Abstract: A packaging container for a load having a projection such as a nailing fin is made from two rigid U-boards. An inner U-board supports the weight of the window/door frame while preventing the nailing fin from having contact, directly or indirectly, with the ground or sides of the fin crate. The nailing fin provides one supporting wall for the inner U-board while a second, outer U-board provides a second supporting wall. Both walls prevent the inner U-board from spreading out or collapsing under the weight of the window/door. The inner U-board is formed as a continuous element or as discrete elements. The nailing fin is incorporated into the fin crate to form a support member and part of the packaging container.

Abstract: A machine to be incorporated in a packaging line for beverage packages such as wines and sparkling wines, in a stage after the entering of bottles into a box, and before the closing of same. The machine is formed into a fixed frame (B) interposed in the packaging line, the fixed frame defining a lower sector where the boxes carrying the bottles pass, and a higher sector having a carrier horizontal frame for at least one placing head (C). The dividers (S) each comprise at least a pair of flexible laminar plates with square format joined to each other through a central and vertical adhesive line disposed between their opposite faces.

Abstract: An assembling machine with a feeder is provided. The feeder feeds receiving components into an assembler, where a moveable coupling mechanism couples attaching components to the receiving components. Transporting mechanisms coupled to a plurality of drive trains deliver the receiving components across the feeder table and to the assembler. The transporting mechanisms alternate between a plurality of speeds so as to deliver the receiving components to the assembler such that the moveable coupling mechanism may operate at a continuous, periodic rate.

Abstract: An assembling machine with a feeder is provided. The feeder feeds receiving components into an assembler, where a moveable coupling mechanism couples attaching components to the receiving components. Transporting mechanisms coupled to a plurality of drive trains deliver the receiving components across the feeder table and to the assembler. The transporting mechanisms alternate between a plurality of speeds so as to deliver the receiving components to the assembler such that the moveable coupling mechanism may operate at a continuous, periodic rate.

Abstract: A system grid-like guidance device for packing goods in a case for shipping purposes is mounted to the open-topped case, providing cells to guide the emptied ‘return’ containers to the case floor. The case being filled, the device is removed, and the case can be inventoried and shipped. The several embodiments are fully or partially inserted into the case, forming a set of guidance cells to receive empty containers, such as bottles. One embodiment has a series of thin guidance elements extending within the box between the inserted containers. A third embodiment, has the grid of guidance members extending upwardly above the box top, to facilitate filling. Handle means are provided.

Abstract: A packaging machine with a movable centering and lowering device for inserting partitions between groups of bottles or cans and a method of operation thereof. The movable centering and lowering device is designed to move with a group of bottles or cans and insert a divider between the bottles or cans in the group as the group moves through the packaging machine. The movable centering and lowering device is also adjustable to permit handling of dividers of different size and configuration.

Abstract: A device for filling a container with a plurality of objects standing substantially upright on a floor portion of the container includes: a depositing cavity temporarily created and maintained in the container for receiving one of the plurality of objects; a first moveable planar restraining member having a first anterior surface facing the depositing cavity and a first posterior surface, the first posterior surface restraining a previously deposited object against movement; and a second moveable planar restraining member having a second anterior surface facing the depositing cavity and a second posterior surface. The first and second restraining members are operationally arranged to be removably insertable into and between the opposing side walls of the container.

Abstract: A machine which automatically dispenses protective, separation dividers for groups of bottles and which is intended for bottle packaging lines. The invention comprises a continuously operating machine which is used to automate the formation of the spatial structure of the separation dividers and the distribution of the protective, separation units in the bottle packaging lines.

Abstract: A system for loading retorts, sterilization systems, and the like. The preferred embodiment of the present system provides both loading and unloading modules, the loading module designed to automatically load fragile containers, in mass and layer by layer into a self-supporting cube array of stacked trays nested in a basket frame. The unloader module automatically unloads the cube array layer by layer after the contents of the cube array are processed in mass. The stack of trays, or batch cube remain as an intact, stacked unit throughout the entire retort process. A hydraulic ram which is associated with each the loader and unloader, lifting the batch cube from the basket frame and indexing the batch cube vertically during the loading/unloading process, respectfully. Each layer in the stack is either loaded or unloaded as that layer is positioned in the home position.

