Abstract: A system for in-line processing of envelopes and the like includes a first upstanding feed hopper for feeding primary envelopes through a first printing station operative to print predetermined indicia on the primary envelopes after which they are conveyed in the direction of their major longitudinal axes through a plurality of inserter stations operative to insert special event envelopes between selected ones of the primary envelopes. The primary and insert envelopes are conveyed by conveyance means in-line past an ink jet type printer station operative to print particular cluster data on each successive envelope making up a set, followed by a station for the automatic collating and packaging of sets of envelopes into cartons. The conveyance means include a endless vacuum belt which holds the envelopes flat in a continuous stream and allows easy transfer to and from the conveyance means.

Abstract: A switch track mechanism for selectively directing electronic components from a single trackway to one of a plurality of discharge or accumulator stations comprising a first fixed track sections adjacent the trackway, a second fixed track section adjacent to and downstream of the first fixed track section, movable first and second track members operatively associated with the first and second fixed track sections and each operable between first and second limit positions. The second movable track member has a plurality of track sectors disposed in an array, a plurality of accumulator stations downstream of the second track member corresponding in number to the number of track sectors, a cartridge for electronic components is mounted at each accumulator station. The movable track sections have actuatable between limit positions whereby electronic components may be directed from the single trackway to a select one of the accumulator stations.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for wrapping articles, in particular for wrapping reams of paper in a sheet of wrapping material such as paper or the like.

Abstract: A multi-sectioned conveyor for receiving serial products from a supply conveyor, inspecting and rejecting out-of-tolerance products and adjustably conveying the products so as to establish a predetermined spacing therebetween, before transferring the products from supporting belts to the individual flights of a pusher member containing conveyor and from which the product flow is synchronized relative to an infeed conveyor to a wrapping station. The feeder comprises a microprocessor controlled, DC driven accumulation, transition and backlog conveyors, along with wrapper driven separation, transfer and infeed conveyors.

Abstract: In a photofinishing operation, the correlation of order envelopes, films and the paper prints produced therefrom is carried out automatically. The order envelopes, films and the strip of paper prints are provided with the same machine-readable control number per order. These control numbers are monitored during final processing by machine and, in case of a lack of agreement, the cutting of the film and the paper is prevented and an appropriate alarm is actuated.

Abstract: A feeder for feeding products, for example soap tablets, to a continuously oving receiving conveyor having a succession of containers includes at least one product pick-up station adjacent the start of the receiving conveyor, a carousel placed between said station and said start, sucker assemblies mounted on the carousel for movement along and rotation around their own vertical axis. The feeder further includes means driving said carousel in an intermittent rotary movement to halt the feeding sucker assemblies above said station and then to move in synchronism with the receiving conveyor, first control means for controlling sliding movements of the assemblies along their axes, means controlling intermittent application of vacuum to the assemblies for picking up products from said station and then releasing them onto containers of the receiving conveyor, second control means for effecting angular movements of the assemblies around their axes to orient the products with the containers.

Abstract: X ray films are withdrawn from a drawer type magazine positioned above an X ray film cassette unloading station. The films drop down freely from the magazine through a hopper and towards the said X ray cassette. The hopper comprises two substantially U shaped guide elements, one placed opposite the other in such a way as to form two channels along which slide the edges of the two opposite sides of each individual film. One of the elements is fixed, while the other is supported in a sliding fashion by the frame of the machine. The sliding element is able to undergo, in the direction of the fixed guide element, a two way displacement, and is connected to a pusher device provided on the machine for positioning the X ray cassette inserted into the unloading station, up against an abutment member located on the same side of the machine as the fixed guide element.

Abstract: A carton sealing machine for sealing cartons in which a clutch is provided to connect a pair of oppositely disposed conveyor belts for movement thereof from a driving motor.

Abstract: A form fill seal type wrapping machine uses equal speed conveyors which are start/stop controlled to accept randomly fed packages and uniformly space them for wrapping and sealing in a roll fed wrapping material such as thermoplastic film. Different length packages can be wrapped without adjustment. One embodiment uses a traveling transverse seal mechanism so the machine can run continuously. Machine speed is enhanced by controlling dwell time for the transverse seal and time of travel for the transverse seal mechanism to be no longer than required to make the seal. A fast return mechanism for the transverse seal mechanism operates at a speed independent of machine speed.

