Abstract: A device for treating at least one container, for example a beverage filling system for filling and/or closing a container is described. The device includes a treatment carousel rotating about an axis of rotation with at least one treatment unit, arranged in the peripheral region of the treatment carousel, for treating the container that is to be treated, and a container holder arranged on the treatment carousel and assigned to the treatment unit, for holding the container during treatment with the treatment unit. A container transfer receptacle which is assigned to the container holder and is radially displaceable with respect to the axis of rotation is provided for receiving the container to be treated from an upstream treatment carousel and/or for transferring the now treated container to a downstream treatment carousel.

Abstract: A device for closing a filled container with a screw cap, for example, for closing support ring-less bottles with a screw cap, is described. The device includes a neck guide with at least one torsion protection element for accommodation of a neck section of the filled container in a torsion-protected manner during the closing with the screw cap, and a discharge element for discharging the closed container from the neck guide. The neck guide and the discharge element are displaceable relative to each other.

Abstract: A hot-fill PET container or bottle filling with a liquid at an elevated temperature has a side wall extending to a lower portion including a pressure panel and a base in its unfolded or pre-fill position. The panel is transversely oriented and has a decoupling or hinge structure, an initiator portion and control portion of a steeply angled inverting conical section between 30 and 45 degrees. The control portion enables the inversion of the panel into the container to compensate for vacuum or reduced pressure induced within the container as the liquid cools down. The base can also have a plurality of reinforcing ribs.

Abstract: A capping machine for applying a cap on an open end of a container that is made of a deformable material and filled with a pourable product is disclosed. The machine comprises a conveying device and at least one operative unit moved by the conveying device along a processing path. The at least one operative unit comprises a support portion configured to receive and retain a container, and at least one capping head movable to and away from the open end of the container to apply the cap onto the open end of the container. The at least one operative unit further comprises a plunger movable to and away from an opposite closed end of the container to deform the closed end of the container so as to reduce an interior volume of the container and to increase an interior pressure of the container.

Abstract: A bag tying apparatus and method for easy dispensing and packing. The bag tying apparatus comprises a base with a pair of horizontal parallel bag support arms having free outer ends cantilevered from a pair of vertical supports. The bag tying apparatus further comprises a pivotable bag tie support and loading arm with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the loading arm is attached with the first vertical rod by a supporting means, a second end of the loading arm having a terminal end having a cut-out therein to retain a handle of a bag, and a plurality of stacked bag ties positioned coaxially. The terminal end having a cut-out therein of the bag tie support and loading arm is configured to receive the handle portion of the bags and permit the bag tie to be manually moved down over the terminal end having a cut-out therein and handle portion so as to close and fasten the open top ends of the bag. The bag ties have promotional material printed thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clipping machine for closing tubular packagings. The machine has a blade and a counter blade for severing the packaging material. Both blades are arranged on closing arms of the machine. At least one of the blades has a drive which is also situated on one of the closing arms. This and the development of the cutting edges create an effective and at the same time space-saving cutting mechanism.

Abstract: A packaged bottle beverage has a base component of the beverage in a container wider vacuum separate from an additive in a sealed compartment of an ingredient release closure. Upon opening the sealed compartment, suction is created forcing the additive to quickly and thoroughly exit the ingredient release closure, a region of relatively higher pressure, and flow into the base component in the container, a region of relatively lower pressure.

Abstract: A packaged bottled beverage has a base component of the beverage in a container under vacuum separate from an additive in a sealed compartment of an ingredient release closure. Upon opening the sealed compartment, suction is created forcing the additive to quickly and thoroughly exit the ingredient release closure, a region of relatively higher pressure, and flow into the base component in the container, a region of relatively lower pressure.

Abstract: A crimping system for a fill tube of an industrial process transmitter system comprises a collar, a fill tube and crimp jaws. The collar comprises a passageway for receiving the fill tube, and a seat surrounding the passageway. The fill tube extends through the passageway and seat of the collar. The crimp jaws are positioned within the seat to surround the fill tube, and are inserted into the seat to crimp the fill tube.

