Abstract: Method of cleaning packaging machines, in particular cigarette packaging machines, with the aid of cleaning bodies (22) which are directed through the packaging machine instead of pack contents and packaging material. The cleaning bodies (22) are thus configured and dimensioned in approximately the same way as the pack contents—cigarette group—or pack.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for forming and filling a latching flip-top box uses a two part mandrel which are joined by a hinge. One of the two hinged parts has a roller thereon for following a cam track having a quarter turn spiral therein. As the roller follows the spiral causing one hinged part to move through a quarter turn causing the flip-top to fold over and be formed. A somewhat loose tab on the top edge of the bottom of the box is a latch tab which is caught when the flip-top folds over.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for stapling multiple sheets with a stapler and delivering the sheets in folio, includes a staple hitting device, a stapler having an anvil opposed to the staple hitting device with respect to a sheet path and a shifting device for shifting the sheet so as to escape a staple from a groove on the anvil after the sheet is stapled by drive of the staple hitting device.

Abstract: A blister pack comprises a blister assembly (10) including two blister parts (11, 12) which are interconnected and foldable towards each other, each blister part (11, 12) having a set of blisters (16). The blisters (16) of one blister part (11) are so offset relative to the blisters (16) of the other blister part (12) that, after folding, the blisters (16) of the two blister parts (11, 12) engage between each other. The blister pack further comprises a protective unit (20) including two closure panels (21, 22) and preferably one intermediate panel (23), which is defined by two folding lines (24, 25). The blister pack also comprises a supporting unit (30) including at least one base panel (31), which has at least one hole (33). The supporting unit (30) is connected to said blister assembly (10) such that the blisters (16) of at least one blister part (11) are aligned with said at least one hole (33).

Abstract: The present invention discloses folded corrugated material for producing segments or strips for use as Easter grass, packing material and the like or for use as flower pot covers, floral wrappings and ribbon materials.

Abstract: In a packaging machine that includes a wrapping wheel equipped with at least one conveying head affording a seat capable of movement with the wrapping wheel along a looped path, the head is indexed through a first station at which the seat receives a product, a second station where a wrapping sheet is taken up and held stably by a gripper mechanism across an opening of the seat, in a predetermined position, and an outfeed station at which the product is ejected from the seat and caused to associate with the wrapping sheet, whereupon product and sheet are transferred together to a further wrapping wheel; the machine is equipped with a device located externally of the wrapping wheel by means of which to actuate the gripper mechanism.

Abstract: A method and a machine for the production of interfolded stacks (17) formed by a plurality of sheets (4a,4b) comprising the steps of: transversally cutting or tearing sheets obtained from at least one web (3a,3b) and offset with respect to one another so that a sequence of offset sheets is created; passage of the sheets on folding rollers (7a,7b) which comprise sucking means for the alternate holding of the sheets (4a,4b) in order to obtain an interfolded disposition; formation of a continuous interfolded stack downstream of the folding rollers. Upstream of the folding a step of treatment of the sheets is provided in order to make them, at least in certain zones (14), enough permeable to air, in particular through perforating means. These perforating means can be provided on rollers (10a,10b) having sharpened points (11a,11b).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing apparatus for sealing foil material, the apparatus comprising a foil conveying means and a sealing means including a sealing head which has at least one sealing position for performing the foil sealing operation, an intermediate position in which the sealing head has a predetermined distance from the sealing position, and an inoperative position in which the sealing head has a second predetermined distance from the sealing position that is greater than the first distance. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding sealing method which can be carried out with the sealing apparatus, wherein the sealing head is removed from the foil material to a first distance during the further transporation of the foil material and is removed from the foil material to a second greater distance when the foil sealing operation is interrupted.

Abstract: A packing apparatus for packing multiple layers of containers into a receptacle is shown. The packing apparatus includes a placement assembly and a carriage assembly. The placement assembly includes a plurality of pickup devices mounted on one end of a moveable arm. The arm is moveable so that the pickup devices can pick up and transfer the containers to the receptacle. The receptacle is supported by the carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes a moveable carriage that adjustably moves the position of the receptacle, relative to the placement assembly, to enable the articles to be placed into the receptacle in a preselected pattern. A system controller controls the timing, sequence, and movement of the placement assembly and the carriage assembly, both individually and relative to each other, in order to place and pack the containers into the receptacle in the preselected pattern.

Abstract: A machine for the automated packaging of armed sutures or; in effect, surgical needles having sutures attached thereto and, more particularly, a suture package unloading arrangement and package unloading method employed in an automated machine for the high-speed individualized packaging of single or individual surgical needles each having an attached suture into a tray and detachable cover providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the individual or single needles and attached sutures.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing a collation in a folding station (100) having a folding roller assembly (106, 108, 110, 112), a first fold plate assembly (102) and a second fold plate assembly (104) downstream of the folding roller assembly and the first fold plate assembly. The second fold plate assembly includes a stop member (126) movable at least between a distal position away from the folding roller assembly and a proximal position in proximity to the folding roller assembly. A portion of the collation is first conveyed into the first fold plate assembly (102) and the collation is then conveyed from the first fold plate assembly, through the folding roller assembly, and into the second fold plate assembly. Once in the second folding plate assembly the collation abuts against the stop member, whereafter the stop member (126) is moved from its distal position to its proximal position so as to cause the collation to convey out of the second fold plate assembly (104).

