Abstract: A method and apparatus for successively forming, opening, filling and sealing plastic bags formed from a stock supply of plastic tubing and characterized by the elimination of handling of cut bags during formation and filling.

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.

Abstract: The assembly performs the method of handling packages having a panel extending outwardly from one side of the package and along one edge thereof. A plurality of such contiguously nested packages is provided with the extending panel of each package disposed in the same direction and overlapping the side of the next adjacent juxtaposed package. The end package of the plurality of nested packages has its extending panel directed outwardly from the plurality and is rotated to cause the extending panel thereof to be placed in an overlapping relationship with respect to the next adjacent juxtaposed package. The plurality of packages being fed to the work station of the end package rotation process is acted upon in a particular manner to cause them to shift with respect to each other to produce a substantially uniform overlapping disposition of the outwardly extending panels with respect to the side of the next adjacent juxtaposed panel.

Abstract: A method is provided for vacuum packaging a molded meat product in a cook-in bag that includes the steps of vacuum stuffing a substantially deaerated moldable meat product into a thermoplastic bag lining a cooking mold, the bag having a length greater than the mold to define a bag neck; substantially removing any meat from the bag neck; and then, while still under vacuum, gathering and clipping the bag neck. Associated apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A forming shoulder for an HFFS machine comprises a pair of side wires 3a and 3b each comprising an upper limb 11 joined to a lower limb 14 at an elbow 12 and each supported near a respective end of a support bar 16. The width of the tube, defined by side walls where the tube passes inwardly of the two lower limbs 14 and by a floor (defined by the marginal portions of the film 10) and a ceiling (defined by the central portion 10a of the film spanning the gap between the two elbows 12), is adjustable by re-positioning of the side wires 3a and 3b on the support bar 16 and the height of the tube is adjustable by replacement of one pair of side wires by a different pair having an alternative geometry.

Abstract: A method and assembly for sealing articles incorporates a continuously moving transfer mechanism which receives the articles from an intermittent feed and feeds them to an intermittent sealing mechanism. The intermittent sealing mechanism uses an elongate sealing member or heater plate which extends over a substantial portion of the sealing mechanism. The sealing member has a plurality of separate heaters functionally associated with the plate to apply heat to the articles at a plurality of stations during dwell times while the articles move through the sealing mechanism. The sealing member or heater plate reciprocates into and out of contact with the articles during the dwell periods by a cam to effect simultaneous sealing action at the plurality of stations.

Abstract: A machine for packing spring units in web material into the form of a roll comprises a winding mandrel. Conveyor means act against said mandrel from below so as to define therewith a bottom entry nip for spring units to be compressed and wound around the mandrel. Means exert pressure on the conveyor means in the direction of said mandrel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for sealing together two generally cylindrical thermoplastic members, each having a longitudinal axis, an open end and a closed end, so that upon being joined they form a sealed capsule that may be swallowed. One capsule member may be snugly inserted into a vibrating cavity with the opened end of the member available to be filled with an active composition. The other member is placed over the first member and pushed downwardly so that the open portions of both members overlap one another. The overlapping portions of the wall members abut each other at a cylindrical interface band. Vibration causes only the overlapping wall portions of the members to rub together, thereby generating heat around the interface band. The heat, so generated, melts enough thermoplastic material at that band to produce, on cooling, a strong circular bond between both members.

Abstract: A profile working machine is equipped with a support for holding a work in place, a working tool for machining the work, and drive and control systems for controlling the relative displacements between the support and the working tool. The profile working machine is to machine the work into a desired profile.

Abstract: Integrally serially connected top fillable bags have closed bottoms and sides and reclosable zippers from which pull flanges extend upwardly. The bags are separated along their sides including the pull flanges and continuous connecting strips connect the tops of the pull flanges and have guide ribs extending continuously therealong for engagement by supporting jaws which serve to open the serially connected bags one at a time at a filling station for filling. After the filling station, the filled bag is separated from the connected bags by removing the connecting strip from the tops of the pull flanges of the filled bags in line with or below the top ends of the separations between bags. The zipper of the filled bag is closed by a closing device such as pinch rolls through which the bag is pulled and the connecting strips removed.

Abstract: At first, a semihose is made with a label fold (2) as well as a bag fold (3), whose free ends overlap with each other, whereby the free edge of the bag fold (3) is disposed on the outside. The labels 6 which are inserted in the longitudinal direction of the semihose control the forward movement of the semihose within the device in such a manner that separating weld seams (4) as well as adjacent perforations (5) are always made between successive labels (6). A sealing weld seam (7) is made after filling the bag, so as to close the bag.

