Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.

Abstract: A continuous case packer for receiving an ongoing stream of cases and containers and causing the containers to be deposited into the cases. The cases are fed on a conveyor assembly comprising an in-feed section, a staging section, and an out-feed section. The staging section and out-feed section are mechanically linked by sprocketing and each includes lugs for positively driving the cases received therein. The lugs are timed for continuous operation of receipt of cases from the staging area, filling of the cases, and removal of the cases from the case out-feed section. The case in-feed section includes a unique case stop and brake mechanism allowing for rapid movement of the incoming cases while providing for separation of the lead case to be fed to the staging section.

Abstract: A pneumatic bottle stop for a case packer is presented. Fundamentally, the bottle stop consists of a cylinder associated with each lane of a case packer. A piston of each cylinder extends into the lane for making contacting engagement with oncoming bottles or articles. The bottles compress the piston into the cylinder, expelling air therefrom through an adjustable orifice of an associated quick dump valve. The pistons are extended by the application of exhaust air derived from a head control cylinder when the piston of that cylinder is drawn to position skid bars in the head to receive oncoming bottles. A bleeder valve is provided such that the cylinders associated with each lane are maintained at atmospheric pressure after extension of the associated pistons.

Abstract: Case packer apparatus including endless driven conveyor, article gripper, and carrier bars for the article gripper which depend therefrom and where the conveyor has a downwardly extending reach connecting a pickup station to an article deposit station, the carrier and gripper being operatively connected to the conveyor as case packer groups spaced longitudinally of the conveyor, and where leading and trailing cross bars engaging rows of leading and trailing articles carried by each article group are present and where positioning structure for the cross bars secure them to end carrier bars of and/or to end portions of the carriages of the case packer groups in different manners.

Abstract: A case lift apparatus having a case receiving platform and a powered lift cylinder operatively connected to the platform to raise and lower the same, and a pair of endless extensible belts operatively journalled on the platform in spaced parallel relation, with a horizontal course positioned slightly above the upper surface of the platform for support of cases on said platform and a lower course positioned below the platform; and a driving roll means below the platform to engage and drive the belts when the platform is at or approaching its lowered position.

Abstract: The stroke of an air driven power cylinder is controlled through a load means attached to the piston rod, a control valve means connected to the cylinder to control air exhaust from the cylinder on the extension stroke of the piston, and an external cushion valve means operably connects to the control valve means and the load means for air exhaust flow therethrough in a controlled manner but for shut-off of the air exhaust as the piston approaches the end of its stroke to trap some air in the cylinder before the piston stroke ends, the cushion valve means having a member therein of adjustable position for control of the length of stroke of the piston.

Abstract: An article casing or uncasing apparatus having a conveyor for moving cases through a fixed course wherein a driven case supply conveyor deposits cases onto a driven supply conveyor that has an axially extending opening therein, a driven star wheel positioned in such axial opening parallel to the longitudinal axis of the same and having teeth that protrude upwardly from the case supply conveyor as the star wheel is rotated, the supply conveyor and star wheel being driven in the same direction at upper portions thereof but with the supply conveyor being driven at a faster linear speed than the star wheel or the case supply conveyor to urge the leading end of input cases into engagement with a tooth of the star wheel which retards downstream movement of the case for timed release of a case by continuing drive of the conveyor and star wheel for controlled downstream delivery of individual cases in the apparatus for further processing therein.

Abstract: A press management and analysis system, embodies a press console (PMA), one for each press, which is located adjacent the press, and communicating with a remote entry computer (REC). The PMA monitors sensor devices on the press, to follow press operation from the beginning of a job assignment through makeready operations and printing operations to completion.A REC console remote from the press room, as in the production manager's office, communicates with each PMA, and recording (filing), hard copy printing, and like functions are handled at the REC console. The system provides displays requiring completion by the pressman/operator (or manager) thus soliciting information as well as informing all concerned of job progress, of standard times expected for a job, and of transfer from one mode or phase of the job, as from makeready time to run time in which good product is printed. The system feeds back and records event messages, and encourages operator input and identification of stoppage reasons, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus for article deposit and/or removal from carrier cases and comprising a pair of endless carrier conveyors operatively positioned on an upper portion of a frame in adjacent parallel relationship for movement through a fixed course extending longitudinally of the frame; a plurality of positioning members or carrier bars for article grippers are operatively connected to the carrier conveyors for movement therewith, which positioning members extend transversely of the frame and have the article grippers depending therefrom; and a pantograph that extends longitudinally of the frame is present for each set of carrier bars corresponding to the array of articles in the cases to be processed, the pantograph has a leading and a trailing end with different ends being secured to different ones of the conveyors for movement therewith.

Abstract: This invention relates to article casing and uncasing apparatus and especially to a mounting bar and gripper jaw assembly used for article engaging and transport action and including a bar adapted to extend transversely of a longitudinal axis of the apparatus and engage a driving means for movement through a fixed course and a plurality of gripper jaws are carried by each mounting bar. A pair of positioning members and connecting means therefor are provided for each gripper jaw means and the mounting bar operatively engages such members and positions them on opposite sides of a portion of the gripper jaw means with a connecting shaft extending therebetween. The mounting or carrier bar has an entrance and release opening in a bottom lateral portion thereof for such pair of members to permit engagement and disengagement of the gripper jaw means in relation to the mounting bar.

Abstract: Article gripping devices are provided wherein a pair of gripper jaws are pivotally carried on a frame means and a pair of opposed oppositely inclined camming surfaces positioned on a vertical axis on the frame engage a pair of vertically spaced cam follower surfaces formed on the gripper jaws whereby on relative vertical movement of the gripper jaws on the frame by a jaw carrier means, the gripper jaws are moved from bottle engaging to bottle releasing positions and with the position of the gripper jaws being positively controlled at all times.

Abstract: Apparatus for article deposit and/or removal from carrier cases and comprising a pair of endless carrier conveyors operatively positioned on an upper portion of a frame in adjacent parallel relationship for movement through a fixed course extending longitudinally of the frame; a plurality of positioning members or carrier bars for article grippers are operatively connected to the carrier conveyors for movement therewith, which positioning members extend transversely of the frame and have the article grippers depending therefrom; and a pantograph that extends longitudinally of the frame is present for each set of carrier bars corresponding to the array of articles in the cases to be processed, the pantograph has a leading and a trailing end with different ends being secured to different ones of the conveyors for movement therewith.

Abstract: The article depositing and transferring apparatus has a plurality of rows of abutted containers fed to a grid or a carrier means at a processing station where a vertically movable control means having a plurality of individual push or transfer rods releasably attached thereto is provided. Suction cups releasably attach push rods individually to the control means whereby when the control means is driven vertically downwardly, the individual rods engage individual articles on the grid and forcibly move them downwardly for article deposit action, but if an obstruction is encountered the rods individually release and permit the remainder of the apparatus to function normally. Or the rods may have end members to engage the articles for controlled transfer or deposit of the same.This invention generally relates to article packaging or caser apparatus.