Abstract: A method for packaging cans or tubes continuously delivered from a production installation to pick-up elements, which are moved in steps, of an intermediate station. A gripper device brings the cans or tubes in groups according to the desired number of pieces in a packaging layer to a delivery station. Each can or tube is deposited into a support element, after which the cans or tubes are pushed together out of the support elements into a loading station. The cans or tubes are placed at equal distances into the pick-up elements, wherein individual support elements are placed apart from each other at a predetermined distance. The cans or tubes are then deposited into the support elements at distances predetermined by the pick-up elements. The support elements are subsequently moved together until they touch each other, whereupon the cans or tubes are then pushed into the loading station. This method allows the use of the same apparatus for different can diameters with minimal changing effort.

Abstract: A tape and terminal package (30, 84) is disclosed wherein terminals (52, 86, 88) of different relative sizes are positioned on a carrier tape (32) so that each is a standard height (64) above the surface (66) of the tape and a crimping zone (58, 96, 98) of each terminal is a standard distance (68) from a datum (62) on the tape. A shim tape (76, 92) is arranged between the smaller terminals (52-2, 88) and the carrier tape (32) to position them to the standard height (64), each different terminal having a specific thickness shim tape (76, 92). In this way, two or more different tape and terminal packages (30, 94), each package having terminals of a different size or type than the other packages, can be accommodated by a single applicator tool (50) without modification or adjustment. Additionally, a tape and terminal package having terminals of different sizes or types on the same carrier tape may be accommodated by a single applicator tool.

Abstract: A bulk straw loading system includes one or more bulk straw staging members having a plurality of compartments which receive, organize and store straws. The straws are detected and counted as they are received. A bulk straw staging member compartment opening temporary closure device insures that at least two compartments full of straws can be stored in a bulk straw staging member prior to being unloaded to a bulk straw transport device. A bulk straw transport device provides the straws to a bulk straw packager such as a boxer or bagger. A bulk straw loading system controller utilizes straw manufacturing speed information from a straw extruder, cutter or wrapper and combined with straw count information, effectuates rotation of each bulk straw staging member as appropriate.

Abstract: At a first station 202, flexible material 204 is deformed into a predetermined configuration defined by a mould recess 210. This configuration corresponds to the internal configuration of one of two housing parts 136, 138, situated at a second station 206. The deformed region of the flexible material 204 is advanced to the second station and secured between the housing parts 136, 138, to form a flexible partition within the container so formed.

Abstract: A method of feeding a continuous packing machine with groups of tobacco items, in particular cigarettes, composed of at least one layer of items, whereby a continuously-moving conveyor with pockets for respective groups is supplied successively with the groups, each of which is expelled from a feedbox in a substantially transverse direction in relation to the items by arresting the items inside the feedbox and over the expelled items.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for introducing a cigarette group (11) into a supporting member (14) for positioning the cigarettes (10) at a distance from one another within the pack. For introducing cigarettes (10) or the like into orifices (22) of the supporting member (14), guide tubes (64) serve as guide members for the cigarettes (10), the guide tubes (64) being guided with tube tips (65) through the orifices (22) of the supporting member (14) and the cigarettes (10) then being pushed after in the guide tubes (64). While the unit consisting of a cigarette group (11) and of the supporting member (14) is being pushed out of a cigarette turret (47), folding tabs of the supporting member (14) are folded.

Abstract: Empty tubes are received in a pallet with the tubes oriented with their central axes substantially perpendicular to a conveyor plane and at a predetermined spacing along first and second axes that are perpendicular to each other and parallel to the conveyor plane. All the empty tubes are simultaneously removed from the pallet, and the tubes are moved mutually apart along the first axis and are subsequently moved mutually apart along the second axis, and the tubes are then filled and sealed. The tubes are moved mutually together to a spacing that is substantially the same as the predetermined spacing and the filled tubes are placed in a pallet.

Abstract: A machine for making a package of food casing strands, wherein the package has a hexagonal-like cross section, comprising a product holder for initially holding a plurality of the strands in a configuration having a hexagonal-like cross section, wherein the holder has an opening therein for admitting the strands into the holder; means for transporting the strands to the holder and for depositing the strands into the opening; shaker means for shaking the holder at predetermined times to ensure that the plurality of strands settle into the holder in the configuration having a hexagonal-like cross section; means for measuring and cutting a predetermined amount of stretch film, where the stretch film is a closed loop used to encase the package of food casing strands; means for stretching and holding the stretch film into a shape of a polygon having a perimeter which is larger than the perimeter of the holder; means for moving the stretched film into a position proximate the holder; means for pushing all of the st

Abstract: The bundling together of shirred food casing sticks is accomplished by loosely supporting the sticks in a desired stack configuration, drawing a stretch film from below the stack, folding the film over the top of the stack and taping the film to itself, and then pulling the film downwardly to tighten it about the stack and heat sealing across the bottom of the stack.

