Abstract: A wrapping material for wrapping hamburgers or other food items is provided, the wrapping material having a bonding material disposed on either an upper surface or a lower surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for inflating balloons to enable insertion thereinto of objects includes a loading ring insertable into the orifice or mouth of the balloon for stretching the orifice to allow insertion therethrough of an object into the interior of the balloon when inflated, and a balloon inflating housing for accommodating an inflated balloon. The housing includes upper and lower hemispherical shells which may be sealingly fitted together to form a complete spherical shell and to allow inflation of the balloon therewithin, and then separated to allow removal of the inflated balloon.

Abstract: The apparatus has a frame having a top portion with an opening. The frame frictionally supports the middle portion of the string in an initial position behind the opening. A movable funnel is adapted to force a sheet from an initial position above the opening to an intermediate position in which the sheet is located partially through the opening, around the funnel, and in front of the middle portion of the string. A selected quantity of bulk product is poured into the funnel and a knot is tied in the string in front of the sheet. As the knot is tightened, the string forces the funnel upward and the string tightens around the sheet thus forming an enclosed volume with the sheet in a final position around the product.

Abstract: A wrapping material for providing a decorative covering for an item wherein the wrapping material has a width and at least a first end. The first end of the wrapping material is positioned on the outer peripheral surface of the item to be wrapped and the wrapping material is wrapped about the outer peripheral surface of the item while moving the wrapping material generally over the outer peripheral surface of the item until the wrapping material covers at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the item.

Abstract: The bagging system disclosed herein utilizes T-shirt type bags which are mounted on the projecting arms of a rack by means of holes through the handle portions of the bags. Between the handles a mounting tab extends upward from the front and back panels of the bag. Near its upper end, each tab includes an aperture which can be placed over a mounting hook on the rack and, below this aperture, is a transverse slit leaving only easily severed portions on each side thereof. An adhesive bond is provided between the adjacent tabs in successive sacks. This bond is provided on the facing portions of the mounting tabs above the bag mouth and below the respective transverse slit. The bond is strong enough to tear the easily severed portions. Accordingly, removal of one bag from the rack causes the front wall of the next bag to be torn from the respective central tab and that next bag is then opened across the arms while remaining attached to the bag behind.

Abstract: A band applicator for applying a band about a sheet of material disposed about a pot to provide a decorative cover for the pot. The band applicator includes a pot frame having a pot opening and a band holder configured to releasably hold a plurality of bands. The sheet of material is extended about the outer peripheral surface of the pot, and the pot with the sheet of material disposed thereabout is disposed in a pot receiving space in the pot frame. The pot frame holds the sheet of material positioned about the pot. A band is removed from the band holder and disposed about the sheet of material and pot for cooperating to hold the sheet of material positioned about the pot.

Abstract: A wicket for a bagging machine is useful for placing a plurality of objects in a first bag (11) of a plurality of juxtaposed bags. Each bag has a front (17) and back (16) wall portion and an extended tab (13). The extended tab 13 has at least two wicket apertures (18) and the bottom of the bag 71 has at least one bottom wicket aperture (19). The bags are held in a wicket comprising upper wicket pins (12) and lower wicket pin (14). Lower wicket pin holds the bottom (71) of the bag. Lower wicket pin (14) aids in overcoming difficulties experienced with bags sticking to one another. The bag mouth is opened, e.g. with an air jet, and then clamped and pulled open. The machine is useful for packaging liquid-filled pouches, vegetables and the like in bags which are placed in a case or box.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging horticultural items like cut flowers and potted plants for shippment in cardboard cartons is disclosed. An elongated rod extends from the top of the carton into a vase holding the horticultural items and secures the vase and horticultural from movement inside of the carton even in the event that the carton is upended.