Abstract: A bottle handling device for assisting in inserting a number of similar sized bottles into a secondary container, such as a partitionless beer carton. The device comprises a frame which, when inserted into the empty carton, provides a number of similar sized cells or compartments equal to the number of bottles which would completely fill the carton. The frame is maintained by support means above the shoulders of the bottles when located in the carton. Each bottle is inserted into, and its main body passes through, the frame until the bottle sits on the carton floor, the walls of each cell preventing a bottle in that cell from toppling over and hindering the insertion of further bottles and completion of filling of the carton. Upon completion and filling of the carton, the device is readily removed for reuse and the bottles are maintained in their upright condition by contacting adjacent bottles and the carton walls.

Abstract: A bottle handling device for assisting in inserting a number of similar sized bottles into a secondary container, such as a partitionless beer carton. The device comprises a frame which, when inserted into the empty carton, provides a number of similar sized cells or compartments equal to the number of bottles which would completely fill the carton. The frame is maintained by support means above the shoulders of the bottles when located in the carton. Each bottle is inserted into, and its main body passes through, the frame until the bottle sits on the carton floor, the walls of each cell preventing a bottle in that cell from toppling over and hindering the insertion of further bottles and completion of filling of the carton. Upon completion and filling of the carton, the device is readily removed for reuse and the bottles are maintained in their upright condition by contacting adjacent bottles and the carton walls.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for filling a two chamber tube made from plastic having a substantially circular cross section and a separation wall made from plastic and extending between two substantially diametrically opposed connecting points of the separation wall and having a length in excess of the diameter of the tube to form, together with the wall of the tube, the two chambers. A filling nozzle is inserted into each chamber for introducing the filling product into the tube and the tube is sealed after removal of the filling nozzles. In order to guarantee reliable filling of the two chamber tube, the separation wall is attached, prior to introduction of the filling nozzles, to the inside tube wall at its end regions bordering the connecting points in such a fashion that the length of the middle region remaining between the two end regions corresponds substantially to the diameter of the tube.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously creating a pair of inner packing and then simultaneously placing them into side-by-side cartons by pulling the lead inner packing from two sets of inner packings, moving the pulled inner packings towards each other until they are positioned side by side, gripping the inner packings and opening them and finally, while being gripped, moving the inner packings into the side by side cartons.

Abstract: A packaging system for non-rigid materials includes various embodiments. In one embodiment the blocks of material are separated from each other by a partially wrapped liner with a partition extending between the blocks. In another embodiment pairs of blocks are partially wrapped with a liner and separated from each other by a distance which permits additional blocks to be inserted in an alternating manner in the spacing in between the blocks. In a third embodiment the cells are created by a support which is of generally inverted T-shape with each block being placed in an individual cell.

Abstract: A partition control assembly within a continuous-motion automatic packaging machine receives and controls the motion of partitions which are ejected at high speeds from a partition ejection mechanism for insertion between preconfigured groups of articles disposed on a flight conveyor in the machine. The partition control assembly includes a first member having a contoured guiding surface for receiving a leading edge of the partition and for guiding the partition into a lateral, downward direction in relation to the partition ejector. Disposed opposite the first member is a second member which includes a control surface disposed opposite the contoured guiding surface, creating an interior control space between the control and contoured guiding surfaces.

Abstract: A packaging machine has a partition inserter and selecting apparatus suspended above a flow of articles. The partition inserter and selecting apparatus are mounted to an inner frame which can be raised or lowered to adjust the spacing between the partition inserter and selecting apparatus relative to the articles. In this manner, the packaging machine can package articles of different heights. The partition inserter and selecting apparatus are mounted to the inner frame on guide rails which allow a technician to move the partition inserter and selecting apparatus laterally away from the articles and over a maintenance deck so that the technician can easily perform necessary repairs or maintenance. The partition inserter and selecting apparatus are releasably engaged with each other to permit the technician to access more easily all areas of the partition inserter and selecting apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting partitions into a group of articles is disclosed. The method includes combining articles, such as beverage containers, to form an article group of predetermined configuration, including longitudinal rows of articles. The article group is conveyed toward a divider deposed in the path of travel. The divider, which includes an angled end portion that acts as a cam, separates the article subgroup into article subgroups. Once the article subgroups are transversely separated to a predetermined extent, a partition inserter places a partition between the article subgroups. The two subgroups are then recombined to affix the partition between adjacent articles. The recombined article group, including a partition, is then moved through the packaging machine to the next process step or simultaneously inserted into cartons.

