly connected to the container to seal the second, replacement port barrier film and the decontaminated objects within the cavity in a decontaminated state. The container barrier film has a first, decontaminated side which faces the cavity, and a second exposed side, positionable adjacent to the port barrier film.

Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging articles such as beverage containers (c) or the like into cartons (ct) has a carton conveyor (14) including a pair of like conveying assemblies (16, 18), one or both of the assemblies being useable to convey cartons through the machine dependent upon the size of the cartons. The conveying assemblies are adjustable with respect to each other transversely of the machine direction, and carton supporting structure (70, 72) is mounted so as to be retractable from an operative position between the assemblies to partially support a carton when the assemblies are disposed relatively far apart, to a retracted non-operative position when the assemblies are disposed relatively close together.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser having a control unit which can eliminate the possibility of erroneously putting tablets in a wrong tablet storage space. The tablet dispenser has a tablet storage unit and a packing unit. Tablets designated by drug information are dropped from the tablet storage unit. When tablets in any of a plurality of tablet storage cells in the tablet storage unit run short, tablets are manually supplied into this cell by opening its cover. Before supplying tablets, the control unit reads a code on the tablet container with a bar code reader, compares this code with a code that represents tablets to be supplied into the above particular cell, and indicates on a display if these codes coincide. An operator checks the display to see if the codes coincide, and if they do, the operator then supplies tablets in the tablet container into the particular cell.

Abstract: A method for a single step sterilization of a ready-pack, such as a blister pack, in an autoclave is described. The ready pack includes a container, such as a syringe, filled with a substance. The environment in the autoclave, that is, the temperature, the heating period and, preferably, the pressure is controlled to sterilize simultaneously the ready-pack and its contents by circulating steam in the autoclave. The steam penetrates into the blister pack through a steam-permeable base. The temperature is maintained between about 120.degree. C. to 130.degree. C. for about 15-20 minutes.

Abstract: A method for labeling packages containing contact lenses involves applying to a package that contains a contact lens a machine-readable code identifying characteristics of the contact lens in the package, and later applying to the package printed language information generated from the machine readable code. The printed language information can be applied to the package at a site and/or time remote from the packaging and sterilization operations while ensuring product integrity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a dental floss product formed of a bobbin of wound thread, a dispenser case, and a dispenser insert for rotatably supporting the bobbin of wound thread when positioned within the dispenser case. The dispenser insert is detachably mounted in an insert loading area of a singular dispenser assembly fixture, and the dispenser case is detachably mounted in a dispenser case loading area of the singular dispenser assembly fixture. The bobbin of wound thread is next loaded onto the dispenser insert while the dispenser insert is mounted in the insert loading area. The dispenser insert with the bobbin of wound thread loaded thereon is then detached from the insert loading area, and the dispenser insert with the bobbin of wound thread loaded thereon is loaded into the dispenser case while the dispenser case is mounted in the dispenser case loading area. The lid of the loaded dispenser case is then closed, and the dispenser case is detached from the dispenser case loading area.

Abstract: A capsule handling system is formed of a loader component and an opener/encapsulater component. The system can handle different sized capsules, and has interchangeable parts so that a compounding pharmacist can conveniently produce a variety of distinct filled capsules, on the order of a prescribing medical professional to meet the unique needs of patients.

Abstract: The improvement to the tying apparatus consists of an intermittent rotatable pneumatic drive to operate the apparatus in place of the electric drive system. The pneumatic drive includes a rotary actuator (20) with a gear arrangement and one-way clutch (26) that provides the 360 degree rotation required to operate the apparatus. A control valve (36) with a single pilot control energizes the actuator clockwise for functional operation and counterclockwise to reset, ready for a subsequent operation. A roller actuated limit valve (42) is in communication with the apparatus program plate and, when mechanically triggered, energizes the pilot portion of the control valve, driving the program plate a full 360 degrees, completing a functional operation of encircling, gathering, twisting and cutting tie material around an article, such as a bag, sack, or other like-open mouth articles.

Abstract: The lower end 11 of a foil tube 6 rests in a vertical tubular bagging machine 1 without any mechanical tension from the remainder of the foil tube 6 on a scale 17. The scale 17 weighs the end 11 together with dosed product portion of a flowable product, which portion is fed into the end 11. The measured value of the scale is delivered to a volumetric dosing device 20. The dosing device 20 changes the mass of the dosed product portion dependent on measured values of the scale 17. The invention improves the packaging speed and the dosing exactness, in particular for dosed masses of less than 5 kg. of flowable product, for example powders.

Abstract: A vertical bag forming, filling and sealing machine having a feed system for a wrapping material forming the flexible tube bags, a filling tube, a longitudinal seam welding device and a cross seam welding device is described. The cross seam welding device comprises a unit forming the lower cross weld seam and a unit forming the upper cross weld seam of a flexible tube bag. The unit for generating the upper cross weld seam or a folding device and a lifting device for the filled flexible tube bag are movable up and down and are lifted for the generation of the upper cross weld seam or for the folding of the flexible tube bag in order to relax the wrapping material. By this the air space over the surface of the filling material is kept as small as possible.

