Abstract: With a random incoming axial stream of pallets of articles, there is a stack of blanks, an axial stream synchronized with pallets is formed, all of the pallets are transferred from the axial stream synchronized with pallets to constitute an axial stream that is synchronized with lots, lots are separated by empty spaces having length of one or more article lengths, whereby the spacing is thus variable and adapted to lot length, blanks are unstacked upon demand based on the pallets to constitute a synchronized stream of blanks corresponding to the stream synchronized with lots. Blanks are separated by empty spaces with length of one or more article lengths, starting from the stream synchronized with lots and the stream synchronized with blanks; each lot of articles is made to work with each blank before the blank is folded around the lot of articles and made into a single unit.

Abstract: A method for enveloping an item to be packaged includes supplying the item to a wrapping unit using a first feed unit, cutting a packaging blank having two side flaps, a base flap, and a closing flap to size, supplying the packaging blank to the wrapping unit using a second feed unit, combining the item and the packaging blank in the wrapping unit, and wrapping the item with the packaging blank, wherein the item and the packaging blank are supplied to the wrapping unit in a line and in opposite directions, at least in one section. This method further includes wrapping the item by folding the side flaps, and by folding the base flap, in any order, gluing the side flaps and the base flap together, and wrapping the item by folding the closing flap.

Abstract: In a medicine packaging machine including a medicine accommodating mechanism for accommodating plural medicines, a chute for guiding medicines arbitrarily taken out from the medicine accommodating mechanism to a medicine packaging sheet, and a medicine packaging mechanism having a heater for thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet, the heater is provided with an incision tooth for forming an incision at an edge portion of the medicine packaging sheet at the same time when the medicine packaging sheet filled with the medicines. Furthermore, a cutting mechanism for cutting at a predetermined position a separate package bag formed by thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet is provided.

Abstract: In a medicine packaging machine including a medicine accommodating mechanism for accommodating plural medicines, a chute for guiding medicines arbitrarily taken out from the medicine accommodating mechanism to a medicine packaging sheet, and a medicine packaging mechanism having a heater for thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet, the heater is provided with an incision tooth for forming an incision at an edge portion of the medicine packaging sheet at the same time when the medicine packaging sheet filled with the medicines. Furthermore, a cutting mechanism for cutting at a predetermined position a separate package bag formed by thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet is provided.

Abstract: A system to produce rolls of web material includes: a production machine (1) to produce the web material; a winder (3) to form reels (B) of web material coming from the production machine; an unwinder (20) to unwind single reels of web material produced by the winder; a group of tools for longitudinal cutting of the web material to divide the web material into strips, including members to position the tools in a transverse direction with respect to the direction of feed of the web material; a rewinder (22) to rewind the single strips into rolls; a line for packaging (9) the rolls (R); at least one shuttle (11) to transfer groups of rolls formed by the rewinder towards the packaging line; and an information system for integrated management of the system.

Abstract: A device for inserting plastic bags into empty consumer product's container, such as soda bottles in which to bottle A is secured to the base B of the device, a small chamber C is secured to the top of the bottle. A wadded-up plastic bag is placed into the chamber. A plunger D, on a leveraging arm E is positioned at the other end of the chamber and with the forward motion of the leveraging arm, the plunger is forced through the chamber pushing the plastic bag into the container.

