Abstract: A bed is provided with a mattress having a removable insert, the insert incorporates an opening therein to receive a seat. The seat includes a flange contacting the top surface of the removable insert. An annular cartridge of compressed disposable tubing is positioned within an annular well formed in the bottom surface of the removable insert. The disposable tubing extends from the annular cartridge upward over the flange of the seat and downward through the opening in the mattress insert.

Abstract: The invention discloses a waste disposal apparatus including a waste packet forming device integrated with a tool for cutting the packet, and a method for using the apparatus. The disclosed integrated twist-and-cut system provides an improvement over existing waste disposal systems by reducing steps in the disposal of waste material.

Abstract: An automatic high-speed wrapping system for wrapping packages in heat sealable thermoplastic film includes a film delivery unit wherein the film is dispensed and wrapped around the packages at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the system. The packages travel continuously in a straight line through the system and are delivered at the input end of the system by a feed conveyor into a wrapping station where the packages are surrounded by the film, thence to the side sealing mechanism which forms a seal while severing the salvage from the packages, then into an end sealing mechanism where both ends of the packages are sealed and the film web connecting succeeding packages is severed. The film is delivered to the wrapping station in two plies and subsequently inverted for wrapping around the products. The positions of the wrapping station and film delivery units are adjustable to efficiently accommodate a variety of product heights while providing proper film delivery geometry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the automated wrapping of a bundle with a resilient stretchable film. The method comprises the steps of (i) unrolling a desired length of the film from a roll. The film has a first panel overlapping a second panel. The panels are interconnected at a sealed first end. (ii) Sealing a second end of the panels to bond them together by a second seal at the desired length. (iii) Cutting the film along the second seal to form a tube. (iv) Separating the first panel of the tube from the second panel by grasping film edges of each of the panels, whereby the tube may be opened. (v) Loading the tube in an opened position on an expandable frame, whereby at least a portion of the tube is accumulated in a folded condition on the expandable frame. (vi) Stretching the tube by expanding the expandable frame.

Abstract: An ice-bagging apparatus that provides an establishment with the ability to automatically and expeditiously produce, bag and store bags of ice, thus maintaining a desired supply of bagged ice and eliminating conventional methods of manual ice-bagging and reducing the likelihood of unwanted bridging of the ice.

Abstract: A bagger system for enclosing material very tightly in a plastic bag, to reduce packaging costs, present a pleasing appearance, decrease leaks, and minimize distortion of the printed information on the packaging. The system comprises a base guide to hold the material to be encased and stretching fingers to open a plastic bag. The rotational movement of the stretching fingers provides even stretching about the circumference of the bag and permits an approximation of the cross section of the material to be encased, allowing for use of a smaller bag. After the material is placed in the bag, the material and bag are ejected, whereupon the plastic bag retracts tightly around the material, presenting a pleasing appearance to consumers and minimizing distortion of any printed information on the bag.

Abstract: A novel continuous web of composite packaging film for making packages having improved openable and reclosable interlocking seals, the seal having male and female portions of arrowhead shape in cross section, snap detents, and being formed transversely to the direction of film flow during package formation at line speed. The packaging film is provided at package length intervals with thermoformable strips secured thereto transversely to the running length of the film, and is fed to a modified standard vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine where the film is formed into a bag with the thermoformable strip inside in ends abutting folded facing relationship at the upper end of the bag, product deposited into the bag, the bag sealed, the reclosable interlocking seal formed, and the bag severed from the next bag being formed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating bagged materials. A bagging machine is equipped with feed tubes that feed a conduit through a bag filling tunnel of the machine and through the open end of the bag and into the bag. The conduit is perforated and when the bag is filled, the length of the conduits is extended out through the bag end to be connected to a treatment media, e.g., forced air. An opening is provided at the rear end to provide an exhaust opening for air that is forced into the conduit, out the perforations and through the bagged material. The air will dry the material to lower the moisture content or provide oxygen as may be desired to enhance decomposition. Water may also be introduced as desired.

