Abstract: A pusher assembly for a stacker includes first and second opposing moving sidewalls, each sidewall defining a lateral side of a chute region, the chute region defining a centerline therethrough. A first pusher is located on the first sidewall and is movable therewith and a second pusher is located on the second sidewall and is movable therewith. The first and second pushers, when in a home position, are staggered from one another relative to the centerline. The first pusher engages a leading edge of a stack of material in the stacker and the second pusher engages a trailing edge of the stack. In a conveying position, the first sidewall moves to engage the first pusher with the trailing edge of the stack of material, and the first and second sidewalls both move in a forward direction to discharge the stack of material.

Abstract: A mobile strapping device for strapping packaged goods with wrap-around strap including a tensioner for applying a strap tension to a loop of a wrapping strap, and a friction welder for producing a friction weld connection by way of a friction welding element at two areas of the loop of the wrapping strap disposed one on top of the other, and a chargeable energy storage means for storing electrical energy that can be released as drive energy for motorized drive motions at least for the friction welder for producing a friction weld connection. For a strapping device with high functional reliability and ease of handling, despite the possibility of automated production of wrapped straps, at least to a large extent, the strapping device to includes a planetary gear system for transferring and changing the rotational speed of a drive motion provided by an electrical drive of the friction welder.

Abstract: An item stabilizer configured to prevent lateral movement of an item (such as a product-supporting pallet) in a transport container. The item stabilizer includes a first item side engager, a second item side engager, and a connector attached to each of the item side engagers such that an item can be positioned on the connector between the item side engagers. The item stabilizer is configured to prevent movement of the item by engaging opposite sides of the item while the weight of the item and any products thereon or therein rest on the connector, thereby preventing the connector and the item side engagers themselves from moving laterally. Each item side engager respectively extends between one side of the item and one of the side walls of the transport container to limit the lateral movement of the item. Multiple item stabilizers can work together to hold an item in place.

Abstract: A void board is configured for placement between adjacent horizontal layers of bricks to maintain an opening in a lower of the layers. The void board includes a relatively thin base element having first and second opposing sides and a plurality of ribs extending along a length of the base element. The ribs extend from the first and second sides, generally transverse to the base element. The ribs are positioned such that the ribs that extend from the first side of the base element are offset from the ribs extending from the second side of the base element. The base element has a longitudinally extending central region, between a closest pair of ribs, that is devoid of ribs. A bundled load of objects have the void board positioned therein and a method of bundling a load of objects are also disclosed.

Abstract: A shipping container load securer including a pallet and a box connected to the pallet and filled with a filler, wherein the pallet and the box are substantially the same size and shape as a standardized crate used to package goods for transport in shipping containers. The load securer fills voids in partially filled shipping containers, enabling the shipping container to be tightly packed and preventing the movement of goods-filled crates during transport to minimize damage to the goods in the crates in the shipping container, while not substantially increasing the weight of the container.

Abstract: A liner for a shipping container that surrounds cargo and packaging therefore to protect the cargo and packaging from moisture and contamination. The liner includes a bag that can be expanded to line the interior of a shipping container. The bag has an end within an opening, through which cargo can be loaded. In certain embodiments, a skirt is configured to seal the bag to the open end of the container to create an enclosure between the exterior of the bag and the interior of the container. Air can be drawn through an opening in the skirt to create a vacuum thereby expanding the bag to line the walls of the container. A cover is configured to seal the bag opening shut after cargo has been loaded in the bag. A valve enables air to be vacuumed from the interior of the bag to collapse the bag around the cargo and packaging.

Abstract: A tension/cutter tool for band-type clamps that include a band for tensioning around an object and a seal for securing the tensioned band around the object, in which the band is bent and severed at the seal to form a J-seal. The tool includes a body, a drive, and a feed wheel mounted to the body and operably connected to the drive. A nose piece includes two rollers and is movably mounted to the body to engage and disengage the two rollers from contact with the feed wheel. The feed wheel and rollers define a band path therebetween. A tail end of the band is fed into the tool, between the feed wheel and the roller and the drive is actuated to tension the band. Upon achieving a desired tension, the seal is engaged with the nose piece and the band is bent to form the J-seal against the seal and the band is cut beyond the J-seal. A controller monitors and controls the tool functions.

