Including Closing End Of Tube Patents (Class 493/308)
  • Patent number: 11819035
    Abstract: An eversion device for small intestine eversion and a small intestine processing line, includes a water tank formed by walls, has a first side wall and a second side wall. The eversion device includes at least one conveyor assembly arranged in one of the side walls of the tank. The conveyor assembly is configured to transport at least one small intestine along the side wall, and the tank is configured to overflow water over at least one part of an upper edge of the side wall that receives the conveyor assembly. A small intestine processing line has the aforementioned eversion device and includes at least one stool removal device with a way to feed small intestines to the tank of the eversion device, and at least one mucosa removal device arranged posteriorly to the tank of the eversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: MAREL BRASIL COMERCIAL E INDUSTRIAL LTDA
    Inventors: Henrique Roos, Roberto Dill Paula, Eder Brambatti, Adalberto Klose
  • Patent number: 9039591
    Abstract: A bag manufacturing system has at least one tube forming device which forms a tube and separates the tube into tube pieces, and at least one bottom forming device which provides the tube pieces with a bottom and thus forms the bags. The system has a storage device for storing the tube pieces on at least two levels. At least two charging and removing devices are provided with which the tube pieces can be supplied to and/or removed from at least two different points of the levels of the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: WINDMOELLER & HOELSCHER KG
    Inventor: Hans-Dieter Welp
  • Patent number: 8835040
    Abstract: Separator for cylindrical cell of the outwardly guided type, wherein a sheet material is wound around a mandrel, and starting from the winding step until the insertion of a separator into the cell, an outward support is used that renders the binding of neighboring turns of the separator winding unnecessary, and the separator sheet has an extended portion, with the extension being at least equal to the radius of the separator cylinder, and with this extended portion being wetted with distilled or de-ionized water until the material softens and the winding and the mandrel are rotated and the bottom part is folded back and heat fused to close the separator cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hibar Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Djuro Slivar
  • Patent number: 8617039
    Abstract: A method of and a device for folding a bottom of a package, which includes a sleeve of packaging material with a transversal seal in the end of the bottom forming portion of the package, the portion having the shape of a fin. The method includes folding the fin and forming primary flaps, breaking corners on the folded fin between the primary flaps and the edge between the part of the sleeve forming the bottom and the rest of the sleeve, such that secondary flaps are folded in between the primary flaps and the fin, the secondary flaps thereby being folded essentially towards each other, folding the primary flaps towards each other, and pressing the primary flaps towards the remaining part of the bottom forming part of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Hakan Zetterstrom, Nick Baker
  • Patent number: 8597167
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing bags made of tube pieces having fabric made of stretched plastic strips and with two material webs lying on top of each other includes a transport device, via which the tube pieces are conveyed in a horizontal position in a transport direction (x) extending transversely to the direction of extension (z) of the tube pieces, a bottom-opening station, via which open bottom squares are produced on at least one end of a tube piece, a closing station, via which the bottoms opened at the bottom-opening station are folded up, and a bottom-patch station, via which a bottom patch is applied for closing the bag bottom. At least one processing station on the operating side (BS) is disposed such that it is at least partly offset to a similar processing station on the drive side (AS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Windmoeller & Hoelscher KG
    Inventors: Christian Haeger, Carsten Tausch, Uwe Koehn
  • Patent number: 8522516
    Abstract: A packaging machine includes a packaging machine main body, a film transport unit, a former and a former insertion guide assembly. The film transport unit is coupled to the packaging main body to transport a film from a first end part of the packaging main body towards a second end part of the packaging main body opposite from the first end part. The former is disposed in the second end part of the packaging main body to form the film transported by the film transport unit into a cylindrical shape and to direct the film downwards. The former insertion guide assembly is configured and arranged to guide the former to a predetermined position in the second end part of the packaging machine main body while the former is rotated from a lateral side of the packaging machine main body when the former is mounted to the packaging machine main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ichikawa, Masashi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8499535
    Abstract: A device for packaging products in a foil package includes a feeder for continuously supplying a foil web from a supply roll to a corner forming unit. The corner forming unit includes a curved deforming edge for deforming the flat foil web to a curved foil web having a reduced width, a deformer for forming a profile in the curved foil web, a roller for flattening the foil web, with the reduced width of the foil web at least substantially being maintained and overlapping sections being formed at the location of the profile, and a sealer for sealing the overlapping sections. The deforming edge and the deformer form part of an exchangeable unit. The sealer is movable along at least one guide, with the corner forming unit comprising aligning elements associated with the sealer, which aligning elements cooperate with further aligning elements associated with the deformer for correctly positioning the sealer relative to the deformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: PMB-UVA International B.V.
