Abstract: A process and an apparatus for packaging containers in a carrier in two rows, in which a first half carrier is formed from a first blank by bringing a bottom portion into a horizontal position, placing a first longitudinal wall portion perpendicularly thereto, folding two side wall portions and partition flaps cut from the first longitudinal wall portion into a position perpendicular to the first longitudinal wall portion, inserting containers between the side wall portions and the flaps and bringing a second longitudinal wall portion into a position parallel to the first longitudinal wall portion and connecting it with the side wall portions, after which, in a similar manner, a second half carrier with containers is formed from an identical blank and both half carriers are composed by connecting two corresponding longitudinal wall portions to form a carrier with two rows of containers. The blanks can be made with a minimum of waste material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming stacked article groups utilizing clip-type article group carriers. The overall apparatus is aligned in a generally linear, continuous orientation. The apparatus longitudinally moves infeed cans from an infeed end to an output end. The apparatus generally comprises (a) an article grouping and clip-type carrier application assembly having at least one input and first and second output lines; (b) a first conveyor disposed to receive and transport first article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from and first output line, the first article groups being transported at a first vertical level; (c) a second conveyor disposed to receive and transport second article groups having clip-type carriers attached thereto from the second output line, the second article groups being transported at a second vertical level which is above the first vertical level; and (d) means to merge the second article groups over the top surface of the first article groups.

Abstract: A cartoning apparatus for loading stacked article groups into carton sleeves. The cartoning apparatus comprises at least two article infeed mechanisms, each supplying at least one stream of articles at a predetermined height or level, an article selection and transport mechanism intersecting the article infeed mechanisms to form and move a stream of stacked article groups of a predetermined pattern, a carton supply and transport mechanism synchronized and moving parallel with said article selection and transport mechanism to provide cartons with open ends facing the moving article groups, and an article group transfer mechanism constructed and arranged to move article groups into the open ends of the carton sleeves.

Abstract: In a method of forming a package of cylindrical beverage cans, a predetermined number of cans is arranged to define a first tier. An insert panel is placed onto the first tier, having formed therein a plurality of substantially circular debossments, each debossment having a diameter not greater than the can top diameter and not less than the can bottom diameter. The debossments are arranged so that one debossment is positioned concentrically on top of each can of the lower tier. Onto the insert panel is placed a second tier of cans by sliding movement of each can along the insert panel until the can is positioned with its bottom seated within one debossment. The first tier, insert panel and second tier are slid together as a unit into a carton through its open end.

Abstract: A transfer device for gripping a filled bag from a suspended position at a filling neck and depositing the bag on a conveyor belt for moving it into a bag closing device, a clamping assembly having two approximately vertical arms which are articulated at their lower ends, with horizontal clamping strips attached thereto, with the arms, for the purpose of clamping in the upper end of the bag by means of the clamping strips below the bag clamps at the filling neck, being movable at their free ends in the sense of closing the clamping strips and with the arms being able to accommodate the conveyor belt extending between them in the direction of the opening edge of the bag; a linear drive unit for moving the clamping assembly in the direction of the conveyor belt; and a lifting unit for the clamping assembly, for depositing the bag clamped in between the clamping strips on the conveyor belt, with the actuating means for the clamping assembly, the drive unit and the lifting unit being arranged below the conveyor b

Abstract: A carton loading machine is effective to load bottles packaged in basket style or in sleeve style cartons at high speed and with minimal attention by the operator due to the dual function of many of the machine parts.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling flexible bags includes an endless conveyor having a generally horizontally oriented upper run; and a plurality of bag holders mounted on the conveyor and distributed therealong. Each bag holder includes two cooperating plates extending upwardly from the upper (working) run of the conveyor and movable towards and away from one another.

Abstract: An article clip packaging machine for applying carton members to the article rims of preselected article groups. The machine has a conveyor with an infeed end for receiving preselected article groups. At least two carton member feeding structures are synchronized with the conveyor for placing carton base and carton top members, respectively, on the preselected article groups. A securing assembly attaches the carton base and top members to the rims of the article groups to provide article group carriers.

