Abstract: A device for closing the upper lateral flaps of long parallelepiped cases includes a pair of helical guides with a reduced longitudinal length and a pair of extension arms controllable so that they may be displaced from an at rest position to an operating position. In the latter position the two arms are arranged as an extension of the helical guides towards the inlet to the device so as to force the lateral flaps of the case to accomplish the closing engagement with the helices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for a tray arrangement for a series of continuously linked trays. The trays are adapted to be stacked by a twisting mechanism and by a series of curved side guards which twist and bend the links connecting the trays in order to arrange the trays into the proper configuration. The trays are then unstacked by another series of curved side guards and twisting mechanism and then each tray is in turn moved to a filling station where filling material is dispensed therein. The filled tray is then moved to a lid closing station where the attached flipped open lid of the tray is closed atop the tray. The tray is then pulled by a side grasping pull flange to a position where an overhead piston driven mechanism seals the lid and cuts the link, separating the tray from the nested of the trays.

Abstract: A product support table, having an elongated longitudinal opening is positioned over a pair of fin seal wheels which provide a seal between two edges of a sheet of film that has been wrapped around an article. The product support table supports a pair of product transport belts that are located between the product being wrapped and the product support table. The belts run the length of the product support table generally in contact with the top side of the table and then, on the return run, are directed upwardly to the bottom of the product support table for most of its travel back to a drive roll and a belt take-up roll.

Abstract: An upstanding collar is formed around a hole in a sheet metal blank by means of a converter tool which converts an edge region bordering the hole into the collar, while the blank is rotated relative to the converter tool. This method comprises (i) in a first stage, converting a portion of the blank into a first turned-up rim, (ii) after the first stage, converting a further portion of the blank into a second turned-up rim, (iii) in at least one further stage repeating step (ii) successively converting each time a further portion of the blank into another turned-up rim, until the whole of the edge region has been converted, wherein (a) in at least one of the stages the conversion takes place on free air, and (b) in all these stages the conversion takes place in the same direction relative to the blank. A converter tool increasing stepwise in diameter may be used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a filled, flanged carton tray with a flat lid. The tray is advanced into a sealing machine while resting on a conveyor (3) and at random spacing between trays. At a predetermined position the tray has a lid (2) placed on it, the lid (2) engaging against a stop curtain (4) and awaiting the tray (1), this being the lid (2) which is to be sealed against the flanges of the tray. The tray with the lid on it is then advanced by rollers (5-8) into a first microwave applicator (11), which includes longitudinal rails (12, 13) with a C-shaped cross section, for sealing a pair of opposing lid edge portions against respective flanges of the tray (1), subsequent to which, compression or sealing rollers (14-17) situated in the advancing direction of the conveyor press against the lid (2), which was sealed immediately previously, and before the tray (1) is turned 90.degree.

Abstract: This invention provides a feed system comprising a base on which a portion of the article being fed rests. The base extends along a feed path for the article. The feed system also includes at least one rotatable feed screw lying in an axis parallel to the feed path. The feed screw includes an entry end, a discharge end and a continuous, helical groove having a profile for receiving a portion of the article being fed. The feed system includes a linkage device for transferring reciprocating motion of a reciprocating press into which the articles are fed into rotary motion of the feed screw, and a feeding device for feeding articles into the groove at the entry end. The feed system also comprises a cooperating second screw or a resilient guide bar, for maintaining the article within and along the feed path as the feed screw is rotated.

Abstract: Packaging machine to package sections in alternate layers with one single set of magnetic heads, which comprises a conveyor bench (11), an oscillatory arm (12) with a magnetic head (13) and an area (15) for the formation of packages (14), the conveyor bench (11) bearing alternate first and second layers (16-17) of sections wherein one layer comprises "N" sections whereas the next layer comprises "N minus 1" sections, each layer being defined by a pin (18), whereby the magnetic head (13) takes an upstream second layer (17) first, overturns it and places it on a previous first layer (16) located downstream and transfers both layers (16-17) onto a package (14) being formed after a relative vertical displacement as between the conveyor bench (11) and the oscillatory arm (12) at least during the step of transfer of the layers (16-17) onto the package (14) being formed, the packaging machine (10) being positioned below the conveyor bench (11) and at the side of the package (14) formation area (15).

Abstract: Indicia such as tax stamps are applied to objects such as cigarette packs by driving a heated ram against the back of an indicia supply tape to cause the indicium to transfer from the tape to the object. If the object is contained in outer packaging such as cigarette carton packaging, that outer packaging is opened prior to applying the indicia to the objects. Then the outer packaging is reclosed. The indicia supply tapes are contained in cartridges which are easily removed for reloading and storage in a secure place. The cartridges are mounted on heads in the machine which are movable to facilitate applying indicia with various spacings and in various arrangements.

