Rupturing Or Cutting Type Patents (Class 414/412)
  • Patent number: 5342160
    Abstract: An opener according to the invention comprises a vertical displacement mechanism for moving a capsule to a position in which the capsule is to be opened. The opener also includes a holding mechanism for holding the capsule, a cutting mechanism for cutting the capsule, and a casing. The cutting mechanism includes three roller cutters rotatably supported by a cutter holder by means of a pin. Each of the roller cutters is disposed so as to be rotated around the capsule and to be movable radially of the capsule for the purpose of cutting the capsule. The capsule, vertical displacement mechanism, holding mechanism and cutting mechanism are all contained in the casing and are actuated by a manipulator within the lead cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Nakajima Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeji Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5340263
    Abstract: The apparatus for feeding packaging machines with stacks of sheet material has a unit for the removal and transfer of stacks of sheet material which are arranged mutually side by side on supports and are individually wrapped by respective bands. The removal and transfer unit has a head which is vertically and horizontally movable and has grip elements for removing individual stacks from the supports and for transferring them to a feeding station of the packaging machine. A station for cutting the band is arranged ahead of the feeding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: G.D. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Armando Neri, Mario Turra
  • Patent number: 5339961
    Abstract: A machine for removing yard waste from bags and for sorting the waste. Filled bags dropped into a hopper have offset slashes cut in opposite sides by blades mounted upon two rotary shafts. The blades are pivoted to minimize solid tramp waste damage, and are mounted in opposing paris for balance. Guards, extending inward from opposed parallel hopper sides enclose each shaft and direct the bags between them. Slots through the guards in the blade paths permit the blades to pass through. Flexible wipers between backing plates extend inward from both sides of the slots parallel to the blade paths to bear against the blades. The cut bags fall onto a conveyor which carries them to the top of an inclined vibrating screen. The screen is sized to pass yard waste but not bags, bag parts or tramp material. Conveyors under the screen carry the yard waste away for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Recycling Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Mayhak
  • Patent number: 5336034
    Abstract: A method for unpacking contents from an envelope in which the envelope is at least weakened along three folding edges and a first panel of the envelope is folded over relative to a second panel about a fourth folding edge. The contents are separated from the envelope and are delivered, and the envelope is discharged separately from its contents. An envelope separated from its contents is discharged along a discharge track from which the envelope can be intercepted. Each time contents from an associated envelope are delivered, an interval of time follows before the associated envelope is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Hadewe B. V.
    Inventor: Gerhard Hidding
  • Patent number: 5332150
    Abstract: A shipping/display container that may be opened without having to use a knife or other sharp instrument, and a blank for forming such a container. The container blank includes a plurality of side panels foldably connected together in a longitudinal series, and a connecting flap foldably connected to a first end of the side panels. The side panels form a line of weakness extending substantially completely across each of the side panels, and the connecting flap forms a notch extending from the first end of the side panels. To form the container, the connecting flap is connected to the second end of the side panels, forming the side panels into a continuous side wall for the container; and as this is done, the notch in the connecting flap is positioned over the end portion of the line of weakness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Kraft General Foods Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Norman W. Poirier
  • Patent number: 5328016
    Abstract: An apparatus for placing fiber bales into readiness for removing fiber tufts therefrom by a travelling bale opener has a fiber bale depositing device for positioning an initial fiber bale at an inclined orientation to the vertical and for positioning, adjacent the initial fiber bale, an additional fiber bale at an angle of inclination greater than the angle of inclination of the initial bale as viewed codirectionally with the angle of the initial bale; a bale-supporting device for engaging and stabilizing the initial fiber bale; a displacing device for moving the bale-supporting device into and out of engagement with the initial fiber bale; and a control device for automatically operating the fiber bale depositing device and the displacing device for automatically and sequentially depositing the initial fiber bale, moving the bale-supporting device into engagement with the initial fiber bale, depositing the additional fiber bale into a countersupporting engagement with the initial fiber bale and moving the ba
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ferdinand Leifeld, Josef Temburg, Ulrich Vollrath
  • Patent number: 5318399