Abstract: A divider panel for separating bottles in a carton. The divider panel is provided with shock absorbing feet so that upon being propelled at high speed into a group of adjacent bottles, the feet distort upwardly upon impact. This prevents the divider from bouncing out of the group as it would if the feet were not provided. Cutouts in the upper edge portions of the divider panel allow the panel blanks to be conveniently delivered to the insertion station.

Abstract: An arrangement of spacer means for positioning between articles such as containers comprises at least one spacer portion which is adapted to extend in an upstanding position in a substantially meander-like configuration as viewed in plan between the articles which are arranged in a row. The spacer portion can be formed by a process wherein a straight portion is introduced between two rows of articles, with the articles of one row being in displaced relationship with the articles of the other row. The two rows of articles are then moved together so as to constitute a common row, thereby deforming the straight portion into a portion of meander-like configuration extending between the articles for holding them in position.

Abstract: Upright containers of non-rectangular shape move downstream in a plurality of parallel columns and in laterally aligned rows toward a load station where the containers are deposited row-on-row into partitioned packing cases. The cases move continuously through the load station end-to-end and are indexed to the rows of containers by depending pegs that move in between the containers from above. The pegs are provided in flights of an overhead flight bar conveyor and camming means keeps these pegs oriented perpendicular to the upright containers as the legs move in between the containers to control the containers dropped at the load station.

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: Machine for filling containers with products, in a predetermined distribution includes simultaneous feed means, with as many vibratory ducts transporting respective rows of products and with corresponding unit supports thereof; at least one rotating frame with vertical pneumatic cylinders and with as many lower suction cups at their pistons, communicating with sources of vacuum; a carriage with alternating transverse displacement, with means of longitudinal advance for at least one pair of containers and with transverse barrier and constraint means for the products, both coordinated; and a process programming unit.

Abstract: A machine for folding and shaping a partition for a case which carries a plurality of articles and for inserting the partition between articles in the case. The machine includes a hopper for holding a plurality of the partitions. Each of the partitions has slot means substantially centrally thereof. Vacuum cups can grip one of the partitions and move in a direction to free the partition from the hopper. A flight conveyor includes flight means for engaging of the partition at the slot means. The flight conveyor advances the partition to a folding station where the partition is folded centrally thereof. The flight conveyor further advances the folded partition to a forming and insertion station. A case having articles therein stops at a loading station below the forming and insertion station.

Abstract: In an integrated, continuous, container packing machine, where a constant supply of filled containers are moved along an axis and separated into discrete groups with each group fed to an insert station wherein a partition is inserted between containers of the group and then the group with the partition is fed to an operation to be placed or packed in a shipping medium, improvements which permit the machine to be rapidly changed for running a new batch of containers where the physical characteristics of the group and/or the physical characteristics of the containers in the group are different from the corresponding characteristics in the previously run batch.

Abstract: Continuously transported groups (21) of articles (20), in particular packages, are wrapped by means of wrapping with a continuous film web 23 (stretch film) and held together thereby. The article groups (21) are conveyed by an inward conveyor (31) to a winding station (25) having a winding unit (26), and after being wrapped with their wrapping (24) are transported away by an outward conveyor (32). In the region of the winding station (25) the article groups (21) are held, conveyed and in particular fixed in their relative position by a support member (33) which consists of at least one horizontal or vertical support wall. The support wall or support walls are arranged in the region between the articles (20) of one article group (21), in other words in the region of mutually facing surfaces of the articles. As a result, the film web 23 is directly wound around the articles.