    Inventors: Marius Petrus Josef Johannes Robertus Ponten, Robertus Maria Vollenbroek
  • Patent number: 8468782
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a bottle-like or tube-like container, especially a tubular pouch (10), having a tubular pouch body (20) and a sealed-in end (30), such as, for example, a base, especially a stand-up base, and optionally a sealed-in top part and/or shoulder part, wherein at least the base (30) and, where applicable, the top part and/or the shoulder part is introduced into the tubular pouch body (20), the tubular pouch body (20) being stretched, especially expanded, at least in the region of introduction, by a predetermined amount before and/or during introduction of the base (30) and, where applicable, of the top part and/or the shoulder part. The invention relates also to a tubular pouch so produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Michalsky, Jürgen Pfrommer
  • Publication number: 20120305121
    Abstract: A biodegradable tube and closure component for containing a viscous substance and method for assembling the biodegradable tube and closure component includes a fiber board tube with a heat sealable inner surface and a polymer closure component inserted into one end of the fiber board tube and welded therein by heat or ultrasonically welding. The assembled biodegradable tube and closure component can be filled with a desired viscous substance through an opposite open end of the cylindrical tube and then the opposite open end closed to form a biodegradable fiberboard tube and closure assembly filled with the viscous substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: Samuel Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7841975
    Abstract: By forming a resin sheet or a metal sheet, an angular-box-shaped bag main body having gore portions on surrounding side faces to ensure its height is formed. A valley line is formed in an intermediate portion of each of the gore portions in a height direction. A triangular overlaid and folded portion is formed in an end of each of the gore portions on each of the surrounding side faces with each corner portion of the angular-box-shaped bag main body being sandwiched between one surrounding side face and another surrounding side face adjacent to the one surrounding side face in which the gore portion is folded in an overlaid manner in the overlaid and folded portion at a same time when another gore portion on another surrounding side face is folded. The angular box-shaped bag main body is folded so as to be in a flat state by allowing each of the gore portions to be folded in a manner to form a valley line along the folded line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Koji Korechika
  • Publication number: 20100059529
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic package for liquid or viscous products comprising three separate elements, namely a flexible cylindrical side wall formed by a sheet wrapped around a mandrel, an at least partly rigid bottom, and an at least partly rigid top that includes a neck; said package being able to rest on said bottom and having a height H and a diameter D such that the ratio H:D is between 1:1 and 5:1; the side wall and the other two elements, during their assembly, are in contact with a mandrel positioned inside the package. The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of a package as described above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Jacques Thomasset, Gerhard Keller, Hugues-Vincent Roy, Joachim Pellissier
  • Patent number: 7523597
    Abstract: A self-aligning former assembly has a single-point mount for attachment to an automated form/fill/seal packaging machine. Substantially rectangular apertures in a plurality of mounting brackets are configured to fit snugly on corresponding substantially rectangular shoulders formed on a mounting post. The configuration inhibits pivoting motion of the former on the mounting post. In an illustrated embodiment, the mounting post is attached to a base plate with a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners which prevent rotational movement of the mounting post relative to the base plate. Radial attachments are used in the illustrated embodiment to secure the funnel portion of a product feed tube to the mounting apparatus. Paired upper and lower mounting brackets permit precise alignment of the device prior to affixing the radial attachments to the mounting brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: J & F Business, Inc.