Abstract: The system for regulating the feed of articles to a wrapping machine, includes a conveyor for feeding a series of longitudinally-spaced articles to the wrapping machine sensors for detecting the position of each article on the conveyor at predetermined instants, and a control circuit for varying the speed of the conveyor in dependence on the output signals from the sensors, so that the articles are fed to the wrapping machine in a predetermined phase relation relative to it. The sensors are arranged to provide signals indicative of the degree of any deviation of each article from the correct position in phase with the wrapping machine and the control circuit is arranged to correct the speed of the conveyor in proportion to the degree of deviation detected.

Abstract: Stacks of paper sheets are delivered onto the upper reach of an endless conveyor or onto the upper side of a platform which is movable through an open side and into the interior of a carton at a carton filling station. The open side of the carton is closed, by pivoting the corresponding side wall upwardly from a level at or below the level of the bottom wall of the carton, upon completion of insertion of a stack.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a continuous assembly of sealed envelopes having upper and lower sections and comprising at least one insert of the type used as a postal mailer or the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed herein for detecting possibly defectively-sealed bags and for preventing said bags from being filled. A sensor is provided to develop a first signal upon detection of a defect in a line of adhesive on flexible bag-forming material moving past the sensor. The first signal is used to generate an output signal at a time corresponding to the time when the defect-containing portion of the bag-forming material has moved from the sensor into position to be filled with product. Preferably, said filling position is located a plurality of bag lengths downstream from said sensor.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for grouping flat items in stacks, particularly cookies which are advanced to a grouping device in at least three mutually parallel channels. The grouping device forms mixed groups of the items such that each group contains at least one item taken from each channel. For the purpose of compensating for an undersupply of items in at least one channel, the quantity of items which is normally taken from such an undersupplied channel is decreased by a first quantity and the quantity of items which is normally taken from the other, normally supplied channels is increased by a second quantity such that as the cadenced removal of items from the channels progresses, the number of items in the obtained mixed groups remains constant.

Abstract: In an improved machine wherein a plurality of component dispensers transversely deposit individual axial-leaded components on a moving conveyor belt in a preferred sequence for subsequent taping of the leads to form a belt of sequenced components, the rate of component deposition is increased although the linear velocity of the conveyer is decreased. Component leads are received in conveyor notches having a pitch distance which is a submultiple of the spacing between the component dispensers.

Abstract: A machine in which a wrapping film extends across a path in which articles to be packaged are moved. The film is drawn from supply rolls above and below the path as an article or group of articles is moved along the path. The film is brought together and sealed behind the article or group of articles to form a tube, the tube is severed from the remaining film, and the remaining film is sealed together. The tube is then thermally shrunk. A cutting and sealing bar movable along a path inclined at an acute angle with the conveying path in part wraps the film about the article or group of articles, and severs and seals the film. An upright frame carries and guides the cutting and sealing bar and is adjustable about a pivot in the plane of the conveying path to vary the angle at which the cutting and sealing bar moves with respect to the conveying path. A film supply roll is carried by the frame so the path of the film from the supply roll relative to the frame is independent of the frame adjustment.

Abstract: An electronic control system is described to control the operation of a positive displacement piston filler used for dispensing sauce or a suitable liquid into a flexible pouch which is controlled in movement by means of a Bartelt packaging machine. The electronic control system exerts control over the opening and closing of a dispensing plunger, a rotor valve and a product delivery piston associated with the sauce filler apparatus. A blow-off timing sequence is further controlled to assure that a blast of pressurized air enters the dispensing head of the sauce filler at the most optimum time to assure reliable cleaning of the top portion of the pouch prior to sealing. The control system employs separate timers which serve to enable control of each of the above described operations in one hundredths of a second to enable precise regulation of each phase of the fill cycle.

