Abstract: The specification discloses an automated apparatus and method for packaging surgical needles having sutures attached thereto wherein a bundle of needles and sutures are placed at a semi-automated separation station and an operator feeds the needles, one at a time, into a rotating needle feed wheel. As the feed wheel advances, the suture is tensioned and directed along a pre-determined path to separate it from the remaining sutures in the bundle. The apparatus has a plurality of individually rotatable tool nests which are sequentially spaced on a rotating or indexing turntable. These tool nests sequentially receive plastic packages for receiving the needle and suture at a first station. At a second station, a needle is inserted into the package by robotic fingers which have retrieved the needle and attached suture from the rotating needle feed wheel. The rotating needle feed wheel and the rotating tool nests are synchronized to step together as each advances.

Abstract: A liquid is charged into a container through a liquid charging opening, which is formed at an upper end of the container. The container comprises a bottom for self-support, which is formed at a lower end of the container and causes the container to be supported by itself, and a pleated expansible part, which is formed at a middle region between the upper end and the lower end of the container and which expands or contracts vertically and causes the volume of the container to change due to at least a predetermined value of vertical load when the vertical load is given to the container. The container is fed into a liquid charging system, while the container is being supported by itself and the pleated expansible part is being contracted. Thereafter, when or before the liquid is charged by the liquid charging system into the container, at least the predetermined value of vertical load is given to the container, and the pleated expansible part is thereby caused to expand by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Electrostatic method and apparatus for opening liners within containers and maintaining such liners in spread apart disposition preparatory to filling comprises (1) A.C. electrostatic ionizing means for directing a stream of bipolar air ions toward the outer walls of the containers substantially symmetrical therewith, and (2) D.C. electrostatic charging means for directing an ion wind of a single polarity toward the interior of liners within the containers whereby the liners and the containers will be charged to opposite polarities to cause electrostatic pinning of the liners to the interior of the containers and effect opening thereof while the net charge on the package is substantially neutral. Subsequent to opening, the spread apart liners in the containers may be easily filled with the appropriate material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for cutting photographic film into individual negatives and placing the cut negatives into envelopes. The invention utilizes a permeable conveyor and vacuum fan arrangement to transport the negatives after they are severed by the cutting mechanism. A pair of opposed fan assemblies located on either side of continuous feed envelopes serve to open an individual envelope. The opened envelope is located in close proximity to the conveyor. In this configuration, an individual negative, retained by suction against the permeable conveyor, can be delivered to the opened envelope extending off the edge of the conveyor track and entering the open envelope. A burst of air may be used to ensure the individual negative's placement into the envelope. A computer coordinates and controls various functions of operations, including transportation movement of the negative and envelopes and printing.

Abstract: A device and method of constructing articles of fresh cut parts of plants and artificial decorative embodiments. The packaging is characterized by enveloping such articles with an inflated balloon. The article being placed in an open container, a balloon is then inflated and receives the article and container and is then securely attached to the container, thereby enclosing the article. A device for constructing the packaged article employs a rigid conduit which is received in the balloon to facilitate reception of the article and container. The gas used to inflate the balloons can be air or nitrogen. If cut flowers are used, the container is provided with some water and plant food.

Abstract: A mechanism (10) and method for applying a top gripping type carrier carton onto the tops of a group of bottles (B) disposed within a crate comprises a carton transfer unit (34) for withdrawing a carton (c) from a supply (H) and transferring a carton from the supply to a position of application, a carton manipulating device (36) for at least partially erecting the carton during transfer, a pivotal arm (12) being provided for pivoting the transfer unit and the manipulating device together with the carton so that the carton is inverted during transfer into an attitude correct for applying it to the bottle group.

Abstract: Method contemplates: providing a set of collapsed multi-cell, crossed panel separator partitions arranged in upright position along a horizontal axis; applying vacuum grip to pull out the lead partition and move along the axis to a transfer station; relieving the pull-out vacuum grip and while supporting the partition in the upright position moving the same away from the transfer station along a second horizontal axis normal to the first axis to an opening station; applying vacuum grip to opposite sides of at least a single panel and rotating the panel to open the partition; and while the gripping force for opening is on the panel, moving the partition along a vertical axis down to an insert station and then removing the gripping force to thereby deposit the partition on the medium for which it is to serve its separating function.

Abstract: An automatic slide sleeving system in which a sleeve containing a plurality of pockets is moved past a rotatable member to which a vacuum is applied thereby drawing the sleeve along with the rotatable member to a position under a movable head where a second vacuum is applied pulling the pocket into an open condition and thereafter through an actuator mechanism, the slides which have been previously moved into position from a slide hopper by a shuttle are moved in to the open pockets by a tongue pusher after which the vacuums are removed and the rotatable member rotated thereby enabling the filled pockets on the sleeve to be collected.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making compact packages for spreadable products wherein base cards are cut from a supply of relatively stiff material, scored and bent into the shape of a channel, the channel then reopened and substantially flattened, and a portion of spreadable product is thereafter deposited onto each pre-bent base card between the score lines. Top sheet material is drawn from a supply of relatively flexible material, scored parallel to each edge, and then folded under the material web, compressed to form a crease at the fold line, and then reopened to a relatively flat position.

Abstract: A method of inserting a slide into a frame of elastic plastic, including expanding the frame at two opposite edges. Inserting of the slide and/or the fixing of the slide in position relative to the picture gate is facilitated in that the frame is expanded at both of two opposed edges as the slide is inserted. The slide which has been inserted to its position for projection is fixed with utilization of the elasticity of the plastic in that the expanding of the frame is terminated.

Abstract: Bags supplied in a chain are advanced step by step through a filling station wherein lip flanges on the bag tops are clampingly gripped and pulled apart to separate a reclosable profile fastener, the bag filled and then released from the clamps, and advanced from the filling station. In one arrangement clamp assemblies separate for pulling the flanges apart to open the bag to be filled and a filling nozzle may be inserted down between the separated clamp assemblies. In another embodiment the clamp assemblies include a collapsible and expandable multi-panel funnel assembly through which bag filling contents are delivered into the open bag. Each filled bag is advanced from the filling station and the fastener reclosed after leaving the filling station. The lip flanges may be treated along a transverse separation line to facilitate separation of the filled bag from the next succeeding bag.

Abstract: A gauging system for an envelope inserter provides simplified set up procedures for adjustment of a set of enclosure pick-up station side guides, an envelope stop and coordinated adjustment of both a set of envelope station side guides and sets of stripper fingers. A panel at the face of the inserter includes a slot and a pointer for lengthwise insertion of an enclosure. The operator places a specimen enclosure against an index end of the slot and rotates a knob to frame the enclosure length between the index and the pointer. Rotation of the knob provides simultaneous movement of the pointer and adjustment of the enclosure side guides to correspond with the framed length. A further slot and pointer are provided for envelope widthwise insertion. Rotation of its knob for framing the envelope width simultaneously adjusts the envelope stop. A further slot and pointer are provided for lengthwise envelope insertion.