Abstract: A machine for wrapping large cylindrical hay bales features a horizontal table for supporting a bale on one of its ends. The table is rotated while sheet wrapping material is fed from an adjacent roll and wound around the bale. Means are provided for getting an unwrapped bale from the ground onto the table and then back to the ground after wrapping.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming bags from a packing film and then filling the bags with bulky solid or powdery materials includes a bag-making cylinder which has air-removing grooves in its outer periphery for removing air in the bags when the materials are collectively filled into the bags, thus resulting in a constant and high speed packing operation.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for bag packages in a packaging machine has a pair of tongs with jaws for transferring a flat bag which is delivered in a vertical plane, to bag holders of a conveyor apparatus on a path extending transversely to the plane (I) in which the bags are delivered. For quiet operation, which also needs little readjustment or supervision, the jaws are actuated via connecting rods and a lever mechanism. The tongs are rotatably supported on a pivot arm which is pivotable coaxially with the axis of rotation of the crank of the lever mechanism.

Abstract: A container forming apparatus for packaging machine by which a vertical tube filled with contents is sealed over a required width at a spacing corresponding to the length of one container and is cut at the midportion of the seal width, the apparatus comprising a slide having forming jaws, and a slide lift assembly drivingly movable by a pulse motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging portions of an extrudable product, such as butter or margarine. The entire apparatus is driven by a single motor with all operations being synchronized therewith. The pliable product is pumped through an extruder, cut into portions, and deposited on one layer of channeled substrate and covered with another layer of substrate, which has an adhesive applied thereto. The substrates are then drawn between compression rollers and cut between the product portions and the product portions automatically fed to trays. As each tray is filled, a rapid advance moves the tray forward a predetermined amount so that the product portions will continue to feed into the next tray. As the trays move forward, they are removed from the entire apparatus for either shipment and/or storage. The adhesive holds the upper substrate to the lower substrate for enclosing the product portion.

Abstract: The stand for a portable power drill has a base supporting an upright column on which a clamp is mounted for slideable movement to a desired height where it is fixed. A carriage is slideably mounted on the column with a bushing on each side of the clamp. A spring biases the carriage upwardly. A power drill is clamped on the carriage and the carriage can be moved downwardly relative to the clamp against the bias of the spring to feed the drill bit into the work. A lock plate having an aperture slightly larger than the diameter of the column fits over the column and is spring biased to tilt on a fulcrum on the underside of the clamp. When tilted, the aperture edges engage ("and bite") the column to support the carriage and drill. The plate has a pad which is depressed against the spring bias to release the plate so the clamp and carriage can be raised or lowered.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible substrate assembly including an elongated flexible substrate having a plurality of spaced apart component receiving regions, with a solid component disposed on each of said regions. A plurality of flexible strap members are disposed adjacent each component receiving region on one side thereof, and are joined to the other side of the region such that the strap overlies the region to form a tube-like passageway for receiving and containing a solid component. Several embodiments of the invention include different configurations of strap members are punched out from the flexible substrate so as to form a flap-like member having a free end, which is joined to the substrate so as to form a tube-like passageway. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating the substrate assembly and dispensing solid components contained in the substrate assemblies. Also, packaging arrangements and apparatus to produce packaging arrangements including the flexible substrate assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a cartoning machine which wraps cartons about preformed blocks of objects, it is proposed to insert a new carton one after the other into the block feed line before the preceding carton has left the insertion zone, with temporary partial overlap of the cartons, so as to reduce the distance between the successive fed blocks. Furthermore, in the insertion station, the blocks of objects are fed by transverse bars carried in a projecting manner from a chain conveyor disposed entirely on that side of the feed line opposite the side from which the cartons are inserted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging irregularly shaped articles is provided in which one or more articles is supported on one or more supports, enclosing the supports and the articles in a pack and removing the supports through one or more openings in the pack.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating the transverse seals in a form, fill and seal packaging machine is provided. The apparatus includes a heating member that heats a portion of the web of film to create the transverse seals, and a cooling member that cools the heated portion of the web of film and the heating member. The heating member includes a hot bar, a heater for heating the hot bar, and a biasing member that disengages the hot bar from the heater before the hot bar contacts the web of film.

