Abstract: A container comprises a sleeve and two end walls. The sleeve is made of a tube having a plurality of paper layers. The end walls are inserted into the sleeve and are bonded in a sealed way thereto. According to the present invention, each of the end walls has a rim which projects outwards, around which rim the tube is bent and bonded by means of heat sealing. A stable, sealed bonding is thus obtained, whereby the application of different materials for the end walls is possible.

Abstract: A packaging machine (11) in which tubular bag material (16) is driven through the machine and caused to vibrate in the general direction of movement of the tubular bag material to aid in settling products so that the product occupies a minimum volume during formation of bags containing the product.

Abstract: The cap is screwed on by a friction clutch (33) that gives a tightening torque less than the desired ideal torque. The cap (C) gripping head (47) is connected not only to the driven part of the clutch but also, through a composite drive shaft (233, 54), to a freewheel (57) engaging with a mechanism which, after the screwing of the cap by the clutch, is acted on by a wedge (89) of programmable and adjustable interference mounted on a guide connected to a load cell (84). When this mechanism is acted upon by the wedge, it receives from it the small rotation required to complete the screwing of the cap and the reaction of the wedge to the mechanism is detected by the load cell, which emits an electrical signal proportional to the effective tightening torque applied to the cap.

Abstract: A fill system for use in a packaging machine is disclosed for filling a container with a primary and a secondary product. The fill system includes a primary pump system for pumping a predetermined amount of the primary product received at an inlet thereof. A primary fill pipe having an outlet overlying a container processing path along which the containers are filled and sealed by the packaging machine is connected to receive the predetermined amount of primary product from the outlet of the primary pump system. The fill system further includes a secondary pump system for pumping a predetermined amount of the secondary product received at an inlet thereof to an outlet thereof. A secondary fill pipe is connected to receive the predetermined amount of secondary product from the outlet of the secondary pump means. A valve mechanism is disposed, for example, concentrically within the secondary fill pipe and includes a sealing member positioned at the outlet of the secondary fill pipe.

Abstract: The beverage basket carrier of the invention is constructed of two separate blanks, a primary blank including the printed surfaces of the carrier and a secondary blank including the internal divider walls forming the bottle receiving cells. The blanks are designed so as to be tipped together in a straight line gluer for substantially increased production rates. The secondary blank may be formed of a different and more economical substrate than that required for the primary blank. The reduced size primary blanks enable an increased number to be arranged across a sheet or printing cylinder to increase the yield of the printing process. The resulting assembled carrier is similar to conventional carriers and suited for use by bottle fillers without altering their equipment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus (1) for packaging series of articles (3) in different formations (71). According to the invention, articles for each formation (71) are fed in mutually opposite directions (69, 70) by longitudinal conveyors (2) towards a common receiving zone (6) for collecting and stacking of articles (3), where first articles are stopped and transferred laterally by lateral conveyors (15) to a first collecting means (25) for collecting part of a stack (72) of two formations (71) of articles, whereupon a so collected part is released to a second collecting means (34) for collecting the remainder of a complete stack (72) by way of stopping and transferring second articles. The complete stack (72) is then moved onwards for further handling and packaging, and the latter movement is provided to be carried out during the first collecting step.

Abstract: A method by which a sheet, formed with peak and valley folds which are parallel and alternate, can be rapidly and smoothly folded and shaped, and an apparatus therefor. The method includes supplying a sheet in a naturally relaxed state onto a support guide, and applying a light pressing pressure on the sheet in a direction by which the angles between the folds are increased by means of a pressing guide. The pressing guide moves toward a support surface of the support guide when a pair of bending tools begin to apply a bending pressure to the sheet to correctly and smoothly fold and shape the sheet along the respective folds.

Abstract: A heating device (1) for a corrugated cardboard facility includes several heating plates (3) arranged sequentially along a path in the advancing direction of a sheet of corrugated cardboard (2). Compression elements (4) are arranged above the heating plates (3) in position to act on the sheet of corrugated cardboard (2) as it advances along the path. An intake belt (e) is located in a starting area (a) of the heating plates (3) between at least a part of the sheet of corrugated cardboard (2) and at least one compression element (4.1, 4.2).

Abstract: A system for packaging multiple containers wherein a carrier is moved through an applicating machine having a drum. The carrier is constructed of a flexible plastic sheet having a plurality of elongated apertures aligned in transverse ranks and a plurality of relief holes positioned between adjacent longitudinal rows of the elongated apertures. A plurality of jaw pairs are positioned around a perimeter of the drum for gripping the carrier. The jaw pairs are movable between a closed position and an open position. The applicating machine further includes an adjustment means for adjustment of a distance between the jaws of each jaw pair in the closed position. The carrier is then positioned over a plurality of containers where each elongated aperture engages with one of the containers. The system according to this invention enables the use of a single applicating machine to package a uniform group of containers having a broad range of diameters.

Abstract: A packaging system having a bar code reader integrated therein for conveying information concerning the size and filling requirements of a product to a packaging machine which will produce the product. The packaging machine is capable of consecutively filling cartons with different products in a single production cycle. The bar code reader provides this information from the bar code placed on every blank that is to be produced into a formed, filled and sealed carton. The filling system of the packaging machine may have a primary and secondary product for mixing in a package to produce a final product. Alternatively, the filling system may have several filling pipes, each filling pipe dispensing a different product. The bar code reader instructs the conveyor under which fill pipe a particular carton should be filled to match the product with the carton.

