Abstract: A method and device for synchronizing the motion between a chassis (master) motor and one or more enclosure feeder (slave) motors in an envelope inserting machine. The motion profile of one motor can be varied with time independently of the others. The displacement mapping method uses encoders, such as optical encoders, to obtain the displacement of each of the associated motors as a function of time. From the actual displacement of the master motor, an electronic computation device or process is used to calculate the theoretical displacement of each slave motor according the motion profile of the slave motor. The theoretical displacement is then compared to the actual displacement. If there is a discrepancy between the theoretical and the actual amount, then the motion of the slave motor will be adjusted so as to eliminate that displacement discrepancy.

Abstract: There is described a packaging machine (1) for producing sealed packages (2) of a pourable food product from a strip (6) of heat-seal sheet packaging material. The packaging material (1) has a number of photocells (14), which are programmable externally as regards their setting parameters, are positioned facing the strip (6) of packaging material to detect optically detectable elements on the strip, and have setting means (26, 210, 300). The packaging machine (1) also has a control unit (16) connected to the photocells (14) and having enabling means (24) for enabling the setting means of a specific photocell (14), data downloading means (26, 240, 310) for downloading off the specific photocell (14) the setting parameters of the photocell, and data uploading means (26, 260, 330) for uploading onto the other photocells (14) setting parameters calculated as a function of the setting parameters downloaded off the specific photocell (14).

Abstract: A method and device for synchronizing the motion between a chassis (master) motor and one or more enclosure feeder (slave) motors in an envelope inserting machine. The motion profile of one motor can be varied with time independently of the others. The displacement mapping method uses encoders, such as optical encoders, to obtain the displacement of each of the associated motors as a function of time. From the actual displacement of the master motor, an electronic computation device or process is used to calculate the theoretical displacement of each slave motor according the motion profile of the slave motor. The theoretical displacement is then compared to the actual displacement. If there is a discrepancy between the theoretical and the actual amount, then the motion of the slave motor will be adjusted so as to eliminate that displacement discrepancy.

Abstract: A device for and method of robotically crating objects, such as consumer goods, being capable of securing an upstanding enclosure to a recyclable pallet having structural uprights. The device conveys a pallet and enclosure assembly into a work station, installs a number of threaded fasteners into predetermined locations in the top and two adjacent sides of the assembly, rotates the assembly one-hundred eighty degrees, installs fasteners into the two remaining sides, rotates the assembly back to the initial position, and conveys the secured crate assembly out of the work station. The device includes the ability to detect the number of times a recyclable pallet has been used, and to adjust the exact locations of fasteners accordingly, thereby assuring that new fasteners are always installed into an unused fastener location.

Abstract: An automated packaging line has capability of filling large and small orders, of one or more bottles, each bottle filled with a respective one of a plurality of different pharmaceutical tablets, in a single run. Structure is provided for filling orders for an individual consumer, for a pharmacist, and for a wholesaler, simultaneously, using differently sized bottles, and providing customized labels for each bottle. A flexible filler station simultaneously fills plural bottles with respective tablets. An intelligent data carrying puck carries each bottle, including therein information describing, among others, the bottle, the customer, the order, the pharmaceutical, the bottle size and label information. Puck handling stations (PHS) are dispersed throughout the line, to verify a number of operations implemented on the line and to reject a puck at the earliest opportunity, while permitting subsequent rejection by a subsequent PHS.

Abstract: The invention proposes measures for controlling a production and packaging system for cigarettes such that a certain number of cigarettes (batch) of a certain brand or design are produced and the system is then switched off. This is based on a quantity which is to be produced, that is to say a specified quantity. Taking account of the actually occurring defective production at individual production units and subassemblies, the overall production requirement is determined and produced accordingly and packaging material is made available to the individual production units.