    Inventors: John Dominguez, Jr., John Dominguez, III
  • Patent number: 7510514
    Abstract: An arrangement for rolling the frontal end of a deformable sleeve-shaped container jacket comprises a supporting surface which radially supports the container jacket in the area of its end. A ring-shaped cavity is arranged radially adjacent thereto, which cavity is closed at the bottom and open at the top. The cavity has an essentially semicircular cross-section. The cavity is provided in circumferential direction with a plurality of pocket-shaped recesses in the transitional area between the supporting surface and the bottom, between which recesses rolling ridges, as part of the original cavity surface, remain. The purpose of this design is to effect a reduction in the deformation forces when the frontal end of the container jacket is being rolled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Michael Hoerauf Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Messerschmid, Michael Heil, Thomas Vetten
  • Patent number: 7510516
    Abstract: A method of and a device for folding a bottom of a package, which includes a sleeve of packaging material with a transversal seal in the end of the bottom forming portion of the package, the portion having the shape of a fin. The method includes folding the fin and forming primary flaps, breaking corners on the folded fin between the primary flaps and the edge between the part of the sleeve forming the bottom and the rest of the sleeve, such that secondary flaps are folded in between the primary flaps and the fin, the secondary flaps thereby being folded essentially towards each other, folding the primary flaps towards each other, and pressing the primary flaps towards the remaining part of the bottom forming part of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Hakan Zetterstrom, Nick Baker
  • Patent number: 7503885
    Abstract: A soft shell, flexible storage tank is provided, including corners of an improved configuration adapted to resist leaks. The walls of the tank and the corners are relatively more rounded and larger in radius than those of conventional flexible tanks. The walls and the improved corners act together to resist leaks. The rounded corners tend to reduce the effective pressure in the tank walls by loading the seams predominantly in shearing stress when the tank is filled with a liquid. The rounded corners are developed as panels, which are thermally bonded to produce secure and reliable liquid-tight seams. Each of the panels is bonded by lapped seams to others of the panels. Each of the rounded corners includes a generally triangular corner that is bonded to at least three other panels. In effect, the flexible storage tank functions as a pressure vessel, which tends to resist leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: MPC Containment Systems LLC
    Inventors: Edward Reicin, Jack Moreland
  • Patent number: 7409810
    Abstract: A vertical form fill and seal continuous pouch machine includes a forming tube having a cross section area of CA is disclosed. A film tube is continuously formed about the forming tube and fed downward. A horizontal sealing assembly includes at least one pair of opposing sealing bars that make horizontal seals on the film, thereby forming pouches. The horizontal seals are formed in a horizontal sealing zone, and the vertical distance from a lower end of the forming tube to the center of the horizontal sealing zone is a transition distance that is (in inches) preferably no more than 0.5 multiplied by the cross-section area (in sq inches).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: CMD Corporation
    Inventors: Curt Frievalt, Brian E. Kettner
  • Patent number: 7191575
    Abstract: A vertical form fill and seal continuous pouch machine includes a forming tube having a cross section area of CA is disclosed. A film tube is continuously formed about the forming tube and fed downward. A horizontal sealing assembly includes at least one pair of opposing sealing bars that make horizontal seals on the film, thereby forming pouches. The horizontal seals are formed in a horizontal sealing zone, and the vertical distance from a lower end of the forming tube to the center of the horizontal sealing zone is a transition distance that is (in inches) preferably no more than 0.5 multiplied by the cross-section area (in sq. inches).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: CMD Corporation
    Inventors: Curt Frievalt, Brian E. Kettner
  • Patent number: 7172546
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing the bottom of a bag includes a frame through which a bag to be folded is longitudinally advanced. The apparatus includes a pair of cooperating grippers carried by a reciprocably movable gripper carrier. The grippers are operated to opposite edges of the bag, and laterally tension the bag. The apparatus includes a vertically reciprocable fold plate which then is moved downwardly to engage and downwardly fold a leading end portion of the bag. Adhesive is applied thereto, and the bag advanced, by movement of the gripper carrier, for advancement of the folded bag to at least one pair of intermittently-driven nip rollers. The grippers are released, and the nip rollers thereafter operated to compress and complete sealing of the bag bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hudson-Sharp Machine Co.
