Abstract: Apparatus for encapsulating spring units (38-40) is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a device (13) for inserting a spring unit between a pair of webs (16), a device (26) for tightening or tensioning the webs about the spring unit, and a securing device for securing the webs together in close proximity to the compressed spring unit to encapsulate same. A method for encapsulating spring units is also disclosed.

Abstract: Mechanism and means for enclosing a package in a wrap. The external dimensions of the package are first determined and sufficient wrap is fed with which to enclose the package. Depending on the external dimensions of the package, the amount of wrap fed is adjusted and thereafter the package is enclosed in the wrap.

Abstract: An apparatus prints the necessary attribute on an identity tag immediately before a cut wiring cable is inserted thereinto, and automatically attaching the printed identity tag to the wiring cable. An identity tag attaching apparatus attaches an identity tag which represents the attribute of a cable to the cable.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing protective packaging. The apparatus includes an article delivery means for delivering an article between a pair of continuous webs to a pouch forming section. A pouch forming section having guide means for forming a parallelogram shaped pouch around the article to be packaged and means to heat seal the lateral edges. The device further includes means to seal the ends of the pouch and separate the sealed packages.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods of manufacturing flexible containers are disclosed. The containers typically enclose fluid absorbing polymers so that fluid contacting the containers can migrate through their outer fabric and be absorbed by the polymers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing infusion packages such as tea or coffee bags of predetermined shape, comprises means for dosing discrete piles (7) of infusion on a first moving web (4), means (8) for sealing a second web (5) over the first to form a consolidated web with discrete infusion containing pockets (3), a co-rotating roller cutting device having cutting means and recess means to cut packages of predetermined shape e.g. circular from the web, a suction device (15) for collecting waste web and maintaining downstream web tension to transport the cut packages to a removal device (50, 51) operable to stamp the packages downwardly into stacking chambers (49).

Abstract: A machine for packaging objects, particularly containers comprising a frame having a conveyor belt and a pair of convergent tracks leading to a distributing means, at least two containers to be joined in a package, and means moving said containers towards a third track with vertically disposed reels feeding laminar material to opposite sides of the containers, and through cutting and thermowelding means which form the package for inserting it in the heating tunnel.

Abstract: An assembly for producing a packet containing inserts, provides means for placing inserts on a moving web and holding them in position thereon by banding spaced sets of inserts on the web with a ribbon which is crimped to the web between successive sets of inserts.

Abstract: A dispenser-container comprises a container body provided with two containing spaces, containing wet contents and dry contents, respectively. The container body is a bag constituted by a first flexible sheet made of a liquid impervious material and a second flexible sheet made of a liquid impervious material. The first sheet constitutes a bag of a pillow type, longitudinal edges of the first sheet overlap each other and are at most slightly sealed with each other to such an extent that they can be manually separated to form an opening for dispensing the dry contents. The second sheet is fixed to the first sheet along the entire peripheries thereof and is located outside or inside the pillow type bag.