Abstract: Apparatus for facilitating the manual erection and loading of a partially assembled paperboard carton blank. The machine includes a work table on which the carton blank is manipulated selectively to open the blank and close the bottom thereof by utilizing a vacuum system for selectively restraining major flaps forming the bottom wall of the carton. The opened carton blank remains immobilized on the work table for loading through the open upper end thereof. The major and minor flaps at said upper end then can be folded manually to close the loaded carton, after which the vacuum system can be deactivated to permit sliding of the loaded carton into a takeaway apparatus which can be a taping or sealing device or a conveyor for transporting the loaded carton to a remote work station, such as, for sealing. The table top may be pivotal.

Abstract: In the application of preprinted film wrappings around packing containers it is sometimes required that the text or decorative pattern of the wrapping should be located in a certain position in relation to the edges of the finished packing container. A method of film wrapping around an object, e.g. a packing container, is described in which a film web is joined to a waste material web and is advanced with the help of this until the decoration is situated in a predetermined position. Subsequently the packing containers are wrapped while the film web is delivered from a film roll whereupon the sealing is performed on a previously unused part of the film web. Apparatus for carrying out the method is described which comprises co-operating sealing jaws and a conveyor consisting of two parallel parts.

Abstract: A control system for providing a closed loop control circuit between a liquid nitrogen dispenser and apparatus for determining internal pressure within a closed can having liquid nitrogen applied thereto whereby the automatic controlling of the volume of liquid nitrogen dispensed into each can is effected. Control data from a pressure test unit is averaged and the average is compared to a preselected set point and converted into a pulse of a width varying in accordance with the average detected pressure of previously filled cans to control the time of dispensing and thus the volume of dispensed liquid nitrogen.

Abstract: An arrangement for storing or preserving perishables such as meat has a vessel with an open upper end. The vessel may be provided with a cooling system. The vessel has a projecting rim and a U-shaped carrier is placed on top of the vessel upside down so as to engage the rim. The carrier supports a plunger which may be moved up-and-down inside the vessel and may be clamped in any position. A jack is releasably mounted on the carrier and operates to move the plunger down in the vessel. Perishables such as slabs of meat are placed in the vessel to form a stack therein. Air spaces in the stack are minimized by placing the perishables in full surface-to-surface contact with one another and with the walls of the vessel. A cover is placed on the stack and the plunger is lowered onto the cover. The jack is operated to move the plunger downward and thereby pressurize the stack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing and filling sterilized bags includes the steps of: feeding a film material from which the bags are formed from at least one reel; printing information on the film; cleaning the film in two stages which includes ultrasonic vibration and washing with water; drying the film; sterilizing it with ultraviolet rays; applying valves to the film; welding, punching and printing the film to generate a large bag; filling the large bag with liquid and inert gas; applying a second welding orthogonal to the first welding direction to divide the larger bag into a plurality of final bag having a predetermined size; cutting the film into the individual bags and testing the integrity of each bag; and vacuum packaging the bags and/or megablistering it.

Abstract: A tool for inserting a wire between resilient contact portions of a connector is presented. The tool has a handle portion and a reversible stem portion and the stem portion includes a body portion having a pair of blades extending from opposite sides thereof. The blades are generally in the form of I-beams and, in use, the channels at either side of the beam engage the connector contact portions while the web portion of the beam serves as anvil which supports the wire in the region between the contacts during insertion. The blades each comprise a pair of spatially displaced flanged members interconnected by a web member. Each flange member has width substantially equal to the width of the body portion.

Abstract: A method and device fills sheet-like blanks, such as folded box blanks, into a container on the edge of the blanks to form a stack or row therein. The method and device utilizes a feed unit for removing blanks from a flow of shingled blanks one at a time and inserting them into a conveyor which transports them to a filling unit that inserts them one at a time on edge in a row or stack in the container. The device includes a control arrangement including various sensors, one for determining the presence of blank at the filling unit, one for detecting of the position of a surface on which the blanks are being placed and one for determining a position of a side wall of the container.

Abstract: A warming apparatus for use during sleep includes at least one of a temperature-up timer circuit for raising a temperature of an electric heater by an amount in the range of 2.degree. C. to 6.degree. C. for a predetermined time and thereafter restoring the temperature of the electric heater to a preset ordinary temperature, and a temperature-dowm timer circuit for lowering the temperature of the electric heater by an amount in the range of 2.degree. C. to 6.degree. C. for a predetermined time and thereafter restoring the temperature of the electric heater to the preset ordinary temperature, each of the temperature-up timer circuit and the temperature-down timer circuit being actuated while the warming apparatus is in operation.

Abstract: A method of packaging an article involves drawing two elongated strips of plastic from a supply, placing an article between them, then drawing two broader sheets above and below the first two sheets. The various sheets are adjusted and sealed in such a manner that two envelopes are formed, one inside the other, the outer envelope being larger in all directions than the inner envelope. The outer envelope is then inflated under conditions such that air is expelled form the inner envelope, collapsing it tightly about the article. By omitting certain steps, an empty container can be formed, suitable for later loading and inflation. The apparatus disclosed automatically carries out the method.