Abstract: An apparatus is provided for spreading a material on an object. The apparatus includes a continuously moving conveyor for moving the object in a downstream direction, and a dispenser for applying the material to the object. The apparatus also includes a carriage located above the conveyor, and a spreader coupled to the carriage for engaging the material applied to the object by the dispenser to spread the material on the object. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving the carriage in the downstream direction over the continuously moving object as the spreader engages the material, and another mechanism for providing movement of the spreader relative to the carriage from an first position in which the spreader engages the material to a second position in which the spreader disengages the material.

Abstract: A control system and method are provided for controlling the timing of a dispenser including a valve which moves alternately between a product-loading position and a product-dispensing position in a repeated cycle. The dispenser also includes a mechanism for dispensing a product from the dispenser after each time the valve moves to its product-dispensing position. The control system includes a detector which detects the time of which the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and a mechanism for generating a control signal at a predetermined time to actuate the dispensing mechanism when the valve reaches its product-dispensing position. The control system also includes a sensor for sensing the time that the dispensing mechanism actually begins dispensing product. The control system further determines the time difference between the time the valve reaches its product-dispensing position and the time the dispensing mechanism actually begins dispensing the product.

Abstract: A container carrier for supporting a container having an outer flange including first regions which have a first predetermined thickness, second regions which have a second predetermined thickness, and a top surface. The container carrier includes a carrier body having upper and lower surfaces and being formed to include an aperture for receiving the container therethrough, a portion of the upper surface of the carrier body adjacent the aperture being configured to abut the flange of the container to support the container, the portion of the upper surface also having a first depth in first sections which underlie the first regions of the flange and having a second depth in second sections which underlie the second regions of the flange, the second depth being greater than the first depth so that the top surface of the flange lies substantially in a single plane.

Abstract: Apparatus for "forming" (reshaping) plural dough balls on a conveyor including means for arranging the balls in a desired order on the conveyor. Included is a transfer conveyor with reciprocative end portion and funnel type means cooperating with ring means above a second conveyor for facilitating arranging the balls on the second conveyor and controls for the apparatus.

Abstract: A heat seal carrier assembly is provided for mating a covering material with a deformable sealing portion of a product-filled container to seal the container. The carrier assembly has an upstanding wall including a top surface having a raised ridge thereon. The container is situated on the carrier assembly to properly align the container sealing portion with the top surface of the upstanding wall of the carrier assembly. A heat seal head moves downwardly to press the covering material and the sealing portion of the container against the raised ridge and the top surface of the upstanding wall of the carrier assembly to seal the covering material and the sealing portion of the container together.

Abstract: An aseptic food handling system for filling containers with presterilized food which includes a first cylinder, having an inlet and an outlet, where food products to be packaged are received in the inlet and where the cylinder contains a piston operable from first position to receive product through the inlet to a second position to emit the food product from the outlet wherein the cylinder includes sterilizing fluid passageway to selectively admit sterilizing fluid to the cylinder to expose the internal surfaces of the cylinder and the piston to the sterilizing fluid and can be operated by an adjustable two position motive cylinder. A second dispensing cylinder can also be provided to receive the food product from the first cylinder and direct it to a food coainer.

Abstract: A sealing device for covering containers which prior to sealing has a member which reduces the volume of the container and in which the member is released after sealing to allow a vacuum circulation to exist in the sealed container. A further feature provides that the volume reducing, sealing and releasing steps occur while the containers are continuously moved along a conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging an item in a controlled atmosphere enclosure is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor for continuously conveying a series of containers along a defined path. The path has sequentially oriented first and second portions, and defines a first side border and an opposite second side border. The apparatus introduces a covering material over the path of containers such that a space is created between the containers and the moving covering material. A vacuum gallery is disposed substantially adjacent the first border for applying a vacuum to the space only in the first portion of the path. A gas gallery is disposed substantially adjacent the second border for continuously introducing a selected gas into the space in both the first portion and the second portion of the path.

Abstract: A portable clothes hanger rack is disclosed. A yoke has a hook at one end and a pair of pivotable arms mounted on the other end. The hook is used to suspend the device while the arms hold a plurality of hangers. The hangers are modified with a sphere replacing the conventional hanger hook. The arms have a removable end and the top, bottom and side wall form an enclosed elongated parallelpiped. The arm bottom wall has an elongated slot and the hangers extend down through the slot with the sphere retained inside the arm. The arms may be folded into a vertically parallel coextensive position for compact storage of the device in a suitcase.

Abstract: An aseptic food handling system for filling containers with presterilized food. A first cylinder is provided having an inlet and an outlet, and located so food products to be packaged are received in the inlet. The cylinder contains a piston operable from first position to receive product through the inlet to a second position to emit the food product from the outlet. At least one sterilizing fluid passageway is provided in the cylinder to selectively admit sterilizing fluid to the cylinder to expose the internal surfaces of the cylinder and the poston to the sterilizing fluid where the cylinder can be operated by an adjustable two position motive cylinder. A second dispensing cylinder can also be provided to receive the food product from the first cylinder and direct it to a food container.

Abstract: An apportioning apparatus for depositing a selected amount of a particulate product onto a series of moving receptacles is provided. At least one bucket is mounted in a reciprocating carriage for receiving a selected amount of the product. The bucket includes a closure for the outlet end that selectively opens to deposite a selected amount of the product onto a moving receptacle, with the speed of movement of the carriage and bucket substantially matched to the speed of movement of the receptacle during the filling operation.

