Abstract: A packaging apparatus 10 including a cabinet 11 provided with a door 12 which is movable relative to an axis opening 13. Within the cabinet 11 is a packaging machine 15 with which there is associated a former 14. The former 14 is movably supported for movement between an operative position aligned with the packaging machine 15, and a service position spaced laterally toward the access opening 13.

Abstract: A film storage device 20 to receive film 19 from a roll or roll 17 to deliver the film 19 to a packaging machine 10. The film storage device 20 includes a base 21 upon which there is pivotably mounted a carriage 22. The carriage 22 has a transverse passage 50 through which the film 19 passes to be wound about the periphery of the carriage 22. The carriage 22 is provided with a plurality of rollers 53 that facilitates movement of the film 19 through the device 20.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly 18 that detects bags that leak. The assembly 18 includes a first conveyor 24 that operates in unison with a second conveyor 29. The conveyors 24 and 29 confine the bags in chambers, with the bags being engaged by pressure assemblies 50 so that the bags that leak are reduced in volume. The bags are engaged at a downstream position and at an upstream position by detection devices 44 that provide a signal indicative of the volume of each bag. These signals are compared to thereby identify bags that leak.

Abstract: A conveyor device 10 to aide a person 11 to place bags 12 of snack foods in a box 13. The device includes a base 14 that rotatably supports a hub 17. The hub 17 has a plurality of clips 20 that engage the bags 12 and move them to a position at which the bags 12 are griped by the person 11 and placed in the box 13.

Abstract: A chute assembly 11 to be positioned between a weigher 10 and a former 12 of a packaging machine. The chute assembly 11 includes a timing gate device 23 including a plurality of timing gates 25 that regulates the delivery of batches of product from the weigher 10 to the former 12. The gates 25 are driven between a first position at which they inhibit the delivery of batches of product to the former 12, and a second position permitting the flow of batches of product to the former 12.

Abstract: A machine 10 to aid in forming at least one flange 11 on tubular bag material 12. The machine 10 includes at least one assembly 28 provided with a longitudinally extending slot 22 through which a fold 13 passes to be heated by hot air delivered to the slot 22. A pair of pressure rollers 27 engage the heated fold 13 so that the bag material 12 of the fold 13 adheres to form the flange 11.

Abstract: A weigher for a packaging machine has buckets that deliver product batches. Each bucket includes a pair of spaced side walls between which a bottom extends, and over which the product passes. A bottom wall has at least one trough to control the trajectory of the product leaving the bucket to minimise angular velocity of the product about the vertical axis of a chute. The chute has a substantially vertical axis and receives the batches of product from the weighing buckets. The chute has a side wall converging downwardly from an upper opening to a lower opening, and an internal surface over which the product passes.

Abstract: A rotary packaging machine 10 having rotatably driven stripper bars 17 and 18 that strip tubular bag material 36 prior to sealing of the bags being formed. To further inhibit material being located between the sealing jaws there is provided tube closer bars 28 and 29. The bar 28 has a longitudinally extending projection 34 that is received within a longitudinally extending recess 35 of the bar 29. The tubular bag material 36 by engagement within the recess 35 by the projection 34 laterally projects the bag material 36 and three longitudinally spaced locations 54.

Abstract: A machine 10 to test bags 11 to detect faulty bags 11a. The machine 10 includes a probe assembly 23 including a belt 27 which supports a plurality of probes 31. More particularly the bags 11 are engaged by probe portions 33, with displacement of the probe portions 33 providing data for a CPU controller 24 enabling the detection of faulty bags 11a. Faulty bags 11a are then ejected from the conveyor 13 by bag ejector 21.

Abstract: A machine 10 to aid in forming at least one flange 11 on tubular bag material 12. The machine 10 includes at least one assembly 28 provided with a longitudinally extending slot 22 through which a fold 13 passes to be heated by hot air delivered to the slot 22. A pair of pressure rollers 27 engage the heated fold 13 so that the bag material 12 of the fold 13 adheres to form the flange 11.

Abstract: A film storage 20 to resolve film 19 from a roll or roll 17 to deliver the film 19 to a packaging machine 10. The film storage device 20 includes a base 20 upon which there is pivotably mounted a carriage 22. The carriage 22 has a transverse passage 50 through which the film 19 passes to be wound about the periphery of the carriage 22. The carriage 22 is provided with a plurality of rollers 53 that facilitates movement of the film 19 through the device 20.