Abstract: A package or "caddie" of fifty (50) shirred tubular sticks of food casing is formed by stacking the sticks in seven rows one on another the lowermost row containing five side-by-side stack, each of the next four rows containing one stick more than the row below and each of the top two rows having one stick less than the row below. This forms a six sided caddie wherein all internal angles as formed by the sides of the stack are 120.degree. and the perimeter of the stack is formed by a continuous unbroken progression of side-by-side sticks. A stretch film disposed transversely about the stack bundles the sticks tightly together.

Abstract: The invention is a package including a bundle of shirred casing sticks disposed and held together by a container which completely encloses the bundle. The container is formed insitu about the bundle from a heat shrink film which stiffens on heat shrinking to provide a self-supporting container conforming in shape generally to the bundle shape. During heat shrinking, portions of the film are insulated to prevent welding of these portions so they provide flaps which open to permit removal or replacement of sticks.

Abstract: A package of shirred food casing sticks Wherein the sticks are bundled together by a wrap disposed in tension transversely about the bundle and the opposite ends of the wrap are overlapped and releasably connected. The releasable connection attaches the outer surface of the underlying wrapper end to the inner surface of the overlying wrapper end and the overlying end having an outer margin which is free and loose from the connection to provide a means for grasping and pulling the overlying end free of the connector.

Abstract: A method for discontinuous delivery of products, such as tubes or capsules supplied continuously by a production facility to a delivery station of a machine. A box-filling installation, for example, is located at the delivery station. The machine has two carriages guided along the same path. While the first carriage which is moved in steps is loaded at the transfer station, the second carriage is already at the delivery station, where it is unloaded and subsequently rapidly moved on until it again abuts the carriage. Thus, loading of the carriages at the transfer station can take place continuously. So that the carriages can perform the movement cycles, such as step-by-step movement, driving, stopping, rapidly moving on until connection with the other carriage, independently of each other, an individual drive is provided for each one of the two carriages.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic counting and boxing machine. The machine employs a rotatable drum with a plurality of vanes deposited on the outside surface thereof running parallel to the central axis of the drum. Adjacent to the drum is a mechanism for inserting in front of each vane of the drum long cylindrical objects. As the drum rotates it then deposits the long cylindrical objects into an adjacent collection chamber. The collection chamber has an elevator plate which can be moved between an upper and lower position. When the elevator plate is in an upper position, a compression plate extends and moves the long cylindrical objects into a box loading chamber which has a floor coplaner with the elevator plate when it is in its upper position. When the straws are transferred to the box loading chamber, the elevator plate drops to its lower position and continues to receive straws from the drum. After the compression plate retracts the elevator plate moves back to its original position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for preventing vane jams in cigarette hoppers. The apparatus and method of the invention are characterized by a plurality of curved elements or guides extending from the back to the front of the hopper. The guides help straighten cigarettes that have become slightly skewed in relation to cigarettes that are correctly positioned in the hopper. The guides also prevent cigarettes that have become skewed to a greater extent or turned perpendicular to correctly positioned cigarettes in a hopper from reaching the vanes of the hopper and causing jam or blockages of the vanes. The guides stop the descent through the hopper of mispositioned cigarettes and cause such cigarettes to slide toward either the front or back wall of the hopper for removal.

Abstract: A compact apparatus for loading bulk ammunition, particularly rimmed cartridges, into cartridge boxes. The apparatus includes a manifold having side walls, a rear wall and a removable front spacer bar. A tray pan is indexed beneath a plurality of parallel, spaced rails in the manifold. The rails are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the cartridges but less than the diameter of the cartridge rims. The manifold is vibrated by an adjustable eccentric drive. Loose ammunition is poured onto the manifold and contained on there by the walls and gate. Once the holes of the cartridge boxes are substantially filled, the operator moves the rear gate to clear off the excess ammunition. The tray pan is then released from spring detents to remove the boxes from the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of packing empty collapsible tubes for shipment to the filler and sealer of the tubes, wherein the ten usually used diameter tubes can be packed into one of two standard size boxes.

