Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and packaging, within a suitable container for the dispensing thereof, an unstable product produced by intimately mixing at least first and second ingredients, the resulting unstable product remaining stable following the mixing of the ingredients for a relatively short period of time under normal ambient conditions, the method including the steps of providing streams of the ingredients, intimately mixing the ingredients in a filling head, ejecting the mixture from the filling head into a container, and sealing the container prior to the elapse of the relatively short period of time.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging product in an inverted, open bottom piston-type pressurized dispenser has a mechanism for pressurizing the container above the piston and for inserting a bottom closure on the open bottom and connecting it to the container body to close the open bottom.

Abstract: A packaging machine for loading a chain or web of interconnected bag-like containers, including a conveyor system for advancing a lead bag to a loading station, a gripper assembly for clamping the bag to be loaded to a funnel mechanism including a pair of pivotally mounted horns; and, an incremental reversing mechanism for retracting the web after the bag is loaded to effect severance of the bag from the web along a line of weakness. The web is advanced by a transmission that includes a drive motor and clutch for selectively coupling the drive source to a web feed roll. The drive system includes a chain for driving the feed roll a segment of which is reeved around a pair of sprockets carried by a slidable shuttle. The shuttle is reciprocated by a fluid pressure operated actuator to produce incremental reverse translation in the chain when web retraction is desired. An accumulating mechanism is provided for storing product to be packaged while a bag is being positioned at the loading station.

Abstract: A banding machine is made capable of dependable, high-speed operation by being provided with a rotatably mounted, driven, "C" shaped arm which holds each opened band in a tilted position for being picked up by the article to be banded as it is conveyed past the banding station.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing the method of the present invention comprises an indexing conveyor bag support defining a pick-up location for filled bags. A bag gripper comprising either clamps or suction cups is provided for gripping filled bags and a bag transporter supports and moves the bag gripper between the pick-up location and a drop-off location. A programmable controller is provided for controlling the bag transporter and the bag gripper such that filled flexible bags are engaged by the bag gripper at the pick-up location, carried from the pick-up location to the drop-off location and deposited at the drop-off location. Preferably, a conveyor is positioned to carry cartons for supporting filled bags to the drop-off location such that filled bags may be inserted into supporting cartons by the method and apparatus of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for processing and forming meat for cooking on a vertical rotisserie. The apparatus is utilized in conjunction with a standard meat grinding/mixing system. A portion of the apparatus attaches directly to a standard ground beef mixer such that the rotating motion of the mixer worm is utilized to force meat into a conical mold. Manipulation of a vent allows air to exit and the ground meat to easily enter the mold. Once the meat begins to exit the vent, the vent is closed, causing the meat to be packed into the conical mold by the mixer worm. The mold is then detached, inverted and the pre-measured, conical piece of packed beef is easily removed. A rod within the conical mold forms a skewer hole for future skewering on the vertical rotisserie.

Abstract: A packaging machine is disclosed for making and filling packages (1) consisting of inner (13) and outer (2) containers formed from sheet material. The apparatus comprises two supply locations (35) for supplying two separate webs of packaging material (31, 32). In station A tubular outer containers (2) are constructed from the web (31). In station B web (32) is formed into individual containers sealed and filled with a flowable, e.g. liquid, material. In station C the filled inner containers (13) are mated with the outer covers (2) which are sealed in station D and discharged from the apparatus.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing and filling containers of flexible or semi-rigid material having an elongated neck for receiving liquid, pasty or powdered products such as maintenance products, carried out in a production line in which the containers are formed one after the other from two sheets (1) in which are moulded complementary semi-shells (2) which are assembled along parallel edges; there are formed on each lateral edge of each semi-shell (2) at least two rectilinear sections (6a, 7a; 6b, 7b) arranged in a broken line so that each rectilinear section of one edge is parallel to one of the rectilinear sections of the opposite edge of the same semi-shell (2) and at the same time offset relative to said other section along a general axis (X--X) of the semi-shell (2), and there are formed on each sheet (1) the semi-shells (2) in head-to-toe relation to each other and the container is filled through a gap left free between two upper rectilinear sections. This method economizes a large amount of material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting debris from the flange area of a can includes directing a pressurized jet onto the flange area while rotating the can about its longitudinal axis. A plunger carries an anvil which is inserted into the can and shields its contents from the spray of the water jet while providing a back up for the cutting action.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for canning meat, tuna fish and the like and in particular a device for cutting and shaping the slices as well as their insertion in cans. The device comprises essentially means for feeding the meat vertically to a horizontal shaping channel wherein the meat is pressed by a compactor against a suitably lobed end of the channel, each lobe being provided with a passage bore inside which runs a die that cuts a cylindrical pellet of meat which is pushed into a can lying underneath, through a gate placed under said bore, by a piston running inside the die. The empty cans are brought under the passage bore by a rotating horizontal star shaped plate which simultaneously discharges the filled cans laterally.

