Abstract: A reverse vending machine is provided that includes an interface cabinet having an inlet portal. At least one bin is provided for receiving the accepted recyclable container. A roller system identifies and sorts the recyclable containers. A crusher is driven by a motor with a mechanical coupling between the crusher and the motor. The crusher is adapted to receive various containers and is positioned intermediate between the roller system and the bin. A cart or frame displaceable relative to the interface cabinet, the crusher is mounted on the cart or the frame. A reverse vending machine in another embodiment includes an interface cabinet, the interface cabinet having an inlet portal for recyclable container input and a rejected container depository. At least one bin and a roller system are provided along with a wash system for cleaning components of the interface cabinet between the inlet portal and the bin.

Abstract: An oats processing equipment comprises at least two groups of awners and at least two groups of oat grinders, with awners within the same group being connected in parallel or in series, and oat grinders within the same group being connected in parallel or in series, preferably 3 to 4 groups of awners and oat grinders are included. An oat processing method comprises steps of: (S00) classifying oats subjected to surface processing according to grain sizes; (S10) feeding oats of a certain class into a plurality of groups of awners for more than two stages of awn removing; and (S20) feeding the oats subjected to the awn removing into a plurality of groups of oat grinders for more than three stages of grinding. The inputted load of a single awner and an oat grinder is limited, thus achieving the technical effect of grinding oats gently and separating the oats finely.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of paper padding has a shaping device and a drive which is provided in a housing to pull a paper web through the shaping device and to form a piece of padding from the paper web. A shaft is provided in the housing and serves as a drive for a drive wheel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crumpled paper tube for use as a cushion in packing items, and to a method and apparatus for producing the same.

Abstract: The machine (100) comprises a supply station (S1) destined to receive a mattress (M) to be conveyed to a rolling station (S2) comprising a plurality of rolling rollers (1), partly arranged in a fixed section (21) of the station (S2) and partly arranged in an openable section (22), arranged in respective curved lines to define internally thereof a practically-cylindrical rolling chamber (10) with horizontal axes. Sliding organs (3) are interposed between the fixed section (21) and the openable section (22), for regulating a mutual distance between the fixed section (21) and the openable section (22) in order to vary, within a predetermined range, a base area of the rolling chamber (10) and in order to determine corresponding rolling diameters of the mattress (M) comprised between a minimum value (D1) and a maximum value (D2).

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for forming a pouch having an evacuated headspace containing a flowable material. The process relates to optimizing both, the evacuation of the headspace in the pouch and the accuracy of the flowable material filled in the pouch. Specifically, the present invention employs a process that includes a multiple-step or a continuous compression of the pouch headspace to accomplish the goals. Also disclosed is a vertical form-fill-seal apparatus for forming a pouch containing a flowable material and having an evacuated headspace.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates generally to an apparatus for crumpling paper substrates. Specifically, the system provides for the crumpling of paper substrates to form fill material to be utilized in product packaging to fill void space and/or to wrap around products thereby allowing for safe transport of the products. The apparatus includes a feeder for feeding sheeting material, a first roller connected to a drive mechanism, a second roller disposed adjacent said first roller wherein said sheeting material travels between the first roller and the second roller and further wherein the second roller pushes said sheeting material against said first roller to engage the sheeting material with the first roller, and a third roller connected to the drive mechanism for directing said sheeting material out of said apparatus.

Abstract: A novel cushioning conversion machine and method for converting sheet stock material into a novel cushioning product and for producing discrete sections or pads of desired length, without the need for a cutting assembly, thereby enabling the construction of a less expensive, smaller and less complex machine. The machine and method are characterized by a weakening device for perforating a sheet stock material of one or more plies along tear lines so that as a strip of cushioning is formed from the stock material, discrete sections or pads of desired length may be detachable along the tear lines. The stock material includes material which is biodegradable, recyclable and composed of a renewable resource, such as kraft paper.

Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine and related methodology characterized by one or more features including, inter alia, a feeding/connecting assembly which enables an operator to easily vary a characteristic, for example the density, of the cushioning product; a feeding/connecting assembly wherein input and/or output wheels or rollers thereof are made at least in part of an elastomeric or other friction enhancing material, which reduces the cost and complexity of the input and output rollers; a manual reversing mechanism that is useful, for example, for clearing paper jams; a modular arrangement of a forming assembly and feeding/connecting assembly in separate units that may be positioned remotely from one another, as may be desired for more efficient utilization of floor space; a turner bar which enables alternative positioning a stock supply roll; and a volume expanding arrangement cooperative with the feeding/connecting assembly for reducing the density of the cushioning product and increasing product yield.

Abstract: A conversion machine and related method for making a dunnage product by converting a sheet-like stock material of at least one ply into a dunnage product is characterized by a manual reversing mechanism that is useful, for example, for clearing paper jams. The conversion machine includes a housing through which the stock material passes along a path, and an assembly that advances the stock material from a source thereof along the path, crumples the stock material, and maintains the shape of the crumpled stock material to produce a strip of dunnage. This assembly includes at least one rotatable member rotatable in a first direction for engaging and advancing the stock material, a feed motor for driving a driven rotatable member in the first direction, and a crank connected to the rotatable member for enabling rotation of the driven rotatable member in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A security device for breaking frangible items such as CDs. The device has a pouch of flexible material. The pouch has hinged jaws on one surface. The CD is placed in a pocket in the pouch and manual folding force is applied to cause the pouch and jaws to fold to break the contained CD.

Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of cushioning members for cushioning an article in a container is provided. The cushioning members being formed by crumpling a flexible sheet of material into a globular configuration having a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids. The sheet of material has an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds.

Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of cushioning members for cushioning an article in a container is provided. The cushioning members being formed by crumpling a flexible sheet of material into a globular configuration having a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids. The sheet of material has an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for aseptically producing, harvesting and packaging a pharmaceutical product. A section of the apparatus includes an aseptic reactor and structure for introducing a reactant thereinto so that a reaction can be conducted for the purpose of producing a pharmaceutical product. The pharmaceutical product is subsequently introduced into a filter/dryer for the purpose of recovering the pharmaceutical product. Thereafter, the filtered/dried pharmaceutical product is delivered to a hammer mill for delumping or a micronizing mill for calibration and sizing the recovered product to produce a final powdered product. Thereafter, the final powdered product is introduced into a dosing device and aseptically introduced into a transportable bin. The small bins are encased inside of a sterile bag for transport and further aseptic handling.

Abstract: This present invention relates to an automatic recycling machine and automatic waste disposal system for plural types of household and commercial waste materials which automatically sorts, processes, shreds, crushes, compacts, rinses by cleaning liquid for removal of contamination and dirt from certain washable waste types, packages the waste material, and identifying the package with waste type and waste source by barcode marking.The automatic recycling machine is constructed as an appliance and includes separate fluid power actuation means for each type of recyclable material and non-recyclable waste, and control system to control the recycling process for each waste material type separately. The automatic recycling machine also comprises an operator control panel which includes warning indicators to inform on filled waste package of certain waste material type.

Abstract: An apparatus shreds hazardous waste drums and their contents in an oxygen-limited environment, transports the shredded material to a dispenser that dispenses metered amounts of the material into fire pails. The apparatus has two vertically separated shredders that are located in an enclosed shell that has an inert gas fed into it in a controlled manner by a purge system. A lift in an enclosed shaft raises the drums, two at a time, and deposits them into an airlock from which they are released one at a time into the upper shredder. A control system automatically processes the material through the apparatus from when the containers are placed into the lift until the material reaches the dispenser and insures that no stage of the process will commence until the proceeding and following stages are completed. The control system also provides safety checks at each stage to prevent handling or processing accidents.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated transportable press for compressing radioactive waste materials collected within containers includes a matrix formed of two closable and openable cups receiving a waste collecting container and a stamp actuated to compress the waste within and together with the container into a small package removable from the press.

Abstract: A system having a combinatorial weighing apparatus for obtaining an optimum weight of a batch of articles that exhibit a variable apparent specific gravity, and for packaging the weighed out articles in a packaging vessel. The system includes a volume detecting unit for detecting the volume of the articles supplied, a density detecting unit for detecting the density of the articles based on the volume value obtained from the volume detecting unit and a weight value obtained from the weighing apparatus, and a target weight adjusting unit for adjusting a target weight value within preset allowable limits on the basis of the detected density in such a manner that the volume of the articles discharged into the packaging vessel becomes substantially constant. The system is also provided with a crusher for adjusting the size of individual articles on the basis of the detected density in such a manner that the density of the articles becomes substantially constant.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an expandable member comprising the steps of separating a shaped member from a sheet of cellular spongy material, soaking the member in a solution containing a water soluble binder and water, compressing the member into a container and drying the compressed member. The dried member expands to its original shape and size when placed in water.

Abstract: A method for shipping flexible polyurethane foam product comprising (a) reacting a flexible polyurethane foam composition containing a polyisocyanate, a polyether polyol, a surfactant, a catalyst and water to provide a foam product, (b) conditioning the foam product to develop substantially full cure, (c) applying a force to compress the product to a fraction of its original size, (d) shipping the compressed product and (e) removing the compression force so that the product may return to its original size, the improvement for reducing the conditioning time or temperature prior to compressing the foam product while ensuring the substantial restitution of the foamed product when the compression force is removed which improvement comprises employing as the catalyst in the flexible polyurethane foam composition a polyurethane catalyst which is N-alkyl morpholine or N-(dialkylaminoalky) morpholine.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plate-shaped permanent magnet (7) which is to be arranged in an air gap of a core (1) for a transformer or choke coil and which consists of a number of permanent magnetic portions (29) which are made of a metal alloy having a high magnetic remanence and which are magnetized perpendicularly to the plane of the plate. A plate (11) of the alloy is fixed between two insulating foils (13, 15) after which this assembly is arranged on a flat backing (17) and is rolled in two mutually perpendicular directions (25, 27) by means of a cylinder (19) whose outer surface is provided with grooves (23). The plate (11) is thus very simply fractured to form a very large number of portions (29).

Abstract: Apparatus for making fiber insulation from paper comprises a preshredder having a semi-cylindrical perforate basket with a passageway behind it. An air inlet extends behind the basket into the passageway and an air outlet is located at the front of the passageway. A flail rotatably mounted coaxial in the basket is driven by a motor for shredding paper deposited from a conveyor into the basket. A blower, connected to the preshredder, passes the paper segments to a surge bin where the air and paper segments are separated. The separated paper segments accumulate in the surge bin and are withdrawn from it at a constant predetermined rate by a conveyor and deposited into a duct which interconnects the surge bin and a finishing mill. The air then enters this duct to continue transporting the paper. A dry chemical dispensing device disperses flame retardant material into the duct. The finishing mill includes a large centrifugal fan rotatably mounted in a cylindrical cavity and driven by a motor.