Abstract: A multi-layered wound dressing includes a moisture-retaining portion for enhancing the healing of a wound. The wound dressing includes an intermediate layer that has both water soluble and water insoluble fibers. An apparatus that includes a cutting tool and a reservoir of liquid to pre-moisten a portion of the dressing may be used to manufacture the dressings.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for accumulating discrete paper or film objects traveling in a machine direction. A first accumulator element of the apparatus is rotatable about a first axis of rotation. A second accumulator element is disposed in confronting relationship with the first accumulator element and has a first, generally flat surface, and a first arcuate surface. Both of these surfaces are rotatable about the first axis of rotation and the first accumulator element has a first angular position that defines a first gap relative to the second accumulator element for receiving the objects there between. The first accumulator element has a second angular position that defines a second gap relative to the second accumulator element for moving the objects in the machine direction, with the second gap being smaller than the first gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically mounting substrates with medical and/or pharmaceutical and/or food-supplementing products, including at least one magazine to store blister strips rolled up on rolls or the like, each magazine having at least one holding position for the rolls, a delivery device to unroll the blister strips and deliver the unrolled blister strips to a supply position for the products provided by each roll in the magazine to be mounted, a separating device for separating product-filled blister sections from the blister strip, and a mounting head to receive, rotate and dispense the separated blister sections with the products sealed therein, the mounting head controlled by a control system to transport the separated blister sections from the supply position to a mounting position over the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a teeth treatment device, the method including the steps of passing a substrate through a container having melted wax therein to form a wax saturated substrate; applying a quantity of bleaching solution to one side of the wax saturated substrate; joining a thin plastic sheet to the one side of the wax saturated substrate to form a plastic coated wax saturated substrate having a quantity of bleach; cutting the plastic coated wax saturated substrate having a quantity of bleach into individual strips having a predetermined configuration; and packaging the individual strips.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stuffing envelopes is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of prime movers, a plurality of sensors disposed throughout the apparatus, and a central controller. The prime movers, the sensors and the central controller are operably interconnected such that the central controller directly receives signals from the sensors and from the plurality of prime movers for real-time control of at least one prime mover from the plurality of prime movers based upon determined movement of at least one of a discrete sheet of material, a stack of sheets of material or a stuffed envelope through at least a portion of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to an apparatus for crumpling paper substrates. Specifically, the system provides for the crumpling of paper substrates to form fill material to be utilized in product packaging to fill void space and/or to wrap around products thereby allowing for safe transport of the products. The apparatus includes a feeder for feeding sheeting material, a first roller connected to a drive mechanism, a second roller disposed adjacent said first roller wherein said sheeting material travels between the first roller and the second roller and further wherein the second roller pushes said sheeting material against said first roller to engage the sheeting material with the first roller, and a third roller connected to the drive mechanism for directing said sheeting material out of said apparatus.

Abstract: A rewinder machine for the production of rolls of web material is described, comprising: a winder unit (3, 5, 7); a path for delivering the web material (N) to said winder unit; a system for continuously feeding said web material into said winder unit; a distributor (31) of a sheet material (F) for wrapping the rolls formed by said winder unit, installed and operated so as to deliver a length of sheet material to said winder unit on completion of the winding of each roll without stopping the forward feed of the web material.

Abstract: A coupon insertion apparatus configured for sequentially inserting coupons into receiving containers, including a machine frame, at least one pair of opposed rollers mounted to the frame and adjustable between a closed position and an open position. A drive system includes a drive belt for simultaneously driving the opposed rollers in both of the positions. A tensioner is connected to the belt and is movable generally transversely to a direction of the adjustment of the drive rollers to maintain a designated tension on the drive belt.

Abstract: A fabrication process produces markers for a magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance system. The marker includes a magnetomechanical element comprising one or more resonator strips of magnetostrictive amorphous metal alloy; a housing having a cavity sized and shaped to accommodate the resonator strips for free mechanical vibration therewithin; and a non-deactivatable bias magnet adapted to magnetically bias the magnetomechanical element. The process employs adaptive control of the cut length of the resonator strips, correction of the length being based on deviation of the actual marker resonant frequency from a preselected, target marker frequency. Use of adaptive, feedback control advantageously results in a much tighter distribution of actual resonant frequencies. Also provided is a web-fed press for continuously producing such markers with adaptive control of the resonator strip length.

Abstract: A coupon insertion apparatus configured for sequentially inserting coupons into receiving containers, including a machine frame, at least one pair of opposed rollers mounted to the frame and adjustable between a closed position and an open position. A moving carriage system including a main carriage housing having one roller of each of the at least one pair of rollers that are automatically slidably adjustable between open and closed positions. A control system is constructed and arranged for automating the movement of the main carriage relative to the machine frame.

