Abstract: Method and apparatus for de-palletizing and de-bagging stacks of articles such as can ends is disclosed. The de-palletizing apparatus removes a single layer of bags and discharges single bags of articles in seriatim order to a tilt tray comprising part of the de-bagging apparatus. The tilt tray moves the bag of articles to a vertical position, and inserts the bagged articles in a movable pocket at a loading station. Opposed clamps engage the bottom of the bag and a pin below the bag is forced upwardly, thereby pushing the articles in the bag upwardly so as to form a void at the bag bottom. The movable pocket is then moved past a slitter station, where the bag bottom is severed and discarded, to a de-bagging station. The opposed clamps are released, and a second set of movable clamps engage the bag to force the bag upwardly. As the bag moves upwardly, a pair of opposed rollers draw the bag off the stacked articles. The now-debagged stack of articles is moved to a discharge station.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging powder and/or pellets from a hopper defining an outlet adjacent the base thereof. The apparatus includes a control member associated with the outlet to control the rate of flow of the powder and/or pellets and a chute located under the control member to receive the powder and/or pellets, there being an outlet from the chute through which the powder and/or pellets may be discharged.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically de-packaging products and separating the product from its package wihtout contamination of the product and having an improved, continuous feed agitating hopper, a product-orienting feed chute and being adaptable for operation without tumbling the product and package together.

Abstract: An envelope contents extraction system in which adjacent edges of an envelope are opened to make the contents of the envelope accessible from two edges. The stations at which the envelope edges are opened and the contents removed are located along a single straight-line path. The envelopes are delivered to these stations by a straight-line conveyor which receives the envelopes and moves in one direction to move the envelopes to a side edge cutter and then in the opposite direction to move the envelope to a top edge cutter and an envelope spreader.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bag-cutting- and emptying-device with a connected collective dust-removal filter, whereby it is the aim to replace the manual cutting process customary in devices of this type by a driven knife and to fix the position of the bag within the housing in such a manner so that this bag can be seized manually and can be shaken.Hereby, also in the case of an additional manual intervention, the bag-feeding-area is to be protected against infiltrating excess air through the intervention of appropriate means surrounding the bag.The invention makes provisions for the feeding of the bag through the intervention of a supporting-table (7/8) ending in a bag-chute (8), whereby the final boundary of the bag-chute (8) can be delimited by means of a stop-flap (15) for the support of the bag.

Abstract: Apparatus for expelling reels with convoluted exposed roll films from successive film cartridges has a gate which supports a cartridge at an opening station between an axially movable mandrel and an axially movable pusher. A holder with four or more equidistant idler wheels having sharp edges is adjacent to one end of the shell of the cartridge which is located between the mandrel and the pusher to hold the shell against axial movement with the pusher when the latter is shifted axially toward the mandrel to bear upon the core of the reel in the cartridge and to expel the reel as well as one end wall of the cartridge from the shell while the mandrel transmits or is ready to transmit torque to the core in a direction to wind the film onto the core. The idler rollers are thereupon disengaged from the shell and the gate is retracted so that the shell can leave the opening station by gravity before the next cartridge enters the opening station by gravity feed.

Abstract: A tool for facilitating the removal of temporary fiber or plastic film pots from shrubs or other nursery products. The tool comprises an elongated rod having a spike tip at one thereof and a gripping handle integrally formed at the other end. A thin flexible strand or cable is connected at one end proximate the spike tip. The cable has a pull ring or other type of handle to facilitate the gripping thereof. In use, the cable or strand is first aligned with the rod and the spiked end is pushed downward into the root ball next to the side wall of the container in which the plant has been growing. While pushing down on the handle portion of the rod with one hand, the operator grips the ring at the free end of the cable and pulls outwardly and downwardly to cause the cable to cut through the side wall of the container, allowing it to be spread open and the plant to be removed with the root ball generally intact.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a flexible cover from a bale of material, such as compressed peat moss, including a pusher member adapted to move the bale lengthwise against a plurality of knives adapted to cut across the front end of the cover as well as along the sides to slit the cover and separate it from the material. The pusher member is provided with spike devices for retaining the separated cover as the material is discharged from a discharge station, to remove the split separated cover to a cover removal station. In a preferred form of the invention, a stripper mechanism is included for stripping the split cover from the pusher member.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for removing covering material from a bale of, for example, Oriental tabacco leaves at production line speeds which causes only minimal damage to the underlying bale and only minimal contamination of the underlying bale with particles, fragments and/or fibers of the covering material.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing strips of X-ray film from elongated flat envelopes, wherein the film is flanked by two foils of lead, has a table supporting two blade-like tools whose tips can be introduced into the open front end of an envelope so that each tool enters between a panel of the envelope and the outer side of the respective foil. The envelope is then advanced lengthwise so that the tools penetrate deeper into its interior whereby the envelope is severed along opposite marginal portions of the film by knives which are mounted on one of the tools. One of the panels is introduced into the nip of two advancing rolls downstream of the knives so that the one panel then pulls the envelope forwardly and the envelope is automatically opened by the knives. The leader of the exposed film is connected to the core of a reel which is driven in synchronism with the advancing rolls so that the film is convoluted onto the core of the reel.

