Abstract: Apparatus for both supporting a plurality of plastic bags and for facilitating the automatic opening of the bags one at a time to permit the filling of each bag. Each of the bags is provided with generally aligned apertures in its front and back bag walls. Preferably the apertures are circular and with one of larger diameter than the other. A plurality of the bags is supported on an inclined rod having a diameter only slightly less than the aperture of smaller diameter in the opposed bag walls. At the dispensing end of the support rod a flange is provided which is of such size that the aperture of larger diameter in the opposed bag walls can quite readily pass over such flange, but the opposing bag wall is held by the flange and can be removed therefrom only by distorting and distending the smaller aperture. The plurality of bags on the rod is urged toward the flange by reason of the downward sloping inclination of the support rod.

Abstract: Bag holding and opening apparatus that comprises a container adapted to hold a stack of folded paper bags on a platform which is spring supported and by which the stack of bags are pressed against an abrasive faced roller that engages the top bag at a point adjacent the thumb hole at the open end thereof and frictionally holds said bag, whereby when the bottom end of said top bag is pulled outwardly the bag is opened.

Abstract: An arrangement for stacking tetrahedral packing units in layers in a space-saving manner in a prismatic collective container from the bottom up in which the bottom wall of the container is provided with an array of openings through which a corresponding array of supporting members are inserted and engage respectively with an inclined wall of each of six regular tetrahedral packing units which form the bottommost layer. When the bottom layer has been so loaded into the container three additional six-unit layers are loaded in succession into the container after which the supports can then be withdrawn and the four layers so loaded into the container will be automatically retained in the position in which they have been stacked.

Abstract: A box upholstered to serve as a hassock has a hinged top and a false floor. Beneath the floor a spool of cord is mounted, and cord is strung through a hole in the floor and a diagonal channel in the front wall to the top wall and about a peg in the front corner, and diagonally down through a channel about a removable dowel at the edge of the floor, across the floor and about a second dowel and diagonally upward about a second peg. From the second peg the cord extends diagonally downward about a third dowel and across the floor to a fourth dowel along the front edge and upward to the first dowel where both ends of the cord are fastened together forming a closed loop. When newspapers fill the box, the corners of the loop of twine are lifted off the pegs, drawn toward each other and the dowels are removed. Then the corners of the twine are drawn tightly together and clipped, and the tied bundle lifted out of the box.

Abstract: This apparatus provides a means of sealing a plastic film cover over the open end of a plastic food container to render the container airtight and suitable for storage in a dispensing machine. The apparatus is self-contained and includes a base which carries a resiliently mounted support frame for the container, and a spindle-less dispensing frame for the film. A lever arm is pivotally mounted to the base rearwardly of the container support frame for swinging movement toward and away from the support frame. The lever carries a heat sealing head located forwardly of the pivot mounting for alignment with the container during heat sealing, and a cutter located rearwardly of the heat sealing head for clamping and severing the film adjacent the container support frame just prior to heat sealing. The heat sealing head includes a platen having peripheral margin portions registrable with the container flanges and grooved to provide improved heat sealing of the film to the container.

Abstract: A refuse collector and bagging device comprising a frame means configured to support at least one hopper means and a corresponding closure means in operative relation thereto, the hopper means retains a disposable refuse receptacle to receive refuse deposited therein. The closure means includes closure actuator means movable between a first and second position and closure element movable between an open and closed position attached thereto such that as the closure actuator means moves from the first to the second position the closure element moves from the normally open position to the closed position to isolate the upper portion of the hopper means from refuse to control the quantity of refuse deposited in the disposable refuse receptacle.