    Abstract: A method of removing ties and a wrapper from a fiber bale being at least partially covered by the wrapper and surrounded by the ties tightened about the wrapper includes the steps of severing the ties; carrying the ties away from the bale and pulling the wrapper off the bale in several parts after the ties are carried away from the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Abi Marom
  • Patent number: 5304028
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the dejacketing of flat, parallelipipedic blocks packed in folding cartons. Dejacketing is performed in three steps. First the flaps provided overlapping one another on opposite sides are unfolded by being moved past unfolding tools. The blocks are then moved past a further unfolding tool which is disposed on the third narrow side and which unfolds the flaps provided at that place. In the third step the folding carton is seized by its lower flap on the third side and pulled downwards, the block being simultaneously advanced in the direction of its open third side, and the top side is stripped off at a fixed stripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Heinz Nienstedt Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Jorg Rosenberger, Franz Book
  • Patent number: 5282713
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing recyclable materials from bags. The apparatus includes a conveyor having tines which engage and assist the conveyor in transporting the bags of materials to a discharge bin. A cutting element cooperates with the conveyor to open the bags allowing the materials to be emptied from the bags at one end of the conveyor into the bin where the materials are subsequently discharged onto compost piles. The bags are then removed from the tines and transferred into a mechanism where they are bundled for disposal or recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventor: Lars Lande
  • Patent number: 5282346
    Abstract: An unwrapping apparatus for unwrapping a palletized and stretch-wrapped load, including at the front side thereof lower grippers and upper grippers to grip the lower edge and upper edge of a stretchable film of the load, respectively, and a cutter unit for vertically cutting the stretchable film. The unwrapping apparatus includes at the rear side thereof a carriage having a platen to press the top of a load, a pair of swing arms carrying the upper grippers, and a pair of auxiliary film separating swing arms to separate the stretchable film from the rear corner portions of the load when the film is removed from the load by the main swing arms. The main swing arms and the auxiliary swing arms prevent the articles from being pulled and moved by the stretchable film in contact with the articles and thus falling down from the separate sheet in particular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Oji Seitai Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadao Masuda, Masahiro Tsukuda, Shigeru Doiura, Kaoru Kawanishi, Hiroshi Iwasaki, Katsumi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 5277014
    Abstract: An apparatus for discharging the contents of bags containing flowable material includes a frame, with a pair of bag spikes mounted generally parallel to, and coplanar with, one another on the frame. A pair of bag pans is movably mounted on the frame so as to be engageable with the bag spikes. Each of the pans is selectively pivotable around a respective axis defined by each of the bag spikes. The bag pans are movable between a first, load/unload position wherein the bag pans are out of engagement with the spikes, and a second, engaged position wherein the bag pans are in engagement with the spikes. A knife assembly is provided that includes a knife arm having a first end pivotably mounted to the frame, and a second end upon which is disposed a knife member. The knife assembly is pivotable between a severing position wherein the knife member extends between the bag pans, and a rest position wherein the knife member is out of the plane defined by the bag pans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: ABR Corporation
    Inventor: Harold R. White
  • Patent number: 5275523
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing cigarettes from a package. The apparatus has at least one cutter for cutting open the package with a full cut at right angles to the lengthwise orientation of the cigarettes. The apparatus has a separating station in which the cigarettes are removed from the cut-open package prior to further processing. The separating station has two vertically oriented spaced-apart deformation faces that extend parallel to one another and are rotatable for pivoting the package out of an essentially horizontal position and into an inclined to even vertical position. The distance between the deformation faces is less than the width of the package as measured between its two narrow long sides via which the package rests against the deformation faces during the pivoting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Fr. Niepmann GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Iain Stewart, Alfred Brinker
  • Patent number: 5275524
    Abstract: A detecting device detects whether a package material has been removed from a packaged object by a package removing device. A discharging device is disposed adjacent to the package removing device, for discharging the packaged object from which the package material has not been removed as detected by the detecting device. A delivering device delivers the unpackaged object in which the package material has been removed, from the removing device to a next processing station. In the event that the detecting device does not detect the removal of the package material from the packaged object within a predetermined period of time from the start of operation of the removing device, the discharging device discharges the packaged object from the removing device into the discharge chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Kirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 5267823
