Abstract: A machine for the automatic protective wrapping of baggage items having different dimensions comprising conveyor belts for moving successive single baggage to an automatic bundling machine with two sealing bars disposed at right angles to each other, to adapt every individual baggage item in a heat-shrinkable plastic film in such a way to form a wrapper sealed on three sides, the fourth being contact-sealed after passage of the wrapper containing the baggage item through a tunnel-type hot-air oven in which the heat-shrinkage of the plastic film takes place with perfect adherence of it to the baggage.

Abstract: A method of controlling the mount density of an intumescent mat around a frangible catalyst coated monolith of unknown but varied dimension when the monolith is installed in a catalytic converter, wherein a convolute sleeve of thin intumescent mat from a single piece is wrapped in sufficient layers around the monolith to provide a resultant monolith-mat subassembly of predetermined dimension.

Abstract: A form, fill and seal packaging machine includes a tube former for forming a film having spaced apart registration marks thereon into a tube around a hollow mandrel. A pair of endless belt devices driven by stepping motors, located at the sides of the hollow mandrel advances the film through the machine. A stripping and sealing apparatus is located beneath the mandrel, for stripping product from the area of the film tube to be sealed, and sealing and cutting a filled package from the tube. A photoelectric cell located upstream of the tube former senses the passing of each registration mark as the film is fed. The photoelectric cell is operatively associated with the belt drive and the actuator for the stripper and the sealer through an index controller. The index controller deactivates the stepping motors. A master controller activates the stripper/sealer actuator at a predetermined point in each packaging cycle.

Abstract: A wrapping film severing apparatus is disclosed for use in severing sheets of film from a roll of plastic film. The roll of film is supported so that it may rotate about its axis of rotation while film is being withdrawn from the roll. A braking force is applied to the roll so that the film is under tension as it is being withdrawn from the roll. An electrically heated cutoff element is located forwardly of the roll for use in severing a sheet of film from the roll as a length of film is withdrawn under tension from the roll and then brought into contact with the cutoff element. The film is threaded through a pair of pinch rollers extending transversely of the film path and located intermediate the film roll and the cutoff element for guiding movement of the film from the roll to the cutoff element. A one-way clutch is associated with at least one of the rollers permitting forward movement of the film toward the cutoff element while restricting backward movement toward the film roll.

Abstract: This invention relates to a packaging machine in which an item is stored on a container such as tray. The container is mechanically and automatically packaged in a bag-form with a stretch film. The film is folded down to the bottom surface of the container. The width of the container may be different in size. A label can be attached to a desired position on the item.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the cutting of end disks for the packing of paper rolls.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming, filling and sealing bags with a product wherein sheet material is formed into a tube on a hollow mandrel, feed belts are employed to move the tube downwardly on the mandrel and the product is delivered through the mandrel into the tube comprising a sensing device operable to control operation of the feed belts to on the one hand enable the drive for the feed belts when there is product at the discharge end of the mandrel and on the other hand to disable the drive for the feed belts when there is no product at the discharge end.

Abstract: The present invention provides an arrangement wherein a cutting length for a film is included in PLU (price look up) data so that, upon PLU operation, a film can be automatically cut into a sheet having a length suitable to envelope therein an article to be packaged.

Abstract: A wrapping apparatus comprises a film roll placed on a pair of support rollers, a film withdrawal port to introduce the film on the roll exterior, a severing tool to cut the film introduced through the port, a film length determiner to detect the leading end of the film partly thrown around product so as to calculate the successive length of the film required, a film length detector which detects the length of the film withdrawn as calculated by the determiner, and a brake assembly which is applied to the support roller to stop withdrawal of the film on the basis of signals generated from the detector. The amount of film on the roll that is withdrawn corresponds to the dimensions of the product to be wrapped.

Abstract: In a stretch film wrapping machine wherein packages are elevated into a stretched sheet of film and underfolded, an improved control system monitors the operation of the wrapping machine to detect a jam condition and stop the machine for such jam conditions. A microprocessor monitors clock counts generated by the main drive shaft of the wrapping machine to detect a jam condition. Microprocessor operating cycles are counted between consecutive clock counts generated. If the drive shaft hesitates for a defined period of time, the counter overflows indicating a jam condition. The system also provides for operating the film wrapping machine in a reverse direction in discrete steps within a defined and limited range of the machine operating cycle to thereby facilitate removal of jams. To further facilitate jam removal, the rear film underfolder and package pusher are mounted to be moved away from the machine to thereby remove pressure from packages jammed beneath the rear underfolder.

Abstract: In a stretch film wrapping machine an improved adjustable mechanism controls the film drawing stroke of a film gripper to select the length of film pulled from a continuous roll of film. The adjustable mechanism comprises an output lever arm which is pivotally mounted to the wrapping machine and an adjustable lever arm pivotally mounted to the distal end of the output lever arm. A link is connected between the adjustable lever arm and an arcuate slot, the arc of which is centered upon the point of connection of the link to the adjustable lever arm when the film gripper is in the position to engage an end of the film roll. This arrangement adjusts the articulation of the adjustable lever arm when the output lever arm is in an extended film pulling position but returns the film gripper to the film end engaging position regardless of the adjustment of the link within the arcuate slot.

