Abstract: A wrapper for a floral grouping formed from a sheet of material having a closure bonding material on a portion thereof. The sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure bonding material securing the sheet of material in a wrapped position about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. A top flap is folded over an open upper end of the wrapper and connected to the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper. In one form, a bottom flap is connected to the wrapper and extends over an open lower end of the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open lower end of the wrapper.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for sealing filled bags with headers using high speed automated bag sealing apparatus using a header strip aligned against a side of said bag in a predetermined position and simultaneously sealing said bag and said header strips to said bag with said high speed automated bag sealing apparatus.

Abstract: A wrapper for a floral grouping formed from a sheet of material having a closure bonding material on a portion thereof. The sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure bonding material securing the sheet of material in a wrapped position about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. A top flap is folded over an open upper end of the wrapper and connected to the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper. In one form, a bottom flap is connected to the wrapper and extends over an open lower end of the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open lower end of the wrapper.

Abstract: A wrapper for a floral grouping formed from a sheet of material having a closure bonding material on a portion thereof. The sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure bonding material securing the sheet of material in a wrapped position about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. A top flap is folded over an open upper end of the wrapper and connected to the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper. In one form, a bottom flap is connected to the wrapper and extends over an open lower end of the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open lower end of the wrapper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a wrapper to a paper roll, a turret mechanism has a crimper and an inside head holder on one side and an outside head applying platen on the opposite side, a drive for rotating the turret mechanism to place the crimper and inside head holder adjacent the paper roll end to place an inside head on the paper roll and crimp the wrapper over the inside head, and then rotating the turret mechanism to place the outside head applying platen adjacent the paper roll to place an outside head over the crimped wrapper all at a single station. The inside head holder has several retractable vacuum cups that can also apply positive air pressure to hold the inside head against the roll and during crimping. The vacuum cups are sequentially, independently retracted as a crimp approaches to clear the crimp as the paper roll is rotated.

Abstract: A wrapper for a floral grouping formed from a sheet of material having a closure bonding material on a portion thereof. The sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure bonding material securing the sheet of material in a wrapped position about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. A top flap is folded over an open upper end of the wrapper and connected to the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper. In one form, a bottom flap is connected to the wrapper and extends over an open lower end of the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open lower end of the wrapper.

Abstract: A modular pharmacy and a modular pharmacy system and process for the admixture of intravenous drugs and total parenteral nutrition solution which includes automatic daily computer download of hospital prescriptions and the daily compounding under controlled systematic aseptic conditions including individually controlled environments at each work station and following systematically controlled process steps.

Abstract: A box forming apparatus for folding and securing the upper flaps of a box including a front inner flap folding body, back inner flap folding body, and left and right outer flap folding bodies for moving the respective flaps of a box into its upper opening plane. The novel apparatus further includes a cooperating tape head for securing the flaps in their folded position.

Abstract: Sheets and rolls of sheets with detachable labels and having a closure bonding material for securing the sheets around items to be wrapped. Spots of closure bonding material may be placed on the detachable labels to hold the detachable labels in a wrapped position. The detachable labels may contain graphical, narrative and bar code information related to pricing, inventory, sales display, product description and care instructions. The sheets may also include detachable sleeves for protecting wrapped items during shipping and handle areas which may be punched out of the sheets for grasping the wrapped items. The handle areas may also contain information similar to that on the detachable labels. Sheets having detachable labels may also be used for forming flower pots or flower pot covers. By providing such labels on the unformed sheets, it is not necessary to add tags or labels after the sheets are formed into flower pots or flower pot covers.

Abstract: A packaging container of the type being flat when empty for receiving bulk material includes a moisture-proof, thermoplastic layer connectable along a longitudinal seam which is defined by longitudinal edges and having a ventilation zone spaced in parallel relationship to the longitudinal edges and closable through heat sealing or welding after feeding bulk material into the interior and ventilating the bulk material. The ventilation zone of the packaging container is formed by initially leaving one of the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal seam open. Only after the packaging container is filled and the contents are allowed to ventilate is this initially open seam area closed by a welding or heat sealing process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The apparatus comprises a rotatable platform having at least one opening sized to receive the article. At least portions of a sheet of material are supported in a position generally over the opening. A cover forming assembly having contacting portions for contacting the sheet of material is disposed in the opening in the support surface. The apparatus also comprises a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of the covered article for fastening the cover about the article when the platform is rotated into a fastening position.

