Abstract: A carton flap folding method and apparatus for use on a continuous motion packaging machine is disclosed. The carton flap folding apparatus includes a spaced pair of generally parallel knock-down arms which are rotated in the direction of a path of travel extending along the packaging machine and on which a spaced series of groups of articles for being packaged are moved. Each group of articles is at least partially enclosed in a carton blank having at least one flap hingedly connected thereto for being closed on at least a portion of the group of articles. The carton flap folding apparatus moves the knock-down arms into engagement with the at least one open flap of the carton blanks in the direction of the path of travel at substantially the same speed as the speed of the group of articles along the path of travel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for clearing excess trailing beverage containers from the lanes defined between guide rails in a beverage container packaging machine. The method includes providing the guide rails with compressed air nozzles that are positioned and oriented to direct compressed air along the lanes defined between the guide rails in the desired direction of movement of beverage containers along the lanes. An apparatus that includes an improved guide rail configured to achieve the method of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A tabletop machine for automatically loading and sealing flexible containers such as plastic bags forming part of a chain of bags. The apparatus includes structure for supporting a supply of preformed, interconnected bags which are sequentially fed to a loading station. At the loading station, the bag is inflated by a blower having a shutter controlled outlet so that the flow of inflation air is reduced or terminated during feeding and which provides a blast or surge of air to "pop" the bag open when the bag arrives at a loading station. A residual air stream maintains inflation of the bag. After loading, a clamping mechanism is activated which applies a substantially increasing clamping force as a clamp bar nears a heat sealing unit so that should an obstruction or other obstacle be encountered as the clamping bar moves towards the bag, motion in the clamping bar can be resisted by the obstacle without damage to the obstacle or clamping mechanism.

Abstract: A tabletop machine for automatically loading and sealing flexible containers such as plastic bags forming part of a chain of bags. The apparatus includes structure for supporting a supply of preformed, interconnected bags which are sequentially fed to a loading station. At the loading station, the bag is inflated by a blower having a shutter controlled outlet so that the flow of inflation air is reduced or terminated during feeding and which provides a blast or surge of air to "pop" the bag open when the bag arrives at a loading station. A residual air stream maintains inflation of the bag. After loading, a clamping mechanism is activated which applies a substantially increasing clamping force as a clamp bar nears a heat sealing unit so that should an obstruction or other obstacle be encountered as the clamping bar moves towards the bag, motion in the clamping bar can be resisted by the obstacle without damage to the obstacle or clamping mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying tubular labels to a product container at a labeling station including a reciprocally movable labeling assembly. The assembly is adjustably secured to carriage that is mounted for reciprocating movement at the labeling station. A drive system including a drive cam defining an asymetrical profile is operatively coupled to the carriage by a lever arrangement including a cam follower driven by the drive cam. The profile of the drive cam is configured to have a steep rise and a gradual drop so that the average speed at which the labeling assembly is driven through a label applying strobe is substantially less than the speed at which the assembly is driven through a return stroke thus reducing the stress applied to the label as it is installed. A fluid pressure operated actuator pressurized to a first predetermined pressure exerts a biasing force on the lever to urge the cam follower into contact with the drive cam.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting slaughtered poultry into individual pieces including a keel cutting station for severing a front breast section from the carcass. The station includes a first cutter for cutting a rear portion of the keel and a second, reciprocating cutter for effecting a second cut that intersects a cut made by the first cutter such that the keel is completely severed from the carcass. The movement of the second cutter is coordinated with the movement of a carcass supporting module so that the reciprocating knife remains substantially vertically aligned with the carcass supporting module during the cutting sequence. A size sensor is provided for adjusting the relative position of the reciprocating knife with the module to compensate for changes in bird size. A pair of interconnected actuators provide a three step adjustment for the reciprocating knife. An intermediate conveyor is provided for receiving the severed keel and transferring it to a primary conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for extracting frozen stick confections from several mold cups of a mold strip of a stick confection freezing apparatus is disclosed. At a pre-extraction station, the sticks of the frozen confections are individually grasped and individually pulled with separate spring forces while the mold cups are heated from below by hot water sprays. Each confection is lifted from the mold cup as soon as the surface layer thereof sufficiently thaws, and before each confection is completely removed from the cup, it is released and dropped back into the cup. At a second extraction station, all of the confections are simultaneously removed and thereafter conveyed to apparatus for wrapping the frozen confections.

