Abstract: A paperboard carton piercing-crushing and recycle system and apparatus which includes a safety operated door which controls motor operated carton piercing and crushing rolls in order to crush paperboard cartons for disposal. The safety operated door is provided with a magnetic switch which controls two different timed electrical circuits. One circuit controls an electronic safety latch mechanism which prevents the carton disposal door from opening during operation of motor driven carton crushing rolls and one timed circuit operates the motor during the time that the electronic safety latch mechanism prevents the door from operating. When the motor circuit stops, the timer to the electronic safety latch mechanism releases the safety latch so that the door can be opened. Thus, the system is safe and will not operate if the carton disposal door is open.

Abstract: A solid waste recycling system for use in recycling containers containing residual liquids. The recycling system includes a housing having an inlet for receiving the containers. Two pluralities of oppositely rotating rotary knives shred the containers into shreds. A conveyor transports the shreds toward a drying zone. One plurality of spray heads washes the containers with cold or hot water during shredding and another plurality of spray heads washes the shreds with cold or hot water while the shreds are being conveyed toward the drying zone. The hot water and residual liquids are drained off in the drainage zone. The washed shreds are dried in the drying zone. The dried shreds are then stored in the storage receptacle, which is slidably removable from the housing. The rotary knives, drainage zone, dryer and conveyor are all located inside the housing, which is optionally mounted on rollers to provide a portable system.

Abstract: A fitment application apparatus, for applying plastic spout fitments to filled and sealed cartons, is integrated in line with a conventional form/fill/seal production line. The fitment application apparatus includes a conveyor for intermittently advancing each one in a series of formed, filled and sealed cartons in turn to a fitment application station. A hopper and associated gravity-feed track supply a series of fitments to a fitment applicator anvil. Each fitment has a flange portion, the bottom surface of which is coated with hot melt adhesive as the fitment slides past a hot melt adhesive applicator roll. A fitment retaining mechanism receives and positions each fitment such that the flange bottom surface coated with hot melt adhesive faces an external side of the wall of the filled carton.

Abstract: A solid waste recycling system for use in recycling containers containing residual liquids. The recycling system includes a housing having an inlet for receiving the containers. Two pluralities of oppositely rotating rotary knives shred the containers into shreds. A conveyor transports the shreds toward a drying zone. One plurality of spray heads washes the containers with hot water during shredding and another plurality of spray heads washes the shreds with hot water while the shreds are being conveyed toward the drying zone. The hot water and residual liquids are drained off in the drainage zone. The washed shreds are dried in the drying zone. The dried shreds are then stored in the storage receptacle, which is slidably removable from the housing. The rotary knives, drainage zone, dryer and conveyor are all located inside the housing, which is optionally mounted on rollers to provide a portable system.

Abstract: Dual lanes of fitment-sealing apparatus, for sealing plastic spout fitments to carton blanks, are integrated in line with conventional form/fill/seal production lines. Each apparatus includes a carton blank supply, an indexing conveyor for advancing the blanks in tube form to a sealing station, a gravity-feed track for supplying fitments to the sealing station through an escapement, a pair of fitment retaining clamps for holding the fitment in registration with a spout hole cut in the carton blank, an anvil which is inserted inside the carton blank, a sealing head which is moved to press the fitment in contact with and to seal it to an extrusion layer on the external side of the carton blank, and a timing control for synchronizing the movements of the parts and advancing the carton blanks through the sealing station to an output thereof. The fitment may also be sealed to the extrusion layer with a hot-melt adhesive applied to the fitment just prior to pressing against the carton blank.

Abstract: Dual lanes of fitment-sealing apparatus, for sealing plastic spout fitments to carton blanks, are integrated in line with conventional form/fill/seal production lines. Each apparatus includes a carton blank supply, an indexing conveyor for advancing the blanks in tube form to a sealing station, a gravity-feed track for supplying fitments to the sealing station through an escapement, a pair of fitment retaining clamps for holding the fitment in registration with a spout hole cut in the carton blank, an anvil which is inserted inside the carton blank, a sealing head which is moved to press the fitment in contact with and to seal it to an extrusion layer on the external side of the carton blank, and a timing control for synchronizing the movements of the parts and advancing the carton blanks through the sealing station to an output thereof. The fitment may also be sealed to the extrusion layer with a hot-melt adhesive applied to the fitment just prior to pressing against the carton blank.

Abstract: An apparatus which coacts with a fitment supply station to effect continuous motion transfer and application of fitments to carton blanks on a conveyor line. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum having at least one vacuum transfer station disposed in rotational alignment between the fitment supply station and a conveyor release station, and an adjustable backup roll disposed in alignment with the drum and the release station for application of the fitments to cartons. A variable speed drive train matches drum and conveyor line speeds to effect continuous motion fitment transfer.

Abstract: A fitment sealing apparatus employs a high-speed continuous-motion conveyor for carton blanks and a rotary sealer for sealing fitments to the carton blanks by maintaining heat and pressure contact over a given duration through a prescribed turning angle. The rotary sealer is positioned adjacent an inside corner of two portions of the conveyor arranged at a right angle, and has four heating anvils spaced circumferentially at 90 degrees to each other. An adhesive applicator applies a layer of hot-melt adhesive between the fitment and carton blank which is formed into an excellent seal by the rotary sealer. For fitments of the flat, reclosable type, the apparatus includes a secondary adhesive applicator and a plowover bar to form the fitment in its folded-over configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus which coacts with a fitment application machine to index a die cut fitment web for precise registration and sealing of fitments to carton die cut areas. The apparatus includes an indexing wheel which has a plurality of circumferentially spaced indentations which engage void areas in the web defined by the fitments upon their removal. A gear and rack assembly intermittently rotate the indexing wheel advancing the web through the fitment application machine for sealing operations. Precise adjustment and indexing of the web is effected by a locating pin which engages corresponding bores in the indexing wheel to lock the wheel at defined pre-set circumferential positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating a plastics coated paperboard web with a sterilizing liquid such as hydrogen peroxide, the web adapted to be folded and cut to form aseptic packages for filling with foodstuffs such as fruit juices and milk. The apparatus includes a pair of rolls between which the web is moved and is coated. The lower (applicator) roll of the pair is provided with continuous helical grooves and is partially immersed in a bath of sterilizing liquid. The configuration of the grooved surface of the applicator roll has been found to be critical in meeting coating standards in the field of aseptic packaging. The grooves make a pitch angle of from 5.degree. to 12.degree. with the longitudinal axis of the applicator roll, with a preferred angle of 9.degree.. Either single grooves or crossed grooves may be used, with the land area of this roll being from 60 to 80%. The applicator roll is manufactured from stainless steel (#316).