Abstract: An air mover apparatus for conveying and separating articles through a transport tube. A line-up of articles are supplied via a track from an orienting and feeding device and, thence, to a transport tube leading to a remote processing machine. The air mover is operatively connected between the track and the transport tube. Oppositely disposed converging air passages are formed in the air mover, adapted to receive compressed air from a suitable source and emit same to the interior of the air mover, to thereby draw each successive article therepast from the line-up and project same forward, creating a separation between adjacent articles while blowing the articles through the transport tube to the processing machine. An orifice may be formed upstream of the converging air passages, adapted to receive the compressed air to stall the articles to enhance the separation between adjacent articles.

Abstract: A liquid filling assembly includes a discharge nozzle arrangement which includes a closely wound spring operatively connected at its outer periphery to a diffuser chamber and including a plurality of coils adapted to retain a volume of fluid thereabove until the fluid is forced under pressure against the spring or an associated valve to urge the coils apart to provide clearances therebetween for the flow therethrough of the fluid.

Abstract: A carton top sealing mechanism for use in processing thermoplastic coated paperboard cartons on a forming, filling and sealing machine. The top sealing mechanism includes oppositely disposed fixed and movable sealing jaws, between which heated adjacent sealing fins of a gable top carton are positioned. A pneumatic bladder or membrane is operatively connected to the movable sealing jaw to move same upon being inflated to thereby squeeze the sealing fins between the jaws and seal same together.

Abstract: A liquid carrying, thermoplastic coated paperboard container including a top end closure, a four-sided body portion, and a bottom end closure, wherein various end closure panels are folded so as to abut against one another to become sealed thereagainst. To effectuate the sealing, a pressure sensitive, food grade adhesive is applied to at least one of each two abutting surfaces and the abutting surfaces are pressed together without the application of heat or high frequency vibration. The adhesive may be applied to the blank during the converting process, or while the blank is being formed into a container on the forming, filling and sealing machine.

Abstract: The hot air dryer for plastic materials is disclosed. Three desiccant cartridges are carried on a rotatable turret and each cartridge is indexed successively from a process air station to a regeneration station and then to a cool down station. At each station, the cartridges are clamped between sets of upper and lower conduit fittings to provide a closed air flow path. A clamp spring acts on a lower conduit carrier to raise the cartridges against the set of upper conduit fittings to a clamped or closed position. The clamping actuator including a motor driven lead screw acts on the carrier to retract it against the resistance of the clamp spring to lower the turret and hence the cartridges away from the set of upper fittings to a stop position and the carrier is further retracted to separate the set of lower conduit fittings from the lower end of the cartridges thereby opening the clamp and the air flow path through the cartridges.