Abstract: A device for tightly sealing bags and/or envelopes destined to the vacuum packaging of products, in particular foodstuffs, comprising a clamping member equipped with means for grasping and tightly closing against each other mutually opposite edges in correspondence of the open side of said bag. With the grasping and clamping means, a valve element cooperates, through which the air contained inside the bag can be evacuated when to the bag a vacuum source is applied.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tool changer apparatus for rapid changing of a tool holder in a mill incorporating a draw bar having a gripper mounted on one end thereof for gripping a holding flange formed in a tool holder so retraction of such draw bar will close the collet on such flange to draw a centering taper formed in such tool holder into mating relationship with a complementary taper formed on one end of the mill spindle to center such holder. Incorporated on the opposite end of such draw bar is a tightener incorporating toggle links for holding the draw bar in its retracted position and operative upon retraction of the mill quill to release such toggle link to thereby extend such draw bar and release the tool holder from such gripper.

Abstract: A packing machine for cigarettes comprises a carton blank reservoir, a carton blank hopper, a blank feeding device,a blank transfer conveyor, a bundle drum, a packet forming drum,a packet stacking unit and a packet orientation unit.Carton blanks are removed one at a time from the hopper by a suction device and fed intermittently by the transfer conveyor to a position adjacent a pocket in the packet forming drum, the blank then being pushed into the pocket so as to partially form it into a carton. While on the transfer conveyor adhesive is applied to certain parts of the blank and initial folding of the blank takes place.Foil wrapped bundles of cigarettes are pushed, two at a time, into pockets provided on the bundle drum and transferred one at a time into a partially formed carton contained in a pocket on the packet forming drum.

Abstract: A tool for enlarging pipe ends includes a toolholder body containing an axially movable mandrel having a tapering end and capable of being displaced by an externally applied force. A toolhead is exchangeably attached to the toolholder body coaxially with the mandrel and contains a plurality of expanding members in the form of cylindrical segments radially displaceable by the axial displacement of the mandrel and mounted so that they project axially from the toolhead. The edges of the segments facing the mandrel form a recess corresponding to the mandrel taper. An adapter is interposed between the toolholder body and the toolhead and has a body containing an axially displaceable supplementary mandrel having an elongated tapering end for cooperating with the exchangeable toolhead. The other end of the supplementary mandrel contains a recess shaped to receive the tapering end of the mandrel mounted in the toolholder body.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine is described in which two packaging material webs are used. One of these webs is fed continuously and the second web is sealed to it in a sealing station. Means are provided to reel off the second web in an intermittent way so as to allow the printing of data on the web using a simple printing apparatus.

Abstract: A safety closure system includes a cap removably mounted on the neck of a container and prevented from undesired opening by means of a locking ring mounted on the container neck and which locking ring has means such as tooth engaged with complementary locking means such as notches on the cap. The cap and locking ring also contain positioning means to orient the ring with respect to the cap so as to assure proper engagement of the ring locking means with the cap locking means. During assembly the ring is loosely mounted on the neck and mounting of the cap mounts the ring in place.

Abstract: In a packing container of the type comprising two sealing joints crossing each other whereby a sealing joint forms a sealing fin in which the packaging material is joined inside to outside, a ripping strip or thread is provided adjacent the inside of the sealing fin and with a portion thereof accessible from the exterior of the container.

Abstract: An in-line system of packaging, securing, and weighing items which are originally collected in a tote pan and delivered to a packaging bench where they are placed into a container and then onto a conveyor which moves them to a first photo-electric eye and weighing scale. The containers are then either removed at that point or are passed along a second conveyor and to a second photoeye and weighing scale, and those containers may be banded or wrapped and are then set off for shipping. The entire system is an in-line system where the containers move along in a supported arrangement on a conveyor and need not be removed from the conveyor until the containers are ready for shipping and they have therefore been packaged, secured by banding or the like, weighed, postage applied, and the like.

Abstract: An arrangement is described for registering stretchable lids with mating product-filled troughs of a heat-sealed product container prior to the heat-sealing operation. The troughs are preformed at first intervals on a first strip, which is successively indexed through the first interval into the heat-sealing station. The lids are defined between regularly spaced detectable markings on a second strip, which is moved into the heat-sealing station simultaneously with the first strip. The markings on the second strip are normally spaced by a second interval slightly smaller than the first interval. At the end of each indexing movement, a marking on the second strip comes into alignment with a photocell to generate a signal.

Abstract: A carton loading and forming machine having a carton dispenser magazine which includes a walking beam mechanism arranged to underlie portions of the carton blanks in the magazine for moving the carton blanks towards the discharge end of the magazine. The magazine is adapted to suspend the blanks from support rails disposed at opposite sides of the blanks and arranged above the center of gravity of the blanks so that the blanks hang freely from the support rails. The machine also includes transfer means for transferring carton blanks from the dispenser to a wrapping station. The transfer means including a laterally extending carton blank conveyor for moving carton blanks laterally from the dispenser mechanism to the carton wrapping station. Plow blades are provided adjacent the conveyor to fold the carton blanks, as they travel along the conveyor, to a generally U-shaped configuration opening in a direction to receive a mandrel travelling along the wrapping path.

