Abstract: Machine and method for making air-filled packing cushions from a roll of prefabricated film material having a longitudinally extending inflation channel near one edge of the material and chambers which communicate with the channel through laterally extending passageways. The roll rests on a pair of spaced apart, horizontally extending rollers. The film material is fed from the roll to an inflation tube which extends into the inflation channel, air is introduced into the chambers through the inflation tube to inflate the cushions, and a longitudinally extending seal is formed across the passageways between the channel and the chambers after the cushions are inflated.

Abstract: A wrapping device includes a base body which is connected with support elements and a holding arm. The holding arm has rotatably connected thereto a wrapping arm. The wrapping arm carries a roll holder. At the roll holders a rotatably supported film roll is arranged for being displaced in a predetermined direction for wrapping up objects arranged on a pallet. For transporting the wrapping device, the support elements serve as fastening elements and are of hollow configuration such that support elements of a lift truck can be inserted therein.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, and a closure applying machine for closing of containers, such as, for example, bottles, cans, canisters, or the like, by way of screw caps that are screwed on, with a plurality of closure applying positions that are provided at the circumference of a rotatable machine rotor that rotates about a vertical machine axis, to which positions the containers to be closed are transferred at a container input and the closed containers are removed therefrom at a container output, whereby each closure applying position is having a container carrier, a container support and a screw unit, said screw unit having at its lowermost end a screw head and that can rotate about a vertically directed axis and being configured to be rotated by a drive and wherein the screw head during rotation of the rotor remains at a height level, with provision being made that the container support comprises means that assuredly effectuate an assured separatio

Abstract: A system for creating and dispensing cushioning dunnage is small and permits flexible installation configuration options for a single or multiple packing stations. A compact apparatus of the system is capable of being pivotally mounted as a unit on a stand and includes a motor and a material feeding arrangement driven by the motor for pulling material from a supply roll of the material supported on a stand of the system, and feeding it through the apparatus. A plurality of material shaping members upstream of the feeding arrangement shape the material in the apparatus to convert it into a continuous strip of cushioning product.

Abstract: A sheet interleave system for a reciprocating mold plate patty-forming apparatus includes a hopper for holding sheets, a shuttle, a sheet transfer device, at least one precise position controlled motor, and a drive train. The shuttle has a sheet-holding frame that is slidable between a sheet receiving position and a sheet dispensing position beneath knockout cups of the patty-forming apparatus. The sheet transfer device has a suction device for gripping a sheet from the hopper. The suction device is moveable from a position to grip a sheet from the hopper to a position to place the sheet on the sheet holding frame. The drive train is driven by one or two precise position controlled motor. The drive train is mechanically connected to the carriage and to the sheet transfer device to impart controlled motion thereto.

Abstract: A packaging machine has a wrapping device for forming a tubular wrapping from a continuous web of heat-seal material, and for feeding products successively into the tubular wrapping; each product being located between two free tubular portions of the tubular wrapping, which are folded substantially onto the relative products, and are stabilized by at least one pair of sealing devices, each of which has a sealing surface heated electrically by a heating device, operation of which is controlled by a control device carried by the sealing device and for determining an actual temperature of the sealing surface.

Abstract: A small profile strapping tool includes a body defining a cylinder housing, a piston disposed within a cylinder in the cylinder housing, a pneumatic weld motor operably connected to the piston for actuation during a weld cycle, a pneumatic tensioning motor for actuation during a tensioning cycle, and a pneumatic module removably mounted to the cylinder housing. Within the module, a pilot valve controls a flow of gas into the module, a tensioning motor valve controls gas flow to the tensioning motor to draw tension in the strap, a weld cycle valve controls gas flow to the weld motor and piston, a timer and an accumulator are configured to isolate gas flow to the weld motor upon reaching a predetermined pressure in the accumulator following actuation, and a pneumatic signal circuit disposed between the cylinder and a bleed valve includes a signal valve that controls actuation of the bleed valve to route gas to the tension motor to maintain tension in the strap following the weld cycle.

Abstract: Machine and method for making air-filled packing cushions from a roll of prefabricated film material having a longitudinally extending inflation channel near one edge of the material and chambers which communicate with the channel through laterally extending passageways. The roll rests on a pair of spaced apart, horizontally extending rollers. The film material is fed from the roll to an inflation tube which extends into the inflation channel, air is introduced into the chambers through the inflation tube to inflate the cushions, and a longitudinally extending seal is formed across the passageways between the channel and the chambers after the cushions are inflated.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing air-cushion elements comprises at least one supply roll (1) of plastic film material (9), a cutting device (21) for cutting at least one opening into the plastic film material, which is double-layered in the apparatus, a blower (29) for blowing air through the opening, a closing device (23, 24) for sealing the air in the plastic film material to form an air-cushion element, and a cam disc (10) having a series of raised guide ribs (11–17) that are in direct actuation contact with and drive the cutting device and the closing device.

Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, having a container handling machine such as, for example, filler, rinser, or closer for the processing of containers that comprise a neck ring, said machine comprising a rotating rotor (2) at which are disposed processing stations for the containers (6), with at least one input star (4), with at least one output star and/or at least one transfer star, with carrying pockets (5) that are disposed at the rotor (2) and/or the stars and it being disclosed that the processing stations are disposed on a reference diameter that is smaller than the rotor (2) related reference diameter of the transfer point of the container (6) between rotor (2) and input star and/or output star (4) and/or transfer star.

