Abstract: In an envelope stuffing apparatus which has an enclosure inserting station and includes a deck, side guides mounted on the deck at the inserting station, structure for delivering the envelope in a path of travel to the inserting station, structure for opening the envelope, and structure inserting an enclosure into the envelope and for removing the envelope from the inserting station, and wherein said opening structure includes structure for supporting the flap of the envelope above the deck, there is an improvement in the envelope opening structure. The improvement comprises two throat openers insertable into the envelope for stripping apart from each other the front and back panels of the envelope. Each throat opener includes a side guide member for guiding the enclosure into the envelope and further including a ramp member for guiding the enclosure from the deck into the envelope.

Abstract: A dough cutting and packing apparatus for cutting a sheet of dough into dough pieces and transferring the dough pieces to containers. A cutting unit is defined by a plurality of cutting plates having dough retaining openings. The sheet of dough is pressed against the cutting plates by a presser roll which divides the dough sheet into dough pieces that are retained within the dough retaining openings. A packing mechanism transfers the dough pieces from the cutting unit to the containers as the containers are moved relative to the packing mechanism by a plurality of flighted augers. The packing mechanism is driven by a microprocessor controlled servo motor. The servo motor moves the packing mechanism through a packing stroke and a return stroke with each stroke having an acceleration stage and a deceleration stage.

Abstract: A package comprising a resilient musical instrument string in coiled form and contained within an envelope is made by winding the string into a coil at a winding station and within a generally C-shaped opening in an insert plate. The opening is partially defined by a generally radially inwardly open groove and further defined by a mouth which opens radially outwardly through the forward end of the plate. The groove provides partial support for the coil, an unsupported portion of the coil being disposed within the region of the mouth. The plate is advanced from the winding station to a packaging station where the forward end portion of the plate and the coil carried by the plate are inserted into an envelope. A clamping mechanism at the packaging station engages opposite sides of the envelope in the region of the mouth and grips and holds the envelope and an unsupported portion of the coil disposed within the envelope.

Abstract: The present inventin is an apparatus and method for inserting articles into packages. The apparatus includes a dispensing assembly and a feeding assembly; and the dispensing assembly, in turn, includes a dispenser body, a gate and an actuator. The dispensor body defines a loading chamber for holding the articles, an inlet for conducting the articles into the loading chamber, and an outlet for dispensing the articles from the loading chamber. The gate is connected to the dispenser body for movement between a closed position, wherein the gate extends across the outlet of the dispenser body to hold the articles in the loading chamber, and an open position to allow the articles to pass through the outlet of the dispenser body. The actuator of the dispensing assembly is provided to move the gate from its closed position to its open position to dispense articles into the packages from the dispenser body.

Abstract: A system for storing and transporting can end members comprising multiple tray units having multiple parallel rows of elongated compartments for receiving and supporting stacks of end members. The tray units are nestable and stackable one upon another to provide palletized loads of both empty and filled tray units. End loading and unloading apparatus is provided to enable simultaneous loading and unloading full tray compartments by simultaneous lateral movement of all of the stacks of end members between the tray compartments and a shuttle tray unit whereat all the stacks of end members are stored prior to loading and unloading of the tray unit. The shuttle tray unit is loaded and unloaded by stacking units of a lesser number than the number of tray compartments.

Abstract: A system for storing and transporting can end members comprising multiple tray units having multiple parallel rows of elongated compartment for receiving and supporting stacks of end members. The tray units are nestable and stackable one upon another to provide palletized loads of both empty and filled tray units. End loading and unloading apparatus is provided to enable simultaneous loading and unloading full tray compartments so simultaneous lateral movement of all of the stacks of end members between the tray compartments and a shuttle tray unit whereat all the stacks of end members are stored prior to loading and unloading of the tray unit. The shuttle tray unit is loaded and unloaded by stacking units of a lesser number than the number of tray compartments.