Abstract: An article transfer apparatus (10) is provided for transferring articles (16) from a predetermined first position to a varying second position and discharging the articles (16) at the second position. Difficulty is often encountered in controlling the drop height of articles (16) delivered by a conveyor (18) for random placement at varying levels in a container (12). It is desirable to minimize the drop height to prevent damage to the article (16). A carriage (36) on the article transfer apparatus (10) is controllably operated to controllably discharge articles (16) at a preselected distance above either the bottom of the container (12) or articles (16) predisposed within the container (12). The invention is particularly useful for transferring finished metal piston pins (16) from a conveyor (18) to a tote box (12).

Abstract: A machine and method for packaging travelers checks in which the checks are automatically packaged in predetermined denominations and in predetermined amounts.

Abstract: An automatic packing line consisting of feeder conveyor belts arranged to bring products to be packed to a series of packing machines and of automatic feeder stations located along the said belts to distribute the said products selectively to the packing machines, is equipped with a recovery device installed after the last automatic feeder station to collect the products which have not been taken charge of by the said stations, a storage device for storing temporarily the products collected by the recovery device and an ejection device which evacuates the undistributed products when the storage device becomes saturated with such products.

Abstract: Poultry releasably suspended from a conveyor is distributed amongst a plurality of stations along a travel path of the conveyor from which the poultry is released. Release under control of sensors from the conveyor is effected only at those stations at which product bagging apparatus are inactive. Lock-out devices at each station prevent release while the bagging apparatus is in operation for a period of predetermined duration.

Abstract: In an improved machine wherein a plurality of component dispensers transversely deposit individual axial-leaded components on a moving conveyor belt in a preferred sequence for subsequent taping of the leads to form a belt of sequenced components, the rate of component deposition is increased although the linear velocity of the conveyer is decreased. Component leads are received in conveyor notches having a pitch distance which is a submultiple of the spacing between the component dispensers.

Abstract: An apparatus for gently transferring delicate produce from a supply conveyor into a dry storage bin. The discharge head of the apparatus has a reversible delivery board which directs and uniformly stacks the produce within the bin without bruising the produce. The transfer apparatus utilizes a series of opposed brushes on a parallel conveyor arrangement to gently support and transfer the produce to the bin. The discharge head and the bin move relative to each other in both the horizontal and vertical planes to provide uniform layers of produce and to adjust for the increasing layers in the bin.

Abstract: An electronic control system for controlling a sequence of operations on products moving on an indexing conveyor. The electronic control system is illustrated as controlling a sequence of operations, carried out at various work stations, on cartons in a packaging machine, such as filling operations, sealing operations, and clean-in-place operations on carton filler heads. A limit switch carton detector detects the presence or absence of cartons on the indexing conveyor of the packaging machine and feeds such carton information into a first shift register, which in turn feeds the carton position information into a first "and" gate. A limit switch machine timing indicator functions to feed a first machine timing signal into said first shift register, and into a machine cycle counter. An output signal from the machine cycle counter is fed into a sequence selector which products a sequence signal that is fed to said first "and" gate, which in turn produces a filler sequence signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating biscuits which are discharged from an oven in the form of several rows has a discrete conveyor system for each row of biscuits. The biscuits of each row are converted into blocks each consisting of several arrayed biscuits, and such blocks are confined in wrapping material on their way to variable-output packing machines, one at the discharge end of each conveyor system, and each provided with turrets which convert blanks into containers for one or more wrapped blocks of biscuits and fill the containers. If a packing machine breaks down, the blocks on or in the respective conveyor system are transferred onto or into the other conveyor systems, and the output of packing machines at the discharge ends of the other conveyor systems is increased. Facilities are provided for temporary storage of blocks when the rate at which one or more conveyor systems deliver blocks to the respective packing machines exceeds the capacity of such machines.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for feeding items (or groupings of items) one after the other to apparatus, such as a flight conveyor, which cycles continuously at a steady cycling rate are disclosed with an item being fed to the apparatus during a portion of each cycle thereof and with the items being randomly delivered to the means feeding the items at an average rate. The method and apparatus of this invention involve feeding a selected number of items one at a time from each of the backlogs of accumulated items and conveying them forward for placement on the apparatus in timed relation to the cycling rate of the apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously and automatically packaging preferably particulate food in successive fixed amounts by using a ribbon-like film, preferably of a synthetic resin. The film is continuously payed out from a roll and is progressively wrapped around a cylindrical forming chute with the help of a plate, while longitudinally heat sealing the overlap of the opposite lateral edges of the wrapped film, to change it into a tubular form, charging the food thereinto from above the chute, heat sealing the top and bottom of a food receiving region of the tubular film, and cutting off that region from the continuous tubular film. The apparatus allows the continuous production of bags or enclosures, from the initial ribbon-like and later tubular film, charged with the food, in a simple cyclical operation.

