Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for producing drawstring packets. The packets are produced by forming thread loops (L) with tags (T) attached to their ends and placing the packet web material (W) onto the portions of a the loops further from the tags. After securing the loops in their shaped form temporarily to one face of the web, the tags and the remaining portions of thread are placed on the other face of the web to be attached there releasably. In subsequent processing the secured loop portions lie inside the packets and the tags outside. The process allows relatively precise location of the loops so that packets can be produced with the loops in a peripheral channel (P) sealed from the contents of the packets but able to move to contract the package when the ends of the loop are pulled.

Abstract: This invention relates to a casing (10) for use in encasing meat products. The casing (10) comprises a combination of a first tubular casing (11) which may comprise a fibrous casing material and a knitted tubular net (12) located around and substantially concentric to the first tubular member (11). The tubular net (12) comprises circumferential elastic cords (13) and longitudinal cords (14), and the relative diameter of the circumferential cords (13) to the first tubular casing (11) are such that when the casing (10) is being filled the circumferential cords (13) are placed under tension prior to the first tubular casing (11) reaching its maximum diameter. This enables the circumferential cords (13) to absorb some of the hoop stress before it is applied to the first tubular member (11) thereby preventing splitting of the first tubular member (11) which might otherwise occur without the tubular netting (12).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing and packaging compressible materials. The compression is carried out continuously between parallel plates which come closer to each other as they advance. As the plates advance, the materials are accompanied by a lower packaging film and an upper packaging film which are joined at the sides of the compressed materials at the end of compression.

Abstract: A turret assembly for use in a container manufacturing apparatus which comprises a rotatable hub, at least one arm extending radially from the rotatable hub and having a medium reception portion thereon for transferring and inserting at least one medium to a location between a first and second portion of container material.

Abstract: An improved article packaging machine, and method of using same to prevent the formation of empty or defective packages is disclosed. The rotational position of the drive axis (45) of a film feed drive (44), and the drive axis (53) of a cutting head drive (52) are mapped with respect to one another in a base rotational position relationship, whereupon both of these drive axes are mapped to the rotational position of the drive axis (41) of an infeed conveyor drive (40) in a slave/master relationship, respectively. A machine controller (34) then calculates at least a first position control trajectory profile, and establishes a first rotational position relationship of the drive axes with respect to one another.

Abstract: A system for packaging one or more articles surrounded by a tubular web moving downstream along a path includes a first station having a tacking jaw at a first downstream location along the path. The tacking jaw is movable between a first open position and a second closed position for sealing a central portion of the tubular web between the one or more articles. The first station also includes two tucking blades at the first downstream location on opposite sides of the tacking jaw and the tubular web. The tucking blades are movable toward one another for forcing the sides of the tubular web toward the central portion of the tubular web while the tacking jaw is in the closed position. The system also includes a second sealing station downstream from the first sealing station including a sealing jaw substantially perpendicular to the path of the tubular web.

Abstract: An invention for forming, filling, and sealing a flexible recloseable container. Both vertical and horizontal methods for placing product within the container are disclosed. The invention includes guiding a web of film which has interlocking fastener strips sealed to the web. A slider for locking and unlocking the fastener strips is placed in the correct orientation, spread apart at a pair of inner feet, and inserted over the fastener strips. The slider is positioned to close a substantial portion of the strips, and then an end stop, docking station, and corner seal are formed against a sealing plate. The slider is then repositioned, and a tamper evident seal may be placed over the fastener strips.

Abstract: A method for producing cosmetic samplers that incorporates the genuine cosmetic through the use of bulk thin film application techniques such as extrusion or spray technology. The method comprises first applying a cosmetic slurry to a base substrate and then attaching a cover sheet by means of an adhesive on either wide-web offset or label equipment.

