Abstract: For the manufacture of soft-pouch packets for cigarettes, folding mandrels (10) configured as hollow bodies are used, on the outer side of which blanks (16, 17) are folded. The outer blank (17) has in the region of one narrow side wall (15) blank portions (23, 24) which overlap one another and are connected to one another by gluing. In the region of the glue connection, there is slight expansion of the cross-section of the package during the hardening of the adhesive. To compensate for this effect, the folding mandrel (10) does not have an exactly rectangular shape. Rather, the narrow side wall (15) adjoining the gluing point has a smaller width (B.sub.15) than the opposite narrow side wall (14).

Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for introducing individual products into containers for receiving a given number of individual products for filling the containers, by means of a picker line, the individual products and the containers are not advanced with a transportation movement in co-flow relationship, and delivery of the next container to be filled, into the working region of the pickers of the picker line, is controlled in dependence thereon.

Abstract: Tooling for use with a folded cover seaming machine having a seaming chuck with a profile and a corresponding movable seaming roller formed with a mating profile operable to couple a can end to the walls of a can. The cross sectional thickness of the seaming roller in the transition area is reduced and the corresponding cross sectional thickness of the seaming chuck is increased. The increased thickness of the seaming chuck provides additional strength thereby reducing the occurrence of structural defects or fissures in the seaming chuck. The deceased thickness of the seaming roller provides a contour which minimizes the possibility of damage to cans and jamming of the seaming machine due to jamming in cases where no can end is supplied.

Abstract: A method for the automated filling of pharmaceutical multichamber packages for clinical studies. The multichamber packages include a plurality of individual chambers, e.g. in the form of blisters, arranged in one plane. The products to be packed are fed from a storage container by a conveyor device into a mobile duct; the free end of the feed duct is guided to the desired chamber by a robot arm capable of swinging parallel to the plane of the individual chambers, and the product is introduced into the chamber. The individual steps are controlled by a computer. The robot arm has one or more freely programmable axes of movement, allowing the products to be conveyed to and introduced into the predetermined chambers in the plane in accordance with a freely selectable program which can be stored in the computer.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Abstract: A gift wrap article is formed by providing wrapping material which is padded and waterproof. The inner surface of the wrapping material has a cohesive coating, while the outer surface has a layer of gift wrap decorative design. The article is placed on a portion of the inner surface of the wrapping material and the wrapping material is applied over the article so that the article is between and completely surrounded by two layers of the wrapping material. The layers of the wrapping material are squeezed together to cohesively secure the inner surfaces of the two layers together and form a closed package with the article within the package and with the gift wrap outer layer visually exposed.

Abstract: A package and apparatus and a method for assembling the package, of a feminine hygiene article, wherein the package is laminated around all the side edges of the article. The apparatus and method feature multi-lane processing wherein at least two parallel lanes of articles are processed simultaneously by laminating outer side edges of two opposed cover sheets, as well as the middle portion, with side-by-side articles disposed between the cover sheets.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and dispensing medical items which are dispensed for administration to patients includes a data terminal (76, 338, 538) which is connected through a network (82, 328, 536) to at least one computer (84, 324, 532) having a processor and a data store. The system also includes a reading device (348, 538) which is operatively connected to the network. A user of the data terminal or the reading device is enabled to select a patient for whom medical items will be used, and responsive to a request to dispense items the requested items are dispensed from dispensing devices (96, 100, 344, 346, 450, 527, 540) connected to the data terminal. Storage locations in dispensing devices may be restocked using removable liners. The removable liners are stocked with medical items in a stocking location (550) and transported in a secure condition to the storage locations. The storage locations are accessed by an authorized restocking user.

Abstract: A method for covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve comprising a base portion tapered and sized to fit a pot and having an upper portion which is detachable and having drainage means in the bottom. The cover may be bondingly connected or crimped about the pot means.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a sealant to an outer rim of a can lid supported on a rotating lift chuck for movement into and out of a location beneath a sealant applying gun wherein the can lid is held onto the rotating lift chuck during the application of the sealant by at least a partial vacuum. Also, each sealant applying gun is pivotally mounted between a first location blocking the removal of an underneath lift chuck and a second location permitting the removal of the underneath lift chuck.

