Abstract: An apparatus and method for accumulating specified weights of objects, such as apples, and delivering them to a plurality of off-load conveyors, the off-load conveyors delivering the apples to chutes which can then guide the apples into a single bagging apparatus. The flow of the apples on the chutes is controlled by a gate overlying all the chutes and a speed control brush that rotates at a desired speed to control the flow rate of the apples down the chute into the bagger. The apparatus and method are controlled by the interaction of a computer and a programmable logic controller.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing pocketed compound nested coil springs includes inserting a compressed, preferably pocketed, smaller coil spring into a horizontally oriented larger coil spring either prior to compressing and inserting the outer coil spring into pocket material or after the larger coil spring has been pocketed thereby requiring the first spring to be inserted into and through an opening in the pocket material.

Abstract: A method of creating a package with reclosable resealable flaps. The package is defined by a blank formed by die cutting a continuous web or sheet of material after ink and a release coating have been applied to one side of the web but on different areas. The blank, when folded, provides a structure with a rectangular cross-section having four planar sides, each side with extending flaps. A package is formed by closing and securing the flaps on the bottom end of the structure using a permanent adhesive. The package is then filled with product. One top outer flap can have a release coating applied to an area which will be engaged by the opposite flap when closed. This release coating, in combination with a repositionable adhesive, will cause the opposed flaps to releasably adhere one another to secure and seal the top opening. Repositionable adhesive can also be applied, either to the release coating itself, or to the surface opposite the release coating to the seal.

Abstract: A pillow type packaging apparatus has a suction belt for conveying flexible continuous sheet material. A guide unit guides the continuous sheet material being conveyed, and forms the continuous sheet material into a quadrangular tube in which a pair of its longitudinal edges are confronted with each other. A center sealer thermally seals up the longitudinal edges. An inserter inserts an article into the tube through the guide unit. The tube is formed into a packaging bag by cutting and sealing. In the guide unit, an inner guide frame is inside an outer guide frame. The outer guide frame includes first to fourth corner portions, which are disposed in a quadrangular shape, have inside edges in contact with the continuous sheet material, and shape the continuous sheet material into the tube. The first to fourth corner portions are movable in directions of width and height of the continuous sheet material. The tube is changeable in a size.

Abstract: A system and method for sterile packaging of beverages in plastic containers forms the plastic containers and fills them with sterile beverages in a common sterile environment. The containers are formed from a blow molding process in which the containers reach elevated temperatures sufficient to at least in-part sterilize the interior of the containers, are filled with sterile beverages immediately after the containers are formed in the same sterile environment. This eliminates the need for heavy use of sterilizing fluids for the plastic containers such as hydrogen peroxide or the like.

Abstract: A machine for conditioning packets of cigarettes is divided into a first portion defined by a number of outlets of a hopper through which cigarettes are fed in a first direction; a second portion in which a succession of adjacent conveyors defines a single supply path for the cigarettes and relative packets, the supply path extending substantially in a second direction crosswise with respect to the first direction; and a third portion in which a drying conveyor defines a number of parallel drying paths extending in a third direction crosswise with respect to the second direction.

Abstract: The apparatus for intermittently presenting tags for attachment to merchandise has a pay-out tape of tags severable by lines of weakness, drive rollers for intermittently advancing tape from the pay-out roll, breaking rollers that rotate at a greater speed than said drive rollers so as to sever a single tag from the tape at a line of weakness, and holding guide members on opposing sides of a severed single tag for presenting a portion of the tag for attachment to merchandise by a twist tie while temporarily holding the remaining portion between the opposing guide members. A key step of the method is that of presenting a portion of a marking tag in a projecting relationship from the exit of an opposing pair of holding guide members while maintaining the bulk of the marking tag within the opposing holding guide members in a manner permitting easy withdrawal of it, and attaching the projecting portion to the neck of a bag by a twist tie.

Abstract: A drug filling machine having a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of the drugs are discharged from one or some of the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial. A method of inspecting the drugs contained in the vial includes preparing the transparent sheet a sealing portion for covering the mouth of the vial, and a printed portion that protrudes outwardly of the mouth of the vial. After inspecting the drugs in the vial, the printed portion is separated from the sealing portion, and a cap is secured on the mouth of the vial.

Abstract: A pillow type packaging apparatus has a suction belt for conveying flexible continuous sheet material. A guide unit guides the continuous sheet material being conveyed, and forms the continuous sheet material into a quadrangular tube in which a pair of its longitudinal edges are confronted with each other. A center sealer thermally seals up the longitudinal edges. An inserter inserts an article into the tube through the guide unit. The tube is formed into a packaging bag by cutting and sealing. In the guide unit, an inner guide frame is inside an outer guide frame. The outer guide frame includes first to fourth corner portions, which are disposed in a quadrangular shape, have inside edges in contact with the continuous sheet material, and shape the continuous sheet material into the tube. The first to fourth corner portions are movable in directions of width and height of the continuous sheet material. The tube is changeable in size.

Abstract: An apparatus protects a bag so that waste may be compacted into the bag. The apparatus includes a shield having an upper shield opening and a lower shield opening, and a base that is constructed so that it may be secured, in a releasable fashion, to the lower shield opening. The shield separates the bag from compacted waste. The base cooperates with the shield to support the bag and its contents. The shield is placed almost entirely into the bag, the lower opening of the shield being secured to the base at an interface. Compacted waste rests on the bottom of the bag, which may be supported by the base. When the bag has become filled with waste, the shield is removed.