Abstract: A machine and method for forming, filling and sealing closed individual pinch pouches includes a support for holding a continuous supply of material having a solid bleached sulfate board or paper board surface and a heat sealable plastic coating on one side. A folding apparatus folds the web material onto itself with the heat sealable surface facing itself with a gusset at the fold. Drive rollers pull the material from the source through the folding apparatus. Heating bars form a seal between selected portions of the material by sealing the heat sealable surfaces at intermittent portions. A cutter cuts the material through the seal and forms a blank having opposed sealed edges extending to the gusset and an open edge opposite the gusset. A hammer pushes the gusset of the blank inward to spread apart opposed surfaces of the blank. An injector forces a flowable substance into the blank through the open edge.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and apparatus for closing a filled vacuum pack package. The open end of the package, which is made from a thin-wall, flexible foil, is folded above the height of the product in the package. The package is placed in a vacuum chamber, a vacuum is drawn on the contents of the package, and the open end of the packaged is closed airtightly by a closing mechanism. While in the vacuum chamber, the open end of the package, which is not yet completely folded, is folded by a flexible part of the vacuum chamber wall facing the open end of the package. The flexible part of the vacuum chamber is folded inwardly by applying a pressure on its exterior which is greater than the vacuum pressure therein.

Abstract: A machine and related method for clipping a succession of generally planar sheets according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,726 onto a succession of rectangular arrays of cans of a type having an end with a chime. Each sheet has two lines of can-stabilizing strips defined by generally parallel slits and two longitudinal edge portions defined thereby. Successive arrays of cans are registered in such manner that successive cans are spaced regularly and are conveyed with one such sheet overlying the cans of each array. After transversely spaced wheels engage successive edge portions of successive sheets to clip such edge portions beneath the chimes of adjacent cane being conveyed, successive lobes of transversely spaced, lobar wheels engage of successive strips of successive sheets as successive arrays are conveyed. The arrays of cane are registered relative to the lobes of the lobar wheels.

Abstract: A machine for and a step by step method of forming packages or containers from blanks, heat sealing the sides of the packages and depositing the packages in fixtures, retaining the packages in fixtures during dosing of the packages with product, heat sealing the tops of the packages and ejecting the packages from the fixtures. The sides of a newly formed package are heat sealed through apertures in the forming die before the package is placed in the fixture. Once placed in the fixture at the forming station, the package remains in the fixture during the filling or dosing of product at the filling station and as indexed into the top sealing station. At the top sealing station the filled package is partially elevated from the fixture to expose the entire top of the package for heat sealing.

Abstract: Capped bottles filled with a composition are loaded into pack carriers therefor in apparatus in which the bottles are conveyed in a continuous series in two spaced apart lines to respective metering starwheels, each with an associated application starwheel, and each starwheel with an associated retentive curved guide means along an arc thereof, at a loading zone while a continuous series of the pack carriers or clips are advanced on a conveyor between the bottle lines to the loading zone. At the loading zone the respective metering starwheels each move the bottles consecutively past the guide means to the associated application starwheel and the application starwheels are mutually spaced sufficiently close on either side of each pack carrier passing in between them to force successive bottles simultaneously from each line into the respective back to back pockets.

Abstract: A clip-type carrier is provided with an outer wrap having a top panel overlying and adhered to the support body of the carrier. Side panels of partial or full height are connected to the top panel of the outer wrap and either end panels or a bottom panel or both connect the side panels. Other package variations are formed by wrapping a plurality of carrier units together, including packages formed by wrapping stacked carrier units. The basic carrier unit may be formed in a first module or packaging station from which the units are sent by conveyor to one of a plurality of other wrapping modules, depending on the style of package desired.

Abstract: A recycling strip for holding, storing, toting, and returning empty recyclable plastic bottles, for instance, soft drink bottles. The strip has a plurality of collar holes distributed uniformly and unilinearly along the strip. The collar holes have a diameter sligthly larger than the outside diameter of a common plastic bottleneck. The collar holes have radial slits forming collars which enable a bottleneck flange to be engaged in the strip. The strip is then used for transporting engaged bottles and can be recycled with the bottles. The strip may be loaded in a dispenser which provides a convenient means of storing the strip. The dispenser also holds the strip securely so that a bottle may be engaged in the strip with a single one handed motion. Furthermore the dispenser provides an engagement mechanism, which aligns a collar hole in the strip with the collar openning of the dispenser and prevents the strip from uncontrolled travel out of the dispenser.

Abstract: Manually operated apparatus for assembling a multi-container pack in a carrier wherein the apparatus has a base formed with apertures in a pattern to form a multi-container pack, a carrier supported on the base and it being formed with a pattern of container receiving apertures having bendable fingers ringing the inner circumference of the container apertures, and a container guide positioned over the carrier for steering the containers into positions with the ends thereof grasped by the fingers ringing the ends of the containers.

