Abstract: A compact disc (CD) dispenser mounted on a bagging machine is disclosed. The dispenser includes turret and transfer assemblies. The turret assembly includes an indexing system to sequentially and one at a time position mandrels carrying CD disc sets at a dispensing location. The transfer assembly includes a pair of pickup heads driven by the rotary actuator. The pickup heads are adapted sequentially and one at a time to remove discs from a set positioned at the dispensing location and after 180.degree. rotation of the fluid actuator, drop a picked up disc into a waiting bag in the bagging machine.

Abstract: A disposable bag making apparatus that comprises a container for holding an elongate flexible plastic tube. The container includes a first wall and an aperture in the first wall through which a free end of the compacted elongate tube can project. A cutter is formed on the container whereby any desired length of the tube can be pulled through the aperture and brought into contact with the cutter and severed to form various sized disposable bags.

Abstract: A form assembly for enclosing a received facsimile document in an envelope has been developed, along with a method for automatically assembling and sealing the envelope with the facsimile document within. The form assembly includes a front and back sheet that when sealed together form the envelope. The front and back sheets have substantially the same dimensions and are both larger than the received facsimile document. The front and back sheets have a border area adjacent its perimeter, and the border includes a pattern of pressure sealing cohesive. Moreover, the border extends beyond the facsimile document when that document is assembled with the sheets of the envelope. To assemble the form, the facsimile document is sandwiched between the front and back sheets of the envelope. The edges of the assembled form which include the border are compressed with sufficient pressure to activate the cohesive of the border and to thereby seal the envelope closed with the facsimile document within the envelope.

Abstract: A wrapping machine for wrapping articles such as newspapers in individual protective packets comprising a support assembly having a feed station for introducing unwrapped articles into the machine for wrapping and a pick-up station for retrieving wrapped articles from the wrapping machine mounted on opposite ends thereof, a transport/wrapping assembly for moving the articles from the feed station to the pick-up station and a film supply for enclosing the article between a first flexible protective film sheet and a second flexible protective film sheet, a film sealing assembly for sealing the opposite sides and the opposite ends of the first flexible protective film sheet and the second flexible protective film sheet together to form a protective packet enclosing the article therein, a film cutting assembly for separating adjacent protective packets and a control assembly including at least one sensor to detect articles moving through the wrapping machine and to selectively activate and deactivate the sealing

Abstract: A method of automatically producing a plurality of prefilled, sterile delivery devices with a desired quantity of fluid. The sterile delivery devices each include a hollow barrel with a dispensing nozzle at one end and an open opposite end. A piston plunger is positioned within the open end and is slidable in sealing engagement with the barrel to retain a fluid therein. A tip is secured to the dispensing nozzle. A plurality of the sterile delivery devices are automatically fed along a predetermined path. Tips are then removed from the dispensing nozzles of the sterile delivery devices. The hollow barrels of the sterile delivery devices are then filled through the dispensing nozzles with a desired is quantity of fluid. The dispensing nozzles of the sterile delivery devices are then closed and sealed after the filling step to provide sealed sterile delivery devices with sterile fluid contents.

Abstract: A capping assembly includes at least one tube fixed to a spindle of an automatic machine and provided with a piston and cylinder unit for axially displacing a bush operatively connected with the tube and formed with a shaped recess to releasably engage a respective formation on a cup support upon displacement of the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for sterile packing of a substance (2) in a container (1), whereby said substance (2) can not stand the same sterilizing process as the one said container (1) is subjected to. The container (1) is sterilized without containing said substance (2) and while being enclosed in an outer package (4) so that said container (1) becomes internally and externally sterile. Thereafter, said substance (2), which has been sterilized in another way, is inserted into the container (1) without contaminating neither the container (1) nor the substance (2) during said insertion of said substance (2) into said container (1).

Abstract: A dual action indexing system and method for relatively rotating a lamina and a partial lamina stack in a progressive die assembly. The dual action indexing system includes a mechanical indexer such as a roller gear cam which provides a large indexed rotational movement to correct for thickness inconsistencies in the laminas and a relatively small and fast servo motor to provide a small indexed rotational movement to provide a desired skew angle. The rotational movements of the mechanical indexer and servo motor are combined by a phase adjuster. The combined rotational movement is used to rotate a choke barrel into which the laminas are punched to form a lamina stack. The operation of the servo motor is regulated by a controller and may thereby be conveniently and rapidly adjusted.

Abstract: The adjustment of machines (10) during the installation of the same at the location they are to be used is costly in terms of time and manpower, because a precise positioning of the machine is a precondition for a permanent fault-free operation. A reliably and precisely reproducible adjustment of the machine (10) is attained in that the load forces exerted on the machine feet (11) are measured and, by adjusting the machine feet (11), adapted to predefined nominal load forces (40). These calibration load forces are determined in advance, especially empirically, by using exact measurement methods. The values constitute reproducible values for the adjustment of the machine.