Abstract: Rigid packets of the type with a hinged lid are fashioned from diecut blanks presenting a central longitudinal portion flanked by two lateral portions, each consisting in a series of longitudinally disposed flaps. The method of manufacture involves directing the blanks singly and in succession between a pair of contrarotating rollers with dies shaped and positioned to engage each lateral portion; the dies are designed to modify a pair of adjoining flaps on each side, which ultimately will be bent through a right angle to form an internal layer of the relative flank face of the packet, by producing at least one bend in one flap at an end adjacent to the other flap, and forming a projection on the longer flap which in the finished packet will be breasted permanently in contact with an inner reinforcing frame.

Abstract: A process is provided for displacing air from containers prior to seaming a lid to a container. In the process, a container body is filled with contents and is then injected with liquid nitrogen. A lid is immediately placed on the container body, and a biasing force is immediately applied against the lid to maintain the lid on the liquid nitrogen filled container bodies until the container body reaches the seaming mechanism. The biasing force is sufficient to allow a portion of nitrogen gas from vaporization of the liquid nitrogen to escape from the container body, and to allow air originally present in the container body to escape from the container body, while preventing surrounding air from entering the container body.

Abstract: A method for making a suture package includes injection molding a shallow polymer tray for holding a suture. Fenestrations formed in a substantially flat floor area of the package cause the package to lay flat by interrupting material stresses set up by, e.g., differential cooling during injection molding.

Abstract: A method for forming a sheet of material about an article and for automatically fastening the sheet of material about the article, and optionally, for automatically placing a label on the sheet of material formed about the article.

Abstract: The band 10 which stores little parts 20 in many storing dents 14 arranged along a longitudinal direction and packs the little parts 20 by covering surfaces of the storing dents 14 with a cover tape 30, and is made of a flexible material having a compress-forming nature, and comprises storing dents 14 which are compress-formed from a surface to a fixed depth in a thickness direction.

Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.

Abstract: Apparatus, in particular packaging machine, with movable members which are exposed to wearing stresses on one side.Primarily packaging machines for the manufacture of cigarette packs (10) of the soft-cup type employ folding mandrels (15), on which blanks (14) are temporarily fixed by means of pressure members, in particular by means of pressure rods (19). These are exposed to wearing stresses on one side, specifically in the region in which they bear on the folding mandrel (15). In order to avoid operating faults caused thereby, the pressure member, specifically the pivoting lever (20), is adjusted from time to time, specifically by partial rotation, so that, after a particular operating period, another circumferential region of the pivoting lever (20) is exposed to wearing stress.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Abstract: The machine comprises a main carousel including a horizontal axis having seats which are angularly equidistant and open outwardly and including at the front a gripper and at the rear a folding device. Each seat passes first adjustable means with the gripper open to supply the gripper with a packaging sheet arranged on the seat, and cooperating with a first auxiliary carousel which inserts a roll into each seat, oriented with its axis parallel to that of the main carousel, while the roll is partially wrapped with the packaging sheet retained by the closed gripper. In succession, the rear folding device intervenes and the gripper opens and folding means intervene in order to fold the front edge of the sheet onto the rear edge, while the folding device returns to the rest position and the edges are fixed together by a heat-sealing carousel.

Abstract: A mold is formed the interior volume of which corresponds to the exterior envelope required for the container (2). A core corresponding to the shape required for the cavity (14) to be formed inside the container (2) is prepared. Said core is placed inside the interior volume of the mold and an appropriate plastics material is injected under pressure into said interior volume to constitute an envelope comprising two substantially parallel walls (5, 6) extending at a predetermined small distance from each other between two common lateral edges (9, 10), with a common transverse edge (16) at the same end as the neck (14b). The product to be packaged is injected into the interior of the envelope. The transverse edge (15) of the body (14a) is closed by welding the plastics material.