    Abstract: The invention is addressed to an apparatus for tearing open conveyed bags containing municipal solid waste and emptying the contents therefrom. The bag splitter assembly comprises a series of pivotally mounted splitter blades which is located above a bag transporting conveyor. The confronting serrated edges of the splitter blades tear open the conveyed bags while the trailing serrated portion of the blades grip the torn bags allowing the conveyor to separate the contents from the retained bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Inventor: Walter C. Roman
  • Patent number: 5265762
    Abstract: A puncturing device (10) for pressurized containers (12) comprises an elongated housing member (16) defining an elongated cavity (24) with openings (26, 28) at first and second ends (30, 32) thereof for receiving an inverted pressurized container at the first end, the housing member including a selective attachment member (36) for securing the second end of the housing member to a collection receptacle (38). A non-sparking puncturing apparatus (18), with a lever (44) having a built-in stop (48, 50), is movably mounted on the housing member with a pivot-link (54)-driven puncture pin (56) extending through an intermediate aperture (34) into the cavity for piercing a nozzle-end of the pressurized container below an internal shoulder (40) thereof with a seal (42). Thus, gases and residual contents are released into the receptacle through the opening in the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Michael C. Campbell
    Inventors: Michael C. Campbell, Katherine C. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5253971
    Abstract: A device for loading waste material into a refuse collection vehicle including a trough attached to a rear end of the vehicle. An inclined conveyor, having a lower end and an upper end, is disposed in the trough. An anchor is disposed at the lower end of the conveyor for holding a plastic bag containing waste material. The conveyor has slats with teeth for tearing open the plastic bag so that the waste material is emptied from the bag and then carried by the conveyor to the rear end of the vehicle. A hydraulic motor drives the conveyor, and a control bar is provided to activate and deactivate the hydraulic motor. A latch bar latches the control bar in a nondriving position wherein the hydraulic motor is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Inventor: J. Keith Weinlader
  • Patent number: 5244332
    Abstract: A flexible bulkhead (36) is provided that includes a plurality of horizontal poles (38) disposed in channels (54) and (56) on opposite sides of a container (10). Webbing straps (50) and (52) are operable to space the poles (38) a predetermined distance apart when installed between hooks on either side of the container opening and at the upper and lower corners therein. When pulled taut, the webbing straps (50) and (52) maintain the material of the flexible bulkhead (36) in a taut configuration. Flaps (66) and (68) extend from the peripheral edges on the sides of the flexible bulkhead (36) and inward to the container (10). A liner (16) is then disposed in the container (10) and inflated with a vacuum system through a manifold (42) and a blower (22). The flaps (66) and (68) prevent deformation of the flexible material of the bulkhead (36) to minimize air from flowing under and around the flexible bulkhead (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: BJK Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Reuben Krein, Jeff Smith
  • Patent number: 5237910
    Abstract: The material pack opening apparatus of the invention comprises: a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart teeth shaped sting edges arranged in an front-to-end (longitudinal) direction; a transverse sting edges arranged perpendicular to, and at substantially intermediate position of, said paired sting edges; and a platform for holding thereon said sting edges, said apparatus enabling a material pack at the bottom of multiple packs each containing powder material and stacked on an article stock rack, to be cut open the bottom of the lowest material pack widely along two cut lines by pressing from above said packs, and, by vibrating said platform, enabling the bottom pack unpacked, freeing the powder material almost completely into a material accommodation unit in a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Chigira
  • Patent number: 5228628
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing severed ties and wrapper from a fiber bale includes a first device for pulling the severed ties and wrapper off the fiber bale; and a second device for taking over the ties and wrapper from the first device and for conveying the ties and wrapper away from the fiber bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Josef Temburg, Andreas Kranefeld, Abi Marom
  • Patent number: 5213031
