Abstract: High end or premium bread, including presliced loaves, are inserted into a preformed inner bag by an automatic bagging machine. The open end of the inner bag is gathered and sealed, and thereafter the inner bag is heat shrunk to closely enclose a loaf. Then the heat shrunk inner bag and enclosed loaf is bagged by a second automatic bagger, and the outer bag is then closed by an automatic bag closer. The inner bag preferably has a gusseted closed end which is adjacent to the openable end of the outer bag for presentation to a consumer. Such closed end of the inner bag can have bag weakening perforations or scores for convenient opening by the consumer.

Abstract: Stacks of limp articles such as flour tortillas are deposited on a conveyor having slotted blocks to support the stack in arched configuration with the central portion raised and side portions drooping from the central portion. A pusher having depending fingers with bent supporting ends is movable to push the stack of articles off the conveyor onto a guide into a bag and to move the filled bag onto a receiving trough.

Abstract: Article group-segregating mechanism having a plurality of orbiting pusher members includes a conveyor for pushing a row of articles against an orbiting pusher member and a clamping conveyor or clamp arms for arresting movement of the row of articles behind a segregated group of articles pushed against such pusher member for enabling such group of articles to be engaged and pushed by the next orbiting pusher member.

Abstract: Stacking mechanism includes an accelerating conveyor for launching flat articles edgewise toward a stacking station, a continuously moving conveyor for moving stacks of articles away from the stacking station, two intermittently rotatable rotors and a stationary plate therebetween forming the stacking station, the rotors each having for pegs upstanding from their margins in orthogonal relationship so that a peg of each rotor will engage a stack of articles at the stacking station simultaneously and push the stack from the stacking station onto the discharge conveyor.

Abstract: Article group-segregating mechanism having a plurality of article grouper members moved continuously in an orbit includes a conveyor for pushing a row of articles against an orbiting grouper member and a clamping conveyor or clamp arms for arresting movement of the row of articles behind a segregated group of articles pushed against such grouper member for enabling such group of articles to be moved out of the way followed by release of such clamping conveyor or clamp arms to enable the next group of articles to be pushed against the next orbiting grouper member.

Abstract: Article group-segregating mechanism having a plurality of orbiting pusher members includes a conveyor for pushing a row of articles against an orbiting pusher member and a clamping conveyor or clamp arms for arresting movement of the row of articles behind a segregated group of articles pushed against such pusher member for enabling such group of articles to be engaged and pushed by the next orbiting pusher member.

Abstract: Apparatus for making a plastic film bag having bag mouth lips projecting beyond a heat-seal band closing the bag mouth applies a stiffening patch bonded to the interior or exterior of a bag mouth lip between the heat-seal band and the bag mouth end for reclosing the bag mouth after the heat-seal band has been opened. For reclosing the bag mouth, the process applies stiffening patches to a web of sheet material for making bags at the time that the bags are formed and filled by clipping from a strip of patch-making material patch pieces having pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side. Apparatus performing the process transfers such patch pieces from a rotary shear onto the bag-making material by an orbiting transfer member having a suction pickup to pick up a patch piece and blowing means for subsequently detaching the patch piece from the transfer member and depositing it onto the web of bag-making material.

Abstract: A disk carrying bell cranks in circumferentially spaced relationship is located at the side of a supply conveyor opposite a discharge conveyor and the attitude of the bell cranks is controlled by cam followers carried by the bell cranks engaging a stationary cam for the purpose of moving bell crank arms to poke pieces moved in abutment by the supply conveyor onto the discharge conveyor for movement by it in uniformly spaced relationship.

Abstract: Apparatus for making a plastic film bag having bag mouth lips projecting beyond a heat-seal band closing the bag mouth and providing a stiffening patch bonded to the interior or exterior of a bag mouth lip between the heat-seal band and the bag mouth end for reclosing the bag mouth after the heat-seal band has been opened. For reclosing the bag mouth, the apparatus applies stiffening patches to a web of sheet material for making bags at the time that the bags are formed and filled by clipping from a strip of patch-making material patch pieces having pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side. The apparatus transfers such patch pieces from a rotary shear onto the bag-making material by an orbiting transfer member having a suction pickup to pick up a patch piece and blowing means for subsequently detaching the patch piece from the transfer member and depositing it onto the web of bag-making material.

Abstract: In making a reclosable plastic film bag, bag mouth lips are formed projecting beyond a heat-seal band closing the bag mouth and a stiffening patch is bonded to the interior or exterior of a bag mouth lip between the heat-sealing band and the bag mouth end. The stiffening patches for the reclosable bag mouth end can be applied to a strip of sheet material for making bags at the time that the bags are formed and filled by clipping from a strip of patch-making material patch pieces having pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side. Such patch pieces are transferred from a clipper onto the bag-making material by a revolving transfer member having a suction pick-up to pick up a patch piece and a blow subsequently detaches the patch piece from the transfer member and deposits it onto the strip of bag-making material.