Abstract: An interface device for packaging equipment comprises three bins arranged vertically and separated by gates located at the bottom of each bin. An infeed unit or conveyor feeds product into the receiver bin. A product counter in a logic unit counts the product fed into the receiver bin. The logic unit cycles the counted product into the buffer and discharge bins, respectively to provide an accumulator function. The logic unit cycles the discharge gate upon output of a flight sensor on the outfeed unit to deliver the counted product on the desired location of the outfeed unit. The device allows temporary differences between product flow rates between the infeed unit and the outfeed unit. No connections to the control system of the outfeed unit is required.

Abstract: An automated product collection apparatus comprising two vertical, endless belt conveyor systems and a horizontal conveyor. One vertical conveyors (the load station) is loaded with a number of empty containers which are transferred sequentially to the horizontal conveyor (the fill station). The horizontal conveyor moves an empty container into position to collect parts from process and production equipment. Sensing circuitry counts the parts loaded into each container to determine when each container is full or reaches a predetermined product count. The full container is moved to the second vertical conveyor system (the unload station) which accumulates the full containers until unloaded from the second vertical conveyor. Individual parts may be counted, the accumulated total of parts can be weighed, and inputs may be obtained from other automated production equipment.

Abstract: A bulk straw loading system includes one or more bulk straw staging members having a plurality of compartments which receive, organize and store straws. The straws are detected and counted as they are received. A bulk straw staging member compartment opening temporary closure device insures that at least two compartments full of straws can be stored in a bulk straw staging member prior to being unloaded to a bulk straw transport device. A bulk straw transport device provides the straws to a bulk straw packager such as a boxer or bagger. A bulk straw loading system controller utilizes straw manufacturing speed information from a straw extruder, cutter or wrapper and combined with straw count information, effectuates rotation of each bulk straw staging member as appropriate.

Abstract: A loader for an automatic packaging machine has a plurality of input conveyor belts that run at successively slower speeds in order to bring products into a predetermined product density. A metering wheel picks up the products one at a time and delivers them to a metering conveyor belt having upstanding fences defining batch areas. The profile of the metering wheel may be changed, by substitution, in order to pick up another product. A product counter moves the metering conveyor belt a distance equal to one batch area responsive to a batch count indicating that the metering wheel has delivered a selected number of products to one of the batch areas. In one embodiment, the product is a tube of soda crackers. Down stream, the soda crackers are slid into position without abrading one tube of crackers against another tube of crackers. For horizontal layers, abrasion is avoided by using a variable width mandrel.

Abstract: A coin processing machine comprises a rotatable disk receiving deposited coins and feeding out the received coins to a coin sorting passage by a centrifugal force produced by rotation thereof. The coin sorting passage has a pair of guide members. The denomination of coins to be processed is selected, and the coins which are fed out to the coin sorting passage are processed in accordance with the denomination selected. The coin processing machine further comprises data storage of data concerning the denomination of coins to be processed. The coin data is input into the data storage. A controller reads out the coin data from the data storage in accordance with the denomination selected so as to control the coin processing.

Abstract: A coin wrapping apparatus includes a coin discriminating and counting section which discriminates deposited coins as to whether or not they are genuine and their denomination agrees with a predetermined one while counting the number of coins, a coin stacking section which stacks a predetermined number of coins of predetermined denomination to be wrapped, wrapping rollers which wind a wrapping film whose width is wider than a height of coins stacked in the coin stacking section around the stacked coins so that there remain crimp regions above and below the stacked coins, upper crimp claw and lower crimp claw, movable in the vertical direction toward each other so that the stacked coins are held therebetween, for crimping the crimp regions to generate rolls of wrapped coins, discrepancy detecting device for detecting as to whether or not the predetermined number of stacked coins are wrapped after the wrapping film is wrapped around the stacked coins by the wrapping roller, rolls of wrapped coins collecting box

Abstract: An improved machine is disclosed for stacking a plurality of flat objects. The improved machine for stacking is suitable for use with a packaging machine such as a shrink wrap packaging machine for packaging the plurality of flat objects with a heat shrinkable film. An input conveyor individually conveys each of the plurality of flat objects to the stacker. The stacker forms a vertical stack of the flat objects from the plurality of flat objects. The stacker may be used in conjunction with a wrapper to form the heat shrinkable film into a film tube with the vertical stack of flat objects disposed therein. An input oven transport transfers the vertical stack of flat objects to a heat shrink oven to form a heat shrink package thereby. The invention is also incorporated into a shrink wrap package having an electrostatic seal enabling an operator to twist the heat shrink package to fracture the electrostatic seal for removing the stack of flat objects therefrom.

