Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for forming a shrink-wrapped package from polyolefin film which overcomes the problems of forming the bottom lap seal of the tubular package formed from the film and initial low strength of the heat seal at the forward end of the package, by positioning the static sealer for the bottom lap seal upstream from the heat sealer for the forward end of the package and by using a ram to move packages into the tubular package but to stop them short of the heat seal at the forward end of the package.

Abstract: A container sealing machine for placing an elastomeric lid with a transverse wall and a depending sidewall upon the open upper end of the container has a frame providing a cavity adapted to receive therein the upper portion of the container. A multiplicity of stretching fingers are movably mounted on the frame and extend inwardly of the cavity. The fingers have upstanding lips at their inner ends adapted to engage the inside surface of the sidewall of the lid and are movable relative to the cavity. Initially, this movement stretches the lid and thereafter it causes the sidewall of the lid to be moved off the lips, and the sidewall of the lid then contracts against the sidewall of the container to effect its sealing. Generally, the finger moving means includes a base plate on which the fingers are slidably seated, a base plate on which the fingers are slidably seated, and a rotatable cam ring above the fingers which cooperate to produce the movement of the fingers.

Abstract: A rolling milling tool is constructed so that the roller, in the form of a sphere, or cylinder or cone, is supported in a hydrostatic bearing to avoid counter rollers, thereby reducing the size of such tools. The roller is held in a bearing socket or guide chamber which may provide for an axial play of the roller in the chamber. The bearing socket or guide chamber is formed in a roller head which may be itself constructed for being chucked in a tool holder, or the roller head may be received in a housing which is held in a tool holder of a machine tool, such as a lathe. Ducts connect the hydrostatic bearing to a source of fluid pressure. The tool is suitable for a smooth rolling and/or work hardening roller operation.

Abstract: Progressive step and compound dies are employed in a cold working process to form a metallic preform of selected mass into a precision-finished, pore-free, annular bushing with a mass substantially equal to that of the preform for use as a battery terminal which allows the fracture free spin over connection of the stem of the bushing to a battery cover and the close fit of the bushing on the battery post when the cover is fitted to the battery casing.

Abstract: The invention provides a package and associated method for packaging of products which enhances the resistance to tampering with or adulteration of the product, and which also permits a readily visible indication that any such tampering or adulteration has occurred. The invention in one form provides an inner container which is in turn provided with an outer protective layer of epoxide resin. The outer layer is cured and it becomes extremely brittle such that any physical penetration of the outer layer will cause the entire outer layer to shatter. Such shattering will provide a clear indication that penetration of the protective layer has occurred. Also there may be provided an associated dye which will exhibit a color change when the outer protective layer is shattered. A warning message may be provided on said packaging underlying the outer layer.

Abstract: A form, fill, seal and separate packaging machine for reclosable containers is accomplished by a plurality of stations disposed along a path of travel of a thermoplastic web including a pair of mated, resealable closure strips present on the base web. The machine is intermittent in its operation, with movement of the web through the machine controlled so that the various steps of forming, filling, sealing and separating the reclosable containers are performed during periodic stops of the machine. The machine is further characterized by its use of two pairs of web belts to move the web through the machine. A first pair of web belts initially receive the folded web stock and partially form and completely fill the containers. The second pair of web belts overlap with the downstream end of the first pair of belts, but are disposed lower than the first belts.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a reclosable package having a body member, a base, a hermetic seal between the body member and base and snap locking projections in the side walls of the body member and base.

Abstract: Objects are packeted in bags (5) by means of a chain (1) of flat, flexible bags being conveyed, open at the top, through a filling station (12). Each bag in the chain has a rear main wall with a lip protruding from the opening, out past the edge of the front wall (51). In the station the lip is allowed to run along a support line which, seen in the general direction of feed of the chain of bags, diverges therefrom both horizontally and vertically so that the opening of the bag (5) can easily be opened by a jet of air without creasing the chain of bags.

Abstract: Paper folding apparatus includes means for controlling machine operation and a buckle chute having opposed end regions of which one is generally open to a folding chute. The chute is arranged in use to receive a part of the item to effect a fold therein and the other end includes deflector means arranged in use to deflect an oncoming stationery item to continue along the paper path. Location means reversibly locate the buckle chute adjacent the paper path with either said open end or said deflector means presented to the path. Moreover orientation detection means are associated with the location means for determining which of the open end and the deflector means are presented to the path. In this way the machine control is informed via a signal from the orientation detection means of which end of the buckle chute is in operative position.

Abstract: The invention describes an apparatus for the sterile packaging of flowable substances, comprising a conveyer belt (4), from one end of which open packages (5) can be passed by an intermediate conveyer means (21-23) through a sterilizing chamber (7) and to a second conveyer belt (13) disposed in a sterile chamber (15) enclosed in a housing (14), filling means (17) and sealing means (18) being disposed in this sterile chamber (15) while an outlet sluice (24) is disposed in a wall of the housing. In order to simplify and so further improve such an apparatus that a more effective sterilization process is achieved, it is according to the invention envisaged to construct the sterilizing chamber (15) as an inlet sluice (8).

