Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging clothing articles in a packaging portion of a hose-shaped synthetic plastic material foil includes a machine frame on which a roll of the synthetic plastic material foil is rotatably mounted. The foil unwound from the roll is guided by diverting rollers along a predetermined path to an upper region of the machine frame. An opening device opens the hose-shaped foil at the upper region of the machine frame. An upper welding device welds the foil at the upper region of the machine frame along a predetermined imaginary line situated between the packaging portion and the remainder of the foil with attendant formation of an upper welding seam at which the packaging portion is dissociated from the foil remainder foil. A pulling device pulls the opened hose-shaped foil downwardly over the clothing article to be packaged and includes a foil-pulling carriage guided on the machine frame for vertical displacement, and a motor which displaces the carriage.

Abstract: Apparatus to trim the contents of a container projecting from the container top. The apparatus has a central, fixed shaft. A table is rotatably mounted on the shaft. Container receiving platforms can rotate on the table. The platforms can be raised and lowered. Rotatable cutters are located above the table, axially aligned with the platforms. A container on the table can be rotated as the table rotates and the platform can be raised towards the cutters to allow the cutters to contact the container top to trim the projecting contents.

Abstract: A case sealed by a strip of pressure-sensitive tape having an integral end portion of the tape at an end thereof folded back on the adhesive face of the tape and adhered thereto to form a tab which is unadhered to the case for being grasped and pulled to peel the tape away from the case, and a method of and apparatus for taping cases with this easy-open feature.

Abstract: A system of packaging a predetermined number of relatively flat packages or envelopes containing delicate articles such as hosiery, pantyhose, etc., into boxes. The packages or envelopes are printed and garments placed therein at a selected location and then placed on a substantially horizontal conveyor, conveyed to a vertical elevator having provision at the top thereof to accumulate a predetermined number of such packages or envelopes, and then automatically moved from the accumulator to an awaiting open tray or box bottom and placed therein. Prior to arriving at the opened tray, such tray has been automatically removed from a magazine, the sides and ends unfolded and placed on a platform in opened condition awaiting the arrival of the predetermined number of packages or envelopes. Once the envelopes or packages are placed in the tray the same is automatically transferred to a lid opening and applying station where the lid and filled tray are united.

Abstract: A carton loading machine for loading cartons which have first and second side closure flaps each comprising a proximal panel and a distal panel. The machine includes a tucking mechanism which serves to fold the distal panels into a face-to-face relationship with their associated proximal panels and thereafter, if folds the proximal panels inwardly along their hinge connection with the side walls of the carton while setting the distal panels at an oblique angle with respect to the side walls of the carton.

Abstract: An apparatus for ejecting a row of cigarettes from a cigarette magazine employs an endless conveyor which is actuable by means of a stepping drive. Ejector members fixed to the endless belt are moveable through the magazine case for ejecting the bottommost cigarette row. The endless conveyor employs a belt having a series of troughs which receive the bottommost cigarette row. The ejector members define the trailing boundary of the troughs.

Abstract: A vertical cartoner assembly and method is for placing and assembling cartons over preselected product groups moved on a conveyor. The assembly has a frame structure having an elongated circular portion and vertically disposed drive shafts each having upper and lower chain sprockets. Continuous chains engage the upper and lower sprockets, and a power drive is provided to rotate one of the drive shafts. A continuous cam rail structure is mounted to the frame spacially intermediate the continuous chains. The continuous cam rail has downwardly and upwardly sloping sections. A plurality of vertical shafts are connected to the top and bottom chains. A carton holder body structure having a vertically disposed sleeve slidingly engages at least one of the vertical shafts. The carton holder body has a rearwardly extending cam follower for movement in the cam rail structure. The carton holder body structure has a pair of adjustable outwardly extending arms for receiving an opened and partially erected carton.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a group of side-by-side stacked articles into a relatively flimsy enlongated open-top container. The containers are conveyed on a conveyor and each container, when positioned beneath a loading unit, is elevated from the conveyor to an elevated position where a pair of parallel spreader plates are received within the container. The spreader plates are pivoted outwardly deflecting the opposite elongated side walls of the container to a generally flat planar condition. With the side walls spread apart, a stack of articles is lowered by the loading unit into the container and the filled container is then lowered back onto the conveyor.

Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine has a tube former for receiving flexible packaging material in thin flat strip form and progressively juxtaposing opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof in parallel vertically extending relationship to provide a depending tube open at the top. A side sealer attaches the vertically extending overlapping edge portions and an end sealer provides vertically spaced horizontally extending transverse or end seals across the tube. A product dispenser discharges measured quantities of product into the tube interior through the former and through the open upper end of the tube. Tube feed means comprise first and second pairs of vertically spaced rolls respectively on opposite external sides of the tube of packaging material and first and second tube feeding belts respectively trained over said pairs of rolls. Inner runs of the belts engage the tube and have vertically extending perforate portions.

Abstract: The sealed package is sterilized with a sterilant gas such as ethylene oxide prior to application of a desiccant pack. The desiccant pack is applied after sterilization and held in place by a metallic foil which is impermeable to moisture. A moisture permeable layer separates the desiccant pack from the plastic tray-like layer in which the surgical instrument is disposed. Absorbable co-polymer staples are maintained moisture-free by virtue of the desiccant pack being located on the opposite side of the moisture permeable layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing individual plastic handle bearing bags from a stack of bags and holding the dispensed bag in an open position for loading. The apparatus comprises a bottom support member and two spaced-apart, oppositely disposed upwardly projecting tab members such that the apparatus has an opening corresponding approximately to the size of the open bag it is designed to contain. The upwardly projecting elongated tabs are compatible in size with the open portion of the bag handles and each is adapted to engage a handle of the bag in such manner that the bag is held suspended within the apparatus.