Abstract: An apparatus and method by which a single operator, at a single station, can pack pre-counted slugs of flat folded cartons, or trays, in one or more layers, in corrugated cases for discharge to a case taper several times faster than with manual packing by several operators. The "flats" are advanced in a longitudinal path on a secondary apron of a stacker, erect on one edge, pre-counted and divided into slugs, so that the single operator can slide each slug longitudinally past a one-way back stop onto a transfer table. The slug may be turned on its longitudinal axis by the operator for inspection and then compressed longitudinally by a ram against the back stop. The operator has already been presented with a single, flat, tubular case, from a stack of such cases, with the leading flaps folded back, and has manually erected the case and inserted it in a case gripper preferably poised above the table, thereby closing the minor bottom closure flaps.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging articles having a conveyor; means associated with the conveyor for forming groups of articles and moving the groups independently of other articles on the conveyor; means for moving the groups of articles transversely to the conveyor; an elevator for receiving said groups of articles in stacked groupings; and means for moving the stacked groupings into a carton. Means are also provided for assembling and closing the carton upon receipt of the stacked groupings.

Abstract: An apparatus for closing bottles by means of closure caps, such as, crown caps or the like, including a closing machine, a closing member rotating together with a bell-type centering or guard member along the periphery of the closing machine. A spring-biased pressure die is mounted in the closing member so as to be movable in axial direction. A cap transfer station is arranged at one point of the cycle of rotation of the closing machine. The position of the centering member with a cap support member is adjustable relative to the pressure die during the movement. The centering member and cap support member, when in the cap transfer position, are fixedly supported on the closing member by means of the pressure die and/or by means of control members of the centering member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for closing containers with a cover foil. In the method and with the apparatus of the invention, the containers are conveyed without change in vertical position and without stopping between rotation systems bearing the closure tools and rotating above and below the plane of the conveyor belt, and provided with covers.

Abstract: This invention relates to closing an open end of a pailette containing a biological element. The invention includes heating a dose of thermo-plastic material to a flowable condition and injecting the dose into the cold open end of the paillettes so that the material adheres to the inner wall of the paillette and solidifies to form a stable plug closing the end. The thermo-plastic material is preferably in the form of solid sticks. A valve in closing apparatus opens and closes communication with a reservoir containing the thermo-plastic material under pressure and defines a pre-determined volume for the dose. The invention is especially applicable to the production of paillettes for use in artificial insemination.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for packing a box with a plurality of groups of pouches or other flexible containers and inserting a support shelf between the groups. A conveyor is used to support and convey boxes such that means for inserting a first group of pouches into a box inserts a group of pouches into the top portion of a box. The boxes are then positioned such that means for inserting a support shelf into the box inserts a shelf into the box before means for inserting a second group of pouches inserts a second group of pouches into the box. The support shelf is inserted from the bottom of the box such that the first group of pouches is supported above the second group of pouches and the support legs of the support shelf rest on the bottom of the box.

Abstract: A container is disclosed herein for containing a two part composition consisting of two components in a container with said components isolated in such a manner that they are not mixed with each other. The two components are preserved in an isolated relation to each other prior to use, and if intended to be used, they are mixed together and then placed into service. At least one of said components is jellied by addition of a viscosity modifier thereinto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for feeding covers to a continuously operating container closing machine. The device makes it possible continuously to feed covers to closure tools which revolve in a circular path and during their rotary movement descend, for the closing, onto containers moved past below the closing station, so that the closure tools place and close the covers on the containers. For the transfer of the covers, a cover guide path is moved over a certain region of the rotary movement of the closure tool synchronously and in alignment with the closure tools so that the covers can be delivered during this phase to the closure tool.

Abstract: A packing machine for pouches or other flexible container is provided having an indexable conveyor, a feed means which discharges pouches onto said indexable conveyor, a sensing means for indexing the conveyor, a variable stroke vacuum head assembly with a vacuum shroud for transporting and packing the pouches, and means to vary the length of stroke of the vacuum head assembly.

Abstract: The process according to the invention consists of superposing a plurality of panels (1), of providing the pile thus produced with at least one enclosure (2) of shrinkable plastic material, of subjecting the pile to a first compression in a direction normal to its wide surface, of causing the shrinking of the enclosure (2) on the compressed pile to provide a package, of superposing in order of thickness a plurality of identical packages of compressed panels, of applying a flat rigid element (12) against each of the terminal surfaces of the pile of packages thus produced, of subjecting the said pile to a second compression, perpendicular to the flat elements (12) and of joining the pile of packages (5) thus compressed with the aid of assembly means.The invention is applied to the packaging of panels of compressible materials.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a bag chain to fill individual reclosable bags therealog with the chain having spaced rocket openings along the top including a sprocket for interengaging with the openings to draw the chain forwardly and to vertically support the chain, bag top spreader members including idler sprockets interengageable with the chain holes to vertically support the chain with pads opposite the idler sprockets to pull the bag tops open, means for controlling the distance the bag top is opened, and a common drive for pulling the bag chain forwardly and operating the bag opening means.