Abstract: An inflater sealer machine is disclosed which clamps the open upper portions of a flexible container, fills the package with a quantity of gas, and subsequently seals the upper container portions closed. The clamping means of the machine comprises a pair of clamping members capable of moving together to hold the upper portions of the container together. The inflating means includes a tube which extends through the clamping members into the open upper container portions. The sealing means comprises a pair of sealing members adjacent to the clamping members and capable of moving together to seal together the upper portions of the container while the container is inflated. A pneumatic control system, including a "piggy-back" pneumatic cylinder, is also disclosed for controlling the sequential actions of the clamping, inflating, and sealing means.

Abstract: A container blank is encoded on all flaps thereof in manner providing for presentation of the same coded pattern to a sensing unit irrespective of the flat registered with the sensing unit. The sensing unit is connected through article-designator apparatus to an indicating unit which is energized exclusively when the sensing unit indicates container blank article indication not conforming the article setting of the article-designator apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing dual compartmented tubular containers which includes a system for pumping a high viscosity fluid at a constant flow rate and includes an air driven pump for pumping the fluid from a storage location to an output point. The pump is of the type which produces a substantially constant output per pump cycle. The pump is driven by an air supply communicating with the pump. A timer is attached to the output pump shaft and measures the cycle speed of the pump. The air pressure driving the pump is varied in response to the cycle speed of the pump to maintain the speed of the pump constant. Whenever the material being driven by the pump increases in viscosity, a slow down in the pump speed is prevented by increasing the air pressure used to drive the pump. Where the viscosity decreases and the pump speed begins to increase, the air pressure used to drive the pump is decreased to maintain a constant pump speed.

Abstract: A coin packaging machine for packaging a predetermined number of coins has a denomination selecting section for selecting a denomination of coins, a packaging section for packaging stacked coins in a paper wrapper, a conveyor for conveying coins to the packaging section, and a counting section for counting the number of coins conveyed. Upon selection of a new denomination, the coins of the previously selected denomination left in the packaging section are removed, and packaging of coins of the newly selected denomination is automatically started.

Abstract: Apparatus for collating prints and related sections of developed photographic customer films in a processing laboratory has a first conveyor whose receptacles advance stepwise into register with discharge ends of feeding devices for film sections and prints, and a packing unit with a second conveyor which advances empty containers past an assembly station where the containers receive assemblies of film sections and related prints in response to forward strokes of a reciprocable pusher. The second conveyor advances successive loaded containers past a closing device and a labelling device and thereupon into a receiving device. A computer receives signals from the severing mechanisms of the two feeding devices and from a reader which decodes information on envelopes used by customers or dealers to deliver or send exposed customer films to the laboratory.

Abstract: A photographic print sorting, conveying and packing mechanism includes a main conveyor line and a plurality of branch conveyor lines with an initial feeding device which receives individual cut prints from a print cutter and feeds the prints into the main conveyor line which defines a main flow path. All of the conveyor lines include a plurality of driver rollers spaced apart less than the length of each cut photograph so that one roller will always be in contact with the prints to maintain positive driving contact with the prints at all times during their successive travel along the conveyor lines. The conveyor lines also include deflecting elements ahead of each roller to flatten momentarily the curl in each print and insure proper driving engagement between the rollers and the print.