Abstract: The capsule filling-sealing apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a filling unit in which various mechanisms for carrying out filling processing for empty capsules are functionally disposed, a sealing unit for securely sealing filled capsules, and a connection unit for transferring the filled capsules from the filling unit to the sealing unit, wherein the filling unit, the connection unit and the sealing unit are disposed organically and integrated substantially, and the sealing processing is carrying out sequentially after the filling processing on the same production line without requiring unnecessary storage and transfer after the filling processing for capsules.

Abstract: An industrial reel wrap is designed for wrapping an industrial reel having a central spool and a pair of end plates connected thereto. The reel wrap includes a central portion that is spannable across a distance between the end plates of the reel. The reel wrap additionally includes first and second side portions that are coupled to the central portion. The first and second side portions each include a number of tabs along the length of the reel wrap. The tabs are securable to the exterior surface of each the end plates, the first and last of the tabs are preferably overlapped to completely enclose the industrial reel. The tabs are separated from the central portion by a double crease seam to enable easier folding of the tabs. The reel wrap may be scored to enable compact folding for shipment.

Abstract: A system for evacuating containers. The system includes a base housing defining a recess having a vacuum inlet port in communication with a vacuum source. An inner door is hinged to the base housing and is sized to cover the recess when in a closed position, and an outer door having a sealing member is hinged to close over the inner door. A vacuum nozzle extends at least partially between the inner and outer doors and is in communication with the recess. The inner and outer doors cooperate to retain a flexible container therebetween and around the nozzle so that the nozzle is positioned for fluid communication with an inside of the container. A removable drip pan is positioned to retain fluids drawn by the nozzle.

Abstract: A convertible computer controlled form, fill and seal bagging machine comprising a film drive drawing a film sheet about a pouch former with the film sheet being folded and overlapped along longitudinal edge portions; a first sealer heat fusing the overlapped edge portions together to form a hollow film tube; a temperature and a pressure controller controlling the temperature and pressure of the first sealer; a transverse sealer forming a transverse seal across the hollow film tube; a feeder supplying a predetermined content in the hollow tube at a pouch forming station; a computer controller controlling the temperature and pressure of the first sealer to progressively form a seal along the longitudinal edge portions based on a selected predetermined programmed pouch size and the length of the seal bar of the first sealer.

Abstract: A build cell is utilized to manufacture computers and load data into the computers according to customer orders. The build cell may include a build station at which components are assembled into a computer and a first network connection that links the computer with an on-site server. The build cell may also include a supplemental network connection that links the computer with an off-site server. Data from the on-site and off-site servers can be transferred to the computer via the first network connection and the supplemental network connection, respectively. Manufacturing facilities and assembly units including the same or similar functionality are also disclosed.

Abstract: A box-closing apparatus has a hanger link having one end pivoted about a fixed link axis on a stationary housing adjacent a station holding a box blank and another end defining a movable link axis. A two-arm main lever pivoted generally centrally at the movable link axis on the link has a pusher arm extending from the movable link axis and carrying a pusher block engageable with the flap of the box blank in the station and an actuating arm extending from the movable link axis and having an outer end. A drive lever pivoted at a fixed drive axis on the housing has an outer end pivoted at an outer drive axis on the outer end of the actuating arm of the main lever. The pusher block moves generally through a 0°–90° sinusoidal trajectory to press an outer flap against a glue flap of the blank in the station.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object folded from a flat work piece, particularly a filter element folded from a nonwoven fabric, characterized in that the three-dimensional object (20) is made up of several rows (5, 6, 7) of hollow pyramid elements (30) that are joined in rows and nested into one another.

Abstract: A pill dispensing device and method in which the part of the device 10 which comes into contact with the pills is disposable so as to prevent cross pill contamination. The device 10 is a disposable, columnar insert comprised of a funnel-like ingress aperture 16 for receiving the articles to be counted and dispensed, tapering to a constriction 18 to limit the passageway and diverging out to a cylindrical tube 20 that segregates the tablets/capsules from the counting/dispensing apparatus. The present invention 10 also provides for an additional element wherein the egress aperture 26 tapers to a smaller cylindrical aperture diametrically conforming to the aperture 18 at the opposing distal end for dispensing the medication directly into a vial 14.

Abstract: A method of loading medical devices into medical device packages utilizing an apparatus including a pusher plate, a retaining member, a transfer member and a package support member, the retaining member and the transfer member each includes a plurality of grooves for receiving and retaining the medical devices and the package support member includes a plurality of recesses for receiving and retaining the medical device packages, wherein the medical device packages are loaded into the package support member recesses, the medical devices are loaded into the retaining member grooves, every other medical devices are transferred from the retaining member to the transfer member by the pusher plate, the transfer member is urged into alignment with the package support member, the pusher plate inserts the medical devices in the transfer member into the packages in the package support member and the packages are removed from the apparatus for further processing.

