Abstract: To provide a disposable diaper enabling reduction in re-wet amount and having an excellent speed of incorporating liquid regardless of concentration and configuration of a water-absorbing agent in an absorbent material. A water-absorbing agent having excellent Gel Capillary Absorption (GCA) and Free Gel Bed Permeability (FGBP) is obtained by crushing a crosslinked hydrogel polymer obtained in a polymerization step to have a specific weight average particle diameter while fluid retention capacity and a surface tension of a water-absorbing agent are adjusted in a specific range, drying the crushed crosslinked hydrogel polymer, and then adding a liquid permeability enhancer thereto during surface crosslinking or after surface crosslinking.

Abstract: A feed for domestic fowls which comprises a galacto-oligosaccharide composition which is prepared by heat-treating lactose in the presence of a mineral acid; or by adding an inorganic acid to lactose and then heat-treating the resulting mixture using an extruder. The feed serves to inhibit the formation of fatty liver, to improve the meat quality and the rate of egg laying, to improve the eggshell strength and to reduce the cholesterol content in the egg.

Abstract: A method for decreasing a content of lipid and total cholesterol in serum and increasing a relative content of HDL cholesterol in serum which comprises the steps:(a) providing a pyrodextrin hydrolysate which is obtained by heating starch in the presence of an acid and hydrolyzing the pyrodextrin with .alpha.-amylase; and(b) administering an effective amount of the pyrodextrin hydrolysate to an animal.

Abstract: Preventing obesity and impaired glucose tolerance by incorporating indigestible dextrin containing at least 30% by weight of indigestible components into a food in an amount ranging from 1 g to 30 g per meal of the food.

Abstract: A food or feed having an indigestible dextrin exhibits a hypotensive effect.

Abstract: A food composite performing a function of large bowel regulation and comprising a refined product of pyrodextrin obtained as an active ingredient through a process of decomposing starch or starch hydrolyzate by heating in the presence of an acid or without acid.

Abstract: A food composite for saving insulin secretion comprising a refined product of pyrodextrin obtained as an active ingredient through a process of decomposing starch or starch hydrolyzate by heating in the presence of an acid or without acid.

Abstract: A device for preventing condensation of water vapor on a filling nozzle in the form of a vertical tube, included in a filling apparatus and positioned above a path of transport of containers comprises a downwardly open dry air chamber having the filling nozzle accommodated therein and permitting the container to be moved into and out of the chamber when the container is lifted by a lifter, an injection nozzle disposed as oriented downward above the path upstream from the dry air chamber for injecting dry air into the container to replace air therein, and a cover extending from a position downstream from the injection nozzle at least to the dry air chamber and covering the path from thereabove for preventing the dry air in the container from flowing out.

Abstract: A blank feeder is used for feeding blanks to a bottom forming mandrel. The blanks are initially in a flat form and are unfoldable to a form of square cross section. The feeder includes a magazine for the flat blanks, and a transport arrangement having a path of transport extending from the delivery opening along a circular arc having a central axis parallel to the widthwise direction of the blank in the delivery opening. The transport arrangement includes a suction member, a transport arm carrying the suction member on a forward end, and a shaft rotatably supporting the transport arm and having an axis aligned with a central axis of the circular arc. The suction member has suction cups at different distances from the central axis for gripping one side of the blank, so that the blank is unfolded by movement of the suction member along the circular arc causing a greater separation of a gripped side of the blank at the furthest end of the blank from the central axis than at the nearest end of the blank.

Abstract: A blank feeder is disclosed having a magazine with a delivery opening at one end and accommodating flat blanks as arranged from the one end toward the other end thereof in the form of a stack. The blank feeder also has a transport device having a path of transport extending straight from the delivery opening as a starting end to a terminal end away from the opening, and a device for unfolding each of the flat blanks to a tubular form of square cross section while the blank is being transported by the transport device. The unfolding device has first and second blank unfolding claws provided at edge portions of the delivery opening so as to be individually engageable with opposite ends of the blank in the delivery opening. The first and second unfolding claws are positioned at different distances from a reference plane orthogonal to the transport path in a direction along the path.

Abstract: A blank feeder has a pair of guide rails for guiding blanks having a tubular form of square cross section to a bottom forming mandrel. The guide rails are formed with opposed recessed portions which are V-shaped in cross section for holding therebetween two corners of the blank on a diagonal thereof, and have shock absorbing means for mitigating the impact to be involved in the stiking contact of the blank with the guide rails.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning the interior of an aseptic chamber having enclosed therein a container transport conveyor of a packaging machine and separating off a required packaging work space from the outside air. The apparatus comprises at least one rotatable spray pipe disposed inside the aseptic chamber and extending approximately over the entire length of the path of transport of containers in parallel thereto, and means for supplying a pressurized cleaning solution to the interior of the spray pipe. The spray pipe has a multiplicity of spray orifices arranged at a predetermined spacing approximately over the entire length thereof.