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a bait sack includes a pair of plates that define a bait sack containing opening. The plate members are pivotally attached to a base member so that when preparing the bait sack, the plate members may be rotated to a position that facilitates access to the underside of the plate members so that the bait sack may be tied or sealed at a point substantially adjacent the bait.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a reclosable package having a body member, a base, hermetic seal between the body member and base and snap-locking projections formed in the side walls of the body member and base.

Abstract: A machine for loading one or more layers of product into a case from the bottom. The machine loads a first layer of received product into a product arrangement area onto an elevator platen. The platen is lowered and a slip sheet is inserted to be the floor of the arrangement area. A subsequent layer of product is arranged on the slip sheet. The slip sheet is withdrawn and the product layer thereon drops onto the layer on the lowered platen. Subsequent layers can be added accordingly. When all of the layers are stacked on the platen, then the elevator platen is raised to insert the stacked product thereon into an open case above the arrangement area. The case may be closed and sealed.

Abstract: The piece of packaging material (e.g. a sheet or plastic placed on the topside of the fiber material to be compacted exhibits marginal zones projecting all around, which must be detached from the press ram after the compressing step and must be placed against the bale. For the automatic detachment of the sheet from the press ram, leaf springs are fastened for this purpose at the side faces of the press ram and urge, after withdrawal of the press box casing, these marginal zones away from the press ram. Subsequently, the press box casing located there above again travels downwardly to the bale, namely only up to the top rim of the latter, during which step the marginal zones of the sheet projecting from the bale in the upward direction are uniformly brought into contact with the bale.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of sterilized plant matter consisting of the steps of; treating coarse chopped plant matter with heat to achieve dehydration, compression filling airtight fiber reinforced plastic bags with dehydrated plant matter, injecting high pressure steam into the dehydrated plant matter while in the bag and sealing the bag. A product consisting of steam sterilized coarse chopped plant matter under vacuum in air tight fiber reinforced plastic bags.

Abstract: The process according to the invention relates to the packaging of lids cut out in a press combined with a stacker. According to the process, the guide rods of a delivery magazine are covered by a substantially cylindrical casing which simultaneously surrounds the stacked lids while at the same time immobilizing the stack transversely to itself with a slight clearance therebetween, the casing comprising support means for resting on the moving supports at the bottom of the stack of lids and stop means for retaining the bottom of the stack borne by the casing. The retaining means are optionally completed by one or more associated retaining means. The stack of lids covered in this way is then removed from the delivery magazine and the casing is sealed with caps which offer an added measure of protection.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling trays with cigarettes, or the like, comprises a cigarette-supplying hopper (1) at the outlet of which there is arranged a plurality of vertical or slightly inclined, generally parallel channels (2), or a plurality of passages defined by equispaced adjacent rollers, through which the cigarettes move down by gravity, the width of channels (2) and the distance between the rollers being slightly greater than the cigarette diameter, provision being made of means for facilitating the cigarette downward movement and of means for interrupting it. In order to facilitate the descent of the cigarettes, the channels (2) are so made as to be swingable to and fro, transversely to the direction of the cigarette downward movement.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling receptacles with honey comprising heating means and pumping means to force the honey in a circular shaped filler with a plurality of feed tubes arranged like spokes on a wheel. A conveyor nestles the receptacles between clogs of the conveyor. As each feed tube is inserted in the receptacle, the receptacle is filled. Additionally, the receptacle, which is moving on the conveyor, causes the filler to rotate so that each successive receptacle is filled by the next feed tube. A bottom sealer and a top sealer gradually squeeze the ends of the receptacle until they are cut and sealed by a current carrying wire.

Abstract: An automatic baler for bundling together small, individual food bags that have been previously formed and filled in automatic packers, designed to be arranged in line with the outlet of a packer machine with individual bags sequentially transferred by a moveable piston onto the top of a stacking hopper and arranged firstly in layers of several bags disposed side by side, and secondly to be stacked by superimposing every layer over another, and finally to introduce, again by way of a moveable piston, the stack of layers thus made into a larger bag or box attached to an open mouth of the stacking hopper, allowing in this way a plurality of individual packages to be placed in a condition for ease of handling.

Abstract: Shaped metal parts are produced on a continuous basis from semi-solid metal preforms. Plurality of cans, each containing a metal preform, are sequentially heated in an induction heating zone to bring the preforms to a semi-solid level. The preforms can be transformed without loss of any metal or heat to a press where they are shaped in a semi-solid state into a metal part. The can can then be removed and recycled.