Abstract: The disclosure concerns a rinse hanger for rinsing a wetsuit thereon. The rinse hanger is differentiated by a hook and cap assembly configured to provide swivel function; longitudinal grooves for improved structural support and weight displacement; a male adapter extending along a longitudinal axis; the hanger body being symmetrical about the longitudinal axis; and other features as described herein. A user hangs a wetsuit on the hanger and places the hook end of the hanger on a structural support, a quick release connector and hose is then coupled to the hanger and water flow is communicated through holes in the hanger body to rinse the inside of the wetsuit. The quick release connector and hose are removed, and a spray nozzle is coupled to the quick connector and hose, the spray nozzle is used to rinse an outside of the wetsuit. The hanger is then hung for drying and storage.

Abstract: A gusset board has a retractable nose section that travels along a proximal-distal track and can extend to the tip of the gusset board for production of gusseted film, and can retract below the level of interfering structure and moved away from the extrusion bubble for the production on non-gusseted film. Retraction and extension of the nose portion and rocking of the gusset board can be carried out remotely.

Abstract: An automated filling system for introducing crushed polysilicon fragments into shipping bags without significant contamination positions a freely suspended energy absorber into a freely suspended bag of non-contaminating material prior to filling, and following filling, the energy absorber is removed, and the bag is sealed. The system can replace manual packaging which has been required for semiconductor applications.

Abstract: A container-filling machine for placing discrete articles within at least one container. The container filling machine comprises at least one vibration tray comprising a discrete article receiving end, a discrete article drop-off end and a plurality of channels extending from the discrete article receiving end to the discrete article drop-off end. Each channel includes two discrete article receiving paths at the discrete article receiving end. The two discrete article receiving paths combine into a single discrete article-depositing path in proximity to the discrete article drop-off end. The vibration tray is operative for moving discrete articles from the discrete article-receiving end to the discrete article drop-off end along the plurality of channels. The container filling machine further comprises a plurality of sloped paths for receiving the discrete articles from the discrete article drop-off end of the at least one vibration tray.

Abstract: The invention relates to a funnel plate and method of use thereof which facilitates transfer of components from a first tray to a second tray assisting in the packaging, shipping, or assembly of electronic components. The invention provides a plate which includes at least one aperture having internal surfaces which are beveled. The sloped internal surfaces of the apertures precisely aligns electrical component transfer reducing the need for complex post-alignment testing. The funnel plates and processes of the present invention are easily integrated into modern in-line transfer machines.

Abstract: A garment bagging apparatus having a frame connected to a feeder drive train for supporting a supply of bagging material. A garment support is positioned relative to the feeder drive train. Suspension members attached to the frame suspend the apparatus off of and in spaced apart relation to a floor surface. A feed carriage is included with support members to moveably support the feed carriage solely from a portion of the frame above the feed carriage. Grippers are mounted on the feed carriage to grip the bagging material. When a garment is hung from the garment support, the feed carriage is moveable to positions below the garment.

Abstract: A system and method of loading a product into a carton includes loading the product into a carrier and then extending the carrier into the carton. The product is then restrained within the carton as the carrier is removed from the carton. The carrier may include a static carrier having a fixed volume or a dynamic carrier having moveable sidewalls.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing a stack of flexible articles, includes stack deposit means (12) for contacting the stack and placing it with respect to a reference point. The stack deposit means has at least one surface means (30) for contacting the top or bottom of the stack. Means (15) is provided to withdraw the at least one surface means in a direction substantially parallel to the top or bottom of the stack, respectively. The at least one surface means is arranged so that any surface (31) thereof in contact with the top or bottom of the stack, respectively, moves at a relative speed along the top or bottom of the stack sufficiently less than the speed of withdrawal of the surface means to substantially prevent rolling of the articles of the stack during withdrawal.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for packaging objects, like soiled diapers, into an elongated flexible plastic tube. The apparatus includes a container with an upper portion with an opening and a lower portion. A cassette is mounted in the upper portion of the container coaxially with the opening to store a tube in a compacted form. A plunging device is provided to compress the object to be disposed of, and to push it into the tube and then to the bottom part of the container. The plunging device includes biased flaps and biased slides orthogonal to the arms which permits to push the object down while allowing a hermetic seal of the flexible tube to prevent escape of bad odours.

