Abstract: A free end portion of sheet wrapping material is grasped and pulled from a dispenser transversely past and spaced from a cutting element mounted on a housing. The cutting element is displaced in response to the movement of the withdrawn material by generating a displacement force, latching the cutting element against displacement in a normally guarded position in which the cutting element is inoperative for cutting, and thereupon unleashing the displacement force in response to a further movement of the material to drivingly displace the cutting element from the guarded position to a cutting position in which the cutting element is in a position to sequentially pierce and cut the sheet material that is subsequently moved toward the same. Methods of dispensing the sheet material and of wrapping items also are disclosed.

Abstract: A stack of detachably-connected, individually carryable bags of a plastic material, preferably plastic foil. Each bag has a front wall, a rear wall and an upper bag opening. The bag walls of each bag are provided with centrally positioned punch-out pieces positioned opposite each other adjacent the upper bag opening. The punch-out pieces may be removed by hand to form handle grips. The punch-out pieces of each of the bags in the ones of the bag walls that are on one and the same side of all of the bags in the stack are removed. Uniting the individual bags into a single stack without additional structural members is possible, when the punch-out pieces remaining in the stack and constructed as oblong perforations are interlocked with each other.

Abstract: A method for supporting a bundle of two-handle bags so as to better insure that only one bag at a time will be removed.

Abstract: An item is placed into a relatively close fitting pliant bag by first turning the bag inside out over a horizontal ring mounted over a work surface on at least one upright support leg. Desirably, at least half of the peripheral extent of the ring is unsupported to facilitate pulling the bag over the ring and to facilitate removal of the bagged item. The item is placed within the ring in contact with the interior surface of the bottom of the bag and then moved downward through the ring, pulling the open top of the bag up, over, and through the ring. This turns the bag right side out, with the item inside. The ring has circumferentially spaced openings on its upper surface leading to a hollow interior that communicates via a valve to a source of pressurized air.

Abstract: A tree ball tying apparatus is disclosed comprising a tripartile inverted, truncated conically shaped holder whose included angle is less than 60.degree. and is made of sheet metal attached to a stand by its rearmost part. The two forward parts are hinged, latchable doors which swing open or may be closed and latched in the conical shape. Cordage is woven around hooks and pins in the peripheries of the cone's base and truncation to form a sling over which is placed a degradable material such as burlap. A tree, whose ball is conically cut with typically a 60.degree. included angle, is removed from the ground and installed ball first onto the burlap and sling and set down sling and burlap first into the holder whose included angle is less than that of the ball thereby holding it above the truncation. Thereafter the burlap is folded around the tree trunk and tied with the loose ends of the sling and the tree removed from the holder with its ball wrapped and tied.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing an elastic band (22A) around a vegetable bunch (19) comprising a band stretcher assembly (26) for receiving the band, a plurality of fingers (46) for stretching the band, and means (37) for moving the band stretcher towards a top plate assembly 21 along a central axis. The band is placed on the band stretcher fingers and stretched, the vegetable bunch is placed through the openings (20) and (50) and the band relaxed therearound. The band stretcher is then moved from the top plate assembly to disengage said fingers from said band. Thereafter the plate sections (54) and (55) are pivoted to enlarge the opening (20) and allow the banded vegetable bunch to drop from the apparatus.

Abstract: A wrapping device comprises a free wheeling film roll mounted on a frame, a film withdrawal slot to guide the film exterior of the frame, a detector to detect the withdrawn film length, a comparator which produces a locker signal each time when the film withdrawn accords with a predetermined length of the film by means of detector signal from the detector, a locker structure for locking the roll in the film withdrawal direction by means of the locker signal, and a press roller to seal the film about a wrapped goods-laden tray. The film on the roll is prevented from being unnecessarily withdrawn and thus allows and economical use of the film.