    Inventor: Lee Fiedler
  • Patent number: 6918227
    Abstract: A method and device for end closing tubular wrappings of products, whereby the arms of a scissor-type parting device, once inserted in a closed position inside an end portion of a tubular wrapping, are allowed to part, and are pushed by springs into a fully open position throughout an extraction stroke to crease the end portion and enable the end portion to be pressed taut and accurately by the opposing thrust of two folding-sealing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sandro Salicini, Stefano Cavallari
  • Patent number: 6849038
    Abstract: An improved tool container a corner-less exterior adjacent a craftsman to minimize trauma when carried and to provide better access to objects therein than convention designs. In the preferred embodiment, the tool container comprises a substantially cylindrical body having an axial length, opposing first and second ends, and an interior region for tools, couplings, and assorted workpieces. The body includes at least one divider disposed between the first and second ends. Accesses are disposed along the cylindrical body on either side of the divider(s) and provide access to divided portions of the interior region of the tool container. End caps are disposed proximate to the first and second ends of the cylindrical body. A flattened portion can be provided in the cylindrical body to prevent rolling when placed on the ground or other rest surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Steven A. Straface
  • Patent number: 6729112
    Abstract: A tubular bagging machine in which expanding elements projecting away from the fill pipe are provided in order to create bags with welded edges. A separate longitudinal welding device for welding of an area adjacent to the edge of the tube is provided. It is thus possible to produce directly side-by-side a longitudinal seam and a welded edge. A bag-opening aid or a reclosing aid can be integrated into the longitudinal seam or the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kuss, René Ohrisch, Harald Braun, Walter Baur
  • Patent number: 6609999
    Abstract: A perforation blade is used for cutting a perforated tear line in a bag to form an easy-open corner portion. The perforation blade includes a base formed to span the corner portion of the bag. The base has a first end adapted to extend to the end edge of the bag proximate a seal line, and a second end adapted to extend to one side edge of the bag. A series of closely spaced perforation teeth are formed with the base, and are adapted to penetrate the first and second walls of the bag to form a corresponding series of perforations at the corner portion of the bag. A starter tooth is formed at the first end of the base, and is adapted to cut a starter nick in a skirt of the bag between the end edge and the proximate seal line. A burst protection gap is formed between the starter tooth and a first of the series of perforation teeth. The burst protection gap is adapted for safely receiving the seal line of the bag to prevent severing the seal line when cutting the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Rex International Incorporated
    Inventor: Timothy L. Albright
  • Patent number: 6558306
    Abstract: A multi-ply composite container for consumer products with at least one region of weakened strength and method for manufacturing same is provided. The composite container includes a multi-ply composite tube having a tubular body ply, a liner ply adhered to the inner surface of the tubular body ply and a label ply adhered to the outer surface of the body ply. The composite container also includes at least one circumferential score line in the multi-ply composite tube through the label ply and the body ply. The container and method overcome limitations imposed by conventional composite containers by providing a composite container which provides for easy opening, better consumer access, resealability, storage for left over food product, and easier consumer recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Lowry, Manson Drew Case, Kenan J. Clougherty
  • Patent number: 6544159
    Abstract: The lid is formed, on the one hand, of a ring (7) and, on the other hand, of a disk (D). The ring (A) comes from a strip cut parallel to the fibers of a fibrous rigid material. Having formed the ring (A) using a two-stage tool, the disk (D) is pressed on the ring (A) and the skirt (L′) is bonded onto the ring (A). A nesting profile and a catch (3′) in the form of a groove open toward the interior are formed. The lid fits onto a container (R) with a rolled edge (O).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Georges Sireix
  • Patent number: 6517472
    Abstract: A device for separating two webs of material which are arranged on top of each other. The webs of material are to be separated while they are being transported on a conveying device, the first of the webs of material being detachably fixed to the conveying device. The device includes a suction device which is moveable in relation to the second web of material and by which means it is able to temporarily draw the second web of material by suction and separate it from the first web of material. Two cranks are set apart, each crank rotates about a first pivot pin and is rotationally connected to the suction device by a second pivot pin. A drive device with an engaging element is connected to an engaging element configured on one of the cranks. The paths of revolution of the drive device engaging element and the crank engaging element do not coincide and are nonparallel, and the engaging elements engage with each other in such a way that they can be displaced in relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Starlinger & Co. Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Franz Starlinger Huemer, Gerhard Apfler