Abstract: For packaging flat objects (4) using a packaging material (7) being supplied as a quasi-endless web, a string of bags (7?) being open on three sides and closed on one side is continuously formed and conveyed in a conveying direction. During conveyance the bags (7?) are each charged with at least one object (4), are severed from each other, and are then sealed with seams corresponding with the open bag sides. The depth of the bags during the step of forming the string of bags (7?) and/or the distance between the two lateral seams during the step of sealing are adjusted to the format of the object to be packaged (4), or to the width of the packaging material (7), respectively.

Abstract: In the process and plant for forming double-pouch containers, two continuous external ribbons (3), facing one another, are fed in an advancement direction to an infeeding zone where a third, central ribbon (5) is inserted between the external ribbons (3). The pouches are formed by injecting a forming fluid between the external ribbons (3) in order to determine an expansion thereof against compartments of two half-molds having a shape which corresponds to a final pouch shape. Each container has two similar pouches, one facing another, which are defined by a pair of external walls and by a central wall coupled along a perimeter thereof to the external walls. The process enables rapid and economical formation of double-pouch containers.

Abstract: An inline formed package having an envelope and insert material, is formed from a single repeat of a printed web both of which are crossfolded simultaneously, approximately along the half repeat line, and the area of the insert material is greater than half the area of the repeat.

Abstract: Resealable zipper plastic bags have upwardly protruding support members on each side of the bag mouth which are engaged within downwardly opening channels of two opposed indexer assemblies. With the bag mouth under tension, a slider assembly engages the bag slider, moves it to a fully closed position, then advances the slider to a fully open position. The indexer assemblies are moved toward each other to relieve tension on the bag mouth and cause the mouth to splay open. An insert plate is inserted and rotated to spread the bag mouth for introduction of product through a product chute. Once full, the chute and spreader assembly are withdrawn, tension is applied to the bag mouth, and the slider assembly moves the zipper slider to a fully closed position. The bag support members are then released from the indexer assemblies and the product filled bag is discharged from the apparatus.

Abstract: A continuous strip bag feeder and loader that includes an integrated printer assembly for printing information on each individual bag of the continuous strip. The printer assembly is mounted to a support frame and receives a continuous strip of bags from a feed assembly. The printer assembly includes a print head that prints the desired information on each individual bag of the continuous strip. The printer assembly is positioned relative to the loading assembly such that after each individual bag is printed, the bag is immediately loaded with a product at the loading assembly. Thus, no printed bags are positioned between the loading assembly and the printer assembly, thereby assuring each bag is loaded with a product prior to the printing of another bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling the drill cuttings removed from the drilling mud of an oil and gas well drilling rig is disclosed. The apparatus and method utilize a shaker for separating drill cuttings from the mud, conduit for transporting the drill cuttings so separated to an extruder where the separated cuttings are crushed and compacted into a plurality of discrete compacted pellet-like bodies of a substantially uniform size. Once extruded into pellets, the pelletized cuttings are transported by conveyors to fill collapsible, sealable storage bags that have be positioned on bag racks. When filled the storage bags are filled and then ultimately delivered to a desired location for disposal or further handling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for wrapping unit loads or packaged goods (2) using a section of elastic film (8) that is at least approximately hood-shaped, whereby the section of film is gathered and pulled over the unit load or packaged goods. The invention aims to provide a significantly faster packaging method of this type, which can be used in branches of industry with high production figures, e.g. white goods (dishwashers, refrigerators etc.). To achieve this, the section of film is gathered by a gathering device (3), then taken by a covering device (6) that can be displaced separately and subsequently pulled over the unit load or packaged goods, in particular being stretched beforehand. Another section of film can be gathered by the gathering device, while the previous section of film is still being pulled over the unit load or packaged goods.