Abstract: The bag closing apparatus includes a horizontal plate for supporting a coiled strip of bag closure tags, a channel having a width corresponding to the thickness of the bag closure tags and a height greater than the height of the bag closure tags. The channel terminates with an inclined surface such that the upper surface of the tag can be exposed with the entrance to the opening within the tag lying substantially flush with the inclined surface. When a bag to be closed is slid manually downward along the inclined surface, the crushed end of the bag enters the opening in the closure tag and is seated therein. The bag and the closure tag are then manually slid until the closure tag leaves the channel and is broken from the strip. In the process of clearing the first closure tag, engaged with a bag, from the channel, the next following closure tag is brought into position to receive the next bag to be closed.

Abstract: A device is provided for enclosing fish bait in a permeable mesh bag using a base with a well therein into which the central portion of such mesh may be depressed and wherein the bait may be placed in the mesh. A pair of metal plates are provided which act to close over the bait the mesh protruding from the well.

Abstract: A novel weighing and packing apparatus is provided by which an article is weighed, and weighed article is manually packed with film. The apparatus may be provided at its working table with a packing device for manual packing and a weighing mechanism in an integral manner, or further with a label printer. According to the apparatus provided, an improvement in working efficiency in weighing and packing work is realized. Further, a working space can be minimized.

Abstract: Stretch wrapping apparatus comprising a puckering device and an expandible rectangular frame demountably supported on the puckering device. Belts on the puckering device are provided to feed a length of plastic film tube onto pillars on the expandible frame to form a puckered band as a sub-base supporting the belts is raised relative to the pillars. A drive housed in the puckering device disengagably connected to jacking means on the puckering frame is provided to expand the frame and stretch the band to a size such that the expanded frame and the puckered band thereon can pass freely over the article to be wrapped.

Abstract: A block-like tool has a hole in its upper surface and contains a hollow needle projecting at one of its ends into said hole and opening at its other end to the atmosphere. Said hole is disposed removably to receive and stably support therein the lower end of an empty, tubular ampule, which is hermetically sealed at its lower end by an elastic diaphragm. Said needle pierces said diaphragm when the ampule is mounted on the tool, whereby the interior of the ampule is also brought to atmospheric pressure through said needle thus enabling the withdrawal of an elastic plug from the ampule, and the refilling of the ampule with a solid alginate without encountering pneumatic resistance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for expanding the entrance slot of a plastic slide frame having at least one resiliently expandable entrance slot, which device comprises two noses, which are arranged to engage the top surfaces of frame edge portions disposed laterally of the entrance path for the slide, and a ramp, which is spaced from said noses. In order to permit such a device to be operated without a need for a special protection against fingerprints, the device comprises a feeding pusher for pushing the slide through the expanded entrance slot.

Abstract: A food sealing device for shrink-wrapping foods such as pizza includes a heat source surrounded by an inner shroud to create an updraft for heating the film. A second outer shroud is positioned around the inner shroud to prevent the film from contacting the hot inner shroud to prevent melting of the film against the inner shroud which might otherwise damage the film or the food item.

Abstract: A hand wrapping apparatus for manually wrapping products such as a food-laden tray by a web-like package film emanated from a film roll. The apparatus comprises a film roll, a film withdrawal slot to introduce the film into exterior therethrough in response to the unrolling action of the film roll, a film severing tool arranged in the neighborhood of the slot, a rocker bar having an upper end positioned to meet the slot across the severing tool and being usually urged by a spring toward the severing tool, and a heat sealer mounted on the end of rocker bar in order to weld the film around the product, and, at the same time, have the rocker bar pivot against the force of the spring to sweep the film past the severing tool to cut it when the product is placed thereupon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispenser for a web of wrapping material having a conveniently operable manual braking mechanism. The invention generally comprises first and second side members adjacent to each side of a roll of wrapping material, respectively. Each of these side members has a bearing member disposed thereon for supporting the core of said roll and for permitting the core and roll to rotate incident to a dispensing operation. At least one of the bearing members is insertable into the core and has an expandible bearing surface on which the core end can rotate when the surface is in its unexpanded state. A manually operated means associated with one or both of the side plates operates to expand the bearing surface at the film is paid out, thereby acting as a braking means to apply tension to the film as it is applied.

