Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber is formed as a sealed assembly and subsequently, at a desired time, an opening is non-contaminantly pierced in the outer shell and the shock absorber is pressurized by passing a pressurized fluid through the opening and the opening is then non-contaminantly sealed with a metal ball by welding to make the hydraulic shock absorber permanently gas pressurized. The shock absorber assembly, the method of making it and the apparatus for making it are disclosed in this specification.

Abstract: There is described a tube magazine on a device for sealing steel wrapping bands around filled packages in which to seal the steel wrapping bands the steel band is initially conveyed twice through a first smooth oval sheet metal tube contained in the tube magazine wih corresponding steel band lead-in openings provided in the tube magazine. To improve its functioning, the tube magazine is carried on a stationary axle that is parallel to the direction of conveyance of the steel band, which housing can swivel in limited manner such that in the first end position the first tube stored in the tube magazine is disposed coaxially opposite and in correct position to the steel band to be conveyed, while in the other end position the tube magazine is outside the steel band which is guided sideways, and in the outside of the tube magzine, which is turned toward the second magzine end position and runs parallel to the direction of conveyance of the steel band, there is a recess that is at least the size of a tube.

Abstract: Longitudinal welding equipment in a machine for packaging products fed on a conveyor belt inside a continuous film of plastic material wrapped around the products with overlapping longitudinal side edges. The equipment comprises a longitudinal welding means positioned above the edges of the means for generating an oscillatory rotary-translational motion on a vertical plane. Furthermore, the equipment provides at least one pressure and accompanying belt a top of the products wrapped inside the film. The welding means and the pressure belt are operatively driven by the same central motor means which actuates said conveyor belt. The welding means is equipped with a means for temperature control operatively connected to the packaging speed.

Abstract: A machine for feeding a collapsed beverage can carrier sleeve to a flight bar conveyor and introducing the sleeve in fully open condition to the pocket of the conveyor. After leaving the feed rolls the collapsed carrier sleeve is moved through a fixed guide by lugs on a movable chain. The end flaps on the upwardly facing side panel are held in place on the guide while the end flaps on the downwardly facing side panel are moved downwardly by a fixed cam surface. The substantially opened sleeve is then either given a final kick by rotating arms or is propelled by the feed lugs to accelerate it into the pocket while at the same time fully straightening and opening the sleeve. The carton dimension corresponding to the length of the pocket is the same as the length of the pocket, resulting in more pockets per conveyor length and permitting operation at slower conveyor speeds.

Abstract: A fluid packaging means comprises tubular side walls and end walls disposed at the ends thereof, forming a bottom and a top, wherein the top comprises thermoplastic material without a carrier material, is injection moulded to the outer edge of the tube along that edge and has a pouring means, and the bottom is quadrangular and has triangular flaps which are folded over to lie against at least one adjacent panel. In order to provide such a packaging means with a particularly advantagoeus bottom, the invention proposes that at least two mutually oppositely disposed triangular flaps of the bottom are folded inwardly into the plane of the bottom or outwardly on to the side wall, about the lower edge between the bottom and the side wall, and fixed in that position.

Abstract: A system for handling zipper-equipped wrapper sheet material to be used in a form, fill, and seal machine for wrapping product enables the wrapper sheet to be drawn from a supply with a flap sheet portion overlying a panel sheet portion and subsequently disposing the flap sheet portion such that it is folded back away from the panel sheet portion to fully open up the wrapper sheet material. The folding over of the flap sheet portion brought about by apparatus which permits continuously flow of wrapper sheet to the form, fill, and seal machine at conventional machine high speed production rates. The system is made adjustable to handle zipper-equipped wrapper sheet material of various sizes. Devices are included to ensure proper tensioning of the line of wrapper sheet material passing to the form, fill, and seal machine.

Abstract: A method and a device for placing edge protecting means (7) at objects in connection with band strapping. The inventive method is distinguished in that blanks for edge protecting means (7) are fed as a continuous band (7a) which when advanced is preliminary bent around a longitudinal line, that the fed-out portion of the band (7a) is cut to form an edge protecting means (7) in correct position, and that the edge protecting means (7) is finally bent in connection with cutting.

Abstract: The invention discloses a multiple layer packaging film, packages made therefrom and a method of opening the packages. The invention provides inseparable seal strength and in some cases hermetic seals, in combination with peelable ply separation opening for access to the contents of the package, while at the same time providing excellent barriers to transmission of oxygen and moisture. Certain embodiments provide for improved abuse resistance, excellent graphics, and other improvements. The method of opening the package depends on separating opposing ones of the package sidewalls, forcing the opening tear to be propagated partially through the film to a peelable layer interface, with subsequent ply separation along the interface to effect completion of opening of the package.

Abstract: A method and configuration for packing flexible, flat packages in a carton for easy removal includes stacking the packages in a stack which has a height that is less than its length or width, placing the stack in a plastic bag within the carton on edge so that the stack fits loosely between the sides of the carton, and rotating the plastic bag and stack so that the packages lay flat in the carton and the neck of the plastic bag wraps around the stack.

