Abstract: A feed device for a long and narrow strip of continuous package wherein the continuous package includes a plurality of wrapped articles connected together by a connecting part and the rigidity of the wrapped articles is different than the rigidity of the connecting part. The feed device is further characterized by a rotatable member in contact with the continuous package and a plurality of ridge parts provided in parallel to each other on the rotatable member and a tension device for applying sufficient tension to draw the connecting part over the ridged parts but insufficient to draw the wrapped articles over the ridged parts.

Abstract: A handle adhering device wherein an adhesive is applied to one surface of a belt-like article, auxiliary pieces are adhered to the adhesive surface with predetermined spaces therebetween, the belt-like article is wound onto a reel-like shape, is cut into predetermined lengths to form a handle member in which adhesive surfaces are exposed at both ends, and the adhesive surfaces of the handle member are adhered to both side surfaces of an article. In this device the non-adhesive surface of the belt-like members are sucked onto an outer peripheral surface of a rotating drum and are paid out by predetermined lengths respectively, cut by a cutter as the drum rotates to form the handle members and lifted off of the rotation drum by adhesive arms passing through recesses in the drum to adhere the adhesive surfaces at both ends of the handle member.

Abstract: A conveyor moves empty containers for single-piece goods one-by-one below an openable bottom on which successive accumulations of the goods are supported. A device for holding an empty container is raised by a control system from a lower position adjacent the conveyor to an upper position below said bottom, the control system being operable to impart to said device with a container thereon a dampened and continuous downward movement from its upper to its lower position in response to falling of a said accumulation against the container when said bottom is opened. The control system includes a valve having a first position for supplying compressed air to one side of a plunger-cylinder assembly to raise said device, a second position for supplying compressed air to the other side of said assembly to hold said device in its upper position, and a third position for venting said one side of said assembly to effect said continuous downward movement.

Abstract: A device for changing angles of a cutter assembly, adhesive ejecting nozzles, etc. relative to articles fed by a conveyor which includes a bracket provided with a U-shaped guide groove and a guide surface formed along the guide groove; a moving piece which moves along the guide groove and on the guide surface; and fixing means for fixing the moving piece, the cutting assembly or adhesive injection nozzles provided on the moving piece may be mounted at any desired angle along the guide groove. The device is further placed on the side of a conveyor such that the distance between the center of the commodity and any position between both ends of the guide groove can be kept consistent.

Abstract: A device for cutting continuous bags formed of thin film including a cutter and a drum for feeding the bags. The cylindrical surface of the drum is provided with radial cutting grooves so that the bags on the cylindrical surface are cut into individual packages containing a straw, spoon, etc. when the cutter advances into the grooves. The cutter, provided above the cylindrical surface, is inclined with regard to the cylindrical surface and advances obliquely in a direction which forms an acute angle with the higher side of the inclined cutter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting square articles including conveying a series of articles in a longitudinal direction, stopping the articles in front of a first pusher, transversely pushing a predetermined number of articles into a tapered second pusher, advancing the second pusher a distance equal to the length of the article, and retracting the second pusher. The tapered second pusher includes a stepped configuration of a plurality of stages, each stage having longitudinal and transverse sides which are respectively about the same size as the length and width of the article and at least one of the stages in the middle being omitted. A first stopper provided in front of the omitted stage prevents the articles from entering into the omitted stage and a second stopper provided in front of the first stopper prevents the articles in front of the omitted stage from being pushed out of the tapered second pusher.

Abstract: A dividing device used in a commodity collecting device which aligns a predetermined number of commodities successively supplied by a conveyance conveyor and continually pushes them out sideways by a sideway pusher to regularly collect commodities on a stock yard, the dividing device including a floor onto which the collected commodity group is discharged by a discharge pusher, the floor being divided into front and rear floors with respect to the moving direction of the discharge pusher, the front floor on which a part of the commodities on the stock yard is discharged being designed to move in the same direction as the moving direction of the discharge pusher so as to separate only a part of the commodities, and rear pusher engagable with the rear end of the commodity group being provided above the stationary rear floor so that the remaining part of the commodities may be pushed out onto the front floor from which the commodities have been discharged.

Abstract: An apparatus for the application of wrapped articles to package containers which includes a transferring and sealing device by means which articles are transferred and sealed to the surface of a package container which is carried in a bucket wheel. The apparatus is further characterized in that the bucket wheel is provided with an odd number of compartments and the pitch between packages on a conveyor supplying packages to the bucket wheels is twice the pitch of the compartments on the bucket wheel. In addition, the transferring and sealing device inclines the articles so that they are obliquely adhered to the package containers.

Abstract: A cam operated gripper driven by an endless chain receives at a feed station a wrapped straw having a heat-bondable portion and carries the straw to a bonding section. The gripper is associated with an electric heater which is in contact with the gripped straw. In the bonding section, an electric power supply rail is provided so that a collector of the heater slides on the rail, energizing the electric heater to heat the heat-bondable portion of the wrapped straw. In the bonding section, the heater is also pressed against the carton travelling in a production line at the same speed as the moving speed of the heater with the heat-bondable portion of the wrapped film therebetween. Thus one film wrapper is heat-bonded to each carton. After the completion of bonding, the cam operated gripper releases the straw allowing the straw to remain attached on the carton.

Abstract: A common intermittent drive mechanism intermittently rotates a feed roller and a cutter rotor. An intervening gear and the radii of the feed roller and the cutter rotor differentiate the circumferential speed of the roller and the rotor to provide a slip between a continuous strip-like dispenser sheet fed by the feed roller and the cutter rotor surface. A suction means in the cutter rotor surface holds the dispenser sheet while allowing the slip thereof. When the movement of the cutter rotor is interrupted, a cutter is actuated and separates the individual articles from the remaining dispenser sheet. While the separated article is carried by the moving surface of the cutter rotor for a distance greater than the pitch of the article wrapped in the dispenser sheet, another single article is moved into the position for separation, and this procedure is repeated.