Abstract: In a machine for manufacturing packing containers by sealing and cutting a tubular packing material, a sealing unit positioned in the tube comprising a sealing guide, a sealing holder movably supported by the sealing guide, a sealing member of flexible material on the periphery of the sealing holder which contacts the inside of the material tube and passages in the sealing guide and sealing holder for conveying pressurized air therethrough.

Abstract: An automatic packaging apparatus has a bag forming device for automatically forming bags each containing one or more articles and a vacuum sealing device for sealing open ends of the bags in a vacuum. The vacuum sealing device has a plurality of bag supporting devices revolving synchronously with the feeding device and having respective pillow heads for resting thereon the open ends of the bags and vacuum covers each cooperating with a respective one bag supporting device to form one vacuum box in which the open end of the bag is sealed by and between a heating member provided in the vacuum box and the pillow head. Further the pillow head or a platform of the bag supporting device is moved vertically.

Abstract: The apparatus of each embodiment includes a suction housing having a perforated duct therein. Fibrous material supplied to the inlet of the duct is compacted by air being evacuated through the perforated sidewall of the duct. The continuous compacting of fibrous material aids in moving the already compacted material out the outlet of the duct.

Abstract: Three wheels rotate together to achieve sequential movement of the leading top flap of a conventional packing case such that the case has its top flaps out-folded prior to the arrival of the case at a load station in a continuous motion packer.

Abstract: In order to protect operating personnel from injury and to facilitate access, a machine housing has a plurality of wall portions, such as plates and doors. In order to facilitate rapid mounting of these wall portions, horizontally offstanding L-angle brackets forming ribs are disposed on the frame of the machine, and grooved clamping elements are provided that can be firmly clamped to the ribs via screw fasteners. The wall portions are joined with these clamping elements.

Abstract: A method for loading a container with rods of nuclear reactor fuel assemblies having mutually parallel longitudinal axes and containing nuclear fuel or neutron absorption material, which includes the steps of loading the container initially with dummies corresponding to the rods in a given dense packing arrangement, and thereafter inserting the rods in axial direction thereof into the given dense packing arrangement so as to replace the dummies; and a device for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A device for inserting bundles into envelopes comprises a table fastened to a drive carriage for receiving the bundle and inserted with it into the envelope. A pair of retractable pusher fingers on support arms fastened to the carriage push the bundle on the table during the forward stroke of the carriage and retract during the return stroke of the carriage. The device is usable in automatic mail processing systems.

Abstract: A case packing apparatus having a conveyor for moving a plurality of articles seriatim in a first direction to a location where means substantially perpendicular to the conveyor move a predetermined number of articles in the perpendicular direction into a case to form a layer within the case.

Abstract: Small articles, particularly chocolate and candies, are placed in predetermined positions in a receiver, such as deep-drawn compartmented boxes. The articles (1) are assigned coordinate positions (90) in the receiver, in X-Y coordinate system. The receivers (2) are transported at a predetermined, preferably speed passed an insertion station, where the articles are moved in a predetermined insertion path (47) transversely to the X direction of movement of the receivers. The movement of the articles and the transport speed of the receivers are synchronized. To permit placement of the articles at selected X coordinate positions, a temporal phase shift is introduced between the movement of the articles in the insertion path and the transport speed of the receivers, for example by changing the position of a cross gear in a differential. The insertion path in the Y direction is predetermined by guide tracks (14, 15) which is shifted bodily in the Y direction by a positioning motor (60, 61).

Abstract: The pliers include a pair of arms each having a front operating leg and a rear handle leg, a hole in each arm between the front operating and rear handle legs, a bolt extending through the holes for pivotally connecting the arms to each other, the bolt having a head at one end and a threaded portion at its opposite end upon which is rotatably threaded a nut, and the nut and one of the pair of arms or a plate sandwiched between the nut and one of the pair of arms is provided with at least one interengaged tooth and tooth gap which prevents the nut from rotating relative to the last-mentioned arm which is additionally preferably nonrotatably secured to the bolt.