Abstract: An article handling system including a frame defining an upper, horizontal working surface (20). The system further includes a device (24) for supporting a receptacle (22) for final reception of articles, an elongated plate (10) mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot device (72, 74), and a device (26) for retaining the articles. The device for retaining the articles includes an elongated support (28) disposed parallel to the length of the plate in its horizontal position and fixed to remain immovable relative to the upper working surface at least in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A band applicator for applying a band about a sheet of material disposed about a pot to provide a decorative cover for the pot. The band applicator includes a pot frame having a pot opening and a band holder configured to releasably hold a plurality of bands. The sheet of material is extended about the outer peripheral surface of the pot, and the pot with the sheet of material disposed thereabout is disposed in a pot receiving space in the pot frame. The pot frame holds the sheet of material positioned about the pot. A band is removed from the band holder and disposed about the sheet of material and pot for cooperating to hold the sheet of material positioned about the pot.

Abstract: A decorative assembly for a floral grouping comprising a floral holding material and a sheet of material. The floral holding material is constructed of a material capable of receiving a portion of a floral grouping and supporting the floral grouping. The sheet of material is extended about a portion of the floral holding material and a crimped portion is formed in the sheet of material with the crimped portion cooperating to hold the sheet of material about the floral holding material to provide a decorative covering.

Abstract: A grass hopper cart is provided, which consists of a cabinet and a structure within the cabinet for holding a standard paper bag in an opened stationary position. A hopper is placed into the cabinet above the holding structure, so that grass cuttings dumped into the hopper will enter the paper bag for proper disposal.

Abstract: A scooping and packaging assembly adapted to scoop up and package poop deposited on a surface by a pet animal on a surface so that one may then dispose of the poop. The assembly consists of a loop provided with a handle, a hand-held wand and a rectangular plastic-film bag whose dimensions are such that when the loop and wand are inserted into the bag through its open end, they are separated from each other to an extent permitting manipulation of the wand relative to the loop. In operating the assembly, the user, who in one hand grasps the handle of the loop, and in the other grasps the wand while holding onto the open end of the bag, advances the closed end of the bag along the surface toward the poop and manipulates the wand to push the poop onto the outside of the bag in the region within the confines of the loop, the poop depressing the region to form a pocket depending from the loop.

Abstract: Apparatus for holding and storing items, such as bread, contained in a flexible wrapper and for closing and opening a mouth of the wrapper. The apparatus includes a support and a carriage slideably positioned on the support and configured for receiving and holding the items contained in the flexible wrapper. A mechanism is provided in association with the support and the carriage for grasping and for selectively twisting and untwisting the wrapper mouth to close and open the wrapper mouth. Access to the items in the wrapper is provided when the wrapper mouth is opened, and the items are tightly sealed within the wrapper when the wrapper is twisted closed.

Abstract: A method of providing a decorative covering for an item wherein the wrapping material has a width and at least a first end. The first end of the wrapping material is positioned on the outer peripheral surface of the item to be wrapped and the wrapping material is wrapped about the outer peripheral surface of the item while moving the wrapping material generally over the outer peripheral surface of the item until the wrapping material covers at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the item.

Abstract: Apparatus for inflating balloons to enable insertion thereinto of objects includes a loading ring insertable into the orifice or mouth of the balloon for stretching the orifice to allow insertion therethrough of an object into the interior of the balloon when inflated, and a balloon inflating housing for accommodating an inflated balloon. The housing includes upper and lower hemispherical shells which may be sealingly fitted together to form a complete spherical shell and to allow inflation of the balloon therewithin, and then separated to allow removal of the inflated balloon.

Abstract: A capsule handling system is formed of a loader component and an opener/encapsulater component. The system can handle different sized capsules, and has interchangeable parts so that a compounding pharmacist can conveniently produce a variety of distinct filled capsules, on the order of a prescribing medical professional to meet the unique needs of patients.

Abstract: The manually-operated balloon stuffing device has a minimum number of parts and is inexpensive to manufacture. The device includes a manual pump consisting of inner and outer cylindrical tubes, and a check valve in each tube that permits the passage of air in only a single direction within its respective tube. In a first embodiment, a balloon stuffing item is placed in an end of the inner tube, and the open balloon end is stretched over that tube end. The outer tube is then reciprocated along the longitudinal axis of the inner tube to pump up the balloon. The outer tube is then removed and a push rod pushes the sliding check valve, which in turn pushes the stuffing item into the inflated balloon. In an alternate embodiment, a large hollow adapter tube is placed on the end of the inner tube, and the open end of the balloon is stretched over the open end of the adapter tube.