Abstract: A method for creating mailpieces from a single web of printed material. The web of printed material includes a continuous web having a width and a length, the length comprised of a series of attached sheets. The series of attached sheets is comprised of envelope sheets and content pages. The content pages are rectangular in shape and may be oriented relative to the envelope sheets in a number of different configurations. In some configurations, two sets of content pages and/or envelope sheets can be printed across the width of the web. The method starts with cutting consecutive attached sheets into separated sheets. The content pages belonging to a same mailpiece are accumulated together. The separated envelope sheet is transported, bypassing the accumulating and turning steps. The accumulated and turned content pages are then merged with the envelope sheet, and the envelope sheet is folded and closed around the accumulated content pages to form a finished enclosing envelope.

Abstract: A method of operating an inserter with infeed and outfeed each driven by a separate servo motor. A controller independently energizes the servo motors to drive the infeed and outfeed to position a continuous feed of objects with a first object in the outfeed and a web between the first and second objects within a bursting space. The outfeed exerts tension on the continuous feed when the web is within the bursting gap. The web is burst and the first object is ejected from the outfeed into an item on a production line. An inserter with separate servo motors driving the infeed and the outfeed to position objects of a continuous feed, to burst webs between the objects by generating tension in the webs and to eject the burst objects from the inserter.

Abstract: An enveloping device (1) capable of successively performing a process for producing an envelope and inserting a content into the envelope at high speed comprises: film feeding means (2) for feeding a film (7) wound in the form of a roll in a shape overlapping in two folds in the middle of a width direction indicated by an arrow W; an envelope making device (3) for successively forming an envelope by fusing the middle of a longitudinal direction of the film (7) overlapping in two folds while conveying the film; envelope conveying means (5) which is a conveyor for conveying a plurality of envelopes (8) while arranging the envelopes in a line; and an inserting device (6) for inserting contents (9) into the envelopes (8) conveyed by the envelope conveying means (5).

Abstract: Stacks of pieces (24) are cut out from the lay-up (20) on a cutting table, on the basis of recorded information relating to the locations of the pieces on the surface of the lay-up, and the skeleton (26) of the lay-up is split up (lines 28) into a plurality of portions while the stacks of pieces are being cut out. Then the lay-up is brought onto an unloading table (60) for successively unloading the stacks of cut-out pieces by causing an unloading tool (80) to move so as to bring it into contact with the stacks that have arrived on the unloading table, by using information relating to the locations of the pieces, and so as to take off each stack from the remainder of the lay-up merely by moving it substantially parallel to the plane of the lay-up, without interfering with the stacks of pieces that have not yet been unloaded.

Abstract: A processing system which enables automation of processing of sheet bodies with a view to raising efficiency of operations, from stacking to packing. A plurality of paper sheaves, which have been produced by cutting and chopping, are transported in a width direction, sequentially fed to a transfer conveyor, transported from the transfer conveyor in a length direction, and fed to a cover sheet application device. At the cover sheet application device, the paper sheaves are superposed with cover sheets, and fed to an inversion apparatus. At the inversion apparatus, the paper sheaves are inverted such that the cover sheets are at upper sides, and are fed out to another cover sheet application device. At this cover sheet application device, the cover sheets are superposed with lower face sides of the paper sheaves. Hence, the paper sheaves, with the cover sheets superposed at both upper and lower faces thereof, are bagged.

Abstract: For producing (cigarettes) packs (10) with a coupon positioned between the pack and outer wrapper made of film, the coupons are supplied to a packaging machine for the outer wrapper and are transported in the region of the packaging machine by a coupon conveyor (17). The coupons pass into the region of a feeder (20) and are applied by the latter to a free top side (13) of the packs.

