Abstract: A method and assembly for sealing articles incorporates a continuously moving transfer mechanism which receives the articles from an intermittent feed and feeds them to an intermittent sealing mechanism. The intermittent sealing mechanism uses an elongate sealing member or heater plate which extends over a substantial portion of the sealing mechanism. The sealing member has a plurality of separate heaters functionally associated with the plate to apply heat to the articles at a plurality of stations during dwell times while the articles move through the sealing mechanism. The sealing member or heater plate reciprocates into and out of contact with the articles during the dwell periods by a cam to effect simultaneous sealing action at the plurality of stations.

Abstract: A method of individually wrapping items with a heat-sealable thermoplastic film overwrap including the use of heated streams of gas to form gussets at the end seals of the package and uniformly heat-sealing all layers of film at both ends of the packaged item. A system for carrying out this process is also described.

Abstract: Heat sealing of foam-paper laminates and the like around articles to cushion them. Foam can be coated with anti-stat and/or corrosion inhibitor to protect articles against static electricity and/or corrosion. Such coatings can reduce the heat sealing temperature. Laminate portions to be heat sealed can be pre-heated to shorten heat sealing dwell.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of packing collected objects having different shapes and volumes, and to a packing station therefor. The method consists in assembling beforehand the objects to be dispatched in a container having a retractable bottom; the container is lowered towards an open-top chest covered with a plasticized film. The bottom of the container is removed so that the objects bear directly upon the plasticized film, whereafter vacuum is created in the inner volume of the chest in order to alter the shape of the plasticized film and thus lower the top level of the objects. Then the container is removed in turn and a rigid support is laid upon the objects and bonded to the plasticized film at the level of the flange of the aperture; finally, the vacuum is discontinued in the chest for releasing the package thus obtained. This invention is applicable more particularly to the mail order industry and the dispatching of goods in general.

Abstract: A welding and separating device for stacked plastic films has a heated welding and separating strip and a cooperating resilient counterpressure element which are moved together. The strip has a wedge-shaped separating knife with a comparatively small wedge angle and two welding members, one on either side thereof. Each welding member is formed to have a cross sectionally round surface. The welding members and the knife have comparatively deep V-shaped recesses therebetween. The counterpressure element is round in cross section and is aligned opposite the center of the separating knife. Separate spaced support bars press against the counterpressure element to deform the element and tension the films so that the surface of the resilient element is reduced as the knife and welding members press against the element. A process for welding employs support bars and a welding bar.

Abstract: A system for wrapping and sealing objects, such as fresh heads of lettuce, may include two fabric tube type iris valves which are capable of fully closing and opening up to a diameter greater than the object to be wrapped and sealed. The two iris valves may be mounted one above the other; then a sheet of plastic wrap film material is dispensed over the top iris valve, and a head of lettuce is set in place on the sheet of plastic. The sheet of plastic may be dispensed from a roll automatically and may be cut either mechanically or by a hot wire, for example. The upper iris valve is open end, and then, as the head of lettuce or other object slides through and is supported by the lower iris valve, the upper valve is at least substantially closed, rotating and drawing together the edges of the plastic wrap. The plastic sheet material is then heat sealed above the head of lettuce, either above or below the upper iris valve.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method for preparing a plurality of large blocks of glass for shipment on a transportable device (10). The method includes providing an "A" frame carrier (18) on the transportable device. A plurality of layers of shrinkable film (32) and (34) are provided which lie over and on both sides of the "A" frame carrier. A block of glass is loaded on each side of the "A" frame carrier and wrapped in the layer (34) of shrinkable film in a manner that each of the first glass blocks is substantially enclosed in the shrinkable film. The shrinkable film is shrunk about the enclosed block of glass thereby to form a sealed pouch pack (36) about the first loaded block of glass. At least a second block of glass is loaded on each side of the "A" frame carrier in association with the previously loaded blocks of glass.

Abstract: The packaging machine of the present invention is of the type in which successive trays moving along a conveyor line are enclosed in a continuous tube of plastic film which is thereafter severed between the trays to provide end flaps which are first pulled downwardly by suction forces and then folded upwardly against the bottom of the respective ends of the trays to seal the contents therein. A nozzle system placed near the location where the severing takes place pulls the severed portions of the tube downwardly between each adjacent pair of trays. The nozzle system is controlled by a valve system which teminates the downward pull as the severed portions are being folded upwardly against the bottoms of their respective trays.

Abstract: A heating element comprises an electrically nonconducting support body having a pair of opposite faces and formed with a plurality of throughgoing holes opening at the faces, respective electrically energizable heating capsules in the holes and each having one end exposed at one of the faces and an opposite end exposed at the other of the faces, and a pair of respective conductors lying on the faces in electrical contact with the respective exposed ends of the capsules. A tight hermetic skin surrounds and encapsulates the body with the capsules in the holes and the conductors on the faces. A pair of respective wires extending through the skin and connected to the conductors serve for passing electricity through the heating capsules. The skin effectively protects the assembly from moisture when installed in a heater. In addition this skin protects the heating element prior to installation and can in fact eliminate the need for a shipping package.

