Abstract: A plant package assembly, comprising a pot containing a floral grouping and a flexible sleeve having curved, circumferentially oriented detaching elements. The sleeve is positioned about the pot so that a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounds and encompasses the pot, and an upper portion of the sleeve extends upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounds and encompasses the floral grouping contained within the pot. The upper portion of the sleeve is removable via the detaching elements, leaving a curved upper end of the lower portion which extends upwardly focusing attention on the upper portion of the floral grouping.

Abstract: The invention provides a lifting device for a working station of a packaging machine, the working station comprising a first tool member and a second tool member mounted for movement relative to the first tool member. The lifting device comprises a first lifting member for producing a first closing travel of the second tool member towards the first tool member and a second lifting member for producing a second closing travel following said first closing travel. The second lifting member comprises drive means and mechanical transmission means having means for producing substantially constant closing force for the second closing travel upon occurrence of a resistance.

Abstract: A floral sleeve having an upper portion, a lower portion and a medial portion. The floral sleeve can be placed about a plant container such as a potted plant such that the lower portion contains the pot, and the upper portion surrounds the plant. When desired, the upper portion and lower portion can be detached, leaving the medial portion which can be attached to the pot forming a skirt extending from the upper end thereof.

Abstract: A process for forming an easy open lid comprising a central panel having a score strip with a score thereon, a crimping edge and a ring enabling the lid to be opened by perforation of the score. The score on the lid is formed from a metal lid outline supported by an anvil by displacing a punch of angle alpha thereover and causing an asymmetrical flow of metal between the punch and the anvil during the displacing. This reduces the risk of crack formation in the metal at the bottom portion of the score or beneath the score.

Abstract: A transferring device for transferring filled tea bags from a single track tea packaging machine to a two-track processing machine has a pivoting device with a pivot arm and a tea bag receptacle for receiving a vertically positioned tea bag. The pivoting device has a pivot drive for alternatingly pivoting the receptacle to the left and to the right about 90.degree. into a first and a second end position. A first swiveling device is provided for swiveling a tea bag, contained in the receptacle in the first end position, into a horizontal position. A second swiveling device is provided for swiveling a tea bag, contained in the receptacle in the second end position, into a horizontal position. A first tea bag pusher for moving the tea bag from the first swiveling device onto a first track of a two-track transport device for transporting the tea bag to a processing machine is provided.

Abstract: A packaging that is capable to simultaneously process cartons having two different cross-sections, or to convert from processing a carton having one cross-section to a processing cartons having another cross-section. Using TETRA REX.RTM. gable top cartons as an example, a dual line packaging machine may process cartons having a 95 mm.times.70 mm cross-section on one line and process cartons having a 95 mm.times.95 mm cross-section on the other line. The packaging machine may have eccentric housing column for simple adjustments of the width of the lines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a lamina stack having laminas with a plurality of outer perimeter configurations. Each of the outer perimeter configurations has at least one common choke surface. The common choke surfaces form, when the laminas are stacked, a choke contacting surface on the outer perimeter surface of the lamina stack which extends continuously in the axial direction from the top lamina to the bottom lamina. The invention provides a method for manufacturing interlocked lamina stacks using a selectively actuated punches in a die assembly to stamp laminas with a plurality of outer perimeter configurations and to stack the laminas in a choke barrel with an alignment surface which cooperates with the common choke surface and securely holds the stamped laminas in position while the stack is being formed. Rotation of the choke barrel compensates for strip thickness variations.

Abstract: A method of making can bodies from sheet metal for manufacturing cans includes the steps of: feeding and superimposing two sheet metal strips rolled to finished thickness, joining the superimposed sheet metal strips by a plurality of connecting welded seams running continuously in the longitudinal direction of the strip, with a spacing from one another in the transverse direction of the strip corresponding to half the can body diameter, through continuous passage of the superimposed sheet metal strips through a welding device with a plurality of welding heads disposed with corresponding spacings from one another, cutting the sheet metal strips welded together along the middle of each connecting welded seam to create a plurality of flat tubes lying beside one another, optionally rolling up the flat tubes for intermediate storage and/or transport, unrolling the optionally rolled-up flat tubes, cutting the flat tubes transversely into flat tube sections whose length corresponds to approximately the can height, a

Abstract: An in-line bottling plant essentially comprising a unit (1) for producing containers, particularly bottles, from a thermoplastic material, a unit (2) for filling the containers, and a unit (3) for conveying freshly produced containers, the conveying unit being arranged between an outlet (4) of the container producing unit (1) and an inlet (5) of the container filling unit (2). The container producing unit (1) and filling unit (2) are arranged as close together as possible and the conveying unit (3) is short and conveys the containers one after the other substantially without bumping them, particularly against one another. The in-line bottling plant preferably further comprises a unit (19) for temporarily retaining the containers, which unit is selectively connectable to the conveying unit (3) for receiving and retaining a number of containers.

