Abstract: A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.

Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.

Abstract: Various packages for heating a food item therein are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements to full-duplex bi-directional opto-electrical transducers, primarily for use in radio-over-fiber installations, such as remote-antenna installations for cellular radio apparatus. The transducer is of the kind based on an electroabsorption modulator, and the first improvement consists in biasing it by means of a constant-current source rather than conventionally by directly setting a bias voltage. With appropriate selection of the EAM, a preset constant current source is considered adequate, but its setting may be adjusted to operating conditions by a control algorithm if found desirable. A second improvement consists in increasing the effective load impedance of the EAM by using an inductive load that forms a tuned circuit with the internal capacitance of the EAM, resonant at a frequency in the operating range..

Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.

Abstract: A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.

Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.

Abstract: A carton that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed is provided. A horizontal tear line is provided in a main panel of the carton and is connected to a tear line in each side panel that extends across to the other main panel. When these tear lines are torn, the carton is reduced in size by that increment. A reclosable top is formed in a main panel by two fold lines that extend across that panel. This carton may have several sections that can be incrementally reduced in size and reclosed as items are removed from the carton.

Abstract: A carton that can be opened and incrementally reduced in size and reclosed is provided. A horizontal tear line is provided in a main panel of the carton and is connected to a diagonal tear line in each side panel that extends upwardly and crosses to the other main panel. When these tear lines are torn the carton is reduced in size by that increment. A reclosable top is formed in a main panel by two fold lines that extend across that panel. A gusset fold line in each side panel that extends from each tear line downwardly to a main panel allows the top panel and closing flap of the carton to be closed. This carton may have several sections that can be incrementally reduced in size and reclosed as items are removed from the carton.

Abstract: A reclosable carton is provided which has a reclosable top with a pair of top end flaps and a top reclosable flap to which a foldable tuck flap is attached. The carton has a top tear flap which has a zipper strip for opening the carton to gain access to the contents. This top tear flap is foldably attached to a side panel which has a locking slit between the flap and an adjoining side panel into which the tuck flap is inserted and locked as the carton is reclosed after having been opened. The tuck flap may have a pair of shoulders along the fold line between the tuck flap and the reclosable flap which interlock with shoulders formed along the slit between the side panel and the top tear flap.

Abstract: A system and method for grouping products for packaging, including a metering station in which a line of products is engaged by a series of metering lugs. The metering lugs urge the products into off-set positions to form multiple lanes of products. Selected ones of the products are then engaged by a series of selector lugs at a selector station to urge the products together to form product groups for packaging.

Abstract: A combination shipping and dispensing carton for carrying pouches which can be converted into side-by-side dispensers for dispensing pouches in their upright position on the shelves of stores. The carton has a bottom panel, top panel and adjoining side panels and flaps for closing the ends of the carton. The carton has a pair of tear lines extending through one side panel and a fold line extending in the other side panel which are interconnected so that when the tear lines are torn the carton can be formed into side-by-side dispensers by folding the fold line. This shipping carton carries the pouches in two rows with the tops of the pouches in each row meeting near the center of the carton and overlapping so that the length of the carton is less than two times the length of a pouch. The length of the carton can be from approximately the length of a pouch to one and half times the length of a pouch, depending upon the configuration of the pouches and how full they are filled.

Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.

Abstract: A system and method for grouping products for packaging, including a metering station in which a line of products is engaged by a series of metering lugs. The metering lugs urge the products into off-set positions to form multiple lanes of products. Selected ones of the products are then engaged by a series of selector lugs at a selector station to urge the products together to form product groups for packaging.

Abstract: A carton feeding system for feeding cartons into a packaging machine is disclosed. The carton feeding system includes a frame in which a carton feeder is rotatably mounted and a carton guide assembly. The carton guide assembly includes a pair of spaced guide tracks along which guide chains are moved to engage and urge the cartons along the carton feeding system toward a drop point overlying a series of products passing therebeneath. A pair of spaced chute plates receive and support the ends of the cartons as the cartons are released by the carton feeder and are urged by the guide chains along a feed path toward the drop point and engagement with a series of products passing through the product-packaging machine.

Abstract: A compressed air operable wheeled trailer braking system includes a braking electronic control unit (ECU) having an electronically operable control valve which derives suitably proportioned load and vehicle speed dependent service brake pressure for brake chambers of the trailer wheeled. The braking ECU has a data memory storing specific braking parameters normally installed therein prior to commissioning the trailer. The trailer has a further diagnostic ECU responsive to vehicle operational sensors, the further ECU also having memory capacity. The specific braking parameters are stored via a communication link consequent upon installation thereof to the braking ECU. Upon recognizing installation of a replacement braking control unit, the parameters from the further ECU are installed in the replacement ECU.

Abstract: A compressed air operable wheeled trailer braking system includes an electronic braking control unit (ECU) 26 having an electronically operable control valve 22 which derives suitably proportioned load and vehicle speed dependent service brake pressure for brake chambers 23, 24, 25 of the trailer wheeled. The ECU 26 has a data memory storing specific braking parameters normally installed therein prior to commissioning the trailer and the trailer has a further diagnostic ECU 27 responsive to vehicle operational sensors, the further ECU also having memory capacity wherein said specific braking parameters are stored via a communication link consequent upon installation thereof to the braking ECU and means which recognizes installation of a replacement braking control unit 26 to install said parameters herein from said further ECU.

Abstract: A carton opening assembly for a continuous motion packaging machine directs opposed carton engaging plates perpendicular to opposite side walls of a collapsed carton moving through the opening assembly. A vacuum is applied to the opposed carton side walls when the assemblies engage the carton. One or both of the opposed carton engaging assemblies are retracted to filly open the carton, which is then transferred to a conveyor that transports the carton to the next workstation of the packaging machine. The carton opening operation is accomplished while tracking the carton movement through the carton opening assembly.

Abstract: A carton opening method and assembly for a continuous motion packaging machine directs opposed carton engaging plates perpendicular to opposite side walls of a collapsed carton moving through the opening assembly. A vacuum is applied to the opposed carton side walls when the assemblies engage the carton. One or more of the opposed carton engaging assemblies are retracted to fully open the carton, which is then transferred to a conveyor that transports the carton to the next workstation of the packaging machine. The carton opening operation is accomplished while tracking the carton movement through the carton opening assembly.

Abstract: A braking system comprising an anti-lock vehicle braking system for a vehicle having a pair of drive wheels (13, 14), the wheels of said pair being disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle, comprising a wheel speed sensor (17, 18) for each wheel (13, 14), a controller (19) responsive to wheel speed signals from said two wheel speed sensors (17, 18) for sensing skid conditions at said wheels (13, 14) and for generating skid control instructions, a wheel brake (23, 24) for each wheel (13, 14), responsive to fluid pressure, hereinafter referred to as brake pressure, supplied thereto, a common supply line (37), for supplying a common brake pressure for both of said brakes from a fluid pressure supply valve means (38) in accordance with a brake demand signal and a skid control means (40) controlled by said skid control instructions for modulating the common brake pressure, having a brake apply valve (51) to supply fluid under pressure to the common supply valve (39), in response to the controller detecting a whee