Abstract: A stacked container handling system includes an input section having an input conveyor onto which a box, containing a multiplicity of empty stacked containers arranged in a matrix of rows and columns of vertical stacks of containers, is manually or automatically placed in upside down position. Following removal of the box to expose the matrix of vertical stacks of containers, the vertical stacks of containers are moved forward by the input conveyor to a hinged lay-down table that rotates from an upright position in which one row at a time of the stacked containers is received to a horizontal position from which the received row of stacked containers is unloaded. The stacked container handling system may also include an output section having an output accumulation conveyor that serves to move a desired number of horizontal stacks of containers onto a lift table having a hinged bed that rotates from a horizontal position to an upright position.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for compiling deformable, substantially cylindrical bodies and for packing them, comprising vibrating said bodies being positioned at pile delivery substantially parallel adjacent and superposed to each other and being aligned in at least one row of parallelly positioned bodies adjacent to each other, whereafter this row is loaded into a substantially parallelepipedic magazine (6) that is substantially spaceless charged with bodies and thereafter transferred to a magazine discharge station (E) and positioned below a substantially similar transfer magazine (12), into which the bodies are transferred and which is thereafter transversely shifted above a reception space (14) for said bodies into which the bodies enter by gravity and are divided into streams moving downwardly into the area of two or more adjacent discharge devices (17) from which the bodies being compiled to predetermined groups are conveyed at the same time into cups of a cup conveyer (FIG. 4).

Abstract: An automatic wrapping apparatus of cylindrical articles, particularly plastic bobbins. The apparatus includes feed rollers for feeding two wrapping sheets therebetween in opposed manner to form a bottom portion for a wrapping bag. A loading device is provided for loading bobbins onto the bottom portion by holding each unit of regularly arranged bobbins and dropping it in an orderly state. A support member is provided for supporting the bobbins unit by unit from underneath and causing the bobbin unit whenever dropped to descend by the bobin height, thus stacking bobbin units one upon another. A basket-like retainer is provided for receiving the bobbin units descending with stacking to retain them in the place so as to keep the orderly state. A heat sealer is provided for uniting the bottom portion and a top margin of the wrapping bag. A side heat sealer is provided for uniting both sides of the bag.

Abstract: A carton (11) with parallel flat front and rear surfaces joined by curved sides and a flip-top lid (10) hinged to the carton. The carton is composed of two superimposed layers adhesively secured at a joint line at lapped edges. The outer layer is slit along its front surface parallel to the carton ends and along upwardly extending curves around the sides to a fold line parallel to and raised above the front slit and the inner layer (12) has a cutout in its front surface above the front slit of the outer layer. The cutout curves upwardly short of the sides where tags (13) are cut out of the sides of the inner layer and the outer layer overlaps the inner layer at the carton ends. Top and bottom closures are adhesively secured to the outer layer at the ends of the carton.

Abstract: Cylindrical-shaped objects coming from a conveyor belt of a production line are transferred to a compensator. The compensator continuously receives the manufactured cylindrical-shaped objects and transfers them intermittently. Transfer of the cylindrical-shaped objects is made to a carriage guided on rails. A plate with compartments is disposed on the carriage. A quantity of cylindrical-shaped objects corresponding to a layer in a box are placed on the carriage. The carriage is moved in steps by means of a spindle by a step motor. Once the plate on the carriage is filled, the carriage is moved to the side and all the cylindrical-shaped objects lying on it are pushed into the waiting box by a cross slide. Subsequently, the carriage returns to its initial position. This method and apparatus permit extraordinary cycle times, assure gently treatment of the cylindrical-shaped objects and are very adaptable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact apparatus for loading bulk ammunition into cartridge boxes. The apparatus includes a manifold having side walls, a rear wall and a movable front gate. A bullet pan and a tray pan are indexed beneath guide holes in the manifold. The manifold is vibrated by an adjustable eccentric drive. Loose ammunition is poured onto the manifold and contained on there by the walls and gate. Once the manifold guide holes are substantially filled, the operator moves the front gate to clear off the excess ammunition. The bullet pan and tray pan are then released from spring detents to fill the boxes and remove the boxes from the apparatus.