  • Patent number: 6513308
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing tubular bag packages has a forming tube with a rectangular cross section. In order to produce reinforcing seams in a projection of the broad side walls of the tubular bag package, the device has a forming and folding device. The forming and folding device has two forming plates attached to the forming tube and a folding frame with folding plates. The relatively simply embodied device according to the invention makes it possible to form the reinforcing seams with less stress on the packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Antonius Meeuwesen, Johannis Lambie, Adrianus Arie Vermaat, Barend Bastiaan Romijn
  • Patent number: 6511451
    Abstract: Tampon applicator for feminine hygiene, comprising a cylindrical applicator barrel of paper-like material, having a front end comprising segments which are bent forwards and inward with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the applicator barrel, forming a dome whereby a weakening of the segments is provided for reducing their resistance to a spreading movement of the segments during the pushing out of a tampon from the applicator barrel. The bases of the segments are formed by the front, solid-cylindrical end of the applicator barrel and the weakening of the segments is provided on the inner surface and at an axial distance from the base of the segments. The tampon applicator reduces the ejecting pressure by means of the predetermined breaking lines at the inner surface of each segment while the smooth outside of the segments reduces irritations when in use. Additionally, the invention relates to a process and an apparatus for manufacturing said tampon applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventors: Hans Werner Schoelling, Helena Engvist
  • Patent number: 6428457
    Abstract: A former for forming an elongated planar bag-making material into a tubular form is composed of a hollow cylindrical tubular part and a shoulder part which has a planar guide section and is connected to the tubular part along a connecting line surrounding the tubular part. Both the tubular and shoulder parts are formed by cutting a tube-forming piece and a shoulder-forming piece from a flat blank sheet in appropriate shapes and bending these pieces into the shapes of the tubular and shoulder parts. The connecting line is designed such that the angle between its tangent and the axial direction of the tubular part changes at a constant rate. Portions of the edges of the tube-forming and shoulder-forming pieces may be in a shape of a parabola or a hyperbolic function curve, and these pieces are obtained by making a numerical control program from the desired shapes of the curve and controlling a laser cutter by the program to cut a blank sheet in the desired shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Fukuda, Keiichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6270833
    Abstract: A new separator for an alkaline cell is provided, which can prevent deformation to an end of the separator and also prevent short circuits within the cell structure when an external force is added to the cell. The separator has a characteristic that a ratio of a tensile strength of a longitudinal direction of a separator base paper and a tensile strength of a widthwise direction of the base paper is within a range of 2/1 to 1/1. The invention provides a new method of producing the separator. The method permits reliability in sealing properties of a closed bottom end and high productivity. The method has the steps of: winding the base paper to form a cylindrical body; subjecting the cylindrical body to a closed bottom forming step while the cylindrical body is held by a clamping device to maintain its cylindrical shape; heat-bonding an end of the cylindrical body to close the end; and releasing the cylindrical body from the cylindrical clamping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: FDK Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Yamashita, Shuji Murakami, Kiyohide Tsutsui, Hirohiko Ota
  • Patent number: 6050056
    Abstract: A packaging bag for containing a product is provided. The bag includes an end with four bag projections that are to be folded over the product. A first pair of opposing bag projections are folded down to form generally triangular portions, and the other pair of opposing bag projections are folded onto the triangular portions and connected together in the overlap area while basically maintaining their rectangular shape and catching the corners of the first pair of bag projections. In order for the first pair of bag projections to be formed along the long side of the bag, the fold edges between adjacent bag projections run at least partially outside of the contour of the bags when folded and the angle formed between the side and base of the triangular portion when folded in is less than 45.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventors: Karlheinz Weisser, Ulrich Wald
