Abstract: A closure member for crown cork applicators, which comprises a closure cone and an ejector engaging the longitudinal bore of said closure cone, is provided with an observation opening connecting the bore to the outside thereof, said observation opening having an aperture angle of at least 180.degree. and being dimensioned such that the ejector is located completely within said observation opening. The large observation opening defined in this way permits the best possible access to the particularly critical areas of the closure member for the purpose of examination, cleaning, disinfection or the like.

Abstract: A package for carrying fluid or powder samples and which is well adapted for application to product packaging or cards using automated equipment, and methods for forming the same. The package may be produced using a support web, a web of double coated tape, a web of transfer tape, or a release liner and a self-adhesive laminate.

Abstract: The combination of a carrier for a container, a squaring plate, a drive for the squaring plate, and a sealing assembly. The carrier accepts a container having first and second spaced flat walls that are substantially parallel to each other with the container in an erected state and third and fourth walls each connecting between the first and second flat walls. The carrier has a first edge against which the first wall of the container can be abutted so that the first wall is thereby supported in a first orientation with the container operatively held by the carrier. The squaring plate is guided in movement relative to the carrier towards the first edge.

Abstract: A method of forming a preformed pot cover for a flower pot having a three-dimensional printed pattern thereon wherein the three-dimensional pattern is produced by application of a foamable ink composition.

Abstract: A method for storing adsorbent particles of synthetic resin porous particles for a long period of time without causing decrease in the adsorbing performance and without attaching fungi, which method can be effected by irradiation of the porous particles hermetically sealed in a packing material such as a bag with radioactive rays at a dose of 5 to 20 kGy and storage of the resulting adsorbent particles in the hermetically sealed condition.

Abstract: The present invention forms and seals the top end of a container prior to filling and bottom sealing. The top end may have a fitment attached thereon at a variety of different positions on a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The fitment may be a screw cap, a push-in, a flip-cap type or similar fitments. The container may be a flat top ., tetrahedral or similar type container. The fitment may be applied on the exterior or the interior of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading bales of agricultural products into a protective sheath. The apparatus includes a mobile framework adaptable at one end for connection with a vehicle. A detachable bale bagger is received at an end opposite the vehicle and supports a corrugation of protective sheath. In an attached mode, the apparatus is adaptable to retrieve, transport, handle and sheath bales of agricultural products. A lifting unit is adapted to retrieve bales from a location and mount them in an end-to-end fashion along parallel rails of the mobile framework. As bales are individually retrieved and loaded, a bale moving device movably connected to the mobile framework, rearwardly displaces the incoming bales a distance along parallel rails so as to make space for the next bale. Once the mobile framework is loaded with bales, the apparatus is transported to a location suitable for storage.

Abstract: A process (100) for transporting goods between a component manufacturer (102), a product manufacturer (104), and a purchaser (106) includes the steps of:(a) providing a tray (200, 300) having a plurality of compartments (208) which retain securely components (402, 404) manufactured by the component manufacturer (102), and further which retain securely product (502) manufactured by a product manufacturer (104);(b) shipping the tray (200, 300) with components (402, 404) securely retained to the product manufacturer (104);(c) utilizing the components (402, 404) in the manufacture of the product (502);(e) shipping the tray (200, 300) with the product (502) securely retained to the purchaser (106);(f) returning the tray (200, 300) to the component manufacturer (102) after the product (502) has been removed from the tray (200, 300). The process (100) can be managed by a resource manger (108) who tracks the inventory and distribution of trays.

Abstract: A sanitary fill tube assembly includes an oval fill tube connected between an oval inlet tube and an oval spreader having a hollow interior with a piston valve member reciprocally mounted therein. The piston valve member is actuated by a plunger rod and is guided by a pair of arcuate guide slots formed in the spreader to accurately move the piston valve between open and closed position. The plunger rod and the piston valve member may include elongated internal passages therein and the piston valve member closely fits into a discharge outlet from the hollow interior of the spreader to accurately control and meter material being fed into a pouch. The piston valve member may be provided with a sharpened leading edge to cut off particulate material contacted thereby.

Abstract: A sterilization system for sterilizing surface areas of a packaging material in a packaging machine is set forth. The sterilization system comprises an ultraviolet lamp including a housing and an ultraviolet light transmission portion. A support assembly is connected to support the ultraviolet lamp. The ultraviolet lamp is connected to the support assembly so that it is pivotable with respect to the support assembly from a first operating position in which the ultraviolet transmission portion of the ultraviolet lamp is disposed to irradiate the surface areas of the packaging material and a second position in which the ultraviolet transmission portion of the ultraviolet lamp is disposed at an angle for cleaning or service. A latching mechanism may be used to secure the ultraviolet lamp in the second cleaning position. Alternatively, the ultraviolet lamp assembly may be automatically moved between the first and second positions using an automatic drive.