Abstract: A compressed (e.g. accordian pleated) assembly of tubular sheet material (preferably plastic material), is deployed to form an extended tube by a device that consists essentially of an arched rigid framework (curved, triangular, rectangular, or any other shaped arch suited to the shape of the goods to be stored) with a skin of sheet metal or fiberglass extending over its upper part. The tubular sheet material can be deployed into an extended tube at the rear of the device by pulling the latter forwardly along the ground, the free end of the tube having been suitably anchored at the starting location. This tube deployment can be combined with a series of loading operations whereby goods to be stored, e.g. cylindrical or large square bales of forage, are inserted from the front of the device through the arched framework and onto a lower portion of the extended tube as it is formed. This lower portion rests on the ground in a loading area beneath a rearwardly extending overhang of the framework.

Abstract: A queing means transfers surface mount components randomly stored in a detachable hopper into a plurality of parallel lines formed by grooves in a track plate. Vibrator means translate the components along the grooves in the downwardly extending track plate toward a shuttle assembly. With respect to pairs of such track grooves, the shuttle assembly alternately transports a chip from each groove comprising the pair into a plunger assembly. A tube magazine carrying a plurality of carrier tubes to be loaded with components is releasably disposed adjacent the plunger assembly whereby periodic downward movement of plungers simultaneously forces a component from each line of components in the plunger assembly formed by the shuttle mechanism into a respective one of the tubes, and the process is repeated until the tubes are filled with components as desired. Pneumatic means are provided for urging the components backwards from the plunger assembly along the grooves toward and into the hopper.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for aligning elongated articles, such as french fried potatoes, includes a bucket for receiving a charge of the articles. Configured with the bucket is a conveyor having an endless belt with a plurality of spaced flights that each receive a portion of the charge. The articles are aligned by the conveyor and presented to a collector bucket configured to store the aligned charge portions prior to discharge to a bagging machine.

Abstract: A preformed wire spacer for spacing nested formed galvanized metal material pieces having a nestable profile and wherein at least two stacks of the nested material pieces are disposed and secured in side-by-side relationship to form a bundle. The spacer comprises a metal wire treated with a corrosive resistant coating and formed of similar profile as the cross-section of at least part of the profile of two of the material pieces when positioned in side-by-side relationship. The spacer has a cross-section to provide reduced contact with the surface of opposed nested ones of the pieces when positioned therebetween whereby to provide air flow and minimum water retention between the nested material pieces to substantially reduce the formation of white rust.

Abstract: Stacks which consist of nested cuplike objects and have the basic shape of elongate cylinders are inserted in the form of a plurality of layers consisting each of a plurality of stacks into containers. The stacks are first moved in their longitudinal direction as they are fed to the container above the same and are subsequently transversely pushed in a juxtaposed condition into layer-forming means, which are mounted over the container, until the layer-forming means contain a complete layer consisting of the stacks. Thereafter the layer-forming means together with the layer of stacks are lowered from above as far as the bottom or as far as to a previously formed layer. The bottom of the layer-forming means is then pulled out under the layer and is deflected and pulled up so that the layer is deposited in the container while the mutual orientation of the stacks is maintained.

Abstract: A method of packaging components (4) for shipping comprising: loading the components in rails (2); assembling a plurality of the rails into a composite structure (20); and wrapping the composite structure in an anti-static envelope (40) so as to form a quasi-rigid anti-static package (46). The method may further comprise the step of securing the composite structure, e.g. by fixing a strap (18) at each end, immediately before the wrapping step.A material for use in packaging components for shipping comprising a sandwich material (40) having: a first layer (42) of conductive material and a second layer (44) of static-dissipative material, the first and second layers being bonded together. The outer layer may be made of conductive paper to provide adequate snag- and tear-resistance and the inner layer may be made of an anti-static plastics material.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging articles of roughly equal size in package means therefor and method of making such apparatus are provided wherein such apparatus comprises a first conveyor device for the articles with the first conveyor device having a plurality of receptacles each for receiving and supporting an individual one of the articles, a second conveyor device for moving a plurality of packages for the articles, and a transfer device for transferring a predetermined number of the articles from the first conveyor device into associated packages therefor wherein the first and second conveyor devices have portions thereof in parallel facing relation and the apparatus further comprises a drive for operating the conveyor devices in a continuous non-indexing manner to thereby continuously package the predetermined number of articles in an associated package.