Abstract: A method of packaging includes unwinding a center-folded film from a roller, the center-folded film having a first web and a second web; forming a recess between the first and second film webs; feeding a plurality of products into the thus formed recess, as the film advances, the products spaced apart from each other, and the products having a first and second transverse side; sealing and severing the advancing film between each product to be packaged along each of the two transverse sides of each product so as to form a plurality of bags with one open mouth on a front side of each bag, wherein each bag encloses a respective product; and sealing or clipping each open bag mouth. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus and method for packaging individual strand segments of a strand material, such as dental floss, including apparatus for carrying out a method of supplying strand material to a rotatable strand positioning element through a hollow shaft thereof positioned to wind the strand material around a selected mandrel of a circular array of mandrels together with controlling the moving of mandrels within and removing mandrels from within the circular path of the rotating strand positioning element and for counting the rotations of the strand positioning element and using that rotation count to control the advance of the array of mandrels wherein the mandrels having openings for entry of a pick-off element and are caused to be lowered to leave the coil of strand material on the pick-off element, following which the coil of strand material is urged forward by an air jet to be captured between two sheets of packaging film and transported to a stage where the packaging film sheets are sealed tog

Abstract: A method for flavoring tea with a granular flavoring agent includes the step of removing from a reservoir a predetermined amount of granular flavoring agent. The predetermined amount of granular flavoring agent is placed as a small heap onto a moving endless filter paper strip. Subsequently, a predetermined amount of tea is placed adjacent to or onto the small heap of flavoring agent. The tea and flavoring agent heaped onto the filter paper strip are subsequently enclosed in a tea bag made from the filter paper strip accordingly. The inventive device for performing the method includes a device for moving the endless filter paper strip in an advancing direction. A tea metering device and a metering device for a flavoring agent are positioned directly above the endless filter paper strip whereby the metering device for the flavoring agent is positioned upstream of the tea metering device in the advancing direction.

Abstract: Food packaging with a removable prize therein, and a related method of manufacturing the packaging. Prizes are deposited at a predetermined spacing along an adhesive-coated first surface of a first sheet of plastic wrapping. The first surface of the first sheet of plastic wrapping with the prizes adhered thereon is covered by a second sheet of plastic wrapping. A second surface of the first sheet, opposite the first surface, is covered by a third sheet of plastic wrapping, after food is placed between the first sheet and the third sheet.

Abstract: A foam-in-bag packaging system and method of forming the same is provided in which a bag of flexible plastic film material includes superposed panels joined around their peripheral edges to define an enclosed space which is vented to the outside of the bag by venting perforations in the panels, a packet or pouch of barrier material capable of maintaining foam precursor components in a stable, unreacted state for an extended time period is positioned in the enclosed space in the bag adjacent one end thereof and secured from movement therefrom, the packet has first and second compartments therein separated by a first frangible seal extending across the packet and first and second foam precursor components contained respectively in the first and second compartments, the packet has a second frangible seal between one of the compartments and the enclosed space in the bag, the bag being folded along spaced transverse fold lines into a relatively compact form and being folded along a fold line coincident with the fi

Abstract: An end seal wrapping machine (10), and method of forming an end seal in a spaced series of articles (A) moved therethrough, is disclosed. The wrapping machine has a first rotating shaft (40) on which at least a first upper sealing and crimping head (41a, 41b) is positioned, with a spaced second counter-rotating shaft (81) on which a second opposed sealing and crimping head (82a, 82b) is positioned. The wrapping machine is supplied with a regularly spaced series of articles which are substantially enclosed in a continuous tube (27) of packaging film (20) upstream of the sealing and crimping heads. The articles in the tube of packaging film are passed between the sealing and crimping heads for being wrapped within the film. The first sealing and crimping head includes an elongate knife (43) formed as a part thereof, with an elongate platen (92) formed as a part of the second sealing and crimping head, and opposed to the knife.