Abstract: An upright immersion tube (92) is movable back and forth in its longitudinal direction between a takeover position in which a bushy plant (10) can be introduced into the immersion tube (92) and an immersed position in which the immersion tube is plunged through a spreader tube (40) into the vicinity of the bottom of a bag (12) which is being held open. The immersion tube (92) has a rear semi-tubular portion (96) with a hinged flap which is open in the takeover position but adapted to be moved into a closing position as the immersion tube (92) moves into the immersed position and, in said closing position, supplements the rear portion (96) so as to form a closed tube section. The spreader tube (40) has the profile contour of a ship's hull and engages between projecting bag edge zones (16) of a film web forming the bags (12) and being movable stepwise in the longitudinal direction of this contour.

Abstract: A lettuce head holding tray is defined in which both the upper tray layer and the lower tray layer are packed side-by-side at packing stations. At a carton loading station, two side-by-side arrays of plungers each are used for packing of discrete layers of the cartons. One array of plungers packs the bottom carton layer; the other array of plungers packs the top carton layer. Two cartons are disposed opened upwardly to the plunger array at the packing station; one carton is disposed to the bottom layer loading plunger array for packing of the bottom layer and the other carton--with its bottom layer previously packed--is disposed to the top layer loanding plunger array for packing of its top layer. The cartons--between the packing of the bottom layer and the packing of the top layer--are conveyed between positions underlying the plunger arrays. Thus each carton has is lower layer packed by the lower layer loading plunger array and then its top layer packed by the upper layer loading plunger array.

Abstract: A packing device for cut products is used for packing a number of products such as pickles, cucumbers, and the like into a cylindrical holder such as a glass jar. The device includes at least one cutting member for cutting each product into portions, a member for receiving the portions, a member for transporting the holders, and a member for guiding the portions into the holders in a predetermined pattern. The guiding member includes a number of prism-shaped carriers disposed in a circle so that each receives a portion, wherein each carrier is pivotable about an axis from a first position to a second position. Pivoting of the carriers allows for guiding of the portions into the holders according to the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for packing closely-arranged articles into a receptacle includes a rigid funnel having inwardly sloping walls and a downwardly projecting flexible skirt means attached to the funnel. The flexible skirt comprises a plurality of flexible planar segments that project downwardly into the receptacle. The funnel and skirt are lowered into an empty receptacle, the articles are packed, and the funnel and skirt are lifted out. The skirt means avoids contact between the articles and the walls of the receptacle as the receptacle is being packed, thereby decreasing the potential for damage to the articles. The apparatus includes a switch that stops the downward movement of the funnel and skirt when the bottom edge of the skirt is adjacent the bottom of the receptacle.

Abstract: In a method of fitting successively supplied flat articles such as slide frames into insertion pockets in a receiving case, the pockets are arranged in the receiving case in pluralities in juxtaposed relationship and in succession in rows and are accessible from one side of the receiving case. The upper edge of the pockets is formed by a bar portion which extends over a plurality of pockets in a row and can be pivoted upwardly relative to the side walls of the pockets. The articles are fed in groups to the article-insertion location from a feed direction which is transverse with respect to the direction of transportation movement of the receiving case, with the number of articles supplied in a group in that way corresponding at a maximum to the number of insertion pockets for receiving same. An edge part of the bar portion is first lifted and held in the lifted position and the articles in the group are then pushed under the bar portion which they fully lift up, and into the respective pockets.

Abstract: An apparatus for successively opening the mouths of bags which are fed one by one to a table and putting such bag over a guide hopper for charging the bag with an article to be packaged. The mouth of the bag is sucked by a pair of vacuum suction members from the opposite sides. The vacuum suction members are gradually separated from each other while transferring a bag from a table to the hopper, thereby gradually opening the mouth of the bag. This prevents failures in opening bags and also prevents the bag from separating from the vacuum suction members.

Abstract: Apparatus for inflating balloons to enable inserting objects thereinto include a housing having a lower compartment and an upper compartment, a first elongate tubular element disposed in the upper compartment to extend upwardly from the lower compartment where the upper end of the tubular element includes one or more openings, and a second elongate tubular element telescopically disposed in the upper compartment about the first tubular element to slide longitudinally relative thereto between an upper position, in which an object may be inserted into the second tubular element to rest against the upper end of the first tubular element, and a lower position, in which the upper ends of the first and second tubular elements are generally at the same elevation. The upper end of the second tubular element is open and is adapted to receive and releasably hold a balloon orifice thereover.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying covers to seat cushions and the like includes means to maintain the cushioning material under compression within the cover as the cushioning material is moved into the cover.

