Abstract: The film (F) fed to the packaging machine has a width suitable for wrapping articles whose sizes may vary over a wide range, and its width is made proportionate to the largest size of article which the machine can wrap. For the wrapping of articles whose dimensions are smaller than the maximum ones acceptable by the machine, the width of the film is modified as required to suit the dimensions of the article to be wrapped, by a pleating process (9-12-112-29-129-229) such that the longitudinal axis of the pleats lies in the direction of the length of the section of film introduced into the wrapping station.

Abstract: A tissue package comprising a plurality of tissues and a dispensing package. The plurality of tissues is compressed in two discrete stages, each of which stage can be released independently from the other. The first stage of compression is less than the second stage of compression. The tissues are transported and stored while under the second stage of compression. The user releases the second stage of compression, whereby the tissues can expand up to the first stage of compression. The user releases the first stage of compression just before installing the plurality of tissues into a dispensing package or dispenses the tissues through a restraint while they are held in the first stage compression.

Abstract: A device for opening bags (12) held in fixtures (32) movable in an operation direction is disclosed including first and second suction cups (104, 106). The first suction cups (104) are mounted to an elongated bar (108) slideably mounted on posts (112) in turn upstanding from pivot arms (110). The elongated bar (108) can be slid on the posts (112) to an upper, transport position allowing passage of the fixtures (32) and bags (12) held therein. The second suction cups (106) are mounted to the lower ends of rods (114) mounted to a slide shaft (116), with sliding of the slide shaft (116) moving the rods (114) and suction cups (106) from a transport position intermediate the lanes of the fixtures (32) as they move in the operation direction and an attachment position in front of the bags (12). The slide shaft (116) and the rods (114) are tilted along an arc to open the unsealed ends (22) of the bags (12).

Abstract: A packing machine includes a frame on a bottom of which a motor is mounted which has a rotary shaft laterally protruding therefrom. A sprocket train is securely mounted around the rotary shaft of the motor to rotate therewith. A chain train is mounted in the frame for co-operating with the sprocket train. A first sealing module is mounted on the side portion of the frame and is driven by the chain train for coupling the two opposite edges of the plastic film together. A second sealing module is mounted on the side portion of the frame below the first sealing module and is driven by the chain train for sealing the bottom end of the plastic film. A guiding device is mounted on the side portion of the frame for introducing the plastic film to smoothly move through the first sealing module and the second sealing module.

Abstract: A dry fruit bin filler for rapidly filling fruit bins, including a continuous fruit infeed belt and a fruit distribution belt mounted below the infeed belt which reciprocates under the infeed belt to receive and distribute the fruit layer-by-layer in the bin. The distribution belt is coupled to a sensor which controls intermittent activity of the belt based on the position of a discharge end of the belt relative to the bottom of the bin. The distribution belt is activated when the discharge end reaches the bottom of the bin, and lays down a layer of fruit as the belt retracts from the bin. To facilitate the layer-by-layer loading, the bin is held in a rotatable bin holder. The bin holder incrementally rotates during loading, so that the bin is lowered incrementally by a distance corresponding to a height of the layer of fruit.

Abstract: The machine is provided to wrap with a film portion a tray containing food products, the trays being inserted through a side device (13) having weighing scales which trays can moreover be labelled. The film insertion and cutting means comprise a carrier (3) joined to a cam (9) which on turning causes the said carrier to move forwards and backwards, whereas the cutting device has a blade (12) mounted upon a support, which is also driven by the cam (9) in such a way that the carrier and blade movements are synchronised. The machine includes a weighing station located under the carrier, and an electric station with all the power and control means of the machine as such, moreover incorporating tray lifting means that allow the lift to be used to handle variously sized trays, automatically and without having to change parts or elements.

Abstract: A device for supplying a film to a packaging machine has a gripper for gripping the film and a transporting mechanism for not only moving the gripper between a film feeder of the packaging machine, which receives the film from the gripper and takes it to a packaging station for using it to wrap up a product, and a retracted position distal from the film feeder, but also keeping the gripper retracted while the film feeder carries the film to the packaging station.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of providing a liquid package (2) with an opening arrangement (1) and to the opening arrangement (1) proper. A hole (3) is punched out in the material (15) of a package (2) of the type which is produced from a material web (15) or a material sheet, the hole being covered by a thin strip (4). Thereafter, the package (2) is filled and formed into its final shape. A plastic device (6)is secured on the finished package (2) so that it surrounds the strip (4) without covering it. The plastic device (6) consists of a pouring element (7) with an angled front edge (10) and a sealing element (8) with a locking angle (13). A hole is provided in the pouring element (7) wherein the strip (4) is visible in its entirety. Before distribution of the package (2)the sealing element (8)is moved over the pouring element (7) so that these enter into engagement with one another and the locking angle (13) is locked against the front edge (10) of the pouring element (7).

Abstract: A packaging container of the type being flat when empty for receiving bulk material includes a moisture-proof, thermoplastic layer connectable along a longitudinal seam which is defined by longitudinal edges and having a ventilation zone spaced in parallel relationship to the longitudinal edges and closable through heat sealing or welding after feeding bulk material into the interior and ventilating the bulk material. The ventilation zone of the packaging container is formed by initially leaving one of the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal seam open. Only after the packaging container is filled and the contents are allowed to ventilate is this initially open seam area closed by a welding or heat sealing process.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously producing a particulate filled bag or barrier. The apparatus includes a frame having terrain engaging members, such as runners. A wound coil of sheet material is mounted on the forward end of the frame, and located to the rear of the coil is an open bottom hopper that contains a particulate material, such as sand or gravel. The sides of the hopper are composed of spaced double walls and the rear surface of the hopper is formed with an outlet. The sheet material is unwound from the coil and continuously folded into a generally U-shape by a pair of lower rollers and two pair of upper rollers, which are mounted on the frame forwardly of the hopper. The bottom surface of the folded sheet extends across the open bottom of the hopper, so that the particulate material will be in direct contact with the bottom surface, while the side surfaces of the folded sheet extend upwardly in the spaces between the double side walls of the hopper.

