Abstract: A powder sprayer unit which provides improved spraying of powder onto printed sheets of material produced in printing presses. The powder sprayer includes a source of pressurized fluid, a source of powder, a mixer and a distributor. The mixer includes at least one fluid inlet positioned to receive fluid from the fluid source, and at least one powder inlet positioned to receive powder from the source of powder to mix the fluid and the powder forming a fluid/powder mixture. The distributor-includes a disperser positioned to disperse the mixture as it flows to a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles are positioned to spray the dispersed mixture onto specified areas of printed sheets of material having passed through the printing press.

Abstract: A vertically oriented feeder for a packaging manufacturing system is provided. The feeder supports a stack of blanks in an upright position and in a confronting relationship with a vertical vacuum belt. The vacuum belt draws a front blank off of the stack and pulls it upward past a gate and between the vacuum belt and a friction belt. After the blank is pulled upward past the gate, a lifting device is activated to push the stack away from the vacuum belt and prevent additional blanks from being drawn upward by the vacuum belt until the lifting device is retracted or de-energized. The lifting device ensures that adequate spacing is provided between adjacent blanks and that the timing of the placement of the blanks on the succeeding flighted belt is sufficiently accurate so that downstream operations may be carried out by automated equipment.

Abstract: A stand alone printing system (10) for coating a first face of sheets on which printing may be printed previously by a printer not associated with the system includes a feeding mechanism (14), a driven application roller (76) for transferring coating material disposed on the peripheral surface (77) to the first face; a metering device (78) for transferring a uniform thickness of coating material to the peripheral surface of the application roller; a driven impression roller (85) which contacts a second face of the sheets and which contacts the peripheral surface of the application roller at least at gaps disposed between the sheets during feeding of the sheets along the coating zone which transfers the coating material to the peripheral surface (86) of the impression roller; and a coating material removing mechanism (116) for removing coating material from the peripheral surface of the impression roller prior to rotation of the peripheral surface of the impression roller to a point of contact with the second

Abstract: An addition to a multi-color lithographic offset printing press comprising a self-contained coating unit moveable into and out of operative relationship with an impression cylinder on the press unit (e.g. the impression cylinder of the last press unit) without interrupting or disrupting printing taking place in this last stage. The coating unit includes a special blanket cylinder, a transfer cylinder and doctor or metering means to control the amount of coating material on the transfer cylinder. Inclined tracks are provided to guide the coating unit into and out of operative relationship with the impression cylinder of the last printing stage.

Abstract: A retractable coater is used on-line with the last unit of a standard offset lithographic printing press. The coater includes a coating assembly mounted on a platform and a retraction guide assembly, the latter comprising:(i) a horizontal member and means for slidably supporting platform movement along the horizontal member;(ii) a vertical member slidably guiding vertical movement of the platform and(iii) means for slidably lifting the platform and coating metering assembly on a course guided by the vertical member.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a liquid coating to the surface of a sheet workpiece and adapted for operation on-line with the last unit of a lithographic sheet printing press. The apparatus comprises: (1) a textured metering roller in a mount which is linearly movably attached to a support platform fixed adjacent the press unit, and extending between the last press unit and a remote point. The support platform allows movement of the metering roller and the mount between a first position in which the mount is continuously adjustably biased against the last press unit, and a second position, away from the last press unit to allow use of the last press unit as a lithographic press. The platform comprising longitudinal supports arranged generally perpendicular to a vertical plane through the axis of said metering roller, and the metering roller mount is movably supported and guided along the supports.

Abstract: The horizontally extending cover side flaps of a plurality of identical filled closed cartons, are glued, down folded, pressed and set by continuously advancing the cartons individually and successively, in untimed relation, between upper and lower carrier belts and along a path through an adhesive applying zone, a flap folding zone and a compression zone. The upper carrier belts are mounted on a sub-frame structure as are the gently curved down fold bars and are raised and lowered relative to the main frame for runs of different height cartons. The glue pots are independently movable vertically and laterally. The compression rolls are resiliently and yieldably mounted to individually and successively press and set the hot melt adhesive without undue pressure which might retard the untimed advance of the cartons.

Abstract: A shipping carton erecting and holding device comprising: a support structure for supporting a carton in an upright position during loading; and a discharge means for discharging a filled carton from the device which includes a U-shaped engaging member to engage one end of, and to extend at least partially around the sides of, a carton, and a pair of horizontal spaced-apart rails, positioned entirely between the side walls of the device and entirely forward of the rear wall; a drive means communicating with the U-shaped member to move it between a first position on the rails in which the member is positioned to engage one end of a said carton supported on said support structure, and a second position spaced generally horizontally from said first position whereby movement of said member from said first position to said second position will move a said carton off of said support structure and discharge it, the drive means being mounted along one side wall, entirely forward of the rear wall of the device.

Abstract: A one piece, flat, sheet of cardboard, or the like, is cut, slit, and scored to form a flat blank comprising an elongated, shallow, main tray section with a fore part for french fries and a rear part for a hamburg, as well as a laterally extending, shorter, shallow, tray section, foldable over the rear part to enclose the hamburg. The main tray includes a cover flap which folds over the french fries in the fore part of the main tray. Tongues and slots lock the dished hamburg cover and the flat french fry cover in closed position. The shallow, double trays, when partially erected, nest in stacks for storage and shipment because of tapered side walls.