Abstract: Apparatus for de-palletizing and de-bagging stacks of articles such as can ends is disclosed. The de-palletizing apparatus discharges single bags of articles in seriatim order to a tilt tray comprising part of the de-bagging apparatus. The tilt tray delivers the bagged articles to a movable vertically oriented de-bagger pocket at a first or loading station. Opposed clamps engage the bottom of the bag and a pin below the bag is forced upwardly, thereby pushing the articles in the bag upwardly so as to form a void within the bag at the bag bottom. The movable pocket is then swung past a slitter station, where the bag bottom is severed and discarded. The now-severed bag and articles move to a second or de-bagging station, the bottom clamps are released, and a second set of clamps gently engages the bag. These clamps are moved upwardly to push and drag the bag upwardly from the stack of articles. As the bag moves upwardly, it is engaged in the nip of opposed rollers and drawn off and discarded.

Abstract: A method of recovering ink deposits which remain in the ink drum liner of a substantially empty container which comprises the steps of positioning the mouth end of the drum liner proximate to a roller nip region of wringer assembly structure, inserting the mouth end into the wringer assembly, rotating the wringer assembly so as to draw the liner therethrough while simultaneously urging the ink remaining in the liner towards the closed end as a bulge, pulling the liner through the wringer assembly, opening the closed end of the liner to release the bulge of remaining ink deposits from the closed end of the liner, releasing the accumulated ink deposits from the liner and removing the ink drum liner from said wringer assembly structure.

Abstract: Vial rupturing apparatus is disclosed for destroying vials, typically small medicinal vials. Each vial is split longitudinally by a thin vertical blade while the vial is maintained horizontal. This is done either by moving the blade while holding the vial or by urging the vial onto a stationary blade.

Abstract: A flexible bag-like container holding contents is placed on a setting table. The setting table is provided with an extracting gear and is movable with respect to a housing between a bag placing position and an extracting position. The housing is provided with an extracting gear which is adapted to be engaged with the extracting gear of the setting table when the setting table is moved to the extracting position. Said flexible bag-like container is placed on the setting table when the table is in the bag placing position, and the setting table is moved to the extracting position with the bag thereon so that a portion of the bag near one end thereof is pinched between the extracting gears. A portion of the bag near the other end is severed in response to the movement of the setting table to the extracting position, and then the extracting gears are rotated to move the bag away from the contents.

Abstract: An upwardly pyramidal frame, formed of angularly spaced legs converging to a point, is mountable on a holder that extends about a fill opening of the pressure tank of a blast cleaning system. The frame is so disposed as to break open the end of a bag containing an abrasive media, when the bag is dropped onto the frame, with the break occurring at a location confined to the area of the fill opening. A screen supported upon a shoulder of the holder extends across the opening. At the bottom of the frame, outwardly directed feet on the legs extend into a space between the shoulder on which the screen is supported, and opposing, downwardly facing shoulders. Screws threaded in the feet bear against the peripheral portion of the screen, to clampably engage the feet and the screen against the opposed shoulders. When a screen is to be replaced, the screws are backed off, to loosen the frame and screen and permit their removal and replacement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rupturing refuse carrier bags to expose the potentially salvagable materials therein is disclosed. A transport tube is provided with an inlet end having an upper circumferential portion cut away to receive carrier bags placed therein and an outlet end having an opening for expelling the contents of the carrier bags. A screw impeller means is rotatably supported in the transport tube. Drive means are provided for rotating the screw impeller within the transport tube to advance the carrier bags from the inlet end toward the outlet end. A sleeve means is formed is about the screw impeller between the inlet end and outlet end of the transport tube. The sleeve is slightly larger in diameter than the screw impeller. The upper portions of the carrier bags engage the sleeve and are thereby prevented from being further advanced through the transport tube. The screw impeller then ruptures the carrier bag to expose the contents therein.