Abstract: A packaging machine former apparatus 10 through which a film 11 passes to be formed into a tube 12. The apparatus 10 includes a shoulder 15 over which the film 11 passes, the shoulder 15 including an approach member 16 that leads to a crown 17. The member 16 includes a passage 20 terminating in an aperture 21 to which a gas under pressure is delivered so as to create an “air cushion” over which the film passes, thereby aids in movement of the film 11 over the surface 18 of the approach member 16.

Abstract: A machine 10 to test bags 11 to detect faulty bags 11a. The machine 10 includes a probe assembly 23 including a belt 27 which supports a plurality of probes 31. More particularly the bags 11 are engaged by probe portions 33, with displacement of the probe portions 33 providing data for a CPU controller 24 enabling the detection of faulty bags 11a. Faulty bags 11a are then ejected from the conveyor 13 by bag ejector 21.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly (15) which receives bags (13) from a packaging machine (10). The assembly (15) includes a first conveyor (16) which delivers the bags (13) to a second conveyor (17). The conveyors (16 and 17) employ plenum members (18 and 30) which apply an area of reduced air pressure to the bags (13) to urge the bags (13) into contact with conveyor belts (21 and 35). The packages (13) are located below the conveyors (16 and 17) so as to depend therefrom. The relative speed of the conveyors (16 and 17) is governed so that the bags (13) are arranged in separated sets (39) on the conveyor (17).

Abstract: A packaging machine (11) in which tubular bag material (16) is driven through the machine and caused to vibrate in the general direction of movement of the tubular bag material to aid in settling products so that the product occupies a minimum volume during formation of bags containing the product.

Abstract: A laser-sinterable powder product has been prepared having unique properties which allow the powder to be sintered in a selective laser sintering machine to form a sintered part which is near-fully dense. For most purposes, the sintered part is indistinguishable from another part having the same dimensions made by isotropically molding the powder. In addition to being freely flowable at a temperature near its softening temperature, a useful powder is disclosed that has a two-tier distribution in which substantially no primary particles have an average diameter greater than 180 .mu.m, provided further that the number average ratio of particles smaller than 53 .mu.m is greater than 80%, the remaining larger particles being in the size range from 53 .mu.m to 180 .mu.m. A powder with slow recrystallization rates, as evidenced by non-overlapping or slightly overlapping endothermic and exothermic peaks in their differential scanning calorimetry characteristics for scan rates of on the order of 10.degree. C. to 20.

Abstract: A laser-sinterable powder product has been prepared having unique properties which allow the powder to be sintered in a selective laser sintering machine to form a sintered part which is near-fully dense. For most purposes, the sintered part is indistinguishable from another part having the same dimensions made by isotropically molding the powder. In addition to being freely flowable at a temperature near its softening temperature, a useful powder is disclosed that has a two-tier distribution in which substantially no primary particles have an average diameter greater than 180 .mu.m, provided further that the number average ratio of particles smaller than 53 .mu.m is greater than 80%, the remaining larger particles being in the size range from 53 .mu.m to 180 .mu.m. A powder with slow recrystallization rates, as evidenced by non-overlapping endothermic and exothermic peaks in their differential scanning calorimetry characteristics for scan rates of on the order of 10.degree. C. to 20.degree. C.

Abstract: A laser-sinterable powder product has been prepared having unique properties which allow the powder to be sintered in a selective laser sintering machine to form a sintered part which is near-fully dense. For most purposes, the sintered part is indistinguishable from another part having the same dimensions made by isotropically molding the powder. In addition to being freely flowable at a temperature near its softening temperature, a useful powder is disclosed that has a two-tier distribution in which substantially no primary particles have an average diameter greater than 180 .mu.m, provided further that the number average ratio of particles smaller than 53 .mu.m is greater than 80%, the remaining larger particles being in the size range from 53 .mu.m to 180 .mu.m. A powder with slow recrystallization rates, as evidenced by non-overlapping or slightly overlapping endothermic and exothermic peaks in their differential scanning calorimetry characteristics for scan rates of on the order of 10.degree. C. to 20.

Abstract: A film drive unit 10 for a packaging machine to move sheet material 16 through the unit 10, the film drive unit 10 includes at least one rotatably driven roller 18 which is hollow and to which a vacuum is delivered to the interior thereof, with the roller 18 having an outer cylindrical member 30 with radially extending passages 39 to which the vacuum is applied to draw the sheet material 16 into contact with the cylindrical outer surface of the roller 18.

Abstract: A machine to aid in the packaging of "taco" shells. The machine includes a slide which receives the tacos from an endless conveyor which passes through an oven which cooks the taco shells, the slide passes through the taco shells and delivers the taco shells to a further endless conveyor which has at spaced locations therealong, pins which are successively aligned with the slide so as to recieve a taco shell therefrom.