Abstract: A cushioned shipping assembly includes a carton and foam inserts to support a product shipped by a supplier, which elements are successively returned by an end user to be re-used in the same or other shipping assembly, while various components are recycled as they become spent. In some embodiments, the carton collapses to a diminished size for return. A resource center re-routes or refurbishes the components, recycling aged or spent pieces. Preferably polyolefin foams, olefin-based adhesives and coatings, and wood fiber-based corrugated material make up the cushioned system, and one component is compatible with recycling processes of others. On-premises pelletizing of reclaimed polymer provides a more efficient, environmentally clean system. Spent inserts of identified polymer may be diverted to users of specific resins.

Abstract: Packets of cigarettes are directly singly and in succession along a conveyor into a cellophane wrapping machine, and thereafter to a packaging machine which is driven, together with the wrapping machine, by one main motor and incorporates a feed unit supplying wrapper blanks, and a wrapping unit by which each blank is folded about a corresponding group of packets. In the event of an interruption in the supply of packets to the conveyor, the feed unit is decoupled automatically from the main motor and the wrapping unit then allowed to complete a further cycle in which a blank already gummed and positioned by the feed unit can be fashioned as usual into an outer wrapper around a relative group of packets before the main motor is finally shut off.

Abstract: The invention provides a baling machine for baling groups of packages containing product into a bale bag. Packages are transported to fall down a chute individually where they are stacked in a group until the group is allowed to fall into a bale bag and into engagement with a moving platform which decelerates the group to minimize impact and resulting bruising. The filled bale bag is then ejected and closed.

Abstract: An automatic molten substance bagging method and system which facilitates introduction and extrusion of molten substance into and from a fixed volume member and performs extrusion of molten substance rapidly by reduced driving force. A carrying can in which a bag is received is first transported to a position below an injector, and vacuum attracting pads are moved toward and then away from each other on the opposite sides of the bag to attract by vacuum and open a mouth portion of the bag. Then, the bag in the attracted condition is lifted by the vacuum attracting pads until a nozzle of the injector is inserted into the open mouth portion of the bag, and then the mouth portion of the bag is clamped by clamp members, whereafter the carrying can is lifted a little. Then, molten substance is injected into the bag from the injector, and during such injection, the carrying can is lifted further.

Abstract: Apparatus for packing a number of small packages into containers of a larger size and having an inclined conveyor for receiving packages, a counter flat adjacent to upper end of the conveyor for generating count signals, a storage chute for receiving packages being angled downwardly, container holders located adjacent to the chute lower end adapted to hold container in registration with the chute lower end for receiving packages the holder means being intermittently operably whereby to move the container when it has received a predetermined number of said packages, and to place an empty container, in registration with the chute lower end, and, controls operable to cause intermittent movement of the holder in response to a predetermined number of count signals, and a method of packing packages on the apparatus.

Abstract: For use with automatic machinery for packaging a food product in foil pouches and then inserting a desired number of pouches in a box, a method and apparatus for scanning the boxes to check for missing pouches. The scan is accomplished by applying like alternating magnetic fields through each box and through the foil used to make the pouches at a point upstream from where the pouches are formed. Detected field absorption associated with the upstream foil is used as a reference, and the difference between it and detected field absorption associated with a box is proportional to the number of pouches in the box. The apparatus can detect if one out of two, one out of three, or one out of four is missing, and compensates the differential signal for variations in foil thickness by multiplying the reference signal by N-1, where N is desired pouch count per box. If a pouch is missing from a box, a signal is generated which can be used to trigger a rejection mechanism to remove the short-count box.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for packaging a plurality of individual packages containing fluent material is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing two or more filled and sealed bags of product in a single box, comprising a shuttle embodying two or more chambers for successively receiving the filled and sealed bags from a filling and sealing machine for deposit of the filled and sealed bags into the box.

Abstract: Trapezoidal sections are simultaneously heat sealed and cut from a long strip of sheet plastic folded over double or in tubular form. Cutting one long corner and inserting air opens the interior volume of the trapezoid. Crimping the long ends horizontally, with the trapezoidal plane held vertically, and heat sealing one bottom end forms a tent-shaped bag. The paint bags are placed in a molded tote tray and gang filled through the cut ends and a number of the cut ends heat sealed simultaneously by a bar sealer. The molded tote tray is also used to transport and display the paint bags. Each paint bag fits into a paint applicator having a tent-shaped receiving space directly contacting a paint pad with multiple holes. The paint bag is punctured and squeezed to supply paint continuously to the pad through the holes. A tubular sheet of plastic creates disposable paint bags filled through one of the bottom ends before sealing. Folded over plastic sheets create open-topped refillable paint bags.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing two or more filled and sealed bags of product in a single box, comprising a shuttle embodying two or more chambers for successively receiving the filled and sealed bags from a filling and sealing machine for deposit of the filled and sealed bags into the box.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for packaging citrus fruit or discrete articles in a tightly packed pattern or arrangement closely resembling that of a hand packed box. A two-part telescoped box is conveyed in inverted position to a box filling and counting station, the box including an box inner part in which the side and end flaps are in open relation at the box filling station. At the counting station, fruit is being oscillated transversely of their path of travel so as to singulate the fruit into a plurality of counting stations arranged in a row and in a valley. When the row count has been satisfied, all of the fruit in the row are lifted upwardly for discharge into the open box. When the full count is satisfied, the filled box with fruit extending above the top of the outer box is moved to a box handling station in which the inner box is lifted to a height where the side and end flaps of the inner box may be folded over the top fruit.

