Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveyor for containers comprising two chains carrying transverse members each constituted by an assembly of links hingedly connected to each other and to the chains to constitute deformable parallelogram linkages into which can be inserted containers (R) of any shape and size while at the same time ensuring the centering of the containers.

Abstract: An automatic container stuffing apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus is especially useful for the insertion of two component gas generating pouches into pressurized containers of the type wherein the pressurizing gas does not come into contact with the contents of the container. The apparatus receives the pouches, performs necessary bursting operations to initiate gas pressurization, compresses the pouch into an elongate shape and inserts the pouch into a container. Two embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment receives pouches in a continuous sheet and separates the pouches from the continuous sheet prior to insertion into a container. Another embodiment receives individual separate pouches arranged in a stack extending in the longitudinal direction of a transport conveyor, thus eliminating the need to separate the pouches from a continuous sheet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a reconsolidated wood product from natural wood which has been rended to form flexible open lattice work webs (14) of naturally interconnected wood strands. The webs (14) are laid one over the other in overlapping fashion, treated with a bonding agent, and compressed in a compression apparatus (100) having two members (102, 104) which are cyclically moved towards each other, to effect compression of the webs, and then moved away from each other to permit further webs to be positioned for compression in the compression device. Movement of the webs through the apparatus is effected by engaging the bonded webs, after compression and when the members (102, 104) are moved away from each other, so as to draw following laid in webs (14) into the space between the members (102, 104).

Abstract: The present disclosure involves the filling of beer into containers with a minimum of air/oxygen pickup by forming a layer of displacement gas (normally CO.sub.2) in the bottom of the container, discharging beer into the displacement gas adjacent to the bottom and maintaining the layer of displacement gas above the beer as the beer level rises in the container to push the air out of the top of the container through a vent valve or vent restriction and closing the container with little or no foaming of the beer to drive the air out of the headspace above the beer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for formation of a spirally-wound, heat-shrinkable tube from which a great multiplicity of tamper-evident bands can be cut for subsequent heat-shrinkable application to containers. A strip of strinkable material oriented primarily in the direction of its length is spirally-wound to form the tube from which the bands are severed, with heat-shrinkability of the tube and bands being primarily in a radial direction. The radial heat-shrinkability of the tube and bands assures proper heat-shrink fitment of the bands to associated containers for tamper indication, with the spirally-wound formation of the tube facilitating very economical fabrication of the tamper-evident bands.

Abstract: A container or package filled with perishable food materials is closed by a cover presenting a vent hole and the assembly is subjected to sterilization or pasteurization. Thereafter the vent hole is closed by means of a hot melt having a melting point lower than the highest temperature during sterilization or pasteurization. Preferably the hot melt is applied before sterilization or pasteurization and provided with a perforation joining the vent hole. The hot melt may contain a rounded rigid body not melting at the highest sterilization or pasteurization temperature and being able to seal the vent hole, such as a glass bead.After cooling the closed container is under a subatmospheric pressure.The container may be of plastics or glass and the cover may be of plastics or plastic coated metal foil, in such a case the plastic coating has a melting point being higher than the melting point of the hot melt.

Abstract: An article bagging unit particularly useful in bagging ice cubes. A bag, positioned to receive articles to be bagged, is partially opened by an air blower and then fully opened by two pairs of fingers. Each of the fingers is movable into and out from a bag. After the fingers are moved into a partially open bag, one pair of fingers moves away from the other pair of fingers and spreads the front and the back of the bag. Next, a prescribed quantity of articles is delivered to the bag. Then the fingers are retracted from the bag and a pair of heat-sealing members converge to clamp the tops of the front and the back of the bag to seal the bag.

Abstract: The invention is a method and machine for filling and sealing a multiwall valve bag. The bag is fabricated with a valve structure that has at least two separated layers of a polymer composition capable of being heated by electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency range (RF energy). After the bag is filled with a product, the valve structure of the bag is clamped against a set of electrodes that are carrying the RF energy. In a very short time, the polymer layers in the valve structure will absorb enough of the RF energy to join together and thus "heat" seal the filled bag.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping sheet material around a circular-cylindrical pipe extending longitudinally and horizontally and supported along the bottom on a longitudinally and horizontally extending supporting roller or rollers has a table supporting the sheet material to extend between the bottom of the pipe and the supporting roller or rollers. The pipe is rotated by a motor-driven soft roller frictionally engaging the pipe and any sheet material around the pipe near one end and moving with the pipe away from the support roller or rollers as the wrapping material increases the diameter of the wrapped pipe.