Abstract: Packaging machines have to, on the one hand, achieve high levels of output but, on the other hand, take into account the sensitivity of the cigarettes to mechanical stresses. A two-track configuration of the packaging machine doubles the output at a given speed (number of strokes). By the special designing of a cigarette magazine (26) in conjunction with a group turret (28), it is accomplished that the formation of cigarette groups (21) and the insertion into the pockets (64) of the group turret (28) can be performed within adequately set stroke times at a high output of the packaging machine.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming nails into a nailing strip, in which nails are welded to wire strips, and having a nail feed, a nail indexing wheel indexing nails into predetermined nail spacings, a nail rotator to bring their heads in a predetermined orientation, a nail handling slide for receiving nails, a wire feed for feeding wire to one side of the nails, electrical welding contacts for pressing the wire against nail and passing a welding current to weld the wire to the nail, a moving device for moving the welding contacts towards and away from the nails, and a movement device for moving the nails along the nail slide.

Abstract: In a cigarette packeting machine, the formation of groups of cigarettes to be packeted disposed in superposed layers of which at least one is incomplete in that it lacks at least one intermediate cigarette. The cigarettes of the incomplete layer being kept in position, inside a formation and advancement pocket for the relative group, by the cigarettes of an immediately upper complete layer which are fed into the pocket so that they become disposed quincuncially to the cigarettes of the incomplete layer.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for loading containers with individual fuel rods r fuel-rod sections of irradiated nuclear reactor fuel elements are disclosed. In order to ensure maximum safety, cleanliness and close packing when loading the containers, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections are horizontally front-loaded into the container which is horizontally positioned. The loading aperture is located as closely as possible to the upper inner periphery of the container. Following their insertion, the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections will drop onto the inner wall surface of the container or onto the already existing pile of previously loaded fuel rods or fuel-rod sections. The container for loading with such a method has a loading aperture in the end wall thereof arranged close to the inner periphery thereof for insertion of the fuel rods or fuel-rod sections.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically packing sausage links in containers. A high speed feed conveyor feeds a plurality of spaced apart sausage links, in a lengthwise orientation, to a further conveyor having a plurality of transverse compartments. A sausage link is received in each compartment and their arc conveyed transversewise, in side-by-side relationship, to a group forming station. Sensing devices are provided to determine when a predetermined quantity of sausage links are at the forming station. A movable platform then displaces the sausage links from the group forming station to an unloading station where they are reoriented in side-by-side contact relationship and unloaded into a container by a pusher mechanism. While the group of sausage links is being unloaded, another group is being formed at the forming station.

Abstract: A conveyor has a pivotable upper support which slideably houses two rake assemblies. Stringed tags are collected on the conveyor, then gathered into a bundle by the rake tines. The bundle is presented to a tying appratus, then dropped as the rakes part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing batches of cigarettes, in which batches B are transferred from a hopper 10 into compression boxes 16 of an intermittent conveyor 14, and are then packaged (e.g. in soft packs) while passing along continuous conveyors 22, 30 and 38. Compressed batches B are transferred into U-shaped foil wrappers F1 in compartments 28 of the conveyor 22, when folding flaps 88 fold over the two sides of the wrapper before the transfer is completed (FIG. 4). In a modification, the batches are formed from a continuous stream of cigarettes (FIGS. 8 and 9), and any voids V in the stream are filled by an intermittent acceleration rotor 350 (FIG. 11).

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing consecutive packages for drinking straws or the like in bands of straws. The drinking straws are extracted directly from a funnel-shaped vessel by a suction roller having straw-receiving grooves distributed uniformly over the periphery and which are connected to a vacuum source. The straws are transferred individually and at a fixed rate from the suction roller to a conveyor roller, over which one of the packaging foils is guided, the transfer being carried out by means of at least one transfer finger movable to and fro transversely to the path of movement of the straws. The transfer finger presses the straws, together with an underlying packaging foil, into receiving grooves in the conveyor roller. Contacting the conveyor roller is a mating roller, over which an outer packaging foil is guided and which serves at the same time as a sealing roller. The straws are sealed in between the two foils in the roller gap between the conveyor roller and the mating roller.

Abstract: A bundle of welding electrodes or rods are confined within a substantially rigid cylindrical tube of extruded plastics material, and each end portion of the tube receives a cylindrical cup-shaped body of an end closure member molded of a more resilient plastics material. The body of each closure member is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the tube and is press-fitted into the tube to form an air-resistant seal with the tube. Either closure member may be removed by pulling the body from the tube or by impacting the body with the welding rods within the tube, and each closure member is reusable and resealable with the tube.