Abstract: A medicine tablet is described as a new article of manufacture. The table is enrobed in a gelatin coating formed by application of respective layers of elastic gelatin film to opposite sides of the tablet. The applied gelatin layers conform tightly to the tablet surface, bond securely to the tablet, and are sealed together in essentially edge-to-edge manner at a seal line which extends around the tablet at a desired place on the tablet. The gelatin layers can be colored differently from the tablet and differently from each other. A range of formulations are described for film which can be peelable from a tablet or other product core, and for films which bond to the core. A presently preferred formulation for producing tablets having a bonded tamper-evident coating comprises a water-based gelatin preparation having about 45% gelatin and about 9% plasticizer (glycerin and/or sorbitol) by weight.Method and apparatus for producing such new products are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for printing and collating multiple webs of materials, particularly for use in creating personalized direct mail materials, are disclosed. The invention includes a single, highly flexible press having components capable of being driven at unequal speeds to account for different sizes of insert materials and their associated envelopes. Operating a single press in this manner reduces the amount of waste web material which otherwise would be present. The press similarly includes novel collating and inserting apparatus whereby each outgoing envelope is effectively formed around the "insertable" materials. Control mechanisms and verification systems associated with the press additionally maintain any personalized materials in registration, permitting a single press to produce the entire direct mail piece from multiple webs with minimal waste.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping selected articles of a plurality of articles. A stream of the articles is moved along a first path by a first conveyor. Selected articles are sequentially moved from the stream of articles moving along the first path to a second conveyor by a deflector. Moving the selected articles from the stream of articles results in the forming of gaps in the stream of articles at locations where the selected articles are sequentially moved from the stream of articles. The gaps in the stream of articles are maintained as the stream of articles moves along the first path. Disposed along the second path is a wrapping station where selected articles are sequentially wrapped. As one of the selected articles is moved through the wrapping station, a pair of webs engage opposite sides of the one article and are sealed to wrap the one article. The seal is severed along its center portion and adjacent to a trailing end of the one article.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous bakery products includes a carriage having opposed sealing jaws. Upper and lower webs of wrapping material extend between the jaws of the carriage along a bakery product path. Bakery products to be wrapped are advanced along the bakery product path between the webs of wrapping material and between the initially open jaws of the carriage. The jaws of the carriage are then closed to form transverse seals at the trailing edge of a leading package of bakery products and at the leading edge of a trailing package of bakery products. The carriage is advanced along the bakery product path during the sealing operation so that sealing of the bakery product packages is carried out on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A packaging method, and an apparatus for carrying out the method, comprises the operation of a conveyor for conveying articles to be packaged, the supply of a packaging film to be formed into a tubular-shaped package for enclosing or packaging the articles to be packaged, and the provision of end sealing mechanisms for sealing the ends of the tubular packages.

Abstract: Plural strips of package making sheet material are directed toward a forming and filling tube in a form, fill and seal machine for making packages, and the strips are guided into cooperative relation along the tube for joining of the strips into tubular form about the tube. In a preferred arrangement, the strips are derived by slitting a continuous single sheet of package making material, provided with complementary zipper profiles along the slit margins of the strips. A three-bar guidance system is provided for guiding each of the strips cooperatively to the forming and filling tube.

Abstract: An inverted horizontal wrapping machine is provided with an article infeed system which includes a horizontal feed trough with an open exit end positioned closely adjacent the inlet end of the wrapping material tube being continuously formed by the machine's forming box. Offset to one side of the trough is a looped drive chain structure which is rotated in an essentially horizontal plane. A spaced series of flag-type pusher members are pivotally secured to the chain structure for movement therewith, the flag portions of the pusher members along the inner side of the chain structure being swept through the trough to slide articles therein sequentially into the tube inlet. As each pusher flag reaches the exit end of the trough, a first cam element upwardly and rearwardly pivots the flag to disengage it from its associated article, and the pivoted flag is then moved horizontally away from the trough.

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: This process is outstanding in that paper in the form of a roll (B) double the width of the bag (S) to be obtained is used, the unrolled strip is separated into two equal widths (B1) (B2), the two half-widths of paper are independently fed to the point where the folded swabs are brought, the stacked swabs are fed between the two half-widths of paper and brought into superimposition, then the two superimposed half-widths of paper are cold sealed and the bags obtained are transversally cut, continuously and automatically.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus, using an upper film (6) pre-heated before contact with a lower film (9) on which products (not shown) are placed, has at least the central region heated by radiant heaters (7) and the marginal regions heated by hot air nozzles (10) at least in the region immediately preceding contact (8) between the upper and lower films.