Abstract: A shipping carton erecting and holding device comprising: a support structure for supporting a carton in an upright position during loading; and a discharge means for discharging a filled carton from the device which includes a U-shaped engaging member to engage one end of, and to extend at least partially around the sides of, a carton, and a pair of horizontal spaced-apart rails, positioned entirely between the side walls of the device and entirely forward of the rear wall; a drive means communicating with the U-shaped member to move it between a first position on the rails in which the member is positioned to engage one end of a said carton supported on said support structure, and a second position spaced generally horizontally from said first position whereby movement of said member from said first position to said second position will move a said carton off of said support structure and discharge it, the drive means being mounted along one side wall, entirely forward of the rear wall of the device.

Abstract: A photographic slide mounter cuts photographic film transparencies from a photographic film strip and inserts the transparencies into slide frames. The slide mounter includes a slide advance device which advances a slide frame from a slide holder along a slide track to a position where an insertion opening in the slide frame is widened. The film strip is advanced by a film advance device, which inserts the transparency into the insertion opening in the slide frame. The transparency is then severed from the strip by a knife. As the next slide is advanced from the slide holder along the slide track, it ejects the previous slide. During ejection of the previous slide, the severed transparency is inserted the final distance into the slide frame to align the photographic image on the transparency with the aperture in the slide frame.

Abstract: A rack for a plastic bag has its back adjustably mounted by a pair of attachment devices on the undersurface of a hinged panel which normally covers a well provided on the table top of a checkstand in a supermarket. When a checkout clerk at the checkstand starts to work without a bagboy assisting her, she swings the panel into a upright position and lowers it into a guideway provided on the rear of the well, and then moves the rack to an elevated position on the pair of attachment devices. This enables the handles of a plastic bag to be placed over the side support arms of the rack so as to suspend the bag in an open position in the well to facilitate the clerk placing items therein as they are rung up on the register.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring beads employed in a radioimmunoassay is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a receptacle tray 30, test tube rack 48 and plurality of test tubes 42. The receptacle tray 30 contains an array of wells 32, which may be marked individually with indicia such as numerals and colors, and two alignment holes 34 and 35. The test tube rack 48 contains an array of columns 51 in a pattern corresponding to that of the wells 32 on tray 30. Test tube rack 48 also contains two alignment pins 52 and 53 for insertion into alignment holes 34, 35. Each of the test tubes 42 are generally cylindrical but have a gradually increasing diameter from bottom to top so that they can be inserted into rack columns 51 with a friction fit.

Abstract: The mechanism disclosed comprises a semi-automatic insertion machine for facilitating the insertion of contents into envelopes of the type utilizing exposed self-sealing adhesive.The envelopes, with the seal flaps in open position and the adhesive exposed, are arranged in superposed relation within a supply hopper. Means is provided for removing the envelopes one by one from the supply hopper and transmitting them to the inserting station. The removal means for removing the envelopes from the supply hopper includes mechanisms for insuring that the envelopes shall not stick together due to the self-sealing adhesive, and for insuring that the envelopes shall be translated in one by one relationship to the inserting station.At the inserting station the sidewalls of the envelope are drawn apart by suction gripping means, while the seal flap remains open and extended beneath a guide plate to facilitate the insertion of materials into the envelope by an operator.

Abstract: A cotton module is one type of a stack of agricultural produce. A tarp is specially folded and mounted on the back gate of a cotton module builder. As the module builder is moved off a completed module, the tarp is unrolled onto the top of the module. The tarp is tied down using ground cords, which extend along the ground underneath the module. The ground cord is mounted on spools on the side wall of the module and is placed under the side walls while the side walls are elevated upon the conclusion of a move from an old location to a new one. Then, when the module builder is lowered and the module is built, the ground cords are in place. The tarp's sides are vented.

