Abstract: An improved instrumentation and method for manufacturing from film wrapping material hermetically sealed packages containing an untangled, unknotted segment of flaccid filament, and packages produced by the instrumentation and method. Instrumentation improvements include a gripper assembly for impeding uncut filament from backing up during filament loading in the course of package construction, an improved piston also impeding filament backup and facilitating deposition of a filament segment into an open package compartment, and a sealing mechanism for superimposing a seal over the top and bottom package seals.

Abstract: A first embodiment of a package including superimposed flexible opaque and transparent sides and a circumferential peripheral seal determining an interior sealed enclosure for storing a liquid material includes two contiguous depending seals separated by a preformed slot dividing the enclosure bilaterally into a storage reservoir and a dispensing channel in fluid communication. The dispensing channel includes a closed lower end contiguous to a notch in the peripheral seal. Tearing the package at the notch results in collaterally tearing open the channel lower end and a contiguous portion of the peripheral seal, thereby enabling removal of package contents. Use of a ruled scale imprinted on the opaque side proximate to the dispensing channel and viewing through the transparent side the disposition of material in the channel enable the selection of a measured quantity of material to be expelled from the channel.

Abstract: A peripherally sealed, juxtaposed, multi-compartment, flexible package is provided which includes a pair of outer walls and at least one separator wall disposed between the outer walls for dividing the package into a plurality of compartments. All of the walls are sealed at a common peripheral terminus, and flowable material is disposed within each of the compartments. The package is adapted to be torn open to simultaneously dispense and admix the flowable material. The multi-compartment dispensing package is manufactured by feeding at least three sheetings of heat sealable flexible film through a first embodiment of form-and-fill packaging instrumentation. A two-compartment dispensing package is manufactured by feeding two sheetings of film through a second instrumentation embodiment including an assembly dividing one sheet into two halves which become outer walls.

Abstract: A package includes opposed flexible sides and a circumferential peripheral seal determining an interior sealed enclosure for storing a material, typically a viscous liquid. The package includes a depending seal which divides the enclosure into a storage reservoir and a dispensing channel in fluid communication. The dispensing channel includes an open upper end and a closed lower end, the upper end being in fluid communication with the storage reservoir, and the lower end being contiguous to the peripheral seal and to an aperture within the depending seal that is adapted to be torn open. Tearing the aperture results in collaterally tearing open the lower end of the dispensing channel and the contiguous portion of the peripheral seal, thereby enabling removal of package contents.

Abstract: A package for storing a plurality of strands of flaccid items, filaments and the like, especially, for the storage of strands of dental floss. First and second ends of the floss are securely sealed within the sealed edge of the package. However, the first and second ends are not permanently sealed within the sealed edges. As a result, when the floss is removed from the sealed package only a small hole, slightly larger than the diameter of the floss, is produced. Consequently, a single piece of floss can be removed from the package without destroying the integrity of the entire package.

Abstract: A tablet selector has a selector plate interposed between a tablet-carrying rotatable disk having a plurality of pairs of first and second openings, and a pair of discharged tubes which lead to a form, fill and seal packaging station. The selector plate is pivotally movable by solenoid actuators to selectively block one or the other of the first and second openings of the rotatable disk. A pneumatic cylinder has an expandable arm which drives the selector plate into a complete blocking position.

Abstract: A potable water storage system includes a water container having a top and a bottom, an inlet flow line passing through the container and having one end terminating near the bottom and an opposite end being connectable to a main supply of water, an outlet flow line passing through the container and having one end terminating near the top and an opposite end connectable to an exchanger hose line, and a tap disposed in the container near the bottom for releasing water from the container.

Abstract: A self-supporting, stand-up, peripherally sealed, flexible, dispensing pouch has a construction which comprises (a) a circumferential, flexible wall that defines a compartment which contains fluidic material; (b) an inverted portion of the flexible wall that extends into the compartment; and (c) a self-supporting rim formed by the confluence of the flexible wall with the inverted portion.

Abstract: A peripherally sealed dispensing package is provided that includes:a compartment with opposing walls;an inner seal disposed within the compartment and sealingly engaging an oppositely aligned portion of the opposing walls; anda finger traversable aperture extending through the inner seal to facilitate the opening of the package.

Abstract: A package (20, 40, 48, 56, 72) is sealed to enclose dental floss or other filament (22). The filament is sealed at its end portions (22b) within sealed ends (26b, 26d; 46b, 46d; 50b, 50d; 62b, 62d; 74b, 74d) of the package, and a bunched-up filament portion is sealed within the package. A notch (30) with a cut (30a and 30b), a tear line 54, a tear-away tab (64) or simply the package material which is easily tearable, enables the package to be opened, by using a greater or lesser sized segment (e.g., 34; 64; 72a or 72b) of the package as a handle to draw the filament untangled and unknotted from the package. The package is formed using instrumentation including a feed tube (114) and a mandrel (116) which are concentrically positioned and relatively movable with respect to one another in timed movements.

Abstract: A peripherally sealed package (20) contains a bunched up portion (22a) of dental floss or other filament (22) with the outer ends (22b) of the floss or filament being disposed within and secured by sealed ends (26b and 26d) of the package. A notch (30) whose cut (30a and 30b) enables the package to be opened, uses a segment (34) of the package as a handle to draw the filament untangled and unknotted from the package. The package is formed using instrumentation including a feed tube (84) and a mandrel (86) which are concentrically positioned and relatively movable with respect to one another in timed movements. These movements, in conjunction with an accompanying sealer (54), holders (58, 72) and cutter (74a, 74b), draw an uncut length of filament (22) between two films (52a, 52b) of wrapping material, and bunch up a measured amount (22a) of the filament for deposit into an open-ended compartment (28) formed from the wrapping material.

Abstract: A cardboard insert for reinforcing collapsible packages, such as see-through plastic bags, is formed from a onepiece blank in which a number of panels are separated by score lines. The panels are sized and shaped to define the desired form, generally a right paralleliped, and the mating edges of the insert blank are pre-slit - and alternate tabs bent inward to form interlocking fingers. The interleaved projecting tabs define a locked seam which is, additionally, reinforced by the adjoining inward-bent tabs. The seam is formed by bending the several panels along the score lines to form the finished shape of the insert, and interleaving the projecting tabs of the free edges.