Abstract: A bag closing and sealing machine is disclosed for closing and sealing stepped end adhesively sealed type bags. The machine is designed to allow a separation at the axial center line of the machine whenever a bag jam starts to occur. By providing for axial separation, lengthy and costly dismantling of the machine to clear a jam-up is eliminated. The machine comprises three primary sections which are a feeding and creasing section, a folding and heating section and a compression section. The various sections are fixedly attached partly to a fixed elongated frame and partly to a pivotable elongated frame in the preferred embodiment. In a modification of the preferred embodiment, the pivotable elongated frame is replaced by a slidable elongated frame to function in a similar manner. A method of quickly and easily releasing a jammed stepped end bag from the machine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for carbonizing lignite coal in a Herreshoff Carbonizer of a multi-hearth type. The novel process comprises the steps of introducing given quantities of lignite in the first and succeeding hearths while introducing sufficient quantities of combustion air and fuel to ignite the fuel and to raise the temperature of the hearths until the process is self-sustaining as a result of the combustion of the volatiles driven off of the lignite. The hearth temperatures range approximately 1450.degree. to 1620.degree. F in the first furnace hearth with the second furnace hearth ranging approximately 1650.degree. to 1800.degree. F and the third furnace hearth ranging approximately 1650.degree. to 1890.degree. F. Sufficient combustion air is introduced into various hearths of the furnace to insure complete combustion in at least the first hearth and in the stack of the volatiles being driven off thereby making the process self-sustaining, allowing the introductory fuel to be cut off.