Abstract: A system for processing a simplified plastic container (C) that is to be filled with a hot product includes the step of blow-molding parison to form a container body, where the container body has a neck, a base, a side surface relatively free of structural geometry that surrounds an interior of the container body and, prior to being filled with the hot product, a projection (12) extending from the container body. After the container body is filled with a hot product in a production line, the neck of the filled container body is capped with a cap and then, the container body is cooled. During the cooling operation, the hot product is contracted so that the projection extending from the container can be pushed (P) into the container body like a traditional push-up so that the resultant, filled and cooled container body is relatively free of structural geometry.

Abstract: A crimping system for a fill tube of an industrial process transmitter system comprises a collar, a fill tube and crimp jaws. The collar comprises a passageway for receiving the fill tube, and a seat surrounding the passageway. The fill tube extends through the passageway and seat of the collar. The crimp jaws are positioned within the seat to surround the fill tube, and are inserted into the seat to crimp the fill tube.

Abstract: A sandwich immunoassay is disclosed that provides simple to perform yet sensitive identification of analytes in samples. All assay constituents needed (except analyte to be detected) for one assay are dried. Upon reconstitution with sample, a 10 to 15 minute incubation gives a rapid and convenient detection assay capability. The method incorporates the capture of antigen to an immobilized capture antibody. A labeled reporter antibody with the molecule, binds to the antigen to form an immunocomplex capable of generating a detectable signal.

Abstract: A method for preparing dental instruments for sterilization in which the instruments are put into a relatively large see-through heat sealable plastic bag. The bag is placed over a surface of an impulse heater and an arm is lowered to clamp the bag and apply two heat seals across the bag; one heat seal to enclose the instruments and a second parallel heat seal. A knife carried by the arm is used to cut between the two heat seals. This cutting operation forms a custom sized closed bag containing the instruments to be sterilized that is placed into an autoclave and sterilized. The cutting also forms a second bag, smaller than the original bag that is reserved for use in a subsequent packaging operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging parts in compartments of a carrier tape and affixing a cover tape over the carrier tape to trap the parts in the compartments. The method and apparatus provide for deflecting a flange of the carrier tape and sealing the cover tape to the deflected flange. The cover tape is tightened across the carrier tape when the carrier tape flange returns to its undeflected condition.

Abstract: A method for applying to a support multiple articles held in protective elements comprises the following steps: thermoforming a thin plastic material sheet to provide a plurality of hollow recesses therein, introducing into the recesses a plurality of articles, applying to the recesses a closure film, coupling to the closure film a multilayer strip including a first film element which can be bound to the closure film, an adhesive layer and a siliconized paper layer, the method further including a die-cutting step for die-cutting material portion encompassing the recesses and removing the waste material including all the mentioned layers, with the exception of the siliconized paper layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for filling a container main body at least whose drum body is made of a flexible film, with a viscous material. A viscous material is charged by the charging means into container main bodies conveyed by the container conveying means, the drum body of the container main body is pressed by the pressing means to cause the surface of the viscous material to bulge, and the opening of the reinforcing component of the container main body is capped by the capping means, allowing the opening to be capped in an air-tight manner with a lid member while virtually all of the air inside the container main body is evacuated, and preventing air from being left over in the container main body so as to prevent hardening, curing and deterioration in the quality of the viscous material that can be caused by such remaining air.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated leak testing, capping, labelling, evacuating and loading collapsible plastic containers in bulk into magazine clips for subsequent handling operations is provided. The apparatus is compact and intergrated, defining discrete stations for each stated method step.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for filling a container main body at least whose drum body is made of a flexible film, with a viscous material. A viscous material is charged by the charging means into container main bodies conveyed by the container conveying means, the drum body of the container main body is pressed by the pressing means to cause the surface of the viscous material to bulge, and the opening of the reinforcing component of the container main body is capped by the capping means, allowing the opening to be capped in an air-tight manner with a lid member while virtually all of the air inside the container main body is evacuated, and preventing air from being left over in the container main body so as to prevent hardening, curing and deterioration in the quality of the viscous material that can be caused by such remaining air.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder, comprising the step of providing an ink bag having a top end, and a bottom end below the top end, the top end being open and the bottom end having an ink feed port therein; moving the ink bag from a first position near a top edge thereof and positioning the ink bag in a vacuum chamber; depressurizing the vacuum chamber; charging a selected quantity of ink into the ink bag; sealing the open end of the ink bag at a second position below the first position; pressing the sealed portion of the ink bag to a selected thickness with press plates; sealing the bag in the pressed position at a third position below the second position; and cutting the ink bag between the second and third positions.