Abstract: Container packing system for use with conveyed articles. The system includes a carton having four sidewalls with four carton upper edges and four carton lower edges. Four upper flaps are connected to the respective upper edges and four lower flaps are connected to the respective four lower edges. The sidewalls define a carton inner space sized to receive therein a layer of the conveyed articles. A movable support platform receives thereon the conveyed articles and is sized for location in the carton space between the sidewalls. The support platform is actuatable to move between the upper edges and the lower edges. Two of the lower flaps are folded inwardly and upwardly towards a lower surface of the movable support platform. A method of using the system to pack a carton is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing and withdrawing stacks of plastic bags, especially bags for automatic machines, in coordination with a gradually moving pin stack chain (4) from which the bag packages (6) are removed in a simplified and accelerated manner with the aid of a robot (16) that has a multifunctional hand (17) and automatically executes all essential manipulations and/or movements required for the formation and piling of the bag stacks and finally delivers them to an unloading station (62).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging articles such as flatbreads and stacks of flatbreads utilizes flat loading plates which move axially and rotate about a longitudinal axis. The loading plates have an initial position underneath an input conveyor, and follow movement of an article along the conveyor toward its forward end. As the article moves over the end of the conveyor, it is transferred to the loading plate which then moves the article forwardly to a packaging station, where the loading plate with the article supported thereon is inserted into the open mouth of a container. With the packaged article supported on its upper surface, the loading plate is rotated by about 180 degrees to displace the article and package from the packaging station and to deposit the packaged article onto an exit conveyor. Once the packaged article contacts the exit conveyor, the loading plate is withdrawn from the package and returned to its initial position under the input conveyor.

Abstract: A product such as a monitor is transferred by a transferring unit such as a conveyor, stopped at a working position, elevated to a packing position by an elevating unit, packed with packing material, such as with a vinyl cover, buffering materials and a box at the packing position, moved down to its original down position, and transferred to a subsequent process in the fabricating or process line. In addition, a cylinder is used for elevating the product to permit packing the product. A plurality of supporting bars are fixed to an elevating member installed at an end of a cylinder rod of the cylinder. Only the product, such as a monitor, loaded on a transferring member, such as a pallet, is moved up by the engaging operation of the supporting bars. For slidable insertion of the supporting bars, a plurality of insertion holes corresponding to the supporting bars are formed in the transferring member.

Abstract: A clothing protection apparatus for protecting clothing or the like during storage and transportation. The apparatus having a top attachment device to secure onto the top of a door thus allowing the user to easily manipulate the invention during use. A lower attachment device is provided to support a clothing hanger and the accompanying garment for positioning before a protective cover is to be installed. A disposable box is used as the primary housing for the protective covers. A common roll of protective covering is provided with perforations between each cover.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a pre-wrapped gift package which appears to have been hand wrapped. The method includes forming a sheet of box construction material with decorative paper affixed thereto into a box tube by joining ends thereof. The box construction material is properly creased and provided with flaps so that a consumer may fold the flattened box tube into a box so that the end flaps form ends of the box and the decorative paper forms a pair of paper flaps which may be overlapped and taped. A flattened pull bow is provided to form a gift wrapping kit with the flattened box tube which may be distributed and displayed in a flat package. A flattened, collapsed open box with the same volume as the pre-wrapped gift package is attached to the outside of the assembly in such a manner that a prospective purchaser may erect the open box and use it to determine whether or not the pre-wrapped gift package is the proper size for the gift the purchaser desires to be packaged.

Abstract: A device for filling boxes, especially at the output of a machine sorting flat objects, particularly postal items, has at least one inclined support plate for diverted letters, a jogging member and a sliding plate subject to a restoring force. The device includes at least one bar retractable through at least one aperture in the box. Each bar is formed by two arms, of which a first arm is freely pivoted to the frame of the machine at its first end. A scrod arm extending the support plate in its operative position is freely pivoted on the second end of the first arm and rests with its first end of the bottom of the box.

