Abstract: An improved hinge assembly for a vacuum packaging machine is designed to pivotally connect a stainless steel tub in the machine to a sealing lid. The lid is equipped with a pair of the hinge assemblies, with each hinge assembly including a stationary hinge plate which is positioned beneath a rear, overhanging lip of the tub. A pair of pins are spaced apart and extend outward from each hinge plate and into and through an arcuate slot in a movable hinge block which is, in turn, connected to the lid. The hinge block is designed to move relative to the hinge plate along a path dictated by the arcuate slot and the pins, with the pins acting as respective stops for the movement. A gas spring is pivotally connected between the rear surface of the machine and each hinge block, with the hinge blocks including different mounting points to vary the effectiveness of the springs.

Abstract: An unwrapping apparatus for unwrapping a palletized load with a film wrapping articles. The apparatus includes at the front side thereof lower grippers and upper grippers to grip lower and upper edges of a film of the load, respectively, and a cutter unit for vertically cutting the front side of the gripped film. The lower grippers are movable in the direction toward and away from the load as well as in the direction parallel to the load conveying direction. The unwrapping apparatus includes at the rear side thereof a vertically movable carriage with a platen to stabilize the load and a pair of swing arms. The swing arms carry the upper grippers and can swing to spread and remove the film. The platen includes a Z-shaped suction groove to retain the film on the top of a load and a heat cutter extending along the suction groove to cut the film of the top of the load held by the suction groove, for unwrapping the shrink-wrapped load.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously feeding a drum machine with compressible articles for the wrapping thereof, comprising structure for progressively and continuously compressing the packs 1 to be wrapped which are fed by a belt conveyer 10, and at the same time transferring them towards the revolver 2 of a wrapping machine by means of a pair of superimposed belt conveyers 4 converging towards the revolver 2 of a wrapping machine by means of a pair of superimposed belt conveyers 4 converging towards the revolver 2 and each being operated by a relevant driving roller 40 parallel to the axis 21 of rotation of the revolver 2. The packs 1 being interposed individually and in succession between the belt conveyers 4. A device is provided for cyclically varying the feeding speed of the belt conveyers 4, and another device is provided for driving each of the belt conveyers 4 into an alternative rotation of predetermined angular amplitude about an axis 41 parallel to the axis 21 of rotation of the revolver 2.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing bulky materials, like microfibers having a bulk density of less than about 0.2 PCF, to a much higher density, e.g. about 10.8 PCF, and packaging the compressed mass without damaging the material. The apparatus comprises a hopper having a pivoting wall wherein one edge of the pivoting wall is tapered and cooperates with a curved extension of one wall of an adjoining compression chamber to prevent the material from being pinched or scarffed which would damage the material. The compression chamber is long enough that when the compression means is withdrawn to accept another charge (each package requires a plurality of charging and compressing cycles) the compressed material cannot expand into the opening the compression chamber leading to the hopper. Finally, one end portion of a wall of the compression chamber has a movable retaining wall that also forms a portion of a wall of an adjoining packaging chamber.

Abstract: A band inserter device comprising a housing having a forward transverse slot therethrough and a rearward internally threaded aperture, whereby the slot is to receive an end of a banding strap. An elongated handle having an externally threaded shank engages with the internally threaded aperture. An assembly within the housing is for gripping the end of the banding strap when the shank of the handle is tightened in the aperture of the housing, so that the banding strap can be inserted under a skid and about a package on the skid.

Abstract: A machine for packing by wrapping a load (1) comprises a device for supplying a pre-drawn film (3) propelled with respect to a longitudinal axis (6) of the load (1) to be packed with a relative helicoidal movement, and a device for handling of the free end of the film (3) between two wrapping cycles in accordance with the invention comprises a plate (10) for holding of the film (3) against the load (1), the length of which is at least equal to the width of the film (3) used, and near one of the long edges of this plate (10), a pair of jaws (13, 14) mobile with respect to one another along this edge are provided to crumple and grip between them the portion of the film contained between the plate and the film-supply device.