Abstract: An apparatus for mechanically bagging relatively fragile, leafy vegetables including a bag distending assembly, a sleeve-like inserter, a barrier movably mounted inside the inserter, and a drive assembly coupled to displace the inserter into the bag. The drive assembly includes two pneumatic cylinders so that the barrier can be controlled independently of the inserter and maintained in position inside the bag while the inserter is withdrawn. The inserter carries the leaves inside the bag without substantially compresssing or crushing and bruising the leaves, and the barrier permits inserter withdrawal without leaf damage. A process for inserting fragile leafy vegetables into a bag also is disclosed.

Abstract: A bag filling and closing apparatus includes a filling station (10) in which the material to be filled in (22) is pushed into a prefabricated bag (24). A device (50, 52, 54, 56) is provided for pulling the bags onto the filling machine as is a device for spreading open and holding the bags. Next to the filling station (10), there is disposed at least one supply and/or intake station (12, 14) for bags, each station being equipped with a device (50, 52, 54, 56) for pulling the bags onto the apparatus. A carriage (30) is movable back and forth between the filling station (10) and the supply and intake station (12, 14) carries the spreading and holding device (28, 30, 44, 46) for the bags. The bags can therefore be picked up and spread open in the supply and intake station (12, 14) and can be transferred to the filling station (10) in that position. Preferably, two supply and intake stations are provided on opposite sides of the filling station (10 ).

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of meat products, especially cooked ham, which is cooked in a compact form in a net, wherein the raw or preprocessed meat product is wrapped in a casing of edible collagen and a netting of optional mesh design is applied thereover and, subsequently, the product is subjected to the final cooking. Apparatus for the simultaneous enveloping of compact meat products with an edible collagen film and an elastic netting includes a feed sheet for the meat products, which fits into an inner guide tube, and an outer tube upon which a supply of the elastic netting is provided, and a guide channel situated therebetween for the collagen film(s). The apparatus is complemented by elements for maintaining a supply of the collagen film and the unrolling and fold-free guidance of the collagen film, as well as a conventional clipping device.

Abstract: A container supply system supplies a plurality of containers such bottles encased in a box to a container processing machine such as a bottle washing machine. The container supply system includes a box reverser for reversing the box with the bottles encased therein, a container holder disposed for holding the bottles discharged from the reversed box and thereafter releasing the bottles, a container receiver having a plurality of container receiver members for receiving the bottles, respectively, and a container ejector having a plurality of container ejector members for pushing the bottles from the container receiver to the container processing machine. In one embodiment, the container receiver is positioned below the box reverser. In another embodiment, the box reverser and the container receiver are spaced from each other, and a delivery carriage is provided for receiving the containers from the box reverser and delivering the received containers to the container receiver.

Abstract: An envelope handling system for removing envelopes from an upper level conveyor, placing them in stacks on a lower level bucket conveyor, removing the stacks from the bucket, conveyor and side-loading them into cartons, sealing the cartons, conveying the cartons to a packing area, and forming the cartons into a horizontal column for placement into shipping containers. The system includes a spider feeder for removing the envelopes from an upper level conveyor and discharging them downwardly in a vertical direction, pivoting bottom fingers for receiving envelopes from the feeder and collecting them into a stack, hold back fingers for intercepting envelopes in a second stack above the bottom fingers, and transfer fingers for compressing a stack collected on the bottom fingers and urging the bottom fingers downwardly to place the stack onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A lettuce packing machine for the packing of heads of lettuce in corrugated, carboard cartons is disclosed. A lettuce head holding tray is loaded with lettuce. Thereafter, the tray is utilized to pack cartons. The lettuce head holding trays has discrete lettuce receiving cells upwardly exposed. Each tray contains four columns of cells, each column of cells being three wide for a capacity of 12 heads of lettuce. Each discrete lettuce receiving cell in the tray is defined by four semirigid, flexible sides, which sides extend downwardly and inwardly, are elastically biased and form an inverted pyramid-like profile truncated at an open bottom. The lettuce head holding tray is loaded at a picking station and conveyed to a packing station. When the lettuce head holding tray arrives at the packing station, a packing apparatus having discrete plungers--one for each cell--unloads the tray overlying a box to be packed.

