Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for delivering messages, such as advertising messages. Printed labels are provided on drinks container lids, such as takeaway coffee container lids. Providing printed labels has the advantage that the lid does not need to be changed to provide a different message. Only the printed label has to be changed. To facilitate placement of the printed labels on the lids, the present invention also provides a labelling machine which includes delivery apparatus for delivering lids to a labelling position. The delivery apparatus includes a picker arrangement arranged to pick individual lids from a magazine and place them on a conveyer for delivery to the labelling point. It also includes a stacker apparatus for stacking the lids into a magazine for ease of distribution.

Abstract: A fitment for use as a pour spout for a paper carton or flexible bag for liquids and powders has a flange which may be welded around a hole in the carton or bag. A spout projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane integral with the interior of the spout. Preferably the membrane is concave. A horizontally disposed pull ring is attached to the membrane by a connector so that pulling the ring removes the membrane by fracturing the tear line at the juncture of the outer edge of the membrane and the projection. A cap snaps over the spout and may be removed by unscrewing the complementary threads on cap and spout. Optionally, a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to the lower edge of the cap skirt engages the exterior of the spout so that the cap cannot be removed without breaking the frangible connection. Various means for detachably securing the fitment to a spud during delivery of the fitment from a chute to the interior of a carton are disclosed.

Abstract: A fitment for use as a pour spout for a paper carton or flexible bag for liquids and powders has a flange which may be welded around a hole in the carton or bag. A spout projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane integral with the interior of the spout. Preferably the membrane is concave. A horizontally disposed pull ring is attached to the membrane by a connector so that pulling the ring removes the membrane by fracturing the tear line at the juncture of the outer edge of the membrane and the projection. A cap snaps over the spout and may be removed by unscrewing the complementary threads on cap and spout. Optionally, a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to the lower edge of the cap skirt engages the exterior of the spout so that the cap cannot be removed without breaking the frangible connection. Various means for detachably securing the fitment to a spud during delivery of the fitment from a chute to the interior of a carton are disclosed.

Abstract: A fitment for use as a pour spout for a paper carton or flexible bag for liquids and powders has a flange which may be welded around a hole in the carton or bag. A spout projecting outward from the flange is provided with a removable membrane integral with the interior of the spout. Preferably the membrane is concave. A horizontally disposed pull ring is attached to the membrane by a connector so that pulling the ring removes the membrane by fracturing the tear line at the juncture of the outer edge of the membrane and the projection. A cap snaps over the spout and may be removed by unscrewing the complementary threads on cap and spout. Optionally, a tamper-evidencing band frangibly connected to the lower edge of the cap skirt engages the exterior of the spout so that the cap cannot be removed without breaking the frangible connection. Various means for detachably securing the fitment to a spud during delivery of the fitment from a chute to the interior of a carton are disclosed.

Abstract: A container assembly apparatus and method for assembling a roe shipping container. The lid of the container is manually positioned in contact with one edge of the container. A first button is pressed which allows swing arm to open and allow access by the container and lid to the assembly apparatus. As the container and lid move into the assembly apparatus, rails move the lid downwardly and into a closer relationship with the top edges of the container. A second swing arm terminates movement of the container and lid and maintains them in the assembly location under the apparatus. A second button is pressed and a platen moves downwardly to install the lid on the body of the container while simultaneously inserting a plug into an opening in the bottom of the container. The second button is released which allows the second swing arm to open the container to be moved from its assembly location.

Abstract: A lidding apparatus has a pair of brake shoes which elevate a box from a conveyor, the box being decelerated by the brake shoes. A lidding assembly includes an opposite pair of grooves with a release configuration for supporting a flat lid blank but allowing the flaps of the blank to rotate out of the grooves. The lid blank is maintained in a flat condition as the lid blank and box are bought into mutually centered contact whereupon the side flaps are rotated toward the box through the clearances provided by the release configuration by shoes of the lidding assembly.

Abstract: The apparatus has a circular can filling device, a lid star wheel, a lid supply star wheel and a sealing device. The sealing device is spaced from both the filling device and the lid supply means but the path is very short. The lid star wheel and the can filling device for filling the containers or cans have a common contains transfer area, in which the lids are individually placed on the cans. In order to transport the cans with the lids thereon to the sealing device, a conveying unit is provided, which has two container guides, between which the containers are guided to the sealing device by the conveying unit.

Abstract: A device for orientating ball caps in a bottle type capping machine of the type having an upper cap chute assembly, a lower cap chute assembly, a capping stabilizer assembly and a conveyor carrying bottles to be capped. The device consists of a sleeve sized to fit vertically between the upper cap chute assembly and the lower cap chute assembly to allow each ball cap to travel therethrough. A mechanism is for securing the sleeve to the bottle type capping machine in its vertical position. Another mechanism is for rotating each ball cap one hundred and eighty degrees when traveling through the sleeve by the force of gravity so that each ball cap will be in its proper position to be placed upon and capped to each bottle traveling along the conveyor below the capping stabilizer assembly.

Abstract: A method and device for transferring lids into a machine for the sterile conditioning of containers, the device comprising two elongated parallel nipper-holding members extending with one end into a sterile container-conditioning enclosure, one of these two members being reciprocally movable with respect to the other nipper-holding member which remains stationary being held against translatory motion. The device is adapted to transferring, depositing and provisionally securing lids onto containers or cups filled with any product or foodstuff.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber is formed as a sealed assembly and subsequently, at a desired time, an opening is non-contaminantly pierced in the outer shell and the shock absorber is pressurized by passing a pressurized fluid through the opening and the opening is then non-contaminantly sealed with a metal ball by welding to make the hydraulic shock absorber permanently gas pressurized. The shock absorber assembly, the method of making it and the apparatus for making it are disclosed in this specification.

Abstract: A method of closing boxes in which the open-ended boxes and covers are sequentially fed to a box-closing station with the top of each cover overlying the open end of the box. Fitting-leaves are interposed between the outer face of the open end of the box, and the inner face of the peripheral side wall of the cover, while relative movement is effected between the cover and the box towards each other, such as to fit the cover over the open end of the box. The apparatus includes a lift which raises the box into fitted engagement with the cover supported on the fitting-leaves at the box-closing station.

Abstract: A cup dispenser for cups containing freshly made beverages comprises a discharge opening connecting a dispensing chamber with the interior of the dispenser. This discharge opening is from the inside filled by a rotor mounted about a vertical shaft. The peripheral wall of the rotor closes completely the discharge opening in any position of the rotor apart from the position in which a recess opposes the discharge opening. This recess is shaped in such a manner that it may receive a cup situated therein when the dispenser is activated. Subsequently, the cup is filled with the desired beverage at a filling station and optionally provided with a cover at a cover dispensing device. Such a dispenser protects the interior parts thereof efficiently against the environment, and furthermore it allows the positioning of the covers on the filled cups in a simple manner.

Abstract: This lid fitting machine is designed to efficiently seal a plastic container filled with a food product, with a plastic lid. Primarily, it consists of a frame with a motor driven carrier chain, having feed arms for the transport and placement of lids on the filled containers. It also includes a hopper for containing the multiple number of lids, and it further includes a pair of cams, for the precise operation of lid placement onto the containers.

Abstract: An assembly in which a loaded container is covered with a box top in telescoping relationship with the loaded container. The box top is pressed over the loaded container and during the telescoping action is held in telescoping relationship by means of a spreader assembly that contacts the internal wall of the box top and the external wall of the loaded container, so that the box top can be telescopingly applied when being loaded over the container.