Abstract: A message receiving arrangement operative to reduce the risk of uncontrolled distribution of transmitted and printed messages. The arrangement includes a sheet-store and printing mechanism for printing messages on sheets taken from the store and a supply of enveloping material intended for enveloping sheets with messages printed thereon. The arrangement also includes a closed casing (11) which functions to gather printed sheets to a collected bundle (33). Mounted in the casing (11) are means (25, 27, 30) which function to automatically envelope the thus gathered bundles of sheets.Also mounted in the casing (11) is a folding device (29) which, during the enveloping process, is intended to move perpendicularly to the transport direction of the sheets during the gathering of the sheets to a bundle form (33).

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous bakery products includes a carriage having opposed sealing jaws. Upper and lower webs of wrapping material extend between the jaws of the carriage along a bakery product path. Bakery products to be wrapped are advanced along the bakery product path between the webs of wrapping material and between the initially open jaws of the carriage. The jaws of the carriage are then closed to form transverse seals at the trailing edge of a leading package of bakery products and at the leading edge of a trailing package of bakery products. The carriage is advanced along the bakery product path during the sealing operation so that sealing of the bakery product packages is carried out on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A method of packaging and dispensing a packaged mechanical part is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing a plurality of substantially flat mechanical parts having an adhesive-coated surface, including a release backing protecting the coated surface on an adhesive coated flexible film. The parts are oriented such that the release backing contacts the adhesive coating on the flexible film. A second flexible film is positioned over the first film, encapsulating each part and forming a flexible, continuous container. The container is then opened by simultaneously separating the first and second flexible films while rolling the first flexible film over an edged surface, proximate the point of separation of the two films. The method advantageously removes the release backing while delivering the part from the packaging. The part is delivered in a condition which is substantially free of mechanical damage and contamination.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for wrapping a product, particularly a bundle of newspapers or magazines, especially an extra thick bundle or an extra thin bundle comprising a few or a single newspaper or magazine. The product is carried on a conveyor system through a plane towards a curtain of film formed by an upper and a lower sheet of film. The curtain thus accompanies the product and is auto-sealed behind the product, after which the sheets of film are separated in the middle of the sealing region, the curtain of film being re-established and the product being provided with a wrapper.

Abstract: The machine includes, arranged in a line, a roller advancement device for intermittently advancing a band of supporting material having an adhesive face, a perforation station bearing a punch for providing a series of evenly spaced perforations on the band of supporting material, an auxiliary band being attached to the band of supporting material to increase the band of supporting material's resistance to deformation, a station with rollers and a linearly actuated blade for feeding and cutting a band of bandage material into segments, a roller advancement device for spacing and coupling the bandage segments onto the adhesive face of the supporting material, a roller advancement device for superimposing band-like protective films onto the adhesive face of the supporting material having the bandage segments attached thereon, thereby forming a composite band, a die-cutting station bearing a cutting element for transversely cutting the composite band in an intermediate position between the bandage segments so as

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding and withdrawing a support member for a fusing operation of film end portions in film packaging is described wherein sheet member is interspersed between the support member and the film in the fusion position. The sheet member is normally out of contact with the support member until the support member is moved into the fusion position. When the support member is moved from the fusion position back to the normal position, the sheet member prevents the support member from entering into frictional engagement with the film. The sheet member may be arranged on both the front and rear surfaces of the support member so that damage is avoided due to direct contact between the support member and both the film and the article being packaged.

Abstract: A method of distributing newspapers includes collating newspaper inserts into separate stacks. The stacks of collated newspaper inserts are wrapped to provide separate wrapped packages. Newspaper news sections are collated into separate groups. The groups of collated newspaper news sections with the wrapped packages of collated newspaper inserts are distributed to customers. The wrapping of the stacks of inserts includes applying plastic sheeting about the stacks, sealing the sheeting applied to the stacks, and severing the sheeting to separate the stacks from one another to provide the separate wrapped packages. The wrapped packages of collated newspaper inserts are stacked together and stored until the time of distribution with the groups of newspapers news sections.