Abstract: Divisible packs consisting in two wrappers breasted frontally one with another are conveyed broadside, singly and in succession, to the point of being taken up between paired belt loops carrying teeth which are timed to impinge on the two wrappers and bring them into vertical alignment. Thereafter, the pack draws level with an applicator station where labels are affixed to the now perfectly matched end faces of the wrappers, then passes on to a further station at which correct application of the labels is verified by two pneumatic control elements: these consist in suction cups or nozzles connected to respective transducers which, by sensing changes in the pressure levels registering at the end faces of the wrappers, will detect any pack from which either or both of the labels may be missing.

Abstract: An automated machine for the high-speed packaging of multiple surgical needles each with an attached suture into a tray and detachable cover structure providing a suture package utilized for the packaging of the needles and attached sutures. Additionally, the automated packaging machine incorporates operative mechanism adapted to wind the sutures into a peripheral channel of the tray and facilitating the attachment of the cover to the tray which contains the needles and attached wound sutures, and from which cover there is concurrently formed a separate product-identifying label as a component of the tray upon removal of the cover to gain access to the contents of the tray.

Abstract: A method of using a needle shield for retainers enclosing suture-needle assemblies constructed of a fibrous material and foldable about at least two score lines to provide a protective device against needle damage, accidental sticking of the user's fingers, and puncture of the package within which the retainer is packaged.

Abstract: A material dispenser for dispensing single sheets of material from stacks of sheets of material or from rolls of material and applying an adhesive strip to the sheet. The adhesive strip is applied by contacting the adhesive portion of an adhesive transfer tape to the sheet. The sheet of material with the adhesive strip applied thereto can be used to wrap floral arrangements or flower pots or other articles. The apparatus may be combined with an automatic pot wrapping apparatus so the adhesive application and decorative pot wrapping sequence can be combined into one continuous operation.

Abstract: A method of packaging an article, such as a disk cassette or a tape cassette, in a wrapping film having at least a printed portion to be attached adhesively to the surface of the article comprises wrapping the article in the wrapping film, and pressing the printed portion to the surface of the article to attach the printed portion adhesively to the surface of the article so that the printed portion remains on the surface of the article when the wrapping film is torn off. Characters and patterns to be formed on both the article and the wrapping film are printed on the wrapping film and the characters and patterns to be formed on the surface of the article are formed in the printed portion of the wrapping film and the printed portion is attached adhesively to the surface of the article when the article is wrapped in the wrapping film. Therefore, nothing needs to be printed on the article, which reduces the manufacturing cost of the article.

Abstract: A decorative covering for a flower pot where a sheet of material is extended about an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and a band is secured about a portion of the sheet of material to form a crimped portion in the sheet of material for cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extending about the flower pot to provide the decorative covering.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for applying a packaging sheet to cover the contents and simultaneously seal them including an adhering mechanism for adhering tape at corresponding sealing positions of the packaging sheet. The adhering mechanism is movable toward or away from the tape feeding-out mechanisms. Adhering tapes are adhered to the corresponding sealing position while being partially projected. The packaging sheet, including the adhering tapes, is fed out by the sheet feeding-out mechanism to the packaging start position. Concurrent to the completion of the folding of the packaging sheet during the packaging operation, projected portions of the adhering tapes are adhered.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for removing excess air from sealed packages so as to prevent ballooning. The apparatus (1) comprises a first conveyor belt (3) along which the packages move through the apparatus (1). The conveyor (3) Is driven by two rollers (4 and 5) and is also arranged to vibrate, by means of vibrator (2), in order to settle the contents, e.g. rice, in the packages throughout the operation. When a package is in a predetermined position, as determined by a sensor, such as a photoelectric cell (7), the package is punctured by a suitable device such as a spike (8). As the package continues down the conveyor (3), excess air is removed from the package by means of a spring loaded conveyor (19) which is biased against the package. As spring loaded conveyor (19) is pressed against the package, air in the package Is forced out through the hole made by spike (8).

Abstract: The invention is a package including a bundle of shirred casing sticks disposed and held together by a container which completely encloses the bundle. The container is formed insitu about the bundle from a heat shrink film which stiffens on heat shrinking to provide a self-supporting container conforming in shape generally to the bundle shape. During heat shrinking, portions of the film are insulated to prevent welding of these portions so they provide flaps which open to permit removal or replacement of sticks.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a flexible package having a banner or coupon adhered thereto attach a continuous banner stock to a continuous web of packaging film. The united web is processed through a form, fill and seal apparatus wherein the web is fed to a vertical form-fill tube, formed into a tubular package preform, and sealed as the preform exits the tube.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method for manufacturing a bag-in-a-bag system wherein there is provided a content-carrying sealed and opaque inner bag and a windowed outer bag having a layer in the window-forming graphic content replicating indicia. The graphic layer indicia is of a high quality and is prepared by a high resolution printing technique where the minimum resolution is defined as 160-200 line screen. This type of resolution can be achieved using a rotogravure process. For ease in manufacturing, several indicia are printed on a web, which is then longitudinally slit to separate the indicia and then cut transversely into patches for application to the bag. The bag itself may be printed using a lower resolution technique such as rubber plate printing.

