Abstract: A method of packaging compressible insulation material includes feeding insulation material into contact with a mandrel, rolling up the insulation material on the mandrel to form an insulation roll, applying pressure on the insulation material, during the rolling of the insulation material, with a pair of opposed belts which are adapted to contact the roll being formed with an increasing area of contact as the diameter of the roll increases, and increasing tension on the belts as the diameter of the roll increases in order to maintain a substantially constant pressure on the insulation material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the transportation and storage of compressible items in a compressed state, the apparatus comprising a lower member featuring a horizontal floor; an upper member featuring a horizontal roof, the upper member being slideably connected to the lower member; a platform between the floor and roof that is slideably connected to the upper and lower member; a rotational expulsion mechanism attached to the lower member, upper member, and platform; and an attachment point, said attachment point facilitating the connection of the apparatus to a vehicle. Compressible items may be loaded onto the platform, after which the platform is raised so that compressible items may be loaded between the floor and platform. The roof may then be lowered, compressing both those items between the roof and platform and those items between the platform and floor.

Abstract: Levelling method realized by the simultaneous action of an abutment device and a retaining device for the product, rotating at variable speed in a periodic manner. The abutment device eliminates the end projections of the elements of the long shaped pasta, while the retaining device holds the single long shaped pasta elements firmly in their position, acting from above. The rotational speed varies during levelling, from a value equal to that of the transport collector for the product, so that the devices may be introduced in the collector, to a slowed down value, lasting for a longer time, where the soft contact between the levelling devices and the levelling product occurs.

Abstract: A process for filling a non-self-supporting pack with cylindrical, pellet-like products by introducing into a pack closely surrounding at least one multiple-row layer of the products in such a manner that the products are arranged beside and above one another in linear contact with one another at their cylindrical surfaces and are arranged closely adjacent one another in the pack so that they fit exactly into the pack, are self-supporting, and disperse a pressure applied externally to the pack through the cylindrical surfaces of the products. The pack is brought into a transportation position wherein the products are in an upright position. A pack unit of the products is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming thermal insulation comprising forming recycled cotton fibers into a relatively loose mass, impregnating the cotton fibers with a liquid fire retardant, drying the impregnated cotton fibers, mixing the impregnated cotton fibers with the dry granules of fire retardant while causing the granules to adhere to the cotton fibers, blending the cotton fibers with synthetic springy fibers and with bi-component bonding fibers having core components and sheath components, forming the blended fibers into a composite web of predetermined thickness to provide a desired insulation value, heating the composite web to soften the sheath components of the bi-component fibers to cause the same to bond the fibers together into a bonded composite web, slitting the bonded composite web longitudinally into narrower strips of a predetermined width corresponding to the widths of individual batts of insulation, severing the strips into predetermined lengths to form individual batts, and packaging the individual batt

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding resiliently compressed articles into a form/fill/seal machine. The method includes steps of receiving horizontally compressed articles into an infeed end of a pair of conveyor belts, continuously conveying the compressed articles to a discharge end, continuously forming a plastic film around the pair of cantilevered conveyor belts without the stack of articles exerting expansion force against the plastic film, forming and sealing a closed tube, and releasing the stack of compressed articles into the closed tube only after the seal has sufficient strength to maintain the stack of articles compressed. The pair of conveyor belts has rigid conveyor backing members and cantilevered ends with a discharge pulley mounted at each cantilevered end. At least one tie bar connects the backing members near the cantilevered ends in order to resist the expansion force of one or more stacks of resiliently compressed articles between the conveyor belts.

Abstract: A wrapping method and machine, particularly for food products such as chocolates and similar, whereby the products are fed in an orderly succession along a first curved path to a pickup station where they are gripped by respective gripping devices moving along a second curved path for feeding the products to a wrapping device; the first and second paths being substantially coplanar and substantially tangent to each other at the pickup station.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously feeding a drum machine with compressible articles for the wrapping thereof, comprising structure for progressively and continuously compressing the packs 1 to be wrapped which are fed by a belt conveyer 10, and at the same time transferring them towards the revolver 2 of a wrapping machine by means of a pair of superimposed belt conveyers 4 converging towards the revolver 2 of a wrapping machine by means of a pair of superimposed belt conveyers 4 converging towards the revolver 2 and each being operated by a relevant driving roller 40 parallel to the axis 21 of rotation of the revolver 2. The packs 1 being interposed individually and in succession between the belt conveyers 4. A device is provided for cyclically varying the feeding speed of the belt conveyers 4, and another device is provided for driving each of the belt conveyers 4 into an alternative rotation of predetermined angular amplitude about an axis 41 parallel to the axis 21 of rotation of the revolver 2.