    Abstract: A can crusher for flattening cans is provided which has a cylindrical body having a first upstream end and a second downstream end. A fluid cylinder having a piston rod is connected to the first end of the body and a piston rod is mounted within the body and attached to the piston rod for movement from a retracted upstream position to an extended downstream position. A discharge opening is provided in the body adjacent the downstream end thereof. A can receiving opening is provided in the body spaced a distance from the discharge opening at least equal to the maximum can height to be accommodated by the can crusher. A ripper tooth extends longitudinally within the body from the can receiving opening to the discharge opening. A control device selectively supplies hydraulic fluid to opposite ends of the fluid cylinder to move the piston between the retracted position and the extended position to simultaneously drain liquid from the can as it is crushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: K N Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Hebbert
  • Patent number: 5211525
    Abstract: Packs formed from a group of sacks bound by straps for feeding to so-called sack applicators are conveyed continuously in succession by a particular arrangement of endless driven belts, comprising a belt acting on the lower central part of the pack and a central upper belt and two lateral belts or shoes acting on the upper side parts of the pack to result in transverse arching of the pack and the insertion of a fixed reference member between the pack and strap to bring the strap into contact with a rotary cutter for its cutting. The hanging cut part of the strap is led between cooperating inclined rollers which remove the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: Mario Moltrasio
  • Patent number: 5203665
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing compostable materials from plastic bags. The apparatus includes a conveyor having retaining members which engage and assist the conveyor in transporting the bags of compostable materials to a discharge bin. A cutting element cooperates with the first conveyor to open the bags allowing the compostable material to be emptied from the bags at one end of the conveyor into the bin where the compostable materials are subsequently discharged onto compost piles. The bags are then removed from the retaining members and transferred into a mechanism where they are bundled for disposal or recycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Inventor: Lars Lande
  • Patent number: 5199841
    Abstract: An apparatus for severing a strap surrounding a fiber bale includes a cutting disk having a periphery and a cutting edge on the periphery; a support for rotatably supporting the cutting disk; and a displacing arrangement for effecting relative movement under mutual pressure between the fiber bale and the cutting disk for moving the cutting disk in the fiber bale toward the strap and for severing the strap in a direction generally perpendicular to the strap length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Von Gehlen
  • Patent number: 5190430
    Abstract: The apparatus for feeding packaging machines with stacks of sheet material has a unit for the removal and transfer of stacks of sheet material which are arranged mutually side by side on supports and are individually wrapped by respective bands. The removal and transfer unit has a head which is vertically and horizontally movable and has grip elements for removing individual stacks from the supports and for transferring them to a feeding station of the packaging machine. A station for cutting the band is arranged ahead of the feeding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: G. D. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Armando Neri, Mario Turra
  • Patent number: 5190429
    Abstract: An arrangement for the opening of rigid, collapsible enclosures or of flexible bags, characterized in that this arrangement consists of a housing having a receiving container arranged therein which is adapted to be opening and closed by an opening lid, in which there are arranged scissors-like knives which are openable and closeable along a rotary axis such that a plurality, parallel-horizontally arranged, fixed knives are in operative connection with parallel, at an angle upwardly and inwardly arranged knives, whereby the movable knives are opened to such an extent and closed through pull rods by use of a motor that, through this movement, the liquid which is contained in the enclosures or bags can flow off into a discharge and thereafter the receiving container arranged on the rotary axle is enabled, by use of a motor, to be rotated so far downwardly until the enclosures can without external contact be expelled from the housing through a rinsing cone and thereafter the receiving container can be turned back
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: S I C AG
    Inventor: Jan Harlegard
  • Patent number: 5188504
    Abstract: Numbers of similar, loaded envelopes having side edge folds and end edge folds joining two rectangular panels are arranged in a stack in a drawer-like portable holder having a side opening. The drawer is installed with the envelopes disposed as a vertical slack in an elevator compartment. An elevator platform at the bottom of the stack is urged upwardly. Each successive top envelope is transferred from the stack to rollers that impel the envelope forcibly against a barrier wall to jog the load against a side edge fold. Cutters sever the other side edge fold and both end edge folds. A vacuum cup moves one of the panels to engage between stripper rollers that draw the entire envelope and the load apart. Conveyors take the separated envelope to a trash receiver and take the load to a receiver tray. There are various electrical driving, timing and performance checking devices, some optically responsive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Systems Mailing Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5188500
