Abstract: A cutting head apparatus for use in a high speed horizontal wrapper. The apparatus has two modular cutting heads each with a cutting shaft. The cutting shafts cooperate for cutting and sealing wrapping material between the products being wrapped. The cutting shafts are journaled for rotation in bearing blocks located on opposing ends of the shafts. Each modular cutting head can be mounted in at least two operative positions on a cutting head support frame. The bearing blocks of the modular cutting heads are mounted on the cutting head apparatus to permit movement of the shafts away from the cutting area in the event a product becomes misaligned and the cutting blade and anvil contact the misaligned product.

Abstract: A heat sealing machine for sealing layers of a plastic film to each other. The machine includes a pair of flexible, endless opposed heat transfer bands each fronting each other and having a gap therebetween wherein layers of plastic film travel for sealing. Heat sealing components such as heat sealing bars in communication with the heat transfer bands and disposed behind the heat transfer bands are provided with constraints for limiting the inwardly-lateral movement thereof to thereby restrict movement thereof such that a bar does not travel beyond the longitudinal mid-line of the gap. In this manner, varying thicknesses of layers of plastic to be sealed can be accommodated without misalignment and jamming.

Abstract: A conveyor belt tracking and drive mechanism for use with a short, wide conveyor belt system. The mechanism has a stationary frame with first and second roller journaled for rotation at a first and second end of the stationary frame. A first moveable frame is pivotally suspended from the stationary frame. A second moveable frame is pivotally suspended from the first moveable frame. The second moveable frame has a drive roller and motor operatively connected to the drive roller. A micro-tracking adjustment screw, disposed between the first moveable frame and stationary frame, is used to adjust the tracking of the conveyor belt by laterally moving the first and second moveable frame. A belt adjustment screw located between the first moveable frame and second moveable frame allows one as to adjust the tension of the short, wide conveyor belt by movement of the power roller against or away from the short, wide conveyor belt.

Abstract: An improved mounting for spaced band wheels about which the sealing bands of a band sealer move is achieved by mounting at least one of the band wheels carrying each band from a double ended cylinder movable longitudinally with respect to the inter-band wheel distance to thereby allow adjustability in the distance between the drive and idler band wheels and, in turn, modulate the tension in the band and with the shortest wheel distance allow easy removal and replacement of the band.

Abstract: A system for controlling and modulating the pressure between members of pairs of heating and/or cooling members or bars utilized in a heat sealing machine is disclosed. Closer, more sensitive control of the inter-bar gap and allowable sealing pressure is achieved by the provision of a fluid pressure adjustable, spring-biased system which can be used to modulate the maximum force applied to the band between the bars according to the type of configuration of material to be processed.

Abstract: A conveyor system which receives products in random order at its infeed end and delivers product in a serial aligned order at its outlet end. The conveyor system comprises first and second endless belt conveyors which are longitudinally aligned and positioned such that the product exiting the first conveyor is received on the second conveyor. The first conveyor is of a greater width than the second and at the location where they meet is a third endless belt conveyor moving in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal flow direction of the other two. The machine that feeds products to the first conveyor is set at a desired product flow rate in terms of products-per-minute and the speed of the first conveyor is set to handle that capacity. The second belt is driven at a speed equal to or greater than the product-per-minute rate times the product length.

Abstract: An improved bicycle pedal which positively grips the biker's shoe for imparting force to the crank assembly on both the upward and downward stroke of the biker's foot. The pedal comprises a molded tubular member having a longitudinal bore for receiving an axle member therein and having an integrally formed, generally flat surface projecting laterally outward from the cylindrical member and generally tangent thereto. The flat surface member is notched with the edges of the notch being chamfered so as to be wider at the base than at the top. A cleat of a shape adapted to mate with the notch is attached to the sole of the bikers's shoe. When the sole of the biker's shoe is placed on the generally flat surface, the cleat fits into the notch and a beveled portion of the cleat mates with the chamfered edge of the pedal in dove-tail fashion to releasably lock the biker's shoe to the pedal.

Abstract: Apparatus having a plurality of controlled overlapping chain drives, each chain drive containing a plurality of raised members for receiving collated stacks of mailing literature and conveying the literature over their successive paths in synchrony with a collating assembly to a film wrapping assembly coupled at the opposite end thereof. Independently hinged overlying hold-down assemblies prevent the collating material from curling or otherwise becoming disassembled before wrapping in a film wrapper or in a paper wrapper.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a tube from a web of paper or film. A perforated endless belt has at least one vacuum box applied to the underside of one run. The web is fed onto the belt and held down by it. The leading portion of the web is folded rearwardly and the longitudinal edges of the web are folded inwardly to create a tube. The thus formed tube is continuously withdrawn rearwardly while product is inserted into the opening which is continuously being formed in the tube. The tube is longitudinally sealed and thereafter transversely sealed and transversely cut to form individual pouches.

Abstract: A bag making machine continuously drawing and propelling tube stock from a supply in a roll, including an in-feed conveying mechanism having feed rolls drawing the tube stock from the supply, a horizontal belt conveyor with spaced individual belts carrying the tube stock in horizontally laid out condition, a continuously moving cutter mechanism including clamping jaws above and below the tube stock on the belt conveyor, the lower jaw having slots receiving the belts therein, the upper and lower jaws having stationary and yieldable jaws to grip, clamp and stretch the film, and the upper jaw having a cutter moving downwardly in a slot into a corresponding slot in the lower jaw; a crimper to longitudinally corrugate the tube segments severed from the tube stock and shoot the severed tube segments across the receiving end of a crossfeed conveyor mechanism which changes the direction of the tube segments, the crossfeed conveyor mechanism including a roller conveyor to receive and carry the tube segments transverse

Abstract: A sealing machine for polyethylene bags, having bag clamping and conveying chains, a pair of bag heating bands, a pair of bag cooling bands downstream of the heating bands, the adjacent heat transfer runs of both the heating and cooling bands having ends offset from each other in the direction of band movement, the band mounting wheels at each end of both bands being similarly offset, the adjacent heat transfer runs of the heating and cooling bands also lying parallel and flush against each other from end to end, stationary heat bars adjacent the heat transfer runs of the heating and cooling bands at which the bars respectively generate and absorb heat, and each heat bar having a plurality of very lightly spring pressed heat transfer elements or slides continuously engaging and transferring heat between the adjacent band and heat bar.

Abstract: A band sealer for sealing thermoplastic bags including superposed endless heat transfer bands and conveyor chains with adjacent bag-engaging and return runs immediately above rigid frame plates, a motor connected by chain driven and meshed pinions driving the conveyor chains, the sealing bands driven from band wheels overlying the chains, mounting brackets beneath the wheels with upstanding stub shafts upon which the wheels are journaled, each band wheel having a ring gear meshed with a pinion beneath the wheel and a sprocket coaxial with the pinion and meshed with the adjacent chain for driving the wheel.