Abstract: A thermoplastic bottle for sterile medical liquids with a dispensing outlet closed off by an inner closure. An outer closure in the form of a thermoplastic cap overlies the inner closure. During steam sterilization at 240.degree. to 260.degree. F (116.degree. to 127.degree. C) the outer cap deflects inwardly against the inner cap to force the inner cap into a tighter seal against the bottle. This outer cap includes external left-handed threads and has a lateral frangible brim fused to the thermoplastic bottle. A threaded jacking ring is screwed onto the outer cap and with a counterclockwise motion acts to (1) fracture the cap's external brim and (2) separate the outer cap from the sealed inner cap.

Abstract: Cigarette packages are provided with individual pull tabs by applying a strip of pull material to access end surfaces of such packages in sequence and then severing the strip between adjacent packages. Before application of the pull material, each such access end surface is slitted substantially from side to side thereof, and after being applied thereto the pull material covers the slitted part of such an end surface and seals the slit therein. Removal of such a pull tab by pulling upon a non-adherent marginal portion thereof removes the underlying portion of an outer sheath of packaging material from the end surface to permit access to the contents, as by unfolding of a corresponding portion of an inner wrapper of packaging material.

Abstract: In a machine for enveloping an article with plastics film, the leading end of the film is held fast and a pusher moves the article in a path between the leading end of the film and a supply roll therefor so that a loop of film becomes partially slung about the article, whereupon a movable beam completes the loop prior to welding the loop ends together. A knife on a pivotable lever severs the loop and co-operates with a clamping lever to hold fast the new leading end of film for enveloping a successive article.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for facilitating the filling and sealing of bags for shipping or mailing. The bag supply preferably is in web or strip form, i.e. the bags are joined along successive closed sides of the bags to form a continuous web with the bag bottoms along one edge and the unsealed bag top ends along the other edge of the web. Means are provided to advance the web one bag length each cycle to a cutting station which severs the bag from the web. A vacuum picker and pusher bar convey the separated bag from the cutting station to a carrier comprised of a series of continuously moving chains having lugs between which the bags are first inserted and then retained for travel with the chains. The pusher bar and the spacing between the lugs cooperate to maintain the unsealed end of the bag open sufficiently to receive an article inserted while the bag is moved by the carrier. At the end of the carrier run, sealing means close the open end of the bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling static charges on film formed into packages and filled with particulate material to prevent the particulate material from attaching to the film and degrading the seal area of the package.

Abstract: A single gum stick wrapping machine has a rotary transfer mechanism for successively conveying single sticks of gum from breaker wheels to a folding wheel where each stick picks up a wrapper and is conveyed through folding and creasing sections where the wrapper is partially folded around the stick and the ends of the wrapper are folded, creased and tucked. The wrapping operation is completed while the partially wrapped stick is conveyed from the folding wheel to a stacker at the discharge end of the machine by another rotary transfer mechanism. Rotary label wrapping mechanism may be provided for applying a label or outer wrapper to each stick.

Abstract: Blanks for the making of inner envelopes of hinged-lid cigarette packs are obtained by withdrawing from a bobbin a web of metallic foil or thin paper which is coated with metallic foil, severing the web lengthwise to form two strips of unequal width, severing the strips crosswise to form two rows of rectangular sections, and moving each section of one row sideways toward the adjacent section of the other row so that the two sections partially overlap each other and form a composite blank which is transported sideways to be draped around a mandrel on a turret-shaped assembly conveyor.

Abstract: The envelope making and insert machine includes the forming of envelope blanks from an endless web or precut blanks and conveying the envelope blank upwardly along a vertical path to a folding station. The insert material is conveyed along a path that intersects the vertical path in timed relation with the envelope blank. The paths of the envelope blank and the insert material intersect at an angle adjacent the folding station. The envelope blank is engaged at the folding station by a vacuum cylinder, tucker, lifter or the like and is folded along the score line between the envelope blank body portion and bottom flap portion by the vacuum cylinder and a folding cylinder. The path of the envelope blank is changed from a vertical path to the path of the inserts during the folding operation. During the folding of the bottom flap into overlying relation with the blank body portion the insert material is inserted therebetween.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a frame and means for moving a container relative to the frame. A series of force exerting rollers are adjustably mounted on the frame and engagable with the container such that they are effective to exert a force on the crease line of the flap as the container is moved relative to the frame. In this manner, the crease is manipulated or worked such that the flap will remain in the closed position. Rollers are also provided for preventing deformation of the container surface adjacent the crease line as the force exerting rollers act thereon. Some of the force exerting rollers have a surface oriented at 45.degree. from the top of the container and thus act directly on the crease line. The deformation preventing rollers have a surface parallel to the surface of the container adjacent thereto. A force exerting roller may be combined with a deformation preventing roller to form a single roller having a flanged portion and a cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A strapping apparatus which includes a yoke for directing a strap about a package which is to be strapped, and means for delivering and positioning a package reinforcing or protective plate along a portion of such package which is located in the area at which the applied strap is to be sealed. The yoke of this apparatus includes a retractable section which provides for greater flexibility in the placement of packages in strapping position and, also, facilitates the strapping of a variety of packages of different shapes, such as annular packages or packages of coiled materials.