Abstract: A method for packaging bales with strips of plastic packaging film, in which a bale is rotated about a generally horizontal axis and, when appropriate, about a generally vertical axis, and wherein film is taken from a film magazine spaced from the bale and wrapped around the bale in successive turns while maintaining the film under tension, and wherein the film in each turn of film around the bale extends generally parallel with and transversely to the horizontal axis. The bale is then wrapped with a further wrapping of film such that successive turns of this further wrapping cross-over those parts of the underlying film which extend generally parallel with the horizontal axis in a manner to retain the underlying turns. The film material is held under tension while being applied.

Abstract: A method for feeding and preparing information leaflets on a product packaging line consisting of a first carton conveyor, a second product conveyor and, between these two conveyors, a leaflet continuous-grip conveyor for transporting leaflets along a conveyor aligned to the packaging lines where the leaflet conveying means have sections with varying degrees of grip to facilitate feeding and inserting of leaflets.

Abstract: A puck is provided for releasably gripping a closure element to be moved along a predetermined path and mated to a container. The puck includes a main body and a gripper assembly associated with the main body for releasably gripping the closure element. The gripper assembly comprises first and second opposing arms connected to the main body. The first arm has two first gripper members mounted thereto and the second arm has two second gripper members mounted thereto. The first and second arms are movable between a retracted position and a gripping position. The first gripper members are rotatable for effecting rotation of the closure element to permit the closure element to be mated to the container. The gripper assembly further includes first and second spring-biased support members connected to the first and second arms for movement between first and second positions.

Abstract: An apparatus which produces consistent transverse seals in a continuous shrink film packaging operation to package trays is disclosed. The seals are consistent as a result of constant sealing dwell-time, and are also consistently positioned with respect to the trays. Neat, leak-free packages are produced after shrinking. The apparatus is particularly useful for packaging trays of moisture-containing food products such as chicken parts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting open a sealed box. A box typically has several of planar panels having a thickness and which panels meet at edges to define a box length, width and height and a central cavity. A box is conveyed to a cutting station where it is urged against a rotating blade which cuts through a box edge and pierces parallel to the plane of and into the thickness of one of the planar panels without entering the central cavity. The apparatus and method are useful for slitting boxes containing rectangular objects without marring the box contents. The apparatus is particularly useful for cutting open boxes containing books or the like, without damaging the box contents.

Abstract: An apparatus for unfolding a bifolded mailpiece comprises a pair of pivotable receiving walls for receiving a bifolded mailpiece, a pair of receiving wall cylinders for pivotally moving the receiving walls and a pair of spreader walls for spreading the bifolded mailpiece received between said receiving walls, the spreader walls being pivotally mounted and actuated by a pair of spreader wall cylinders, a ram being provided for moving the spreader walls along a vertical axis to cooperate with the receiving walls to unfold the mailpiece.

Abstract: A continuous wrapper web is wrapped about a roll that rotates about a rotational axis. The wrapper web is tensioned as it moves toward the roll by means of a brake mechanism disposed intermediate the roll and the source of the wrapper web so as to control tension and feed speed of the wrapper web. An end of the wrapper web is caused to contact the roll such that the wrapper web wraps about the roll in tension as the roll rotates. A portion of the wrapper web is caused to slacken and form a wave in a region intermediate the brake mechanism and the source of the wrapper web such that, in a direction parallel to the rotating roll's rotational axis, the wrapper web assumes tensional equilibrium when approaching and contacting the roll. This procedure reduces wrinkling of the wrapper web as it wraps about the roll due to misalignment between the end of the wrapper web and the rotational axis of the rotating roll.

Abstract: Divisible packs consisting in two wrappers breasted frontally one with another are conveyed broadside, singly and in succession, to the point of being taken up between paired belt loops carrying teeth which are timed to impinge on the two wrappers and bring them into vertical alignment. Thereafter, the pack draws level with an applicator station where labels are affixed to the now perfectly matched end faces of the wrappers, then passes on to a further station at which correct application of the labels is verified by two pneumatic control elements: these consist in suction cups or nozzles connected to respective transducers which, by sensing changes in the pressure levels registering at the end faces of the wrappers, will detect any pack from which either or both of the labels may be missing.

Abstract: A device for opening a tubular blank into a container, comprising an opening station, a packaging line and pairs of suction cups rotated stepwise for gripping the containers and carrying them to a position on the packaging line. The opening station is equipped with a support surface and opening blade arms hinged sidewise to each other. The packaging line features a conveying surface and two pairs of longitudinal endless chains equipped with vertical prongs and rotating stepwise so as to convey the containers obtained from the blanks which are held in seats delimited by the prongs.

Abstract: A pneumatically-controlled container ring handle applicator--a mechanical device for installing plastic handles around bottle necks by forcibly expanding a plastic ring of the handle as it is urged onto the bottle neck--includes a finger carrier to which carrier is connected a plurality of pivoting fingers that extend from the carrier through slots out of the tube to push a plastic handle ring down a frustum portion of the applicator, expanding the ring as it moves on the increasing frustum diameter until the ring falls off the end of the applicator over a bottle neck placed below the applicator. Movement of the carrier in the finger cylinder is pneumatically-controlled with a piston in a cylindrical tube that moves down a piston cylinder under pneumatic pressure and returns to a rest position under bias of a spring secured in the cylinder under the piston which is compressed as the piston moves down the cylinder. A piston rod connects the piston to the finger carrier.