Abstract: A device for bundling newspapers and the like comprises a pair of upright walls each having an upwardly open substantially V-shaped notch formed by elements of the walls that converge downwardly and that define an interior angle of about 90.degree., the notches being in parallel alignment. In a preferred embodiment, the walls are longitudinal side walls of a box having upright end walls and having sloping top walls extending between corresponding notch-defining elements of the side walls. Newspapers are stacked on one of the top walls, with an edge thereof engaging the other top wall, and with portions extending beyond the side walls. Cords are tied around those portions to bundle the newspapers. The end walls have openings forming hand holds by which the box is lifted and which provide access to the interior of the box. The box has a shelf therein and contains a supply of cord, a cord cutter being provided along an edge of one opening.

Abstract: Bags custom-sized to the volume of articles packed and to be packed therein are manufactured on-site and on-demand at the location at which the articles are packed in the bags. The bags are formed from a continuous sheet of flexible film material which is shaped into a tubular wrapper along the interior of a generally quadrangular former. The bags are sealed along their tops so as to prevent inadvertent spillage of articles therefrom and may incorporate unitary handles formed during manufacture of the bags and a readily removable protective envelope at least partly defining the top closure thereof.

Abstract: A cover forming apparatus for forming a flower pot or flower pot cover from a sheet of material by engaging a sheet of material about the outer surface of a mold, die or pot. The cover forming apparatus includes a plurality of pivotable forming members resting in a surface which supports a sheet of material upon which is positioned a flower pot mold or flower pot. When the forming members are pivotally moved from the storage position to an extended position, the forming members cause the sheet of material to be appressed to or engaged with the mold or pot. The article formed in accordance with the present invention may be separable from the mold or pot and usable as a flower pot or flower pot cover or may be more or less securely attached to the pot by adhesive, cohesive, barbs, friction pinches or other securing means thereby forming a decorative cover connected to a flower pot.

Abstract: The present invention entails a method and apparatus for handling tobacco wherein a sheet is provided with sleeves formed in opposite corners thereof with the other two corners of the sheet being left with free corner ends. Once tobacco or other bulk material is placed on the sheet then the free corner ends are threaded through respective sleeves and then tied into a suitable knot thereby forming a sheet-like container bound around the tobacco or other material. Thereafter, the package or containerized material can be handled and even lifted by grasping the free end knot.

Abstract: A hand held vacuum packing device, for use in the home in evacuating and sealing a plastic bag containing food, consists of jaws through which the edges of the bag are pulled to press fit the edges together and a nozzle and air extractor to withdraw air from the bag immediately before sealing is complete.

Abstract: The manually-operated balloon stuffing device has a minimum number of parts and is inexpensive to manufacture. The device includes a manual pump consisting of inner and outer cylindrical tubes, and a check valve in each tube that permits the passage of air in only a single direction within its respective tube. In a first embodiment, a balloon stuffing item is placed in an end of the inner tube, and the open balloon end is stretched over that tube end. The outer tube is then reciprocated along the longitudinal axis of the inner tube to pump up the balloon. The outer tube is then removed and a push rod pushes the sliding check valve, which in turn pushes the stuffing item into the inflated balloon. In an alternate embodiment, a large hollow adapter tube is placed on the end of the inner tube, and the open end of the balloon is stretched over the open end of the adapter tube.

