Abstract: In a foil balloon dispensing apparatus folded or rolled-up foil balloons are accommodated and are each provided with an adapter part including an attachment section connected to a foil balloon and a guide section which is removably connected to the attachment section and which is disconnected from the attachment section after the foil balloon is inflated but both sections remain attached to one another by a string wound up on the adapter part and connected to the attachment and guide sections for holding and guiding the foil balloon after its removal from the dispensing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving portions each comprising at least one slice separated from a food product, in particular by a slicing device, in particular by a high-speed slicer, having a plurality of individually movable transport movers for transporting portions, having a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction and having a control device for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one runner cooperating with the track system and at least one portion carrier mounted on the runner, wherein for at least one sub-section of the track, in particular a section at risk of contamination, a discharge device is provided which is designed to at least intermittently discharge next to the section, contamination and/or incorrect portions originating from the foods, in particular occurring when cutting the food products and/or

Abstract: Provided are a balloon vending machine that can provide an impactful state where the balloon purchaser can participate in a production process of a balloon and the balloon body expands to break and open the balloon case, and further that can reuse the balloon case as a handle, and a balloon to be sold by the balloon vending machine. Below the gas injection part 26 of the balloon vending machine 10, a gas injection device is disposed that expands the balloon body 24 stored in a folded state in the balloon case. The gas injection device is mounted with a gas injection nozzle. Further, a valve lock plate is disposed in the nozzle mover. The balloon includes a balloon body, a balloon case storing the balloon body, a balloon valve, and a string connecting the balloon body with the balloon case.

Abstract: A method for filling a plurality of containers in cycles at a predetermined number of stationary filling units arranged in a row with a first spacing from each other. The method includes providing a plurality of positively guided containers in a row, one-by-one, wherein the containers have a uniform second spacing from each other, wherein the first spacing of the individual filling units is a whole-number multiple of the second spacing of the containers, and filling a predetermined number of the containers simultaneously at the filling units. The containers are shifted in cycles along the filling units in a transport direction by a step length, which is a whole-number multiple of the second spacing of the containers and which is shorter than a third spacing between a first filling unit and a last filling unit steps of filling and shifting are repeated over a predetermined number of iterations.

Abstract: Receptacles are precisely filled with particulate material by feeding the material from a supply source across a deflectable, curved weigh pan and discharging a continuous flow of material from the weigh pan along a pathway. Receptacles, which may be the final containers or intermediate receptacles, are continually fed by a conveyor into the pathway so that material flows into each receptacle opening. The amount of material flowing along the pathway is measured by deflection of the pan, and the speed of the receptacle conveyor is quickly adjusted responsive to the deflection of the pan, thereby controlling the time that a given receptacle is within the pathway and the precise amount of material placed into the receptacle. The amount of material flowing to the pan from the supply source can also be controlled responsive to the pan deflection.

Abstract: A pocket conveyor for use in food processing in which the pockets move independently from each other. Each pocket contains a portion of food which is conveyed from one processing machine to another in the course of food production. Independent movement of the pockets provides for, among other things, greater efficiencies in food production by allowing independent operation of the various processing machines along the conveyor as well as allowing the use of multiple processing machines for each of one or more processes. Further, independent movement of the pockets eliminates the maintenance issues associated with pockets which are chain-linked, such as chain and motor related failure.

Abstract: A gas supply system connected to vent a tank of a product filling system is set forth. The gas supply system comprises a high pressure/low pressure gas supply having a common outlet. The high pressure/low pressure gas supply is operable in a first mode of operation in which high pressure gas is supplied at the common outlet and a second mode of operation in which low pressure gas is supplied at the common outlet. A sterile filter having an inlet and an outlet is also provided. A steam supply system is disposed in-line between the common outlet of the high pressure/low pressure gas supply and the sterile filter. A tank valve system is provided having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the sterile filter. The tank valve system also has first and second outlets and is operable in a first mode of operation in which the inlet is placed in fluid communication with the first outlet and a second mode of operation in which the inlet is placed in fluid communication with the second outlet.

Abstract: An intermittently operated, indexing container conveying system is particularly configured for versatile use with an associated container filling apparatus. In distinction from previous arrangements, the present system includes a servo-drive motor for effecting intermittent indexing movement of a container-carrying endless conveyor. Programmable controls of the system facilitate operation of the system for optimizing efficiency, facilitating use of the system with containers of differing configurations, and with food products exhibiting varying physical properties (i.e., such as viscosities). The present system permits acceleration and deceleration rate of the conveyor to be selectively varied, as well as selective variation of indexing pitch and stop points of the conveyor.