Abstract: An automatic machine for the continuous production of dual-use filter sachets for infusion products, the filter sachets being in the form of bags or pouches containing successive portions of the products. Along the production line there are a succession of devices designed to effect step by step the longitudinal folding and sealing of a strip of filter paper forming therefrom a horizontally extending flattened tube and for the transverse thermal welding of the tube in a manner such as to enclose said individual dosed fractions. A rotary wheel has pickup elements for applying to the flattened tube equidistantly spaced labels, a longitudinally continuous thread transversely contacting the labels, as well as stickers or tabs weldable by alternate transverse thermal welding partly to the back of the labels. The tube is then sectioned into portions comprising at least two bags and the bags are set back to back and sealed together at their extremities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for transporting flexible foil packages, particularly flat bags (6, 8, 13) filled with unstabilized material to a package container (1). The flat bags (6, 8, 13) deposited flat and with uniformly distributed contents by a filling and closing machine upon a transport belt are first of all imbricated and maintained clamped on both sides during further transport into the package container, so that the uniform distribution of the contents is maintained into the container. A close filling of the container (1) without excessive pressure is ensured by this means. Because the flat bags are conveyed from the conveying path directly into the container without an intermediate magazine, containers of different size can be filled consecutively virtually without interrupting the conveyance.

Abstract: The machine for wrapping and grouping products of parallelepiped and/or flat shape is of the type in which the individual products are conveyed by a wrapping wheel and wrapped in accordance with the so-called "pointed end" wrapping manner.From said wheel the products pass to a conveying and overturning apparatus to be inverted before reaching a wheel for the formation and transfer of groups constituted by products disposed side-by-side edgewise with their contacting edges in a plane normal to the longitudinal dimension of said groups.This overturning enables the groups to be introduced into the cells of a wrapping wheel with their pointed ends facing the bottom of said cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved machine for wrapping and batching products wherein between a product entry position in a wrapping wheel and a position for the egress and expulsion of the products from the said wrapping wheel, provision is made for a position in which a device for grasping and rotating individual products is placed. This device has jaws for grasping the products and is provided with a two way movement along a sliding axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the wrapping wheel, and with a reciprocating movement around the said axis in time with the aforementioned two way movement, the said jaws being phased to match the opening and closing of the product grasping and transfer grippers with which the wrapping wheel is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing bar packages from individually wrapped sweets. The apparatus comprises a sweets holder extending into the path of movement of the sweet grippers of the packing head and revolving continuously at the same speed as the packing head, a stack former with bar packing means adjacent thereto and transfer means disposed between sweets holder and stack former and which forms from the individually wrapped sweets which are fed continuously and one after another to the sweets holder a rod of sweets in the stack former, the rod or bar of sweets then being enclosed in an outer wrapper in the bar packing apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming objects into groups and inserting successive groups into containers, which includes a grouping station, an individual item conveyor for guiding the objects individually to the grouping station, a group conveyor for conveying the objects in groups away from the grouping station, a container conveyor for conveying successive containers relative to the group conveyor, and a mechanism for inserting groups of objects conveyed by the group conveyor into successive containers, and in which the item conveyor and the group conveyor convey the objects at least approximately in the same direction into the inserting mechanism, and the inserting mechanism includes a vertically movable holding device movable between an upper position in which it holds a group of objects and a lowered position at which it can release such group of objects within an open container which has been brought into position by the container conveyor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device constituted by a rotatable head provided with radial compartments which hold batches of products and comprising a pusher for inserting the individual products into a compartment, and a device for supplying the individual products to the pusher. A movable wall is provided inside each compartment and this is sustained by a corresponding shaft whose rear extremity terminates in a rack. The racks mesh in succession with the counter-rotating gears of two drive devices movable in synchronization with the said pusher in such a way that the wall of the compartment that is in the product infeed position is intermittently displaced from the front of the said compartment to the back thereof, while the wall of the compartment adjacent to but preceding the previously mentioned compartment is intermittently displaced from the back towards the front thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packing of bulk materials. The bulk material is measured in portions and dispensed into a fill pipe. Suction probes are provided for evacuating the entrapped gas from the bulk material while in the fill pipe. The fill pipe is then lowered against a stop to suddenly jar the fill pipe to effect a release of the gas-free bulk material into a tubelike container. Thereafter, the top of the tubelike container is sealed closed and lowered into a bag and delivered to a station whereat the bag is sewn closed.

Abstract: A single gum stick wrapping machine has a rotary transfer mechanism for successively conveying single sticks of gum from breaker wheels to a folding wheel where each stick picks up a wrapper and is conveyed through folding and creasing sections where the wrapper is partially folded around the stick and the ends of the wrapper are folded, creased and tucked. The wrapping operation is completed while the partially wrapped stick is conveyed from the folding wheel to a stacker at the discharge end of the machine by another rotary transfer mechanism. Rotary label wrapping mechanism may be provided for applying a label or outer wrapper to each stick.