  • Patent number: 6027439
    Abstract: Spirally-wound circular side walls may be re-formed into non-circular geometries which are then mechanically joined to conformably shaped non-circular closure disks and thereby produce non-circular two-piece paperboard container lids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Sweetheart Cup Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Busse, Edward M. Earnest, David W. Norwood
  • Patent number: 5862652
    Abstract: To avoid the folding of a flat tubular bag 1, which has been set up supported on its bottom-side cross seam 4, a welding seam 7, 8 reinforcing the tubular bag 1 is provided along at least one edge 5, 6. A further tubular bag 101 is introduced, where on the side folds 110, 111 of which the edges 105, 106 have welding seams 107, 108. Because of the welding seams 107, 108, the stability of the tubular bag 101 is improved. The longitudinal seam 2, 102 in the two tubular bags 1, 101 extends in a reinforcing welding seam 7, 107. The tubular bagging machine 14 for the manufacture of the tubular bag 1, 101 has at least one expanding element on the fill pipe 20 for expanding the film tube 21. A longitudinal welding device 22 is provided following the expanding element 27 in film feeding direction (FIGS. 7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Rovema Packaging Machines, L.P.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schoeler
  • Patent number: 5857310
    Abstract: This invention relates to an unpleating system for machines for molding, filling, and automatic closing of flexible-film-based wrappings, characterized by the fact that it comprises two units capable of sequenced travel toward and away from the transverse welding plane, which units each hold at least one flexible jack bearing a pulling mechanism, the jack being slanted in relation to the transverse welding plane and the direction of travel of the units so that at the time of approach of the units toward the transverse welding plane, the jacks will be retracted and the pulling mechanisms automatically moved toward the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Flexico-France
    Inventor: Henri Bois
  • Patent number: 5814382
    Abstract: A bag suitable for use in microwave cooking is constructed of an elongated tube of flexible material closed at one end by means of a cold seal closure and having a heat seal adhesive deposit applied to the other end thereof for use in closing the bag after filling thereof; and methods of making the same are described, including the making of a roll from which said bags can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: American Packaging Corporation
    Inventor: Gilbert N. Yannuzzi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5672308
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a seal portion of a tubular body of synthetic resin is provided in which the seal portion has increased density and reduced foaming. The apparatus includes a pair of clamps that clamp an end portion of a tubular body of resin flat. A heater heats and fuses a projecting end portion projecting from the clamps. A bending member bends side projecting portions of the body formed during heating so that they are inwardly projecting. A press member presses the projecting end portion to form a seal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Fujita
  • Patent number: 5571540
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for crimping, pleating and forming a tip on a hollow tube. The apparatus includes a first punch having a tubular section sized to receive the tube and having a configured tip with a plurality of elongated grooves formed therein. The first punch also contains a shoulder formed at an opposite end of the tubular section which acts as a stop for the tube. The first punch and tube are mateable with a first die. The first die includes a base having a plurality of blades extending axially outward therefrom. Each blade is designed to engage with one of the grooves formed on the first punch and causes the tip of the tube to be crimped therebetween. After an end of the tube has been crimped, it is transformed into a plurality of pleats and configured into a semi-spherically shaped tip having a central aperture formed therethrough. This is accomplished using a second punch having a tubular section sized to receive the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Weyenberg, Noel J. Rasmussen, Richard R. Tews
  • Patent number: 5501063
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for reducing the force required to expel a catamenial tampon from a tampon applicator. The tampon applicator is also disclosed. The tampon applicator includes a first member which is capable of housing an absorbent tampon. The first member has an inside diameter, first and second spaced apart ends, and an insertion tip formed adjacent to the first end. The insertion tip at least partially closes the first end of the first member and facilitates insertion of the tampon applicator into a woman's vagina. The insertion tip is opened, expanded and reclosed prior to positioning the tampon in the first member. This action allows the insertion tip to be reopened with a minimum amount of expulsion force. The apparatus includes a first punch having an outside diameter which is sized slightly less than the inside diameter of the first member. This enables the first punch to slide within the first member from the second end toward the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Richard R. Tews, Jeffrey M. Weyenberg, Noel J. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 5493849