Abstract: An automatic bagging machine is comprised of a discharge station for releasing one or more articles in an open top end of a plastic bag held thereunder. The machine is fed by a plurality of bags held side-by-side by a continuous top band portion. At the loading station, two clamping assemblies engage a respective top band portion at the top end of opposed side walls of the bag and a displacing mechanism moves the clamping assemblies on an angled path to a retracted position outwardly from one another on an angled path. Simultaneously a pivoting tension roll permits a predetermined length of the band portion and attached bag to be drawn towards the bag filling station to advance the plurality of bags whereby to permit the bag at the filling station to be opened by the two clamping assemblies. After the bag is filled it is displaced to a discharge station where the filled bag is disconnected from the continuous top band portions and released on a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: An expandable metal product for use in extinguishing fires and in the prevention of or protection against explosions. The product is a continuous sheet of magnesium alloy foil having discontinuous slits in spaced apart lines parallel to each other but transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the sheet. The invention is also directed to the expanded form of the product, either in sheets which may be used for preventing fires or explosion or in the form of shaped ellipsoids for use in a passive inerting system for fuel tanks.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a roller having a mantle. The mantle is expandable in a radial direction to allow for changes in diameter of the roller. The mantle of tubular shape is provided with a pattern of openings along its circumference.

Abstract: A rigid plastic enclosure is made from flat blanks. The enclosure is particularly well suited for use as an electrical or electronic component enclosure. The top, bottom, back, and side walls of the enclosure are parts of a structure made by cutting and/or routing a sheet of plastic which can be folded into an open-faced, box-shaped structure. A cover or face plate can be fastened to the structure to complete the enclosure. Because the enclosure is constructed from plastic, holes can be easily drilled into its walls, eliminating the need for providing knockout holes at predetermined locations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the fixed combination of side-fold bags to form stacks. The side-fold bags to be combined, arriving from a machine which produces side-fold bags, are previously separated into stacks of a controlled quantity. During combining, each stack is oriented in relation to a perforating station, pressed together and punched with at least two through-holes. Each stack is interlockingly bundled by at least one intermediate fixation element, which is force-lockingly closed to form a loop, for the purpose of being further used in an automatic goods packing machine, where each stack is fixedly held in a packaging station by a fixing element in the shape of a hoop, which penetrates through the holes, wherein the intermediate fixation element is removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a reclosable fastener to a web of flexible material primarily intended for use with a host packaging machine to form a reclosable container. The attaching apparatus is operatively connected to and driven by a programmable motor and function controller in cooperative relation with the host machine and guides the web of flexible material from which the containers will ultimately be formed along a first path through the attaching apparatus. A supply of reclosable zipper-type fasteners is also provided, and the fasteners are guided along a second path of the apparatus. Individual zipper-type fasteners are removed from the fastener supply path and disposed in juxtaposition to a segment of the flexible material in overlying relation to a cut which has been formed through a predetermined segment of the flexible material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a bag with a reclosable zipper includes feeding an elongated sheet of bag film in a first direction under a placement head. A zipper assembly is fed in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction into the placement head, and the segment of the zipper assembly in the placement head is cut off. Rollers may be used to retain the zipper segment in the placement head. The placement head, with the zipper segment, is moved adjacent the bag film. The bag film is then compressed between a hot sealing bar and a resilient portion of the placement head to seal the zipper segment to the bag film. Then the bag film is folded over the zipper segment, sealed along a bottom and rear seam, and sealed to the other side of the zipper segment.

Abstract: A bottom forming apparatus having a mandrel cap and a sealing plate configured to create a carton with an elevated bottom. The present invention alleviates the problem of cartons having soggy bottoms since the point of absorption, the raw paperboard edge, is elevated above the moisture which may be present during distribution from the packaging machine to the retailer. The elevated bottom portion is actually inverted into the carton with planar portions resting on the surface to support the carton. The sealing plate has a multitude of elevated portions and the mandrel cap has a recess and an angled edge for elevating the raw paperboard edge. The various embodiments of the sealing plate are able to elevate most carton bottom configurations including the standard TETRA REX.RTM. carton and the TETRA REX.RTM. sixth panel with skived edge carton.

Abstract: A tabber apparatus includes a frame, a removable shaft for guiding a media through the tabber apparatus and a retaining member. The frame includes at least one opening formed therein. The removable shaft includes an end received in the opening of the frame. The retaining member includes a body portion and first and second arm portions. The first arm portion is rotatably attached to the frame. The second arm portion is rotatable about the first arm portion and is biased to allow contact of the body portion against the shaft to retain the shaft in the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a stream of shingled fanfold sheet device into a vertical stack comprises a first table having lengthwise belts which receive and push the shingled sheet against a stop, causing the sheet to form into a horizontal stack. The first table has powered transfer rollers positioned in the spaces between the belts. Upon command, the belts lower beneath the table surface, so that the transfer rollers engage the stack and move it sideways onto an adjacent pivotable second table. The second table pivots about an axis transverse to the lengths of the first table and second table. Preferably, the second table has a stop at one end and a detachable pallet at the other end. When the second table is rotated, the stack is made vertical so it rests on the pallet. The pallet with stack are then withdrawn from engagement with the second table for transport elsewhere. A third conveyor belt table may be positioned between the source device and the first table.