Abstract: Apparatus for depositing discrete articles such as pieces of fruit for a fruit cocktail in a continuously moving line of containers including a circular receptacle having a bottom and a confining rim, the bottom being formed with circular openings adjacent the rim, a plate underlying the receptacle which is imperforate except for a hole in a delivery position and on the circle of said openings to release one or more of such articles to a container, and container transport means including a helical transport underlying the receptacle and moving the containers in a straight line such that each container aligns with the hole in the plate and an opening in the receptacle for receiving one or more articles. Such apparatus preferably is modular with driving means for the receptacle and driving means for the containers which are connectable to and disconnectable from like driving means of other modules. Preferably also a means is provided to adjust the level of the receptacle during operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: The performance of an automated pouch filler to fill institutional quantity sized bags of foodstuff can be improved by maintaining the sealing edge of the filled bag taut under tension sufficient to form flat, unwrinkled opposing surfaces along the sealing edges of the bag during the sealing of the bag. Unwanted air can also be removed from the bag by utilization of a pair of squeeze bars to momentarily push excess air from the bag or by evacuating air from the bag through a vacuum tube in combination with soft sealing bars to temporarily close the bag during this evacuation. The top sealing edge is pulled taut and maintained under tension during sealing by use of a spring loaded clamp which attaches to one corner of the bag. The rejection rate of seal is dramatically decreased by providing a neck on the bag to form a partially presealed bag which is then sealed along a segment of the top edge of the bag after filling.

Abstract: A film drive unit 10 for a packaging machine to move sheet material 16 through the unit 10, the film drive unit 10 includes at least one rotatably driven roller 18 which is hollow and to which a vacuum is delivered to the interior thereof, with the roller 18 having an outer cylindrical member 30 with radially extending passages 39 to which the vacuum is applied to draw the sheet material 16 into contact with the cylindrical outer surface of the roller 18.

Abstract: A new method of making a form fill bag having a reclosable fastener thereon and a mechanism therefor wherein a continuous length of film is advanced and joined first and second fastener profile strips are laid laterally onto the film of a length substantially equal to one-half of the film width, the film is advanced and formed into a tube with the side edges folded together and seamed, the first profile strip is attached to the surface of the film prior to forming it into the tube and the second opposed interlocked profile strip is attached to the inner surface of the film after it is formed into a tube, and a cross-seam is formed in the tube above the closure strip to form the bottom of the succeeding bag and a completed bag is cut from the film by cutting below the bottom seam and above the fastener strips.

Abstract: A packaging method includes the steps of supplying auxiliary bags, adding an adhesive layer to one of the surfaces of each auxiliary bag, feeding a continuous sheet-like wrapping material to a forming and filling assembly, attaching the auxiliary bags by the adhesive layer to the wrapping material during travel thereof, at an interval corresponding to a length required for forming each package and each at a portion thereof which becomes an inner surface of the package other than sealed portions thereof, forming the wrapping material into a tubular shape with the auxiliary bags inside, supplying articles into the tubular wrapping material and sealing the same to form the packages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging vacuum packaged goods from a vacuum packaging apparatus. While a chamber held in contact with the upper surface of a table and defining an airtight space therein is in movement integrally with the table for one round of travel along an endless track, the chamber is lifted from the table for a given period of time for supply into the chamber of goods to be packaged as contained in a bag. When the chamber is again brought in contact with the table, a vacuum atmosphere is created in the chamber so that the mouth of the bag is sealed, vacuum packaged goods being thus obtained. A table portion within the chamber is formed with an open/close type drop opening which is sealed by a cover plate. The to-be-packaged goods contained in a bag, as well as vacuum packaged goods which are sealed at the mouth of the bag, are loaded on the cover plate.

Abstract: A package for extended storage and in-store display of fresh red meat is disclosed. Preferably the package is made by a vacuum skin packaging process wherein the forming web is a composite peelable film having a peelable oxygen barrier layer and an oxygen permeable skin layer which remains to enclose the product when the peelable film is removed after storing. A means and method for readily initiating the peeling process is provided by a combination of a manual pull tab and selected perforations of the forming web.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a bulk package and including bottom tray placement means for placing a bottom tray on a support, stacking means for stacking layers of objects on the bottom tray, top cap positioning means for positioning a top cap over the upper-most layer of stacked objects, and post member positioning means for positioning post members at preselected spaced locations between the bottom tray and top cap.

Abstract: The invention is an improved compression member for use in the packaging of insulation material. The compression member includes a plurality of curvilinear finger members defining a plurality of voids extending in the machine direction of the insulation material. The finger members and defined voids enhance the compression operation by encouraging an even release of compressed air across the width of the insulation pack and by guiding the insulation material into the packaging apparatus in a desired orientation.

Abstract: A process of packaging goods characterized in that the goods are placed in a container (1) made of flexible thermoplastics sheet material and having a flange (2) provided with an aperture (3), partly closing the container by sealing a deformable sheet material (4) of thermoplastics material to the flange so as to leave unsealed together a part of the flange and the sheet between the aperture and the interior of the container, inserting a conduit member (7) into the aperture so as to separate the unsealed part of the flange and the sheet material, modifying the atmosphere in the container by withdrawing a part of the air in the container and introducing a preserving gas into the container, removing the conduit and sealing together the unsealed part of the sheet material and the flange whereby communication between the aperture (3) and the interior of the container is prevented.