Abstract: A method for packaging in block form a sheathed hot-melt adhesive product comprises the steps: (a) of continuously supplying a sheathed hot-melt adhesive product, (b) of immersing the sheathed hot-melt adhesive product in a liquid refrigerant, (c) of pressing the sheathed adhesive product at a portion thereof, (d) of ultrasonically welding the sheathed adhesive product at the pressed portion; and (e) of cutting the sheathed adhesive product into a block at the pressed portion. A block of sheathed hot-melt adhesive product and an installation for packaging a sheathed hot-melt adhesive product are also provided.

Abstract: An injection molded container for storing and transporting wafers includes a base having a wafer area upon which to place a stack of a plurality of wafer assemblies, wherein each wafer assembly includes a wafer frame upon which is mounted a wafer. A protective wall apparatus is positioned around the wafer area, and includes at least one wall contour artifact. Each wafer frame according to the invention includes a corresponding opposite/mating artifact. The wall apparatus and wafer frame are configured so that the wafer frame must be oriented to mate the wall and frame artifacts in order for the wafer frame to be installed in the container.

Abstract: A typical product overwrap machine includes a crossfeed conveyor, a pusher bar for transferring bread products to a lifting table which moves upwardly to wrap the bread product with a sealing wrap, and the wrapped bread product is sealed by heated rollers. The present invention provides a sensor and control systems operating servomotors or AC drives so that the crossfeed conveyor is operated only when product is detected at a conveyor inlet, and the pusher bar is actuated to move the product from the crossfeed conveyor when product is detected. The control systems detect the width of a pusher bar plate and adjust the separation of flight bars in the crossfeed conveyor to match the size of the installed pusher bar plate, thereby preventing damage to the crossfeed conveyor if there is a mismatch in sizes. Other control systems may be provided to adjust both the width of the pusher bar and the separation of flight bars in the crossfeed conveyor.

Abstract: An appliance for evacuating a flexible container, the appliance including a base housing and a vacuum source disposed within the base housing. A drip retainer is removeably disposed in the base and is in communication with the vacuum source. The drip retainer includes a chamber for holding material. The drip retainer further including a nozzle projecting therefrom, the nozzle is engagable with an opening of the flexible container. A cover is rotatably connected to the base and movable to a closed position to cover the nozzle.

Abstract: A unit for packing products, wherein a feed line, for supplying a strip of packing material, feeds the strip with a given movement to a cutting device for cutting the strip into a succession of sheets of packing material, and then to a feed station for feeding each sheet to a packing wheel moving with a further movement through the feed station; and wherein a compensating roller, having a compensating store, is interposed between the cutting device and the feed station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous, horizontal process for making water-reactive pouches, involving the steps of: a) continuously feeding a first water-soluble film onto a horizontal portion of an continuously and rotatably moving endless surface, which comprises a plurality of moulds, or onto a non-horizontal portion thereof and continuously moving the film to said horizontal portion; b) forming from the film on the horizontal portion of the continuously moving surface, and in the moulds on the surface, a continuously moving, horizontally positioned web of open pouches; c) filling the continuously moving, horizontally positioned web of open pouches with a product, to obtain a horizontally positioned web of open, filled pouches; d) closing the web of open pouches, to obtain closed pouches, preferably by feeding a closing material onto the horizontally positioned web of open, filed pouches, to obtain closed pouches; and preferably sealing the closed pouches and whereby step d) and preferably step

Abstract: A device 10 for bagging dry ingredients, wherein a packaging mechanism 16 is integrally disposed under a weighing mechanism 13 for stored dry ingredients 12 and through a common frame 18. The weighing mechanism 13 comprises a plurality of juxtaposed dispensing pipes 22–25 for dispensing the dry ingredients 12 in a hopper 21, and weighing buckets 27–30 having an open/close dumper 26 for weighing the dispensed dry ingredients 12 and temporally storing them. The dry ingredients 12 in each of the weighing buckets 27–30 are discharged into a dispensing chute 31 through the open/close dumber 26 and are supplied at high speed to the packaging mechanism 16 immediately therebelow through the dispensing chute 31.

Abstract: A method and machine for producing a package with a coupon, whereby a product is fed to a packing station via a feed station, where the coupon is applied on to a top wall of the product; at the packing station, a sheet of packing material is wrapped about the product to enclose both the product and the coupon, and, between the feed station and the packing station, the coupon is subjected to an electric field and charged electrostatically, so as to adhere electrostatically to the product; the electric field is generated by at least one fixed guide, which is parallel to the path so as to face the top wall of the product, and comprises a number of conducting bodies having a high direct voltage with respect to an electric earth.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the tension of one continuous material (e.g., plastic zipper) with attachments or formed features (e.g., sliders or formed slider end stops) as it is fed to a sealing station, where it is joined to and later pulled by another continuous material (e.g., packaging film). The tension control scheme can be applied in cases wherein the packaging film advances a single package length per advancement as well as cases wherein the packaging film advances a distance equal to multiple package lengths per advancement. A tension control zone is created between a pair of nip rollers disposed in zipper processing equipment and a zipper sealing station inside a thermoforming packaging machine by applying a predetermined torque to one of the nip rollers using a torque control device. The zipper processing equipment may comprise a zipper shaping station and a slider insertion station.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for bagging organic and other material such as silage, compost, grain, sawdust, dirt, sand, etc., wherein plastic material is dispensed from a roll mounted on the bagging machine so that the plastic material is at least partially wrapped around the material being bagged as the bagging machine moves ahead during packing and filling.