Abstract: Apparatus for packing a number of small packages into containers of a larger size and having an inclined conveyor for receiving packages, a counter flat adjacent to upper end of the conveyor for generating count signals, a storage chute for receiving packages being angled downwardly, container holders located adjacent to the chute lower end adapted to hold container in registration with the chute lower end for receiving packages the holder means being intermittently operably whereby to move the container when it has received a predetermined number of said packages, and to place an empty container, in registration with the chute lower end, and, controls operable to cause intermittent movement of the holder in response to a predetermined number of count signals, and a method of packing packages on the apparatus.

Abstract: A door closer assembly for a household refrigerator of the type having a door frame with a front faced surface and a door having a confronting surface, the assembly including a hinge plate mounted on the door frame and having a pivot pin mounted on the hinge plate in a spaced relation to the front faced surface, a door plate mounted on the door and having an aperture spaced from the confronting surface of the door and a pivot post spaced from the aperature, the door plate being mounted on the hinge plate with the pivot pin aligned with the aperature, and an offset arm connected to the pivot post and biased by a spring in a door closing direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning an aluminum billet for extrusion from an extrusion press. The billet is first heated above the solutionizing temperature for the MgSi phases in the aluminum matrix, then the billet is cooled below the solutionizing temperature to an adequate hot working temperature. Preferably, a temperature gradient is created along the length of the billet wherein one end of the billet is at or above the hot working temperature and the other end of the billet is cooled to a temperature below the hot working temperature. Thereafter, the billet is placed into the extrusion die, the hot end adjacent the die and the cool end adjacent the ram of the extrusion press. The billet is then extruded producing an extruded product with uniform properties along the length of the product with minimal defects such as tearing or hot shorting.

Abstract: A compact, low shipping volume paper product comprising a compression loaded, core-wound roll of paper and a compression constraining element; and concomitant method of making such a paper product. The roll comprises a length of paper which is wound on a tubular core, and which roll may have an obround or parallelopipedal shape due to being unidirectionally compressively loaded after winding; and then constrained against expanding by a suitable constraining element. Preferably, the roll is sufficiently compressively loaded to completely flatten the core. In another aspect of the invention, the roll may be further compressed by applying a compressive loading that is substantially greater than that needed to cause the core to become flat; and, some of that high compressive loading may be relieved before the constraining element is applied or secured.

Abstract: The invention is a method of forming large-volume foam cushions for packaging purposes wherein each cushion comprises a closed bag formed from respective first and second superposed sheets of plastic material and filled with foam.

Abstract: A forming press for leads of semiconductor packages comprises a package supporting die and a punch. The punch comprises a package securing component movable along a first line of movement, for temporarily securing the package to the die, and a pair of lead bending components, movable, relative to the package securing component, along oblique lines of movement which converge toward the line of movement of the package securing component. The punch assembly includes a holder which supports the package securing component while allowing a limited amount of relative movement. The lead bending components are supported by the package securing component and guided in slots formed in the package securing component. Movement of the lead bending components is effected by rollers on the holder which roll on smooth surfaces at the upper ends of the lead bending components as they push downward thereon, thereby allowing the lead bending components to move in oblique paths as the holder moves in the downward direction.

Abstract: A feeder mechanism for use with an applicator die in which a supply of terminals is fed to the die in the form of a plurality of interconnected terminals and the die functions to crimpingly apply a terminal to an end of each of a plurality of leads successively fed to the die and sever the terminals from the terminal strip. The feeder mechanism comprises a wheel mounted such that the periphery of the wheel moves proximate the applicator die and a plurality of lead receiving assemblies are positioned at circumferentially spaced intervals around the periphery of the wheel so that the wheel may be incrementally rotated to bring successive lead receiving assemblies into proximity to the applicator die so as to allow a terminal to be crimpingly secured to the lead brought to the applicator die by each successive assembly.

Abstract: A bag filling and closing apparatus includes a filling station (10) in which the material to be filled in (22) is pushed into a prefabricated bag (24). A device (50, 52, 54, 56) is provided for pulling the bags onto the filling machine as is a device for spreading open and holding the bags. Next to the filling station (10), there is disposed at least one supply and/or intake station (12, 14) for bags, each station being equipped with a device (50, 52, 54, 56) for pulling the bags onto the apparatus. A carriage (30) is movable back and forth between the filling station (10) and the supply and intake station (12, 14) carries the spreading and holding device (28, 30, 44, 46) for the bags. The bags can therefore be picked up and spread open in the supply and intake station (12, 14) and can be transferred to the filling station (10) in that position. Preferably, two supply and intake stations are provided on opposite sides of the filling station (10 ).

Abstract: A first web having an ionomer, or ionomer/ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) sealant layer, heat sealed to a second web having an EVA/ethytlene butene copolymer (EBC)/polypropylene (PP) sealant layer, forms an easily opened package. A layer adjacent the sealant layer of the second web optionally includes PP or ethylene propylene copolymer. With this optional layer, the sealant layer of the first web may comprise a polymeric material which forms strong interweb adhesion upon heat sealing.