Abstract: A device for feeding a specific number of spheres into a container from a supply conduit via a sphere-metering device so that a predetermined number of spheres reaches a container. The metering device has a groove that is aligned with the outlet of the supply conduit and the opening of the positioned container and functions in conjunction with a cylindrical worm conveyor that covers this opening laterally and whose axis of rotation runs parallel to the extension of the groove. As the worm conveyor rotates by one turn, the spirals in cooperation with the stationary groove, guide the required number of spheres form-fittingly and forcibly into the container. A sensor of a monitoring device detects the conveyance of the spheres in order to feed the proper number of spheres to the container.

Abstract: An automatic filling system which inserts objects into containers includes a feed hopper. A conveyor conveys a plurality of the objects into the feed hopper. The feed hopper has a discharge station. A collection station is located at the discharge station for disposing the containers in a position for receiving the objects fed from the discharge station. The feed hopper includes a flat inclined disc which receives the objects from the conveyor. The disc is rotated at a sufficiently high speed to cause the objects to move under centrifugal force toward the periphery of the disc. The feed hopper further includes a cylindrical member having an annular wall disposed around the disc and having an upper edge located generally at the same elevation as the upper end of the disc so that objects moving toward the periphery of the disc are moved to the upper edge of the cylindrical member and are conveyed on the upper edge away from the upper end of the disc.

Abstract: The invention comprises a nested tray-like product separator apparatus and a packaging system employing the nested product separator for the separation of a plurality of generally vertically upright nested plastic tray products into packaging units composed of a defined plurality of the nested tray products. The product separator includes a base plate having a cavity therein and a pair of spaced-apart picker elements, with a tension-biased holdback finger element between the pair of spaced-apart picker elements. The product separator includes a pneumatic cylinder, to move the picker elements sequentially and cyclically between a non-use position and a separating position, wherein the one end of the picker elements extend between selected nested tray products to separate the products.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic counting and boxing machine. The machine employs a rotatable drum with a plurality of vanes deposited on the outside surface thereof running parallel to the central axis of the drum. Adjacent to the drum is a mechanism for inserting in front of each vane of the drum long cylindrical objects. As the drum rotates it then deposits the long cylindrical objects into an adjacent collection chamber. The collection chamber has an elevator plate which can be moved between an upper and lower position. When the elevator plate is in an upper position, a compression plate extends and moves the long cylindrical objects into a box loading chamber which has a floor coplaner with the elevator plate when it is in its upper position. When the straws are transferred to the box loading chamber, the elevator plate drops to its lower position and continues to receive straws from the drum. After the compression plate retracts the elevator plate moves back to its original position.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging articles having a conveyor; means associated with the conveyor for forming groups of articles and moving the groups independently of other articles on the conveyor; means for moving the groups of articles transversely to the conveyor; an elevator for receiving said groups of articles in stacked groupings; and means for moving the stacked groupings into a carton. Means are also provided for assembling and closing the carton upon receipt of the stacked groupings.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for making up consignments from articles supplied in packs. It consists essentially of a consignment-assembly unit (9) that supplies individually supplied articles via a sorter (10) having inward conveyors (30,31) to an array of rack sections (14) through which the articles pass to be assembled into consignments via an outward conveyor (32). The individual articles are unpacked from the packs and the packs are temporally buffered by means of an intermediate store (6). Control is effected by a computer (2) which issues control data (d) to the intermediate store (6) and the various positions of the consignment-assembly unit (9) on the basis of goods received data (a) and customer order data (b) so as to determine, starting from the intermediate store (6), which article is to pass at which time to any particular rack section (14) and is to be available at a further particular time at the outlet in a consignment.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging articles, such as can ends, in a sleeve drawn from a roll of continuous sleeve material is described. Means are disclosed for feeding the can ends to a packaging location, for segregating the can ends into package-size groups and for inserting the groups into the sleeves. The machine further includes means for feeding the sleeve material to the packaging location, means for retaining the sleeve material at the packaging location and means for clamping and severing the sleeve material to form an individual sleeve. Means for forming and sealing end-flaps on the contents containing sleeve is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling and packaging articles such as can ends is capable of receiving a continuous flow of articles and automatically delivering groups of articles of a prescribed number, disposed in a nested condition, to a packaging station. The apparatus comprises a plurality of generally parallel elongate lanes for simultaneously handling articles, one of the lanes being articles to the packaging station. A transport aligned for delivering arrangement linearly advances articles along at least the one aligned lane toward the packaging station. A pick-and-place device is selectively movable between positions in alignment with each of the lanes for selectively transferring articles to the one aligned lane from the other lanes. A control apparatus controls a predetermined sequence of operation of the transport arrangement and of the pick-and-place device for providing a substantially continuous supply of articles to the packaging station.