Abstract: A closed-die forging having an annular flat surface portion and a corner portion at an outer periphery of the annular flat surface portion is made by a method consisting of a rough forging process and a finish forging process. In the rough forging process, a rough forged product is shaped so as to have an annular flat surface portion smaller in outer diameter than the first mentioned annular flat surface portion and a conical surface portion at an outer periphery of the second mentioned annular flat surface portion. The conical surface portion is so shaped as to extend increasingly outwards as it extend in the same direction of movement of a punch of a rough forging die for performing a forming operation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing extruded seamless hollow materials characterized in that, prior to extruding a hollow billet from container liner through extrusion dies, a process wherein a centering jig for holding the tip portion of mandrel at the center of extrusion is provided on the extruding side or in the extrusion dies on the extruding side of the container liner, a process wherein the tip portion of mandrel is inserted into the centering jig to be held and a process wherein the hollow billet is pressurized to fill up said billet in the container liner are included.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for forming, filling and sealing bag-type packages. For certain filling products it is advantageous to "strip" or flatten the bag-type package prior to sealing, i.e. to ensure that the bag is volumetrically displaced. As a result all bag-type packages are tightly filled despite varying specific weight of the filling product. This object of the invention is achieved by return conveyance or feed of the bag hose or tube and passage of the latter through a constrictive location. An advantage of the apparatus resides in the possibility of achieving high production speeds by virtue of small moved masses.

Abstract: A sliding clamp for fastening the binding prongs of a binder having flexible binding prongs, which is adapted to slide in a rail-shaped member of substantially U-shaped cross-section, which is fitted with openings for the passage of the binding prongs, wherein the sliding clamp comprises a first elongate portion adapted to slide in the rail-shaped member and which is provided with a passage for a binding prong; and a second portion pivotally connected to the first portion, the second portion being adapted for pivotal movement in a pivoting line extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the first portion, and that there are provided cam means for being locked in a position wherein the binding prong is bent and clamped.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading delicate fruit into standard sized fruit bins is disclosed. The apparatus includes a carriage, a cradle, a distributing conveyor which are controlled to automatically lower fruit into a bin in such a way as to minimize damage to fruit and to maximize efficiency of loading. The distributing conveyor includes a twisted conveyor belt that gently guides fruit to a discharge opening as the fruit moves along the belt.

Abstract: A shifting apparatus for objects such as eggs comprises a plurality of holders slidably carried on a substantially horizontal holder guide which is vertically movable. When the holder guide assumes an upper position, the holders are maximally spaced from each other for receiving a corresponding number of objects from above. A pitch changing mechanism causes the holders to slide on the holder guide, so that the holders are minimally spaced from each other when the holder guide assumes a lower position. In the lower position of the holder guide, a discharging mechanism causes the holders to discharge the received objects into a container located below.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing and closing an end of a sleeve, more particularly an apparatus and method for bag making, filling, and packaging for intermittently delivering a packaging film of a predetermined length, while forming the film into a tubular shape by a bag making cylindrical body; filling the tubular packaging film with a material to be packaged; and clamping the tubular film by closing a pair of opposed sealing devices to heat seal the tubular film. Apparatus is provided for cooling the heat sealed end of the tubular film by a device which is independent of the sealing device. The heat sealed end of the tubular sleeve is positioned and directly engaged by the cooling members which serves to shorten the cooling time, yet provides an improved seal with an improved appearance.

Abstract: A packaging machine, in which the packaging is carried out of products fed by free-falling inside a cradle-shaped length of a packaging material, which is provided with a welding/cutting device for welding and cutting opposite edges of packaging material, is capable of accomplishing a continuous weld on three sides of the product-containing packaging material, and of removing ear-shaped scrap portions of said packaging material, generated by the weld.

Abstract: A capsule filling and capping machine including a testing apparatus for ascertaining the presence of capsule pieces (bottom and cap) in the conveyor apparatus. The conveyor apparatus includes receptacles into which the capsules are tightly inserted. A test head, with chambers disposed in it that communicate with a source of negative pressure or overpressure, respectively, via a throttle is brought into contact with the receptacles, and the pressure of the chambers is monitored by pressure sensors. The output of piezorestrictive pressure sensors is evaluated electronically and processed further into signals to prevent capsules from being filled, to reject defective capsules, or to stop the machine if there is a problem related to one of the capsules.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming, filling, sealing and deflating a package of goods prior to the time the fill opening is sealed includes a blast of air against the exterior flexible sidewalls of the package to thereby drive gas from the inside of the package.

Abstract: A packaging machine for cardboard boxes and a process for packaging articles in the cardboard boxes in which an insert (15) is placed into at least one side of an open cardboard shell (10). Insert units (16, 17), disposed on both sides of a moving track for the cardboard shell (10), each have an insert transmitter (19) which removes insert (15) successively from a magazine (18) and swivels the insert (15) to an upright position. The insert-transmitter (19) is moved synchronously with the packaging machine by an operating rod (22), having two double-armed levers (23, 24).

Abstract: The present invention provides a redrawing method which comprises holding a preliminarily drawn cup of a covered metal sheet by an annular holding member inserted in the cup and a redrawing die, and relatively moving the redrawing die and a redrawing punch arranged coaxially with the holding member and redrawing cup, the drawing punch being capable of going into the holding member and coming out from the holding member, so that the redrawing die and redrawing punch are engaged with each other, to form a deep-drawn cup having a diameter smaller than that of the preliminarily drawn cup. This redrawing method is prominently characterized in that the radius of curvature of the operating corner portion of the redrawing die is 1 to 2.9 times as large as the bare sheet thickness of the metal sheet.