    Abstract: A device (10) for continuously tearing bags containing material such as refuse is disclosed including elongated, flexible flails (14) secured to a rotatable rotor (12). The flails (14) are formed in the preferred form from steel wire rope cables (28) having their free ends captured within thick wall tubing (34) swedged thereon. In addition to keeping the ends from fraying, the tubing (34) acts as a centrifugal weight and hammer for the cable (28). The rotor (12) is formed of L-shaped plates (16) attached together to extend quadrantly from and form a square tubular beam surrounding the axis of rotor (12). The flails (14) extend through apertures (36) formed in the leg portions of the plates (16) defining the square tubular beam and are secured to the leg (18) of the plates (16) spaced from the square tubular beam by cable clamps (38) having U-shaped bolts (40) extending through apertures (50) formed in the legs (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Light Work Inc.
    Inventors: Russel L. Eide, Eric P. Eide, Russel L. Eide, II
  • Patent number: 5163585
    Abstract: A puncturing device for relieving the pressure in pressurized containers and allowing the collection of the released gases and residual contents by providing a generally bottle-shaped housing member for receiving a pressurized container in an inverted position, the housing being adapted at its lower end for attachment to a collection container and having an aperture to permit entrance of a puncturing device. A second flat member is provided for slidably engaging the upward facing end of the pressurized container to force the pressurized container downward within the housing member against a resilient beveled shoulder secured therein to create a seal, an angular third member with a puncturing device at the lower end thereof and attachment to a pivot point for moving the third member relative to the housing member for puncturing the pressurized container therein by forcing the puncturing device through the aperture in the housing member and into the pressurized container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventor: Michael Campbell
  • Patent number: 5163627
    Abstract: A process and device for the treatment of waste substances for the purposes of recovering organic matter involving introducing, by a suitable mechanical device, the substrate of waste substances to be treated; opening, by thermal fusion, any various packages containing this substrate; separating the fine elements of this substrate by screening; selectively fragmenting the coarse residues from the first sizing; separating these residues by screening; separating all of the screened fragments by means of magnetic sorting; differentially wetting these screened fragments; sorting these fragments by differential rebound and aqueous adherence; and removing, by a mechanical device, the substrate of screened waste substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Sovadec
    Inventor: Marcel B. Bouche
  • Patent number: 5156516
    Abstract: A process and device for breaking and removing a tie which surrounds a bundle of blanks and is arranged in a vertical plane characterized by an arrangement for holding the bundle and transporting it between a first location and a second location, an arrangement for creating a space between an upper surface of the bundle and each of the ties, an arrangement for breaking the ties being inserted in the space to engage the tie and to hold the tie after it has been transversely broken to allow the blanks to be deposited at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Vega Automation
    Inventor: Jean L. Boisseau
  • Patent number: 5156515
    Abstract: Machine for extracting the contents from envelopes for presentation to an operator. The envelopes are stacked at an input station and fed one at a time from the input station to a cutting station. At the cutting station, the envelopes are severed along their edge portions to provide access to the contents. From the cutting station, the envelopes are transported to a separating station, where the contents are separated from the envelopes. The contents from one envelope at a time are conveyed to a pick-up station for presentation to an operator at a work station. When the operator removes the contents of one envelope from the pick-up station, the contents of another envelope are conveyed to that station and presented to the operator. As each envelope leaves the separating station, it is checked to verify that the contents have been removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Omation Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Charron, Edward A. Krupotich, George H. Bingham, James R. Sencenbaugh
  • Patent number: 5147169
    Abstract: By providing a pair of vacuum manifolds positioned on opposite sides of an envelope travel path with the vacuum manifolds being laterally spaced apart, a unique, effective and dependable envelope handling system is achieved whereby the envelope sides are consistently separated and the contents removed therefrom and positioned in a readily accessible channel. Preferably, the envelope handling system also incorporates sensing devices for automatically and separately inspecting each side of the envelope to determine the presence of additional material which should be processed. In this way, any such material is automatically discovered for handling by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Agissar Corporation
    Inventors: Lester Miller, Szee M. Yao
  • Patent number: 5144789
