Abstract: A bushing installed in a bore with an interference fit is extracted concentrically from the bore using an elongated mandrel which is maintained coaxially on the bore centerline by a guide inserted in one end of the bore while the bushing is extracted from the other end of the bore. The force to press the bushing out of the bore is exerted by a pulling tool to which the mandrel is coupled, and that force is transmitted through the mandrel to the bushing by way of a collar attached to the mandrel. The force of the pulling tool exerted on the mandrel is reacted through an anvil attached to the barrel of the pulling tool and in contact with a cup having a cylindrical sidewall surrounding the bushing to be extracted and in contact with the side of the part opposite from which the bushing is being extracted from the bore.

Abstract: Two bushings are aligned coaxially with a bore in a part in preparation for installation concentrically in the two ends of the bore with an interference fit, using an elongated mandrel which is maintained coaxially on the bore centerline by a guide inserted in one end of the bore while the bushing is pressed into the other end of the bore. The force to press the bushings into the bore is exerted by a pulling tool to which the mandrel is coupled, and that force is transmitted through the mandrel to the bushing by way of a collar attached to the mandrel. The force of the pulling tool exerted on the mandrel is reacted through an anvil attached to the barrel of the pulling tool and effectively in contact with the side of the part opposite to which the bushing is being pressed into the bore. The faces of the collar and the anvil are machined flat and perpendicular to the axis of the mandrel so that the squeezing force exerted between them on the bushing and the part is parallel to the axis of the bore.

Abstract: A machine for filling fruit or other items into containers, and including a conveyor for feeding items to a location from which they are dropped into a container, with a member being provided near the discharge end of the conveyor for contacting the items as they fall downwardly from the conveyor and preventing or reducing damage thereto. The member may be actuable between an active position for contacting the falling items and a retracted position. The member may be inclined to deflect the falling items along an inclined path into the container, and is preferably cushioned. The mentioned conveyor fills the container up to a predetermined partially filled condition, with the final few items being delivered to the container by a second conveyor. The second conveyor is adjacent the first, and delivers items to the container at a second location along its path of movement, and is driven at two speeds to deliver items first at a relatively fast pace and then at a slower rate.

Abstract: Two bushings are installed concentrically in the two ends of a bore with an interference fit using an elongated mandrel which is maintained coaxially on the bore centerline by a guide inserted in one end of the bore while the bushing is pressed into the other end of the bore. The force to press the bushings into the bore is exerted by a pulling tool to which the mandrel is coupled, and that force is transmitted through the mandrel to the bushing by way of a collar attached to the mandrel. The force of the pulling tool exerted on the mandrel is reacted through an anvil attached to the barrel of the pulling tool and effectively in contact with the side of the part opposite to which the bushing is being pressed into the bore. The faces of the collar and the anvil are machined flat and perpendicular to the axis of the mandrel so that the squeezing force exerted between them on the bushing and the part is parallel to the axis of the bore.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for packaging citrus fruit or discrete articles in a tightly packed pattern or arrangement closely resembling that of a hand packed box. A two-part telescoped box is conveyed in inverted position to a box filling and counting station, the box including an box inner part in which the side and end flaps are in open relation at the box filling station. At the counting station, fruit is being oscillated transversely of their path of travel so as to singulate the fruit into a plurality of counting stations arranged in a row and in a valley. When the row count has been satisfied, all of the fruit in the row are lifted upwardly for discharge into the open box. When the full count is satisfied, the filled box with fruit extending above the top of the outer box is moved to a box handling station in which the inner box is lifted to a height where the side and end flaps of the inner box may be folded over the top fruit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for packaging citrus fruit or discrete articles in a tightly packed pattern or arrangement closely resembling that of a hand packed box. A two-part telescoped box is conveyed in inverted position to a box filling and counting station, the box including an box inner part in which the side and end flaps are in open relation at the box filling station. At the counting station, fruit is being oscillated transversely of their path of travel so as to singulate the fruit into a plurality of counting stations arranged in a row and in a valley. When the row count has been satisfied, all of the fruit in the row are lifted upwardly for discharge into the open box. When the full count is satisfied, the filled box with fruit extending above the top of the outer box is moved to a box handling station in which the inner box is lifted to a height where the side and end flaps of the inner box may be folded over the top fruit.