Abstract: A sheet package producing system for producing a sheet package having a predetermined number of sheets or X-ray films is provided. A cutting/stacking device forms the sheets by cutting continuous sheet at a regular length, and for stacking the sheets in the predetermined number. A covered sheet stack producing device inserts the stacked sheets into a protective cover, to obtain a covered sheet stack. A packaging device packages the covered sheet stack to obtain the sheet package. The cutting/stacking device, the covered sheet stack producing device and the packaging device are connected in series with one another. Those devices are balanced in line capacity balance relative to one another. In a preferred embodiment, the cutting/stacking device includes a supply module for feeding the continuous sheet. A cutter module cuts the continuous sheet to obtain the sheets. A stacker module stacks the sheets in the predetermined number.

Abstract: A process for introducing a plurality of segregated sheet-like administration forms into a dispenser under formation of a multilayered stack for individually dosable removal, with sheet-like tapes wound-up on rolls being present as starting material, utilizes the following steps. In a first step, a number of sheet-like layers of said tapes, which number corresponds to the stack, is simultaneously drawn from a plurality of rolls. In a further step, the individual tapes are united, using guide means, to form a multilayered strand, which in yet another step, is drawn forward to a cutting station where one length of stack is severed at a time, and wherein a length segment of the multilayered strand corresponding to the stack is substantially in the dispenser prior to being severed from a remainder of the multilayered strand by the cutting device.

Abstract: A stretching device for a stretch wrap machine includes a support structure and a film support for rotatably holding a roll of stretchable film. First and second rollers are rotatably mounted to the support structure. The stretching device includes a take-off device for supporting film as it is fed from the stretching device. A power drive assembly includes a motor, and the power drive assembly is configured to rotate the first and second rollers to stretch a film between the rollers. The stretching device further includes an elongated flexible member forming a loop and having a connector adapted for securing stretchable film. A guide assembly adjacent first ends of the first and second rollers movably supports the elongated flexible member to guide stretchable film through the stretching device. A disengagable drive is operably coupled to the elongated flexible member to provide powered movement of the elongated flexible member.

Abstract: The device for packaging continuous webs of materia1, such as selvedges generated on thermoforming units, includes an input regulator of webs, driving guide for the webs, a cutting unit and, downstream thereof, a collector for bits of webs. The cutting unit has at least a blade actuated imparted with a reciprocating movement co-operating with a cutting block, and the driving guide is associated with a conveyor by air stream for the webs, preceding immediately the blade and the cutting block.

Abstract: Methods of making roofing products. One such method includes (a) creating a mixture having a filler and a polymer; (b) forming a sheet from the mixture; (c) cooling the sheet; (d) embossing the sheet; (e) forming multiple roofing products from the sheet; and (f) bundling at least some of the roofing products. Steps (a)-(f) are performed using an automated procedure. Another of the methods involves (a) creating composite roofing products using mold cavities; (b) using a robot to transfer some of the roofing products from some of the mold cavities to a conveying system; and (c) stacking together at least two of the roofing products that have different colors or different surface configurations.

Abstract: A package of a strip of material is formed by slitting or perforating a web to separate the web into side by side strips and fan folding the web to form a plurality of side by side stacks of the strips. The strip of each stack is spliced to the strip of the next stack to form a continuous strip through the package which can be unfolded for supply continuously to an end use machine. The package while compressed is wrapped by a packaging material which includes a bottom rigid plate, a top header and heat shrink bag wrapped around the package and under the bottom plate and heat sealed to a plastic layer covering a bottom surface of the bottom header plate.

Abstract: A sheet package producing system includes at least a cutter module and a packaging module. The cutter module has a cutter blade, for producing X-ray films by cutting a continuous sheet material. The packaging module has packaging robots, for producing a sheet package by packaging the X-ray films stacked on one another. In the sheet package producing system, a first module control unit is incorporated in the cutter module, for controlling the cutter blade. A second module control unit is incorporated in the packaging module, for controlling the packaging robots. A CPU is connected with the first and second module control units removably by a component network, for controlling the cutter module and the packaging module in synchronism.