Abstract: A method of packing a portable basketball goal support system having a base, a ballast tank, and an arm for supporting a basketball goal support pole which can be assembled in an expanded configuration for use and a compact configuration for shipping or storage. In the expanded configuration, the ballast tank extends at least partially behind the support pole providing stability for the base, while in the compact configuration, the ballast tank may be nested within a portion of the base, thereby occupying less space. The overall length, height, and thickness of the support assembly are thus reduced for storage, thus occupying less space when shipped or stored than would be possible in previous conventional designs providing comparable performance.

Abstract: Infusion packets have envelopes of heat-sealable material with a looped thread within the packets to wring moisture from the packet in use. A central part of the thread loop is held in a widened region of one edge seal while the ends of the loop project through the opposite edge seal in which they are movable when the loop is to be contracted. The packets are produced by forming a continuous series of thread loops on one elongate web and placing doses of infusion material on a second elongate web before bringing the webs together with the thread loops and infusion material between them. The two webs are then welded together and the individual packets are separated from the joined webs.

Abstract: The system involves the use of shallow boxes having an integral base and lid, with the lid being foldable down to close the box as part of the automated packaging of stacks of sheets of labels or other sheet material. The system involves one or more accumulators having buffering capability between sheet stackers and the cartoning equipment. The lids may be scored and subject to a pre-breaking step so that their three layer construction may be readily formed into boxes in the course of the packaging process.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet recorder including positioning a container body having a bottom wall and an opening on a pallet such that the bottom wall faces upward, the container body including a porous member, a foam chamber for accommodating the porous member therein, and an ink supply port, having an inlet formed in the bottom surface of the foam chamber and an outlet; inserting packing into the ink supply port; sealing the ink supply port outlet; resetting the container body on the pallet by turning the container body upside down such that the opening faces upward; affixing a filter to the ink supply port inlet; inserting the porous member into the foam chamber; bonding a cover to the opening of the container body; injecting ink into the foam chamber; and sealing the cover.

Abstract: A reclosable package includes two sheets of a first polymeric resin material facing one another and forming a package opening having an inside and an outside. A first zipper strip having a male zipper profile and a first flange area, and a second zipper strip having a female zipper profile and a second flange area, are extruded from a second polymeric resin material. The first flange area is sealed to the first sheet with a first seal on the outside of the package opening, and the second flange area is sealed to the second sheet with a second seal on the outside of the package opening. The first and second seals are offset from one another relative to the male and female zipper profiles, so that the first and second seals are not in a back-to-back relationship with respect to one another.

Abstract: An improved method and device are provided for evacuating gas from a gas tight envelope such as a bag of plastic film, enclosing one or more trays containing solid or granular material. The vacuum probe used in accordance with the invention to evacuate the envelope has one or more parallel grooves or apertures extending its length. The probe is inserted vertically into the envelope along the side of the tray and provides a vacuum, across the length of the probe to prevent blocking of the probe and ceasing evacuation of the gas.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus conveys cones lying on the side to a predetermined point. Prior to reaching the predetermined point, an edible adhesive is applied to the side of each cone. At the predetermined point, a paper wrap is applied to the cone and adhered thereto. The first cone is then stacked with a second cone and more cones, followed by packing for transport.

Abstract: An automatic filing device for photos, prints and other similar materials for inserting pairs of photos arranged back-to-back into envelopes. The insertion is carried out by means of a rotating shelf (5) on which the photos are placed and a pusher (7) which slides them into the envelopes. The method of insertion is also described.

Abstract: Described and/or claimed herein is a method for vacuum sealing articles in a substantially air-tight container comprising the steps of: 1) placing the article in the container; 2) turning on a vacuum source having an elongated nozzle end; 3) inserting the nozzle into the container; 4) sealing the container as completely as possible around the nozzle; 5) waiting for air to be withdrawn from the container through the nozzle; 6) removing the nozzle from the container; and 7) completely sealing the container with the article therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for assembling together tags (6), thread (8) and a web of envelope material for producing tagged packets. The tags are held on spaced seats on the periphery of a rotary carrier (2) and the thread is laid over the carrier and the tags. It is formed into a convoluted shape on the peripheral surface of the carrier between the tags by laterally displaceable holding pins (12) or by being dispensed onto the carrier by a displaceable guide (50). The web is brought against the tags and thread and attached to them maintaining the convoluted pattern of the thread. The assembly of web, thread and tags is suitable for a subsequent form-filling operation to complete the packets.

Abstract: A method for packing bodies (3), e.g. fodder bales of a generally cyclindrical or parallelpipedic configuration, in continuous material, such as plastics, comprising a support of the body and a winding of continuous material around the body from at least one magazine with continuous material while rotating the body around a first axis (7) of the body by means of a roller arrangement including at least one roller device (5'), downwards to which the body envelope surface (9) then rotates, is adapted to approach the body envelope surface. The invention also relates to a device for packing bodies.