Abstract: A recycling strip for holding, storing, toting, and returning empty recyclable plastic bottles, for instance, soft drink bottles. The strip has a plurality of collar holes distributed uniformly and unilinearly along the strip. The collar holes have a diameter sligthly larger than the outside diameter of a common plastic bottleneck. The collar holes have radial slits forming collars which enable a bottleneck flange to be engaged in the strip. The strip is then used for transporting engaged bottles and can be recycled with the bottles. The strip may be loaded in a dispenser which provides a convenient means of storing the strip. The dispenser also holds the strip securely so that a bottle may be engaged in the strip with a single one handed motion. Furthermore the dispenser provides an engagement mechanism, which aligns a collar hole in the strip with the collar openning of the dispenser and prevents the strip from uncontrolled travel out of the dispenser.

Abstract: Manually operated apparatus for assembling a multi-container pack in a carrier wherein the apparatus has a base formed with apertures in a pattern to form a multi-container pack, a carrier supported on the base and it being formed with a pattern of container receiving apertures having bendable fingers ringing the inner circumference of the container apertures, and a container guide positioned over the carrier for steering the containers into positions with the ends thereof grasped by the fingers ringing the ends of the containers.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging potted plants. A plant support is mounted at the upper end of a vertical column and is adapted to support a potted plant having heavy foliage. One or more tapered paper sleeves are disposed around the support column beneath the plant support. A ring having a larger diameter than the pot is mounted for vertical movement on a second vertical column, and the ring carries an open-ended, flexible bag. The lower end of the bag includes an elastic cord, so that the lower end has a contracted diameter, which is smaller than the rim of the pot. The ring is initially positioned beneath the level of the plant support, the plant is then positioned on the support and the bag is drawn upwardly around the plant, folding the foliage inwardly, until the lower end of the bag is slightly above the rim of the pot. The sleeve is then drawn upwardly around the bag encompassing the foliage, and the bag is withdrawn from the sleeve.

Abstract: This invention is directed to bundling and banding machine that forms and bands bundles of firewood into the shape of a stable wood pile that can be easily removed from the machine, transported as a banded bundle and when deposited at its final destination and the bands are removed it will stand as a stable wood pile, with a minimum of distortion or need of restacking.

Abstract: A pillow tray having a back panel, sidewalls, and an endwall to which a retaining member is hingedly attached defining a pillow opening for holding a pillow neatly so as to be easily inserted into a pillowcase.

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 packaging system comprises a rack for bundable material and a twine dispenser. The rack has a transverse slot open at one end through which twine may depend from the twine dispenser for tying in a loop around the bundable material without the necesscity of lifting or disturbing the material in the rack.

Abstract: An arm and cradle apparatus is disclosed for receiving empty trays from an upper conveyor having empty lettuce holding and transporting trays, lowering the received empty tray to an angular disposition in which it can most conveniently be packed, and finally off loading the packed full tray to a lower conveyor having full lettuce holding trays thereon for plunging to cartons. The arm and cradle apparatus is mechanically passive in that all movements of the trays to and from the arm and cradle apparatus are either worker assisted or occur under the natural gravity biased movement of the arm and cradle apparatus.

Abstract: A handy vacuum pump and heat sealer combination device drawing off air from a thermoplastic bag and sealing food inside the thermoplastic bag. The device includes a cylindrical casing to hold a heat sealer, a battery power supply and a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump includes a piston reciprocated by a transmission rod and a flywheel through a motor to draw off air from a thermoplastic bag for making it into a vacuum status. The heat sealer includes a head having a sealing tip extended out of the cylindrical casing and electrically connected to the battery power supply to produce heat for sealing thermoplastic bags.

Abstract: A semi-automatic T-shirt bag bagging rack and bags for use therewith. The bagging rack has a stationary rear wall with two spaced apart hooks and a tab receiving member. A support base is attached to the stationary rear wall. A movable front frame member moves between a first position distant from the stationary wall and a second position adjacent thereto. The movable front frame member has an upper planar member which is substantially parallel to the stationary rear wall and has a tacky rubber sheet member affixed thereto facing the stationary rear wall. A stack of T-shirt bags having a central tab with a central tab slit and a tab tearing slit cut therethrough and "C"-shaped cuts located near the inside edges of the handles are first loaded on the bagging rack by slipping the central tab slit of the stack of bags over the tab engaging member and by looping the "C"-shaped cuts on the handles onto the hooks on the rear wall.