Abstract: A method of installing a sheet of thermoplastic film on a greenhouse wherein the sheet of thermoplastic film has been folded over in a somewhat U-shaped fold and rolled into a roll, comprising placing the roll of thermoplastic film on the apex of the greenhouse roof, and unrolling the roll of thermoplastic film down each side of the greenhouse.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method for ordering a coherent packaging line for storing in storage units or for intermediate buffering during a packaging process, wherein prior to the cutting into product portions, the packaging line discharged at the full process speed is wound onto winding plates and the winding formed is intermediately stored, so that then further process stages can be performed thereon, e.g. a singling or cutting at a random time and at a random process speed. The apparatus performing the method has a winding plate drive and winding plates drivable by it for winding a coherent packaging line, together with a supply mechanism for supplying empty winding plates to the winding plate drive and a conveying means for supplying a packaging line to the winding plates. Several supply means can be associated with one winding plate drive.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically packaging products in packages includes a collecting station, a delivery station, a packing station having a shaft-chain device with carrier members and a conveyor which travels through the delivery station and the packing station. The carrier members collect products at the collecting station and carrying the products across the conveyor. The packing station also includes fingers located in the path of movement of the carrier members to contact a first row of products and cause the products to drop into packages which are conveyed by the conveyor. Preferably a sealing station including a sealing plate fixed to a rotatably mounted ring is also provided. When the ring is rotated, the sealing plate rotates in a circular, sector-shaped path to fold over the cover of a package to seal the cover to a bottom portion of the package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for form, fill, and seal operation using bag-making sheet material having complementary male and female reclosable profiles includes sheet guide and tensioning devices to ensure continuous, effective packaging. The inventive features address the presence of tracking problems in sheet feed using bag material having profiles and being of a laminated type, and serve to ensure wrinkle-free, acceptable sealing of bag edges.

Abstract: An article packaging apparatus with a cylindrical cassette having a tube made of resin fitted on the outer peripheral surface thereof is mounted below a charging station for charging articles. Heated press heads for heating and fusing the resin tube are arranged below the cassette. The heated press heads are moved from a standby position remote from the resin tube to a clamping position for clamping the tube. The heated press heads are then lowered a predetermined distance from the clamping position in order to pull the resin bag and move the heated press heads to a fusing position for fusing said tube. The heated press heads are lowered a short distance from the fusing position and the heated press heads are moved to a separating position for separating an individual bag from the resin tube.

Abstract: Apparatus, particularly, for packing egg cartons into wire baskets includes a movable tray for delivering cartons to a basket filling station where the cartons are lowered into the basket. Tines support the cartons after the movable tray is withdrawn and a movable press urges the cartons downwardly onto the tines while the tines move downwardly. The sequence is repeated and layers of cartons are progressively added to fill the basket. A sensor determines when the baskets are full and removes full baskets and replaces new baskets for filling. The basket filling station is fed from multiple filling trays fed by multiple conveyors.

Abstract: The machine consists of a first flow line which conveys box blanks from feed station to a box-filling station, a second flow line for products, leading to a third station where the products are collated to form groups which are then transferred to the box-filling station where they are inserted into the boxes, and finally a third line which carries the boxes made at this latter station, each boxes containing a group of products, to a fourth station where the boxes are completed.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing liquid and residue from a web of film is provided. The apparatus includes an exhaust tube having an inlet and an outlet, the web of film passing through the exhaust tube from the inlet through the outlet, the exhaust tube being under a negative pressure. Two air knives are located above the outlet of the exhaust tube, one air knife being located on a first side of the film and second air knife being located on a second side of the film, the air knives include a plurality of holes for directing a gas for removing the liquid and residue onto the web of film. The exhaust tube cooperates with the air knives to capture a portion of the removed liquid and residue.

Abstract: A reclosable package comprising interlocking closure strips positioned outside of a hermetic seal or seal area and the method for producing same. The hermetic seal is of the easy-open or peelaway type so as to not destroy the integrity of the package or closure strips upon opening of the package.