Abstract: In order to be able to prepare a postman's walk containing both letters (L) and “large format” flat postal objects (P) in a single pass:

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of using a nonwoven medical wrap, and more specifically, to a method of supplying a medical wrap in a continuous form for a more convenient means of wrapping surgical instruments. In a first embodiment, the medical wrap may be in rolled form comprising one or more plies that may be detached from the roll in user determined lengths.

Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing pre-padded food-containing bag by perforating across a continuous web of flattened tubular thermoplastic material, forming an opening in a layer of the perforated web, separating the layers of the web, inserting an absorbent the pad through the opening into the inside of the tubular web and making a seal across the tubular web at predetermined lengths to form a bag. The result is that a continuous web of bags containing absorbent pads at discrete intervals. There is also provided an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A method of packaging point-of-purchase items involves supplying plastic bags as a continuously attached length of bags, each bag being separated from adjacent bags along the supply length by a perforated tear line. The length of bags is stored on a storage form or in another suitable manner permitting advancement of bags when pulled out of the stored condition. The perforated tear line cuts entirely through the web of bags. However, the perforation along one side of each bag is broken to present an open flap through which contents can be added to the bag prior to removal from the web. The method of using the bags for packaging produce, groceries or other articles generally selected at point of sale and which are generally segregated by type for later pricing by weight or unit, permits a user to at least partially fill a bag prior to removal from the web.

Abstract: Knitted netting is applied to products in a machine. A chute receives products serially through a receiving end, as from a conveyor, and discharges them serially into netting preferably rucked on the chute. As each product arrives at the product receiver, voiders operate to form a rope section of the netting behind the product, at the chute's discharge end. The clipper also clips the netting, to complete the netting of the product, and clips to create the starting end of the next netted product. A netting handle former operates to loop the rope section behind the product, before clipping, to form a looped handle for a product in the rope section of the netting. The netting that is clipped behind the products is the netting formed into the loops, and thus, the clips that are put on by the clipper secure the loops in their size and condition.

Abstract: A data recording system for providing tamper proof recording has a housing; means to receive power to the system; an input port; at least one recording device; at least one storage device; a single cover with a locking means; a handling means to receive the storage devices following recording, stamp protective bags with indicia, seal the storage devices in the bags, and dispense the bags containing the storage devices through an output receptacle; an open button to unlock the cover only when no storage devices are in the system; input code keys and display for stamping indicia on the bags; a start key to lock the cover and activate recording; an off/eject key to stop the recording process and transfer the storage devices to the handling means.

Abstract: Bags for produce or the like are prepared by advancing a thermoplastic sheet and a mesh sheet, each having an upper edge, along a process line. The plastic sheet has a bottom portion which is folded to define a lower edge of the thermoplastic sheet at a fold line. One seals the folded portion of the solid-wall thermoplastic sheet to a lower edge of the mesh sheet. Transverse slits are then formed in the sheets, and the sheets are heat sealed together near edges of the slits to form separate bags between the slits. The slits extend across both lower edges of the bags, but are preferably spaced from the upper edges. One drops produce between the sheet upper edges into the bags, and the bags are then heat sealed adjacent to the upper edges thereof, and subsequently separated by cutting. A novel heat seal die is also shown.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic opening of bags uses bags in a folded configuration that include a small aperture near the top thereof. The aperture allows a number of bags to be hung in a substantially vertical orientation on an angled protruding member. A vacuum-operated device engages one side of one of a first bag on the side of the bag opposite to the aperture and retracts, thus opening the bag using the force generated between the protruding member and the vacuum-operated device. This allows the bag to be opened without extraction from the protruding member. The open bag is clamped in position and loaded using conventional technology. The fully loaded bag is moved out of the loading position onto a conveyor belt. The movement of the fully loaded bag tears the back portion of the bag near the aperture thus freeing the bag from the protruding member. The loaded bag may be subsequently sealed and processed for shipping.

