Abstract: The top seal parts of bottle-like containers made by blow-molding a flexible synthetic resin are cut off by nonrotatably supporting each container, pressing from one side a cutting edge of a cutter against a specific cutting line on the top part of the container, and rotating the cutter around the top part thereby to cut off the top seal part. This process can be carried out by an apparatus comprising a plurality of combinations of mechanisms, each combination comprising a fixing device for nonrotatably and fixedly supporting a container, a cutting head which can be fitted onto the top seal part of this container and can be driven in ascending, descending, and rotating movement, and cutting head drive.

Abstract: A multiplicity of shell eggs to be broken are first transported in transverse rows on an infeed conveyor, from which they are loaded onto a transfer conveyor. This transfer conveyor extends at a right angle to the infeed conveyor, so that the successive transverse rows of shell eggs on the infeed conveyor are rearranged into a longitudinal row on the transfer conveyor. The shell eggs are subsequently transferred from the transfer conveyor onto respective egg breaker assemblies mounted at longitudinal spacings on an endless breaker conveyor, while the breaker assemblies are traveling side by side with the transfer conveyor. The breaker assemblies break the shell eggs, and the white and yolk recovered therefrom are separated by recovery cup assemblies also carried by the breaker conveyor under the respective breaker assemblies. As an incidental feature, an air nozzle assembly is mounted on the breaker conveyor in the vicinity of each breaker assembly.

Abstract: In the process of eluting egg white lysozyme by contacting a weakly acidic cation exchange resin having egg white lysozyme adsorbed thereon with an eluting agent comprising a salt solution, an alkali agent is added to the eluate containing the weakly acidic cation exchange resin having egg white lysozyme adsorbed thereon whereby the egg white lysozyme can be eluted more effectively. From the eluate thus obtained, lysozyme can be collected in a high yield by an ordinary collecting method such as salting out.

Abstract: In the process of crystallizing egg white lysozyme by cooling a salt solution containing egg white lysozyme, a seed crystal is added to the solution, which solution is then maintained at a temperature of about 10.degree. C. to 28.degree. C. for a certain period of time and subsequently cooled, whereby lysozyme can be crystallized to form an agglomerate of many individual needle crystals. The solution containing crystalline lysozyme thus obtained can be filtered within an extremely short period of time, that is, within only a few minutes.

Abstract: A device for screw-tightening caps on containers such as bottles has a cap chuck head for grasping and holding each cap with holding pawls, a driving shaft, and a friction clutch mechanism constructed separately from the chuck head but mechanically coupling the driving shaft and the chuck head to transmit rotational power to the chuck head at torques below a predetermined maximum torque, at which the cap is screw tightened, friction plates of the clutch mechanism slipping at any higher torque to prevent excessive tightening. The separate construction of the clutch mechanism and the chuck head prevents subsequent engagement of the clutch plates due to reaction forces arising during the screw-tightening operation, thereby preventing excessive tightening.

Abstract: An egg inspecting apparatus utilizes the light reception signals of 575 m.mu., 590 m.mu., and 620 m.mu. obtained from the light beams passed through an egg to be inspected, in such a manner the light reception signal of 575 m.mu. is calibrated by basing on the light reception signal 590 m.mu. and is compared with a blood-containing egg level to select blood-containing eggs, and the light reception signal of 620 m.mu. is compared with an addled egg level to select addled eggs.

Abstract: Several pairs of slender rolls having metal core shafts and resiliently soft outer coverings are disposed parallelly to each other and with an inclination in their longitudinal direction relative to the horizontal direction and submerged in water in a tank, into which berries with adhering calyxes are fed, guided toward the tank bottom, and released to float upward and along the lower surfaces of the rolls, each pair of which is pressed against each other and driven to rotate in opposite directions such that their surfaces in contact move upward. The calyxes of the berries, which are easily dispersed and rotated in the water, are caught between the pairs of rolls and are completely clamped thereby and finally plucked off from the pericarps of their berries.

Abstract: Coagulated egg-white foodstuffs comprising coagulated egg-white, a water-combinable material, a viscosity increasing agent, a starch hydrolyzate. These foodstuffs exhibit little or no water separation with no occurrence of a significant increase in hardness when they are thawed after storage thereof in a frozen state, and at the same time, the thawed foodstuffs have excellent palatability.

Abstract: In a container filling apparatus having a plurality of revolving charging cylinders and respective pistons by which a fluid filling material supplied into the cylinders with their pistons at the limit end of their intake strokes is subsequently pushed out of the cylinders and through nozzles to fill respective containers at a filling position, the containers being preparatorily positioned on respective revolving platforms, the piston rod of each of the charging cylinders can be locked at the start of its intake stroke by a respective locking mechanism when the mechanism, as it revolves with the cylinder, contacts and is actuated by a stationary actuating device operated in accordance with a detection signal generated by a monitoring device. When this monitoring device detects the absence of an empty container from its preparatory position on any platform, it generates the detection signal to lock the corresponding piston rod thereby to prevent containerless discharging of the filling material.

Abstract: In a container filling apparatus having a plurality of revolving charging cylinders and respective pistons by which a fluid material supplied into the cylinders with their pistons at the limit end of their intake strokes is subsequently pushed out of the cylinders to fill respective containers, an adjusting screw is provided to set by its one end the limit of the intake stroke of the piston rod of each piston and has a sprocket-like wheel fixed to its other end and actuated in incremental rotation by the piston rods of stationary air cylinders fixed to the apparatus frame when the wheel, revolving with its cylinder, is engaged by the piston rods. The activation of the air cylinders is controlled by electrical control means by which the limit of the intake stroke of any piston and, therefore, the filling quantity of the corresponding cylinder can be adjusted without danger and without stopping the operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: An egg inspecting apparatus operating to apply different lights necessary for detecting blood-containing eggs, addled or turbid eggs and eggs affected with bacteria to an egg to be inspected, to subject lights from the egg to photo-electric conversion to obtain electrical signals, and to detect the levels of these electrical signals so as to determine whether or not the egg is inferior or defective.