Abstract: A system for collecting prescribed injection ampules. In this system, it is possible to collect any ampules that cannot be collected from an automatic ampule dispenser with high efficiency. An ampule collecting apparatus has a tray supply unit for supplying trays. The trays supplied from the tray supply unit are sent into an ampule dispenser by an elevator unit and a conveyor unit, and moved downward in the dispenser by the downward conveyor unit. While the trays are being fed in the dispenser, ampules are put in the respective trays. The trays then exit the dispenser and stacked by the tray stacker. A drug name list is put in each tray. Of the ampules that are specified in a prescription, those which have not been collected from the ampule dispenser are highlighted on the list. Thus, a pharmacist can instantly see which ampules are not in the tray and can collect the missing ampules from a separate shelf.

Abstract: A method of packaging compressible insulation material includes feeding insulation material into contact with a mandrel, rolling up the insulation material on the mandrel to form an insulation roll, applying pressure on the insulation material, during the rolling of the insulation material, with a pair of opposed belts which are adapted to contact the roll being formed with an increasing area of contact as the diameter of the roll increases, and increasing tension on the belts as the diameter of the roll increases in order to maintain a substantially constant pressure on the insulation material.

Abstract: Method for bagging plurality of compressible absorbent articles which are arranged in parallel, one beside the other. The bag has an approximately rectangular base, a front side, a rear side, two narrow sides, and an upper side and is closed on all sides. The bag also has a line of weakness which marks an opening for the individual removal of the articles. The height of the bag is greater than the depth of the bag, the line of weakness extends, midway along the bag, from the longitudinal center of the upper side, toward the base, about half way down the front side of the bag. The base has a downwardly directed supporting band. The absorbent articles do not exerting sufficient pressure on any of the sides of the bag filled with said articles to cause the opening to gape open. The opening can be formed by bending the bag to open the line of weakness, and it closes after removal of the product when the bag is replaced on its supporting edge.

Abstract: Sheets and rolls of sheets with labels having multiple choice blocks and information areas corresponding to the choice blocks. The sheets include a closure bonding material for securing the sheets around items to be wrapped. The labels are detachably connected to the sheets with an adhesive, a perforation or a tear line. Spots of closure bonding material may be placed on the labels to hold the labels in a wrapped position. The information areas typically include data which may be selected to describe the source, type and characteristics of the items to be wrapped in the sheets. The sheets may also include detachable sleeve areas for protecting wrapped items during shipping and handle areas which may be punched out of the sheets for grasping the wrapped items. The handle areas may also contain information similar to that on the detachable labels. Sheets having labels with choice blocks may also be used for forming flower pots or flower pot covers.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for incorporation in conventional bottle capping or bottle filling and capping machines to improve the handling of plastic bottles with pre-threaded screw caps and with a three dimensional bottom surface commonly employed and referred to as a petaloid shape. The normal flat table surface on which bottles rest while the cap is being screwed on is replaced with a surface having upstanding, radially-arranged fingers positioned to extend into all or most of the spaces between the lobes in the bottom of the petaloid bottle at each bottle capping station and form a nest for such bottles. Generally conventional bottle receiver and guide elements cause the bottles to assume a position substantially upright and coaxial with the center of the array of fingers for the particular bottle capping station. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a depression in the table surface to receive the bottom of a petaloid bottle and the fingers are located in that depression.

Abstract: Machine for arranging a plurality bales of hay into a compressed, contoured stack to be covered with protective plastic. The machine has top and side pressure plates which engage a stack of bales and compress the stack while convexly contouring the periphery.

Abstract: The present invention may be utilized as a single station integrated with a standard form, fill and seal machine. The present invention is able to retrieve fitments from a source, apply the fitments to a container and seal the fitments to the container at a single station. The design of the present invention requires only minimal space on a form, fill and seal machine. In practicing the present invention, an anvil retrieves a fitment from a source and then translationally retreats to a position for longitudinal descent into a container. The anvil, with the fitment attached, longitudinally descends into the container to a position parallel to an incision previously incised into the container wall. The anvil proceeds forward to the incision, substantially recovering the translational retreat discussed above, only at a lower level. Once the fitment is positioned therethrough the incision, a sealer permanently attaches the fitment to the container.

Abstract: A medication packaging apparatus for packaging solid medications specified by prescriptions at a hospital, pharmacy, etc. The medication packaging apparatus is equipped with: a plurality of tablet cases which hold solid medications separately by type; a turntable which is located under the tablet cases and which turns to receive and gather the medications at the outer periphery thereof by the centrifugal force thereof; a guide which is formed around the turntable and which has a dispensing port; and a heat sealing mechanism for forming a roll of thermally weldable packaging paper into small bags in succession. The mechanism for collecting the medications which have been released from the tablet cases can be made thinner and therefore, the entire medication packaging apparatus can be made smaller.