Abstract: An adjustable density control means is provided for a bagging machine designed for filling or packing material such as silage, compost or the like into an elongated flexible bag. The adjustable density control means comprises an elongated and flexible sheet or belt member which is selectively adjustable positioned beneath the bag being filled and the ground. The weight of the material in the bag on the sheet member resists the forward movement of the bagging machine away from the closed end of the bag. The density of the material being packed or bagged is varied by the length of the sheet member which is positioned beneath the bag being filled.

Abstract: An automatic high-speed wrapping system for wrapping packages in heat sealable thermoplastic film includes a film delivery unit wherein the film is dispensed and wrapped around the packages at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the system. The packages travel continuously in a straight line through the system and are delivered at the input end of the system by a feed conveyor into a wrapping station where the packages are surrounded by the film, thence to the side sealing mechanism which forms a seal while severing the salvage from the packages, then into an end sealing mechanism where both ends of the packages are sealed and the film web connecting succeeding packages is severed. The film is delivered to the wrapping station in two plies and subsequently inverted for wrapping around the products. The positions of the wrapping station and film delivery units are adjustable to efficiently accommodate a variety of product heights while providing proper film delivery geometry.

Abstract: A method of wrapping a potted plant in a decorative cover wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve. Upon opening of the sleeve, the sleeve has a bottom which may be closed, and the sleeve is sized to fit a pot. The potted plant is disposed within the inner retaining space of the open sleeve, and the pot is positioned on the bottom of the sleeve such that the sleeve covers at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot to provide the decorative cover for the potted plant.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming inflated containers generally includes a mechanism that conveys a web of film along a path of travel, the film web including one or more pre-formed flexible containers; an inflation assembly positioned adjacent the travel path to direct gas into the containers, thereby forming inflated containers; and a device for sealing closed each inflated container. Various improvements for more reliably and consistently inflating the containers are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a waste disposal apparatus including a container having a first end and a second end. A tubing cassette for supplying tubing is mounted proximate the first end of the container. A first sealing member and a second sealing member are moveable between an open position, wherein tubing from the tubing cassette can pass between the first and second sealing members, and a closed position, wherein the first and second sealing members can be activated to create a seal in the tubing. The first and second sealing members are guided by guide pins that travel along stepped channels for moving the first and second sealing members between the open and closed positions, and for pulling the tubing and waste packages through the waste disposal apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling bags (1) with loose material (2), comprising a tube (210) for supplying the material (2), substantially coaxial with the said bag, said tube (210) being able to move from a position with the supply mouth (210a) outside the bag to a position with the supply mouth (210a) inside the bag (1) and arranged at a height substantially coinciding with the bottom (1b) of the bag (1) where filling is started, and vice versa.

Abstract: A plant packaging system and method comprising a combination of a protective upper portion and a decorative lower portion having a base portion and a skirt portion for packaging a potted plant or a botanical item and a growing medium without a pot. The upper portion may be detachable from the lower portion of the sleeve. The lower portion may have a skirt portion which has a non-linear upper peripheral edge. The lower portion may be tapered and may have a gusset in the lower end.

Abstract: A method of covering a pot containing a floral grouping with a flexible sleeve having a bonding material thereon which connects the sleeve to the pot when the pot is positioned within the sleeve. In one version, the sleeve is positioned about the pot and a lower portion of the sleeve closely surrounds and encompasses the pot, an upper portion of the sleeve extending upwardly from the pot and substantially surrounding and encompassing the floral grouping contained within the pot, at least a portion of the sleeve being removable via the detaching elements, leaving a portion of the sleeve which is a decorative plant cover.

Abstract: A method and means for bagging organic and other material such as silage, compost, grain, sawdust, dirt, sand, etc., wherein plastic sheet material is dispensed from a roll mounted on the bagging machine so that the sheet material is at least partially wrapped around the material being bagged as the bagging machine moves ahead during packing and filling.

Abstract: A system and method places a printed label on a bag. A first plurality of rollers can feed one or more bags, and a second plurality of rollers can feed one or more labels. A tamp pad can place the label on the bag.