Abstract: A sorting and conveying line provided at an X-ray film cutting and collection operation includes a defective sheet gate, a collection gate and a sample gate for sorting X-ray film sheets, which have been cut to a predetermined size at a cutting section, while the X-ray film sheets are conveyed. Film detection sensors are disposed at entrance and exit sides of each of the defective sheet gate, the collection gate and the sample gate, and each film detection sensor detects the X-ray film sheet at times when the X-ray film sheet should be conveyed and sorted. Based on the results of detection, a determination is made as to whether or not there is any failure in control on a number of produced X-ray film sheets, and the like, as well as conveyance and sorting operations. This allows smooth and quick handling in the event of a failure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing and bagging decorative grass, comprising an extruder, a godet, a slitter, a cutter, a divider, a bagging assembly and a programmable logic controller. The extruder produces a continuous sheet of flexible material, which is fed by the godet into the slitter, cutter and divider. The slitter slits the sheet into a continuous web of strands of material. The cutter cuts the continuous web of strands, producing a quantity of decorative grass, which is then divided into discrete aggregates and sent by ducts to bagging assemblies, each of which has a rotatable turret having magazines for receiving and discharging discrete aggregates, an inserter and a bag handler. A programmable logic controller coordinates the production and bagging of the decorative grass, based on the properties of the sheet and the divider, and the predetermined properties of the decorative grass.

Abstract: A method for defining the operation of a plant for producing, conveying and packaging articles. The articles include rolls, such as rolls of paper material and the like. The plant includes the following operative sections: at least an apparatus for forming articles positioned upstream, at least a machine for packaging the articles in respective packs positioned downstream, and an apparatus for conveying the articles which is able to transfer the articles between the forming apparatus and the packaging apparatus. The method and the plant provide that, through a central control unit of the plant, starting from predefined setting data, operating parameters of the sections of the plant are determined.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for perforating a packing film (6), provided with a rotating cutter (2) and with a fixed cutter (3), respectively fitted with related single blades (4, 5), between which the packing film (6) advances proceeding along an interposed plane of lay (7), comprises blade-holding supports (8, 9) removable together with the respective blade (4, 5) for the quick replacement of the blades (4, 5) from the work area.

Abstract: A method for defining the operation of a plant for producing, conveying and packaging articles. The articles include rolls, such as rolls of paper material and the like. The plant includes the following operative sections: at least an apparatus for forming articles positioned upstream, at least a machine for packaging the articles in respective packs positioned downstream, and an apparatus for conveying the articles which is able to transfer the articles between the forming apparatus and the packaging apparatus. The method and the plant provide that, through a central control unit of the plant, starting from predefined setting data, operating parameters of the sections of the plant are determined.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes an oxygen scavenger and an amorphous silica. The article can be in the form of e.g. a film or sealing compound. A package can be made from the article for containing an oxygen-sensitive article such as food. The amorphous silica reduces migration of odor causing by-products of the oxygen scavenging process. A method of making an article of manufacture having reduced migration of by-products of an oxygen scavenging reaction includes providing an article including an oxygen scavenger and an amorphous silica; and exposing the article to actinic radiation.

Abstract: A process for introducing a plurality of segregated sheet-like administration forms into a dispenser under formation of a multilayered stack for individually dosable removal, with sheet-like tapes wound-up on rolls being present as starting material, utilizes the following steps. In a first step, a number of sheet-like layers of said tapes, which number corresponds to the stack, is simultaneously drawn from a plurality of rolls. In a further step, the individual tapes are united, using guide means, to form a multilayered strand, which in yet another step, is drawn forward to a cutting station where one length of stack is severed at a time, and wherein a length segment of the multilayered strand corresponding to the stack is substantially in the dispenser prior to being severed from a remainder of the multilayered strand by the cutting device.

Abstract: A primary packaging unit for film-like or wafer-like administration forms for oral application with an off-cut of an upper web of packaging material and of an lower web of packaging material is characterized in that a plurality of dosage units of a film-like or wafer-like administration form, individually sealed in flat compartments formed without cold or hot forming of the packaging material and spaced at a distance to one another, are present in a primary packaging unit, and there are perforations between the compartments which enable the separation of individual compartments, if necessary.