Abstract: A container filler assembly, as for berries, having a filler hopper located above a central filler conveyor driven at a slower speed than an upstream denesting and infeed conveyor which feeds empty containers to the filler conveyor, and an exit conveyor downstream of the filler conveyor driven at a greater speed than the filler conveyor, such that spaced containers on the denesting conveyor are put into abutment as they approach the filler hopper outlet, and subsequently placed again in a spaced condition after filling for dropping any berries caught on the container rims and for being closed as by placement of a wrapper on the filled container or closure of the clamshell container. The conveyors have overlapping driven V-belts with high friction surfaces.The denesting conveyor is preferably directly driven by a motor, while the filler conveyor and the exit conveyor are driven through a controlled clutch from the same motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributedly filling a particulate or granular material into containers has an intermittently driven container conveyor, and a continuously driven particulate or granular material conveyor extending across and positioned above the container conveyor. First chutes and second chutes are arranged between the container conveyor and material conveyor. The container conveyor comprises first holders and second holders arranged alternately in the direction of transport thereof and each adapted to hold containers C equal in number to the number of container transport paths, and is so driven as to feed one first holder to a first filling station and one second holder to a second filling station and stop the two fed holders at the respective stations at a time. A first particulate or granular material feeder and a second particulate or granular material feeder are arranged at opposite sides of the intersection of the two conveyors.

Abstract: An ice cream filling apparatus for simultaneously filling multiple ice cream containers as they move along a predetermined path of travel extending between a receiving station and a discharge station and a method of operating the filling apparatus in a manner controlling the volumetric fill of each container as a function of the speed that the container moves along its predetermined path of travel. The filling apparatus includes a transport and filling mechanism which quickly and easily adapts to different size and shape containers and includes a series of cantilevered container supports. Each container support individually holds and positions an ice cream container beneath a filling nozzle in a manner facilitating clean operation of the filling apparatus and such that board caliper and bouncing of the container have an inconsequential effect on volumetric fill accuracy of the filling apparatus.

Abstract: An ammunition powder measuring and dispensing apparatus in which a charging chamber rotates and translates in a helical course within a housing between inlet and outlet ports. The powder is gravity loaded and discharged from the chamber from a hopper above the inlet port and to a cartridge or shell below the outlet port. A micrometer-operated disc in the chamber adjusts the amount of the charge. The disc is concave to reduce crevices where powder can build up, and the chamber is tapered to small opening to improve cut-off leveling of powder at the inlet port.

Abstract: An apparatus for flowing and filling liquified gases, which fuctions to flow and to fill liquified bases into cans from a liquified gas storage tank immediately before seaming of the cans. The apparatus includes a solenoid for attracting an upper portion of a needle of a flow valve formed from a needle valve to open and clode the valve. A pulse motor adjusts an opening-degree of the valve. A valve opening-degree detecting device detects the opening degree. A direction changing nozzle is formed with a nozzle opening obliquely descended in a direction of transporting a can, below the flow valve. A line speed and a balve open amount in a high speed region and a low speed region are respectively set to thereby obtain a line speed/valve opening-degree conversion table, on the basis of which an opening-degree of the valve can be controlled following the line speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a particulate or granular material into containers which includes a container conveyor having an even number of container transport paths and a material conveyor having an endless path of transport of the material including a forward path portion and a return path portion with the path portions extending across the container transport paths and being positioned thereabove. The container transport paths are divided into a first group of the even-numbered paths as arranged from one side of the container conveyor and a second group of the other odd-numbered paths. At the intersection of the two conveyors, the material is distributedly placed into containers in the two groups of paths separately from the forward path portion and the return path portion of the material transport path, whereby a sufficient period of time is made available for filling the material into the containers.

Abstract: A foaming apparatus for driving out residual air from containers, especially bottles, that are filled with liquid material that can foam. The apparatus has a nozzle mechanism that cooperates with a control device and is disposed above a conveying section. To foam the material in the containers and to drive out the residual air from the latter as they move past below the nozzle mechanism, the latter is provided with a plurality of individual nozzles that in the conveying direction of the conveying section are fixedly disposed one after the other above the path of movement of the containers, with the spray nozzles being adapted to communicate with a common supply channel for the medium that induces foaming. Each spray nozzle is furthermore provided with a separately controllable control valve for establishing the communication of the spray nozzles with the supply channel.