Abstract: An arrangement for use in a conveying and filling device where a conveyor is provided which travels along a linear path in a selected direction to carry articles, for example, recepticles to be filled. A dispensing device is carried by a mounting arm located in spaced relation from the conveyor and is carried by crank means to travel in an orbital path where the orbit carries the mounting arm in the direction of movement of the conveyor for the first portion of the orbit at the termination of which the orbital path returns the mounting arm to a second position relative to the conveyor for a second cycle over the conveyor, including a height adjusting arrangement to adjust the clearance between the mounting arm and the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a uniform coating of liquid solder to a flat tube particularly at and adjacent to the side edges of the tube. The apparatus has spaced heated platens comprising shaping die members located opposite to each other and including tube embracing recesses forming a slot through which the liquid solder coated tube is passed. The disclosure also includes spacing means for spacing these die members apart a distance equal to the width of the coated tubes and yieldable means such as springs urging the spaced heated platens toward each other to bear against the side edges of the tube together with means for drawing the coated tube between the heated platens and means for heating the platens in the vicinity of the tube to a temperature above the melting point of the solder as well as passages permitting draining of excess solder from the tube during its passage between the heated platens.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a uniform coating of liquid solder to a flat tube particularly at and adjacent to the side edges of the tube. The apparatus has spaced heated platens comprising shaping die members located opposite to each other and including tube embracing recesses forming a slot through which the liquid solder coated tube is passed. The disclosure also includes spacing means for spacing these die members apart a distance equal to the width of the coated tubes and yieldable means such as springs urging the spaced heated platens toward each other to bear against the side edges of the tube together with means for drawing the coated tube between the heated platens and means for heating the platens in the vicinity of the tube to a temperature above the melting point of the solder as well as passages permitting draining of excess solder from the tube during its passage between the heated platens.

Abstract: The present invention provides a valve arrangement including an elongate housing means defining a cylindrical valve chamber having a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet where the fluid outlet is in longitudinal alignment with the housing and where the fluid inlet communicates with the side of the housing, slide valve means slidable within the housing from a first open position wherein the valve housing inlet communicates with the valve housing outlet, to a second, closed, position where the valve member is located to close off the valve inlet and one end of the valve member is disposed adjacent the outlet of the valve and where in some instances, the portion of the valve can extend through the outlet, valve operator means to operate the valve means between the first and second positions, and fluid supply means to supply a selected fluid to be metered to the valve inlet for emission from the valve outlet when the valve member is in the first position.

Abstract: This invention provides apparatus for securing a substantially flat lid closure member to an upwardly directed opening of a container partially surrounded by an outwardly directed substantially horizontal base flange means where a peripheral lip is provided around a portion of the outer edge of the base flange and includes a front lip, a rear lip and spaced apart side lips extending generally between the front lip and the rear lip and where the lid member is received within the lip means on the base flange to cover the container opening to retain a selected product within the container. The container is moved on conveyor means in a selected direction along a conveyor path. First side folder means are provided to fold the side lips over the lid.

Abstract: A pizza topping device to apply ingredients to a pastry shell including first apertured conveyer means to receive a pre-formed pastry shell and convey the shell in a selected direction, applicator spray means including nozzle means disposed at a selected location above the first conveyer means to spray a selected, fluid, sauce-like material onto the pastry shells traveling on the first conveyer where the sauce-like material which oversprays the pastry shell flows through the apertures of the conveyer to sauce accumulator means, hopper means disposed above the first conveyer means to receive selected particulate topping substances to be applied to the sauce carried on the pastry shell where the hopper means includes a second conveyer means which is imperforate and is disposed in the bottom of the hopper where the topping material is carried on the second conveyer means in the same direction of travel as the direction of travel of the first conveyer, topping retention and mixing means disposed in the hopper to

Abstract: A cutting device for cutting generally round objects into sections including a generally circular table adapted for rotation in a horizontal plane about a central longitudinal axis where the table includes at least one aperture of selected diameter greater than the diameter of the objects and located in spaced relation within the periphery of the table where the center of the apertures lie generally on a circle having a radius less than the radius of the table, object receiving stations located on the upper surface of the table, one receiving station being in generally aligned relation with each aperture of the table and including a deformable support means overlying the respective aperture and adapted to permit the object to be sectioned to pass therethrough, pusher means located above the deformable support to be selectively actuated to urge the object to be sectioned through said deformable support means and the cooperative aperture of the table, cutter means having at least one blade located in aligned re

Abstract: Method and apparatus for selectively supplying and placing a generally planar cover of selected peripheral configuration over a cooperative opening for container while the container is in motion where the opening is surrounded by an outwardly directed generally horizontal cover receiving first flange means where the first flange has an upwardly extending peripheral second flange adapted to fully receive the cover within the second flange so the opening to the container is surrounded by the first flange which is adapted to receive and support the cover around the peripheral edges of the cover within the second flange including: conveyor means to move the container along a selected axis at a relatively constant first velocity with the opening upwardly directed; cover supply means to supply a cover to engage the first flange and in a direction generally parallel to the direction of travel of the container from a location above the moving container so the cover is received on the first flange means within the sec