Abstract: A package of a strip of material has a plurality of parallel side by side stacks each containing a length of the strip which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the stack is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the strip. Preferably, the side edges of the strip portions are aligned. The strip can be continuous through each stack and connected by a splice from the end of one stack to beginning of the next stack. To reduce the height of the stacks, the package is compressed and maintained in the compressed condition by, for example, an evacuated sealed bag. The strip of each stack is formed to have a varying width, for example to form diaper inserts when the strip is cut into individual strip elements. The length of each strip portion of the stack is arranged to equal a whole number of strip elements so that the cut lines can be arranged at the fold lines.

Abstract: A device for compacting, on a first conveyor belt which is permeable to air, a solid substance consisting of loose particles, deposited in doses at regular intervals by dosing means which are synchronized with the first conveyor belt, comprises a second conveyor belt which moves at the same speed as and is located below the first belt, the second belt having through-holes at intervals along its length corresponding with the intervals used to deposit the doses of the substance; and vacuum means which are in continuous communication with the holes so that, through the first conveyor belt, they exert suction on the doses of the substance, keeping the particles of the substance together and in contact with the conveyor belt below them.

Abstract: A supply unit supplies a film strip from a film roll, and a winding unit cuts off a film strip into a fixed-length film and winds the fixed-length film around a spool to produce a wound-film assembly. An assembling unit introduces the wound-film assembly into a one-open-sided cartridge, and mounts and crimps a cap on the one-open-sided cartridge to produce a wound-film-loaded cartridge. After a pullout resistance of the film and a film length to be exposed are inspected, the wound-film-loaded cartridge is unloaded as a product.

Abstract: A sheet package producing system includes at least a cutter module and a packaging module. The cutter module has a cutter blade, for producing X-ray films by cutting a continuous sheet material. The packaging module has packaging robots, for producing a sheet package by packaging the X-ray films stacked on one another. In the sheet package producing system, a first module control unit is incorporated in the cutter module, for controlling the cutter blade. A second module control unit is incorporated in the packaging module, for controlling the packaging robots. A CPU is connected with the first and second module control units removably by a component network, for controlling the cutter module and the packaging module in synchronism.

Abstract: A sheet package producing system for producing a sheet package having a predetermined number of sheets or X-ray films is provided. A cutting/stacking device forms the sheets by cutting continuous sheet at a regular length, and for stacking the sheets in the predetermined number. A covered sheet stack producing device inserts the stacked sheets into a protective cover, to obtain a covered sheet stack. A packaging device packages the covered sheet stack to obtain the sheet package. The cutting/stacking device, the covered sheet stack producing device and the packaging device are connected in series with one another. Those devices are balanced in line capacity balance relative to one another. In a preferred embodiment, the cutting/stacking device includes a supply module for feeding the continuous sheet. A cutter module cuts the continuous sheet to obtain the sheets. A stacker module stacks the sheets in the predetermined number.

Abstract: An automatic film insertion device automatically unwinds a predetermined amount of plastic tubing from a roll, measures the required length, cuts and automatically inserts the cut piece into the mouth of filled pharmaceutical bottles. In one embodiment, a set of rollers receives a sheet of tubing, which is passed to a mandrel that opens the tubing. A guillotine cuts the tubing, and the tubing is pushed by a plow into a receiving member. The tubing is held inside the receiving member via friction until a plunger pushes the tubing out of the receiving member and into the bottle. The plunger then forces the tubing to buckle and remain in the bottle. In a second embodiment, the receiving member comprises a reciprocating tube attached to a shuttle cylinder. During the film advance portion of the cycle, the tube is positioned under a film feed station adjacent a cutting assembly. The film is fed vertically downward by rollers into the receiving member and cut.