Abstract: A machine and related method for clipping a succession of generally planar sheets according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,726 onto a succession of rectangular arrays of cans of a type having an end with a chime. Each sheet has two lines of can-stabilizing strips defined by generally parallel slits and two longitudinal edge portions defined thereby. Successive arrays of cans are registered in such manner that successive cans are spaced regularly and are conveyed with one such sheet overlying the cans of each array. After transversely spaced wheels engage successive edge portions of successive sheets to clip such edge portions beneath the chimes of adjacent cans being conveyed, successive lobes of transversely spaced, lobar wheels engage of successive strips of successive sheets as successive arrays are conveyed. The arrays of cans are registered relative to the lobes of the lobar wheels.

Abstract: An improved method for packaging utilizes the two-spaced clippers for simultaneously attaching the first and second U-shaped metal clips to gathered packaging material. Prior to attachment of the clips, the tail end of the packaging material is wrapped around a movable sleeve or post which is extended to effect tight packing of the contents of packaging material. The movable post is then released after attachment of the clips. With the invention, it is possible to form a loop or handle using the same material that is used for packaging of a product. Additionally, the construction and method reduces the likelihood of the operator developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Abstract: The method comprises continuously wrapping ordered batches of containers (4) with either self adhesive or non-self adhesive films (A, B) of elastic plastics material (such as stretchable linear polyethylene). One of the films (A) forms the base of the wrapping and the other (B) the cover. The films (A, B) are welded together between one batch and the next (4) in a direction transverse to the direction in which the batches advance, and the batches are separated from each other by cutting the films. The apparatus comprises, for the spaced-apart batches of containers (4), a service conveyor (8) in contact with which the film (A) forming the base of the wrapping moves, and a plurality of mutually independent welding and cutting units (11) insertable individually into the gap between one batch and the next (4) to produce the weld and the cut, and extractable from said gap after welding and cutting.

Abstract: An improved microwavable package of laminar construction, having its inner layer constructed of a film whose inherent seal strength is sufficiently high that the inside of the package need not have extraneous reinforcement to maintain its integrity filling, storage, distribution and cooking. The microwavable package is ventable and easily opened by virture of a strip of heat sealable adhesive coated along its top edge immediately inside the opening of the bag and having a seal strength less than that of the package formed seals, to mask the package's normal seal strength.

Abstract: A continuous packaging sleever assembly and process for wrapping packaging sleeves about product groups. The assembly has a frame structure with a generally horizontal working surface, a transfer conveyor to move the product containers across the working surface, and horizontally movable flight bar structures connected to a continuous chain structure. The flight bar structures are constructed and arranged to be selectively movable in a generally perpendicular direction to the product transfer conveyor means and to separate the product containers into predetermined groups. A packaging sleeve transfer and placement structure is provided in synchronization with the flight bar structures for depositing flat packaging sleeves between adjacent flight bar structures and above the product groups. The flight bar structures simultaneously move the product groups and the individual sleeves thereon.

Abstract: A carton-packaging machine (10) which causes progressive erection of carton sleeves from a supply of blanks (11) in a magazine (19), the partly erected blanks being loaded with product (24, 25) and then being closed in the form of a sleeve around the product. An endless conveyor (12) moves the blank through a blank supply station (14), an erection station (15), a product loading stations (16), a folding station (17) and a discharge stations (18), and a suction device (20) cooperates with the magazine (19) in order to draw individual blanks in flat form into the path of travel of the conveyor (12) for engagement thereby. A shaping device (21) at the erection station (15) forms each blank into U-shaped form and which is then advanced by the conveyor to the loading station (16) for loading with product (24, 25).

Abstract: A wrapper for tabular products, especially chocolate bars. The wrapper consists of a one-piece blank wrapped asymmetrically around the bar to create a facing and of a tube of wrapping material established by a longitudinal sealing seam adjacent to one side of the bar and closed at the ends of the bar by a bellows. The bellows encompasses the longitudinal sealing seam as part of the tube of wrapping material and is wrapped around onto the lower surface of the bar to create an inner flap. The facing covers up areas of the bellows and is secured to the portion of the tube of wrapping material adjacent to the lower surface of the bar. The blank (7) is rectangular. The facing (25) is created by folding in the inner flaps (24) in such a way that both the facing and the inner flap are free of any part of the longitudinal sealing seam (11). The bellows is bridged by a transverse sealing seam (21) located in one area of the bellows that is wrapped against the lower surface (3) of the bar (1) and covered by the facing.