Abstract: A film package containing a stack of notched films in a light-tight envelope is held vertically in a light-tight loading chamber by a clamp member engaging with the notches of the films. The lower end of the envelope is cut, and the envelope is moved vertically relative to the films until the films are projected from the lower end of the envelope while the films are clamped by the clamp member. The clamp member is then disengaged from the notches of the films, and the films are allowed to move down into a receiving chamber positioned under the loading chamber. Then, a shutter is closed between the receiving chamber and the loading chamber to shield the films in the receiving chamber from light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unpacking a box packed with compressed material. The method comprises the steps of placing a box packed with compressed material and having flaps at a bottom thereof on a bed having an opening therein, lifting said box from said bed to allow said compressed material to start descending from within the box thereby causing said flaps to open gradually, raising a support member from said opening through said opened flaps to support said compressed material from below, continuing said lifting of the box until the flaps completely open, and lowering said support member to place said compressed material on said bed.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting of bags containing tricklable materials, as well as for separating the goods from bag parts, with a sieve drum and separate outlets for the bag parts, oversized particles, and the goods to be discharged, comprising a bag guidance with a floor inclined in dependence of the load, in a quasi-uniform, upper-and-lower engagement of the cutters to the bag, the cutters being coaxially and peripherally aligned with respect to one another, as well as for a uniform fragmentation and distribution of the goods to be discharged over the length of the sieve drum through accumulation rings.

Abstract: A film package containing a stack of films in a light-tight envelope is held vertically in a light-tight loading chamber, and a lower end of the envelope is cut while at least the films are prevented from falling. A film receiving case is moved upwardly to the vicinity of the lower end of the film package, and the films are allowed to fall onto the case. The case is then moved down to completely separate the films from the light-tight envelope, and a shutter is closed between the envelope and the films to shield the films from light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for dispensing material from a bulk bag wherein the bag is supported from below by a cradle having a central opening through which material from the bag may pass. An overhead support is employed to prevent the bag from collapsing downwardly as the bag empties. The apparatus includes a discharge assembly positioned beneath the opening and extending generally downwardly therefrom for receiving material from the bag and directing the material to a desired location.

Abstract: Bags are loaded onto a conveyor for movement along a predetermined path, at spaced intervals of which there are a plurality of bag opening stations, each of which includes a driven chain loop with a plurality of outwardly extending fingers. The fingers engage the bags as they go past and either directly pierce the plastic bags or lift them such that the loaded bag weight causes the fingers to pierce the bag material. Also, at some point in the path of elevation of the loaded bags lifted by the fingers, the bags fall onto the conveyor belt adding a rupturing force which in combination with the piercing of the bag materials effects bag opening and removal of the contents.

Abstract: A bag opening machine has an endless conveying band provided with spikes which conveys a bag (impaled on the spikes thereof--when in an extended position) to and past cutting means which act to make a continuous cut around three sides of the bag so that after cutting thereof it comprises two halves joined only at the rear or trailing side of the bag, unfolds the two halves of the bag as the half thereof engaged by said spike members is drawn to the forward end of the conveyor, thus to empty the contents of the bag into receiving means therefor and releases the emptied bag (by retraction of said spike members) to collection means therefor.

Abstract: A practice for recovering the contents of filled pharmaceutical capsules wherein the capsules are supported and a cutting blade cuts the supported capsules to allow egress of the capsule contents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of removing articles from a package wherein the articles are arranged in a plurality of side by side rows and sealed in a film of thermoplastic material wherein the package is positioned with the rows of articles supported on a horizontal base, and then the package is severed into two sections along a plane passing between two adjacent rows of articles, the two severed package sections are then withdrawn from the assembly of articles by drawing each section in a direction normal to the severing plane.