Abstract: An embossed seal is formed in a cavity in the neck of a corked bottle over a cork using a die having a die surface with a die image. A first molten seal material is introduced into a die cavity. The die cavity is formed in part with the die surface. The introduction of the first molten seal material deposits an embossed seal portion with an embossed surface. The embossed seal portion is allowed to cool. A second molten seal material is introduced into the cavity of the neck of the corked bottle. The embossed seal portion is brought into contact with the molten seal material in the bottle cavity with the embossed surface disposed on top facing away from the molten seal material. The molten seal material partially melts the embossed seal portion to form a single seal upon cooling. The embossed seal portion is sufficiently cooled and solidified to prevent melting and damage of the embossed surface.

Abstract: Tissue clips are placed on the upper level of bi-level product buckets, with the length of the tissue clips in the machine direction. The lower level of the product bucket is comprised of a full-width transverse channel whose width is greater than the width of the tissue clips but less the length of the tissue clips. To package flat packages of tissues, extensible pushers turn the tissue clips 90 degrees so they drop into the transverse channels. Subsequently flat overhead tamps descend and the tissue clips are pushed through guide buckets into the end of the flat-pack cartons. To package boutique packages of tissues, the extensible pushers are disengaged so the length of the tissue clips remain in the machine direction spanning the transverse channels. Subsequently, narrow tamps descend, pushing the center of the tissue clips into the transverse channels, forming the tissue clips into the beginning of a U-shape ready for pushing through guide buckets into the side of boutique cartons.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing tops onto openings of packs arranged at a distance (m) from each other. The apparatus includes a first conveying means, e.g. a first conveyor, for intermittently conveying the packs in a first direction of travel through a row of at least three sealing stations spaced a machine pitch (m) from each other, and a transport apparatus, e.g. a second conveyor, for transporting the tops in a row behind each other and transversely to the first direction of travel, intermittently over the openings of packs located in the row of sealing stations. The transport apparatus includes a tops belt guided over drive rollers to which the tops are detachably attached behind each other using holding bridges. The tops are spaced a belt pitch (t) from each other and the tops belt is provided with positioning apparatus for properly positioning the tops over the openings.

Abstract: A process of forming dunnage is disclosed. A chain of interconnected plastic pouches are fed along a path of travel to a fill and seal station. The pouches are sequentially opened as each pouch is positioned in the fill station by directing a flow of air through a pouch fill opening to separate a face from a back of each such pouch and continuing the flow of air through each such opening to completely inflate each opened pouch. Each such inflated pouch is then sealed to create hermetically closed and inflated dunnage units. Novel web and dunnage units are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the case of a method of folding stacks of sheets, which can consist of one or of a plurality of sheets that may have different folding resistances, by supplying a plurality of stacks of sheets to a folding device by means of a temporally successive, cyclic supply which comprises phases of movement and pauses in movement, a stack folding resistance for a respective stack of sheets is first determined on the basis of at least the number and/or the folding resistance of the individual sheets forming a stack of sheets. Following this, the respective stack of sheets is folded, the folding speed used by the folding device for folding said stack of sheets being controlled in dependence upon the stack folding resistance that has been determined for this stack of sheets, the control of the folding speed of the folding device being carried out during respective pauses in movement of the cyclic supply.

Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for forming and filling a latching flip-top box uses a two part mandrel which are joined by a hinge. One of the two hinged parts has a roller thereon for following a cam track having a quarter turn spiral therein. As the roller follows the spiral causing one hinged part to move through a quarter turn causing the flip-top to fold over and be formed. A somewhat loose tab on the top edge of the bottom of the box is a latch tab which is caught when the flip-top folds over.

Abstract: Folders in a web-fed rotary printing press are associated with two spaced horizontal planes. Each of these planes is provided with a superstructure carriage that supports a plurality of turning bars. Each of the superstructure carriages can be displaced horizontally with respect to the other carriage and with respect to the folders.

Abstract: A flexible sachet for transporting bio-pharmaceutical liquids with a volume of 50 liters or more, of the bellows type, assumes when filled a substantially parallelepiped shape. It comprises a bottom wall, a top wall and four lateral walls. It is made of a single laminated film with three or more layers, the innermost layer being a plastics material layer that can be heat welded and is biocompatible with the media transported. A method of manufacturing the sachet is also disclosed.

Abstract: A package is formed from two sheets of thin film material which are double backed upon each other to form a header and a rigid plastic insert is connected to the header coincident with a cut out formed therein. The cut exposes an internalized J-shaped portion of the insert such that a hook can be readily inserted and maintain the bag in place on a display rack.