Abstract: A label feeder for use with an automated packaging machine wherein open-top containers are moved along a conveyor line. The label feeder comprises an open frame with a substantially horizontally extending supporting arm extending therefrom and a motor mounted thereon. The supporting arm has at least one label hold bin for holding the labels mounted on it as well as an endless conveyor for moving the label from the label hold bin to a position directly over the open-top container. A loading ram system and an unloading ram system, each with vacuum means, are mounted on the supporting arm to pick a label from the hold bin and deposit a label into the containers, respectively. The label feeder is portable and is used as needed in association with the packaging machine to place the individual label into the open-top container either before or after the articles have been added and before the container is sealed close.

Abstract: A decorative covering for a flower pot where a sheet of material is extended about an outer peripheral surface of the flower pot and a band is secured about a portion of the sheet of material to form a crimped portion in the sheet of material for cooperating to hold the sheet of material in the position extending about the flower pot to provide the decorative covering.

Abstract: Containers for beverages are rotated about their own axes and are simultaneously transported past a water applying sponge and thereupon past an applicator of labels which completely surround the peripheral surfaces of the respective containers so that the leader of each label is overlapped by its trailing end. The films of water which are applied by the sponge reduce the likelihood of slippage of labels relative to the peripheral surfaces during draping of the labels, and such films evaporate when the application of labels is completed so that the labels surround but do not adhere to the containers. The trailing ends of the labels are coated with adhesive which bonds them to the respective leaders.

Abstract: A wrapper for a floral grouping formed from a sheet of material having a closure bonding material on a portion thereof. The sheet of material is wrapped about the floral grouping with the closure bonding material securing the sheet of material in a wrapped position about the floral grouping to form the wrapper. A top flap is folded over an open upper end of the wrapper and connected to the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open upper end of the wrapper. In one form, a bottom flap is connected to the wrapper and extends over an open lower end of the wrapper to prevent the floral grouping from shifting in the wrapper and extending out from the open lower end of the wrapper.

Abstract: The invention resides in winder for automatically winding sections of sheet material to form separate tubes. The winder comprises a base, a supply of sheet material and a material drive means on the base for advancing sheet material from the supply towards a station on the base located remotely thereof. A winding means is located at the station for winding a section of the sheet material about itself and about a rotational axis such that the involved section of sheet material is substantially wound in a tubular condition. A cutting means is provided and is located between the drive means and the second rotational axis for cutting the sheet material transversely of its length at points therealong corresponding to the end one section and the beginning of the next successive section to be advanced to the station.

Abstract: A method and device for applying sealing strips to packages, whereby the strips are applied to the packages as these are transferred between respective transverse pockets on three conveyors traveling at the same speed and in the same direction, the first conveyor being a loop conveyor located between a feed conveyor and an output conveyor. The strips are supplied in such a position as to close the end of the pockets on the loop conveyor facing the feed conveyor, and the packages complete one full turn of the loop conveyor prior to being transferred on to the output conveyor.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of packaging a developer cartridge especially for use in the image-forming of the electrophotographic process, the method by which the operativity of users can be improved and the pollution due to the sealing member of the developer cartridge can be prevented. The object of the present invention is achieved by fixing a free end of the above sealing member held between the sealing portions of the packing bag when the packing bag is hermetically sealed. With this, the sealing member is pulled off in accordance with the developer cartridge being drawn out from the bag when it is used. When the whole part of the developer cartridge is drawn out, the sealing member is completely pulled off, and is left inside the packing bag.

Abstract: A system and method for encapsulating three dimensional articles on one side of a bag formed by a bag making machine. A conventional bag making machine is modified configuring the drawrollers to allow for passage of the three-dimensional article. Additionally, a feeding station is used which acquires the article, moves the article to a gluing station where an adhesive is applied to the article. The feeding station then moves the article into a fold formed in the bag. The fold is sealed and the bag subsequently formed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing dual cigarette packs having a spacer therebetween. The apparatus of one preferred embodiment includes: an assembly station to receive sequentially in stacked relationship a first pack of cigarettes, a spacer, and a second pack of cigarettes, the assembly station including means to transport said cigarette packs through the assembly station; means to feed cigarette packs at first and third positions along the assembly station; means to place a spacer on the cigarette packs at a second position of the assembly station, the second position being located between the first and third positions of the assembly station; and, means to place cigarette packs onto the spacer at the third position of the assembly station, thereby creating a dual cigarette pack having a spacer therebetween.