Abstract: A feed table can be used to convey agricultural material into a bagging machine. The feed table can be removed from the bagging machine so that the feed table can be separately transported. The feed table includes an attachment mechanism to detachably couple the feed table to the bagging machine, a mobility support mechanism to at least partially support the feed table when the feed table is not attached to the bagging machine, and a tow mechanism to detachably couple the feed table to a towing vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling and sealing of containers, such as sealable valved bags are provided. A sealable valved bag is placed in an upright, erect position, with its sealable valve structure presented to the apparatus, in a slightly open position, amenable to receipt of a filling nozzle of a filling tube. A bag sealing apparatus is placed at the same position along a processing path as a filling apparatus. The filling apparatus and the sealing apparatus are both configured for reciprocable movement into and out of engagement with successive ones of the bags, to enable filling, and subsequent sealing of each of such bags, without intermediate indexing of bags from a filling station to a sealing station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for wrapping a stack of goods (1) with a section of a film (3) that is gathered, stretched and put over the stack on a gathering device (2). Said gathering device (2) has at least two gathering fingers (5) and at least one roller arrangement (4) on at least one connecting line between two adjacent gathering fingers (5). The roller arrangement consists of a gathering wheel (6) which is in contact with the exterior of the section of the film and of a counter-roller (7) which is in contact with the interior of the section of the film, and clamps the section of film between itself and the gathering wheel for the purpose of conveying it.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided that can be attached in depending relation to the chute of a bagging machine in order to supply material to form several bags. The cartridge employs a hollow mandrel on which a tube of plastic film is mounted in a collapsed state. The tube is capable of being pulled off the mandrel in an automatic manner. The cartridge also includes a spreader bar at the lower end of the mandrel to brake the movement of the tube off the mandrel when in use.

Abstract: Automated apparatus for filling of a bag with a loose commodity comprises a bag filling station for dispensing commodity into a bag; a wicket for feeding a stacked and interconnected array of empty bags; and a conveyor for removing filled bags from the filling station. Reciprocating clamps grip the open mouths of the filled bags, and transfer the filled bags away from the filling station, with a subsequent bag being drawn into appropriate position for filling by means of the connection formed between the contacting bags.

Abstract: A machine for forming individual packages from a web of preopened and interconnected bags one at a time is disclosed. A web is fed along a path of travel from a supply to a load station. A pair of nip rolls are positioned along the path near the load station. A printer is positioned along the path between the supply and the nip rolls. A nip roll drive is provided for rotating the nip rolls selectively and one at a time at a printing rate for the feed of the web when the printer is operating and at a faster feed rate for positioning a bag at the load station when the printer is not operating. A supply station tensioner is provided for tensioning a web along the path such that the printer when operating prints a section of a tensioned web.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing bags including complementary closure strips, the method comprising the steps consisting in: separately feeding a film and closure strips having sequential thin zones at the same pitch as the bags; and fixing the strips to the film; the method further comprising the steps consisting in: detecting loss of synchronization between the closure strips and means acting in the assembly station; and in the event of loss of synchronization being detected, modifying the size of the sequential thin zones provided in the strips so as to reestablish synchronization. The present invention also relates to a machine for implementing the method, and to the bags obtained thereby.

Abstract: A feminine hygiene disposal unit for sanitary receipt and disposal of used sanitary products. The unit has a disposal bag dispenser, at least one disposal bag, a receptacle, and a liner for the receptacle. This liner having a lid flap having an opening therethrough, this lid flap being supported through use of a pair of sandwiching flanges for sandwiching the lid flap in a generally horizontal orientation.

Abstract: A decorative cover or container for holding a flower pot, floral grouping or botanical item, and constructed from a sheet of material having a plurality of folded portions, wherein the decorative cover or container is initially constructed in a flattened condition, and having a base portion which is opened to expose an interior space into which a pot or floral grouping can be disposed, and having a bottom having bottom folds secured by a bottom fold securing element.