Abstract: A package sensing system provides length, width and height signals to a film control system which selects the width and length of stretch film to be used by a film wrapping machine to wrap the sensed package. Package width is sensed by spring biased swing arms which active electrical switches upon deflection by an entering package. A wide package is indicated if both swing arms are deflected. The length and height of a package are sensed by a generally vertical downwardly extending lever arm which is pivotally mounted above the package entryway into the machine. A first electrical switch coupled to the lever arm generates a length signal upon initial contact by an entering package and a second electrical switch coupled to the lever arm generates a height signal depending upon the ultimate deflection of the lever arm by the package.

Abstract: In a stretch film wrapping machine an improved control system provides for automatic or manual selection of one of at least two differing width film rolls and provides individualized wrapping parameters dependent upon the film width selected. Automatic film selection is performed in response to signals identifying the height, width and length of a package to be wrapped which characteristics are sensed or measured by a package sensing system. Both automatic and manual film selection includes timing controls for synchronizing film gripping and clamping apparatus with underfolding apparatus dependent upon the film selected to provide improved control over the tensioning of film wrapped about individual packages.

Abstract: A wrap-around packing machine wherein the packing station and the station which supplied prefabricated blanks are separated from each other by a treating unit having a pair of tools serving to provide successive prefabricated blanks with additional fold lines in positions depending on the dimensions of commodities to be wrapped. To this end, the tools are movable toward and away from each other by a reversible motor which receives signals from photocells monitoring the height of commodities to be packed while such commodities advance toward the packing station. The photocells are mounted on a carrier which is movable up and down by the reversible motor so that the photocells come to a halt when they assume certain predetermined positions with reference to the commodities whose height deviates from the height of previously supplied commodities.

Abstract: A bagging machine which automatically encloses a garment in a bag. A continuous web of flexible material is fed into the machine, separated to form a tube, and that tube of material is pulled down over the garment. Material pulldown is stopped according to the length of the garment, the material is sealed, cut off from the web of material, then pulldown is completed to force a hanger through the top of the bag thus formed. In the preferred embodiment, pneumatic cylinders are used, and no electric motors are required. A hanger mechanism supports a garment in a manner which permits that garment to accommodate misalignment with respect to the machine, and the web separator is self-adjusting.

Abstract: A packaging machine in which a belt-shaped packaging sheet fed continuously is cut to a predetermined length while being guided and conveyed in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of articles to be packaged. Position detectors detect the arrival of the top end of said packaging sheet, detect the arrival of each article at a position before the position where said article crosses said packaging sheet and the arrival of the top end of the packaging sheet returned from the feeding limit position by being moved as said article abuts against said packaging sheet and is further conveyed, at a predetermined reverse return position. The detectors are used to generate the necessary control signals for feeding and cutting the packaging sheet.

Abstract: An automatic bagging machine for placing transparent plastic bags over garments so as to enclose individual garments. The apparatus includes a turntable which has a number of upright garment stands, and an indexing system for rotating the turntable. The garments are carried by the stands on the turntable from a loading station to an operative station and then to an unloading station. The apparatus also includes an assembly for placing a plastic tube from a supply of plastic tubular material over a garment located at the loading station and then cutting and sealing this tube at an upper portion to form a transparent bag for the garment. Thereafter, the garment in its bag is moved to the unloading station and then is transported to a storage rack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sizing and fitting cover flaps over tray-type packets such that an optimum packet is formed regardless of the compressibility of the material to be enclosed.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a ream conveyor, two chains means for driving the chains such that those portions thereof which are adjacent the conveyor outlet end are moving upwards from below. Means are provided to guide the packing web material. Locking members are provided to selectively retain the packing web material. A blade or cutting edge is provided for cutting across the web material when the latter is retained by the locking members. Switch members are displaced along the chain path and actuated by elements integral with the chains. The elements are adapted to control the chain drive means in order to stop the chains when a predetermined length of web material has been unwound, then to determine the releasing mode thereof, and to allow the web material stretching along a vertical wall. Pad means are provided for holding the packing web material termination against a vertical wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically covering an item, such as a garment on a hanger, with a bag closed at the top and sides, and open at the bottom. The bagging material is supplied from a continuous roll in tubular form and is automatically fed from the roll, pulled over the item, cut to the proper length for the item to be covered, and heat sealed along the top edge. Unique means are provided for holding, cutting and sealing the bagging material, preferably a thermosensitive plastic, as well as for re-opening the end after cutting to begin a new cycle. Three stations for holding items to be covered, i.e., loading, bagging and discharge stations, are positioned on a rotating base and automatically indexed through each position in a continuous manner as the operations are performed.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding separate pieces of sheet material from a continuous supply thereof to individual articles travelling along a predetermined path and positioning a piece of sheet material under each article. The articles are conveyed sequentially along the predetermined path, and the sheet material is fed from a continuous supply thereof to a cutting station. At the cutting station, pieces of sheet material are cut from the continuous supply, and the pieces of sheet material are fed from the cutting station to an article conveyor for entrainment between the underside of an article and the conveyor at a material positioning station. The articles are sensed as they travel along the predetermined path to the material positioning station. Feeding and cutting control mechanisms are actuated by the article senser to cause the feed of sheet material to the cutting station to be commenced when the senser senses an article passing thereby, and to be stopped when the senser senses that the article has passed.