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: A method of feeding and folding sheet material on a flip-top cigarette packing machine, whereby a wrapping wheel on the wrapping line of the packing machine is connected to a supply device whereby flat portions of sheet material, from which to form internal collars and, if necessary, coupons, are fed successively to the wrapping wheel and into contact with the outer surface of respective groups of cigarettes already present on the wheel; the collars being formed by folding the flat portions of sheet material about respective groups as these are transferred to a further wrapping wheel on the wrapping line.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for taping closed the open edge of a composite newspaper is provided which includes a tape applicator for applying a portion of tape to one side of a newspaper, and a moving member presenting a surface moving downstream with the newspaper but at a greater speed relative thereto, whereby a remainder portion of the tape not adhered to the one side may be wrapped around the open end by temporarily adhering a portion of the remainder of the tape to the moving surface and transferring the tape thus temporarily adhered from the moving surface to the other side of the newspaper as the moving surface passes thereby in close adjacency.

Abstract: Magnetic tape cassettes are typically stored in a case which includes a cover having a pocket, and a casing portion. To identify the contents recorded on the magnetic tape, an index card is disposed between the magnetic tape cassette and case. When the index card is inserted into the case at high speeds during manufacturing thereof, air is trapped between the case and the index card causing inefficient production and damage, such as bending, to the index card. To remove air, air passage holes are provided within a side wall of the pocket of the case or within the bent portion of the index card.

Abstract: A reclosable package for holding items comprises a container having a front portion, top end portion and back portion. An adhesive front label is applied to the front portion of the container. A flexible adhesive flap is then applied which covers the label, top end, and back portions of the container. The label and front portion of the container has a contoured edge formed therein to define an opening edge. The flap includes a non-adhesive pull tab. Lifting the pull tab detaches the front portion along the contoured edge and also removes the top end to open the package. The back of the flap remains attached to the back of the package to form a hinged connection. The flap is resealable to the front portion of the package, to allow the package to be reclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming a tape handle for a box. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for applying to a box a strip of box sealing tape that has an adhesive side and a back side. A strip of handle tape having an adhesive side and a back side and a strip of deadening materials are supplied by the apparatus and combined so that the deadening strip is positioned on the adhesive side of the handle tape to thereby form a handle assembly having first and second adhesive sections and an intermediate masked section. The apparatus then brings the handle assembly and the box sealing tape into engagement to adhere the first and second adhesive sections of the handle assembly to the back side of the box sealing tape, and the box sealing tape is then adhered to the box.

Abstract: A process for application of a carrying grip or handle by means of adhesive tape to a row of continuously moving cartons during automatic packing and sealing operations, wherein each case a predetermined length of adhesive tape is applied automatically to each carton, whereby between the attachment of the two ends of the predetermined length of adhesive tape on the carton, the adhesive tape is acted upon by a movement which is different with respect to at least one parameter from the movement of the carton, thus forming the excess length which constitutes the handle. The adhesive side of the excess length of adhesive tape has been previously covered or masked automatically with a cover tape in an operational step which is synchronized with the application of the adhesive tape to the carton.

Abstract: The invention involves a method of wrapping a roll wherein a sleeve wrap having a width substantially equal to the width of the paper roll is wraped around the cylindrical portion of the roll. A head of the same size as the end of the roll is coupled to each end of the roll. A stretch wrap is then wrapped around the ends of the roll so that approximately one-half of the stretch wrap covers a portion of the end of the roll and the other one-half lies in the same plane as the head. An end band may also be wrapped over the stretch wrap at each end of the roll. The invention also involves an apparatus that includes a trim slitter for trimming the sleeve wrap to the same size as the width of the roll.

Abstract: A taping machine comprising an operating and advancement plane for boxes to be side-sealed. The apparatus includes conveyors engaging the top and bottom of the boxes to cause advancement. The upper conveyor is displaceable vertically, while the taping units are displaceable vertically and horizontally. The transmission of motion is operationally but removably placed between the conveyor and taping unit adjustment devices. This motion is such that every vertical displacement of the conveyor implies a similar halved displacement of the taping units. The result is ease of adjustment for boxes of differing sizes.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method of inserting a lightweight, oversized, inside head to the end of a partially wrapped roll. An inside head is attached to multiple articulated arms extending from a spider assembly. The spider is moved toward the end of the roll until the articulated arms engage the end of the roll. The spider assembly opens the articulated arms radially outwardly until adjacent a wrapper tube extension. A heating clamp then welds the outer edge of the inside head to the wrapper tube extension.