Abstract: An ice cream sandwich wrapping apparatus includes an elevator which raises the ice cream sandwich to a wrapping position at which the wrapper extends over the top of and is draped along the sides of the ice cream sandwich, the elevator including a platform having a supporting surface for supporting the ice cream sandwich; a conveyor positioned adjacent the platform and including a conveying surface substantially coplanar with the supporting surface such that the ice cream sandwich can be pushed from the supporting surface to the conveying surface, the conveying surface including at least one recessed section open at an end thereof adjacent the platform; and a shoe movable in a direction toward and into abutment with the ice cream sandwich when the latter is on the supporting surface of the elevator, the shoe including a rear tucker for wrapping a rear buttom tuck panel of the wrapper about the ice cream sandwich as the shoe travels in the direction toward the ice cream sandwich, and a pusher fixedly connected

Abstract: A box indexing table delivers a group of empty boxes from a main conveyor to a box loading machine. The loaded boxes are pushed onto a full box conveyor. Both the main conveyor and the full box conveyor extend completely across the table. The capacity of the loading equipment can be expanded in modular fashion by adding modular tables.

Abstract: The loading apparatus of our invention comprises a filling shoe for input of small products, particularly pharmaceutical products, into a plurality of receptacles of a package component moving by and below the filling shoe. The filling shoe is provided with at least one feed chamber for receiving and dispensing the product which has a mouth opening below to the package component. A product duct for feeding the products one after the other is connected to and ends in the feed chamber. Each feed chamber is connected to at least one vacuum passage which is connected to and communicates with a vacuum source. The front side of the feed chamber in the motion direction of the package component may be formed as a guide slope running slantedly downward toward the package component opening in or to a vacuum passage with the feed chamber and to the package component. Vacuum slots may be provided running in a wall of the product duct and ending in the feed chamber to augment the vacuum effect in the product duct.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming plastic bags with zipper profile thereon, in situ, on a form and fill machine. Plastic film sheeting containing profiles is moved over a forming collar disposed about the filling spout of the machine. A major portion of the film is formed into a tube about the spout while a minor portion of the film, including the profiles, is directed away from the spout. After the tube is formed and filled, the major and minor portions are brought into alignment and transverse seams are formed on opposite sides of the product to form the bag.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible substrate assembly including an elongated flexible substrate having a plurality of spaced apart component receiving regions, with a solid component disposed on each of said regions. A plurality of flexible strap members are disposed adjacent each component receiving region on one side thereof, and are joined to the other side of the region such that the strap overlies the region to form a tube-like passageway for receiving and containing a solid component. Several embodiments of the invention include different configurations of strap members are punched out from the flexible substrate so as to form a flap-like member having a free end, which is joined to the substrate so as to form a tube-like passageway. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating the substrate assembly and dispensing solid components contained in the substrate assemblies. Also, packaging arrangements and apparatus to produce packaging arrangements including the flexible substrate assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel machine for forming bags from expandable continuous rope net material having a spherical expanding body positioned within the tubular net material to expand the material as the material is drawn around the body and a basin for supporting the body. The machine also has mechanisms to seal the bottom of the expanded material and to adjust the machine to form bags of different lengths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a film wrapping. A charge or load wherein an anvil is first brought into contact with the charge and then the wrapping operation commences. After the film is wrapped sufficiently to hold itself to the charge, a clamp holding the end of the film is released and is then moved to a retracted position where it stays until the wrapping is almost completed. When a first lap of film has been wrapped over the anvil, a jaw of the clamp is moved into position adjacent the anvil and a second lap of film is wound over the anvil and jaw. Next the heat sealer is operated to cooperate with the anvil and seal the two laps together and a second jaw of the clamp is moved to operative position to clamp the second or last lap of film which is then cut between the clamp and the heat seal so formed.

Abstract: The manufacture of non-returnable packages is frequently carried out by the conversion of web-shaped, laminated packing material to a tube, filling of the tube with milk, and sealing and forming the filled packing containers to the desired shape. During the forming, which is done by external forming devices, the contents are used as a mandrel or a holder-up for the forming device, so that the desired shape can be achieved without creasing or other deformations. The above-mentioned forming principle works less well if the packing containers are not completely filled, but have a certain air space or headspace. The proportioning of the contents also becomes uncertain and the desired accuracy of volume cannot always be achieved. These difficulties are overcome by the invention wherein a sealed off part of the packing material tube is pressurized with the help of gas during the forming process, so that the internal back pressure required during the forming is obtained, independently of the quantity of contents.

Abstract: A hydraulic shear attachment means for construction equipment having a support arm for pivotal attachment to said construction and a lower jaw for shearing. The arm includes flange members positioned on either side of the lower jaw to support the pivotable upper jaw. Arcuate tracks are positioned in the support flanges to receive a support pin extending through the upper shear jaw which rides in said tracks during actuation of the upper jaw.