Abstract: A method is provided for filling seed trays particularly tobacco seed trays, with growing filler material whereby dry pockets are prevented from forming in the seed trays. The method includes partially filling an upright loading device with the filler material in a manner so that the surface plane of the filler material is at an inclined angle of repose with respect to horizontal. A leading edge of the filler material is established and maintained from the front end of the loading device. A seed tray is passed below the loading device so that the forward edge of the seed tray initially passes below the leading edge of the filler material so that the filler material cascades down into the individual pockets of the seed tray at a controlled rate. In practicing this method, the individual pockets of the seed tray are generally completely filled from the bottom up with the filler material before being conveyed under the bulk portion of the filler material, thereby minimizing the occurrence of dry pockets.

Abstract: A machine for conditioning filled and sealed bags for testing, to assure that the bags are accurately tested without damaging the product contained in the bags, and for packaging the bags that have passed the test in cartons with the longitudinal axis of the bags arranged vertical.

Abstract: A multiple bag forming and filling apparatus and method utilizes a plurality of filling tubes which have a cross-sectional width in the range from one-third to one times the width of the tubular preform between the vertical seals at the filling tube means. There is also disclosed the directing of horizontally adjacent vertical tubular bag preforms to opposite sides of a center sealing bar prior to forming transverse seals by movable seal bars on the opposite sides. The horizontal displacement of the horizontally adjacent bags prevents the adjacent bags from being sealed together.

Abstract: Process for compacting a pulverulent mixture (P) on a support (2) in order to obtain an applicator formed by the said support (2) provided with a pellet (23) of the compacted pulverulent mixture. Compacting is effected in an enclosure (11) in which a piston (3) slides, the piston (3) applying pressure to a layer of powder disposed at the bottom of the enclosure (11) and ultrasonic waves being emitted through the support (2) while the pressure is applied by the piston. The support (2) is provided with anfractuosities over at least part of its surface in contact with the pulverulent mixture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making more efficient the filling of the tube bags (10) similar packages with bulk material of awkward shapes, especially with potato crips, so that the pieces of material to be packed do not get caught on one another. The tube bag (10), or a foil tube (14) for making the tube bag (10), is shaken or vibrated at least during a phase of the filling process and, in particular, immediately thereafter. This accelerates the filling process and, most important, frees the region where the bag-closure seam (20) is applied, of any residues of the material to be packed. Shaking or vibration effects are generated by oscillation generators (20,30) which preferably operate according to the principle of a loudspeaker, i.e. which set an air column into oscillation. The oscillations are then transferred to the foil tube (14) and the pack contents.

Abstract: Apparatus for packing a number of small packages into containers of a larger size and having an inclined conveyor for receiving packages, a counter flat adjacent to upper end of the conveyor for generating count signals, a storage chute for receiving packages being angled downwardly, container holders located adjacent to the chute lower end adapted to hold container in registration with the chute lower end for receiving packages the holder means being intermittently operably whereby to move the container when it has received a predetermined number of said packages, and to place an empty container, in registration with the chute lower end, and, controls operable to cause intermittent movement of the holder in response to a predetermined number of count signals, and a method of packing packages on the apparatus.