Abstract: A device for transferring sample vessels carried by a microtiter member to collecting vessels which are carried in cassettes and are dimensioned to accommodate the sample vessels.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of automatic machinery and in one embodiment useful for removing the contents of "blister" packages in ribbon form, comprises a group of three in-line die blocks, which move together in a square motion, having a lateral distance of motion equal to the distance between blister packs on a common ribbon. Sequentially, the first is a positioning die, the second includes a bottom-positioned upward moveable perforating die to perforate an exit hole in the bottom of the package, and the third includes a top positioned downward moveable punch for impinging on the top of the blister and forcing the contents of the package out through the perforated exit hole.

Abstract: Apparatus for solidifying nuclear waste for permanent disposal are disclosed. A storage container, in the preferred form of a drum or barrel, is charged with a predetermined amount of liquid polymer resin in an uncatalyzed state. Catalyst-containing frangible ampoules are also positioned in the drum with a rotatable mixer mechanism. At a waste filling station, the mixer is rotated to break the ampoules so as to mix the catalyst and the resin. The catalyzed resin is then mixed with added waste material to completely encapsulate the waste prior to solidification of the resin. Monitoring of the filling and mixing process is provided by continually sensing the torque force being applied to the rotating mixer mechanism. Where the waste is a dust-like, dry particulate material, a dust control mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: This can opener opens and empties cans of their contents rapidly, especially paint and similar cans. The opener has a knife edge dimensioned and configured to penetrate an end, especially the bottom, of the can. There is a positioning means for disposing a can having two ends with one end over the knife edge. A means urges the can downward against the knife edge with sufficient force to cause the knife edge to penetrate the one end of the can. A means for receiving contents from the can is disposed beneath the knife edge. Cans may be opened and emptied in rapid sucession with this opener. An emptied can is moved forward by the positioning of a second can for opening and slides down into a can crusher. A piston operated can crusher cylinder is activated electro/pneumatically to come down and crush the emptied can and remove any remaining contents. When the piston retracts the crushed can drops out of the crusher.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of removing articles from a package wherein the articles are arranged in a plurality of side by side rows and sealed in a film of thermoplastic material wherein the package is positioned with the rows of articles supported on a horizontal base, and then two longitudinal and two transverse tear lines or splits are formed in the upper surface extending substantially the full length and width of the package, a force is then applied to the portion of the thermoplastic material bound by the four tear lines or splits along a line in a plane passing between two adjacent rows of articles and that portion of the thermoplastic material is forced downwardly between the rows into contact with the under side of the package and thereafter said portion and a part of the under side of the package is forced downwardly through a slot in the base and all of the thermoplastic material of the package is withdrawn through said slot.

Abstract: Apparatus and a related method for its operation, for removing a cover from a microcircuit package without significant damage to the package or contamination of its contents. The apparatus includes a work table on which the package to be opened is placed, a clamping assembly for removably securing the package to the work table, and a cutter blade positioned in an operative relationship with the clamped package. Also included are adjustment controls to allow for adjustment for the width, length and depth of the cut, and control circuitry for effecting movement of the work table in a cutting stroke with respect to the cutter blade, to cut along an edge of the cover, and for automatically reversing the table movement to return it to its starting position. A vacuum system is employed to remove and contain metal fragments and thereby minimize contamination of the package.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bale wagon comprising a bed upon which bales are stored and a tower mounted on the bed for receiving a bale or bales, lifting the bale(s) to a selected height, and moving the bale(s) longitudinally of the bed length, depositing same on the bed or on a partially formed load already on the bed and wherein said tower can retrieve said bales from said load and eject them from said bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed in which a plurality of envelopes are arranged and aligned in face-to-face relationship to form at least one batch of envelopes with at least a first edge of each envelope in the batch disposed substantially in a common plane and with a second edge of each envelope normal to the first edge and disposed substantially in a common plane. The first edges of the envelope are sprayed with a liquid envelope material degrading agent that functions more effectively when heated. The spraying is effected in a substantially planar fan spray pattern that is substantially parallel to the plane of the envelopes. The spray is moved along the batch in a direction normal to the planes of the envelopes to apply the agent to the first edges. The second edges of the envelopes are also sprayed with the liquid agent with a substantially planar fan spray pattern oriented substantially transversely to the planes of the envelopes.

Abstract: A machine for untying bales, such as bales of paper in a papermill, and characterized by being adapted to hold the ties, such as wires or metal bands, until after cutting and disposal of the bundle of material from the ties such as to separately dispose of the ties to avoid the ensuing damages and maintenance and to reduce manual labor. The present machine comprises a trolley, a frame suspended to the trolley such as by a hoist, a plurality of cutting heads, one for each tie of a bale, movably suspended to the frame, with each cutting head characterized by a combination of a cutter and a pair of catch members arranged to sequentially catch and hold the ties during cutting and until after the bundle of material of the bale has been disposed of to separately dispose of the ties harmless of the equipment processing the bundle of material.