Abstract: A tree compressing and binding apparatus has particular usefulness in handling of Christmas trees, employs a hydraulic power system which utilizes the even stroke of one or a plurality of hydraulic cylinders to drive a tree through a loader funnel. The apparatus is capable of being used in harsh weather environments and provides a low cost mechanism for packaging trees either for point of sales use or for large scale harvesting and shipping jobs.

Abstract: A packing machine for wrapping compressed insulation products in heat sealable plastic film, including a forming tube having product feed means to move or hold the product within it, a former to reconfigure a web of heat sealable plastic film into a longitudinally open tube around the forming tube, a heat welder to close the longitudinal opening and provide a continuous plastic tube, take-off conveyors which receive the plastic tube containing the product at a point downstream of the forming tube and displace the product a preset distance from the forming tube to create a pocket, means to close the plastic tube behind the displaced product and ahead of the next product which is fed into the forming tube as the product is displaced, and means to cut the plastic tube between the two closures so formed, characterised in that air is removed from the pocket before closure by applying vacuum, thereby reducing the time for closing the plastic tube.

Abstract: A compacting unit for groups of flat products arranged side by side on edge, wherein the groups are transported on a conveyor, with the products in each group housed axially separate inside a transverse pocket moving with the conveyor, and are successively engaged by a compacting device featuring a pair of opposed compacting arms. Each compacting arm presents an operating end, and is operated cyclically so that, for each cycle, the operating end is aligned with a pocket of a group, travels with and penetrates inside the pocket, and moves along the pocket towards the operating end of the other arm so as to move the products in the respective group transversely into contact with one another.

Abstract: Feedstuff is compacted in a tube which lies on the ground by a mobile device which includes a traction vehicle, a trailer unit, and a rotatable feeding screw mounted at the rear of the trailer unit for feeding feedstuff from a container into the tube where it is compacted. The screw is rotated by a hydraulic motor which is driven by hydraulic fluid at a pressure which is proportional to loading of the feeding screw due to compaction of feedstuff by the screw. A brake system brakes the wheels of the trailer unit to produce a braking force while the feedstuff is being fed into the tube. A control unit controls the brake system in response to signals from a transducer which senses the hydraulic pressure at the motor. The braking force is reduced when the sensed hydraulic pressure rises to a predetermined maximum value, and the braking force is increased when the sensed hydraulic pressure decreases to a predetermined minimum value.

Abstract: A sleeving system consists of a sleeve forming mechanism for constructing a sleeve from a web of material and a series of pairs of prongs mounted to a pivoting turret mechanism. The prongs are moved to a collapsed position, where a partially opened sleeve is positioned over the collapsed prongs and clamped to one of the prongs. The prongs are pivoted to an inserting station, and are moved apart to open the sleeve at the inserting station. A compressed stack of articles, such as paper towels, is provided to the inserting station, and is inserted by an inserting mechanism into the space between the prongs, and therefore into the opened sleeve. The prongs are then pivoted to a removal station, where a removing mechanism functions to remove the stack from between the prongs and to simultaneously draw the sleeve off of the prongs. The stack undergoes decompression as it emerges from between the prongs, to expand into engagement with the sleeve.

Abstract: An improved shrink tunnel having an upper secondary conveyor in spaced relation to a lower main conveyor adapted to compress a wrapped product during an initial period of the product's journey through the shrink tunnel. In the preferred embodiment an outer drive roller is suspended over the main conveyor by an adjustable actuator arm with an inside idle roller being rotatably attached to the outside drive roller. Thus, the weight of the idle roller and side frame bars provide the compression. In operation a wrapped product is delivered to the main conveyor which conveys the product through the shrink tunnel. Prior to entering the shrink tunnel the upper surface of the wrapped product comes in contact with the secondary conveyor. The weight of idle roller and the side frames compress the package. During this time, the shrink wrap on the sides of the package is being shrunk by the heat. Upon leaving the secondary conveyor the shrink wrap on the top and bottom is exposed to the heat and is shrunk.