    Abstract: A sample-contained container corking-up method of the present invention comprises a first step of holding each stopper supplied from a stopper supply means by a stopper holder and opposing an inserted portion of the stopper to the open top of the container which is supported at its corked-up position, a second step of pushing the inserted portion of the stopper, which has been opposed to the open top of the container by the first step, into it to a first predetermined position, while holding the stopper at a certain state by the stopper holder, a third step of releasing the stopper holder from the stopper and retreating the stopper holder to its waiting position after the stopper pushing operation conducted by the second step, and a fourth step of further pushing the inserted portion of the stopper into the container to a second predetermined position, deeper than the first one, while leaving the stopper holder retreated to the waiting position by the third step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventor: Teruaki Itoh
  • Patent number: 5469619
    Abstract: A tubular core assembly for winding or unwinding sheet material, such as newsprint or Rotogravure Print, wherein the opposed ends of an elongate cylindrical core are provided with inside diameter-reducing annular core insert members. The inside diameter-reducing annular core insert members are secured by a mechanical interlocking member to a central core body formed by multiple wraps of a paperboard material. The mechanical interlocking member includes at least one radially interlocking member secured to and extending member and the annular core insert member. Because of the mechanical interlocking relationship between the inside diameter-reducing annular core insert members and the central core body member, the inside diameter-reducing annular core insert members are secured to the central core body member in positive locking relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventor: Lawrence E. Renck
  • Patent number: 5214988
    Abstract: A tube positioning apparatus has at least one mandrel for positioning tubes for processing. A variable tube positioning stroke length is facilitated for optimizing stroke length and for optimizing the time required to position and process tube, such as by cutting. The tube positioning apparatus comprises a slide block having a mandrel attached thereto. The slide block is actuated on a plurality of slide rails from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the mandrel is retracted and in a second position the mandrel is extended for access by processing tools, such as circular knives for cutting the tube into desired lengths. A programmable sequence timer is provided for establishing desired time intervals during which the slide block and attached mandrel are in the retracted position or the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Middlesex Paper Tube Co.
    Inventor: John C. Quigley
  • Patent number: 5203759
    Abstract: Apparatus for application of a first tie to a hollow casing material includes a mechanism for cutting incremental units of casing from a reel and for simultaneously punching openings through the casing. Incremental units are then transferred from the cutting apparatus into a clipper for application of a clip about the incremental unit of the casing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: David O. Torres, Johnny T. Stanley, Brian W. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5167607
    Abstract: A folding and tucker-tacker station operates upon a flat bottom end closure of a packaging sleeve, which closure comprises first and second panels opposite each other, third and fourth panels opposite each other and between the first and second panels, and a minor panel protruding from the outermost edge of the third panel. The station comprises a mounting supporting first, second and third jaws oscillatable transversely of the sleeve axis for folding inwards the first, second and third panels, and a fourth jaw displaceable along, but not transversely of, the axis for folding inwards the fourth panel. The third jaw has a recess for receiving the minor panel. The fourth jaw is disposed after the third jaw along the path of a mandrel transporting the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Elopak Systems AG
    Inventor: Per O. Larsen
  • Patent number: 5161302
    Abstract: An apparatus simultaneously forms a plurality of sleeve and plunger assemblies and creates dispensers of the pushup type. A platen inserts a plurality of plungers into a corresponding plurality of cardboard sleeves. The apparatus provides a plurality of sleeves at a particular location, aligns a corresponding plurality of plungers with an open end of each sleeve and sealingly engages each plunger in a displacable manner within the corresponding sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Inventor: Martin Mueller
  • Patent number: 5122218