Abstract: A box handling apparatus having particular application in the packaging of semiconductor wafers, includes a box opening assembly which can unlatch a lid from a bottom of the box and separate the lid from the bottom. Arms can grip an article, such as a wafer cassette, in the bottom of the box and lift it out. The cassette can be loaded, or wafers already in the cassette unloaded. The apparatus can replace the loaded cassette in the bottom of the box and latchingly re-engage the lid.

Abstract: A component pocket tape which resists inadvertent unsealing includes a tape cover having discrete edge portions with gaps therebetween such that when one edge portion is unsealed or bent, subsequent edge portions will not unseal or bend unless such unsealing or bending is desired. An apparatus for unsealing and sealing pocket component tape includes a component tape deforming portion and a plow portion which urges the tape and the component tape cover together whereupon the tape deforming portion releases the tape so as to allow the tape to expand into the tape engaging portion of the cover. For unsealing, the apparatus may be run in reverse such that the tape is deformed and then the plow portion drives the tape and cover apart such that when the deforming portion releases the tape, the tape returns to its original configuration but is separated from the tape cover.

Abstract: A vertical bag forming, filling and sealing machine having a feed system for a wrapping material forming the flexible tube bags, a filling tube, a longitudinal seam welding device and a cross seam welding device is described. The cross seam welding device comprises a unit forming the lower cross weld seam and a unit forming the upper cross weld seam of a flexible tube bag. The unit for generating the upper cross weld seam or a folding device and a lifting device for the filled flexible tube bag are movable up and down and are lifted for the generation of the upper cross weld seam or for the folding of the flexible tube bag in order to relax the wrapping material. By this the air space over the surface of the filling material is kept as small as possible.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a carton concaving device capable of manipulating and maintaining the shape of a carton being sealed on a packaging machine. The device has a shaft which rotates with the movement of a conveyor chain thereby allowing for indexed movement of the device. The device has a plurality of rollers for deflecting the sidewalls of a carton about to be sealed at a top sealing station on a packaging machine. The device may be an add-on component or an integrated component of a packaging machine. The device reduces the number of bulged cartons being dispensed from a packaging machine.

Abstract: The process relates to the fitting of a bottom of a package formed from a tubular body (1) of non-round section. The open end of the body (1) is inserted between two fixed opposed jaws (M1, M2). Since the distance between the jaws (M1, M2) is less than the distance between the clamped portions (2, 3), the portions (4, 5) which are not clamped deform. Thus, when fitting the bottom, the air escapes and by applying a clamping force to the side walls of the package (1), some of the air still in the body (1) is evacuated before sealing.

Abstract: A lidding and sealing machine for a pail. A pail holding tool set in or on a base and a lid press plate slidably engaged in a bridge on the same base align the pail and the lid for sealing when pressed together. Alignment guides depending from the edges of the press plate engage the lip flanges of the pail and conform the pail lip shape to the lid sealing surface shape even if the pail is distended with the fullness of its contents so its lip is not congruent to the lid sealing surface. A plug insertion tool forces a plug into the pail's drain in a connected and sequential action that is part of the lidding action.