Abstract: The side walls (6, 7) adjacent a vertically reciprocable platform (3) are moved towards each other to compress compressible products (1), such as kitchen paper towels, toliet paper and the like, for introducing them into a plastic bab (B) upon vertical movement of the platform (3). The side walls are coupled through cam follower rollers (6b, 7b) to inclined guide tracks on guide track elements (9, 10), and slidably coupled to move with the platform on a guide rod (8). The angle of inclination of the guide tracks is adjustable, as well as the separation of the guide tracks from each other, so that the degree of compression, as well as the size of the compressed package, can be readily controlled.

Abstract: Collapsed sleeve type article containers are withdrawn in sequence from a hopper by suction cup means which then holds each carton at a loading station for an interval of time during which a plurality of articles are inserted through an open end of each container sleeve. Minor end closing flaps of the loaded container are moved into closed positions while the container is held stationary at the loading station. Thereafter the loaded container is moved out of the loading station and its major end flaps are closed and secured in closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically collecting and packing a selected number of units of product in flexible bags into a carton in a vertical orientation. The apparatus includes a collecting assembly for receiving and positioning a row of such units in an inclined position. An assembly is provided to transport the inclined row of units from the collecting assembly to a loading station. The loading station is operable to raise one or more rows transported thereto from their inclined position to a substantially vertical position, then plunge the vertically positioned units into a carton. A controller is provided for synchronizing the relative operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a cover to a cushion of larger size than the cover by forcing the cushion into a confining chamber which reduces the size of the cushion. The cover is then slid over the cushion. The cushion is then expelled from the chamber taking the cover with it. The cushion expands within the cover as it leaves the confining chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging fibrous insulation batts comprises means for compressing a stack of batts, a bagger for bagging the batts, and means for moving the stack of compressed batts into the bagger, where the bagger comprises upper and lower spouts which have a curvature approximating the curvature of the completed bag of batts.

Abstract: A device for inserting picture slides into storage pockets comprises a magazine for a stack of slides and a pusher having a blade which passes through an entrance slot at the bottom of the magazine to engage the lowest slide in the magazine and push it through an exit slot at the opposite side of the magazine and into a storage pocket with which a tongue which projects forwardly of the magazine has been inserted. The device makes it possible to quickly insert picture slides into storage pockets.

Abstract: A balloon stuffing system (25, 25') including a tubular member (26) open at one end (28) thereof and defining a chamber (31) capable of receiving the object (34) to be stuffed into a balloon (35); a hollow, tubular, piston-like ejector rod (29) passing through the opposite end (30) of the tubular member (26); and, wherein provision is made for coupling the axial bore (58) extending through the hollow, tubular, piston-like ejector rod (29), and therefore the chamber (31) in the tubular member (26) and the balloon (35) secured thereto, to a source of inflation medium by either: (i) attaching a mouthpiece (84) to the projecting end of the ejector rod (29) so as to permit pressurization of the chamber (31) and the interior of the balloon (35) by blowing through the mouthpiece (84); or (ii), coupling the hollow, tubular, piston-like ejector rod (29) to a conventional hand-held, hand-operated air inflation pump (41, 41'); and, wherein the ejector rod (29) may be selectively: (a) unlatched from the pump housing (42)