Abstract: Cookies (30) of uniform but irregularly shaped perimeter are received from the cookie oven in a horizontal as-baked attitude onto a first surface conveyor (19). As the cookies are passed to successive surface conveyors 920) and (21) operating at successively decreased velocities, the cookies are raised to an edge standing attitude abutting one another. Laser detecting means (24-26) are positioned above the conveyors (19-21), and measure the height of the edge stacked cookies and adjust this height by varying the speed of the successive conveyors (19, 20 and 21). A counting means (28) at the discharge end of conveyor (21) counts out a predetermined number of cookies to be placed upon the loader (16) for loading into a cookie tray (104), and a pair of separator blades (42, 43) separates these cookies on the loader from the cookies remaining on surface conveyor (21). A cookie tray (104) is positioned under the loader (16) by a cookie tray conveyor (18).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conveying, classifying, and packing goods is disclosed. The goods move on a plurality of lanes to containers for packing. The goods move on conveyors to classifiers where goods outside a predetermined specification are discarded. Goods which meet the specifications move to a counter and retainer. A predetermined number of goods moves to a stacker in a cycle. The stacker moves within a set of spindles configured to receive the goods there between. A controller counts the number of goods stacked in the set of spindles. When a full count is reached the spindles rotate and the goods are placed into a box which is positioned proximate the spindles.

Abstract: Automatic package shingling device deposits packages exiting from an end of a package conveyor onto an elongated platter moving in coordination with package movement below the package conveyor. Controls are provided to arrest package feed when a first platter is filled, until such time as a second, empty platter is placed into package-receiving position.

Abstract: Uninspected bundles of paper sheets are supplied to each of a plurality of pre-processors in units of bundles. Each pre-processor removes a band from the uninspected bundle, prints a serial number in association with the received paper sheets on the band, and holds the band. A number of reusable paper sheets from which the band is removed are counted by and stored in a corresponding inspection device. Each inspection device stores the serial number printed on the band by the preprocessor. In each inspection device, the paper sheets to be re-inspected are sorted by a separator card in units of bundles and stored as rejectable notes in a rejectable note cassette. A center console receives data such as a count result, band number, cassette number, card number, and the like, from each inspection device, and sequentially stores these data in units of inspection devices.

Abstract: In the checking of cigarettes, there is the problem that, for contactless measurement, they have had to be guided at an exactly defined distance from the sensor. It is proposed to measure the distance from the two axial end faces, to form the sum of the distances or standardize the signals relative to one another, and to generate an error signal resulting in separation out when the sum of the distances is outside a predetermined threshold range set in accordance with the color of the tobacco in the cigarettes.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in an article handling apparatus capable of receiving a continuous flow of articles such as can ends and automatically counting and separating a stack of articles of a prescribed number disposed in a facewise stacked relation for delivery to a packing station or the like. The apparatus comprises an elongate trough for handling a plurality of can ends in stacked, facewise engagement, a counting arrangement for counting the number of can ends passing a predesignated location up to a predetermined number, and a mechanism for separating this predetermined number from the flow of articles upon the counting thereof and transporting the articles from said counting station.