Abstract: An automatic machine wherein an operating wheel rotating about a central axis supports a number of work stations, which all communicate with a fixed control unit by means of a single cordless communication unit having a movable communication device carried by the wheel, and a fixed communication device located on the machine; the fixed and movable communication devices are coaxial with the axis of the wheel so as to substantially face each other at all times as the wheel rotates.

Abstract: Mass manufacturing and packaging apparatus (10) of products in roll form, in particular paper products including, from upstream to downstream, a cutting station (12) for cutting very long consecutive logs (20) of a specified diameter into consecutive sequences of several rolls (22) of shorter length, and an upstream conveyor (14) to move the sequences of rolls (22) from the cutting station (12) to a feeder station (16) distributing the rolls (22) to several automated packaging stations (18) characterized in that a roll-switching system (26, 37) of the feeder station (16) allows directing each sequence of rolls (22) toward a specific set of packaging stations (18) which is different from the set towards which the previous sequence of rolls (22) was directed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for supplying a discharge lamp with a direct current, provided with: input terminals for connection to a supply voltage source, a circuit portion I coupled to the input terminals for generating a DC voltage from the supply voltage delivered by the supply voltage source, said circuit portion being provided with output terminals between which the DC voltage is present during operation, a first branch comprising capacitive means and interconnecting the output terminals, a second branch comprising a series arrangement of second capacitive means and an impedance and shunting the first branch, and a load branch which shunts the series arrangement and which comprises terminals for connecting a discharge lamp. According to the invention, the second branch is in addition provided with a diode.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for shrinking a foil (2) onto an object (1) are in particular used for packaging a stack of goods with a foil hood. Herein, a heating means (4) is moved with a distance to the foil (2) for shrinking said foil (2) onto the object (1) under the influence of heat. In accordance with the invention, at least sectionally the temperature of the foil (2) is measured in order to optimally regulating the heat emission of the heating means (4) to the foil (2). For this purpose, the apparatus is provided with a means (6) for measuring the temperature of the foil (2) and with a means for regulating the temperature of the foil (2). This provides the advantage that the apparatus can be used for different objects independently from their contour, size and position.

Abstract: A medicine packing apparatus for packing medicine to be taken at each dosing time into respective medicine bags in accordance with a packing order. The apparatus includes a device for inputting prescription data; a device for deciding packing order, i.e., whether the packing order is dosing order or reverse dosing order, on the basis of the prescription data; a device for preparing print data for each dosing time in accordance with the packing order decided by the device for deciding packing order; a device for setting packing data for each dosing time in accordance with the packing order decided by the device for deciding packing order; a device for printing the print data prepared by the device for preparing print data; and a device for packing the medicine in accordance with the packing data set by the device for setting packing data.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a controller in a banding packing machine which can easily set a correct condition when the controller for clamping, returning and tightening a band has a timing shifted from a predetermined timing. A controller in a banding packing machine comprises a cam shaft (22) to be rotated upon receipt of force from a driving source, a plurality of cams (24, 26, 28) provided in the cam shaft (22), a timing plate (45) provided in the cam shaft (22) and having holes (42, 44, 46) formed corresponding to predetermined positions such that a rotation position of the cam shaft (22) can be detected, and detecting means (50) for detecting that the holes (42, 44, 46) formed on the timing plate (45) reach the predetermined positions, wherein an inching mode is provided in which the rotation of the cam shaft (22) is stopped when the detecting means detects the predetermined holes (42, 44, 46) of the timing plate (45).

Abstract: A coin packaging apparatus has a structure facilitating confirmation of the correction or incorrectness of packaging paper when the wrong packaging paper is set, and facilitates replacement of the packaging paper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling operation of a bag-forming and -filling packing apparatus for supplying unsealed packaged articles (45) to a rotary vacuum packaging machine at regular intervals, in which the rotary vacuum packing machine is subjected to significant variations in loads. A main controller (115) for receiving pulse signals calculates modulation of the pitch of pulses from a main motor (86) of the rotary vacuum packaging machine, and control elements (94, 95, 96, 97) each attached to a corresponding one of all servo motors (20, 30, 40, 76) of the bag-forming and -filling packaging machine individually and simultaneously control the rotation value of each servo motor. This configuration can avoid step-wise control of each servo motor and reduce impacts on a rotary section and a failure rate while maintaining a slow control operation.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process and apparatus for automatically sorting and sequencing a random assemblage of products associated with a particular order for same. In one embodiment, the invention sequences the random products to match a predetermined label application sequence.