Abstract: A system for storing and transporting can end members comprising multiple tray units having multiple parallel rows of elongated compartments for receiving and supporting stacks of end members. The tray units are nestable and stackable one upon another to provide palletized loads of both empty and filled tray units. End loading and unloading apparatus is provided to enable simultaneous loading and unloading full tray compartments by simultaneous lateral movement of all of the stacks of end members between the tray compartments and a shuttle tray unit whereat all the stacks of end members are stored prior to loading and unloading of the tray unit. The shuttle tray unit is loaded and unloaded by stacking units of a lesser number than the number of tray compartments.

Abstract: A system for storing and transporting can end members comprising multiple tray units having multiple parallel rows of elongated compartment for receiving and supporting stacks of end members. The tray units are nestable and stackable one upon another to provide palletized loads of both empty and filled tray units. End loading and unloading apparatus is provided to enable simultaneous loading and unloading full tray compartments so simultaneous lateral movement of all of the stacks of end members between the tray compartments and a shuttle tray unit whereat all the stacks of end members are stored prior to loading and unloading of the tray unit. The shuttle tray unit is loaded and unloaded by stacking units of a lesser number than the number of tray compartments.

Abstract: An annular container mounted at the base of a passage between a layering tube and a central mandrel is charged with a layered tube of flexible tubing delivered over a floating mandrel when coaxially in contact with mandrel by driving rollers coacting with pinch rollers on the floating mandrel. The tubing passes over the mandrel and gathers in the layering tube while being compacted by two sets of shoes reciprocated 180.degree. out of phase by rotating discs and connecting rods. When sufficient tubing has been delivered the floating mandrel is raised to enable a hot wire to pass between the mandrels to sever the tubing. The layering tube and central mandrel with the container can then be carried by a turntable through further stationary positions where the layered tubing is further compressed by reciprocable rings, a lid is put on the container to form a cassette and the cassette is discharged.

Abstract: A roll of plastic bags is inserted into an empty carton using a finger body having a finger that radially extends to securely grip the inside of the roll. The roll is drawn into an already formed empty carton where the finger is lowered and the finger body is retracted so that the roll of bags is automatically packaged.

Abstract: A packaging machine for packaging clothing articles in a packaging portion of a hose-shaped synthetic plastic material foil includes a machine frame on which a roll of the synthetic plastic material foil is rotatably mounted. The foil unwound from the roll is guided by diverting rollers along a predetermined path to an upper region of the machine frame. An opening device opens the hose-shaped foil at the upper region of the machine frame. An upper welding device welds the foil at the upper region of the machine frame along a predetermined imaginary line situated between the packaging portion and the remainder of the foil with attendant formation of an upper welding seam at which the packaging portion is dissociated from the foil remainder foil. A pulling device pulls the opened hose-shaped foil downwardly over the clothing article to be packaged and includes a foil-pulling carriage guided on the machine frame for vertical displacement, and a motor which displaces the carriage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed enabling articles to be rapidly packed into and unpacked from a case. The apparatus has a floating top such that the contents of the case will remain motionless, while the case is lowered or raised by a lifting device so as to achieve the object of rapidly taking the contents into and out of a case. Rod holes are formed on the bottom of the case which are similar in shape and alignment with the cylindrical rods on the lifting device. The lifting device has portable housing, five cylindrical rods of the same diameter, guiding sleeve, a slide plate, a cross-member and other fittings. The five cylindrical rods of the same diameter are inserted into central rod-receiving openings located on the housing to guide the slide plate. The lifting or lowering of the slide plate is controlled by a mechanism located on the housing.

Abstract: There is provided an overall system of packaging commodities such as garments or other like compressible articles in which the articles are initially conditioned to provide relatively low temperatures and relative humidity, following which the garments are enveloped with wrapping material, and subjected to a vacuum packaging operation. The system may include a transport system for transporting packaged commodities between the wrapping and vacuum packaging steps and stations. The vacuum packaging apparatus in which the apparatus functions to initially compress the central portion of the packaged commodity and progressively outwardly therefrom to provide improved packaging techniques to remove any entrapped air. The wrapping device may vertically envelops a commodity to be packaged. There is also provided a conditioning step and apparatus for conditioning the articles before packaging.

Abstract: A device for packaging plants including a base, and a vertical column is mounted on the base and carries a generally conical sleeve support. A multiplicity of nested paper or plastic sleeves are carried by the sleeve support. A pedestal extends upwardly from the base through the conical support, as well as through the nested sleeves, and a platform is mounted on the upper end of the pedestal. With a potted plant supported on the platform, the innermost sleeve is drawn upwardly around the plant to bring the lower end of the sleeve into engagement with the rim of the pot to enclose the plant in the sleeve.