Abstract: A bandoleer package and method for the making thereof in which bandoleer packages can be used to hold objects that are dimensioned or relatively thick without the usual risk of damage to the object caused by burst rollers. The preferred embodiment is made by forming a tube from a first web around a card cut from a secondary web and an object to be packaged, heat sealing the tube to itself to form a bottom seam of the package and a top seam of a previous package, then bonding the edges of the tube to the card. By bonding the edges to the card, the dimensioned object is kept away from the edges, thus preventing crushing of the object by burst rollers. The second web is preferably coated with a material that facilitates bonding to the first web material. In the preferred embodiment, the first web and the coating are formed from resinous materials, such as polyethylene; but any suitable materials can be used.

Abstract: A method of producing a printed product having a computer disk incorporated therein. The method includes the steps of depositing the disk onto the sheet of material, folding a first portion of the sheet over the disk and over at least a second portion of the sheet, securing the first portion to the second portion, folding a third portion of the sheet into overlapping relation with the first portion to produce a package, maintaining the third portion free from securement with the remainder of the sheet, and gathering the package with a signature to produce a book block while maintaining the third portion free from securement with the remainder of the sheet. The method further includes the step of perforating the sheet with a plurality of perforations to form a perforation line. The perforation line is formed substantially parallel to a fold line produced by the folding step, and preferably before the folding step.

Abstract: An easy open tear control package, preferably a pouch, from a film of polymeric barrier material is disclosed. Methods and films for making of such packages are also disclosed. The easy open tear control feature arises from roughening portions of the outer or inner surface of the films, prior to fabricating into the package. The roughened portion is on one face or on each face of the package and is at least a full width of a seal when the film is made into the package. The roughened portion can extend the entire width of the package and can be of any desired length.

Abstract: An automated method for the manufacture of a coil spring assembly including inserting coil springs having predetermined multiple spring rates into respective individual pockets of a continuous pocket strip in a predetermined order. The predetermined multiple spring rates of at least one coil spring may differ from that of the other coil springs, and each of the multi-rate coils has at least two different spring rates. One or more wires having a substantially uniform thickness are coiled to form the multiple rate coil springs before insertion into the continuous pocket strip. The wire is preferably coiled to produce a coil spring having at least two different diameters and at least two different pitches. The method also includes cutting the spring-filled strip into one or more desired lengths, placing at least two spring-filled lengths adjacent to each other; and attaching adjacent lengths together. A coil spring assembly may thus be provided with one or more firmness zones.

Abstract: The technical sector of the invention is that of the domain of bag-forming by packaging such as bags and especially sachets, made from flat webs folded and sealed to form bags which are then filled with liquid, pasty or pulverulent product, and closed.

Abstract: A drug packaging machine which can provide patients with information of any drug which cannot be packaged in a drug bag if prescribed drugs include such a drug. If prescribed drugs include a drug which cannot be packaged in a drug bag, an empty bag is formed at a position corresponding to the order in which this particular drug is to be taken, and the data for taking this particular drug is printed on the empty bag. A patient can thus take all of his or her necessary drugs simply by following the order in which the drug bags are series-connected.

Abstract: A temperature measurement and control apparatus (7) and a packaging film loading apparatus (9) for use in a horizontal packaging machine (5). The packaging machine includes a pair of counter-rotating sealing and crimping head assemblies (22, 23), each of which includes a plurality of sealing and crimping heads (32, 36), respectively, which are rotated past a first infrared sensor assembly (57) or a second infrared sensor assembly (61), respectively, for measuring the temperature thereof Each sealing and crimping head includes a generally arcuate sensing arc (80) mounted at the first end (77) thereof, the sensing arcs being rotated past either an upper infrared sensor (59) or a lower infrared sensor (63).

Abstract: A system for packaging a water soluble medicant film which is dissolvable in a body fluid within a multi-ply packaging material which comprises a spool of dissolvable film, a mechanism for longitudinally cutting the film into at least two webs, a mechanism for drawing each of the webs through a roller assembly, a mechanism for laterally separating the webs, a mechanism for preventing the webs from adhering to the drawing mechanism, a mechanism for transversely cutting the webs into individual dosages of film, and a mechanism for sealing the film dosages between the packaging plies.