Abstract: Machine for inflating and sealing a preconfigured cushioning material which includes a rotatively mounted roll support shaft having a fixed end and a free end, a hub mounted on the shaft near the fixed end for engagement with a cylindrical core at the end of a roll of film material, a circumferentially expandable roll gripper at the free end of the shaft for locking engagement with the inner wall of the core, an inflator having a conically tapered tip and a plurality of outlet openings for injecting air into cells of the film material, a nip roller pressing against the roll of film material to limit the flow of air into the cells of the film material on the roll, and sealer for sealing the inlet passageways to retain the air in the cells.

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 holder, a rotatably supported film roll is arranged for being displaced in a predetemined 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: The use of a frictional engagement with the top and/or side of a lifter ring on the neck of a bottle for controlling the rotation of the bottle during the capping process. The frictional engagement may be used to hold the bottle steady during the capping process or may be utilized to cause counter rotation of the bottle during the capping process. A method and apparatus for using counter rotation of the bottle to apply a cap to a bottle is also described.

Abstract: An output supply assembly has a horizontal base receiving a container of a flowable material. A platen is positionable in the container. A pump feeds the pressurized flowable material from the container. A dispensing and handling assembly has two film-forming dies of similar configuration. A pair of hoses is provided between the output supply assembly and the dispensing and handling assembly. A control assembly couples the output supply assembly and the dispensing and handling assembly. Flowable material is fed through the assembly to form film. A pair of film-movers are beneath the film-forming dies. A pair of rotary dies are beneath the film-movers. An injector is located above the film-movers for periodic dispensing of particulate material. Containers are formed upon the solidification of the flowable material moving between the dies.

Abstract: A packaging machine for sealing a packaging container having a lid and a tray comprising an upper part and a lower part arranged vertically moveable against each other, at least three vertical pins mounted on springs for opening a packaging container by lifting the lid off of the tray, evacuating mechanism for exchanging gas within the packaging container and sealing mechanism for sealing the lid to the tray.

Abstract: A molded plastic vehicle shield device includes a hood protector region and hood attachment region. The hood protector region is constructed for extending across a portion of a vehicle hood for protecting the vehicle hood. The hood protector region includes at least one flexible region for allowing bending of the hood protector region. The hood attachment region includes a first hood attachment flange attached to a portion of the hood protector region and constructed for attaching to a left side of the vehicle hood, and a second hood attachment flange attached to a portion of the hood protector region and constructed for attachment to a right side of the vehicle hood.

Abstract: A vertical bagging apparatus [101] comprises a bag station [105] having multiple stations [403A, 403B, 403C, 403D] for holding a variety of wicket-supported bags. A tooling assembly [107] accepts product for a product line and dispenses the product into an opened bag from the bag station. A bag transfer assembly [109] lowers the filled bag to a bag seal assembly [111] located vertically below the tooling assembly. The apparatus allows high speeds and quick-change of bags and bagged product.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming packages of pre-cooked meals. The package comprises a tray enclosed at least partially by a card sleeve having top and bottom faces and two opposing side walls. The forming apparatus includes a series of forming tools mounted for movement at spaced intervals and each forming tool is provided for the reception of a sleeve in a blank flattened form. As the sleeve is introduced into the forming tool the sleeve is moved to the erected condition, the tray is inserted in the erected sleeve and the formed package removed from the forming tool.

Abstract: A chopper folder for a rotary press folds signatures which are periodically conveyed, one signature at a time, from a folding machine. The chopper folder includes a pair of folding rollers for folding a signature parallel to the conveyance direction, a prime mover, a crank arm fixed to an output shaft of the prime mover to be rotated together with the output shaft, a blade holder connected to the crank arm via a link, a chopper blade held in the blade holder and adapted to push the signature from an upper surface thereof in order to insert the signature into a space between the pair of folding rollers, and guide units for restricting motion of the blade holder such that the blade holder reciprocates only in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance plane along which the signature is conveyed.

Abstract: An arrangement for producing stack bundles from signatures includes a horizontal stack deposit support, a conveyor to supply a flow of signatures to the stack deposit support for formation of a signature stack having a front end and a back end, and a supporting device adapted to form a stack bundle having a front end and a back end. The supporting device comprises a first support element adapted to rise from below the stack deposit support and act on the front end of the stack, a second support element adapted to rise from below the stack deposit support and act on the back end of the stack bundle, and a third support element arranged to rise from below the stack deposit support in a first location to act on the front end of the stack and in a second location to act on the front end of the stack bundle.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for making cushioning product, and a roll tensioner therefor apply frictional resistance to the periphery of a roll of material to be converted into cushioning product with at least one roll support member which supports the roll in addition to applying frictional resistance to rotation. Efficient operation is attained automatically in that the frictional resistance applied and also the pulling profile exerted on the material during unwinding of the roll are changed as a function of weight and/or other characteristics of the roll of material to be converted into cushioning product.