Abstract: Apparatus for slitting an elongated bag enclosing an article. The apparatus includes a bag support and a mechanism for engaging a portion of the bag wall adjacent the middle of the bag and pulling the engaged wall portion in a direction transverse to the axis of the bag so that the engaged wall portion extends in such transverse direction away from the article enclosed in the bag. The apparatus includes a pair of blades and mechanism for forcing the blades through the wall of the bag between the engaged wall portion and the article to puncture the bag. The blade movement mechanism is arranged to move the blades in opposite directions towards the end of the bag after the blades have so punctured the bag wall to slit the wall of the bag longitudinally.

Abstract: The present invention provides a machine and method wherein envelopes are removed from a supply hopper, one by one, and then transmitted to a plurality of sequentially disposed cutting stations wherein one end edge of the envelope is first severed, and thereafter an adjacent side edge of the envelope is severed. The envelope with two adjacent edges thus severed is transmitted to a processing station at which the envelope is opened and held open by suction cups, for removal of contents by an operator. The envelope is thereafter transmitted to a detector station to confirm content removal and then to a recovery station, and then to a point of discharge. Means is provided for adjusting the opening of the suction cups at the processing station, and stop means is provided for positioning the envelope as it reaches the processing station.

Abstract: Packages such as sacks and bags are emptied by an apparatus which has a substantially funnel-shaped frame with an openable and closable discharge. A device on the inside of the frame slits the package wall and thereby opens the package in the vicinity of the discharge. To reduce and, if possible, eliminate environmental problems, a sleeve is disposed on the inside of the frame for abutment sealing against the wall of a package placed in the frame.

Abstract: A livestock ration transport and storage system includes an upright cylindrical body of open wire secured at its bottom on a conventional wooden pallet, a flexible plastic liner sack in the cylindrical body filled with alfalfa pellets or other livestock ration, the upper end of the sack being closed about a ventilation tube, and the plastic liner being capable of being ruptured in the area of one or more of the openings in the lower portion of the wire body to give access to the ration contained in the liner; the filled unit being liftable on the tines of a fork life vehicle to load it on a truck for transportion to a consumer for delivery at that point in place of an empty container.

Abstract: A device for ejecting radar chaff comprising a magazine having a number of tubular cells in which chaff bundles are displaced towards an ejection end of the cell. The displacement of the chaff bundles is obtained by means of a plunger device which is longitudinally movable in each cell. Each plunger device is driven by a wire running from an attachment point on the plunger device to the ejection end, and therefrom to a driving wheel. The wire also drives a knife element. The knife edge of the knife element performs a cutting movement substantially longitudinally of the cell, the cutting movement preferably being rotational and in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the chaff bundle.

Abstract: A wraparound enclosure has two sections, joined by a hinged strap member, which telescopingly engage when applied around an article to form a right rectangular parallelepiped. A microwave detectable tag is secured on the interior to one wall of the enclosure. The sections are interlocked in the closed condition by three pairs of latches and strikes, two on each of three sides of the enclosure. Typically the enclosure may be installed around a container holding a cassette of magnetic recording tape. For authorized removal of the cassette and its container from a protected area such as a store, the enclosure is removed by insertion in a releasing mechanism having means for grasping one section while applying spring pressure against the enclosed container through an opening in the grasped section. A lever, upon being depressed, actuates a series of rocker plates with fingers to simultaneously engage and release all of the latches whereupon the enclosure springs open.

Abstract: A machine for mechanically opening and emptying bags which may contain a toxic product is described. The machine comprises a conveyor arranged so as to bring each bag toward a product hopper, severing devices adapted for severing three faces of the bag during the advancement of the bag and a gripping system for gripping the severed bag, for displacing it, for pouring the content thereof into the hopper and for bringing the empty bag to a disposal place, the machine being equipped with apparatus suitable for controlling automatically the conveyor, the severing devices and the gripping system according to a predetermined operation sequence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting and peeling the packaging material of an elongated package containing a product comprise gripping the packaging material of the package at the upper portion and all over the length thereof after said package is fed from a feeding section to a certain position in a cutting section, thrusting the cutting blades of a cutter member into the packaging material to cut a continuous cut line between the gripped upper side thereof and the product, forcedly peeling off the packaging material of the package fed to a certain position in a peeling section, discharging the exposed product into a delaying and storing section where the product is shifted stepwise and successively to be delayed and stored therein, and delivering the product to a discharging section where the product is received and discharged successively and intermittently.