Abstract: A balloon stuffing system (25, 25', 25", 25'") including a tubular member (26) open at one end (28) thereof and defining a chamber (31) capable of receiving the object (49) to be stuffed into a balloon (50); an ejector rod (29) passing through the opposite end (30) of the tubular member (26); a flexible, bellows-like, fluid impervious element (34) surrounding the ejector rod (29) and sealed at one end to the end (30) of the tubular member (26) and at its opposite end to the ejector rod (29); a fluid inlet aperture (56, 81, 85) formed in the tubular member (26) for permitting coupling of the interior of the tubular member (26) to any suitable source of pressurizing fluid; and, a balloon (50) having its inlet aperture (55) and constricted neck portion (58) mounted in surrounding sealed relation to the open end (28) of the tubular member (26) so that upon pressurization of the interior of the tubular member (26), the balloon (50) is inflated, and upon axial movement of the ejector rod (29) towards the open end (

Abstract: An insertion machine includes an insertion station (44) whereat groups of items are stuffed into an envelope held open at an envelope opening station (49). The insertion station comprises a cam (212)driven carriage (202) which linearly reciprocates in a direction (480) toward and away from the envelope opening station (49). The carriage (202) carries a plurality of selectively mounted, selectively rotatable pusher fingers (204). The pusher fingers (204) have a profile suitable for shoving items along a partially inclined insertion plate surface 403 and into an opened envelope. The pusher fingers (204) are selectively rotatable to an operative orientation (720) and to an inoperative orientation (722) under the supervision of a controller (205). Jam detectors (550, 552) are provided proximate reciprocating entry fingers (500, 502) which move when a jam occurs in the inserting process. Should a jam occur, the pusher fingers (204) are controlled to rotate to their inoperative orientation (722).

Abstract: Mail inserting and collating apparatus includes an envelope conveyor for continuously conveying envelopes along a first path; a plurality of envelope carriers mounted on the envelope conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the envelopes; an insert conveyor for continuously conveying a plurality of inserts along a second path, at least a portion of the second path running substantially parallel and adjacent to the first path; a plurality of pockets mounted on the insert conveyor and movable therewith, for holding the inserts; a rotatable kicker roller for removing a lowermost insert from a stack of inserts and moving the lowermost insert toward a pocket adjacent the stack, the kicker roller having an arcuate rubber projecting surface for engaging the lowermost insert from the stack during rotation of the kicker roller and a vacuum port extending through the kicker roller and terminating in the projecting surface; a drive for intermittently rotating the kicker roller; a vacuum supply for supplying a vacuum

Abstract: An apparatus for aseptically filling and sealing preformed bags includes a carousel table supporting a number of bags along its periphery, each bag having a nozzle initially sealed by a diaphragm. As the carousel table brings an individual bag under a sterile docking unit, that unit lowers over the bag and showers the nozzle and diaphragm with HEPA filtered air to remove particulate matter and bioburden. A flash heat sterilizer sterilizes the diaphragm and the top of the nozzle and at least partially melts the diaphragm. A heat sterilized fill pipe descends, piercing the diaphragm and filling the bag. When filling is completed, the fill pipe partially withdraws, the lower portion of the pipe remaining inserted in the nozzle. A heat sealer then seals the nozzle below the tip of the pipe. The pipe completely withdraws, the sterile docking unit moves clear of the bag, and the carousel table rotates, thus moving an empty bag into position for filling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for netting meat products wrapped in an edible collagen film. The apparatus includes a receiving surface into which the meat products are deposited and wrapped with the film. The wrapped meat products are then forced through an extrusion device and into a netting. The apparatus includes a lubrication distribution system for lubricating the surfaces which contact the wrapped meat products. Also associated with the apparatus is a container for storing edible collagen film pieces trimmed to selected lengths and stacked therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging radially expansile articles by passing a succession of such articles in generally coaxially aligned engaging relation with each other through a tubular guide which retains the articles against expansion, sequentially discharging the end most article into a second tubular guide sized to permit limited radial expansion of the received article, extending an engaging member into the second guide to displace each successively discharged article away from the first guide to enable unobstructed discharge and expansion of the next end most article, and engaging the last discharged article to displace it and a predetermined number of previously discharged articles out of the second guide for bagging.

