Abstract: A process for forming synthetic fibers into bales by multi-stage compression involves feeding the synthetic fibers to a plurality of depositing units wherein the fibers are precompressed into a retaining bin positioned at each of the depositing units to form a precompressed fiber parcel and then a plurality of the retaining bins are routed via guide means along a single continuous path to a central press unit wherein the parcels within the retaining bins are successively subjected to a finishing compression to form bales and, thereafter, the compacted bales are removed successively from the retaining bins and the empty retaining bins are, successively, returned along a single guide path back to individual guide paths leading to the depositing units.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plate-shaped permanent magnet (7) which is to be arranged in an air gap of a core (1) for a transformer or choke coil and which consists of a number of permanent magnetic portions (29) which are made of a metal alloy having a high magnetic remanence and which are magnetized perpendicularly to the plane of the plate. A plate (11) of the alloy is fixed between two insulating foils (13, 15) after which this assembly is arranged on a flat backing (17) and is rolled in two mutually perpendicular directions (25, 27) by means of a cylinder (19) whose outer surface is provided with grooves (23). The plate (11) is thus very simply fractured to form a very large number of portions (29).

Abstract: A knock down container package and method of making it which comprises several banks of sheet material which are each die cut and scored in a predetermined manner so that each blank can be readily folded to define a component part of the container in the assembled position wherein one of the blanks has formed on the inner surface thereof suitable indicia. The respective blanks in their knock down position are folded and/or stacked one on the other with the inner surface of the blank having the indicia thereon disposes inner surface up on the top of the stack, and the stack then encapsulated in a see-through wrapping.

Abstract: An improved pre-closed slide mount is described having two sides or masks which are secured together for defining an internal pocket to retain a film transparency which is inserted edgewise through an opening or entranceway in one edge of the mount and defining a window for viewing the transparency in the mount. An elevated border region formed in one mask of the mount extends transversely across the entranceway and has a sloping outer surface to provide a funnel for directing a transparency into the entranceway, and this border region has laterally sloping ends which define two spaced valleys for receiving the outer edges of a longitudinally bowed film strip serving as pusher for the inserted transparency. The outer edges of the valleys are defined by lateral transparency guides. The border region of the other mask forms an elevated roof over the elevated border region with inverted steps over the laterally sloping end portions of the border region.

Abstract: Beef tongues from a kill floor are trimmed while at a temperature no less than about 92.degree. F., rigidified by chilling them to about 35.degree. to 45.degree. F., and passed several times while in their rigidified condition through a skinning machine which grips a leading end of the skin and pulls the tongue at a velocity no greater than about 60 feet per second into a blade which slices a thin layer including the skin from the surface of the tongue. The skinned tongue is wrapped, boxed and frozen for shipment.

Abstract: A photographic film packing apparatus cuts film segments from a web of photographic film, partially overlaps the segments in a shingled manner, and conveys the segments in partially overlapping relationship into an insertion opening of a package, such as a customer order envelope. The apparatus advances the web a selected distance past a knife location, at which a knife assembly is located. The knife assembly severs a film segment from the web. The movement of the film segment is then reversed to cause a trailing edge of the film segment to be deflected downward out of the path of the leading edge of the web. The web is then advanced while the segment is maintained stationary until the web has overlapped the segment by a predetermined amount. The web and the film segment are then conveyed together toward the insertion opening until a desired cut location on the web is aligned with the knife location. The knife assembly then cuts another film segment from the web.

Abstract: A machine and method which serves to introduce measured amounts of different items (e.g., pieces of different fruits) into containers such as cans or jars. Features of the machine and method include high filling speed, straight-line movement of means carrying separate measured amounts of the items, volumetric measuring pockets that are adjustable, and simplicity of construction and operation. Preferably the machine also incorporates means for orienting, slicing, and depositing a predetermined number of cherry halves into the containers.

Abstract: A method for cutting and maintaining in separate segments a gummous comestible, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a disk-like template above the comestible, the template having a plurality of radiating extending slots; (b) positioning a cutting tool above one of the slots; (c) folding a sheet of wax-like material over the cutting edge of said tool and about both sides thereof; (d) simultaneously holding each side of said wax-like sheet against the sides of the tool and pressing said closely held sheet and tool into the gummous comestible; (e) withdrawing the cutting tool while permitting the material, as a result of the friction and surface tension of said gummous comestible thereagainst, to remain in the gummous comestible; and (f) repeating each of the above steps for each of the radiating extending slots of the template through which a corresponding cut and placement of the wax-like sheet material is desired, whereby a separation into segments, in accordance with the relative position of each of the

Abstract: Piles of freshly printed sheets of multiple bank-notes are cut into bundle strips and then these bundle strips are cut into individual bundles of bank-notes; a band station is located between the cutting unit cutting the piles of sheets into bundle strips and the cutting unit cutting these bundle strips into bundles of bank-notes and comprises as many banding device operating in synchronism and located in one row as there are individual bank-notes per strip, so that the bundles of each strip are banded before this strip is cut into bundles.