Abstract: A pouch conditioner inverts a group of pouches, urges them together while conditioning the by vibrating them, reinverts them and deposits them into a confine container. Product is more evenly dispersed throughout the pouch, reducing the maximum pouch thickness and allowing packaging of a group of pouches in a smaller case than possible with pouches having product which is settled in the pouch bottom.

Abstract: To package a stack of flat objects, such as bags provided with handles, the stack having a height exceeding widths of the objects, the stack is wrapped by a section of a web of paper or plastic. The marginal portions of the web section which overlap at one side face of the stack are adhesively bonded to each other to form a tubular wrapper around the stack. End portions of the wrapper, which protrude from the ends of the stack, are folded onto the end faces of the stack so as to form folded corner portions. The folded corner portions are folded onto and adhesively bonded to one side face of the stack. To permit simple packaging, one side portion of each protruding end portion of the tubular wrapper is first folded onto the adjacent open end face of the stack about the longer edge of the end face.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling two cylindrical canning containers with cylindrically compacted and shaped tuna chunks. The apparatus has a flared compression channel for relieving excessive compression in the compacted tuna chunks, a movable shaping wall for controlling the density of the tuna chunks by changing the volume of the channel, and a movable blade between two semi-cylindrical cavities in the shaping wall for splitting the relieved compacted tuna chunks into two streams which then flow easily into the cavities for forming semi-cylindrical ends prior to cutting the formed ends into cylindrical cakes for injection into the canning containers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging a plurality of cylindrical paper rolls in a compressed state. Rolls are conveyed in a side-by-side relationship and are first progressively compressed in the vertical direction to a partially compressed state. The compressed rolls are then rotated 90.degree. to orient their flattened dimension vertically, and are further compressed as they are further conveyed. The compressed rolls are then joined, wrapped in a plastic flim, and the film is sealed to package the rolls and retain the rolls in their compressed state.

Abstract: Reams of paper advancing in a horizontal direction on a first belt are straightened initially by interaction with a transverse vertical barrier, while wrapping paper is drawn out from below the first belt and directed onto a third belt; the paper is pulled upright into the path of the ream by the elevation of a first gate affording a gap of height at least equal to that of the ream whereupon the ream is directed through the gap, becoming partially enveloped by the paper, then stopped on the third belt while the wrapping paper is cut near to the gate and the trailing edge simultaneously moistened with gum. Finally a second gate identical to the first is raised at the entry to the third belt, drawing up the remaining portion of the paper, and the conveying direction is reversed to take the ream back through the relative gap; the ream is thus enveloped completely and the gummed edge of the wrapping paper flattened and secured.

Abstract: A packing machine for wrapping compressed insulation products in heat sealable plastic film, including a forming tube having product feed means to move or hold the product within it, a former to reconfigure a web of heat sealable plastic film into a longitudinally open tube around the forming tube, a heat welder to close the longitudinal opening and provide a continuous plastic tube, take-off conveyors which receive the plastic tube containing the product at a point downstream of the forming tube and displace the product a preset distance from the forming tube to create a pocket, means to close the plastic tube behind the displaced product and ahead of the next product which is fed into the forming tube as the product is displaced, and means to cut the plastic tube between the two closures so formed, characterised in that air is removed from the pocket before closure by applying vacuum, thereby reducing the time for closing the plastic tube.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing bag-like packs including a continuous strand (17) which is formed from packaging material folded in a V-shape and having transverse seams (15). Prepared portions (21) of fibrous filling material are pushed into pockets (18), open at the side, during the continuous transporting of the strand (17) by the apparatus. Thereafter, the pockets (18) are closed at a longitudinal seam (16) formed during the continuous transporting. The packs are formed by being severed from the strand (17). The strand (17) and the portions (21) are transported by synchronously running endless conveyors, and specifically by a spreading ring (27) and a portion turret (35), respectively. The above-mentioned conveyors are mounted axially parallel to each other such that, with synchronous running, the portions (21) are pushed radially out of the portion turret (35) into the pockets (18).

Abstract: A process and apparatus for packaging a plurality of individual packages containing fluent material is disclosed.

Abstract: A conveyor system is disclosed having two independent conveyor belts which travel along the same path at various speeds. Each conveyor belt has at least one set of material handling platens attached thereto. Product is fed into the space between each pair of platens and is transported to a distal location where it is removed. A control mechanism operates the two conveyor belts such that product can be loaded into one set of platens at one speed, while product already loaded into another set of platens on the other conveyor belt can be transported and unloaded at a different rate.