Abstract: A machine for packaging product, such as blueberries and other similar small fruits in a container having a receptacle and a lid connected to the receptacle includes a hopper suspended over a conveying mechanism which conveys the container beneath the dispensing opening of the hopper to fill the container. The size of the dispensing opening is set for the speed of the line and the size of the container by adjusting the position of a movable wall of the hopper. The containers are then conveyed to a closing station at which the lids are closed and latched by applying pressure to the lid while one side of the container is deflected to move the corners away from the lid to thereby permit closing of the container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a sealed and filled container in which a preform of crystallizable plastic material having a body, a closed bottom portion and an open mouth portion is filled with the goods to be sealed therein whereafter a mechanical forming and thermocrystallizing tool is applied against the closed bottom of the preform, with pressure, to reshape the bottom of the preform by displacing at least a portion of the bottom of the preform inwardly of the body towards the open mouth of the preform. The tool is heated so that the temperature of the bottom portion is greater than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the plastic material and the tool is maintained in contact with the bottom portion during its reshaping for a length of time sufficient for the plastic material to obtain a total crystallization of at least 15%. The open mouth portion is sealed to produce a sealed and filled container.

Abstract: A blow-molded and tempered PET container specially adapted for hot filling includes a plurality of panels situated in circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the container, the panels bulging outwardly with respect to the body portion immediately contiguous thereto. The panels are mechanically reconfigurable to an inwardly collapsed position with respect to the immediately contiguous body portion for providing controlled volumetric reduction of the container to compensate for the development of a partial vacuum within the container.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing rotation of bottles in a capping machine while caps are screwed onto bottle necks with capper heads which develop slight axial forces. An especially configured stationary guide member develops an off-center, mechanical force on the shoulder of the bottle which produces an anti-rotation frictional force at the bottle base while wedging the bottle into frictional engagement with an especially configured neck pocket in the capper star wheel. The guide and neck pocket are shaped to maintain the bottle in axial alignment with the capper head while the cap is started onto the bottle neck which support is removed when the cap is tightened so that the aforedescribed pocket frictional engagement can occur.

Abstract: A sealing device for covering containers which prior to sealing has a member which reduces the volume of the container and in which the member is released after sealing to allow a vacuum circulation to exist in the sealed container. A further feature provides that the volume reducing, sealing and releasing steps occur while the containers are continuously moved along a conveyor.

Abstract: A disposable blister-type package for containing a small quantity of liquid material such as nail enamel including a volatile solvent, constituted of a thermoformed tray defining a liquid-holding cavity with a surrounding rim and a lid covering the cavity and secured to the rim, wherein at least the facing surface portions of the tray and lid are formed of acrylonitrile methylacrylate copolymer. The facing methylacrylate surfaces of the lid and tray are directly bonded together around the cavity to form a leakproof seal that is readily peelable. The seal region of the lid surface is embossed, during the sealing operation, with a pattern of serrations to facilitate peeling. A disposable applicator for the liquid may be enclosed, and similarly sealed, within a second tray cavity also covered by the lid and isolated by the seal from the liquid-holding cavity.

Abstract: The machine works on cases, or upon groups of one or more cases, by effecting an inward-folding operation on the end flaps which fold on the top edges of the transverse side pieces of every case, subsequently effecting a downward-folding operation on the flaps which fold on the end flaps, and gluing the latter to the wings of the longitudinal side pieces of the case so that the machine itself subsequently positions a corresponding lid blank on the case, centering the former both longitudinally and transversly in relation to the case, glues the central portion of the lid blank to the end flaps, folds the side portions of the lid blank until they come into contact with longitudinal side pieces of the case, and finally glues the side portions to the longitudinal side pieces.

Abstract: A capping machine comprises a rotating carriage positioned above a conveyor delivering open neck containers to a work station position, the carriage including circumferentially positioned sockets that receive snap-lock caps in a fixed orientation from a second conveyor. The carriage rotates about an axis transverse to the direction of conveyance of the first conveyor so that the proximate carriage position closest to the first conveyor has a velocity in the same direction as the direction of conveyance of the container. As the tangential position of the cap on the carriage changes as the cap approaches the proximate carriage position, the cap is progressively engaged against the open neck of the container. At the proximate carriage position, the cap is positioned for sealing engagement with the neck of the container.