Abstract: A weight and form sensing apparatus according to the present invention provides weight sensors on a base, in matrix pattern for instance. Each weight sensor has a load receiving portion on a top. Weight and form can be sensed by single weight and form sensing apparatus according to the present invention. That is, output values of the weight sensors are summed, so that an article put on the weight sensors can be detected. Also, the existence of the load on each weight sensor is determined based on output signal of each weight sensor, so that the bottom form and size of the article can be identified. The weight and form sensing apparatus according to the present invention can be preferably arranged into a feeding stream of the article because an arrangement of the sensors for identifying the form and size of the article does not interfere an arrangement of the feeding mechanism for the article.

Abstract: A device for feeding tablets in a blister packaging machine includes a vibrating container containing a mass of tablets. The vibrating container features a bottom wall, one portion of which includes tablet feeding channels, communicating with related slots made in the bottom wall. The slots communicate with the conveying means, which feed the tablets along a predetermined feeding path and release the tablets into respective blisters of a blister band. The blister band moves in a determined direction inside the packaging machine. The conveying means include a plate with a plurality of grooves, arranged one beside another and a covering element. The covering element is coupled with said plate, so as to move with respect thereto and includes transversal wings, each of which is situated inside a respective groove of the plate, so as to define a respective channel for conveying said tablets.

Abstract: The lower folders (P1, P2) of the packaging machine are driven by a rod and crank system (1, 2) moved by an electric motor (5) with control of speed and phase, regulated by an electronic processor (7) with a corresponding programming and dialogue unit (8). The rod and crank system is designed and arranged in such a way that, when the folders are closed, the rod (1) is aligned with the crank (2), and this position (K) is taken to be the zero position by the said processor and is detected for this purpose by a sensor (6). To drive the folders through a complete cycle of closing and opening, the motor (5) has to execute only one pulse, to transfer the rod and crank system from one to the other of two limit positions (K1, K2), spaced apart from the said zero position by an identical distance which is variable, according to the format of the products to be packaged, by means of the said programming unit (8).

Abstract: The invention consists in a method of setting up a machine for sealing closure clips between a stamp and a bottom tool, which for coaling the clip are first of all moved towards each other up to a sealing distance and are then moved away from each other, and where the sealing distance between stamp and bottom tool is detected by means of a sensor. The invention also consists in a device for sealing closure clips between a stamp and a bottom tool, where the device includes a sensor for detecting a sealing distance between stamp and bottom tool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is fed into a shuttle that vertically displaces the envelopes to position the envelopes for entering a justifier. The justifier justifies the top edge of the envelopes and conveys the envelopes to a cutter that severs the top edge of the envelopes. A transport conveys the envelopes from the top cutter to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The transport conveys the empty envelopes from the extractor to a verifier that verifies that all of the contents have been removed from the envelope before the envelope is discarded.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method to produce magazines, books, catalogues, brochures, periodicals, or the like on a collation or binding line, transport these products in a single stream of products towards a packaging line, divide the single stream of products into distinct streams of products where one such stream comprises products requiring wrapping and another such stream comprises products which do not require wrapping, transport the products requiring wrapping to a wrapping machine and sending these products through a wrapping process, transport the products that do not require wrapping around the wrapping machine, and merge the separate streams of products back into a single stream of products such that the products are arranged in a predetermined output order, such as demographic order.