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: Method and apparatus for making an easy open substantially rectangular bag of compressed flexible articles in which the flexible articles are arranged in a stack and held in compression in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness.

Abstract: A device and method for baling a plurality of items in a sack-like bale enclosure which includes a conduit for conducting items from a conveyor to a sock-like item receptacle coaxially mounted over an outlet end of the conduit.

Abstract: A shrink package system is disclosed which includes a conveyer for conveying an article covered by shrink film, a hot air chamber for blowing hot air on the shrink film while the article and shrink film are on the conveyer, a plurality of rollers and a support frame for supporting the plurality of rollers above the conveyer. The shrink film covered article travels between the conveyer and the rollers, displacing the rollers vertically. In one arrangement, the support frame includes a pair of side rails held in position by at least one threaded stud, the side rails forming slots with both vertical and horizontal components for receiving the rollers shafts.

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: Improved clamp, seal, sever, and brick apparatus for use in form, fill, and seal machines that form a polyfoil tube filled with a product into a plurality of sealed packages, preferably aseptic packages. The improved apparatus incorporates a plurality of sealing heads mounted on a continuously advancing structure that transversely clamps, seals, and severs the endlessly advancing tube into packages, and compresses the packages to preform them into about their final rectangular configuration. Induction heating is used to seal the web. The sealing heads include a sealing jaw and an anvil jaw hinged together and adapted to clamp the tube therebetween at predetermined locations as the sealing heads and product filled tubing advance, the locations being adjustable and the sealing and anvil jaws being adjustable to control the volume of product clamped and sealed in each package.

Abstract: A method of packaging articles of a compressible material, such as cleaning sponges, according to which a blank of arbitrary length is cut such that its thickness corresponds to the thickness of the article and its width corresponds to the longest dimension of the article. The blank is folded lengthwise along its center line once and is then again folded along the center line of the once folded blank a second time. The blank, thus folded twice, is advanced through a piece of piping the outer jacket face of which serves as a shaping template for shaping a web of foil into a tubular cover enclosing the blank and the piece of piping coaxially. The tubular cover is brought along by the advancing twice-folded blank at the discharge end of the piece of the piping and the twice-folded blank is cut while enclosed in the tubular cover, into pieces in such a manner that the length of the blank corresponds to the width of the article.

Abstract: A packaging machine is provided for packaging bundles, optionally under compression, with tensionless cross-seals. One problem of conventional devices is that movable sealing bars tend to rupture film as it is pulled together around materials to be packaged, particularly if the materials are relatively high or heavy. Packaging products under compression is an additional challenge. In this instance, packages are generally fed substantially at a predetermined speed between upper and lower webs of film, which are then sealed at their sides. Compression of the products being packaged may be optionally practiced during such side seal formation, and later during cross seal formation. Subsequently, the products enclosed in the side-sealed web of films move into a cross seal area, optionally including a reciprocatable carriage, operation of which in effect causes the product being sealed to move backwards relative to seal bars forming a cross seal therefor.

Abstract: In the production of packs for stacks (10) of paper handkerchiefs, the problem is to give the cuboid pack an exact shape. Whe a stack of paper handkerchiefs is pushed into a pocket (13) of a folding turret (12), the stack (10) is compressed by a press plate (22) movable up and down in the peripheral direction of the folding turret (12) and, in this compressed form, is pushed into the pocket (13) together with a blank (11). On the opposite side of the folding turret, the virtually finished pack is pushed in the radial direction out of the pocket (13) and onto a push-out platform (48) which moves up and down along the periphery of the folding turret and which is temporarily, in particular during the reception of the pack, in synchronism with the folding turret (12). During a standstill phase of the push-out platform, the pack is transferred from the latter to a discharge conveyor (49).

Abstract: A machine and process is provided for sinuously folding a batt of bulky non-woven fibrous material such as glass fiber and inserting the folded batt into a container such as a bag. The machine has a support table having first and second sections separated by an intermediate section, and the intermediate section has a first series of stationary, transversely extending rotatable rollers arranged along it, and a second series of movable, transversely extending rotatable rollers supported by vertically movable mountings which allow the movable rollers to be moved from an initial raised position, in which they are raised above and separated by a gap from the stationary rollers, to a lowered position in which they are below the stationary rollers so that the stationary and movable rollers are over-lapped.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for continuously folding, heating, and tacking to the sides of the package panel the excess packaging material created by forming the package from a web of polyfoil material. The method and apparatus is particularly useful in form, fill, and seal machines that form a plurality of aseptic sealed packages from a continuously advancing tube filled with a product, and incorporate a plurality of package receiving means mounted on a continuously advancing structure that forms sealed product filled packages into rectangular finished bricks by squaring the package, heating the excess material, folding the excess material against the package until it cools to thereby tack it.