Abstract: A device for detaching a portion from the main part of a blank and for reattaching the portion to another zone of the main part, includes gripping and pushing means for gripping and moving the portion of the blank, while supporting means support the main part of the blank with the portion free to move downwards. Operating means drive the gripping and pushing means while gluing means apply glue on the surface of the portion to be attached to the main part of the blank.

Abstract: A packaging machine having a filling device, a top breaker, a top heater and a top sealer which are arranged along a path of transport of containers. A hot air applicator is disposed between the filling device and the top breaker for eliminating the froth to be produced when containers, each having an upward opening, are filled with contents. The applicator includes a hot air discharge box having a bottom wall, a top wall, a side wall and two air outlets formed in the bottom wall, the air outlets being arranged along the transport path so as to be opposed to the openings of containers from above, and means for supplying hot air to the box. Each of the outlets is covered with a perforated plate, and has an edge portion provided with a downwardly extending annular portion for preventing the hot air from spreading out.

Abstract: A process and equipment for shaping seals for containers with an electromagnetic pulse. The pulse is generated by a current pulse coil positioned around the seal and energized by the discharge current of a condenser. The process and the equipment are particularly suited for sealing containers for milk and dairy products and also for other beverages and products.

Abstract: A method for loading and closing containers with flexible open ends employs a chute with an inflatable bladder at the open end, and an elastic closure device. A flexible open end of the container is placed around the end of the chute and the inflatable bladder. The elastic closure device is placed around the open end of the container. The bladder is inflated to secure the container to the chute. Material is delivered into the container through the chute. When a specified quantity of material is loaded into the container, the bladder is deflated causing the container to slide off the chute. When the container slides off the chute, the elastic closure device contracts and closes the flexible open end of container by constricting the size of the flexible open end of the container such that material will not fall out during shipment.

Abstract: A method for packaging bales (1) with strips of plastic packaging film (9), in which a bale is rotated about a generally horizontal axis (3) and, when appropriate, about a generally vertical axis (6), and wherein film is taken from a film magazine (7) 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 method is mainly characterized in the bale (1) is then wrapped with a further wrapping of film (9), and in that successive turns (9") of this further wrapping cross-over those parts of the turns (9'") of the underlying film which extend generally parallel with the horizontal axis (3), in a manner to retain the underlying turns. This film material is held under tension while being applied. The invention also relates to an arrangement for carrying out the method, and to a bale.

Abstract: An automatic fruit container filler machine. Such comprises a structure (1) supporting an electric motor (3) which drives a carriage lift (2) carrying an endless belt (6) having rotary and conveyor movement to form a horizontal belt surface (6b) which can be positioned coplanar with a feeder (16) for a fruit layer (18c) and can then be positioned at a lower level namely at the bottom of the container (17) or the preceding fruit layer. At this position, the belt is retracted, and the fruit layer (18) is deposited at a position (18a) without the layer being hocked or changed.The machine is applicable for filling containers with delicate fruit being extremely sensitive to hocking, such as apples, citrus fruits, tomatoes, peaches and the like.

Abstract: A shipping support system for moveable articles within a refrigerator having an interior compartment containing a plurality of movable articles such as shelves and the like, wherein the packing support system includes a conformable bag containing expandable foam material. A shipping support is formed by dispensing the expandable foam into an open receiving end of the conformable bag and then the receiving end is sealed closed. Upon forming the shipping support, the conformable bag is secured to a door hingedly mounted to the refrigerator before the expandable foam has completely expanded and formed. Subsequently, the door is closed, capturing the conformable bag between the door and the moveable articles within the refrigerator. As the expandable foam expands, the conformable bag conforms to the configuration of the moveable articles such that the moveable articles are securely supported within the refrigerator cabinet.