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for transporting stacks of blanks for producing (cigarette) packs. For the production of (cigarette) packs made of blanks (10) of thin cardboard, the blanks are delivered in the form of blank stacks (15), mainly in containers (cartons 16). Specially designed cassettes (32) are used for mechanically and mostly automatically conveying the blank stacks (15) to the packaging machines. The cassettes (32) are designed for holding the contents of a carton (16) of blank stacks (15). The cartons (16) are mechanically opened by a cutting unit (39) by way of cutting out a side wall (30). Special extraction units (59) pull out the blank stacks (15) through the open side of the carton and directly deposit these in an adjacent cassette (32). Centrally emptying the cartons (16) and mechanically transporting the blank stacks (15) by means of special inplant cassettes (32) result in a mechanized transport circuit for the packaging material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Focke & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Henry Buse
  • Patent number: 5119969
    Abstract: A pill strip dispenser (4) is used with a pill strip (6) having a series of pill-containing packets (8) so the pills (10) can be dispensed individually. The dispenser includes a housing (14) defining a supply region (18) within which the pill strip is housed. The pill strip extends from the supply region along a dispensing path within the housing to a discharge position (12) next to but external of the housing. The packets are dispensed one at a time by a manually actuated drive assembly (46) including a user operated plunger (80). The pill strip is captured between a pair of toothed drive wheels (48), positioned at each lateral edge (36, 38) of the pill strip, and overlying resilient rollers (50). The tooth drive wheels not only drive the pill strip, but also perforate the pill strip packets so that the contents of the dispensed packet can be easily accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Inventor: Terry M. Haber
  • Patent number: 5114043
    Abstract: A device for emptying pressurized liquid-containing aerosol cans. A closed storage drum has an aerosol can-containing chamber held adjacently to it. An aerosol can may be placed in the chamber, the chamber closed and a piercing pin passed through a low point of the aerosol can. The contents pass outwardly from the can and from the chamber into the storage drum. Preferably, a vapor filter is positioned on the drum so that any vapors passing out of the drum are absorbed by the filter. The system can remove 98% of the aerosol can contents. The process of using the device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Inventor: Elia E. Collins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5104002
    Abstract: A portioning dispenser for dispensing food items from bulk item containers is disclosed in which the dispenser can open and empty a bulk container and dispense a portion of its contents. In one embodiment, a container can be slit open and tipped on a pivotable platform to spill its contents to a feeder for further distribution while retaining a stack of unopened boxes thereabove. In some embodiments, the dispenser can discard an emptied container and replace it with an unopened container moved from a container hopper. In other embodiments, a vibrating feeder is used to shake emptied items into a transfer tray for weighing and dispensing. Additionally, a method for dispensing portions of bulk food items from bulk containers is disclosed which employs several of the steps mentioned above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Cahlander, David W. Carroll, Gregory A. Lawrence, Brian R. Rudesill
  • Patent number: 5101703
    Abstract: A box cutting method is characterized in that after moving a cutter for cutting a box to a predetermined position which is determined in accordance with the size of the box, the box is cut by moving the cutter along a cutting line formed on the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignees: KAO Corporation, Seibu Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Tanaka, Eiji Hirata, Manabu Kobuki, Yasuro Katayama
  • Patent number: 5096360
    Abstract: Numbers of similar, loaded envelopes having side edge folds and end edge folds joining two rectangular panels are arranged in a stack in a drawer-like portable holder having a side opening. The drawer is installed with the envelopes disposed as a vertical stack in an elevator compartment. An elevator platform at the bottom of the stack is urged upwardly. Each successive top envelope is transferred from the stack to rollers that impel the envelope forcibly against a barrier wall to jog the load against a side edge fold. Cutters sever the other side edge fold and both end edge folds. A vacuum cup moves one of the panels to engage between stripper rollers that draw the entire envelope and the load apart. Conveyors take the separated envelope to a trash receiver and take the load to a receiver tray. There are various electrical driving, timing and performance checking devices, some optically responsive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Systems Mailing Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5090573
    Abstract: A paper sheet bundle processing apparatus. The apparatus receives a bundle of sheaves bound with large bands. Each sheaf within the bundle is bound with a small band. The bundle is moved to a band removing section where the large bands are removed. The bundle is then moved to a sheaf extracting section where each sheaf is extracted from the bundle one at a time. A band removing apparatus removes the small band from each sheaf thus allowing the paper sheets to be removed individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takahashi, Toshinori Adachi