Abstract: Baled material (4) is fed into a resilient sheath (4) through an open end thereof with at least the open end portion held in a resiliently expanded condition so that after insertion of the material the sheath can contract around the material, so expelling excess air. The sheath is held by a holding device having members (25; 124) movable on cranks between positions in which the sheath can be readily located on the members in its unstressed condition and in which at least the open end of the sheath is enlarged by stretching.

Abstract: A product packaging machine incorporates a pair of conveyor belts which are continuously driven in a given direction at a selected speed. The conveyor belts are mounted on a reciprocable frame and are arranged such that the product being conveyed resides between the belts and a run of each belt firmly engages and transports the product. The belt runs engaging the product can be made to extend and retract in correspondence with the product being packaged reaching and completing a succeeding stage of packaging such as sealing.

Abstract: The apparatus has a circular can filling device, a lid star wheel, a lid supply star wheel and a sealing device. The sealing device is spaced from both the filling device and the lid supply means but the path is very short. The lid star wheel and the can filling device for filling the containers or cans have a common contains transfer area, in which the lids are individually placed on the cans. In order to transport the cans with the lids thereon to the sealing device, a conveying unit is provided, which has two container guides, between which the containers are guided to the sealing device by the conveying unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealingly closing a pack for liquids in which the top of the pack is provided with a hole into which is fitted a pouring device that includes a cup-like recess which defines a flange. The apparatus includes a pivot device that pivots about a main horizontal axis. The pivot device includes several mandrels onto which the pouring devices are to be individually mounted. The mandrels are rotatable about their respective longitudinal axes to allow a thread of adhesive to be applied to the flange of each pouring device so that the pouring device can be subsequently attached to the top of the pack by joining the flange of the pouring device to the collar of the hole in the pack.

Abstract: In the manufacture of wet wipes, compressing the wet wipe stack within the container prior to sealing the container improves one-at-a-time dispensing of the wipes, e.g. the tendency for certain wipes to stick together upon removal is reduced.

Abstract: A cigarette magazine serves for receiving a small supply of cigarettes (10) and for forming cigarette groups which correspond to the contents of a cigarette pack. For this purpose, the cigarettes (10) are guided into upright magazine shafts (14) in which cigarette rows (15) of superposed cigarettes are formed. The cigarettes (10) are downwardly conveyed in the magazine shafts (14) under gravity. In this process there may occur problems, especially with cigarettes (10) having a filter (29). To ensure a faultless transport, the shaft walls (16) for defining the magazine shafts (14) are designed with a smaller width, such that the filters (29) of the cigarettes (10) are located beyond the region of the shaft walls (16). This ensures a trouble-free downward transport.

Abstract: A can star drive for a fish-canning machine in which a turret 11 and can star 75 are separately driven, with the can star 75 being rotated through its 120.degree. advance in each cycle during half again as much time as it takes for the turret 11 to advance through its 120.degree. advance. The slower rate of rotation of the can star 75 reduces the exit velocity of the filled cans as they are discharged from the machine to avoid ejection of fish from filled cans. In addition, the can star 75 rotates through its 120.degree. continuously in a one-step advance, rather than through a two-step advance with an intermediate stop as in prior machines.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatically packaging small cloth articles, such as nylon stockings, in bags. The packaging machine comprises two or more loading conduits each having a loading end and a discharge end. A vacuum system is associated with the conduits for conveying the cloth articles therein. A retention housing is provided at the discharge end of each of the loading conduits to retain the cloth article introduced at the loading end. A piston head is displaced in the conduit at the discharge end to transfer the cloth articles in the retention housings of all of the conduits simultaneously and into an associated discharge container. The containers are mounted on a turret and are displaced, serially, to a discharge position where a predetermined number of articles contained within the containers are transferred into a bag.

Abstract: A clutch adapted for use in a screwcapping device to apply a preselected amount of torque to the driven component having a pair of axially aligned circular cylinders of equal diameter each having a generally smooth engaging surface facing the other clutch cylinder. Each of the cylinders has cavities in the rear side for containing magnets. The magnets are secured in the cavities by means of a cured polymeric resin. The maximum torque provided by the clutch is controlled by using removable spacer disks of varying thicknesses and having a diameter equal to that of the cylinders positioned between the engaging surfaces. The spacer may have a slot extending from the radius to the periphery adapted to be positioned on a central spindle passing through the cylinders.

Abstract: An automatic packaging apparatus having a conveyor belt and a plurality of flexible pouches forming a continuous sheet of web material. Each flexible pouch has an open end and an overlap portion specifically suitable for operation with the apparatus of this invention. The open end is separated and a load is inserted into a first active pouch of the flexible pouches. After the load is inserted into the flexible pouch, air is withdrawn from the flexible pouch. Air is withdrawn from the flexible pouch and a gas is preferably injected into the flexible pouch. The flexible pouch is then heat sealed to form a gas-tight seal. Controls are used to simultaneously operate the sealing, fluid transfer and loading stations of the automatic packaging apparatus. As the flexible pouch moves from the fluid transfer station to the sealing station, the gas-tight seal is maintained.