Abstract: A cartonless recyclable packages for protectively enclosing a product, such as photographic film, comprises a recyclable plastic container and mating cap with recyclably compatible plastic labels thereon bearing product information. One such label on the cap has readily tearable tab portions extending therefrom and tautly secured to the container, to tear apart when the cap is first removed. A second label, secured to the container and overlapping the tearable tab portions, includes inner and outer sheets separably adhered together. The outer sheet can be peeled back to reveal information on the interfacing surfaces of both sheets, and then re-adhered to the inner sheet. A third label, separably adhered to the first label on the cap, may be peeled away and re-adhered to some other surface for reference after the product has been removed.

Abstract: A receptacle for food products and the like is provided. A plastic film is tightly wrapped about a preformed package such as a tray containing wet food products. The film defines a pair of opposing flaps and an area of overlapping film portions extending between the flaps and adjacent to the bottom surface of the tray. Heat and pressure are applied to the wrapping at the bottom surface of the tray to provide a flat, sealed film surface. A strip of adhesive tape is applied to the flat film surface, thereby connecting the opposing flaps and providing a seal over the seam defined by the overlapping film portions. The tape is then heated to cause the adhesive to flow, thereby improving the seal. The wrapping is prevented from moving from its original position by the tape and is accordingly substantially leak-proof.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying disc-shaped end walls to the end faces of rolls of convoluted paper in a positioning unit wherein the rolls are maintained in horizontal positions has a magazine with two rows of floor-mounted pallets for stacks of superimposed end walls having different diameters. A conveyor which is mounted for travel between the two rows of pallets has lifters which can simultaneously pick up end walls from selected pairs of transversely aligned stacks and delivers the thus lifted end walls to an orientation changing unit which moves the end walls from horizontal into vertical planes and centers the end walls prior to applying them to the respective end faces of the roll in the positioning unit.

Abstract: A vacuum package is made of flexible laminate capable of being stored as roll stock. The laminate comprises laminated inner and outer layers providing desired mechanical properties, secured together at patterned areas to facilitate the passage of gas between the layers, and is provided with a hand peelable sealing strip at an area which, when the laminate is formed into a bag and the mouth sealed, extends around the periphery of the mouth of the package. When the laminate is formed into a bag, the application of vacuum to the interior of the bag results in the inner layer conforming to the contours of the contents, while ambient air between the layers enables the outer layer to maintain a desirable and aesthetically pleasing smooth surface texture.

Abstract: Labelling machine comprising a cylindrical vacuum drum, a feed screw located in relation to the vacuum drum to move cylindrical containers from a starting point to a release point past the vacuum drum with their cylinder axes parallel to the cylinder axis of the vacuum drum and in tangent contact with the vacuum drum, and a continuous drive belt located to contact the sides of containers opposite their sides in contact with the feed screw, said belt serving to spin the containers from the starting point to the release point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for packing an elongated body, for example a stack of covers or lids, by wrapping the body and folding the protruding portion of the wrapper from two opposing sides relative to each of the end faces such that two tapering flaps are formed and then applying a sealing tape to only the two tapering flaps.

Abstract: A method for the first day of issue authentication of rolls of original stamps wherein each stamp in the roll is attached to its neighbor by interconnected, perforated edges that form an integral roll of stamps. The roll of stamps to be authenticated is enclosed in an outer, flexible, clear plastic container that is sealed closed after insertion of the roll of stamps. A printing ink sensitive label is secured over the exterior of the closed end of the container in a manner to assure that the container has not been opened after insertion of the roll of stamps, closure and adherence of the label.

Abstract: A method of producing a succession of self-adhesive labels carried on a backing of release material, which method comprises cutting a laminar material which comprises a web coated on its reverse side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and having a backing of a release material, the cutting being performed in such a manner that all the layers of the laminar material other than the backing layer are cut and so as to cut a succession of spaced label base portions on the backing; applying an adhesive either across the whole of the upper surface of the web or to an area within each label base portion; removing from the backing waste portions of the web outside the label base portions; applying either a folded sheet and envelope, a multiple-ply label or an envelope containing an article to cover that area of each of the label base portions which has been coated with adhesive.

Abstract: A case sealed by a strip of pressure-sensitive tape having an integral end portion of the tape at an end thereof folded back on the adhesive face of the tape and adhered thereto to form a tab which is unadhered to the case for being grasped and pulled to peel the tape away from the case, and a method of and apparatus for taping cases with this easy-open feature.