Abstract: The invention comprises an adjustable support to retain the mouths of commonly available plastic film garbage and leaf bags fully open. The bag mouth support folds and unfolds into a compact shape for packaging and for storage. Fully open the support is of substantially square or rectangular shape with one of the sides telescopingly adjustable to increase or decrease the perimeter length of the support.

Abstract: The broccoli bunching apparatus is wholly pneumatically operated. In response to a first operation on a manual pneumatic control switch, a rubber band is pneumatically expanded in front of a central opening in a housing. Broccoli stems can then be inserted through the rubber band and the opening. A second operation of the pneumatic control switch results in the rubber band retracting about the stems and simultaneously a knife blade within the housing cutting the stems. Also, an ejector is automatically operated after a given delay time to strip the cut broccoli stems from the rubber band expander so that the apparatus is ready for repeating the operation.

Abstract: A bag expander for a flexible bag comprising a frame of two U-shaped rods or wires which are slidably connected so that the frame can be expanded when placed inside the bag mouth. Loops on the ends of each frame member slide on the limbs of the other frame member. U-shaped leg members of rod or wire are pivoted by the ends of the limbs to the bases of the frame members respectively so that the frame can be supported above ground. To slow the expander the frame members are telescoped together and the leg members are folded to lie side by side with the frame members.

Abstract: A method and means for vacuum sealing perishable materials in bags fabricated of vacuum gas impermeable material. A method according to the present invention includes: partially filling a bag fabricated of gas impermeable material with perishable product, loosely positioning clamping means about the open end of said bag, isolating the loosely clamped bag in a sealed treatment zone, drawing a vacuum in the treatment zone to evacuate the interior of said loosely clamped bag, maintaining the vacuum for a period of time to equalize vacuum pressure within the treatment zone and the loosely clamped bag, rapidly breaking the vacuum to expel remaining gases from the bag and to compress the clamping means to seal the bag, separately sealing the clamped-end of the bag and removing the clamping means to obtain a vacuum packed product.

Abstract: A leaf collecting and bagging assembly is made up of a plastic bag having an open end and sheet means of plastic material integral with the bag and attached thereto around its opening, the integral sheet means being capable of being spread out on the ground to serve as a leaf collecting surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for bunching, trimming and banding vegetables and the like comprising a plurality of arms (20) each having fixed thereto an upstanding finger (32) means (22) supporting the arms for movement in a common plane toward and away from a common area, an actuator (28) for moving the arms in unison and a top plate (16) forming a center opening (18) centered about the common area whereby the arms can be moved to the center, an elastic band (34) placed over the upstanding fingers, the arms actuated away from the common area and a bunch of vegetables inserted so that movement of the arms back toward the common area will allow the elastic band to hold the bunch. A truncated cone shaped hollow guide (37) positioned beneath the arms will guide the vegetables together for bunching.

Abstract: The invention is an improved packaging system that may be located in satellite-like locations in a large area where packaging operations are being performed. The system combines the use of load carrying structures, such as pallets, load transporting equipment, such as pallet transporters, a turntable device, a mechanism for revolving the turn-table device, and a securing facility to package, by wrapping, a load upon the load carrying structure. The turn-table device consists of a plate-like platform secured to a bearing which is supported by a frame structure having rollers on which the plate-like platform revolves. The mechanism for revolving the turn-table device consists of a powered facility that turns a friction-type roller to revolve the plate-like platform.

Abstract: A combined bag and wrapping sheet unit provides both an arrangement and method for dispensing items that are to be wrapped and then inserted into a bag. The bag of the unit is flat and collapsed and has two broad panels attached to one another along at least a portion of their side edges, a closed bottom end and an open top end. A saddle section is provided which is a planar extension of one of said board panels and further a weakened zone between the saddle section and the panel of which it is an extension is provided. The wrapping sheet is flexible and is a planar extension of the saddle section. A weakened zone is provided between the wrapping sheet and the saddle section. Both the wrapping sheet and the bag are readily detachable from opposite sides of the saddle section. A number of registered, identically oriented bag and wrapping sheet units are attached to each other so as to form a single assembly block.

