Abstract: A carton with an improved dispenser at one of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when the carton is opened by permitting a bottom end flap attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that is adjacent to the bottom end flap. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first container that is automatically dispensed when the carton is opened.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of forming stacked article groups by supplying at least two streams of articles; forming a stream of first article groups having at least one article; placing a support base on a top surface of each first article group; and forming a second article group, having at least one article, on top of the support base of each first article group, whereby stacked article groups are formed. The stacked article groups are subsequently packaged.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading stacked article groups into cartons in a continuous motion cartoner assembly. The barrel cam loading apparatus or article group transport mechanism is particularly suited to loading article groups that are unstable or whose articles tend to spin and kick article out of the carton.

Abstract: A down-article indicator which automatically adjusts for the height difference of articles, such as bottles, when article size is changed for a new run on a machine conveying articles. A pivotably mounted height sensing arm, located on one lane of the machine, down stream from an array of freely pivoting detecting arms, is connected by an adjustable mechanical linkage to a pivoting bracket holding a retro-reflective photo eye in proper location with respect to the detecting arms so that the detecting arms do not break a light beam from the photo eye during normal operation. A non-upright article will cause a detecting arm to pivot and break the light beam to stop the machine. As a new group of articles having a different height moves into the down-article indicating station, the height sensing arm automatically moves the photo eye to its proper location for the new height articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the input of articles at the start-up phase of a packaging machine of the type having at least one article conveyance lane and an article grouping mechanism constructed and arranged to meter articles moving in the conveyance lane into predetermined groups, comprising:(a) at least one stop post aligned for extension into the conveyance lane, the stop post further being disposed at an infeed end of the article grouping mechanism;(b) means to actuate the stop post, whereby the stop post is extendible and retractable in the article conveyance lane, the stop post impeding travel of articles in the lane when extended and permitting travel of articles in the lane when retracted; and(c) means to coordinate actuation of the means to actuate with operation of the article grouping mechanism.

Abstract: A method for halting the function of a high speed packaging machine of the type having a conveyor based article infeed line conveying articles to a flight bar based selection line. The method is useful for performing a clean out procedure used during maintenance, and product or packaging change over. The method comprises the steps of terminating the operation of the infeed line conveyor at a predetermined position; placing an article follower behind a terminal article in each input lane; activating the operation of the infeed line conveyor whereby the articles in each input lane are conveyed to the selection line; and halting the conveyance of the article follower in the input lane prior to the selection line. An article follower and follower system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for continuously forming stacked article groups, comprising the steps of supplying at least two streams of articles, each at a predetermined vertically distinct level; forming and longitudinally transporting a stream of first article groups having at least one article, at a first level; placing a support base on a top surface of each first article group; and forming a second article group, having at least one article, at a second level on top of the support base of each longitudinally moving first article group, whereby stacked article groups are formed. The stacked article groups are subsequently processed for packaging.

Abstract: An apparatus for constructing multi-piece carton pre-forms, comprising a wrap member supply hopper, a wrap/pre-form conveyor, a glue station, a web placement and compression station including a web supply magazine and a reciprocating placer, and an output station. The apparatus processes paperboard pre-forms which are subsequently erected into cartons for fresh produce and the like. An improved packaging member conveyor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cartoning apparatus for loading stacked article groups into carton sleeves. The cartoning apparatus comprises at least two article infeed mechanisms, each supplying at least one stream of articles at a predetermined height or level, an article selection and transport mechanism intersecting the article infeed mechanisms to form and move a stream of stacked article groups of a predetermined pattern, a carton supply and transport mechanism synchronized and moving parallel with said article selection and transport mechanism to provide cartons with open ends facing the moving article groups, and an article group transfer mechanism constructed and arranged to move article groups into the open ends of the carton sleeves.

Abstract: An article group transfer apparatus constructed and arranged to move article groups into open ends of the carton sleeves. The apparatus is incorporated in a continuous motion cartoner assembly for loading article groups into cartons which comprises an article infeed mechanism supplying at least one stream of articles; an article group selection and transport mechanism intersecting the article infeed mechanism to form and transport a longitudinal stream of article groups of a predetermined pattern; a carton supply and transport mechanism synchronized and moving parallel with the article group selecting mechanism to provide cartons with open ends facing the moving article groups; and the article group transfer apparatus which moves the article groups into the open ends of the carton sleeves.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with an improved air bed system. In this invention, the bed occupant can control the firmness of the bed. Two inflatable bladders are used with a pre-set pressure differential between them. The pressure in the lower bladder is always kept high enough to prevent bottoming of a bed occupant. The pressure in the upper bladder can be adjusted by the occupant to his or her own personal comfort level. The invention may also include various medical devices which are fluid powered, thus taking advantage of the presence of the pressurized working fluid. The invention may further include a warning circuit which senses the departure of an occupant from the bed and generates a warning signal in response thereto.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated hospital bed with dual hydraulic power systems for operation with or without electrical service. The bed has its head and thigh/leg elevation functions performed by hydraulic cylinders. A control circuit meters the introduction and removal of hydraulic fluid from these cylinders so an occupant of the bed is not subjected to any sudden movement. In case of an emergency requiring the bed occupant to be in a supine position (the need to perform CPR), the normal control circuit is bypassed by an emergency circuit that allows much faster than normal lowering of the head and thigh/leg portions of the bed.