Abstract: An improved method for extracting frozen stick confections from several mold cups of a mold strip of a stick confection freezing apparatus is disclosed. At a pre-extraction station, the sticks of the frozen confections are individually grasped and individually pulled with separate spring forces while the mold cups are heated from below by hot water sprays. Each confection is lifted from the mold cup as soon as the surface layer thereof sufficiently thaws, and before each confection is completely removed from the cup, it is released and dropped back into the cup. At a second extraction station, all of the confections are simultaneously removed and thereafter conveyed to apparatus for wrapping the frozen confections.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing frozen confections of the type including sticks projecting from a block of frozen confection material including a plurality of detachable mold strips and a screw conveyor arrangement for indexing the mold strips through a closed rectangular path in a horizontal plane with the mold cups of the mold strips opening upwardly. The conveyor includes cradles to which the mold strips are individually and pivotally mounted, a rectangular arrangement of tracks for guiding the cradles through the rectangular path of travel, and several conveyor screws which are driven continuously for propelling the cradles along the tracks. The conveyor screws have screw grooves therein adapted to cause the cradles to dwell under a confection filler, a stick inserter, a confection extractor and mold cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: A citrus fruit juice extractor capable of processing at least 900 fruit per minute includes a set of lower extractor cups rigidly mounted in a linear arrangement to the extractor frame and a set of movable upper extractor cups adapted to interdigitate with the lower cups to extract juice from fruit received in the lower cups. The upper cups are mounted upon separate drive rods that are respectively clamped to cam follower arms, and the follower arms are sequentially driven by cams affixed in a balanced arrangement upon a camshaft to drive the upper extractor cups in a preselected sequence. The juice extractor further includes perforated strainer tubes extending downwardly of the lower extractor cups and hollow orifice tubes slidably received within the strainer tubes. The orifice tubes are sequentially driven by hydraulic slave cylinders that, in turn, are respectively controlled by master cylinders.

Abstract: In a system for producing frozen confections without molds, a transfer conveyor is provided for picking up the confections from a freezer conveyor and dropping them on a wrapper conveyor which transfer conveyor includes a large number of carriages pivotally mounted in series to an endless chain. Each carriage has a pair of scissorable arms and tongs detachably mounted to the arms for engaging a confection. The arms are opened by a wedge mounted on a push rod, and a pneumatic cylinder is used at the drop zone to rapidly extend the push rod and thereby quickly open the tongs so that the confection will fall through a predetermined trajectory. The retracted position of the wedge and rod, and thus the closed position of the tongs, is controlled by a stop assembly that is slidably mounted on the carriage.

Abstract: The upper edge of a cup-shape flexible diaphragm in the lower part of a vertical dispensing cylinder is sealed to the side of the cylinder, with the bottom of the diaphragm engageable with the bottom of the cylinder around an inlet and outlet port to close it. The bottom wall of the diaphragm may have a central thickened portion for engaging the bottom wall of the cylinder, with the rest of the diaphragm bottom spaced from the cylinder bottom wall. Engaging the side wall of the cylinder above the diaphragm is a piston having a lower portion filling the diaphragm cup and attached to its bottom wall. The diaphragm and piston are movable upwardly in the cylinder by liquid product forced up through the cylinder port, and the upper part of the cylinder has an inlet for air to move the piston and diaphragm downwardly to expel liquid product from the cylinder.

Abstract: In a container capping machine a continuously moving horizontal conveyor is spaced below a vertically reciprocable rotary chuck for holding a screw cap in its lower end. Extending along one side of the conveyor is a continuously rotating horizontal positioning screw provided with a helical trough between the screw flights for receiving containers on the conveyor and controlling their forward movement through the machine. The portion of the trough beside the chuck has side walls extending partway around the screw for engaging opposite sides of a container in the trough, and these side walls are disposed in radial planes of the screw in order to stop temporarily the forward movement of a container when it reaches correct position for receiving a cap from the chuck. The container is held momentarily by gripping means while the cap is being applied to it.

Abstract: 3-Methyl-5-(2,2,3-trimethylcyclopent-3-en-1-yl)pentan-2-ol possesses a strong, precious woody odor reminiscent of sandalwood oil and is especially valuable in fragrance compositions.

Abstract: An unsaturated cyclic acetal, 4,7-dihydro-2-(3-pentyl)-1,3-dioxepin, prepared by the condensation of 2-butene-1,4-diol with 2-ethyl-1-butanal is useful as a flavor agent for foods and an odorant for perfumes.

Abstract: An unsaturated ketal, 4,7-dihydro-2-isopentyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxepin prepared by the condensation of 2-butene-1,4-diol with 5-methyl-2-hexanone is useful as an odorant for perfume.