Abstract: Apparatus for wrapping cylindrical bales of crop material with netting material includes a feed roller which may be selectively driven to dispense the netting material from a supply roll into a round baler. The apparatus has a home position and a cutting position wherein the feed roller is latched by a latch arm. The apparatus also has a feeding position wherein the feed roller is driven by the PTO of a tractor. A lever mounted for rotation about the axis of the feed roller has an idler pulley on one end thereof engageable with a belt for effecting the driving of the feed roller. The lever also has a rod on the other end thereof connected to a latch arm for effecting the latching of the feed roller. An electrical actuator is connected to the lever for moving the apparatus between the home, feeding, and cutting positions. A knife for cutting the netting material is connected to the lever for movement between a retracted position and an operative position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tube and bag from a supply of thin thermoplastic film with the film being formed into tubular shape about a filling tube with the edges of the film brought together and joined solely by a zipper strip having reclosable pressure interlocking members thereon with the zipper strip preferably heat sealed to the film and the zipper strip having a web between the pressure interlocking members which provides a tamper-evident juncture between the edges of the film so that the web must be severed for access to the interior of a bag formed from the film, and individual bags formed from the continuous tube by filling the tube through the filling tube and cross-seaming and cutting individual bags from the continuous film tube.

Abstract: A container is provided in the form of a cup-like container body with a round mouth closed by a lid which becomes removably replaceable upon tearing away of a circumferentially extending tear strip which initially surrounds the mouth rim of the container body as a radially outer, integral part of the lid flange. As the lid is differential pressure-thermoformed, its radially outer region is formed into a generally inverted U-shaped structure which near the juncture of the base and radially outer leg of the inverted U, is provided, within the channel, with an inverted V-shaped notch of substantially diminished wall thickness to provide a line of weakness which preferably extends nearly fully around the circumference of the lid, but for at an angularly short tear-starting site.

Abstract: A dished foil lid is secured to a container having a flange at its top by placing the lid over the open top of the container with the periphery of the foil on the flange and the dished portion of the lid extending downwardly into the container, and by applying a heating tool to the exterior of the foil adjacent the inner edge of the top of the container. The heating tool preferably has a tapered tip portion so that when it is urged into the depression formed by the dished portion of the lid, the side surfaces of the tip bear against the part of the foil adjacent to the inner edge of the top of the container. The time, temperature and pressure of application of the tip are such as to cause the adjacent inner edge of the container to soften and, upon subsequent removal of the tool, a narrow seal is formed between lid and container at the inner edge of the top of the container. The resultant seal is not only uniform and hermetic, but is easily parted when one later peels off the lid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating the bagging of large round hay bales. The apparatus has a supporting frame that supports a large ring on which a large flexible radially accordian-folded plastic tube is mounted. By positioning a bale inside of the ring and then moving the apparatus, the bale is covered by the plastic tube. The process is repeated until the tube is filled with bales.

Abstract: A cap alternator feed device is provided for a capper machine and consists of a mechanism that will prevent deposition of a cap on a raised portion of a container that is at an elevation not lower than the container neck but will allow a cap to be placed onto the neck.

Abstract: A dual station wrapping machine for serially wrapping material layers on rolls is disclosed. A conveyor moves a roll to a wrap station where a transfer arm moves the roll to a support roller. An upper hold down roller completes a three point support for the roll. A first station includes a fixed material applicator and a movable material applicator. A second station includes a movable material applicator.

Abstract: A method of packaging articles of a compressible material, such as cleaning sponges, according to which a blank of arbitrary length is cut such that its thickness corresponds to the thickness of the article and its width corresponds to the longest dimension of the article. The blank is folded lengthwise along its center line once and is then again folded along the center line of the once folded blank a second time. The blank, thus folded twice, is advanced through a piece of piping the outer jacket face of which serves as a shaping template for shaping a web of foil into a tubular cover enclosing the blank and the piece of piping coaxially. The tubular cover is brought along by the advancing twice-folded blank at the discharge end of the piece of the piping and the twice-folded blank is cut while enclosed in the tubular cover, into pieces in such a manner that the length of the blank corresponds to the width of the article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging firewood and kindling material wherein said device includes a rigid support frame for stacking and packaging. The rigid support frame includes a base member, a vertical support member hingedly affixed to said base member, and a truss member detachably affixed to said vertical support member at one end and pivotably affixed to said base member on its opposing end. The firewood is vertically positioned on said frame in a multiplicity of layers, wherein each layer is positioned in substantially normal axial displacement to one another, thus preventing lateral stability during said packaging procedure. A shrink wrap material is provided along with a heating element, e.g., hand held air blower, such that said shrink wrap may be applied to encase said vertically positioned firewood, and its corresponding kindling material. The method and apparatus of the invention thereby provides a transportable package of firewood along with a combustible material, i.e.

Abstract: A carton loading machine for use in loading items into a carton of the type which has two load storage compartments which are separated from one another by a divider wall and which has an end wall located opposite the divider wall. The carton loading machine has first and second loading stations arranged in a side-by-side relationship in which a carton is located with its divider wall separating the station. The loading machine has first and second gates mounted above the loading station for movement between a first position in which they are remote from loading station and a second position in which they extend into the first and second loading station respectively, one on either side of a divider wall of a carton to support the divider wall and guide load items into the load storage compartments.