Abstract: A packaging system for packaging a plurality of individual articles into packs and for collecting together a plurality of packs into a packaged unit, the system including a first part where the individual articles are marked utilising a first marking apparatus, a second part where the packs are marked utilising a second marking apparatus, and a third part where the packaged unit is marked utilising a third marking apparatus, and the first part including a packing apparatus for packing the articles into packs and first conveyor for moving the packs from the first part to the second part, and the second part including second conveyor for conveying the packs from the second to the third system part, and the third part including a packaging apparatus which collects the plurality of packs into a packaging unit, wherein each of the first, second and third marking apparatus, and the packaging apparatus which collects the plurality of packs into a packaged unit are connected to a data bus by respective connectors, th

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is fed into a shuttle that vertically displaces the envelopes to position the envelopes for entering a justifier. The justifier justifies the top edge of the envelopes and conveys the envelopes to a cutter that severs the top edge of the envelopes. A transport conveys the envelopes from the top cutter to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The transport conveys the empty envelopes from the extractor to a verifier that verifies that all of the contents have been removed from the envelope before the envelope is discarded.

Abstract: A method for controlling an apparatus for exchanging a first gas contained in a sealed container for a second gas while the container is in a chamber. The method comprises the steps of withdrawing the first gas from the container for a predetermined period of time and approximating the head space volume of the container based directly or indirectly upon a change in headspace pressure in the container. The method further includes the step of withdrawing the first gas from the container and air from the chamber under conditions which are dependent upon the approximation of the headspace volume and which reduce the damage to the container due to pressure forces.

Abstract: Method and device for sealing closure clips between a stamp and a bottom tool, wherein the sealing distance between stamp and bottom tool is monitored by a sensor.

Abstract: A method of balancing the output of two lines of a packing system, wherein the two lines extend through at least two machines, at least one of which is a two-line machine, along two respective paths to produce and form respective articles into groups, and to pack the groups; the method including slowing down the articles, on each line, at at least one control station to form a continuous queue of contiguous articles; measuring the length of each queue; and maintaining the lengths of both queues and the difference between the lengths of the two queues within a first and a second given variation range respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling or producing packs made of packaging material, it being the case that folding elements, pressure-exerting elements, push rods, slides etc. act on blanks of the packaging material. In order to convert any possible incorrect positioning of the moveable elements, in particular of the push rods, immediately into an error signal, a folding turret (10) is assigned a stationary monitoring unit (32) which is equipped with mechanical actuating elements, namely contact lugs (29,30,31). In the event of any possible incorrect positioning, one of the contact lugs (29,30,31) is actuated with the effect of a switching movement.

Abstract: A process for applying a biobarrier member to a vent opening in a foil member used for medical device packaging. The process provides for cutting a biobarrier member from a roll of stock and sealing the biobarrier member about the vent opening in the foil member. The seal is tested for integrity and the biobarrier member is tested for porosity.

Abstract: For use with an envelope inserting apparatus having a motor and timing shaft or other suitable rotating member, a system and method for producing an actual stopping rotational position for the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member that corresponds to a desired or strategic stopping rotational position for the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member has a shaft encoder for establishing a rotational position of the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member. Additionally, included is a controlling computer that is interfaced with the shaft encoder and initiates the stopping of the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member at a desired rotational position by applying a stop command at a rotational position determined by an iterative analysis based on a previous stopping point for the timing shaft or other suitable rotating member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically transferring a predetermined quantity of a sterile liquid to a vial containing a dry medicament for hydrating the medicament and then transferring the hydrated medicament to a container. To hydrate the medicament, a needle is positioned through a vial septum of the vial and an artificial sensor senses when the needle has been positioned through the vial septum and actuates a pump to transfer a predetermined quantity of sterile liquid into the vial. The needle is then removed from the vial septum and the vial is shaken to mix the liquid and medicament. To transfer the hydrated medicament to a container, another needle is positioned through the vial septum. An artificial sensor senses when the needle has been positioned through the vial septum and actuates the pump to transfer the hydrated medicament to the container.