Abstract: In an integrated container packing system where a mass of randomly oriented containers enter the system and are manipulated so that a partition can be inserted between groups of containers and then each group with the partition are placed in a shipping medium ready to be sent to inventory, the method of inserting the partition by relatively moving the containers and the partition in a forward direction, controlling the relative motion so that in alternately occurring periods of time, the velocity of the relative motion during one period of time is zero and during the next period of time the velocity of the relative motion gradually increases from zero to a maximum and then gradually back to zero and during each time the relative motion velocity is at zero, inserting the partition between a group of containers.

Abstract: In an egg box made from slitted cardboard blanks of which one provides wave strips joined only at their wave crests for folding around to make pockets for the eggs and the other blank provides flat bottom and side panel or cover strips which brace the wave strips by being glued to the wave trough bottoms of the wave strips, top cover strips respectively glued to the half width wave strips that come together (when the top wave strips are folded around the eggs already packed in the pockets previously formed,) do not both correspond in width to the top wave strips, but one of them has an overlapping free edge the underside of which is bonded adhesively to the other top panel strip. The adhesive bonding is done with a hot-sticking adhesive which when cooled without being covered is no longer sticky. The adhesive is laid down in strips on the wider and shorter blank which provides the cover strips at locations corresponding to the wave trough bottoms that are to be glued on.

Abstract: The device comprises sets of paddles hinge connected at preset distances from one another to closed loop entrainment chains, rotatively mounted around a drum, on the exterior thereof, for discharging tubes into individual boxes which are arranged on an intermittently operated feeding belt moving beneath said discharge drum, there being further provided control means for controlling the intermittent feeding movement of said paddle entrainment means synchronously with the box feeding means, thereby the paddles in each set are caused to progressively enter a box during the final stroke thereof into a position underlying the discharge drum, and then stay within the box during the time when the latter's bins are being filled in succession, and lastly progressively move out of the box upon completion of the filling step.

Abstract: A device and method for packing chocolates or related products includes a mold with a series of cavities. Product push devices cross the bottoms of the cavities so that the chocolates are pushed out of the mold to later be drawn together and carried into a box. The mold includes slots which receive longitudinal and transverse separating partitions. Product push devices push the partitions out of the slots while the chocolates are pushed out of the mold, so that the partitions remain between the chocolates for placement into a box.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning intersecting partitions in a container to form compartments to receive articles comprises a support plate and a plurality of straightening heads extending from the support plate in a given direction. Each of the heads is adapted to engage a respective intersection of two partitions in the container and defines an intersecting pair of open bottom slots for receipt therein of the respective partition intersection. Means are also provided for moving the support plate between a first position wherein the heads are spaced from the respective partition intersections and a second position wherein the heads engage the respective partition intersections to position the partitions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is disclosed for loading a plurality of bales or containers containing pouches filled with a liquid such as milk into a rectangular open-top case. An empty case is located on the apparatus and a rotatable divider is positioned on the case to create suitable bale-receiving compartments. The bales are fed to a diverter which moves each bale to a position overlying an empty compartment so that the bale falls into the compartment. The divider then rotates to rotate the case to bring another empty compartment into registry with the diverter. This repeats until the case is full, at which time the divider is withdrawn vertically from the case and the full case is fed to an outlet conveyor. An empty case is brought to a position below the raised divider, the divider is lowered into the empty case and the filling process is repeated. The case has been filled symmetrically and is easy to handle thereafter.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening cell-forming partitions within a carton or the like is provided by a mandrel in a partition straightening station having cones disposed thereon which project towards the open top of the carton. The mandrel is moved towards the carton and the cones enter the carton; at least one of the cones is longer than the other cones and is adapted to enter an inner cell formed by the partition; the shorter cones then enter the outermost cells formed by the partition. The partitions are thus aligned to receive products in the cells formed thereby.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening cell-forming partitions within a carton or the like is provided by a mandrel in a partition straightening station having cones disposed thereon which project towards the open top of the carton. The mandrel is moved towards the carton and the cones enter the carton; at least one of the cones is longer than the other cones and is adapted to enter an inner cell formed by the partition; the shorter cones then enter the outermost cells formed by the partition. The partitions are thus aligned to receive products in the cells formed thereby.