Abstract: An apparatus for boxing coin rolls comprising a hopper feeding coin rolls to a rotary orienting feeder that discharges the coin rolls through a discharge chute. A conveyer belt system receiving the coin rolls and transporting the same to a manifold. A manifold bypassing apparatus is operative upon the manifold being filled with coin rolls to cause excess coin rolls to be returned to the orienting feeder for re-entry into the conveyor belt system until the filled manifold is emptied and ready to receive a new supply of coin rolls.

Abstract: Automatic bag filler for packaging predetermined numbers of spheroidal or ellipsoidal articles presorted to have substantially the same size and weight. From a bulk product receiving station the articles are conveyed through a singulating zone, thence through a counting station where the articles, in single file, are counted and carried to an inclined chute leading to a product bagging station. The counting mechanism halts the conveyor temporarily just as the last of the predetermined number of articles enters the top of the inclined chute. A blower acts in conjunction with suitably directed vanes to guide a flow of air toward the open end of the topmost one of a stack of bags thereby opening the topmost bag located at the bottom of the inclined chute for the reception of the counted articles. When the conveyor stops, the filled bag containing the predetermined number of articles is transferred to a bag closure station, thence to storage.

Abstract: A coin stacking apparatus for a coin handling machine including a pair of stacking drums, outer peripheries thereof being formed with spiral guides which extend in the opposite directions to each other and in phase and a pulse motor for intermittently rotating the pair of stacking drums so that the spiral guides are intermittently lowered, the coin stacking apparatus being intended to enable the spiral guides to support and stack coins on an upper face thereof, the coin stacking apparatus further including a controller for outputting pulse signals to the pulse motor, thereby to drive it, a reference data memory for storing reference signals to be output from the controller to the pulse motor in accordance with coin denominations and a coin detector provided above the pair of stacking drums for detecting whether or not the coin is accommodated between the pair of stacking drums by detecting whether or not the coin contacts the coin detector, the controller outputting a correction pulse signal to the pulse moto

Abstract: A counting device determines the number of similar articles, or parts, passing a detector. The device is especially useful in packaging small parts into containers, and in insuring that each package contains the correct number of parts. The counter is preferably of the type in which the parts interrupt a beam of light, changing the current through a photoelectric cell. When the current in the photoelectric cell falls below a predetermined threshold level, the device generates a pulse which indicates the presence of a part. The pulses are counted electronically. The device preferably includes a microprocessor which can efficiently control the counting, calibration, and diagnostic operations. The microprocessor stores information relating to the threshold current level, for a given type of part. The value of the threshold can be determined by a separate calibration procedure.

Abstract: A packing machine for tomatoes or the like has a rear portion with a low backline pressure conveyor arranged into plural lanes divided by tapered walls. The rear portion of the machine is reciprocated sideways so that bulk tomatoes entering the rear of the machine are distributed among the several lanes. Tomatoes are transported to a station where a paddle wheel with flexible arms prevents the forward progress of tomatoes until sensing apparatus determines that a plurality of lane positions are filled by tomatoes. Then a row of tomatoes are discharged through a front chute into a single layer carton. An escrow lane has entry and exit control devices which are responsive to a manually operated switch to add further tomatoes to the carton. The carton is at an incline and reciprocates back-and-forth so that tomatoes nest in a single layer, and are packed more densely thereby. The machine can pack by weight or by count.

Abstract: A bagger (10) for packaging a plurality of bottles (12, 14) in plastic bags (20) comprises a main table assembly (28) and a main pusher assembly (30) at said main table assembly (28). The bagger (10) also includes a pair of identical side table assemblies (31, 33) at opposite sides (150) of the main table assembly (28), each of said table assemblies (31, 33) having a side pusher assembly (32). The bagger (10) further includes a bag holder assembly (42) and a sealing assembly (40). In operation, a bag (20) is first placed on the bag holder assembly (42). A group of bottles (12) is fed by a conveyor (16) to one side table assembly (31). A group of bottles (14) is fed by conveyor (18) to the other side table assembly (33).

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding a preselected number of unsymmetrical objects into a package has a vibratory transporter for feeding a predetermined number of objects to be packaged into a collector and a photoelectric device for releasing the objects from the collector into a package when the predetermined number of objects are in the collector. The transporter includes a discharge trough which is slopped to one side and has a fixed siderail and a resiliently yieldable siderail which prevent jamming of unsymmetrical objects within the trough. Tracks which feed objects from an object storage unit to the trough are arranged one above the other so that the unsymmetrical objects cannot enter the trough on edge or in stacked relation to each other.