Abstract: In the manufacture of certain types of packets, rotary folding units (10) are used which have along their perimeter a plurality of hollow folding mandrels (14) projecting at one side. On these mandrels, blanks, namely inner blank (10) and pouch blank (11) are folded in succession. Holding bands (34, 59) serve to position the blanks exactly on the folding mandrels (14), said bands extending outside the movement region of the folding mandrels (14) and lying with a holding bight (35) against the side of the folding mandrels (14), or the blanks, lying radially on the outside, fixing same as they do so.

Abstract: A method for providing confidentiality to a facsimile transmission includes the step of advancing a back enclosure sheet into a print engine. The method further includes the step of advancing the back enclosure sheet out of the print engine and to an envelope forming station. The method yet further includes the step of securing the back enclosure sheet to a front enclosure sheet so as to form an envelope at the envelope forming station. The method also includes the step of advancing a confidential sheet into the print engine. The method moreover includes the step of printing information associated with a page of the facsimile transmission onto the confidential sheet with the print engine. The method also includes the step of advancing the sheet out of the print engine and into the envelope.

Abstract: A method and unit for wrapping packets of cigarettes, whereby a succession of packets is fed continuously along a wrapping path having a straight input portion and a substantially curved output portion substantially tangent to the input portion at a transfer station for transferring the packets; the input portion extends through a wrapping station where each packet engages a respective sheet of wrapping material, and folds the sheet into a U so that two end portions of the sheet project rearwards from the packet; and each packet, together with the respective sheet, is transferred, at the transfer station, from the input portion to the output portion so that the two end portions of the sheet are maintained projecting rearwards from the packet.

Abstract: The orienting device of the present invention will properly orient a closure which is transferred from a hopper to be applied to a container in connection with a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The present invention will also maintain the orientation on an anvil as the anvil moves the closure from the orienting device to a container through exertion of a vacuum on the closure. The present invention also discloses a specific closure for use with an overall orienting closure system. The orienting device will have at least two channels which maintain the closure as the closure is oriented into a desired position.

Abstract: A rotatable insertion horn for opening an envelope prior to insertion of documents into the envelope. The insertion horn includes a planar bottom plate having an upstream end, a downstream end and first and second side portions. A side wall is provided that extends upward from the first side portion of the planar bottom plate. The side wall has a downstream end adjacent to the downstream end of the planar bottom plate and an upstream end adjacent to the upstream end of the planar bottom plate wherein a portion of the planar bottom plate extends downstream from the downstream end of the side wall. A top planar plate is provided that extends from the top of the side wall and towards the second side of the bottom plate wherein the top plate is superposed and substantially parallel to the bottom plate.

Abstract: A decorative flower pot cover and method for producing same is disclosed wherein the decorative flower pot cover is provided with a multi-layered upper portion formed of a plurality of sheets of material wherein each sheet of material is provided with an opening therein adapted to receiver a lower potion of a flower pot such that, upon positioning the lower end of the flower pot through the openings in the sheets of material, a portion of the sheets of material are connected to a portion of a sidewall of the flower pot and the sheets of material forming the multi-layered upper portion of the decorative flower pot cover extend substantially independent of one another in an upwardly and outwardly angular direction from the sidewall of the flower pot so that an open upper end of the flower pot remains substantially uncovered by the decorative flower pot cover.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sealing unsealed surgical suture packages by applying heat and sealing pressure substantially simultaneously to both the sealed edge and the unsealed edge of an unsealed surgical suture package, thereby forming a sealed surgical suture package.

Abstract: Can bodies are formed typically by drawing and wall-ironing a cup, introducing fluid between punch and dies as the cup exits the dies and then forming the desired base profile. The can bodies formed in the present invention are able to be produced from thin hard material such as double reduced steel and/or have stronger base profiles in terms of tighter radii and deeper countersinks than was hitherto possible without risk of splitting.

Abstract: Multilayered barrier structures containing a gas barrier layer of a non-chlorine containing organic polymer which is substantially impermeable to oxygen gas and a moisture barrier layer of a mesophase propylene-based material are provided. These structures are environmentally compatible and radiation resistant, and exhibit one or more additional properties, including gas barrier properties, moisture barrier properties, toughness, heat sealability, softness, and quietness during wrinkling. Also provided are methods of preparing and using such multilayered barrier structures, and articles, such as films, pouches, and tubings, formed from these structures.

Abstract: A label (e.g., a revenue stamp) for the application to a closed and filled hinged-lid packet for cigarettes or the like has a first part provided with an elongated weakened portion which is to overlie the abutting sloping edges of one lateral wall of the main section and the corresponding lateral panel of the lid in the closed position of the lid, and a second part overlying portions of the rear wall of the main section and of the rear panel of the lid at opposite sides of the elongated transversely extending hinge which pivotally connects the rear panel to the rear wall. The weakened portion is formed by a perforating, scoring, piercing, material removing or other suitable implement which is adjustably mounted on a support adjacent to an arcuate path for a succession of labels at the periphery of a rotary conveyor. One side of each label is coated with an adhesive subsequent to weakening and preparatory to attachment to a hinged-lid packet.

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.