Abstract: Unsealed packets of cigarettes emerging from a packaging machine present an outer surface that consists of an opaque wrapping material, to which a revenue stamp and a coupon are affixed as the packets are transferred directly and in an ordered succession from the packaging machine to a cellophaner; on reaching the cellophaner, each packet in turn is enveloped in a sheet of transparent overwrapping material covering the opaque wrapping material, the revenue stamp and the coupon, and the overwrapping sealed in such a way that the finished packet will remain substantially airtight

Abstract: A case packer includes a mass flow conveyor moving containers in defined lanes and lane deflectors for urging containers laterally across the conveyor into a selectively actuable metering station. Containers are selectively metered into row groups of select count and segregated by transfer guides on an underlying transfer conveyor. The row groups are directed to move rearwardly or upstream on the forward moving transfer conveyor into alignment with an open case mouth. A rotary loader has extensible can pushers maintained in parallel with open case mouth during a substantial portion of movement of the cases past the rotary loader. This maintains the rows of cans in proper alignment for final case loading and prevents undesirable "A" pattern lock up. The transfer guides and rotary loader can be adjusted and/or modified to handle varied row counts of cans.

Abstract: A packaging machine for processing a carton blank received from a magazine into a formed, filled and sealed carton package. The packaging machine includes an infeed sterilizer mechanism, a carton lift, a form and fill carousel and a sealing mechanism. The infeed sterilizer sterilizes an erected carton blank having an open top end and an open bottom end, and is disposed on a first level of the packaging machine. The carton lift lifts sterilized cartons from the infeed sterilizer mechanism on the first level to a second level. The form and fill carousel is located on the second level and has a central turret with a plurality of filling mandrels connected thereto. Each of the filling mandrels is in flow communication with a product supply and fills the carton as it is lowered for sealing. The sealing jaw mechanism is disposed to receive a filled carton from a mandrel on the form and fill carousel and to seal an open end of the carton.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for automatically compressing, rolling, and packaging individual mattresses in a compressed state.

Abstract: A sealing mechanism for sealing the open end of a container being processed on a packaging machine. The sealing mechanism includes a first and second jaw assembly positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal pathway. Each jaw assembly includes a pair of sealing jaws, a plurality of grippers, a platform and a platform guide. The jaw assemblies operate along a continuous loop about the longitudinal pathway removing containers from filling mandrels during filling and sealing the open end thereof of the previously removed container.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for sterilizing packaging with vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet radiation on a packaging machine. A partially formed carton is sprayed with gaseous hydrogen peroxide from a hydrogen peroxide nozzle. The carton is then conveyed to a UV radiation source for irradiation of the carton with UV energy. The carton is then dried with heated air to flush/remove any residual hydrogen peroxide. The present invention sterilizes the carton allowing for filling of the carton with a desired product such as milk, juice or water. The invention allows for the efficacious use of hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of up to 53% while providing a carton having less than 0.5 ppm hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A perforated separation line forming apparatus which is characterized by: an edged rotary body (2) having a round slitting edge (1); and a receiving rotary body (4) having a receiving circumferential surface (3) that the round slitting edge engages; wherein the edged rotary body (2) and the receiving rotary body (4) are arranged to clamp a perforated line forming position (6) of a continuously fed transfer material (5) therebetween; wherein the receiving circumferential surface (3) of the receiving rotary body (4) is formed with non-slit portion forming recesses (7), which the round slitting edge (1) of the edged rotary body (2) cannot engage, at predetermined intervals in the direction of rotation, so that the perforated separation line (8) formed at the perforated line forming position (6) has slit portions (8A) and non-slit portions (8B) alternated successively; wherein the receiving rotary body (4) is movably adjustable relative to the edged rotary body (2) in an axial direction, the non-slit portion form

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of applying pouring elements to flat-gabled packages filled with free-flowing products, where the pouring elements are glued to the individually conveyed and sealed packages, where a fully automatic application operation is possible, where trouble due to improper positioning and incomplete gluing of the pouring elements is reliably prevented. In addition, it is desirable to prevent packages not having the pouring elements attached to them from leaving the gluing station. This is accomplished by the following steps: horizontal conveyance of successively arranged packages standing upright, separation of the packages and introduction of the separated packages into a gluing station depending on the presence of a pouring element, applying adhesive to the pouring element and gluing and pressing the pouring element to a predetermined area of each package.

Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus for packing items in selectively variable numerical quantities includes a track assembly adapted to support a plurality of strip items in parallel array. In a first section of the track assembly, a lateral slot receives consecutive batches of strips in parallel array. A plurality of pusher elements extend through a track slot, pushing the strips to impinge on each other in edge-adjacent fashion, and to translate distally from the first stage. A second stage of the track assembly includes a sufficient length of the track to accumulate a large number of strips. At the distal end of the track, a strip collection cylinder receives the strips. One end of the cylinder is configured to receive the open end of a bottle package, and the other receives a plunger to push the accumulated strips from to the bottle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sterilising a closed container (1) which is ready to be filled. The container is substantially in the form of a homogenous flat first sheet (2A) and a non-homogenous second sheet (2B) with susbtantially plane insides and with a space (14) between the first and the second sheet. A sterilisation of the insides of the container and the space (14) is achieved by means of electron exposure of the outside of the first sheet (2A).