Abstract: A breathable girth former for a packaging machine for bathroom tissue and kitchen toweling rolls wherein the entrance funnel (preformer) has two halves resiliently mounted to conform to the product dimension most likely to jam in the downstream girth former. The funnel halves movement is transmitted to the girth tube former halves by a mechanical linkage to provide the same spacing as in the funnel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a package with heat tack seals for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a longitudinal heat tack seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into a tube and for continuously forming a heat seal along the longitudinal face of the folded web. The food item which has been formed into a soft mass, is then inserted into the tubular member and the tubular member is flattened to form a thin film tube. Means are provided for forming a heat tack cross-seal which is disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.

Abstract: The heat shrinkable film includes at least one of an ethylene-propylene random copolymer and an ethylene-propylene-butene random copolymer and a propylene-butene copolymer of low crystallinity, which is biaxially stretched simultaneously by a ratio of 2.0-3.5 times for each of the machine direction and the transverse direction by a wet heating method. The film preferably has a tensile elongation at breaking of more than 200%, and a heat shrinking ratio of more than 8% for each of the machine direction and the transverse direction when it is immersed in glycerine at 80.degree. C. for 30 sec. Since the film is excellent in tensile elongation and has satisfactory heat shrinkability at low temperature, it is suitable as a film for use in an automatic L-bar sealer in which a tensile elongation at breaking is an important factor.

Abstract: A sampler package containing a free flowing product having superimposed first and second flexible plies with confronting thermoplastic inner surfaces and oppositely facing outer surfaces. A thermoplastic wall surrounding an area between the confronting surfaces to physically separate and cooperating in a melt-bonded relationship with the wall to define a hermetically sealed chamber configured and dimensioned to contain the product.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus and method for packaging individual strand segments of a strand material, such as dental floss, including apparatus for carrying out a method of supplying strand material to a rotatable guide element through a hollow shaft thereof positioned to wind the strand material around a selected mandrel of a circular array of mandrels together with controlling the moving of mandrels within and removing mandrels from within the circular path of the rotating guide element and for counting the rotations of the guide element and using that rotation count to control the advance of the array of mandrels wherein the mandrels have openings for entry of a pick-off element and are caused to be lowered to leave the coil of strand material on the pick-off element, following which the coil of strand material is urged forward by an air jet to be captured between two sheets of packaging film and transported to a stage where the packaging film sheets are sealed together around the coil to form a package i

Abstract: An article adapted for holding a liquid sample for quantification of biological material in the liquid sample. The article includes a bag having an upper surface sheet and a lower surface sheet enclosing a volume therebetween. The bag has an upper opening through which the liquid sample can be poured into the volume in the bag. The bag also has a plurality of partitions configured to separate one or more portions of adequate sample in the bag. Also provided is a passage through which a liquid sample can be distributed throughout the volume in the bag. The bag is made of material which can be caused to form discreet non-permeable compartments for holding separate aliquots of the liquid sample.

Abstract: A flexible carrier tape used for protecting components while they are being transported, wherein the carrier tape comprise a strip portion having a component-receiving surface and first and second longitudinal edge surfaces. At least two side walls having inner and outer major surfaces extend upwardly from the component-receiving surface between the longitudinal edge surfaces forming at least one component-receiving area. The inner major surface of at least one side wall is inclined inwardly toward the component-receiving area, forming an angle greater than 0 degrees but less than 90 degrees with the component-receiving surface of the carrier tape. When a component is placed in the component-receiving area, the inclined inner major surface advantageously exerts a force on the component that prevents the component from moving within or falling out of the component-receiving area.