Abstract: Packaging of tubes or rods is disclosed. The tubes or rods consist of a brittle material such as glass or ceramics. In a method for packaging, the tubes or rods are arranged in one package in the tightest possible packaging form. This package is encased by a hood preferably consisting of a film of synthetic material which is fitted over the package under stress and which thereby locks the tubes or rods in position. A plurality of such packages can be stacked on a conventional pallet and can be encased by an additional hood locking this stack in position.

Abstract: An automated in-line mailing (AIM) system of the type comprising sequentially a continuous sheet-web (20), a sheet cutter (10), an accumulator (12), a folder (14), a collector (16) and an envelope inserter raceway (24) is controlled by hyphens, or indicia, (60) on the sheet web (20). A control system includes a scanner (56) for sequentially sensing the web indicia (60) upstream of a cutting blade (30). The scanner is linked to a one-way clutch drive (114) to activate a plurality of opposed mutilated rollers (88, 90) positioned in the accumulator (12). The control system also includes a trailing edge sensor (122) for sensing a trailing edge of an accumulation of sheets as they are discharged from the accumulator (12).

Abstract: Apparatus for producing slices of pitted cherries. It carries out successive orientation and slicing operations with direct introduction of a predetermined count of slices into containers (e.g., cans or jars). The desired count for each container can be adjusted to meet requirements.

Abstract: An envelope contains a separate enclosure that is formed from the same sheet material. Sheet material having a first portion and a narrower second portion is folded so portions are superimposed one upon the other. At some time, adhesive is applied to the wider regions of the first portion. By severing the sheet material along the edge common to the first and second portions while maintaining their superimposed relationship, they are separated and then subsequently folded so the first portion envelops the second portion, and the envelope is produced as a result of the adhesive. The severing is carried out while the superimposed portions are suitably restrained, e.g., within a buckle plate folder or within a knife-folding unit or between a pair of moving belts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing lasagne noodles from the stripper of a high production pasta oven and packaging the noodles in a continuous processing line. The output of the stripper is split and directed along separate paths whereby the rate at which product is discharged to each path is reduced in half, as compared to conventional strippers. Conveyors transfer the respective split components of the stripper output away from the stripper and through successive accumulator, inspection and sawing stations. After departing from the sawing stations, the noodles are shingled into sub-components of a predetermined number of noodles and these sub-components are then displaced into containers for final packaging.

Abstract: A fish-canning method using a machine having two adjacent parallel rotary turrets each having a fish-receiving pocket in the periphery thereof. The turrets are positioned to align the pockets with each other to form a single combined pocket which is then filled with fish from a correspondingly large size feed chute of increasing cross-sectional area. The fish in the pockets is severed between the turrets and the turrets are rotated by different amounts to move the filled pockets laterally out of alignment with each other. The fish in both filled pockets is formed into the shape of a can and ejected endwise from the pockets into two separate cans.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging compressible fibrous batts and a package of same are provided. The batts are formed by severing a longitudinally-extending strip of compressible fibrous material into batts of discrete lengths with the batts then being collected in end-to-end relationship. The batts are then moved into a loop of a packaging machine, which loop is formed by a belt maintained under controlled tension. The batts are fed longitudinally in abutting, end-to-end relationship into the belt loop which places them under compression as they are wound into a package, with the loop gradually expanding in diameter as the package size increases. Tapes are placed directly around the outermost batt to hold the package in the compressed state and the completed package is then discharged from the machine.

Abstract: An improved method for automatically producing a selected weight draft of sliced product from a workpiece in substantially uniform weight slices and in an integral number of slices.

Abstract: In a method of severing developed photographic film strips into film sections at a severing station and immediately mounting same in slide frames which are spread open ready to receive them and which are conveyed away from the severing station, each severed film section is guided along an edge which is oblique with respect to the conveying direction of the slide frames. An apparatus for performing this method comprises severing means for the strip, a guide path for the slide frames and a guide rail with an oblique guide edge arranged downstream of the severing means to present a leading guide edge portion which extends into the gap between the spread-open slide frame portions.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a microfilm jacket support supportable of a flat microfilm jacket in a horizontal position in an anchored state with a leading edge of the jacket extending beyond the support when mounted thereon, and with a microfilm insertion opening into microfilm jacket reservoir space being positioned at the edge of the support face-up when mounted on the support, and as a part of the combination additionally there being an upper edge pressure-flexing mechanism for flexing downwardly the leading edge extending beyond the support adjacent the insertion opening, and a feeding mechanism for aligning a longitudinally elongated axis of the microfilm with a longitudinal elongated axis of the microfilm jacket reservoir space and with the insertion opening and for feeding advancingly intermittently microfilm into the insertion opening and for intermittently severing microfilm, and additionally for mounting in association with microfilm immediately adjacent the insertion opening a micr