Abstract: A vertical bagging apparatus [101] comprises a bag station [105] having multiple stations [403A, 403B, 403C, 403D] for holding a variety of wicket-supported bags. A tooling assembly [107] accepts product for a product line and dispenses the product into an opened bag from the bag station. A bag transfer assembly [109] lowers the filled bag to a bag seal assembly [111] located vertically below the tooling assembly. The apparatus allows high speeds and quick-change of bags and bagged product.

Abstract: An envelope consisting of a front side and a rear side which are interconnected by side flaps, has a fold-back flap to which a layer of contact adhesive is applied. The adhesive used is a strong contact adhesive which is effective without moistening or activation by any other means. The fold-back flap is laid against the rear side of the envelope for the purposes of transport and storage, an area coated with a parting agent being provided so that the adhesive can be detached before use. The envelope is closed by pressing the otherwise uncoated closing flap onto the adhesive-coated fold-back flap. The adhesive is applied to the fold-back flap by transfer, i.e. the adhesive is applied to the parting agent layer during production and then transferred to the fold-back flap when the latter is redressed.

Abstract: An automatic high-speed wrapping system for wrapping packages in heat sealable thermoplastic film includes a film delivery unit wherein the film is dispensed and wrapped around the packages at a high rate of speed as the packages travel through the system. The packages travel continuously in a straight line through the system and are delivered at the input end of the system by a feed conveyor into a wrapping station where the packages are surrounded by the film, thence to the side sealing mechanism which forms a seal while severing the salvage from the packages, then into an end sealing mechanism where both ends of the packages are sealed and the film web connecting succeeding packages is severed. The film is delivered to the wrapping station in two plies and subsequently inverted for wrapping around the products. The positions of the wrapping station and film delivery units are adjustable to efficiently accommodate a variety of product heights while providing proper film delivery geometry.

Abstract: A flat bottom bag or flexible package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines. The invention involves producing a flat bottom bag from a single sheet of packaging film by creating two vertical creases along opposite sides of a packaging film tube prior to forming a transverse seal on the tube. These creases are formed using fixed or stationary modifications to prior art vertical form, fill, and seal machines.

Abstract: A method of wrapping a potted plant in a decorative cover wherein the cover is a flattened sleeve. Upon opening of the sleeve, the sleeve has a closed bottom and the sleeve is sized to contain a pot. The potted plant is disposed within the inner retaining space of the open sleeve, and the pot is positioned on the closed bottom of the sleeve such that the sleeve covers at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the pot to provide the decorative cover for the potted plant.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming and containing a series of waste containing packs successively distributed along a length of flexible tubing is formed of a housing with a top portion displaying an opening to receive waste material therein and of a cassette containing a package of a flexible pleated tubing and so constructed as to enable the tubing to be dispensed therefrom downwardly into the opening. The apparatus includes a tubing pulling device rotatably mounted to the housing and including an attachment for securing one end of the tubing and an arrangement to receive the tubing in a wraparound manner when the pulling device is rotated and to form waste containing packs. The arrangement defines folds between successive packs to compress the tubing at the folds to seal the packs. The pulling device is removably mounted to the housing so as to enable the disposal of the waste containing packs from the pulling device.

Abstract: A vertical stand-up pouch or flexible package, and method for manufacturing same, constructed by modification to existing vertical form and fill packaging machines. The invention involves producing a vertical stand-up pouch from a single sheet of packaging film by creating a vertical crease along one edge of a packaging film tube prior to forming a transverse seal on the tube. Said vertical crease is formed using a stationary tucker bar positioned outside the packaging film tube and between two forming plates positioned inside the packaging film tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of enclosing material in a net and supplying a handle for ease of carrying the netted material, comprising clippers, irises, and a handle maker. The irises gather the netting around the material, the first clipper cuts and closes the netting, and the handle maker forms a loop out of the severed netting. The second clipper attaches the loop back to the netting to form a handle. A scale can be used to weigh the material and a printer can create a label, with the weight or whatever other information is desired, for attachment to the netting.