Abstract: A tablet dispenser having a control unit which can eliminate the possibility of erroneously putting tablets in a wrong tablet storage space. The tablet dispenser has a tablet storage unit and a packing unit. Tablets designated by drug information are dropped from the tablet storage unit. When tablets in any of a plurality of tablet storage cells in the tablet storage unit run short, tablets are manually supplied into this cell by opening its cover. Before supplying tablets, the control unit reads a code on the tablet container with a bar code reader, compares this code with a code that represents tablets to be supplied into the above particular cell, and indicates on a display if these codes coincide. An operator checks the display to see if the codes coincide, and if they do, the operator then supplies tablets in the tablet container into the particular cell.

Abstract: A system for collecting prescribed injection ampules. In this system, it is possible to collect any ampules that cannot be collected from an automatic ampule dispenser with high efficiency. An ampule collecting apparatus has a tray supply unit for supplying trays. The trays supplied from the tray supply unit are sent into an ampule dispenser by an elevator unit and a conveyor unit, and moved downward in the dispenser by the downward conveyor unit. While the trays are being fed in the dispenser, ampules are put in the respective trays. The trays then exit the dispenser and stacked by the tray stacker. A drug name list is put in each tray. Of the ampules that are specified in a prescription, those which have not been collected from the ampule dispenser are highlighted on the list. Thus, a pharmacist can instantly see which ampules are not in the tray and can collect the missing ampules from a separate shelf.

Abstract: A system for processing a carton includes a unit for supplying articles for printing, a unit for printing the contents of articles supplied from the supplying unit so as to be housed within the carton, including the names or quantity of the articles to be housed within the carton, or the printing pattern, a unit for assembling the article to be printed to a carton shape from its developed state, a unit for loading the articles to be housed within the article to be printed assembled in the carton shape by the assembling unit, a transporting unit for interconnecting the unit for supplying the articles for printing, printing unit, assembling unit, and the loading unit; and a production supervising computer controlling the unit for supplying the articles for printing, printing unit, assembling unit, loading unit and the transporting unit.

Abstract: A continuous particle monitoring system for use in a filling machine is provided. The filling machine has a plurality of processing stations in which containers are conveyed to each processing station to execute at least one process to collectively form, fill and seal each container. The filling machine also includes an air intake in fluid communication with a clean air supply. A chamber is connected in fluid communication with the air intake to receive the clean air supply. The particle monitoring system is constructed and arranged to monitor the clean air supply within the chamber. To this end, the particle monitoring system includes a sampling probe arranged in the chamber and oriented anisoaxially with respect to the clean air supply. The sampling probe preferably includes a substantially tubular body having a sampling port arranged at an end thereof. Also, a mounting plate for securing the probe within the filling machine is formed in the tubular body.

Abstract: A sealing condition monitoring apparatus detects in a real-time manner a defect in of sealing due to entry of foreign matter or due to a defect or malfunction of components of a sealing apparatus. There are provided a counter bar disposed at the forward end of a counter jaw for sealing a packaging container into which a liquid food is charged, and a sealing bar disposed at the forward end of a heat sealing jaw to face the counter bar. A packaging material is held between the sealing bar and the counter bar, and a pressing force is applied thereto for sealing. A sheet-shaped pressure sensor is provided on the surface of the counter bar for detecting the pressing force applied to the packaging material at each detection point. Also, there is provided a controller which compares data of the pressing force detected by the sheet-shaped pressure sensor and master data which are previously set to correspond to a pressing force for obtaining proper sealing conditions.