Abstract: An inverted horizontal wrapping machine is provided with an article infeed system which includes a horizontal feed trough with an open exit end positioned closely adjacent the inlet end of the wrapping material tube being continuously formed by the machine's forming box. Offset to one side of the trough is a looped drive chain structure which is rotated in an essentially horizontal plane. A spaced series of flag-type pusher members are pivotally secured to the chain structure for movement therewith, the flag portions of the pusher members along the inner side of the chain structure being swept through the trough to slide articles therein sequentially into the tube inlet. As each pusher flag reaches the exit end of the trough, a first cam element upwardly and rearwardly pivots the flag to disengage it from its associated article, and the pivoted flag is then moved horizontally away from the trough.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are described for making individual strips and feeding the strips to a packaging machine for the strips, in particular to a sealing machine, for sealing the strips into a sheet or foil. The individual strips are cut simultaneously from card-like material and by continuous constrained guiding led from the cutting means to the packaging machine. The constrained guiding is provided by magazines with receiving compartments for the strips and clocked transfer means. This makes it possible to obtain a high cutting output and a correspondingly high and exact packaging output. The invention is intended in particular for processing diagnostic test strips.

Abstract: A filler pipe for a packing machine for consecutively filling a traveling and continuous series of connected packing container blanks, with a liquid product such as yogurt, and a separate jam product, without mixing the two types of product. This filler pipe is used in conjunction with blanks formed of two joined webs and provides sealing of the filled packing containers. The invention utilizes a nozzle with multiple filling paths each of which passes product to at least one of the packing container blanks. The nozzle receives the liquid product from a flat shaped larger delivery pipe, and the jam product from a smaller delivery pipe parallel to the larger pipe. The smaller pipe, which may be located inside or on the outer wall of the large pipe, is placed at a predetermined distance above the junction of the larger delivery pipe and the nozzle. In this way each container is first filled with its share of jam product and then with the liquid (yogurt) product with no mixing of the two products.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for packaging an article with a thermoplastic resin film in which the film is rolled on the two rolls on both side so that an intermediate region thereof may be extended in tension condition between the rolls, and an article to be packaged is fed through a space between the rolls so as to push against the extended intermediate region of the film and be wrapped therewith, and overlapped portions of the wrapping film are set in parallel with the surface of the article and are fused together, and at the same time are cut so that there may be obtained such a fused adhesion line on the overlapped portions of the film that extends in the lateral width of the film and is longer in length than the width of the film, so that there is obtained the packaged article in which the fused overlapped portions of the packaging film is laid along on the surface of the article and, on the other hand, there is obtained an intermediate region of the film which is extended between the two rolls a

Abstract: A machine for wrapping cylindrical articles in a thermally weldable web has an automatic changeover system for webs of different widths in response to the detection of articles of different lengths. The system automatically guides the free end of a new web downwardly by a deflector connected to the upper jaw member of a double-welding system in which pairs of electrodes are energized to form two seams when successive articles are to be wrapped with the same web but where a new web is to be used, only a single seam is formed and the clamped end of the previously used web is cut away while the balance of the previously used web is rolled up again.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping articles of the type wherein articles are advanced along an article path into a curtain of heat sealable wrapping material, and upper and lower jaw assemblies are sequentially moved laterally of the article path into positions at the trail side of the article and then forwardly along the article path in a sealing run. The lower jaw assemblies each include a pair of spaced clamping jaw members having a jaw opening therebetween and a rotary heat sealing and cutting member is mounted for movement into and out of the jaw opening as the lower jaw assemblies move past a zone intermediate the ends of the sealing run. The upper jaw assemblies include upper jaw carriers that are guided for movement in a fixed path along the sealing run and upper jaw members that are shiftable relative to the upper jaw carriers.