Abstract: A coil-forming apparatus includes three pinch wheels spaced about the periphery of an idler roller rotatably mounted to a platen. Wire is fed through the platen between the pinch wheels and idler roller where the wire is held in place. Rotation of the platen relative to the idler roller imparts a longitudinal twist to the wire, and the pinch wheels drivingly engage the twisted wire with a controlled gripping force and form it into coils against a tapered, forward surface of the idler roller. The coiled wire is then advanced outwardly from the idler roller to a mandrel having an axially adjustable pitch setting roller which engages the coil at a predetermined location from the idler roller to set the wire with the desired pitch.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for providing uninterrupted guidance of a reclosable bag through a filling station in a form fill and seal system. The apparatus includes a guide mechanism positioned inside the bag film for providing uninterrupted guidance of the bag film through the filling station. The guide mechanism includes a first guide wheel for engaging the bottom of the bag film and a second guide wheel for engaging interlocked fastener elements on opposing plies of the bag film. A separating device is positioned along the path traveled by the bag film for separating the interlocked fastener elements as the bag film is advanced.

Abstract: An apparatus for flattening the horizontal seal area of a form-fill-seal pouch or bag comprising a pair of spreaders adapted to be located in the interior of the film pouch to stretch the film in the horizontal seal area to eliminate wrinkles in the film to insure an air-tight seal.

Abstract: A method of forming a container in one or more double acting presses includes the steps of blanking, drawing an inverted cup and reverse drawing the inverted cup while retaining a flange thereon at a first station and then transferring the cup to a second station where the cup is drawn to an inverted configuration and then reverse drawn to form a finished container again retaining the flange throughout. The drawing operations at each station are performed in a single stroke of the press. The apparatus at the first station includes a blank and draw punch and a fixed, hollow die core ring with the punch telescoping over the ring to form the inverted cup and a draw horn telescoping within the ring to reverse draw the cup. The apparatus at the second station includes a hollow redraw sleeve and a pressure sleeve telescoping over the redraw sleeve to invert the cup and a profile punch telescoping within the redraw sleeve to reverse draw the cup.

Abstract: Bags in a series have first and second end portions with the bags being separated from one another except for links that connect the first end portions of the bags into a continuous chain, which is wound upon itself on a storage reel. Such winding may be in a vertical spiral fashion, or it may be by engagement by a separable continuous strip, such as a ribbon tape across the second end portions of the bags as reeled upon a core, thereby maintaining the bags in the chain substantially free from skewing relative to one another. Method and apparatus for effecting the reeling of the bag chain are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method of grouping, orienting, and packing articles such as ice-cream cones, the cones are advanced in rows on conveyors while being grouped and oriented, and are subsequently gripped in groups by a gripping device. Through suction heads gripping their respective groups, the gripping device is adapted to situate the groups in an open packing box. To permit the process to be carried out at a relatively high speed and low noise level, the articles are initially advanced in a first advancing direction while lying directly on a first endless and continuously running conveyor. They are then received in groups by a second endless and continuously running conveyor, which lifts the cones into contact with the suction heads of the gripping device while the mutual distance of the cones is being adjusted. The transfer of the cones from the first conveyor and through the second conveyor to the gripping device is carried out without stopping the advancing movement of the cones.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for loading articles into bags formed from a known roll of web material delineated by perforations at desired intervals. The web includes a first and second sheet of material. A sensor detects a perforation line and activates a sheet separator which opens or tears only the first sheet along a perforation line. The second sheet remains intact and preserves the web. A stream of air is directed at the open edge to inflate a bag. The bag is stabilized on a platform while articles are inserted. After articles are loaded, the second sheet is separated so that the bag is removed from the web and can be closed as desired.

Abstract: A mandrel for opening a tube of flexible banding material wherein the tube is delivered in flat ribbon-like form with creased side edges is disclosed. The mandrel is in the form of a tetrahedron with two sets of surfaces which are in the form of isosceles triangles with each set of faces inclining towards one another to form a common base. A pair of relatively yieldable, sharp-edged wedging elements are disposed on each common base. Biasing means bias the wedging elements outwardly to limit positions at the ends of the common bases. Use of the mandrel to open a tube of flexible, heat-shrinkable banding material and creasing the material at points displaced 90.degree. from the initial creases is disclosed.

Abstract: A drilling and mounting machine for furniture production suitable for the drilling of holes as well as for the insertion of dowels or hinge casings into drilled holes is operable by hand or by means of a lever, as well as by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. A fastening plate is screwable to a housing of the machine and a pneumatic or hydraulic piston-cylinder unit may be fastened to such fastening plate to actuate the feed of the machine.

Abstract: A machine for feeding beverage cans to open-ended carrier sleeves of varying capacities. When loading relatively small carrier sleeves, inboard conveyors and associated metering screws feed groups of cans to a flight bar conveyor which moves the groups through the open ends of the carrier sleeves. When loading relatively large carrier sleeves, outboard conveyors and associated metering screws are also operated after first replacing the inboard screws with screws able to separate cans into larger groups, the same size as those formed by the outboard screws. This arrangement feeds larger groups of cans which are then fed to the larger carrier sleeves. In one embodiment each conveyor comprises a longer upstream conveyor and a shorter downstream conveyor spaced a short distance therefrom to allow the flight bars to travel through the space between the conveyors when moving from the end of their upward run to the beginning of their horizontal downstream run.

Abstract: A pick-up head especially for use in a machine for placing electrical components on a substrate comprises a tool holder mounted for movement, conveniently by a lead screw driven by a motor, between a plurality of datum positions and further positions remote therefrom, having means for interchangeably mounting a pick-up tool with a datum face of the tool located at a predetermined position relative to the tool holder. The head further comprises a plurality of orienting jaws mounted for movement towards and away from a component carried on the datum face of a tool on the tool holder when the holder is in one of the datum positions whereby the jaws can engage the component to orient the component.