Abstract: A pocket coil spring producing apparatus includes a coil spring forming mechanism for forming coil springs, a hardening mechanism for hardening coil springs fed from the coil spring forming mechanism, a conveyor mechanism for cooling and conveying the hardened coil springs, and a compress inserting mechanism for compressing and inserting the coil springs conveyed by the conveyor mechanism into a two-fold sheet form of a sheet material. A sheet supplying mechanism folds the sheet material in two and feeds the same. A joining mechanism joins the two-fold form of the sheet material to have a row of substantially rectangular pouches into which are supplied respective of the compressed coil springs. A spring alignment mechanism aligns each compressed coil spring in a respective pouch in a lengthwise direction to return to a free, released state. A control mechanism controls the foregoing mechanisms.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, products are contained within a continuous cylindrical sleeve in a low- or no-tension condition. Products are captured within the sleeve during its formation. The sleeve forms a continuous path encircling the product(s) in at least one plane through the products and package, defining an axial direction normal to the plane and a circumferential direction around the product(s) within the plane. One or more axially-extending pleats are unitarily formed from the material comprising the cylindrical wall of the sleeve, such that the circumference of the cylindrical sleeve is reduced. By reducing the circumference of the cylinder the interior volume of the sleeve, and thus the finished package, is reduced, thus subjecting the products within the package to a compressive force. The compressive force is imparted by a uniform reduction in circumference resulting in a uniform inwardly-directed product compression.

Abstract: Sample bags are produced from webs of film material by forming longitudinal seams and longitudinally spaced transverse seams and by filling the bags with a sample product between forming the transverse seams. In order to make the bags easier to handle, the longitudinal seams are thickened so that the thickness of the seams is equal to the thickness of the center of the bag. Thickening is done by rolling or folding the seams or by adding frames or strips of additional material either between or outside the seam portions of the webs. The resulting bags are more easily stacked, handled and inserted into publications for distribution.

Abstract: A method and an equipment for the sealing of a film of material for wrapping for product, according to which film, wrapped about the products, which are fed in ordered sequence and arranged at predetermined intervals along a packaging line in order to form a tubular envelope having two specific parts respectively defined by two overlapped longitudinal edges and two opposed walls included between two adjacent products and destined to be connected by means of a heat seal, is pre-heated at the specific parts brushing them by means of a beam of radiant electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A peripherally sealed, juxtaposed, multi-compartment, flexible package is provided which includes a pair of outer walls and at least one separator wall disposed between the outer walls for dividing the package into a plurality of compartments. All of the walls are sealed at a common peripheral terminus, and flowable material is disposed within each of the compartments. The package is adapted to be torn open to simultaneously dispense and admix the flowable material. The multi-compartment dispensing package is manufactured by feeding at least three sheetings of heat sealable flexible film through a first embodiment of form-and-fill packaging instrumentation. A two-compartment dispensing package is manufactured by feeding two sheetings of film through a second instrumentation embodiment including an assembly dividing one sheet into two halves which become outer walls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing bag packs of plastic foil containing liquid or viscous contents. The production method, which may be divided into two parts, relates first to a method of producing the packaging material and secondly a method of using the packaging material for producing bag packs.The packaging material is produced in that a hose of plastic foil is extruded and, while the material is still warm, flattened so that the insides of the plastic hose come into contact with one another and are brought to adhere to one another in a readily rupturable mechanical bond, so-called blocking. The flattened plastic hose is printed with the desired text or decor, whereafter the flattened hose (6) is divided into part webs (7) each of the desired width and decor.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and containing a material in an elastomeric net(26). The apparatus comprises a compression chamber(12), a material compressor(16), a holding chamber(18), a net expansion and placement mechanism (42), and a bale advance mechanism (20). The material compressor is coupled to the compression chamber to compress a selected amount of the fibrous material in a direction transverse to the general lay of the material within the compression chamber to form a compacted bale (10). The holding chamber has an outlet and an inlet coupled to the compression chamber. The holding chamber also has an axis defined by a line extending between the center of the inlet to the center of the outlet. The net expansion and placement mechanism is for receiving the net, stretching the net to obtain a cross-sectional shape that is slightly larger than that of the holding chamber, and placing the net over the holding chamber with one end of the net slightly extending beyond the outlet.

