Abstract: Longitudinally spaced pairs of laterally spaced openings are formed in a web of material prior to the web being folded into a pouch having a gusset bottom, the holes enabling the side panels of each pouch to be heat-sealed directly together at the side margins of the pouch and in the area of the gussets. To enable the lateral spacing between the openings of each pair to be easily changed and to enable the openings to be located extremely close to the longitudinal centerline of the web, the openings are formed by punches supported by separate punch frames which may be independently adjusted in a direction laterally of the web. The punch frames also are adjustable relative to one another in a direction longitudinally of the web in order to enable the machine to make pouches of various widths.

Abstract: The mechanism includes a pair of gates which are horizontally spaced from one another and which are operable to stroke between inwardly extended and outwardly retracted positions for collecting and dropping the articles, respectively. The gates are mounted on a threaded member for selective horizontal adjustment of the distance between the gates to enable collection of articles of various widths. As an incident to adjusting the distance between the gates, the stroke of the gates is simultaneously adjusted.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, methods and machinery are provided for automatically inspecting shaped, lined closures and rejecting those which fail to meet pre-established criteria for shape and seal. Specifically, shaped closures having concave interior portions and resilient sealing liners are supplied to an inspection station comprising one or more female inspection nests for receiving individual closures and one or more respective male inspection heads for insertion into the concave portions of respective closures. The inspection heads are provided with exterior shapes approximating the interiors of ideal closures so that penetration into the closure indicates the conformity of the closure to the ideal. Preferably, the inspection head is connected to a source of pressurized fluid for testing both the depth of penetration and the adequacy of the sealing ring.