Abstract: A semi-automatic, poly-sleeve labeler has a banding station to which containers are conveyed, there being a roll supply of flat, tubular, poly-sleeve labels above the station. A fixed, upstanding, flat, holder and an inclined, spring-biased, pivoted, flat, holder are mounted at a predetermined distance above the level of the conveyor path to support an open band. The operator tears off a band, places it over the holders, presses a pedal which causes a piston head to lift the container at the station, up through the holders for frictional engagement within the band. The banded container is removed and the parts return for the next cycle. A gear rack and pinion mechanism advances the bands individually and successively over a spreader to a tear-off location at about eye level. The spreader includes oppositely disposed concave recesses in each of which one of the oppositely disposed feed rolls is seated.

Abstract: A tap attachable to a spout of a container for decanting a liquid such as wine into bottles has a rotary valve housing and a valve body provided with a detachable handle, part of that valve body being a tubular spigot fitting into a transverse bore of the valve housing to fill a bottle aligned with that bore. The spigot, when withdrawn from the bore after removal of the tap from the spout and plugging of the latter, is receivable in an internally threaded plastic cap for forcing it into the neck of a freshly filled bottle; to unseal the bottle, a complementarily threaded extremity of the handle detached from the valve body is screwed into the cap for extracting same.

Abstract: A device for preparing a bunch of produce for shipment, display and sale by placing a rubber band on the produce and cutting the stalks of said bunch of produce to a predetermined length. The device includes an upper plate member, a lower plate member, and a vertically movable intermediate plate member. Centrally located stalk receiving holes are provided in the plate members of sufficient diameter for receiving a stalk portion of a bunch of produce. A plurality of movable pins are carried by the intermediate plate member and extend vertically through respective holes of the upper plate member for receiving a stretched rubber band. Upon depressing a foot pedal, the rubber band is released around the stalk portion of a bunch of produce. A cutting assembly which has a horizontally adjustable positioning block is used for severing the stalk portion of the bunch of produce to a predetermined length.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for expediting the carding of jewelry items comprising piercing posts and clutches, such as pierced earrings and the like, particularly where a plurality of pairs of earrings are mounted on a single card. The clutches are vibrated into apertures in a plate member in proper orientation to receive the posts, with the alignment of said apertures registering with openings in the card, whereby when the card is properly positioned on the plate and the posts inserted through the card openings, the posts will frictionally engage the clutches.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism for an impulse sealer includes a pair of drive arms pivoted on a flat base member and a pressure arm pivoted about the same pivot between the drive arms. Complimentary pressure members are located at the free ends of the drive arms and pressure arm for clamping a member to be heat sealed. A pair of levers are pivoted intermediate their ends on the drive arms between the clamping member and the pivot. The levers are comprised of two arms disposed at oblique angles relative to each other with the end of the lower arm sliding on the flat surface of the base member. The free end of the upper arm of the lever is connected to the pressure arm at a point between the clamping member and the pivot by means of a connecting rod so that depression of the drive arm will cause the ends of the lower lever arm to slide along the surface of the base member.

Abstract: A system for the packaging, shipment, storage, and reconstitution of dry pharmaceuticals includes a flexible bag manufactured from two layers of plastic laminated film and a rigid port-forming member. In the system, the package is used for shipment and storage of dry pharmaceuticals and for their reconstitution in a liquid solution and their intravenous administration. A plurality of such packages may be handled as an assembly by flexible plastic strips both during processing and packaging and during the reconstitution of the dry medicine as a liquid solution. The flexible plastic strips are formed with a plurality of cavities. Each cavity of the strip has a plurality of sites located in its central portion and adapted to engage and retain the port-forming member and to protect its opening from contamination. A plurality of such package assemblies can be enclosed within an outer protective bag to provide protection against moisture and the effects of the environment during shipment and storage.