Abstract: Deformable products (that is, resizable products) which are within preformed packages are resized by the application of mechanical forces so that the products substantially conform to the size and shape of the inside surface of the package. Such resizing is accomplished by an apparatus and method utilizing a pressure generating member to apply a preselected force to the product in cooperation with a restrained cavity concept, whereby the force applied is directed and restrained to resize the product to substantially the same size and shape as the inside surface of the package. Such apparatus and method may be useful before, during or after closing the package.

Abstract: A cutting unit and a grinding unit are aligned adjacently and adopt a common contour tracing means numerically controlled with respect to a X-Y plane coordinate system. A cutting tool and a grinding tool are provided on respective .theta.-axes along Z-direction and are commonly controlled about the .theta.-axes to direct in a tangential or a normal direction of the contour. The cutting and grinding tools are shiftable away from a reference point of the .theta.-axis to finely adjust a cutting line and a grinding edge outward/inward a reference contour.

Abstract: A drill stand includes a base plate, an elongated guide column extending outwardly from the base plate and a drilling device movably supported on the column. The guide column is formed of two laterally spaced elongated support members each having the same cross-section transversely of the elongated direction. A drilling device is positioned between the two support members. A rack is secured to the guide column and a feed mechanism for moving the drilling device includes a pinion in meshed engagement with the rack. Guide members on the support members fit into correspondingly shaped guide grooves on the drilling device.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for drilling, countersinking, inserting and forming the head of a rivet in a workpiece comprising a base which holds a lower anvil assembly in correct linear relationship with an upper ram assembly; a lower anvil body mounted on the base and a removable anvil insert having a common long axis with the anvil body, the upper ram assembly, and the rivet on which a head is being formed.

Abstract: The present invention is an end closure structure for a container having a flexible central member (6) with an outwardly dished center section and at least one opening structure (18) in the central member (6), a removable thin flexible closure member (12) disposed over the opening structure (18) which is in a first sealing relationship (32) with a portion of the opening structure (18) and a second sealing relationship (34) with the top surface of the central member (6), an upwardly extending flange member (8) circumferentially disposed from the peripheral edge of the central member (6), and a downwardly extending sealing skirt (10) circumferentially disposed from a top edge of the flange member (8).

Abstract: An article delivery transferring device in a collective packing machine of stop waiting operation control system is provided.

Abstract: A fully automatic bundling machine forms a bundle of stacked compressed rows of rolled tissue product and wraps the bundle with thermoweldable material which is taken from a single roll. For larger rolled products such as household paper towels, the individual product rolls are not upended at any point during bundling, but always remain horizontal. The single roll of thermoweldable material is bundled around a selected number of stacked rows of product after compression thereof, so as to form a tunnel which is open at one end. The compressed product rolls are inserted into the tunnel and the wrapped bundle is advanced to a welding and cutting station which simultaneously closes the open end of the bundle and cuts the thermoweldable material along the weld line such that the wrapped bundle is completely sealed and one end of the thermoweldable wrapping for the next bundle is closed.

Abstract: The assembly comprises several transport bands for advancing the products to be disposed in the preformed containers for assorted packings to a distributing station, from where several band conveyors transport the products to different filling stations. Each filling station comprises a depositing means for the products being mounted on a slewing arm comprising an extensible horizontal arm. The depositing means comprises a tubular stem connected to a coupling piece which in turn is carried by the head of a conveyor thus connecting the conveyor and the slewing arm. The assembly is designed to facilitate the regulations which are necessary for a change of the format of assorted packings.

Abstract: A method for sealing an assembled gelatine capsule of the type used to contain and dispense medication is disclosed. An assembled capsule the axis of which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of a thin elongated bar is moved along and in contact with a thin edge of the elongated bar. The surface of the assembled capsule, at a point where the cap and body of the capsule overlie each other, is initially in contact with the thin edge of one end of the bar and the capsule is moved along the length of said bar so that the axis of the capsule moves closer to the edge of the bar. The bar is heated so as to be at a first temperature at a first point between its ends that will melt the gelatine, and the remainder of the bar is at a temperature that will heat plasticize the gelatine. As the capsule is moved along the heated bar it is rotated either by friction between the bar and the capsule or by mechanical means.

Abstract: A sausage stuffing machine includes a cylindrical sausage discharge tube which dispenses sausage material into shirred casing stored on the tube. A clipper is positioned adjacent the end of the tube for sealing the filled casing at desired intervals. A casing brake mechanism is provided at the discharge end of the tube and includes an axially translatable ring which fits over the flared end of the tube to engage the shirred casing.

Abstract: A method of folding large sheets of tubular plastic film or slit tubular plastic film wherein the longitudinal edges of the plastic film are folded back over a surface of the film about 180.degree. to an imaginary longitudinal line drawn substantially through the center of a surface of the film and then forming the so-folded sheet into a roll and a roll of greenhouse film folded in the foregoing manner.