Abstract: A system for collection and transfer of lawn debris consists of a vented collapsible bag and a rigid container, for structure for releasably interengaging them in mouth-to-mouth relationship.

Abstract: The sample collector includes a plurality of like, plastic bags each of which has an opening in one end thereof. The bags are supported over a bag divider rack having thereon a bottom wall, and a plurality of divider plates which project upwardly from said bottom wall and radially of a centerline thereof, so that each pair of adjacent bags is separated by one of said divider plates. An annular spout is removably mounted on each of said divider plates and is releasably secured in the opening in one of the bags operatively to support the opening in position to register with a liquid dispenser to receive a liquid sample therefrom. After being filled the bags are sealed and can be removed individually from the divider rack or the rack itself can be carried with the filled bags positioned thereon.

Abstract: Loading apparatus (10, 110) for collecting particulate matter and directing it into a bag (B), including a generally planar base (11, 111) having a pair of spaced lateral edges (14, 15) and a pair of spaced ends (12, 13) joining the edges, a pair of side plates (20, 21; 120, 121) pivotally attached to said spaced lateral edges and movable between a storage position substantially parallel to said base and an operating position substantially perpendicular to said base, and means (60, 60) for temporarily positioning and retaining the bag when said side plates are in said operating position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for expanding a balloon in a manner which allows access to the interior of the balloon for the purpose of introducing articles such as toys and permitting decoration of the interior of the balloon. The invention uses a vacuum chamber to expand the balloon and a novel holding means for securing the mouth of the balloon exterior of the chamber so that the neck of the balloon may be knotted and sealed prior to the balloon being removed from the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward providing apparatus for separating newsprint and other sheet material prior to recycling the newsprint and a wrapper, formed of material which may be recycled with the newsprint, to be used with the apparatus of the invention. The invention is used by the individual householder and will serve to eliminate many intermediate steps in the recycling of newsprint.

Abstract: Apparatus for self-service scanning, registering and bagging a product purchased in a supermarket. The apparatus comprises a unit (1) for dispensing and opening a single plastic bag from a continuous strip wound in a reel, a balance (2) for weighing the item to be purchased, a reel supporting device (3) which feeds the strip of bags to the dispensing and opening unit (1), and a unit comprising a scanner (6) and a computer (7).

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing and opening plastic bags from a continuous strip wound in a reel apt to detach from it a bag (4) at a time, open it and keep it open below a mouth (8) through which a customer may insert into the underposed bag (4) the items he purchased, the apparatus comprises also a scanner (5) connected through a computer (7) to a shutter (11, 11') located on the mouth (8) so that the computer (7) controls the opening of the shutters (11, 11') and the inhibition of the scanner (5) when it has registered an item, and controls the reactivation of the scanner (5) and the closing of the shutters (11, 11') when the registered item has entered the bag (4) through the mouth (8).

Abstract: A checkout counter for supermarkets and the like incorporates therewithin dual bag feeding apparatus, each operable for automatically dispensing, delivering, opening and retaining a flexible bag in a position and location suitable for the convenient introduction of purchased articles into the bags. The checkout counter includes two continuous web reels of successively attached flexible bags, two hoppers below each of which an open bag is retained and through each of which purchased articles are selectively insertable into the underlying bag as the articles are checked by the cashier-operator, and two collecting stations into which filled bags are ejected from the checkout counter interior and from which the customer may retrieve the filled bags.

