Abstract: A blank feeder is disclosed having a magazine with a delivery opening at one end and accommodating flat blanks as arranged from the one end toward the other end thereof in the form of a stack. The blank feeder also has a transport device having a path of transport extending straight from the delivery opening as a starting end to a terminal end away from the opening, and a device for unfolding each of the flat blanks to a tubular form of square cross section while the blank is being transported by the transport device. The unfolding device has first and second blank unfolding claws provided at edge portions of the delivery opening so as to be individually engageable with opposite ends of the blank in the delivery opening. The first and second unfolding claws are positioned at different distances from a reference plane orthogonal to the transport path in a direction along the path.

Abstract: A blank feeder has a pair of guide rails for guiding blanks having a tubular form of square cross section to a bottom forming mandrel. The guide rails are formed with opposed recessed portions which are V-shaped in cross section for holding therebetween two corners of the blank on a diagonal thereof, and have shock absorbing means for mitigating the impact to be involved in the stiking contact of the blank with the guide rails.

Abstract: A filling nozzle includes a vertical tubular nozzle body for receiving the liquid to be filled and supplied thereto forcibly and intermittently, and a rubber tube connected to the lower end of the nozzle body and having an opening at its lower end. The rubber tube is folded at required portions to constrict the opening. The opening is held closed by the elasticity of the rubber tube against gravity acting on the liquid within the nozzle body when the supply of the liquid is discontinued but is opened by the pressure of the liquid when the liquid is supplied to the nozzle body. The nozzle body is provided at its lower end with a tube holding portion having the rubber tube fitted thereover for holding the rubber tube in shape. The tube holding portion is externally in conformity with the inner surface of the rubber tube except at the folded portions.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a rotary body having blank bottom forming radial mandrels so arranged as to be successively stoppable at a plurality of process stations including a blank feed station, a feeder for fitting a tubular blank having a square or rectangular cross section around the mandrel stopping at the blank feed station to feed the blank to the mandrel, and a collector for collecting paper particles adhering to the blank to be fed by the feeder. The feeder has a pair of guide rails positioned on opposite sides of and extending in parallel to a phantom line extending outward from the mandrel stopping at the blank feed station. The collector has a tubular collecting cover enclosing the guide rails. The cover is formed with an air outlet covered with a filter. A suction device applies suction to the air outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a specified amount of liquid comprises a vertical tubular nozzle having a large-diameter portion intermediately of its height and a valve seat at the edge of an open lower end thereof, a valve upwardly and downwardly movably supported by the filling nozzle and comprising a plug intimately fittable to the valve seat and a stem extending upward from the plug inside the nozzle, a resistance member fixed to the valve stem so as to be positioned in the large-diameter portion for acting against a downward flow of liquid, a spring biasing the valve upward to hold the plug in intimate contact with the valve seat against the gravity on the liquid within the nozzle, a metering cylinder for intermittently feeding the liquid into the nozzle in the specified amount at a time so that the valve is opened by the pressure of flow of the liquid against the spring, and the spring closing the valve when the feed of liquid is discontinued.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a specified amount of liquid comprises a vertical tubular filling nozzle, a damper attached to the lower end of the filling nozzle and pivotally movable upward and downward, a vertical rod supported upwardly and downwardly movably inside the filling nozzle, a connecting member connecting the free end of the damper to the lower end of the vertical rod, a spring biasing the vertical rod upward to hold the damper closed against the gravity on the liquid within the nozzle, and a metering cylinder for feeding the liquid to the nozzle in the specified amount at a time to open the damper against the spring. An annular seat facing downward is formed on the inner surface of the nozzle approximately at the midportion of its height. A liquid channel blocking annular member is mounted on the vertical rod so as to come into contact with the seat simultaneously when or immediately before the damper is closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a specified amount of liquid comprising a metering cylinder having a piston therein, a vertical filling nozzle having an opening at its lower end and forcibly chargeable with a liquid from the metering cylinder by the operation of the piston, a damper for opening and closing the opening of the filling nozzle, a spring biasing the damper so as to hold the damper closed against the gravity acting on the liquid filling the nozzle while the damper is closed with the charging discontinued although permitting the damper to be opened with the pressure of the liquid forcibly charged into the filling nozzle from the metering cylinder, and a closing device adapted to act on the damper in its open state to close the damper when the charging of the liquid is discontinued and adapted to be brought out of action transmitting relation with the damper so as to permit the spring only to hold the damper closed before the charging of the liquid is subsequently started.

Abstract: A packaging machine for preparing sealed containers filled with contents each from a blank having a thermoplastic synthetic resin layer over each surface thereof. The container is recessed in the central portion of its bottom so as to seat stably. A bottom forming end portion of the blank fitted around a mandrel is folded flat and then pressed against the forward end surface of the mandrel by a press member with its press face to form the bottom of the container. The mandrel end surface defines a cavity for recessing the bottom central portion, and a projection complementary to the cavity is provided on the press face of the press member.

Abstract: A packaging machine including a rotor having a plurality of radial mandrels each for carrying a container as fitted therearound and intermittently drivingly rotatable so that the mandrels successively stop at processing stations equal in number to the number of the mandrels, a container bottom breaker provided at one of the processing stations, and a container holding device provided at the same processing station as the container bottom breaker and having at least one container pressing member to be pressed against the mandrel at rest at said same processing station over the container fitted around the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding the top closures of tubular containers of square to rectangular cross section having a bottom into the form of a gabled roof. The top closure comprises first and second pairs of opposed quadrilateral panels, and each of the first panels has fold lines. The apparatus comprises first and second folding members provided at an intermediate portion of a path of transport of the container by a conveyor, between a filling device and a top closure sealing device along the path. The first folding member inwardly folds the first pair of panels between the second pair while the container is being transported by the conveyor, whereupon the second folding member operates to inwardly fold the second pair of panels over the first pair already folded by the first folding member. The top closure is foldable into the gabled form reliably and can therefore be subsequently sealed free of any trouble.