Abstract: An appartus and method for packaging citrus fruit or discrete articles in a tightly packed pattern or arrangement closely resembling that of a hand packed box. A two-part telescoped box is conveyed in inverted position to a box filling and counting station, the box including an box inner part in which the side and end flaps are in open relation at the box filling station. At the counting station, fruit is being oscillated transversely of their path of travel so as to singulate the fruit into a plurality of counting stations arranged in a row and in a valley. When the row count has been satisfied, all of the fruit in the row are lifted upwardly for discharge into the open box. When the full count is satisfied, the filled box with fruit extending above the top of the outer box is moved to a box handling station in which the inner box is lifted to a height where the side and end flaps of the inner box may be folded over the top fruit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for packaging citrus fruit or discrete articles in a tightly packed pattern or arrangement closely resembling that of a hand packed box. A two-part telescoped box is conveyed in inverted position to a box filling and counting station, the box including an box inner part in which the side and end flaps are in open relation at the box filling station. At the counting station, fruit is being oscillated transversely of their path of travel so as to singulate the fruit into a plurality of counting stations arranged in a row and in a valley. When the row count has been satisfied, all of the fruit in the row are lifted upwardly for discharge into the open box. When the full count is satisfied, the filled box with fruit extending above the top of the outer box is moved to a box handling station in which the inner box is lifted to a height where the side and end flaps of the inner box may be folded over the top fruit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for volume filling of storage boxes with discrete articles such as lemons in which a transitory fill box is provided with three sides, an open side to receive articles into the box at a level approximately that of the bottom wall of the fill box, the bottom wall being openable to deposit articles in a storage box in a gentle manner. Presence of articles sensed at approximately the bottom of the open side of the fill box cause the fill box to be incrementably lowered into the storage box so that articles entering the fill box enter at a level with minimum fall to the bottom wall of the fill box or to a previously deposited layer of articles. As the fill box is lowered a curtain wall closes the open side below the point of entry of the articles.

Abstract: A box metering system for use with a box filling and weighing system in which a box forming machine discharges two-piece partially ensleeved box parts in partial assembled relation to a conveyor leading to the box filling and weighing stations. The box metering system includes a reciprocally movable box stop member which in one position stops a box and causes actuation of a box completion assembly device to complete the assembly of the box before advancement to a filling and weighing station. The completely assembled box is released by movement of the box stop member to a retracted position in response to movement of leading boxes toward the filling and weighing stations.

Abstract: A bag filling and weighing machine including an endless conveyor with bag holding means carried thereby and releasably suspending pliant bags in open condition. The machine includes an intermittently actuated endless conveyor for stopping the bag holding means at a main feed station and dribble feed station for two-stage filling and weighing. Weighing means are located adjacent to, at one side of, and at the approximate level of the endless conveyor means. One side of each bag-holding means is connected to the endless conveyor means and rotatable disc means concentric with conveyor sprocket means are provided for supporting bag-holder means as the bag holder changes direction around the end of the endless conveyor means. A novel driving and mounting connection for a bag holder to a single drive chain.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying empty boxes to a plurality of filling and weighing stations for filling boxes at said stations each independently of other filling stations, and removal of filled boxes from said filling and weighing stations along a common discharge path without box interference. The filling and weighing stations are arranged in a line. Parallel to this line for at least the length of the filling station line is an empty box feed conveyor. Empty boxes are moved along said box feed conveyor so that an empty box is in ready position opposite a filling and weighing station for immediate replacement of a filled box, the empty box being utilized to displace the filled box from the filling and weighing station and to move the filled box onto a discharge conveyor arranged along a line parallel to said filling and weighing station line and on the side opposite from the box feed conveyor.