Abstract: In a load transporting conveyor of the type which has a plurality of load confining compartments located thereon which are transported by the conveyor along a load transporting path, there is provided a load settling mechanism. The load settling mechanism includes a load support platform which forms a bottom wall of each compartment. Resilient suspension members support the bottom wall with respect to the conveyor such that it is free to vibrate with respect to the conveyor. A vibration activator mechanism is located along the load transporting path so as to engage successive load support platforms as they are transported along the load transporting path to cause the load support platform to vibrate to thereby vibrate any load which is located thereon to cause the load to settle into the load confining compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for packaging citrus fruit or discrete articles in a tightly packed pattern or arrangement closely resembling that of a hand packed box. A two-part telescoped box is conveyed in inverted position to a box filling and counting station, the box including an box inner part in which the side and end flaps are in open relation at the box filling station. At the counting station, fruit is being oscillated transversely of their path of travel so as to singulate the fruit into a plurality of counting stations arranged in a row and in a valley. When the row count has been satisfied, all of the fruit in the row are lifted upwardly for discharge into the open box. When the full count is satisfied, the filled box with fruit extending above the top of the outer box is moved to a box handling station in which the inner box is lifted to a height where the side and end flaps of the inner box may be folded over the top fruit.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for packaging particulate product in bags for deposit into cartons of predetermined cross section and height. Sheet material is formed about a filling tube. The sheet material is sealed and severed beneath the filling tube creating the top of one bag and the bottom of the next. Product is dropped through the filling tube into the formed sheet material which is vibrated. A sensor may be used to determine if product exceeds a predetermined height. After a predetermined amount of product has been dropped into the sheet material, the material is lowered, sealed and severd to form a filled bag.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming bags of predetermined length with a predetermined weight of product, the apparatus being provided with a vibrator for effecting vibration of a bag shaper and a sensor adjacent the bag shaper for determining when the product has subsided to a level less than the height of the bag so that jaws may be engaged to seal the top of the bag without being jammed by product.

Abstract: A technique is described by which a predetermined amount by weight of ground coffee can be packaged into a container while the coffee density may vary within a range. The amount of ground coffee is supplied into a container along a feed path to fill the container and form a column that extends above the upper rim of the container. The ground coffee is compressed to a predetermined head level by compressing a region around the feed path while leaving a small column of uncompressed coffee. In another embodiment, the volume of the container is expanded during compression by outwardly deforming a container end. This enables the stiffening of the ground coffee to support a smooth unbeaded outer wall after vacuum packing without paneling effects.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided to load articles, such as nuts, into a tube. The nuts are fed into the tube from a bowl of vibratory feeder. In order to maintain the mass being vibrated constant during the feeding of the nuts into the tube, the tube and the bowl are vibrated together. Since the tube and the bowl are vibrated together, the nuts are vibrated when they are in the tube to move the nuts along the tube and to maintain the number of nuts being vibrated constant as the tube is filled with nuts. The tube is advantageously coiled and supported on the bowl.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the packaging of bulk materials composed of elongated pieces. The apparatus and method are particularly useful in the packaging of food materials such as french fries, carrots, celery hearts, and the like. The method includes the steps of weighing and apportioning the material, separating the material into individual pieces, causing free-fall of the pieces resulting in substantial alignment and guiding the pieces into a fill tube for packaging. Apparatus for packaging includes apportioning buckets, a transition chute with a stream-out member, a fill tube, and a packager. A bag catcher for settling the product within the package may also be provided.

Abstract: A plurality of elongated articles such as french fried potato strips are aligned with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel and packaged in such aligned condition by the apparatus and method of the invention. The articles are prealigned by a vibrating conveyor having longitudinal partitions dividing it into four tracks, so that the longitudinal axes of such articles are substantially parallel to their direction of travel which forms acute angle of about 45.degree. with the front wall of an alignment container into which the articles are fed. The alignment container is vibrated at a different frequency than the vibrating conveyor in order to settle and to further align the elongated articles with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the front wall of such container.

Abstract: An off-line system for handling elongated magnetic articles such as axially leaded diodes 12 includes a magnetic receiving chute 20, a blocking mechanism 45, a magnetic loading station 75 for supporting at least one tray 55 and for loading diodes 12 therein, and a drive train 115. The chute 20 receives the diodes 12 and guides such diodes downwardly to an outlet 24 and the tray 55. Over a major accessible face of the tray 55 a cover 63 is slidably removable from a second end 60. At the loading station 75, the tray 55 is disposed in an upright manner resting on the second end 60 at a first elevation with a first end 59 extending at least to the outlet 24 of chute 20. An elevating mechanism 80 applied to the end 60 elevates tray 55 to a second elevation, while the cover 63 remains at about the first elevation. A portion of tray 55 is thereby opened adjacent the first end 59 which opening abuts to and registers with the outlet 24 of chute 20.