Abstract: An automatic baler for bundling together small, individual food bags that have been previously formed and filled in automatic packers, designed to be arranged in line with the outlet of a packer machine with individual bags sequentially transferred by a moveable piston onto the top of a stacking hopper and arranged firstly in layers of several bags disposed side by side, and secondly to be stacked by superimposing every layer over another, and finally to introduce, again by way of a moveable piston, the stack of layers thus made into a larger bag or box attached to an open mouth of the stacking hopper, allowing in this way a plurality of individual packages to be placed in a condition for ease of handling.

Abstract: An apparatus for grouping packages, composed of a horizontal delivery device for conveying individual packages in sequence, and a vertical conveyor device disposed for receiving the individual packages from the horizontal delivery device, conveying the individual packages vertically and arranging the individual packages in groups for transfer to a horizontal output device. The vertical conveyor device is composed of two parallel-extending endless belts and a plurality of parallel rows of brushes carried by each belt and disposed for engaging each individual package received by the vertical conveyor device from below and supporting each individual package as it is being conveyed vertically.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for transporting, lining-up and stowing cylindrical fragile bodies. It promotes efficiency of the stowing operation and ensures sanitation during stowing. Furthermore it disposes cylindrical fragile bodies within receptacles in a compact manner.

Abstract: A control device on a packaging machine for single and multiple packaging of articles of clothing hanging on coat hangers and to be jacketed and welded in a tube film of plastics material in which in the region of the running path of the articles of clothing between the feed screw and the packaging suspension device there are arranged a singler and a stopper arranged at a distance therefrom as well as a scanner registering the number of clothing articles to be packaged by preselection with magnetic scanning, by color scanning or by distance scanning and controlling the singler and stopper for packaging preparation and release.

Abstract: A monitoring and control system is provided for a container filling line having an in-feed conveyor for conveying empty containers, a multiple-valve rotary fill station supplied by the in-feed conveyor for filling the containers, a multi-head closer station for closing the then-filled containers, a discharge station for discharging the filled and closed containers to a take-away conveyor, the take-away conveyor not being cynchronized with the in-feed conveyor, the operation of the filler station and the operation of the closer station, the monitoring and control system including means at the discharge station for generating a first signal responsive to each container passing the discharge station, a detection station provided at a location on the take-away conveyor spaced from the discharge station for detecting one or more characteristics of a container passing thereby, means at the detection station for generating a second signal responsive to each container passing the detection station, means for generati

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging articles having a conveyor; means associated with the conveyor for forming groups of articles and moving the groups independently of other articles on the conveyor; means for moving the groups of articles transversely to the conveyor; an elevator for receiving said groups of articles in stacked groupings; and means for moving the stacked groupings into a carton. Means are also provided for assembling and closing the carton upon receipt of the stacked groupings.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus for successively packaging hen's eggs to obtain packs of eggs, in which the eggs to be packed are successively conveyed, the weight of each of the eggs conveyed is detected, then the eggs are divided and accumulated in the respective regions according to the detected weight, then a predetermined number of eggs are taken out from each region to form a set of eggs to be contained in one pack, and this set of eggs are placed in a plastic packaging container.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading trays with cut product typically meat chops is described, comprising a delivery conveyor (22) onto which are delivered the pieces of cut product (76) in sequence for movement to a delivery station (26), a tray conveyor (32) extending transversely to the delivery conveyor (22) and adapted to deliver in succession each of a plurality of trays (90) to the delivery station to receive cut product, and a product detector (94, 96) at the delivery station to detect the passage of each piece of cut product therethrough. The tray conveyor drive (230) operates in response to the detection of cut pieces by the detector (94, 96) to move the tray conveyor through a small amount sufficient to present the next available region of a tray to the delivery station, to receive the next piece of cut product so as to fill each tray in turn. A transfer conveyor (34) downstream from the delivery station moves the filled trays away from the delivery station.