  • Patent number: 5090864
    Abstract: A method of operating a fiber bale opener (which has a tower arranged for travel along a series of fiber bales and an opening device carried by the tower and movable vertically relative thereto) includes the steps of moving the opening device back and forth along top surfaces of the fiber bales; removing fiber tufts by the opening device during travel thereof; coordinating travelling motions of the bale opener with vertical motions of the opening device by a control device; determining the presence of a foreign body in the fiber bales; lifting, during each pass of the bale opener, the opening device off the fiber bales just ahead of the location; moving the opening device, in the course of the travel thereof, over the foreign body; and lowering the opening device, in the course of the travel thereof, onto the fiber bales after passing over the foreign body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ferdinand Leifeld
  • Patent number: 5086790
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for opening cigarette packs involving minimal contact with the cigarettes in the pack and little likelihood of damage or degradation of the tobacco contained in the cigarettes. The invention includes conveying packs to a first location where they are received, moving the packs to a second location where they are pressurized and expanded, moving the pressurized expanded packs to a third location where one end is cut off, moving the packs to a fourth location where impulse is applied to the pack as a whole, resulting in the transfer of the pack to a fifth location, where the motion of the pack itself is stopped, but the inertia of the cigarettes themselves is conserved sufficiently that they are transferred to a conveyance for further processing. The empty packs are disposed of at a sixth location. The method and apparatus is intermittent, involving regular starting and stopping motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: R. J.Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventor: Carl C. Greene, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5086814
    Abstract: Device for releasing a remaining gas which can easily puncture a hole without involving danger and a cap of a pressure can container which removably stores such a device. The remaining gas releasing device has a flexible sponge plate, a push pin member with its pin portion fitted into the center of one of the surfaces of the sponge plate, a center hole rigid sheet member positioned around the push pin member, a gas-impermeable rigid sheet plate bonded to the surfaces of the center hole rigid plate member, an adhesive sheet plate bonded to the other surface of the sponge plate so that the other surface is covered therewith and having a small hole at its center, and a release sheet plate peelably bonded to the adhesive sheet plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Taito Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohisa Sato, Ichiro Matuda
  • Patent number: 5074097
    Abstract: A device for removing covers from corrugated paperboard boxes including stations for cutting the sides and ends of the boxes (8,24) through the use of water jets (62) shielded by a dissipater (76) when not in use and then physically removing the severed top at station (42) by impaling it upon spikes (138) mounted to chains (116,120) and moving the severed top in a direction different from the main box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Hullpak Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Kent D. Hull
  • Patent number: 5074739
    Abstract: A paper sheet processing apparatus for removing a strap from a sheaf formed by bundling a number of paper sheets with the strap. The paper sheet processing apparatus includes a strap cutter for cutting the strap of the sheaf, a strap scraping unit for penetrating between the paper sheets and the strap after the strap has been cut by the strap cutter and scraping out the strap from the sheaf, and separating unit for completely separating the strap from the sheaf. This paper sheet processing apparatus can be provided for sheaves of paper sheets and can execute a guaranteed removal of the strap which has been cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takahashi, Toshinori Adachi
  • Patent number: 5072490
    Abstract: A bale opener includes a housing moved along a travelling path, and an opening roll which is mounted in the housing for removing fiber tufts from faces of fiber bales arranged in a series along the travelling path and which has a longitudinal axis lying in a plane oriented perpendicularly to the travelling path. There is further provided a suction device that generates a suction stream within the housing for removing, from a zone of the opening roll, fiber tufts detached by the opening roll from the fiber bales. A pressurized air stream generating device blows air in an upwardly inclined direction into the housing for essentially preventing fiber material from dropping off the fiber bales over upper edges thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ferdinand Leifeld, Josef Temburg
  • Patent number: 5069596
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling and discharging bulk bags allowing dosage control is disclosed. A bulk bag is hung from a maneuverable frame with a pair of winches mounted thereon. After opening the bottom of the bag, actuation of the winches tightens a cable looped around the lower portion of the bag to restrict the flow of material out of the opening. A bulk bag specially adapted for the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Lawter International, Inc.