Abstract: A sterile cover for an instrument comprising, a tray having an upright post, with the post having an upper end and a lower end. The cover has a sleeve of flexible material having an open end and a closed end. The sleeve is placed on the post with the closed end being located adjacent the upper end of the post, with the sleeve extending over the post from the upper end toward the lower end of the post, and with the open end of the sleeve being accessible to a user to remove the sleeve from the post.

Abstract: Bundles of vegetables such as broccoli, and the like, are banded by apparatus (10) comprising an expander assembly (18) having a plurality of arms (86, 86', 86") which swing toward and away from one another about axes perpendicular to a phase of an associated segment in order to expand and contract an elastic band (E) placed on the arms when retracted and permit a worker to place a bundle to be banded within an expanded band. A plurality of expander assemblies (18) can be mounted on a continuous conveyor (14, 14') formed by a plurality of planar segments (16) articulated to one another and each supporting a respective expander assembly. Banded bundles are removed from conveyor (14, 14') by an extractor arrangement (30) including a pair of opposed belts (32, 32') provided with flexible fingers (34) which engage the banded bundles in a protective manner in order to remove them from an associated expander assembly (18).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a packing apparatus which comprises a container opening at its upper end and at least one film suction chamber positioned under the container and is connected to an appropriate absorbing device. The container defines a packing chamber for holding a part of a packing film in a baggy shape and receiving products to be packed therein. The suction chamber defines a chamber communicating with the absorbing device. The chamber further communicates with the packing chamber through a plurality of vent holes for creating a partial vocuum under the packing film.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an apparatus and method for wrapping products in stretch film by placing each product on a product support table having collapsible fingers. A pivotable frame is loaded with successive lengths of stretch film and pivoted down over each product placed on the support table. Tucking blades mounted on the frame tuck the side edges of the film under the product, while infeed and outfeed rollers tuck the front and back edges under the product. Pusher means then advance the product onto the outfeed conveyor to complete the front tuck and seal the film beneath the product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cork mounting apparatus for bottles which comprises two head parts, one lower part, and one upper part. The invention stands out from earlier well-known apparatus in that the upper part which includes a piston has an outer tube which is arranged around an outer wall of the lower part. Accordingly, the piston will therefore go straight up and down in a socket connected to the lower part. The lower part is also provided with a tube which extends down around the bottle-neck. The lower part tube eliminates wobbling of the bottle during the cork mounting operation. The apparatus is also useful for mounting capsules and foils on bottles. Also, with an extra fitting, the apparatus may be used as a corkscrew. The upper part may furthermore be used separately as a "doughy-free" closing plug for bottles.

Abstract: Apparatus for enumerative display and disposal of surgical sponges comprising a circular one piece molded plastic article adapted to be fit over the rim of a standard surgical kick bucket and a bag placed in the kick bucket. The article bears a predetermined number of notches in its upper portion for display of sponges draped over the notches, so that when each notch bears a sponge, the number of used sponges on the article is known. The article contains a number of other features including a circumferential fluid receiving portion, shoulder portions, and a tapered annular channel portion to receive a bucket handle, and tapered projections in the notch portions to improve retaining engagement of the sponges. The article is designed to be nestable by easy packaging, sterilizable, inexpensive, and disposable.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping a load carried on a floor-mounted pallet. The apparatus includes a carriage having a wheeled base for rolling movement about the pallet-carried load. The carriage is provded with an upright upstanding from the base and vertically movably supporting a carrier for a roll of wrapping sheet material. A handle structure is provided on the carriage for manipulation of the carriage in effecting the rolling movement about the pallet-carried load and mechanism is provided adjacent the handle for effecting vertical movement of the carrier to permit spiral wrapping of the sheet material about the pallet-carried load. The carrier is arranged to extend downwardly to a lowermost position, permitting wrapping of the pallet substantially at floor level and, in an uppermost position, for wrapping the uppermost portion of the load. The invention further includes improved structure for releasably retaining the sheet material roll on a spindle on the carrier.

