Abstract: A collapsible, tubular carton (12) is disclosed having a non-linear fold line between the side edges (20) of the front panel (18) and the second side panel (32) which are planar in the collapsed condition of the carton (12). The fold line extends in a non-linear manner between top and bottom locations (72, 74) at the top edges (48, 68) and the bottom edges (40, 44) of the front and side panels (18, 32). In the preferred form, the fold line includes first and second, arcuate portions (82, 84) in the form of a sine curve extending from and on opposite sides of a linear line (76) extending between the top and bottom locations (72, 74). In its erect condition in the most preferred form, the carton (12) has a right parallelepiped shape, with the front and second side panels (18, 32) forming two of the sides of the parallelepiped shape.

Abstract: A thermoformed bowl filled and sealed with a sample food product forms a sample package. The bowl is sized and shaped to the contours of and so as to nest upon the shoulders of a plastic one gallon jug or bottle. The package has a centrally located die-cut hole to lock under the bottle neck boss. Free samples of the food product can thus be distributed to accompany regular sales of one gallon plastic containers of milk.

Abstract: A package (10) of a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape is disclosed including a liner (14) inside of a carton (12). A first score line (72) extends from the free edges (47, 96) of the front and back top closure panels (48, 60) and onto the front and back panels (18, 28) parallel and intermediate the side edges (20, 22, 26, 30, 50, 52, 59, 64) thereof. Second and third score lines (74, 76) are further located in each of the front and back panels (18, 28) and extend at an obtuse angle from and on opposite sides of the first score lines (72), with the score lines (72, 74, 76) having a Y-shape. The bottom of the carton (12) holds the bottom edges (40, 44) of the front, back, and side panels (18, 24, 28, 32) in a rectangular configuration.

Abstract: A rolled food item is fabricated by advancing food (14) and a sheet of support material (16) between the rollers (18, 20) of a strip sheeter (12) where the food (14) fills grooves (24) of the first roller (18) to deposit the food (14) in continuous strips on the support material (16). After passing through a cooling tunnel (58), the support material (16) is also cut into strips between the strips of food (14) in a first cutting section (62). The multiplicity of strips are then cut to lengths in a second cutting section (64). Labels (68) are secured to the trailing ends of the strips and the trailing ends of the strips are pressed by a label presser (70) to adhere the labels (68) to the strips. The strips are simultaneously rolled in a roll-up section (74) including a rotatable fork (76). Specifically, after the leading ends of the strips are inserted between the legs (78, 80) of the fork (76), the fork (76) is rotated to roll the strips on the fork (76).

Abstract: An accessory (10) for a wrench socket (12) is disclosed including a generally cylindrical magnet (32) secured to a generally cylindrical, nonmagnetic, compressible disk (26, 126). The disk (26, 126) has a shape having at least a portion (52) extending over the inner periphery of the well (14) of the socket (12) and is deformable under force to pass into and snuggly fit within the well (14) and magnetically insulate the magnet (32) from the socket (12). The magnet (32) has a size smaller than the well (14) and is secured to the disk (26, 126) generally concentrically within the well (14), with an air space being created between the magnet (32) and the well (14) for magnetically insulating the magnet (32) from the socket (12) in the most preferred form.

Abstract: The selective creation of tramlines is disclosed where the metered seed normally delivered through the outlet hose (18b) of the row planter unit (20b) corresponding to the desired location of the tramline is diverted by a butterfly valve (26) to one or both of the row planter units (20a, 20c) located adjacent to and on opposite sides of the row planter unit (20b). The butterfly valve (26) includes an inlet conduit (28) which intersects with first and second outlet conduits (30, 32) and a butterfly element (34) which is pivoted by a solenoid actuator (40) against the bias of a spring (36) to selectively block one of the outlet conduits (30, 32).

Abstract: A process for fortifying an R-T-E cereal with beta carotene is provided. By adding the heat labile beta carotene to a cooked cereal mass prior to piece forming and finish drying, a beta carotene fortified R-T-E cereal is obtained which surprisingly not only has not lost significant vitamin activity, but even more surprisingly exhibits superior vitamin stability upon storage than when equivalent amounts are applied topically to the cereal.

Abstract: A pan (10) is formed from a single blank (12) of plastic-coated paperboard and is foldable between a three-dimensional, erect condition and a flat condition. In the flat condition, first and second isosceles trapezoid-shaped side panels (20) are folded about the side edges (18) of a bottom panel (14) to overlie the bottom panel (14) and with their upper edges (22) abutting. Additionally, in the flat condition, first and second triangular panels (34) are folded about the side edges (32) of end panels (28) to overlie the end panels (28). The end panels (28) are in the shape of isosceles trapezoids and are integrally connected to the opposite end edges (16) of the bottom panel (14) and extend continuously therefrom in the flat condition. Attachment panels (38) are foldable about the outer edges (36) of the triangular panels (34) and are secured to the side panels (20) with the side edges (24) of the side panels (20) abutting with and being foldable with the outer edges (36) of the triangular panels (34).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of fabricating half products in the field of puffed snack piece fabrication are disclosed including a rotary cutter (16) having an opposed pair of rollers (18). At least one of the rollers (18) of the rotary cutter (16) has cavities (112) arranged in a first, central portion (110) which stamp out first pieces and cavities (118) arranged in second and third, boundary portions (114, 116) for stamping out second pieces from the remaining portions of a continuous dough sheet (14). The first pieces are of the desired shape and size for the half products, and the second pieces are of a size and shape mechanically separable from the first pieces. After stamping, the first and second pieces are dried in an oven (134) and then separated by a separator (136). The dried first pieces form the half product. The dried second pieces can be ground in a grinder (138) and added to the ingredients (120) forming the dough prior to or during mixing in mixer (122).

Abstract: A package (10) including a gable-shaped top is disclosed including an outer carton (12) and an inner liner (14). The carton (12) is formed from a single layer blank (16) which is printed only on the outer surface (17). The gable-shaped top includes first and second side panels (54, 66) which are divided into first and second right triangles (84, 86) and an isosceles trapezoid (88) by fold lines (74, 76) including perforations (82). End flaps (90, 92) are further provided having lengths equal to the lengths of the legs of the right triangles (84, 86) and having widths equal to the lengths of the minor bases of the isosceles trapezoids (88).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is disclosed for simultaneously forming two dough sheets from a single cooker extruder (12), with the dough sheets each being formed by a plurality of dough ropes which are guided by guide posts (44) at equally spaced intervals on a conveyor (16) for passing between the pressing rollers (42) of a sheeting device (18). Specifically, the die (24) attached to the die head (20) of the cooker extruder (12) includes a roof-shaped extension formed by first and second die plates (26) interconnected by their front edges at an obtuse angle. Top and bottom pates (28) are interconnected to the top and bottom edges of the die plates (26). The back edges of the die plates (26) and of the top and bottom plates (28) are interconnected to an annular connection plate (30) which is attached to the die head (20) by bolts (34) passing through counterbored bores (32) in the connection plate (30) and threaded into the die head (20).