Abstract: Apparatus for pulling hoods made of shrinkable foil over stacks of wares comprising a supply spool, a continuous, flattened foil sleeve having a free openable end wound upon the supply spool, mobile gripping means for seizing the free end of the sleeve and for drawing the sleeve from the supply spool, support means for contacting and guiding the external surface of the drawn sleeve, spreading means supported by the support means and receivable within the free end of the sleeve for engaging and spreading apart the opposed walls of the drawn sleeve, a welding and cutting device for subsequently welding a cross-seam in the spread apart sleeve at a location on the sleeve remote from the free end and for subsequently severing the sleeve at a location adjacent to the cross-seam, thereby forming a newly formed separated hood having a spread apart open end and a sealed end while also providing the undetached portion of the sleeve with a newly formed, spread apart free end, the open end of the hood being seized by the

Abstract: Set-up open top bottle carriers having apertured bottom walls are continuously supplied in abutting relationship by conveyor means to a loading station while bottles are moved continuously along a dead plate having its outfeed end at said loading station, and a plurality of positioning pins mounted on endless means which is movable in synchronism with movement of the bottles along the dead plate are disposed below the outfeed end of the dead plate and arranged so that the positioning pins enter apertures in the bottoms of the cartons thereby to insure that bottles fed off of the outfeed ends of the dead plate are dropped into the carton therebelow, the bottles being guided during their downward fall into the carton by parts of the pusher means which moves the bottles along the dead plate and downward movement of the bottles being arrested by a cushioned stop due to engagement with the positioning pins which are yieldably mounted.

Abstract: A garment bag bottom sealing machine used in a dry cleaning operation or garment manufacturing industry includes a V-link belt which receives hangers fed thereto one at a time by a feeder. A sealer on the machine effects a double seal of a garment bag, and the bagged garment is discharged from the machine for further processing. The sealing machine is separate from any other equipment used in a garment dry cleaning operation or garment manufacturing industry.

Abstract: Tubular bag material is threaded downwardly between spaced support members. A garment support assembly is inserted into the tubular bag material at a level below the support members and then moved upwardly between the support members and rests on the support members. A garment is hung from the hook at the lower end of a downwardly projecting support rod extending from the garment support assembly and the tubular bag material is pulled downwardly by an operator about the garment. A bag cutting and sealing means moves into contact with the tubular bag material about the support rod to form the upper end of the bag about the garment and to cut the formed bag away from the tubular bag material. The operator then pulls the formed bag away from the tubular bag material down onto the garment.

Abstract: A device for packaging elongated articles, such as plants and cut flowers, in a protective bag. The device includes a tubular frame having a generally horizontal section and a vertical section which is connected to one end of the horizontal section. A support is carried by the upper end of the vertical section and is adapted to support a plant to be packaged. One or more elongated open ended bags are initially positioned around the horizontal section of the frame, and the bag is then drawn upwardly around the plant that is supported on the support to package the plant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bagging a garment which is supported on a hanger wherein the bag is closed at both the upper and lower ends. The bag is placed or formed about the garment and the upper end, through which the hook extends, is closed with the hanger supported at a first station. The bagged garment is then moved to a second station where the lower end of the bag is sealed. The method and apparatus are disclosed in preferred embodiments wherein the entire bagging operation, including bottom sealing, is carried out in a completely automated manner.

Abstract: A bagging machine which automatically encloses a garment in a bag. A continuous web of flexible material is fed into the machine, separated to form a tube, and that tube of material is pulled down over the garment. Material pulldown is stopped according to the length of the garment, the material is sealed, cut off from the web of material, then pulldown is completed to force a hanger through the top of the bag thus formed. In the preferred embodiment, pneumatic cylinders are used, and no electric motors are required. A hanger mechanism supports a garment in a manner which permits that garment to accommodate misalignment with respect to the machine, and the web separator is self-adjusting.