Abstract: A non-stretchable wound dressing has a flexible, non-stretching cover sheet having adhesive on one side thereof, and having two spaced strip-form gripping tabs at opposite ends thereof. The cover sheet covers a urethane wound dressing with the adhesive of the cover sheet being in contact with the urethane, and the urethane having an adhesive layer on an opposite side thereof. For storage and prior to application to a patient, the adhesive of the urethane wound dressing is in contact with a releasable surface of a carrier, such as cardboard. For application to a patient, one of the cover sheet gripping tabs is pulled so as to release the cover sheet and wound dressing from the carrier, the cover sheet preventing stretching of the wound dressing. The combination is then applied to a patient, again the cover sheet preventing stretching of the wound dressing.

Abstract: A package of a strip of material has a plurality of parallel side by side stacks each containing a length of the strip which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the stack is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the strip. Preferably, the side edges of the strip portions are aligned. The strip can be continuous through each stack and connected by a splice from the end of one stack to beginning of the next stack. To reduce the height of the stacks, the package is compressed and maintained in the compressed condition by, for example, an evacuated sealed bag. The strip of each stack is formed to have a varying width, for example to form diaper inserts when the strip is cut into individual strip elements. The length of each strip portion of the stack is arranged to equal a whole number of strip elements so that the cut lines can be arranged at the fold lines.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and associated apparatus in which decorative ribbons of varying thickness, width, and material can be automatically produced, curled, grouped, and combined in a decorative element which is packaged for distribution. The apparatus serves to impart a helical curl to at least one of a plurality of ribbon strands, meters the strands into preselected lengths, separates the lengths from the ribbon stock, and packages the resulting coiled ribbon arrangements for distribution to customers. The apparatus includes one or more roll stands for storing rolls of ribbon stock, a feed unit for advancing the ribbon through the apparatus and imparting a tendency to curl the strands, a tension regulator unit for accumulating metered lengths of the stands and regulating the advancement of the ribbon strands through the apparatus, and a packaging unit for attaching the ribbon on a placard, to form a decorative element having a cluster of curled ribbon strands.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for applying drinking straws on prefabricated packaging containers. The apparatus includes a rotary drive means for advancing drinking straws which are guided in towards the drive means wrapped in protective envelopes, and continuously disposed as drinking straw belts. The apparatus also includes guides for drinking straws belts and drinking straws, and a device for separating drinking straws from the belt, and a device for applying the drinking straw on the side wall of the packaging container. The drive means of the apparatus routes continuously, and the device for separating drinking straws from the belt is disposed to accompany a part distance of the rotation of the drive means, this movement being realised by means of a cam and a cam roller cooperating therewith. The apparatus further includes a continuously driven conveyor on which the packaging containers are advanced so that one passes the drive means.

Abstract: A package of a continuous strip of material includes a plurality of parallel side by side stacks each containing a length of the strip which is folded back and forth such that each folded portion of the stack is folded relative to the next portion about a line transverse to the strip and such that the side edges of the strip portions are aligned. The strip of material includes a splice defined by the two ends of the strip. The two ends of the strip are held together by yarn stitches passing through and bridging the strip ends.

Abstract: A packaging system and method according to the invention are generally characterized by a cushioning conversion machine for forming and dispensing cut sections of a cushioning product through a discharge outlet, an inclined dispensing chute for sequentially receiving the cut sections of the cushioning product, a cut section presence detector for detecting the presence of a cut section on the inclined chute at a pick-up location remote from the discharge outlet of the conversion machine, and a controller which initiates dispensing of a cut section of cushioning product in response to a detected absence of a cut section by the cut section presence detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for obtaining a strip of photosensitive material totally enveloped in a light-tight way. The device comprises a light-tight box provided with two openings which allow the strip to pass therethrough; a cutting member for cutting the strip at a distance D from its end; a connecting member for solidly connecting in a light-tight way and without contact between them, the strip of length D and the rest of the strip coming from the reel using a light-tight material applied to both faces of each strip; and a linking member for linking up the material present on one face and the material present on the other face between the two strips.