Abstract: A filling nozzle includes a vertical tubular nozzle body for receiving the liquid to be filled and supplied thereto forcibly and intermittently, and a rubber tube connected to the lower end of the nozzle body and having an opening at its lower end. The rubber tube is folded at required portions to constrict the opening. The opening is held closed by the elasticity of the rubber tube against gravity acting on the liquid within the nozzle body when the supply of the liquid is discontinued but is opened by the pressure of the liquid when the liquid is supplied to the nozzle body. The nozzle body is provided at its lower end with a tube holding portion having the rubber tube fitted thereover for holding the rubber tube in shape. The tube holding portion is externally in conformity with the inner surface of the rubber tube except at the folded portions.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising a rotary body having blank bottom forming radial mandrels so arranged as to be successively stoppable at a plurality of process stations including a blank feed station, a feeder for fitting a tubular blank having a square or rectangular cross section around the mandrel stopping at the blank feed station to feed the blank to the mandrel, and a collector for collecting paper particles adhering to the blank to be fed by the feeder. The feeder has a pair of guide rails positioned on opposite sides of and extending in parallel to a phantom line extending outward from the mandrel stopping at the blank feed station. The collector has a tubular collecting cover enclosing the guide rails. The cover is formed with an air outlet covered with a filter. A suction device applies suction to the air outlet.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises an aseptic chamber having a required packaging work space as separated from the outside air, a container outlet and a closure for the outlet, an inner container conveyor disposed inside the chamber to provide an inner path of transport of containers, an outer container conveyor disposed outside the chamber to provide an outer path of transport of containers, a fixed transfer member interposed between the outlet and the terminal end of the inner transport path, a movable transfer member interposed between the outlet and the starting end of the outer transport path and movable about its front end upward to a raised position or downward to a horizontal position, and means for successively forwarding containers on the fixed transfer member from its rear end to the front end thereof and then delivering the containers from the front end to the rear end of the movable transfer member in the horizontal position.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a specified amount of liquid comprises a vertical tubular nozzle having a large-diameter portion intermediately of its height and a valve seat at the edge of an open lower end thereof, a valve upwardly and downwardly movably supported by the filling nozzle and comprising a plug intimately fittable to the valve seat and a stem extending upward from the plug inside the nozzle, a resistance member fixed to the valve stem so as to be positioned in the large-diameter portion for acting against a downward flow of liquid, a spring biasing the valve upward to hold the plug in intimate contact with the valve seat against the gravity on the liquid within the nozzle, a metering cylinder for intermittently feeding the liquid into the nozzle in the specified amount at a time so that the valve is opened by the pressure of flow of the liquid against the spring, and the spring closing the valve when the feed of liquid is discontinued.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with blanks folded to a flat form for unfolding each blank into a tube of rectangular to square cross section and feeding the tubular blank to one of container bottom forming mandrels which is at rest at a feed station. The apparatus comprises a magazine for accommodating a multiplicity of such blanks as arranged side by side, transport arms for delivering the blanks one by one from a delivery opening of the magazine and transporting each blank to a position on an extension of the axis of the mandrel, an unfolding arm for unfolding the blank from the flat form to the tubular form during transport by forming a fold in the opposed flat portions of the blank, a holder for holding the tubular blank on the extension of axis in alignment therewith movably along the extension, and a transfer assembly for transferring the blank from the holder to the mandrel. The forward end of the unfolding arm is movable into and out of the path of transport of the blank.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a specified amount of liquid comprises a vertical tubular filling nozzle, a damper attached to the lower end of the filling nozzle and pivotally movable upward and downward, a vertical rod supported upwardly and downwardly movably inside the filling nozzle, a connecting member connecting the free end of the damper to the lower end of the vertical rod, a spring biasing the vertical rod upward to hold the damper closed against the gravity on the liquid within the nozzle, and a metering cylinder for feeding the liquid to the nozzle in the specified amount at a time to open the damper against the spring. An annular seat facing downward is formed on the inner surface of the nozzle approximately at the midportion of its height. A liquid channel blocking annular member is mounted on the vertical rod so as to come into contact with the seat simultaneously when or immediately before the damper is closed.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a specified amount of liquid comprising a metering cylinder having a piston therein, a vertical filling nozzle having an opening at its lower end and forcibly chargeable with a liquid from the metering cylinder by the operation of the piston, a damper for opening and closing the opening of the filling nozzle, a spring biasing the damper so as to hold the damper closed against the gravity acting on the liquid filling the nozzle while the damper is closed with the charging discontinued although permitting the damper to be opened with the pressure of the liquid forcibly charged into the filling nozzle from the metering cylinder, and a closing device adapted to act on the damper in its open state to close the damper when the charging of the liquid is discontinued and adapted to be brought out of action transmitting relation with the damper so as to permit the spring only to hold the damper closed before the charging of the liquid is subsequently started.

Abstract: A package container tube processing apparatus by which a vertical tube filled with contents is divided into lengths each corresponding to one container to form intermediate containers. The apparatus comprises a vertical rod movable upward and downward and reversibly rotatable, a movable frame attached to the vertical rod and movable therewith upward and downward while permitting the reversible rotation of the vertical rod, a pair of pressure arms supported at their lower portions by the movable frame so as to be pivotally movable about a pair of horizontal axes parallel to each other, a pair of seal bars fixed to the upper portions of the pressure arms respectively and opposed to each other, and conversion means for converting the forward-reverse rotation of the vertical rod to a pivotal motion of the two pressure arms to move the two seal bars toward or away from each other.