Abstract: A photoelectrically controlled garment bagger. The bagger comprises a support frame for the bagger housing and for a roll of translucent sequentially detachable bags. The roll is provided with transverse perforations along which individual bags may be detached. Each bag is provided with an opaque spot located a predetermined distance from the perforations. The bags travel over a roller assembly.A photoelectric light responsive control unit employing a retroflector is mounted in the housing above the path of travel of the opaque spots on the bags. When an opaque spot on a bag interrupts the light beam of the control unit, a clamp bar in the housing is actuated to halt the movement of the roll of bags for a length of time sufficient to enable an operator to detach a bag and spread it on a garment, using a spreader device secured to the housing.

Abstract: An elongated central shaft is provided at one end with a hook for supporting thereon a hanger for a garment contained thereon. The other end of the central elongated shaft is connected to a mounting element which mounts the arrangement on an apparatus for bagging garments. The elongated shaft has mounted thereabout a spreader unit which is hinged at its ends thereof so that, as a bag is pulled down from an apparatus for bagging garments, the spreader unit positioned about the central elongated shaft will cause the leading end of the bag to open up and thereby avoid contact with the hook and the central elongated shaft.

Abstract: An automatic bagging machine for placing transparent plastic bags over garments so as to enclose individual garments. The apparatus includes a turntable which has a number of upright garment stands, and an indexing system for rotating the turntable. The garments are carried by the stands on the turntable from a loading station to an operative station and then to an unloading station. The apparatus also includes an assembly for placing a plastic tube from a supply of plastic tubular material over a garment located at the loading station and then cutting and sealing this tube at an upper portion to form a transparent bag for the garment. Thereafter, the garment in its bag is moved to the unloading station and then is transported to a storage rack.

Abstract: A semi-automatic bagging machine for assisting an operator in bagging clothing garments is disclosed. The bags are formed from a polyethylene material supplied in continuous, tubular form from a roll, by transversely sealing the material at a desired location and severing it near the seal, thereby closing the top of one bag and leaving an open end of the continuous material for the bottom of the next bag. A series of perforated, hollow plastic spheres, of the type known as "wiffle balls", is supported by the apparatus, within the path of the tubular material, for spreading and maintaining the material apart, thereby greatly facilitating the operator in manually drawing the material over the garment.

Abstract: A garment bag sealing machine includes a loading pole for loading a bagged garment onto said machine, the loading pole being movable to transfer the bagged garment to a pick-off unit and lifting cylinder which lifts the bagged garment until a detector, such as a photo electric cell, detects the bottom of the garment at which point a sealing unit, such as a heat sealing unit, is brought to bear upon the bottom portion of the garment bag causing the garment bag to be sealed. The lifting mechanism then carries the bagged garment to a slide rail system which then carries the garment to a packing or removal station.

Abstract: An elongated central shaft is provided at one end with a hook for supporting thereon a hanger for a garment. The other end of the central elongated shaft is connected to a mounting element which mounts the arrangement on an apparatus for bagging garments. The elongated shaft has mounted thereabout a compressible spreader unit which is hinged at its ends so that, as a bag is pulled down from an apparatus for bagging garments, the spreader unit positioned about the central elongated shaft will cause the bag to open and avoid contact with the hook and the central elongated shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically covering an item, such as a garment on a hanger, with a bag closed at the top and sides, and open at the bottom. The bagging material is supplied from a continuous roll in tubular form and is automatically fed from the roll, pulled over the item, cut to the proper length for the item to be covered, and heat sealed along the top edge. Unique means are provided for holding, cutting and sealing the bagging material, preferably a thermosensitive plastic, as well as for re-opening the end after cutting to begin a new cycle. Three stations for holding items to be covered, i.e., loading, bagging and discharge stations, are positioned on a rotating base and automatically indexed through each position in a continuous manner as the operations are performed.

Abstract: A bagging device is provided with a floor supported device having a roll of polyethylene bags thereon, which are fed through a braking device and thence a round spreading devices and a floating hook support, whereupon is engaged sequentially the hooks of hangers upon which garments or the like are supported. The bags are provided with indicia thereupon which are detected by a detecting device to actuate the braking device so that the bags may be readily torn off before they seat on the respective garments being packaged. Provision is made for adjustments of the braking time so that the brake automatically releases after a fixed period of time thereby facilitating a drawing of the bags from the source for sequential bagging operations.