Abstract: This invention relates to compression of a paper roll for reducing a volume thereof. The paper roll is introduced into a receiver which includes side wall members disposed in parallel with each other and leaning a given space therebetween, a wall member spanning the space between the side wall members for bearing the paper roll during the compression thereof, and a compressing plate member disposed between said side wall member and connected to a pusher rod member. The paper roll is compressed by moving the compressing plate member toward the spanning wall member and is deformed into a flat shape until a diameter of the paper roll is reduced to a thickness within the range between one-half and one-fifth. A degree of the compression is regulated so that the volume reduction can be effectively obtained while it can be easily restituted to its original shape.

Abstract: A machine for parallel processing a group of clips of stacked interfolded paper sheets having a base, a reciprocating table carrying projectable pins for advancing the group of clips, a clip spreading station for increasing clip-to-clip spacing transverse to the direction of advance of the reciprocating table, a pre-compression station for compressing the clips to a uniform height, a rotation station for selectively rotating each clip 90.degree. length to width, and a folding station having selectively operable opposed blades parallel to the width for forming each clip into a generally U-shaped configuration to fit within a cube-like package.

Abstract: The package to be wrapped is moved during a first step towards a foil section which is extended under tension transversely relative to the direction of movement of the package. During a further course of movement of the package the aforementioned foil section is applied to three sides around the package in a substantially U-shape. Subsequently, a loop is formed from the web-like foil by entraining means which act on the web-like foil. The two runs of the loop are releasably held at their ends by related holding means. These two loop runs of the foil are separated from each other using a cutting knife. The foil section thus produced, which runs along the rear side of the package, has a length which is greater than the height of the package. An end section of this foil section of greater length and which protrudes past the package is now displaced towards and against the underside of the package.

Abstract: The packaging method includes the steps of inserting a single mattress into a flexible and waterproof wrapper, compressing by squeezing with compressing means to reduce the thickness of the mattress within limits compartible with the elastic structure of the actual mattress, and driving out the air from inside the wrapper; welding the wrapper to seal it and then rolling up the squeezed whole obtained to give it a stable shape. The finished item is placed in a container or case suitable for offering the item for sale.

Abstract: A load compactor for compacting compressible loads of a carton loading machine is provided with compactor members which reciprocate vertically and are located directly above the load as it is driven through the loading station. The compactor members are mounted on a compactor conveyor which consists of a pair of endless chains. A plurality of carriers are mounted on the endless chains at spaced intervals. Carriages are slidably mounted on each carrier and have a compactor head at their lower end which bears against the compressible load. A guide track is provided for guiding the movement of the carriages toward and away from the load. The guide track has a forward run which is vertically spaced from its return run so that the heads of the compactors are vertically spaced from one another during the forward run and the return run and overlap one another to achieve a compact lateral configuration.

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: Radial compression of a cylindrical body made of compressible material, is achieved by axially leading the body through a rotationally symmetrical space, which tapers in the transport direction and whose smallest diameter is smaller than that of the body to be compressed, the envelope of the rotationally symmetrical body being generated by roller shaped bodies which rotate in the same direction and cross the axis of rotation of the space at an angle of between 5.degree. and 45.degree. but do not intersect it. During such passage, the body performs a helical movement relative to the envelope of the rotationally symmetrical space and is compressed, the compression being made permanent by wrapping at the narrowest point of the space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and to apparatus for packing fibrous material in bales of high density, the material being pressed together in a final press and then being moved, together with the press-ram end piece and bottom plate, while still standing under pressure, out of the press compartment to further working positions where it is packed and reinforced.The invention enables the bales to be packed outside the press compartment which can be already fed, during the packing operation, with new material to be pressed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a packaged web product and apparatus therefor wherein superposed webs are compressed and while compressed webs pass through an open-ended forming device having a closed perimeter and simultaneously enveloping the compressed, superposed webs, and thereafter transversely severing the resultant product into identical units.