Abstract: The invention discloses a novel type of bag threading device to be used in an automatic bag loading apparatus for rotary bagging machines, and substantially comprises a stationary vertical support frame (10) holding a swinging arm (12) bearing at the other end the pincers (13) associated with a system of connecting rod (14) and crank (19) having the function of rotating the pincers (13) in order to position them in the picking phase axially aligned with the bag (3) to be picked and subsequently with the nozzle (2) of the bagging machine, said arm being able to carry out an angular displacement between to bag positioning device (6) and the nozzle (2) of the rotary bagging machine (1) to be fed in that moment, effected by a cam (15) in order to carry out its angular displacement, acting on a roller (17) arranged on said swinging arm (12), the cam (15) being rotated around its shaft by a motor with reduction unit, the cam shaft and that of the bagging machine being rotated in a synchronous way through known mean

Abstract: High speed container placement method and apparatus are provided, particularly for check weighing or for use in combination with high speed filling equipment for consumer products, such as instant coffee. A container separating device introduces groups of containers to a container placement and removal device for sequencing therethrough. The individual containers are transferred from an annular turntable to separate stationary work positions on a deck plate where they undergo a processing step. Following this processing step, the containers are removed from their respective stationary positions and returned to the annular turntable to be ultimately discharged from the container placement apparatus. The containers are placed at and removed from the work positions respectively by feeder and discharge guides which oscillate as they travel about the deck plate along an epicycloidal type path.

Abstract: High speed container placement method and apparatus are provided for use in combination with high speed filling equipment for consumer products, such as instant coffee. A container separating device introduces groups of containers to a container placement and removal device for sequencing therethrough. The individual members of a group are transferred from a high speed annular turntable of the container placement and removal device to separate stationary work positions on a deck plate where they undergo a processing step such as filling the container by weight with an appropriate amount of product. Following this processing step, the containers are removed from their respective stationary work positions and returned to the high speed annular turntable to be ultimately discharged from the container placement and removal device. Simultaneously, the next group of containers is being fed into the apparatus to sequentially replace the fully processed group.

Abstract: Air in the space above the fill level in the neck of a bottle or similar container is displaced before the closure is applied, by injection of a liquid or gaseous medium that causes the product to foam. The system consists of a filling station, a closure station, a star wheel to transfer bottles between the two stations, and a jetting device. The jetting device is mounted to a horizontal holding arm above the transfer star and pivots concentrically around the axis of the transfer star. The conveyor speed is automatically monitored by a tach generator. Its signal activates a servo motor which engages the holding arm and moves it together with the jetting nozzle along the bottle path according to the operating speed. The jetting device is moved closer to the closure station at lower operating speeds while its distance to the closure station is increased during higher speeds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of depositing material into a moving receptacle is disclosed. A traveling discharge device moves across a receptacle while discharging material into the receptacle. The discharge device uses the receptacle itself as its frame of reference and thus can compensate for imperfections in both the speed and the path of the receptacle.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rate of filling bottles as they are moved by a rotary table, in which position indicating devices are attached to the pistons which move the filling nozzles up and down in the vertical direction, the position indicating devices are detected just before the bottles are discharged from the rotary table to determine whether filling of the bottles is completed by means of two piston position detecting devices A and B which devices are circumferentially spaced-apart so as to define an included angle .theta. of 10.degree. to 30.degree. with respect to the center of the rotary table, and the rotation speed of the rotary table is increased or decreased so that the proportion of completely filled bottles detected by the first or leading detecting device A during each rotation of the rotary table is less than 100% but the proportion of completely filled bottles detected by the second or trailing detecting device B during each rotation of the rotary table is 100%.

Abstract: A balloon vending machine to accommodate inside a number of non-inflated balloons in advance and to offer the inflated balloons one by one upon demand. The non-inflated balloons are arranged inside in such a manner so that each balloon neck fitting with the balloon is engaged with a pair of rails, and the balloons are automatically taken out and delivered after slidingly moved along the rails and inflated with a gas. The balloon neck fittings consists of a check valve part and a sliding guide part engaging with the rails and is separated into these two parts at the time of delivery of a balloon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for providing a measured quantity of extrudate material to a plurality of continuously moving uniformly spaced receptacles on a rotating conveyor which can travel at varying speeds. The extrudate material is severed by a cutting means having a driving means which is intermittent in operation and is preferably driven by a stepping motor, thereby enabling the cutting means to have a cutting velocity independent of the feed rate of receptacles and to cleanly sever a slug of extrudate material for each receptacle for any speed at which the conveyor is operating.