Abstract: A self-locating star wheel system for spacing bottles on a conveyor in a packaging machine comprising a pair of star wheels with a hub and cam disposed between them and mounted on an arm which moves them into the stream of bottles until the cam engages a pair of rollers mounted at the ends of a U-shaped pivoting bracket attached to the machine frame to control the lateral position of the star wheels with respect to the stream of bottles. The cam diameter is specific for a given size star wheel so that the proper positioning of the star wheel is achieved by the geometric relationship between the star wheel and the cam. The mechanism also functions as a safety feature by sending a stop signal to the machine when something, such as a down bottle, causes the star wheels move away from the rollers.

Abstract: An automated system for individual dosage medication distribution 10 is provided. The system 10 includes a medium rate dispenser 20, a fast rate dispenser 30, a low rate dispenser 40, a conveyor 50, a diverter 60, a bagger 70, and collection bins 80 and 85. The dispensers 20, 30, and 40 are arranged to be able to deliver individual dosage packages of drugs to the conveyor 50. The conveyor 50, in turn, is configured to transport individual dosage packages to the bagger 70 or the collection bin 85. A programmable controller 12 receives patient prescription order information from health care providers and directs the dispensers 20, 30, and 40, conveyor 50, diverter 60, and bagger 70 to automatically pick the prescribed medication dosage unit, place it in a transportable package, and label the package for the health care personnel.

Abstract: The packaging of agricultural or horticultural produce requires much manual work, particularly when the stalks of fruits such as apples are all made to point in the same direction and/or when the most attractively colored side is properly presented. The invention relates to and provides a method which can be performed automatically wherein at least one camera recorded images of products are made and the products are packed subject to the recorded images.

Abstract: Packaging material, particularly for forming blanks for hinged lid packets, is delivered to a packaging machine in web form and at least one creasing or shaping operation is performed (44; 112) on the web (2) prior to severing individual blanks (50) from the web. Folding or wrapping of a blank around an article to be packed in the machine is monitored and the creasing or shaping operation varied to optimise machine performance: for example, an adjustable creasing tool can be adjusted to compensate for tool wear. Individual blanks are inspected for longitudinal curl, usually caused by the web having been wound on a reel, and where necessary a correction is applied during feeding of the web, e.g. by adjusting the angle of wrap of the web around a decurling roller (38; 108).

Abstract: A servomotor driven machine under control of a control system which compensates for the slip and other errors associated with indirectly driving a movable component of the machine with a servomotor is set forth. The control system includes a servomotor that is connected through an intermediate drive mechanism to drive the movable component from a start position to an end position. A sensing system is disposed on the apparatus for generating an output signal indicative of at least one motion characteristic of the movable component. A controller drives the servomotor in accordance with a predetermined motion profile. The predetermined motion profile defines the motion characteristics of the movable component as the movable component moves from the start position to the end position within a predetermined time frame.

Abstract: A packaging machine under control of an electronic control system is set forth. The packaging machine includes a plurality of servo driven packaging stations that execute the processes required to fill and seal a carton. Each of the packaging stations is driven by one or more servomotors associated therewith. A plurality of servo amplifiers are connected to the servomotors to control the rotational movement of the servomotors thereby to effect control of the motion of the various components associated with each if the packaging stations. The packaging machine further includes at least two programmable devices connected for communication over a common bus. A programmable axis manager (PAM) is connected to control the plurality of servo amplifiers and, thus, the motion profiles of the servomotors and components of the respective processing station. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is connected to receive and transmit input/output signals associated with the plurality of packaging stations.

Abstract: A drug packing apparatus capable of packing drug efficiently irrespective of the distances between a drug packing position and drug storage positions. Drugs dropped from one of a plurality of feeders in one of a plurality of feeder units are stopped by a first intermediate impeller. The drugs are then dropped onto a second intermediate impeller, and then into a discharge hole in a hopper and stopped by a hopper cover. By opening the hopper cover, the drugs on the hopper cover drop into the folded packing sheet. By rotating heater rollers by 180.degree., a pouch is formed with the drugs packed therein.