Abstract: There is provided a method and an apparatus for forming the tops of material-filled bags into substantially fin-like shapes suitable for sealing in conventional top-sealing machines. The filled bags may be conveyed at random to a top-forming location in the apparatus where a bag is stopped, a device such as a pair of hinged plates is inserted into the top of the bag, front and back forming plates and side gusseting blades simultaneously engage the outside of the bag, forming the top into a fin-shape, the blades and plates are withdrawn, and the bag is then conveyed from the top-forming location. Bag tops are formed more consistently and with excess air expelled with the present method and apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming bags such as in a form, fill and seal machine wherein the bags are formed by drawing film downwardly over a filling tube and cross-sealing the bag tube and applying a lateral stretching force to the bag tube at the location of cross-sealing preventing wrinkles at the location of the seam formed by the cross-sealing with the stretching force applied at the extreme lateral edge of the film preferably by opposed cam surfaces at each of the bag edge which contact each other at a point just outside of the bag edges and progressively walk into the edge of the bag with the point of contact shifting in an outward direction while it progresses inwardly on the bag to apply a stretching force to the film of the bag for smoothing the entire width.

Abstract: A method of making and decorating a container in which the tubular body is injection molded with either its upper end or its bottom end open and is threaded onto a mandrel through an open end to provide support for the tubular body during printing of a decor thereon. The neck member or bottom member or both can then be applied.

Abstract: A fluid packaging means comprises tubular side walls and end walls disposed at the ends thereof, forming a bottom and a top, wherein the top comprises thermoplastic material without a carrier material, is injection moulded to the outer edge of the tube along that edge and has a pouring means, and the bottom is quadrangular and has triangular flaps which are folded over to lie against at least one adjacent panel. In order to provide such a packaging means with a particularly advantageous bottom, the invention proposes that at least two mutually oppositely disposed triangular flaps of the bottom are folded inwardly into the plane of the bottom or outwardly on to the side wall, about the lower edge between the bottom and the side wall, and fixed in that position.

Abstract: A method of packing a flat, angular item having two opposite large faces, two opposite side faces and two opposite end faces. Each end face is bounded by two short end face edges, a first long end face edge and a second long end face edge.

Abstract: Apparatus for closing filled sacks, which have been transferred from a filling station to a take-over station and a closing station by a conveyor comprising a gripper, which like pliers grips the flattened lips of the filled sacks. A pair of gripping rollers, which are rotatable about axes which are at right angles to the main axis of the sack, take-over the sacks at the take-over station with the lips protruding. The apparatus also comprises a welding or sewing machine to act on the protruding lips to form a seam for closing the filled sacks. At least one of the gripping rollers is rotated as the filled sacks are conveyed to the closing machine to force the lips to protrude sufficiently to facilitate making the closing seam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a unique method and apparatus for packaging a product in individual vacuum-sealed packets constructed of a sheet of flexible material. In the method of the present invention, a sheet of flexible packaging material is formed into a channel-shaped member having spaced apart vertical sidewalls. The facing surfaces of the sidewalls are sealed at horizontally spaced apart, vertical locations to define a plurality of open top packets. A predetermined amount of a flowable product is introduced into each of the open top packets. Next, the upper corner portions of each individual packet are sealed to reduce the size of the opening in the packets. A vacuum tube is introduced into the open top packet and the upper portion of the open top packet is sealed around the vacuum tube. The interior of the packet is then evacuated through the vacuum tube and an initial horizontal top seal is produced below the vacuum tube to initially seal the packet.

Abstract: The process serves for closing filled bags (52) making use of an approximately horizontal conveying track (3). The bags are fed on a conveying track with constant conveying speed to a spreading apparatus (16 to 51) and then to a closing station (12, 13). In order that the bag material be stressed as little as possible in the case of a greater capacity, provision is made for a movement to be superimposed on the spreading tools (21) of the spreading apparatus during the spreading process, in the conveying direction (4), that attains the conveying speed, at latest, at the end of the spreading process. In this fashion, the bag end is spread apart without the bag experiencing a delay by the spreading tools (21) reaching therein.

Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of filling a chain of successively connected bag containers, each closed at its bottom end with successive ones seamed at adjacent side edges, the chain defining sleeve means along the upper edge thereof, above said side seams. The invention comprises moving the chain of containers along a process line, from a source thereof to a discharge point, with said sleeve means uppermost, past a filling station having a filling head operable to charge flowable material received from a source thereof, from a filling nozzle of the filling head, into successive containers presented to the filling station and past a sealing station which is intermediate the sealing station and discharge point, the sealing station having sealing means for sealing the top of each filled container.

Abstract: Containers formed of a flexible sheet of material capable of being sealed for closing off the interior of the container from the ambient atmosphere. The sheet material is resistant to tearing and includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The container comprises a mouth portion including a peel strip or layer fixedly secured to the inner surface of the material and extending substantially the entire length of the mouth portion, with adjacent portions of the peel strip or layer being in releasable engagement with each other. Some containers are formed in accordance with the method for applying the peel strips transversely across a web of sheet material and heat sealing the strips to the material at longitudinally spaced locations and thereafter severing the web into sections which are formed into the container. Other containers are formed by use of a peel layer on the entire inner surface of the container.

Abstract: Picking up in a positive manner from a feeding hopper in individual sequence horizontally positioned tubes, feeding them by gravity and delivering them, always positively held, to an element that from the horizontal pick-up position inserts them positively in a vertical plane with their open ends upwards in clamping elements on a processing line along which, advancing in increments, they are filled and closed and sealed in a conventional manner along the end thereof. Thereafter, synchronized with the incremental advance along the processing line, the tubes thus filled and end sealed, are successively gripped by transfer elements that insert them in preassembled boxes having their introduction opening facing upwards, at a packaging station, and there the tubes are packed inside the appropriate boxes with the introduction opening of the box being then closed.

Abstract: An automated bag filling machine particularly adapted to handle reclosable fastener strip profile-type plastic bags fed into the machine in a bag chain employs stations for opening, filling, reclosing, and separating filled and closed bags from the remainder of the chain. The drive means for conveying the chain through the filling mechanism include stroke control devices which enable the operation of the machine to be changed over for handling bags of different width sizes. Means are also provided for automatically preventing the bags in the chain from excessively over traveling their proper registration points with the various work stations.

Abstract: Flexible pouches filled with product are advanced to a steaming station where steam from a steam nozzle is directed downwardly toward the pouches to drive air therefrom. A vacuum nozzle is inserted downwardly within the steam nozzle and into each pouch at the steaming station, the upper end portion of the pouch is closed around the vacuum nozzle and then a vacuum is drawn through the vacuum nozzle to evacuate the air in the pouch. The top of the pouch is sealed immediately after the vacuum nozzle is retracted out of the pouch. To close the pouch around the vacuum nozzle, two heads are disposed on opposite sides of the pouch but are located out of contact with the pouch. Jets of pressurized air are directed from the heads and against the pouch to close the pouch against the vacuum nozzle without creating wrinkles in the pouch.

Abstract: A vacuum heater head is provided for sealing the valve of a bag after the bag has been filled through the valve. The head has a generally planar surface with a plurality of spaced recesses opening therethrough, passages being provided in the head to open to the recesses for applying a vacuum therethrough. In two of the embodiments shown, the valve in a bag filled condition has a first wall that at least in part has an exposed exterior wall portion of a relatively high porosity and a second wall having a wall portion in juxtaposed relationship to the exposed wall. The first wall portion may be of paper and the second wall portion of a thermoplastic material, for example polyethylene, or the second of paper or non-thermoplastic with, for example, hot melt adhesive between the wall portions.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for sealing heat sealable material with a single actuation drive train. The drive train comprises a series of gripping, heating and squeezing elements directly actuatable and sequentially staged in conjunction with eccentric linkages and the rotational position of a single drive shaft operable by a single handle and/or input source. In a manual mode the second hand of the operator is thus free to collect and position the material to be sealed, saving time and reducing operator error. The gripping and squeezing elements and their operation are also selectively programmable by the construction and orientation of the particular eccentric linkage to facilitate wide variations in the scope of sealing applications.

Abstract: A novel bag closure system is provided which has considerable advantages over conventional tin tie closure systems. A specially-designed closure strip having bag material-receiving recesses is affixed to the bag and the bag is closed using the closure strip. Equipment is described for effecting the closure automatically.