Abstract: The invention is a bag opening machine including a perforated drum mounted on a frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. Opposite ends of the drum define a bag receiving opening and a bag discharge opening and a material receiving hopper is mounted on the frame below the drum. A conveyor system transports particulate material filled bags into the drum through the bag receiving opening after the bags have been penetrated by a blade mechanism mounted on the frame. Enclosing the entire machine is a vented enclosure that prevents the migration of dust particles into the surrounding environment. After having been opened by the penetrating blade mechanism, the bags are conveyed into the rotating drum and emptied by the tumbling action therein.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for severing severable wrappers or packages containing granular or powder-like matter and for separating the matter from the severable packages. The apparatus comprises a helical screw, made of band-shaped foil wound helicoidally around a shaft, which rotates within a channel equipped with an open top load end where the packages to be torn are placed. The helical screw conveys both severed packages as well as the matter to a separating apparatus comprised of a rotatable housing made of screening and placed adjacent thereto to effect complete separation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of automatically opening and emptying bags. The apparatus includes a bag outlet, a bag inlet, and a bag contents collection hopper. The housing has a cutting zone, a bag emptying zone, and a bag ejection zone to cut through opposite sides of the bags as the bags are transported lying generally horizontally. A conveyor is disposed within the housing for transporting the bags between the inlet and outlet. The conveyor includes a track member and a carrier member. Elongated piercing members are mounted on the carrier member to positively engage the bags along opposite lateral edges thereof. A ramp member is provided on the track member to tilt the opposite lateral edges of the bag upward and toward each other as the carrier member rides thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatically opening and emptying bags. The apparatus includes a substantially enclosed housing with a bag inlet, a bag outlet and a bag contents collection hopper. A conveyor is disposed within the housing to carrying the bags between the inlet and outlet with the bags lying generally horizontally. The bags are positively engaged along opposite lateral edges by elongated piercing members on the conveyor. A cutting disc is mounted in a substantially vertical plane to cut through opposite sides of the bags between the bag lateral edges. The disc is rotatably driven. The conveyor is adjustable such that the elongated piercing members may be accurately positioned to engage bags of various sizes.

Abstract: A system for distributing granular material to the soil incorporates an enclosure for holding a container while a piercing and flap opening blade assembly is rotated through the wall of the container to tear open a flap at the bottom.

Abstract: A novel bag opening apparatus comprises an enclosure or chute or slide for receiving a bag and having bag-opening stationary knives positioned therein. The bag-opening knives comprise a plurality of knives meeting at a sharp point and extending diagonally outward to engage and be supported on the side walls of the enclosure or chute or slide. The arrangement of the knives is such that the point where the knives join is operable to puncture the end of a bag pressed there against and the knives extending diagonally outward toward the walls of the enclosure or chute or slide will make diagonal cuts in the end of a bag pressed there against which extend substantially across the end of the bag and produce an enlarged opening therein. This bag opening apparatus is designed for opening bags containing particulate material and more particularly pulverulant material. The apparatus is particularly useful in combination with dust collecting means and with auger or circulating air-type conveyor systems.

Abstract: An opening method and apparatus for opening a frangible cartridge containing a disk of exposed film, makes use of a punch and die assembly for punching the film disk out of the cartridge. Opposed wall members of the cartridge, between which the film disk is located, are punched away from the remainder of the cartridge along with the film disk. In this way, the wall members shield the film disk from any fragments which may be produced during cartridge opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a wrapper from articles contained therein and especially applicable to the manufacture of cans wherein the can ends are formed at one location and transferred in bags of stacked ends to another location where the bags are removed and the ends are joined to the can bodies. Wrapped articles are laterally received in a receiving structure; the wrapped articles therein are longitudinally positioned so that an end of the wrapper is clamped by a clamping structure; a rod penetrates the wrapper and engages the articles therein; and transporting structure to transport the clamping structure and the wrapper clamped therein relative to the rod to separate the wrapper from the articles, which are retained in the receiving structure.