Abstract: Manual wrap stations for handwrapping of trayed products in film are arranged in back-to-back fashion. They have a common wrap surface between them to provide a reduced-cost, space-saving tandem or dual hand wrap station. Two operators face each other during wrapping and alternately use the common wrap surface. In a preferred form, the wrap surface is either a weighing scale platter itself or the platter can be alongside a separate wrap surface. In either such form, the system enables weighing, computing, label printing and hand labeling of wrapped products without loss of productivity. The arrangement eliminates the need for an additional computing scale and label printer, such as would be necessary to obtain the same productivity with separate wrap stations using such equipment. An audible signal is provided to indicate that the scale has completed a weighing, enabling ease of the operators' pacing of their alternating manual functions, without each having to watch the other's actions.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward providing a method of separating newsprint and other sheet material prior to recycling the newsprint, apparatus for carrying out the method and a wrapper, formed of material which may be recycled with the newsprint, to be used in the method and apparatus of the invention. The invention is used by the individual householder and will serve to eliminate many intermediate steps in the recycling of newsprint.

Abstract: A compact apparatus for loading bulk ammunition, particularly rimmed cartridges, into cartridge boxes. The apparatus includes a manifold having side walls, a rear wall and a removable front spacer bar. A tray pan is indexed beneath a plurality of parallel, spaced rails in the manifold. The rails are spaced apart a distance greater than the diameter of the cartridges but less than the diameter of the cartridge rims. The manifold is vibrated by an adjustable eccentric drive. Loose ammunition is poured onto the manifold and contained on there by the walls and gate. Once the holes of the cartridge boxes are substantially filled, the operator moves the rear gate to clear off the excess ammunition. The tray pan is then released from spring detents to remove the boxes from the apparatus.

Abstract: A hand held capper that will engage a cap for tightening the cap onto a container is provided and includes a clutch mechanism that will sense the torque between the cap and a neck of the container and will allow a cap driver chuck with an elastic chuck insert thereon to stop rotating once the desired torque is reached while allowing a spindle shaft from a drive unit to continue to rotate.

Abstract: Bag opening device for supermarket check-out counters incorporating bag dispensing machines, comprising a pair of pliers mounted on a pair of guides capable of a reciprocating horizontal motion. The pliers grasp and pull apart the two opposite sides of a bag fed by feeding belts. Each pliers (1, 2) consists of a pair of jaws (9, 9' and 11, 11') meshing with each other by means of a pair of toothed wheels (13, 13' and 14, 14') and pushed towards each other by a compression spring (16, 17) placed between two of their ends. One of the ends of each pliers is provided with a roller (18, 19) which, by interacting with a suitable opening device, counteracts the force of the compression springs (16, 17) thereby opening the jaws (9, 9' and 11, 11') of each pliers (1, 2).

Abstract: A bag opening device for supermarket check-out counters incorporating plastic bag dispensing machines, comprising two slides capable of mutual approaching and departing motion along a horizontal rail in a symmetrical direction with respect to a central position where the plastic bag to be opened is located; on each slide (7,8) is mounted a pair of rollers (1, 1' and 2, 2') in contact with each other, said pair of rollers being operated by a motor-reducer (13, 13') so as to simultaneously rotate the rollers of one pair in an opposite direction compared with the rollers of the other pair, said pairs of rollers being apt to come in contact with the opposite sides of a plastic bag (12) for grasping the sides and then pulling the sides apart, and subsequently to rotate in the opposite direction for releasing the sides of the bag from the grip of the rollers.

Abstract: A closure tool for resealable bags incorporating a rib and groove type closure means having generally parallel legs so as to accept a resealable bag between them, are displaced toward each other so as to apply pressure to the rib and groove closure, causing the rib to engage the groove so as to cause a sealing of the resealable bag. One or more slots may be formed in the legs to aid in engaging the rib and groove closure means, and traversing the tool along the rib and groove closure means.

Abstract: An apparatus for compacting flexible, compactible articles, comprising a pair of vertically upwardly extending and converging wall members, a platform arranged with the wall members for relative vertical movement therebetween, and a tongue member arranged with the wall members for relative vertical movement therebetween. The wall members have limit stop means associated therewith, so that during relative movement between the wall members and tongue member, the platform engages the limit stop means. Subsequently, relative movement takes place between the tongue member and the wall members and between the platform and the tongue member, such that at the end of such relative movements, the tongue member extends upwardly above upper ends of the wall members, following which the movements are reversed. An appertaining method of compacting a flexible, compactible article is disclosed.