Abstract: A system for packing containers, such as beverage containers, into corresponding transport trays is comprised of a first conveyor track on which the containers are transported and a second conveyor track on which the trays are transported. A portion of the second conveyor track is inclined with respect to the first conveyor track so that the first and the second tracks converge at a predetermined location. A plurality of relatively flat, elongated support members are mounted at the downstream end of the first track adjacent to the predetermined location for journally supporting a discrete group of containers while the containers are being packed into the corresponding tray.

Abstract: A can end counting system comprises an elongate trough-like member for receiving and guiding a plurality of can ends in a substantially upright, nested condition. The trough-like member defines a longitudinal axis and has an entrance end and an exit end relative to the direction of travel of can ends therethrough. A pusher is provided adjacent the entrance end of the trough-like member for pushing the can ends therealong. A resisting apparatus is located along the trough-like member for engaging the can ends in a fashion for maintaining a controlled degree of resistance of the can ends relative to the pusher so as to maintain the can ends in the desired upright and nested condition as they travel through the trough-like member.

Abstract: Cookies (15) are carried in random spaced series on a surface belt conveyor (11) toward the delivery end of the conveyor. The cookies are diverted by diverter (18) to one side of the conveyor until a predetermined number of the cookies has been counted, whereupon the diverter diverts the cookies to the opposite side of the conveyor. The group of cookies on one side of the surface conveyor moves downwardly about the delivery end of the conveyor belt, between the overhead conveyor belts (25) and (26), so as to change the cookies from a horizontal attitude to an edge standing attitude, and the groups of cookies are received in edge standing attitude in the receptacles (58) or (59). The receptacles progressively move outwardly beneath the delivery end of the surface conveyor as the cookies are counted by photocells (28) or (29), and air nozzles (65) or (66) direct a stream of air toward the last received cookie to hold the cookie in an edge standing attitude.

Abstract: Processing events of an insertion machine are managed by a first data processor (DPS1) 100'. The DPS 100' is connected to a second data processor (DPS2) 700 by a data transmission cable 703 whereby the DPS1 sends data formatted in accordance with a plurality of 95-TO-PC COMMANDS to the DPS2 700 and whereby the DPS2 700 sends data formatted in accordance with a plurality of PC-TO-95 COMMANDS to the DPS1 100'. Some of the PC-TO-95 COMMANDS are used for downloading values for insertion machine input parameters and are generated in response to user input via a keyboard 720 as prompted by appropriate displays on a monitor 718. Other PC-TO-95 COMMANDS are generated in response to user input for interrogating the DPS1 100' and prompt the DPS1 100' to generate an answering 95-TO-PC COMMAND which includes insertion machine-related operating output data.

Abstract: A document collating and inserting system having displays for document count verification. A plurality of bank checks belonging to a check set are fed, counted and stacked at a stacking station while simultaneously an associated statement is fed to an imaging station where a number imprinted thereon is imaged by a video camera and displayed on a video monitor. The number represents a predetermined number which should equal the actual number of checks counted, the actual count also being displayed. An operator makes a visual comparison of the two displayed numbers and, if they are in agreement, initiates a cycle of the system thereby forming a collation of the statement and checks and transporting them to a holding station. From the holding station the collation is inserted within an envelope provided by an envelope feeder during the next cycle of the system. If the two numbers are not in agreement a mismatch switch is provided for the operator to activate before cycling the system.

Abstract: A system and method for packing containers, such as beverage containers, into a transport tray is comprised of a first conveyor track on which the containers are transported and a second conveyor track on which the trays are transported. A portion of the second conveyor track is inclined with respect to the first conveyor track so that the first and second tracks converge at a predetermined location. A packing ramp is pivotally mounted at the downstream end of the first track adjacent to the predetermined location at which the two tracks converge. The packing ramp is moved upwardly to an inclined position when the ramp is in contact with either the leading or the trailing edge of a tray. The containers are packed into the tray in sequence from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the tray while the tray is on the inclined portion of the second track. A plurality of sensors, such as photoeyes, is used in conjunction with a computer to control the operation of the system.