Abstract: A continuous motion packaging machine which forms packages from overlying webs advanced along a path at a constant speed. A tooling carriage traverses a repetitive path which includes an "on-line" increment during which the tooling carriage matches web movement and package operations are performed. The tooling carriage is driven by linkage including a power input shaft operated at varying speeds throughout each cycle to maintain carriage position relative to the webs. Two brushless servo motors are used. One drives the webs, the other drives the tooling carriage. A computer program compares relative motor positions at points throughout each cycle to a pre-established position pattern and adjusts motor controller output to maintain one motor position relative to the sensed position of the other motor.

Abstract: A packaging machine suitable for the continuous packaging of products, or of groups of products having a different shape and size in height, wherein, thanks to a particular combined movement of the transversal welding unit, both of sinking down towards the product, and of accompanying of the same product during the welding step, relatively to a car for its essentially horizontal shift, a quick and correct packaging of the products is obtained, even very different as regards the length in the direction of advancement of the packaging film, besides as regards the height, with the consumption of the packaging material being minimized to the strictly necessary amount, and the continuous packaging after each other being made possible of products or of product groups, having mutually different dimensions.

Abstract: A packaging machine is provided for packaging bundles, optionally under compression, with tensionless cross-seals. One problem of conventional devices is that movable sealing bars tend to rupture film as it is pulled together around materials to be packaged, particularly if the materials are relatively high or heavy. Packaging products under compression is an additional challenge. In this instance, packages are generally fed substantially at a predetermined speed between upper and lower webs of film, which are then sealed at their sides. Compression of the products being packaged may be optionally practiced during such side seal formation, and later during cross seal formation. Subsequently, the products enclosed in the side-sealed web of films move into a cross seal area, optionally including a reciprocatable carriage, operation of which in effect causes the product being sealed to move backwards relative to seal bars forming a cross seal therefor.

Abstract: A packaging machine suitable for the continuous packaging of individual products, or of groups of overlapped products having a different size in height, such as signatures, newspapers, magazines, books, and the like, and provided with at least one running-belt pressing device which is vertically shiftable and is made integral with a car which suitable for reciprocating inside the packaging machine, and which supports a transversal-welding unit, which is provided with a combined motion of the welding element both downwards towards and products and of accompanying of the same products, so as to make it possible said products to be correctly packaged and to be perfectly stacked, with the packaging of even one individual product being made possible, independently on whether it even contains an extremely small number of pages.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing gelatin capsules and method therefor are provided. The apparatus comprises a gelatin sheet forming mechanism which includes a rotatable cooling drum, a gelatin capsule forming mechanism which includes a pair of die rolls and a gelatin capsule recovery mechanism. The inner space of the cooling drum is provided with a coolant. The thickness of the gelatin sheet and the gap between the die rolls are numerically indicated respectively. The driving mechanism for the gelatin capsule recovery mechanism is independent from the other driving mechanism provided in the apparatus.

Abstract: A device is provided for applying a binding material around an object. The object is moved by a conveyor means into a length of binding material that extends across the conveyor path. The binding material is tensioned by a reciprocable tensioning means and the length of material fed to the conveyor path is determined by a brake means that halts the further supply of the binding material in response to a predetermined length of movement of the tensioning means.

Abstract: Successive block-shaped objects of a continuously moving row of objects are draped into two continuously moving webs by causing one of the webs to advance in a horizontal plane below the moving row of objects so that the marginal portions of the one web extend laterally beyond the objects. The other web is converted into an inverted U-shaped body which overlies three sides of each object and has two laterally outwardly extending marginal portions which overlie and are thereupon welded to the respective marginal portions of the one web. Conversion of the other web into the inverted U-shaped body can take place in several successive stages.