Abstract: A flange folding machine for folding the distal end of the flanges of a blister package or the like inwardly upon the proximal ends thereof to form closure panel receiving channels. The machine comprises, a plurality of carriers mounted on a conveyor for continuous movement through a folding station, a side flange folding mechanism, a first heater located in close proximity to each first fold line and being operable to heat the side flanges to a sufficient extent to render them formable. The mechanism may also include a leading end flange forming mechanism for folding the distal end portion of a leading end flange inwardly upon the proximal end portion thereof along a transverse foldline. The leading end flange forming mechanism comprises a second heater which is mounted on a carriage which is slidably mounted for reciprocating movement in the folding station to and fro along between a forward position and the retracted position.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping liquid containing packages is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a take-off conveyor which includes a multitude of support parts which form a conveyor belt. The support parts are movable with respect to each other and point transversely outwardly from the conveyor path. A plunger moves out from the surface of the support part towards a side wall of the package to indent the same at a certain portion of the package formation cycle. A switch cam plate or the like causes movement of the plunger between a contact position in which the plunger contacts and indents a portion of the package and another position in which the plunger does not engage the package.This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 198,161, filed Oct. 17, 1980, now abandoned.

Abstract: A method for sealing a cylindrical or truncated cone shaped container body the lower end of which is sealed with a base, comprising the steps of pouring a liquid into said container body through its upper open end to a predetermined level, slightly deforming upwards said base, and thereafter sealing the upper open end of said container body.

Abstract: A cylindrical film tube is to be fitted over an object. Initially the tube is in a flattened state with its opposite sides touching one another. First two vacuum suckers are contacted to the collapsed tube, one on each of its sides, so as to oppose one another. Vacuum is supplied to these suckers so that they suck and grip the tube. Then they are moved relative to one another in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the tube which they are gripping, so as to shear these surfaces relative to one another and break their contact with one another, in case they are adhering together. Then the suckers are moved apart from one another in the direction perpendicular to the film surfaces which they grip, so as to open up the tube. Lastly, the opened-up tube is fitted over the object. In a preferred embodiment, the shear direction is perpendicular to the generators of the flattened tube. A machine is also disclosed for performing this process repeatedly.

Abstract: Pouching apparatus for increasing the volume of material packed into a pouch. The apparatus includes a filler wheel assembly, means for rotating said assembly, a vacuum transfer wheel mounted below said filler wheel assembly and rotatable therewith, a plurality of vertical lands circumferentially spaced around said transfer wheel to receive a web of pouches, means for applying vacuum to said lands, a plurality of tuck fingers movably mounted on the transfer wheel between said lands, a stationary, circumferential cam mounted adjacent said transfer wheel to raise said tuck fingers to form an upward tuck in the bottom of each pouch of said web thereby increasing its capacity. The apparatus also includes clips to hold the web on the lands of the transfer wheel. The apparatus also includes a feed roll which feeds said web onto said transfer wheel at a preselected speed somewhat greater than the speed of said transfer wheel to force pouches into the space between said lands.

Abstract: Containers having their bodies made from laminate material, such as paper board/plastic foil/metal foil laminates, readily tend to distort and this results in unreliable application of metal foil closure caps used to seal the mouths of the containers. The present invention provides apparatus for successively advancing cylindrical containers of this type beneath a cap-applying device and for restoring distorted containers to their true circular cross-sectional to enable correct application of the caps to the container mouths. The apparatus comprises two star wheels, having equal pitch circle diameters, which are mounted side-by-side with their axes of rotation parallel and spaced apart by a distance less than the common pitch circle diameter of the two wheels. The latter have equal numbers of part-circular recesses in their peripheries for engaging containers.

Abstract: An apparatus for capping a flexible container having a predetermined amount of fluid therein wherein a member is provided for engaging and compressing an area of said flexible container during the capping operation. The member, in compressing said container, causes the liquid to be raised or elevated in the container and held closer to the top thereof while the cap or closure is being tightened upon the container. The seal of the cap or closure member is such that air cannot reenter the container and the liquid will remain at the elevated position within the container.

Abstract: A worm-type dispenser for rolled rim paperboard containers has a compression bead in the rim-engaging grooves of the worm to flex the central portion of the rim to render it more resilient so a cover having a rim contacting cylindrical skirt may be applied more easily.