Abstract: A monitoring and control system for a fluid container filler line having an empty container in-feed conveyor (11), a multivalve fill station (14), a multihead scanner station (17), a discharge conveyor (20) and a fill height detector (25), the system comprising a sensing module (22) having a first sensor (44) to indicate the first of a sequence of numbered valves with means to reset a valve counter, a second sensor (45) to count each valve of the sequence and controller means (50) responsive to said sensors to spacially track each container (12) through the system and to identify the particular fill valve for each particular container. A detector (54) is responsive to the controller and signals from the height detector to detect an improperly filled faulty container and identify the particular number valve which did the faulty filling.

Abstract: A container filling machine having a parallel series of elongated slats for movement in a closed path in a direction generally transverse to their length. The slats have cavities carrying articles such as capsules, tablets, caplets, etc. and deliver the same to a first set of horizontally extending chutes which in turn deliver the same to a second set of chutes there beneath. The first set of chutes is fixed with the second set of chutes being adapted for a "shuttle" or reciprocating movement so as to alternately deliver the articles to first and second rows of containers therebeneath. An associated conveyor has single and double container sections with a gate which alternately directs the containers to the first and second rows of containers in the double row section. Similarly, a pair of lead screws at the container filling station alternately assist in delivery, hold the containers in position for filling and thereafter discharge the filled containers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing liquid impregnated fabric wipes and packaging the wipes in a container. Fabric material in sheet form is initially passed through a folder to fold the side edge of the sheet, and the folded sheet then travels over a pair of liquid impregnating tubes where liquid is discharged from slots in the tubes against opposite faces of the folded sheet material. After impregnation with the liquid, several sheets are placed together in superimposed form and cut into short lengths to form wipes. The wipes are supported along their side edges by two pair of cooperating endless conveyor belts and as the wipes move along the conveyor, a reciprocating platen moves downwardly between the spaced belts to eject the wipes from the belts onto a conveyor or pack the wipes into a container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a case packer for placing bottles in a case having dividers separating the bottles. The packer employs horizontally acting trap doors upon which bottles are placed in rows and columns as they are indexed from an infeed conveyor. Half the bottles are placed on one trap door and the other half are placed on the other by the indexing means. As the trap doors are actuated the upper portion of the bottles strike alignment bars and are pivoted and oriented into proper alignment to drop into the case which is located beneath the trap doors.

Abstract: Packaging machine in which the introduction of wrapping material is shaped in such a way that the material can be conveyed to the lower plunger of the packaging machine at minimal expense and over the shortest possible tong path. This object is attained in that the device for supplying the articles and the equipment for introducing the wrapping material operate toward each other in opposite directions.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for providing a universal multi-station document inserter, including the steps of providing a plurality of feeder stations for feeding documents in response to signals from a central processor, providing each feeder station with a unique address, storing feeder programs in distributed processors associated with the feeder stations which provide instructions to each feeder station for feeding documents, storing a supervisory program in the central processor which is capable of providing address and command signals to the distributed processors of the feeder stations, and interconnecting the central processor and the distributed processors for the transmission of signals so that upon receipt of the proper address and command signals at the feeder stations, the feeder stations will provide certain document feeding functions under control of the central processor in accordance with instructions programmed into the distributed processors associated therewith.

Abstract: A method of producing packages and an apparatus for implementing the method wherein each package contains a whole number of stackable objects which are conveyed in a row for packaging and the weight of each package is to remain within given limits. The method includes counting a number of contiguous objects in the row, forming groups of objects each having the counted number of objects, determining the length of each respective group in the direction of the row, bringing each respective group to a balance scale only if the group has a length within predetermined limits, measuring the weight of each respective group and rejecting a group if its weights lies below a given weight value.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically packing discrete articles into a kraft paper bale bag includes a magazine for holding a plurality of closed flat-folded bale bags in stacked relationships, a bale picker carrying vacuum-operated suction cups for attaching to a front sidewall of a bag positioned within an exit opening of the magazine upon the picker being moved adjacent to the opening and for opening the mouth of the bag upon the picker being moved in the opposite direction, duckbills adapted to be inserted into the mouth of the bag and cooperable with clamps for clamping the sidewalls of the bag therebetween, a reciprocating pusher for executing a series of short forward strokes to assemble into a group a predetermined number of articles that are successively positioned in front of the pusher, a counter for counting the forward strokes of the pusher to count the number of articles assembled and for causing the pusher to execute a long forward stroke upon a predetermined number of articles being assembled so as t