Abstract: A product wrapping method and machine whereby a continuous tubular wrapping, formed gradually about an orderly succession of equally spaced products with a first given spacing, is fed through an operating station and divided into segments, each enclosing a respective product; and the segments and respective products, rotated 90.degree. about an axis crosswise to a transfer plane, are transferred with a second given spacing along a substantially straight path to an output conveyor by a transfer device, which grips each product and the respective segment before the product leaves the operating station.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and filling packages in which a flexible strip (10) of plastic material is folded in a central region, in a first station (1), to form a folded web (20) of two substantially opposed walls (21a,b) with first (22) and second (23) end regions disposed in the longitudinal direction of the web. In the first end region (22), the walls are interconnected with one another, and, in the second end region (23) the walls are separate from one another and provided with thickened material. In a second station (2) the web is formed with successively located storage pockets (26), and in a third station (3) the thickened material is engaged and the pockets (26) are opened so as to be filled with material, whereafter the pockets are closed.

Abstract: In a packaging machine through which products are advanced singly and in succession along a wrapping line together with a heat-sealable wrapping film, the film is folded around each product to form a wrapper of tubular appearance with two facially confronting longitudinal edge margins, whereupon the temperature of the edge margins is raised by electromagnetic induction to soften the material in readiness for heat-sealing. The pressure required to fuse the heated confronting edge margins together is applied evenly from two opposite sides.

Abstract: A temperature measurement and control apparatus (7) and a packaging film loading apparatus (9) for use in a packaging machine (5). The packaging machine includes a pair of counter-rotating sealing and crimping head assemblies (22, 23), each of which includes a plurality of sealing and crimping heads (32, 36), respectively, which are rotated past a first infrared sensor assembly (57) or a second infrared sensor assembly (61), respectively, for measuring the temperature thereof. Each sealing and crimping head includes a generally arcuate sensing arc (80) mounted at the first end (77) thereof, the sensing arcs being rotated past either an upper infrared sensor (59) or a lower infrared sensor (63).

Abstract: A platen seal for a vertical form fill and seal machine which uses unsupported polyethylene films to wrap products which require absolute seal integrity. The platen includes a set of lateral seal members in the form of wings on the top and bottom of the platen to seal gaps between platen segments without causing burn through of the film.

Abstract: A method for heat sealing a film with a smooth seam which extends the transverse width of a wrapped package utilizes a mechanism having a cool clamping portion and a hot sealing portion which are sequentially actuated. The clamping portion, with segments upstream and downstream of a sealing position, is activated to firmly hold the film. The sealing portion is located between the upstream and downstream segments of the clamping portion. The heated sealing portion is brought into very brief, instantaneous contact with the film and retracted, leaving the clamping portion in contact with the film for a comparatively long time to allow longitudinal film shrinkage and prevent transverse film shrinkage of the film. Lastly, the clamping portion separates and the next package in a succession of film-enclosed packages is moved downstream of the sealing position.

Abstract: A filling material for use in filling hollow spaces in packaging or the like comprising one or more pieces of flexible paper material. The paper material has a plurality of individual slits formed in parallel spaced rows extending transversely from one end of the paper material to the opposing end of the paper material. The slits in adjacent alternate rows are positioned adjacent the interval space between adjacent slits in the adjacent parallel row of slits. The flexible paper material is expandable by extending the opposing ends of the paper material which are parallel to the rows of slits whereby the slits form an array of openings, each opening being generally hexagonal in shape and of the same size. The length and width of the flexible filling paper material can be varied. The construction of the flexible paper filling material provides it to be easily stored in the non-expandable position and easily expanded for use in filling hollow spaces in packaging.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing and bagging decorative grass, such as Easter grass. The apparatus includes an extruder, a godet, a slitter, a cutter, a bagging assembly and a programmable logic controller. The extruder produces a continuous sheet of material, which is fed by the godet into the slitter and cutter. A thickness gauge is provided between the extruder and slitter to measure the thickness of the sheet of material. The slitter has a row of blades which slit the sheet into a continuous length of slitted material. The cutter includes a rotatable blade which transversely cuts the slitted material into a number of individual filaments. The sheet of material is urged through the slitter and cutter by the godet and an air flow produced by a blower. A foaming agent is injected into the extruder to produce low-density decorative grass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing and packaging a wide variety of uncooked food articles, such as uncooked cookie dough, in which the packaged food articles are premixed, shaped and arranged on cooking parchment so that they are ready for cooking immediately upon their removal from the package. In accordance with the method of the invention, a large volume of uncooked food articles can be prepared and packaged in a ready-to-use form for immediate use by high-volume users such as commissaries, schools, major restaurants and like institutions. More particularly, in the practice of one method of the invention large numbers of precisely formed segments of cookie dough are formed and strategically arranged in rows on baking parchment so that the baking parchment can be rolled into unrollable rolls, placed in a suitable shipping container and then, at time of use be readily removed from the package, unrolled and placed directly into a conventional baking oven.