    Abstract: This invention is directed to apparatus, and to the method for crimping and sealing the end of a thin walled, inflexible plastic tubing member, such as made from vinyl, PVC and the like, where such end preferably exhibits a uniquely configured end design in the shape of an arrowhead. The apparatus includes a frame having mounted thereon a carousel for operating in an intermittent, rotational mode among plural operating stations arranged in a circular sequence. The stations are arranged sequentially to receive the tubular plastic member, heat one end thereof to a preferred temperature between about 200.degree. to 212.degree. F. for a period of about 5 to 15 secounds, apply a plastic compatible adhesive to the inner wall of the heated one end, and crimp and seal said one end by applying a compressive force to the one end to bring opposing walls thereof into sealing engagement, while maintaining such compressive force for a sufficient time to effect the sealing of the one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Quality Fencing & Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Lapp, Jr., Lloyd M. Martin, Lloyd J. Glick
  • Patent number: 5085036
    Abstract: Apparatus for the high speed manufacture of elongated tubular film products from lengths of flexible, flat films. Film is unspooled passed over a forming collar, and onto a tube. On the tube, the film has a circular cross-section, with overlapped edges. A sizing ring correctly sizes the overlap. The film is immediately fed into a heating unit, where a closed-loop band contacts the overlap and heats the film to form a sealed seam. The film is advanced through the heating unit by boggie mounted drive belts. From the heating unit, the film is advanced into accumulation adjacent a casing brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred J. Evans, Thomas Whittlesey, Dennis J. May, Grant K. Chen, Edward P. Brinson
  • Patent number: 4959045
    Abstract: A construction of filter sock which has a panel (1) with two leaves (2,3) of unequal width such that when folded along a foldline (4) the leaves form a double leaf panel with a projecting side (9). The side (9) is folded back along a second fold line (11) over the free side (6) of leaf (2). The sides (6,9) and leaf (2) are secured together by an overlock stitching (13) to form a tube (12). The invention provides a method of making the filter sock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Inventors: Philip J. Hartley, James Walshe
  • Patent number: 4897138
    Abstract: A plastic tube is sealed at its end by placing the tube in a pair of spaced apart tube holders having tube receiving pockets. The tube is cut by a cutting device movable into and out of the space between the pockets to form two distinct tube sections which are melted at their ends while in the clamped condition. The cut ends are then brought into contact with each other in a mis-aligned condition offset by one-half the thickness of a tube wall to seal the tube end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Denco, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Shaposka, Dudley Spencer
  • Patent number: 4877526
    Abstract: A flexible filter bag, the filter element of which is seamless and avoids prior leakage problems, is made by wrapping a flexible, preferably perforated, filtering fabric and a flexible nonfiltering transport material together onto a cylindrical mandrel to provide a tube. A thin metal ring is fitted into the tube, and the portion of the filtering fabric which extends beyond the edge of the transport material is folded inwardly around the ring to provide a cuff. A sleeve of a length about twice that of the tube is inserted into and pulled over the tube until the free ends of the sleeve are approximately coterminous with the ring-free end of the tube. The free ends of the sleeve and tube are gathered in the manner of a sausage casing and then subjected to pressure to form a seal, but the convolutions of the transport material terminate just short of the seal so as to avoid bunching at the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Todd W. Johnson, Corazon C. Brizuela
  • Patent number: 4674153
    Abstract: A shirred casing stick article, and method of manufacture thereof, having an implanted end closure positioned in the stick bore, or in a support tube within the casing stick, such that the closure is axially displaced away from the first-to-be-stuffed end of the casing stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph A. Nausedas
  • Patent number: 4642083
    Abstract: Discrete sheets of separator material for use in dry cells are introduced tangentially into an annular clearance between the cylindrical internal surface of an outer tool and the cylindrical peripheral surface of an inner tool, and the inner tool is rotated about its axis while one or more spring-biased rollers urge the sheet in the clearance against its peripheral surface so that the sheet is converted into an inner tube which tends to expand radially and is introduced into an outer tube in response to axial shifting of the inner tool. A shoulder between the inner tool and a support for the inner tool pushes one end face of the inner tube from the clearance, and the inner tube is free to expand radially into contact with the internal surface of the respective outer tube in response to complete expulsion from the outer tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Hauni-Richmond, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred Hinzmann