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

Abstract: A bundle of tubular pipes 1 is assembled by laying a first bed of p pipes on lateral support beams 2, banding it to the beams, placing key blocks 4 between at least the two outermost pipes on each side of the bed, laying a second bed of p pipes on top the first in vertical columns, clamping the ends of the two outermost pipes on each side of the second bed together, laying an upper bed of p-1 pipes on top the second bed in a staggered manner, and strapping the bundle near its ends.

Abstract: A control device for re-starting a cigarette packing machine, while it is slowing down after having cleared itself of a cigarette starvation condition in a flow channel (2), comprises: a triggering circuit (A2, I1) pulsed by a stroboscopic switch (S1) at machine speed, and controlling two flip-flop counters (F1 and F2); a fault emission circuit (R1, C1, R2, C2 and A1) fed from the starvation detector switch (40); a main shut-down circuit (I2, S2) connected from the output of one flip-flop (F1); and a re-start circuit (C3, R3, S3) connected from the output of the other flip-flop (F2).

Abstract: A bundle of welding electrodes or rods are confined within a substantially rigid cylindrical tube of extruded plastics material, and each end portion of the tube receives a cylindrical cup-shaped body of an end closure member molded of a more resilient plastics material. The body of each closure member is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the tube and is press-fitted into the tube to form an air-resistant seal with the tube. Either closure member may be removed by pulling the body from the tube or by impacting the body with the welding rods within the tube, and each closure member is reusable and resealable with the tube.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for packing cut pickle spears in a jar in predetermined positions and orientations by laying the spears side-by-side on a flexible resilient belt, rolling up the belt with the spears on it to form a cylinder, and pushing the cylindrical array of spears out of the rolled up belt into the jar.

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.

Abstract: A support frame and method of making and packaging such frame which comprises a pair of similarly constructed end supports formed of readily bendable structural members, each having a specifically constructed notch configuration about which the structural members can be readily bent to define an inverted U-shaped end support. The arrangement is such that the ends of side rails for maintaining opposed end supports in predetermined spaced relationship are disposed within the respective notches whereby the notches closed about the end of a corresponding side rail to positively secure the rails to the end support during the bending and forming of the U-shaped end support. The structural members and side rails defining the complete support frame are packaged as elongated rectilinear members in complementary pairs with the side rails packaged between a pair of elongated unbent end support members so as to occupy a minimum of space for shipping or packing.

Abstract: Packaging of tubes or rods is disclosed. The tubes or rods consist of a brittle material such as glass or ceramics. In a method for packaging, the tubes or rods are arranged in one package in the tightest possible packaging form. This package is encased by a hood preferably consisting of a film of synthetic material which is fitted over the package under stress and which thereby locks the tubes or rods in position. A plurality of such packages can be stacked on a conventional pallet and can be encased by an additional hood locking this stack in position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for counting paper straws and the like is disclosed, wherein the straws are arranged within channels of an endless conveyor so that the straws may be counted by an optical scanning device. As the straws are manufactured, they are conveyed to a hopper by means of a first endless conveyor. The hopper terminates in a pair of feed compartments above a second endless conveyor having a plurality of transverse channels. Rotating brushes are provided at the sides of the feed compartments, adjacent to the second conveyor to oscillate the straws in the compartments and to urge the straws into the transverse channels. The rotating brushes prevent more than one straw from occupying any one of the transverse channels. An optical scanning device accurately counts the straws while they are on the second conveyor, before they are deposited into a boxing apparatus.

Abstract: Strip sections holding securing elements such as nails or screws are stacked, for example, in cartons so that the nail heads or screw heads come to rest in alternate opposite directions. For this purpose the strips slide down an inclined guide chute in a given direction until the heads are held by support elements which are movable alternately and laterally outwardly substantially at right angles to said given direction. Thus, one support element still supports the heads while the other support is withdrawn from the holding position whereby the strips, as they fall downwardly, rotate alternately, through an angle of 90.degree. whereupon the strips are intercepted, for example, by a tiltable chute.

Abstract: Disposable pipette tips are loosely fitted in an upright position through apertures in a tray which is supported to withstand a downward force exerted on a tip by a pipette which is inserted and wedged into a tip when attaching the same to the pipette. Means are provided to retain the loosely fitted tips in the tray during shipment of the tips to the user thereof.