Abstract: A package for a battery or other article, comprising a sheet of material bent or folded along a plurality of substantially parallel fold lines 21, 22, 25, 26 to define an upwardly extending substantially flat panel region 15, an upper end locating region 11 extending forwardly from the lower extremity of the said panel region, a first limb 3 extending obliquely downwardly and rearwardly from the forward extremity of the end locating region, a second limb 5 extending obliquely forwardly and downwardly and defining with the first limb a V-section channel region, a lower end locating region 13 extending rearwardly from the lower limb, and a rear panel region 17 extending upwardly from the rear extremity of the lower end locating region and secured to the first mentioned panel region 15.

Abstract: A belt conveyor arrangement (16) is disposed upstream of the winding mandrel (12) of the rolling-up apparatus (10) and determines the conveying path (18) for the printed products (20) which are to be rolled up. A delivery device (30) leads from below into the conveying path (18) and delivers into the conveying path (18) a wrapping (28) which is to be rolled up together with a printed product (20) in each case. The wrapping (28) has in each case an edge portion projecting over the roller (114) and by means of the blast nozzle arrangement (130) is held across the conveying path (18). This edge portion is laid around the leading end region of the printed product (20) fed and is introduced together with the latter into the mandrel gap (14).

Abstract: An automatic packing and sealing machine comprising a front conveyor set, a fast locating device for quickly adjusting and locating the front conveyor set and a sensing device for sensing an article passing therethrough. The sensing device employs a close contact block and a shade board connected therewith. The close contact block is upward swung by the passing article to make the shade board shade a close contact switch so as to actuate a sealing blade for sealing operation. An auxiliary film-pulling device is used to pull the plastic film so as to avoid that an excessively high article cannot be actually clamped by a clamping device and the plastic film packing the article loosen therefrom or the sealing portion is crimped. An elevator device is used to adjust the level of the sealing blade seat to suit various heights of the packed articles. The sealing blade has an arch joint portion which will not thrust the plastic film during the sealing operation.

Abstract: A gas exchange manifold includes a pair of plates which may be threadedly connected to one another. Gas supplying passages are formed through the plates to supply a desired gas to the package during fabrication. Also, vacuum supplying passages extend through the same plates and communicate with the package as well. A third plate, which may be sandwiched between other two plates, may contain a plurality of apertures which form part of the gas supplying passages. In this way, the third plate, which may be smaller, may be replaced to provide the desired pattern of apertures for a given configuration of packages being formed.

Abstract: The bases and caps are aligned in two stages, with displacement by first pointed pushers (13-31) into corresponding calibrated horizontal channels (12-29) followed by displacement by second pushers (21-44) into corresponding calibrated vertical and descending channels (312-329). The second pusher (21) pushes the bases horizontally into the wider terminal part (20) of the descending channel, where the base is sucked by its sealed end and inserted into the corresponding supporting socket (1), with a vertical disposition and with the opening upwards. The second pusher (44), operating with the caps, acts on the intermediate parts of these with a point (144) which causes the caps to rotate with the opening downwards and transfers them with a vertical disposition into the wider terminal part (42) of the descending channel where the cap is held by a suction tube (46) which inserts it into the corresponding supporting socket (2).

Abstract: A horizontal type of packing machine with an adjustable pouch former, in which a guide screw having half left-handed threads and half right-handed threads is used for adjusting the width of the pouch former; a cylindrical gear is in mesh with two gears to drive a left and a right gear racks and to simultaneously adjust the height of two guide plates on both sides of the machine in order to adjust the height of the pouch former. According to the design of replaceable paper-guiding plates, a user can select the proper paper-guiding plates in accordance with the products and the packing paper for the purpose of increasing the function of the pouch former; the metal plate parts are used for forming a near quadric chain assembly by means of a rotary connector so as to have such parts moved and adjusted upon the adjustment of the pouch width.

Abstract: A carton loading machine is effective to load bottles packaged in basket style or in sleeve style cartons at high speed and with minimal attention by the operator due to the dual function of many of the machine parts.