Abstract: A method for forming a longitudinal bend in a strap in a strapping machine by forming a pre-bend in the strap between a first wheel and a second wheel having cooperating, non-planar strap contact surfaces and subsequently forming the longitudinal bend in the strap between the second wheel and a third wheel having cooperating non-planar strap contact surfaces.

Abstract: A container assembly and methods for making and using such an assembly are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an assembly is configured to hold an amount of catalyst. The assembly includes a first layer forming an inner liner that, when sealed, contains the amount of catalyst. Additionally, the assembly includes a second layer that at least partly surrounds the first layer and that is substantially rigid. Further, the assembly includes a third layer that substantially completely surrounds the second layer and that is at least partly made from a woven material, the third layer including a portion forming a spout structure, and a fourth layer that at least partly surrounds the third layer.

Abstract: A sealing head for a strapping machine welds steel strapping material to itself in an end-to-end weld. The sealing head includes a body, a drive, an end grip at the inlet to the body, a cutter, a grip clamp and a loop grip downstream of the end grip. The loop grip is carried on a carriage that is movable in a direction along the strap path. A leading end of strap is secured by the end grip and a loop portion of the strap is gripped by the loop grip and severed by the cutter to form a loop end. The loop end is secured by the grip clamp. The loop grip carriage moves the loop end toward the leading end as current is passed though the loop end and the leading end to weld the ends to one another in an end-to-end weld.

Abstract: A debris sweep and dry assist device is for use with a strapping machine. The debris sweep and dry assist device is positioned between the strapping machine and an associated strap supply. The device includes a body having a strap inlet and a strap outlet and defining a strap path therethrough. The body has a first wall at about the strap inlet and a second wall at about the strap outlet. The body has a first manifold and a plurality of first branches extending between the first manifold and the first wall to provide a plurality of flow paths from the first manifold to the environs through the first branches. A compressed is gas directed into the first manifold and flows out of the first branches, and is directed onto strap material at a location at about the strap inlet.

Abstract: A strapping tool for tensioning and securing a strap on or around an object or load includes a motor, a tensioning assembly coupled to the motor, and a weld plate assembly coupled to the motor. The motor is actuated in a first direction to control the tensioning assembly to tension the strap during a tensioning operation and the motor is actuated in a second direction to control the weld plate assembly to weld the strap to itself during a welding operation.

Abstract: A film that can be used in packaging applications includes one or more layers, wherein the layers include an anti-fog additive and/or an IR additive and the resulting film has greater than about a 50% prestretch capability.

Abstract: A crimping tool for applying a seal to strap material includes a tool head having pairs of jaws disposed in the tool head and operably mounted thereto, each pair including opposingly oriented jaw elements. Each pair of jaws is spaced from its adjacent pair and includes an upper and lower pivot openings. A shear is positioned between adjacent pairs of jaw elements. The shears extend between the jaw elements and include opposing openings that align with the jaw element upper openings. A pair of handles, each having a terminal end having first openings that align with the jaw element lower openings and are operably connected to one another at respective pivot openings. The tool includes at least one side plate having a pair of upper openings each aligned with the jaw element upper openings and the shear openings. The plate includes a centrally disposed notched opening.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring the productivity, operability, and safety conditions of factory machinery and particularly unitizers. The system monitors factory machines such as a unitizer in a corrugated box factory, using one or more sensors to determine whether and how efficiently the machinery is operating, to determine if any conditions of the machinery require immediate attention, and to determine if a safety violation has occurred with respect to the machinery. The system appropriately notifies a factory manager of issues that arise. In addition, the system aggregates data about past performance and safety violations and generates reports about the aggregated data to help factory managers maximize productivity of the monitored machinery. The disclosed system is particularly advantageous in that it enables improvement of the productivity of the factory as a whole.