Abstract: Packing sheet for packaging aerosol cans and the like is formed from two sheets for films of plastic. One of the sheets is vacuum formed to provide a plurality of blisters or bubbles, and the sheets are sealed together to seal air inside the bubbles. The distance between adjacent bubbles is less than the distance between the articles which are to be packed, and the articles are supported by a cushion of air within the bubbles.

Abstract: An automatic feeding apparatus periodically feeds a metered amount of material such as fish food. The material is stored in a hopper and is fed by a rotary valve which is rotated by a ratchet wheel. The rachet wheel is intermittently driven by a reciprocable actuator which is engageable by a thermostatic metal strip. The thermostatic metal strip moves back and forth between first and second positions as it is heated and cools to reciprocate the actuator. The metal strip is connected to an electrical terminal and contacts another terminal in one of its first and second positions to close an electrical circuit which includes a resistor for heating the strip. When the electrical circuit is closed, the strip is heated until it moves to its other position to open the circuit, and the strip then cools until it moves to close the circuit again. The actuator is reciprocated during each heating and cooling cycle of the strip to advance the ratchet wheel.