Abstract: A single-ply polyolefin film coated on one side with a heat sealable acrylic-based interpolymer consisting essentially of an alpha-beta monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and neutral monomer esters comprising an alkyl acrylate and an alkyl methacrylate ester or mixtures thereof, and on the other side with a heat sealable polyvinylidene chloride-based multipolymer; said film being useful in diverse packaging applications.

Abstract: A device for encasing coins in protective envelopes embodying a generally rectangularly contoured housing elevated at one end and stepped down intermediate its ends to provide a flat work surface offsetedly spaced below the elevated end, with insulation flatly superposed on the work surface thereof and heating coils embedded therein and encircling a centrally disposed coin receiving area. A generally rectangular forming member pivotally mounted to the elevated housing end and overlying and elevatable relative to the work surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing pharmaceutical single-dose containers with opening threads, including a thread introduction device in conjunction with a presealing station, where the thread introduction device is mounted so as to be movable in the direction of the presealing station and comprises thread transporting means, thread cutting means and time synchronization control means for the individual devices in such a way that first the foil strip is advanced by a particular unit, then the thread introduction device is moved in the direction of the presealing station and the threads are introduced into a number of single dose containers, followed by the sealing of the halves of the single-dose containers in adjacent areas with simultaneous sealing of part of the threads, and finally the threads are cut from the thread strand or the pre-cut threads are taken from the guide channel, whereupon the thread introduction device is moved out again and the foil strip is transported further.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supporting rolls of wrapping material and having a table for convenient reception of sheet, card or plate material in a stack to be wrapped. Means are provided to facilitate the handling of the wrapping material, typically a heat sealable plastic film, folding it over the stack to be wrapped, and moving the stack onto a heat sealing table. Simultaneous severing of extra material from the roll is accomplished. Marginal edge sealing by heat or otherwise is also possible.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermal sealing and bonding the ends of foil wrapped cigarette packages includes a conveyor for transporting a stack of packages through a heat sealing station having heat sealing units arranged on opposite sides of the path of travel of the conveyor for simultaneously heat sealing the ends of the packages. Each heat sealing unit includes a plurality of thin superposed spaced heating strips equal in number to the packages in the stack and mounted in a housing for unitary movement into contact with the ends of the stacked packages. The strips have a low thermal inertia and are made of a metal having a high heat conductivity. The housing encloses a plurality of infrared radiators, one for each strip, spaced from the side of the strips opposite the side of adapted to contact the package ends for heating the strips by radiant heat in a contact free manner.

Abstract: A high speed, automatic machine for wrapping elongate semi-rigid products such as spaghetti. The machine includes means for cutting and positioning two sheets of wrapping material during a single portion period of the machine into two tandem buckets mounted on a conveyor. The machine also includes two high speed product weighers that deposit weighted amounts of the product onto the two sheets in the two buckets. The weighers operate in duplex and each fills a bucket during a single period of pause in the motion of the machine. After filling each bucket the wrapping machine has means for folding the leading and trailing margins of the two sheets of wrapping material. The two sheets are folded during a single motion period of the machine. The two folded sheets are then simultaneously heated sealed by two, tandem wrapper sealers. Each wrapper sealer makes a complete longitudinal seal for each package during one period of pause in the motion of the machine.

Abstract: Heat sealable films exhibiting improved adhesion between a heat sealable layer and a film substrate wherein the substrate is formed from a blend of 87.5 to 60 parts of polypropylene and 12.5 to 40 parts of an ethylene-propylene block copolymer containing 0.5 to 40% by weight of ethylene, the blend containing from 0.2 to 5% by weight of ethylene.

Abstract: A preformed bag-like enclosure formed of heat shrink plastic film for shrink wrapping pallet loads or the like, the enclosure being generally tubular or sleeve-like in shape and provided with a reduced size opening at the top to prevent the enclosure from slipping down over the load to be wrapped prior to the application of heat for shrinking. In one embodiment the top opening is reduced in size by tapering same using upwardly and inwardly extending heat seals, in another by providing transversely extending heat seals and in further ones by providing inwardly spaced spot welds. Methods of fabrication of the latter type are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging film composite and packaged articles therewith, said packaged articles include unvulcanized rubber compounding ingredients for unvulcanized rubber and compounding ingredients for thermoplastic polymers. Said packaged film composite is comprised of (1) an unvulcanized elastomeric block copolymer, (2) an anti-block agent selected from (A) stearyl erucamide and behenamide, (B) oleyl palmitamide and behenamide and (C) stearyl erucamide, oleyl palmitamide and behenamide, and, preferably, (3) a thermoplastic resin characterized by being soluble in styrene. The invention further relates to a method of preparing said packaged articles and to compounded high unsaturation rubber and compounded thermoplastic polymers prepared by mixing a package of compounding agents therewith packaged with the film composite of this invention.