Abstract: A device for filling a tubular casing with a pasty product comprising a stuffing horn, a brake which encircles the outside of the stuffing horn in the vicinity of the orifice thereof, and a coaxial, cylindrical support tube accommodating a tubular net, which support tube is arranged at a distance from the outside of the stuffing horn and extends over the length of the stuffing horn to an end in the vicinity of the orifice of the stuffing horn, the brake being located at said end of the support tube. The invention enables the tubular net to continuously applied to the tubular casing during the stuffing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for closing lidded cartons has a turning station including a flightless horizontal conveyor, and a chain conveyor which extends along one side of the flightless conveyor and has light restraint members pivotally mounted on its links. The chain conveyor is moved in the same direction as the horizontal conveyor, but at a slower speed. Part way along the chain conveyor an upwardly directed air jet moves the restraint members individually but in succession to temporary raised positions in which they are available for engagement by a carton which is moving along the flightless conveyor in overlapping relation to the chain conveyor. A restraint member engaged by a carton in this way thereafter serves as a fulcrum about which the carton pivots through a substantial angle. Plough bars later complete the rotation of the carton through 90.degree. in total.

Abstract: An apparatus for extruding stepped extrusions, e.g. of aluminum or aluminium alloy, comprises a die holder carrying a major die, and a split minor die arranged for abutment with the downstream side of the major die and having its two halves mounted on respective parts of a split holder. The holder parts are movable towards and away from the line of extrusion to put together and separate the halves of the minor die. The die holder and the container of an extruder are movable towards each other to press the minor die the major die and the downstream face of the container into sealing engagement about the die apertures, and are movable away from each other to permit the extrusion to be sheared off between the container and the major die.

Abstract: A device for filling outers with filled bags comprises a cassette (1) for the accommodation of a number of bags or rows of bags stacked on each other, feed apparatus (10, 11) for filling the cassette with bags from the top, and discharge apparatus (4, 5) for sliding the stack laterally out of the cassette into a tilted outer. For the purpose of simplification and for making the structure less susceptible to faults, the cassette has a fixed position, and a sliding cover plate or deposit plate (8) is placed at the top side of the cassette for supporting a row of bags. Structure (9) is present for sliding the cover plate (8) to and fro between a covering position in which the top side of the cassette is covered and a free position in which the bags can fall into the cassette.

Abstract: A heavy duty industrial or agricultural hinge for pivotally interconnecting two members, the hinge including a rod adapted to extend through interleaved ears affixed to the members. In order to establish adequate lateral clearance at the hinge joint, each ear is formed with a half round-half rectangular configuration which serves to automatically space the bearing portion of the ear a proper distance away from the hinged member. An arcuate insert is fixed within the ear and coacts with the half round portion of the ear to form a generally cylindrical bearing portion for the hinge rod.

Abstract: For baling shrubs or bushes, in particular rose bushes, the roots (12) of the plants (10) substantially freed from soil are embedded in a moisture-containing substrate (14) such as peat and provided with a sheath or envelope. For this purpose a hollow of wire grating (16) is formed which is then partially filled with substrate (14). Thereafter the roots (12) of the lying plant (10) are placed on the substrate (14). Further substrate (14) is then applied to the roots (12). Finally the wire grating (16) is deformed by bending two edges (24, 26) of the hollow together to form a tube and the edges (24, 26) of the wire grating (16) are fixedly connected together. A machine for carrying out this method comprises at least one trough (48) onto which the wire grating (16) can be placed. A ram (74) is shaped complementary to the trough (48) and adapted to be pressed into the latter to deform the wire grating (16 ) to a hollow.

Abstract: Two side-by-side columns of containers are fed between laterally spaced container conveyors that have lugs which move inwardly between the adjacent containers of each column. Some lugs are oversized to create a space between the foremost containers in one slug or array and the last containers in an adjacent array. These lugs also have bifurcated lower portions and the lug conveyors move these lugs downwardly to engage the adjacent end panels of two end-to-end packing cases so the containers can be lowered into these cases at a load station.

Abstract: An apparatus, based on a conventional lathe, for the screening of ink transfer rollers including a rotatable screen forming tool rotably held above the ink transfer roller by a pivoted arm, is disclosed. The arm pivots about an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of the roller and to one side thereof with a damping device extending from the arm on a side opposite the pivot to a base. The base transverses along the lathe bed and rigidly supports a post to which the arm pivot is attached for adjustable height. The arm also includes a variable weight for adjusting the force of the tool upon the roller.

Abstract: A method and installation for feeding longitudinal elements of round or flat material to a welding machine (41) for grates or gratings, in which method the longitudinal elements (L), cut off from at least one line of longitudinal-element material after straightening of the same, are arranged in a group with selectable spacing, without longitudinal displacement, in the direction transverse to a push-in line (S) to the welding machine (41), are secured in place by a, for example magnetic, holding force and are moved essentially continuously into the push-in line, and in which arrangement the front ends of the longitudinal elements are mutually aligned before delivery of the longitudinal elements to the welding machine.

Abstract: An improved packaging device designed for the filling of flexible, tubular casing and for the sealing of the casing in discrete lengths which may then be further processed or packaged. The device includes a mounting assembly having a floor mounted frame with a rotatable platform supported by the frame. Adjacent the frame and platform is a device for feeding product through a product horn into casing which is shirred on the horn. The platform includes a plurality of specially designed clippers arranged in a circular array. As filled casing is discharged from the feeding mechanism it is directed tangentially into the circular array of rotating clippers which are equally spaced from each other. The clippers sequentially operate to gather the casing, apply spaced, double clips to the casing, sever the connection between adjacent clips, and to then discharge the packaged link from the device.

Abstract: The elastic hinge comprises a hinge element (5) fixed to the front part of a spectacle frame and a hinge element (8) integral with a rod (11) inserted in the bore (9) of a housing (10). The rod (11) is pressed to the rear of the temple by a spring (16) which presses on the one hand against a collar (17) integral with the rod (11) and on the other hand against a ring (25) having a rib (26) which engages elastically on a shoulder (27). As a result of this arrangement, the fitting of the elastic assembly in the bore (9) is substantially simplified.