    Inventors: Hermann Mueller, Timothy J. Hendron, David Dawood
  • Patent number: 5069594
    Abstract: An apparatus for debagging and loading bagged bottles into a production stream is provided with a debagging station and a loading station. The debagging station includes a pair of bristle rollers to grasp the bag flap and a cutting mechanism to sever the flap from the bag and thereby expose the bottles. The loading station includes an infeed table, a take-off conveyor, and an indexing pusher for moving the bottles on the infeed table toward the take-off conveyor. A control system sequentially and repetitively activates the pusher to move the bottles onto the take-off conveyor and activates the take-off conveyor to accelerate the bottles into a production stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Ideas in Motion
    Inventors: Jerry A. Bott, Floyd W. Butler
  • Patent number: 5067303
    Abstract: A system is provided for packing, shipping and automated unloading of stacks of box blanks so as to minimize damage to the box blanks and facilitate the insertion of the box blanks into an automated packaging machine. A fitted shipping case, filled with stacks of box blanks and upper and lower inserts, has a plurality of holes in its upper and lower flaps for cooperating with an automated unloading machine. The inserts enclosed in the shipping case minimize damage due to shifting of the box blank stacks, provide added resistance against case failure during transit, and cooperate with the automated unloading machine to faciltiate removal of the box blank stacks from the shipping case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald L. Brookman, Everett C. Grollimund, Gary E. Grollimund, Steven F. Spiers
  • Patent number: 5061146
    Abstract: Numbers of similar, loaded envelopes having side edge folds and end edge folds joining two rectangular panels are arranged in a stack in drawer-like portable holder having a side opening. The drawer is installed with the envelopes disposed as a vertical stack in an elevator compartment. An elevator platform at the bottom of the stack is urged upwardly. Each successive top envelope is transferred from the stack to rollers that impel the envelope forcibly against a barrier wall to jog the load against a side edge fold. Cutters sever the other side edge fold and both end edge folds. A vacuum cup moves one of the panels to engage between stripper rollers that draw the entire envelope and the load apart. Conveyors take the separated envelope to a trash receiver and take the load to a receiver tray. There are various electrical driving, timing and performance checking devices, some optically responsive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Systems Mailing Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5059082
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of emptying from a case a compressible load consisting of carton blanks, prongs penetrate through a preformed perforation in opposite side walls of the case and push the load away from those walls, an upper portion of the case is partially severed by knives along respective paths at those walls, other cuts are formed across the top wall along the other two side walls of the case, suction cups pull away that upper portion, the load is received between support fingers, the load and the lower portion of the case are turned through 180 degrees in a vertical plane, the inverted lower portion is removed from the load by suction cups, and a gripping head seizes the load and removes it from between the support fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Elopak Systems A. G.
    Inventors: Pekka Tanttu, Osmo E. O. Valkeinen