Abstract: A device for placing articles such as coupons or the like in cartons being conveyed past a work station containing the device. The device includes an upright coupon or the like article supply hopper, a reciprocatory mechanism for inserting the articles into the cartons as they are conveyed past and momentarily stopped adjacent thereto and a reciprocating vacuum or suction mechanism for removing the coupons from the supply hopper and placing them in the path of the inserting mechanism for placement into cartons.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided in order to handle a plurality of stacks, such as stacks of sliced food products including luncheon meats. Product stacks are stopped during their flow along a conveyor pathway, the stoppage being at a location for generally vertical alignment with an overhead picker head. The picker head grasps the thus positioned stacks and moves same to a location above and in general vertical alignment with a cavity of a packaging container for the stacks of sliced product, at which time the stacks are released, and the product stacks enter the cavities which are subsequently closed to provide finished packaged products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing into a jar elongated articles, such as cucumbers or pickles cut along their length into spears. The jar is positioned with a guide disposed within the interior of the jar. The guide directs a predetermined array of spaced spears into the jar and outwardly towards the wall of the jar. Thereafter, the jar is rotated. The guide, which is coupled to the bottom of the jar, is thereby rotated to position the guide to direct additional arrays of spears between the spears of the array previously placed in the jar.

Abstract: A device for inserting bundles into envelopes comprises a table fastened to a drive carriage for receiving the bundle and inserted with it into the envelope. A pair of retractable pusher fingers on support arms fastened to the carriage push the bundle on the table during the forward stroke of the carriage and retract during the return stroke of the carriage. The device is usable in automatic mail processing systems.

Abstract: Cam driven apparatus for positioning a folded film relative to a film spreading and clamping assembly and which holds an open end of the film, while the film is sealed to form a bag. A cam driven pedestal, in turn, aligns the thus prepared bag with a filling assembly where the bag is grasped and rammed full of produce or the like, before being sealed.

Abstract: A process for filling seven rod-shaped objects into a cylindrical container wherein a group of seven parallel rod-shaped objects supported in two adjacent rows of four and three respectively and having a substantially trapeziform configuration in cross-sectional outline, is forced lengthwise through a funnel whose internal wall defines a longitudinal fin and is suitably profiled to undergo a gradual transition in cross-sectional outline from roughly trapeziform at the inlet to roughly hexagonal at the outlet so as to guide longitudinally and rearrange the rod-shaped objects to have substantially the configuration in cross-sectional outline of a regular hexagon, the longitudinal fin positioned to contact, and shaped to guide the middle rod-shaped object of the row of three to the center of the hexagon while simultaneously the outer rod-shaped objects of the row of three are guided to form the adjacent corners of the hexagon on either side of the fin, the two inner rod-shaped objects of the row of four are guid

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically packaging folded hosiery into a pouch having a pouch closing flap in which a first means automatically forms the pouch and flap of a single sheet of plastic film with one face of a double-faced adhesive tape adhesively attached to the pouch, in which a second means automatically inserts the folded hosiery into the pouch while adhesively attaching the other face of the double-faced adhesive tape already on the pouch to the flap to close the pouch with the hosiery therein and in which a suction transfer arm automatically transfers the pouch and flap as made by the first means to the second means to insert the hosiery into the pouch.

Abstract: Relatively tall stacks of paper sheets are introduced into successive cartons from above while the cartons are confined in the chamber of a receptacle whose side walls prevent excessive outward bulging of the adjacent side walls of the carton when a stack descends toward the carton in a vertical duct whose cross-sectional area is just sufficient to allow the stacks to descend. Each descending stack pushes a column of air into the carton wherein the air is compressed and urges the side walls of the carton against the respective side walls of the receptacle. The upper end of the duct receives stacks from an upright container having a bottom wall which is movable between open and closed positions. A side wall of the receptacle is detachable or otherwise movable to an open position so as to allow for insertion of empty cartons into or for removal of filled cartons from the chamber.