Abstract: A packaging system has a conveyor, a coil of a web of box material, and a box-making unit adjacent the coil for pulling the box-material web from its coil, printing on the box-material web, cutting the printed box-material web into individual carton blanks, forming the blanks into individual upwardly open boxes, and depositing the boxes on the conveyor. A coil of label material is provided adjacent a label-making unit that pulls the label-material web from the coil, prints on the label-material web, cuts the printed label-material coil into individual labels, applies the labels to objects secured from a source of the objects, and loads respective pluralities of the labeled objects into respective ones of the open boxes on the conveyor.

Abstract: A vacuum sensor for use in devices for the vacuum packaging of perishable items. The vacuum sensor senses fluid pulses or flow expelled from an exhaust port of a pump of the vacuum packaging device. The sensor converts a force of the fluid pulses or flow into a signal that changes with a change in the force of the fluid pulses or flow. The signal is then communicated to a control circuit which uses the signal to display the progress of the vacuum process and/or shut down the pump upon establishing a substantial vacuum within the package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for checking whether documents have been separated from an opened envelope includes conveying an envelope past an input transducer which measures a characteristic, based on light shown through the envelope, of each individual envelope along a measuring path parallel to the direction of movement of the envelope. From the measured characteristic, a value profile is determined, from which a reference value for each envelope is determined. The value profile is used then to calculate an extreme limit value for each envelope. An envelope-suspect signal is generated if the value profile lies beyond the limit value over a specified minimum substantially continuous measuring distance. The system calculates the values for each envelope, and accordingly, envelopes of greatly diverse characteristics may be reliably checked in random order.

Abstract: For use on a cyclically operating envelope inserter having a rotating member and a reciprocating member linked to the rotating member, a system for establishing an absolute reference point for timing a cycle of the apparatus that comprises an encoder for ascertaining rotational angle values for the rotating member linked to a detector for establishing for the reciprocating member a first reference point and a second reference point as the reciprocating member moves, wherein the first and second reference points are in terms of the ascertained rotational angle values. Additionally, a controller is provided that is responsive to the detector and encoder for determining from the first and the second reference points a rotational position for the absolute reference point.

Abstract: A control system for a large round baler includes a microprocessor-based implement module mounted to the baler and an input device mounted within the cab of the tractor behind which the baler is towed. The implement module receives inputs from the input device for setting and/or adjusting parameters of baler operation. Sensors are interconnected with various components of the baler for sensing operation of such components, and provide signals to the implement module indicative of baler operations. The sensor signals are analyzed by the microprocessor of the implement module, and various operations of the baler are controlled responsive to the sensor inputs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing the seal between a container and a flexible lid by measuring the lid's deflection. In the disclosed embodiment, an actuator impacts the lid and activates an alarm if the lid is not securely attached to the container.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically feeding, inspecting and diverting tablets for continuous filling of tablet containers includes a tablet conveyor system which divides the tablets in a plurality of tablet streams for inspection by color, size and shape. Following the tablet inspection, each tablet passes through a tablet diverter which diverts the tablets to a recycle stream, reject stream or one of two bottle filling positions based upon instruction from the inspection. A bottle conveyor system is provided which feeds empty bottles into a bottle escapement mechanism which positions the empty bottles for filling. Filled bottles are moved from the bottle escapement mechanism to an exit conveyor. The entire system is computer controlled by various control mechanisms to enable the system to be fully operational without operator assistance.

Abstract: A testing apparatus is disclosed which is useful for determining if air filters are providing clean/sterile air within acceptable aseptic processing and/or clean room operation acceptable contaminant levels. The advantage of the disclosed testing apparatus is that air filters may be tested "on-line" during a production process as opposed to the traditional testing methods which included removal of the air filter for off-line testing. Less down-time is experienced using the disclosed testing system. A series of valves positioned at the outputs from the air filters, which allow communication with a particle counter, are controlled by a computer which sequentially activates the valves to test the contamination level of the air which passed through an air filter during the production process.