Abstract: Apparatus and process for stretch wrapping articles, especially heads of lettuce, wherein a roll (23) of film (24) is supported on a housing (21), and the film is supplied from the roll around a dancer roller (50) and film feed roller (51) to a pair of film feed grippers (33, 34) which grip a leading edge of the film and advance it past an opening (26), whereupon a clamp (27) engages the leading edge of the film to hold it while the grippers release and return to their home position. Additional clamps (28–32) then engage the film to hold it in place over the opening. A head of lettuce (L) is placed on the film in centered relation to the opening, and a ram (37) engages the lettuce and pushes it against the film to stretch the film through and below the opening.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for stretch wrapping articles, especially heads of lettuce, wherein a roll (23) of film (24) is supported on a housing (21), and the film is supplied from the roll around a dancer roller (50) and film feed roller (51) to a pair of film feed grippers (33, 34) which grip a leading edge of the film and advance it past an opening (26), whereupon a clamp (27) engages the leading edge of the film to hold it while the grippers release and return to their home position. Additional clamps (28-32) then engage the film to hold it in place over the opening. A head of lettuce (L) is placed on the film in centered relation to the opening, and a ram (37) engages the lettuce and pushes it against the film to stretch the film through and below the opening.

Abstract: A machine and method for making plastic bags each having a curved or roundish-like bottom wall and an open top end is described. The machine has a bottom wall forming die having opposed concavely curved seal-forming edges converging to a common apex. The die is heated and reciprocated over a folded film sheet which is oriented such that the die will simultaneously slit heat-fuse opposed film sheets of the folded film sheet when stroked on the film sheet. The die forms opposed concavely curved seals extending from a longitudinal folded side edge of the folded film sheet and converging to an apex at a location spaced on a transverse axis from the longitudinal folded side edge. An evacuation port is located under the folded film sheet in the die-cut area of the folded film sheet and is exposed between slitting and heat-fusing strokes of the die whereby to evacuate the cut-out film portion.

Abstract: An automatic turret bagging machine utilizes a turret transport mechanism having four article receiving compartments to receive liquid pouches, herein milk pouches, oriented longitudinally therein. An indexing motor drives the turret transport mechanism between an article loading position, an article discharge position, an intermediate position and an article unloading position. A control plate is synchronized with the turret transport mechanism and provides a support for a follower bearing member secured to the trap door of each of the compartments whereby to retain and release articles loaded in the compartments. The control plate also has a formation which automatically recloses the trap doors of the compartment upon reaching a predetermined position and simultaneously repositions the follower bearing member with a lower surface of the control plate.

Abstract: A case loading machine and method of operation is described for positioning at least two flexible bags, having an unstable product therein, in a case and in side-by-side contact with one another. A case engaging and displacement mechanism is positionable inside a case from an open top end of the case whereby to divide the case into compartments of predetermined size. The mechanism holds the case at a loading position with one of the compartments aligned at a bag receiving position. A bag engaging and transfer mechanism engages one of the bags from a bag filling position and transfers it into the aligned compartment. The bag engaging and transfer mechanism is provided with a compression compartment to compress the flexible bag and displace the unstable product therein whereby the bag is sized to enter into the aligned compartment. The case is then displaced to align another compartment at the loading position to receive a further bag.

Abstract: An automatic bagging machine is comprised of a discharge station for releasing one or more articles in an open top end of a plastic bag held thereunder. The machine is fed by a plurality of bags held side-by-side by a continuous top band portion. At the loading station, two clamping assemblies engage a respective top band portion at the top end of opposed side walls of the bag and a displacing mechanism moves the clamping assemblies on an angled path to a retracted position outwardly from one another on an angled path. Simultaneously a pivoting tension roll permits a predetermined length of the band portion and attached bag to be drawn towards the bag filling station to advance the plurality of bags whereby to permit the bag at the filling station to be opened by the two clamping assemblies. After the bag is filled it is displaced to a discharge station where the filled bag is disconnected from the continuous top band portions and released on a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A bagging machine having means for holding a plurality of unopened bags wherein the bags have an extended tab, means for manipulating the extended tab, thereby opening the bag and allowing it to be filled, and clamping means for manipulating the mouth of the bag before, during and after filling.

Abstract: An automatic bagging machine comprising a collector for receiving a predetermined number of articles to be placed in a single bag therein. A trap door is disposed under the collector. A first bag on a wicker is opened, filled through the trap door, and dropped onto a first bag support platform. A clamp retains a top end portion of the bag on a clamping surface after it has been filled and the support platform is displaced to a sealing station where a section of the top end portion of the bag, spaced from the mouth opening, is guided in a bag gathering mechanism to gather that section. The gathered section is then heat sealed. During the sealing operation, a second bag support platform is positioned under the trap door.

Abstract: A method and a machine for folding bags comprising a first conveyor for positioning a flat bag over a first support surface. A pair of sealer bars holds the bag stationary over the first support surface in predetermined alignment with a first folding device. The first folding device effects a first fold to the flat bag and a second conveyor positions the folded bag on a second stationary support surface. A second folding device effects a second fold to the folded bag, and a third conveyor positions the twice folded bag onto a third stationary support surface. A third folding device is provided for imparting a third fold to the twice folded bag, and it includes an orientation support frame to position the bag for transferring same to a collector trough. A predetermined quantity of bags are collected in the collector trough, and identified for transfer into a container.