Abstract: Folding element (1) suitable for use in a packaging apparatus in which in operation a strip of packaging material (7) to be fed continuously is guided from a feeding direction over the folding element (1) and, while a shell is formed from the material strip, is guided further from the folding element in a product conveying direction, with the feeding direction and the product conveying direction including an angle. The folding element (1) comprises a front face (12) extending in the feeding direction and a top face (17) extending in the product conveying direction, over which front and top faces (12, 17) the material strip (7) moves in operation, the front face (12) being bounded on opposite sides by a fold forming edge (13) which intersects the intersecting line of the front and top faces (12, 17) in a folding point, in which folding point in operation folds are formed in the material strip (7). A packaging apparatus comprising such folding element (1).

Abstract: This applicator mitt includes an inner pouch and an outer pouch providing a cover for the inner pouch. The inner pouch includes an outer face receiving a treating substance and is formed from a pair of panels, attached on two sides and one end and having separable margins on the other end to receive the hand portion of the user. The outer pouch can be a simple envelope or can be formed from a pair of panels attached to each other and to the inner pouch, said panels being removable to expose the inner pouch treating substance but remaining attached to the inner pouch during use.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for manufacturing containers from sheets having a hydraulically settable matrix. Suitable compositions are prepared by mixing together a hydraulic binder, water, and appropriate additives (such as aggregates, fibers, and rheology-modifying agents) which impart predetermined properties so that a sheet formed therefrom has the desired performance criteria. Hydraulically settable sheets are formed from the mixture by extrusion, then calendering the sheets using a set of rollers and then drying the sheets in an accelerated manner to substantially harden the sheets. The resulting hydraulically settable sheets may have properties substantially similar to sheets made from presently used materials like paper, cardboard, polystyrene, or plastic. The sheets can be laminated, corrugated, coated, printed on, scored, perforated, cut, folded, rolled, spiral wound, molded, assembled and seamed to mass produce articles of manufacture from the sheets such as food and beverage containers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing mattresses, including the steps of forming a coil spring from wire, conditioning said coil spring to reduce stresses formed therein, placing said coil spring within pockets to create elongate strings of pocketed coil springs, attaching said elongate strings to create innerspring constructions.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and containing a material in an elastomeric net (26). The apparatus comprises a compression chamber (12), a material compressor (16), a holding chamber (18), a net expansion and placement mechanism (42), and a bale advance mechanism (20). The material compressor is coupled to the compression chamber to compress a selected amount of the fibrous material in a direction transverse to the general lay of the material within the compression chamber to form a compacted bale (10). The holding chamber has an outlet and an inlet coupled to the compression chamber. The holding chamber also has an axis defined by a line extending between the center of the inlet to the center of the outlet. The net expansion and placement mechanism is for receiving the net, stretching the net to obtain a cross-sectional shape that is slightly larger than that of the holding chamber, and placing the net over the holding chamber with one end of the net slightly extending beyond the outlet.