Abstract: A hospital bed footboard is provided which can be moved from the normal, vertical position of a bed footboard to a horizontal position overlying the bed. The support for the footboard in the overbed position is of a fully cantilevered nature so no impediment is placed to approaching the patient from the sides of the bed, nor is the overall width of the bed increased. The footboard when positioned over the bed can serve as a shelf for holding monitoring and life support devices during patient transport.

Abstract: In a blow molding apparatus where a plurality of sets of molds are mounted on a wheel rotatable about an axis and the molds are moved toward and away from one another to enclose a parison and the parison is blown to the confines of the cavity between the mold sections as the wheel rotates by the application of air, an apparatus for controlling the application of the air comprising a valve assembly associated with each set of molds on the wheel and comprising a valve which is opened and closed to control the flow of air to the mold. The valve assembly includes a rotatable cam for moving the valve to open and closed positions, a starwheel associated with the cam, and a first actuator mounted at a first position along the path of the wheel for engagement with the starwheel to rotate the cam and open the valve and a second actuator mounted at a second position along the path of the wheel for engagement with the starwheel to rotate the cam and close the valve.

Abstract: The feeder tube in a molten glass gob feeder is mounted in a holder which is supported in the feeder structure by a pair of opposed hollow shafts. The shafts are vertically adjustable by the fact that they have their lower ends threaded onto vertical screws. The vertical screws are mounted for rotation about their vertical axes, in unison, to effectively raise or lower the shafts as desired. A scale and pointer arrangement indicates the tube height relative to the feeder bottom. The feeder tube is mounted in the holder such that reciprocation of a plunger in the tube will not raise the tube relative to the feeder.

Abstract: A bottle carrier for carrying a plurality of bottles having a body portion and a neck portion and a closure which is attached to the neck of the bottle which comprises a generally flat blank formed of a material that is flexible and elastic. The blank comprises a first part defining a central portion and a second part defining a band which is severable from the first part and is adapted to be stretched about a group of bottles. The first part comprises a plurality of openings in spaced rows for receiving the necks of the containers and engaging the necks below the closures. In order to meet the requirements of adequately securing the bottles in the carrier and at the same time, being able to apply the carrier to the bottles rapidly by automatic machines, the carrier includes the following relationships: (1) minimum widths of the webs between the openings for receiving the necks of the bottles and the periphery of the carrier, (2) the stress on the webs must be less than 550 p.s.i.

Abstract: The cooling wind for the molds on a glass bottle forming machine is controlled by a damper which is set by hand and positioned in the air passages from the section box or base of a glass forming machine and a nozzle base bolted to the top of the section box. As a further control for the air a piston operated vane positioned such that it will shut off the air to the air passages upon receipt of an air signal from the timing system of the machine is provided and is to be operated each cycle of the machine to prevent cooling air from impinging on bare glass.

Abstract: A centerline cooled forehearth for conditioning molten glass, wherein the sides of the flow channel of the forehearth are provided with external sheets of insulation. The channel is covered by a roof having vertical vents therethrough along the centerline with the usual burner blocks and burners spaced along the sides of the upper edge of the channel. Flue blocks are positioned immediately above the burner blocks, and their lower surfaces extend toward the centerline of the channel a greater extent than the burners, thereby serving as reflectors for the heat from the burners along the side walls of the channel.

Abstract: A child-resistant package with a snap-on closure comprising a container having a neck finish including an annular retaining bead having at least one notch therein, a closure having a top and a peripheral skirt, the skirt having a lifting tab on the outer surface thereof and a first radially inwardly extending locking lug on the inner surface thereof adjacent the external lifting tab. The skirt includes a portion defining a tamper indicating tab having a radially inwardly extending lug thereon spaced circumferentially from the locking lug on the closure such that when the locking lug is aligned with a notch in the first annular bead, the closure cannot be removed until the tab portion of the band having the lug thereon is severed from the skirt of the closure and freeing the closure so that the lug on the tab portion will not interfere with removal of the closure.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for effecting the uniform pre-heating of thermoplastic parisons of the type that are introduced into a blow molding machine for fabrication into a blow molded article. The invention provides a hopper which is intermittently supplied with batches of parisons and through which the parisons move by gravity. A convection heating zone is provided in the hopper to uniformly heat each parison passing therethrough, and a temperature equalization zone is provided adjacent to the heating zone. The parisons are removed from the temperature equalization zone by a continuously moving parison conveyor which forms part of the temperature equalization zone.