Abstract: The bag loading machine of the present invention permits bags which are manufactured in an open condition to be transferred directly from the bag making machine to a bag loader wherein a load is inserted into the bag and thereafter, the loaded bag is discharged. The bag loading machine includes a bag transfer platform which is supported to articulate about a lever as it is raised and lowered so as to move the platform between a bag receiving position for receiving a bag from a bag making machine, a bag loading position for receiving a load and a bag discharge position from which the loaded bag is discharged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for aligning the slices in stacks of sliced food products and for loading the stacks into container cavities. Stacks are received sequentially from a supply conveyor onto a stack support surface, where the stacks are detained either by friction with the support surface or by a stack catcher. A stack positioning member movable along the support surface pushes the stacks into engagement with a stack former for aligning the slices. Simultaneously, the stack positioning member retards movement of the next upstream stack on the supply conveyor so that the stack comes to rest on the support surface, and then pushes the previously aligned stack to a downstream pick-up station for loading into a container cavity. Each stack is removed from the loading station by a gripper assembly which pivots between the loading station and the container.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling cartons having three upstanding side walls and a horizontal side wall with stacks of paper sheets has a horizontal conveyor reciprocable into and from a carton while the carton is held at a filling station, a system for delivering stacks to that portion of the conveyor which enters a carton at the filling station, and a locating device installed at a level above the path of movement of stacks with the conveyor portion and having an indexible horizontal shaft for two fingers which are disposed opposite each other, and an indexing mechanism for the shaft. The shaft is indexed to a first position in which one finger extends into the path of movement of an oncoming stack during delivery of the stack onto the conveyor, thereupon throuh 90.degree. to ensure that the fingers cannot interfere with introduction of the stack into the carton, and again through 90.degree.

Abstract: A device for packing poultry with means (7) for supporting an opened bag (9) and means (12,13) for pushing a fowl into said bag, a pushing member (12) having a vertical central baffle (26) oriented in the pushing direction to guide the legs of the fowl in order to prevent a twisting movement of the pushed fowl, which otherwise at times could happen and provoke irregularity or even disturb of the pushing operation.

Abstract: End closures for cans fed horizontally at given intervals at a high speed are shifted in direction, one after another, to be substantially perpendicular to a support passage extending substantially horizontally, received separately by the passage rapidly and positively, and lotted out when a predetermined number has been reached by the pieces received. Each lot thus compacted to a solid cylinderical form is put into an elongate paper bag, and the open end of the bag is closed.

Abstract: End closures for cans fed horizontally at given intervals at a high speed are shifted in direction, one after another, to be substantially perpendicular to a support passage extending substantially horizontally, received separately by the passage rapidly and positively, and lotted out when a predetermined number has been reached by the pieces received. Each lot thus compacted to a solid cylinderical form is put into an elongate paper bag, and the open end of the bag is closed.

Abstract: A semi-automated apparatus and method for filling a basket with loose, fresh spinach and ice, compacting the spinach into the volume of the basket and retaining the spinach within the basket until a cover is secured thereon. The spinach and ice are gravity fed through a hopper and hollow, cylindrical guide, and a plunger is lowered through the guide to compress the spinach into an open basket directly below. The plunger face is grooved to accommodate a plurality of rods which are axially (longitudinally) advanced through the grooves and serve to hold the spinach in the basket as the plunger is retracted. The filled basket, with the retaining rods in place, is moved to a position laterally of the guide and a cover is secured in the usual manner by placing the wire basket handles over tabs extending from the circular cover. The rods are then axially retracted from between the spinach and basket cover.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic bagging of can ends which utilizes a common cam shaft to synchronize the operation of a series of cooperating features. A vacuum table with inclinable leaves, which is designed for vertical reciprocation, strips a bag from a magazine of randomly disposed bags, positions and opens the bag. A bag pick up and a bag horn assist in holding the mouth of the bag open for receipt of a stack of ends. The filled bag is automatically closed and discharged to a storage bin.

Abstract: An automatic system for accumulating, counting, stacking and bagging can ends. The system is designed to protect the end against damage by minimizing the handling of the end. An automatic dispenser counts and dispenses can ends to one of a pair of end stacks which are mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. The end stacks are indexed from a loading position to an unloading position where the filled stack is pivoted from a normally vertical attitude to a horizontal discharging attitude. Ends are discharged to an automatic bagging system for packaging and storage.