Abstract: A packaging element is provided for mounting blister strips containing a course of medication for a patient. The element comprises a lamina foldable along a straight line dividing the lamina into a supporting member and a backing member so that when the lamina is folded the one faces of the members lie adjacent.

Abstract: A basket filler, blank for making same, and a method of making same include an elongated body member formed of flexible and yet resilient material, shaped and preformed so that the body member has arcuate edges along the long sides thereof, one end of the body member being provided with a plurality of spaced stepped shoulders with each stepped shoulder being provided with one or more slots, the other end of the elongated member provided with projections for engagement during assembly of them with the stepped shoulder slots, and tabs provided by slits cut into the body member from the longer arcuate edge of the body member. During the process of assembly of the basket filler blank, the desired diameter of the filler is ascertained from measurement of a basket with which the filler is to be used, and then the appropriate stepped shoulder selected for receiving the projections through the slots thereof.

Abstract: A roller chute apparatus for packaging a flexible plastic bag filled with liquid in a box has four stacks of rotatably supported vertically spaced rollers. The four stacks extend a substantial depth into the box around the inside of the box sidewalls forming two pair of mutually opposing stacks. A first pair extends above the open top of the box and cooperates with the second pair in guiding the bag into the box. The second pair extends above the top of the box with opposing stacks being mutually spaced a greater distance than opposing sidewalls of the box, thereby forming a funnel-like opening with the first pair. A driver roller is substantially located above and adjacent to the top of the box forming an angular transition between each of the portions of the second pair extending above and below the top of the box.

Abstract: A merchandise delivery conveyor apparatus for an automatic merchandise bagging apparatus including a bag receptacle pivotable from a horizontal position to a generally upright position for erecting the bag loaded with articles comprises an endless conveyor belt of a length sufficient to support a plurality of the loaded bags thereon, a multi-strand conveyor belt positioned between the bag receptacle and the endless conveyor belt for receiving the loaded bag from the bag receptacle when the latter is in the upright position and then transferring it to the endless conveyor, and a tilt preventing system for avoiding the possibility of fall-down of one or some loaded bags being transported towards a delivery zone. The tilt preventing system comprises a plurality of equally spaced tilt preventing arms, some being held in operative positions to hold the loaded bag between each adjacent two tilt preventing arms and some being held in inoperative positions.

Abstract: Automatic machinery, particularly suited for the loading of pre-cut, individual microfilm strips into the storage channels of microfilm jackets, includes a feed roll shaft intermediate of insertion chute means and a loading pedestal carrying the jacket. Respective feed rolls overlie corresponding delivery ends of chutes and the jacket edges leading to channel openings. A film strip is first inserted into a chute and is in registry with the jacket edge. Then, the pedestal is raised upward to press the film between the lower surface of the corresponding feed roll and the jacket edge, whereupon the feed roll is activated to drive the strip into the channel.

Abstract: A method of joining an assembled multi-compartment medicinal dispensing device and an assembled multi-compartment extender to each other to provide an increased capacity device using an assembly fixture whose maximum capacity is no greater than that of the device. The fixture includes plural rows of openings, each opening being arranged for accommodating a respective compartment of the device during assembly thereof. The method comprises placing an assembled device on the fixture in a location wherein one row of openings is exposed, placing an assembled extender on the fixture with the compartments thereof being disposed within respective openings of said row, and with a portion of said extender disposed over a portion of said device and thereafter securing said portions to each other to join the device and the extender.

Abstract: A bag support and dispensing apparatus having a support shaft for supporting a plurality of stacked bags by engaging each bag in the stack through aligned apertures in the front and rear walls of the bag. A pivotally mounted, extending hanger is positioned opposite the support shaft to engage a front wall of the top-most bag in the stack through an associated aperture in the front wall, so that the bag is supported in an open loading position by the support shaft at the rear wall and the extending hanger at the front wall. The extending hanger may be pivoted forwardly and upwardly to disengage the hanger from the bag and to allow the bag to be easily removed from the bag support apparatus. The hanger falls back to a loading position after it is released.