Abstract: Packaging of series of relatively small articles between long webs of wide packaging laminates having faces of resilient heat sealable foam. One web is fed foam-face-up across a table, the articles to be packaged placed on it in spaced locations, heated melting shoes applied to web edges to melt the foam surfaces there, and a second web applied foam-face-down over the spaced articles and heat sealed to the lower web at its melted edges. Melting shoes can have their surfaces treated to make them essentially non-wettable by the melted foam. Transverse heat sealing and severings are effected between successive articles. The heat sealings can be set by cold pressings. Web backings can be made relatively non-porous to minimize bleed-through of melted foam. Before sealing, sandwiched articles can be pressed between upper and lower resilient fingers to urge articles to level at which they project up as much as they project down, from plane of web edges.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing a shipping form characterized by a folding mechanism, a cutting off mechanism, an aligning and feeding mechanism, a form inserting mechanism and a cutting mechanism.

Abstract: Machine for packaging paper pockets or bags containing substances used in infused beverages comprising a plurality of cup or pan-like devices, having a central depression, on which bears a first or lower paper ribbon or web receiving measures or doses or said substance, e.g. in powdered form, metering means to supply said measures to said paper ribbon, tamping means to tamp said substance and means to apply and seal a second paper ribbon on said first paper ribbon closing said substance measures in pockets or bags so-formed.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing sacks from synthetic thermoplastic material. A tubular structure is formed from webs of plastic film in that the side portions are infolded and their overlapping margins are adhesively joined by an adhesive seam, tubular sections are severed from the tubular structure and the tubular sections are provided with bottom seam welds and are then filled and provided with top seam welds. The two plastic film webs are moved in unison, and cut sections of oriented plastic material are provided, which cut sections are shorter than the distance between the subsequently formed bottom and top seam welds as measured along the flattened sacks. The cut sections are introduced between the plastic film webs with such a spacing relative to each other that the spaces between the bottom and top seam welds are to be formed. The plastic film webs and the fabric sections are brought together and are laterally offset from each other.

Abstract: Partially overlapping printed sheets which are transported from an inserting or other producing or processing machine are delivered into a stacking unit which accumulates groups of overlapping sheets and dumps such groups into an intermittently operated wrapping unit wherein the groups are confined in plastic foils. The sheets which are intercepted during evacuation of a freshly formed group from the stacking unit are diverted into an accumulating unit which gathers the diverted sheets into piles and dumps the piles into a magazine for packing or for admission into one or more additional wrapping units.

Abstract: In a method of dispensing metered quantities of snuff and of packaging the individual quantities of snuff, the individual snuff quantities are shaped while being packaged, there being used an upwardly and downwardly open frame (1) divided by internal walls into a plurality of spaces (5) of the same size. These spaces (5) are closed downwardly by means of a base sheet (2) welded to the frame, a metered quantity of snuff is evenly distributed in the spaces (5) and the frame (1) is hermetically closed on the top side by means of a top sheet (10), optionally after being placed in a vacuum chamber (9) or after mechanical compression of the snuff in the individual spaces (5).

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for stacking and banding tags. The tag stacks are successively banded and a series of selected number of detachably connected tag stacks are produced.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved waterproof quick match and apparatus and method of making same in which the loose fitting central core (fuse) covering is made of a plastic coated paper and heat sealed at the seams in a waterproof relationship.

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

Abstract: Heat sealing of foam-paper laminates and the like around articles to cushion them. Foam can be coated with anti-stat and/or corrosion inhibitor to protect articles against static electricity and/or corrosion. Such coatings can reduce the heat sealing temperature. Laminate portions to be heat sealed can be pre-heated to shorten heat sealing dwell.

Abstract: A method of packaging an article involves drawing two elongated strips of plastic from a supply, placing an article between them, then drawing two broader sheets above and below the first two sheets. The various sheets are adjusted and sealed in such a manner that two envelopes are formed, one inside the other, the outer envelope being larger in all directions than the inner envelope. The outer envelope is then inflated under conditions such that air is expelled from the inner envelope, collapsing it tightly about the article. By omitting certain steps, an empty container can be formed, suitable for later loading and inflation. The apparatus disclosed automatically carries out the method.