Abstract: A seat skinning mechanism for skinning a flexible membrane cover on a polymeric foam vehicle seat body is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a first support surface for positioning the seat body located generally underneath the seat body, a second support surface contacting the seat body on a first vertical side of a seat body, first and second powered wings pivotally mounted with respect to the second support surface, the wings causing the lateral edges of the seat body to fold upon themselves to an extent to allow the flexible membrane cover to be placed over the foam body, the second support surface and the wings, and a lift to force the foam body upward, removing the seat body from between the second support surface and the wings with the membrane cover on the seat body.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing bulky materials, like microfibers having a bulk density of less than about 0.2 PCF, to a much higher density, e.g. about 10.8 PCF, and packaging the compressed mass without damaging the material. The apparatus comprises a hopper having a pivoting wall wherein one edge of the pivoting wall is tapered and cooperates with a curved extension of one wall of an adjoining compression chamber to prevent the material from being pinched or scarffed which would damage the material. The compression chamber is long enough that when the compression means is withdrawn to accept another charge (each package requires a plurality of charging and compressing cycles) the compressed material cannot expand into the opening the compression chamber leading to the hopper. Finally, one end portion of a wall of the compression chamber has a movable retaining wall that also forms a portion of a wall of an adjoining packaging chamber.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a device and method for feeding a cut loose-leaf material such as, for example tobacco, from a weight scale; dropping the tobacco into a hopper; compressing the tobacco into the desired size, shape, and density; and packaging the loose-leaf tobacco product. Packaging is accomplished by wrapping an inner foil and overwrap label around an arbor on a rotating arbor wheel. The package is constructed in various stages as the arbor wheel rotates to various positions. The inner foil is fed and wrapped around the arbor without extending the foil below the body of the package so that the foil does not form a bottom end. The foil extends above the body of the package and is folded to form a top end. An outer label having a sufficient length to extend past the top and bottom of the arbor is overwrapped about the foil innerwrap. The overwrap label extending past the bottom of the arbor is folded and glued over the foil innerwrap to form a top end to the package.

Abstract: An agricultural feed bagging machine comprising a pair of criss-crossed cables positioned in the tunnel of the machine. One of the cables is stationary while the other of the cables is adjustable so that the width of the adjustable cable may be varied to increase or decease the resistance of the cable to the feedstuffs passing through the tunnel.

Abstract: A tree compressing and binding apparatus has particular usefulness in handling of Christmas trees, employs a hydraulic power system which utilizes the even stroke of one or a plurality of hydraulic cylinders to drive a tree through a loader funnel. The apparatus is capable of being used in harsh weather environments and provides a low cost mechanism for packaging trees either for point of sales use or for large scale harvesting and shipping jobs.

Abstract: Tubular packs, which contain a wound scale formation of flat products, particularly printed products, are conveyed over predeterminable conveying paths from at least one pack-producing apparatus (W.multidot.1, W.multidot.2) to at least one forwarding or intermediate storage station (A). For this purpose the packs are conveyed away from the pack-producing apparatus (W.multidot.1, W.multidot.2) with axes oriented in the conveying direction in a longitudinal conveying direction (FP.sub.1). Then in a distributing station (VU) or a deflecting station (U) for distributing the packs to different despatch units and/or for combining the packs into identical despatch units the conveying direction of at least part of the packs, for a constant axial position, is modified by substantially 90.degree. into a transverse conveying direction (FP.sub.q). Combined packs can be compressed in a combining station (ZU) and bound together to form double or multiple packs (PP) using a wrapping means.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying a textile product from an upstream to a downstream station, especially for delivery into a package, has an endless conveyor belt driven by a drive and a pressure unit, the textile product being conveyed while held in a gripped manner between conveyor belt and pressure unit. To achieve rapid conveyance of the textile product without thereby impairing it, it is proposed that the conveyor belt be configured as a first telescoping belt, the front end of which, facing the downstream station, can move back and forth in the direction of the downstream station while the pressure unit follows this motion synchronously; and that the drive be controlled so that the belt of the telescoping belt is not driven as the front end moves back from the downstream station, and thereby rolls off the textile product.

Abstract: An improved agricultural feed bagging machine having a pair of bag retainers secured to the top wall of the tunnel to prevent the folded bag from being pulled from the tunnel at a rate greater than is necessary. When large agricultural bags are being employed, the bag retainers are mounted on a cradle which may be lifted and positioned on the top wall of the tunnel.

Abstract: An automatic filling machine for forming, sizing, transferring and inserting a food product portion into a container. The machine has forming chambers that are expandable to facilitate receiving a food product in bulk and are contractible to define a column having a cross section mating that of a container to be filled. The chamber is expanded to receive a quantity of a food product that is to be inserted into a container. The chamber is contracted to form the food product received therein into a column as defined by the contracted chamber. An upper plunger is provided to force and compress the formed food product column into a sizing apparatus. A pressure switch controls the compressive force applied to the food product column to provide consistency between sized portions of the food product.

Abstract: A packing machine for wrapping compressed insulation products in heat sealable plastic film, including a forming tube having product feed means to move or hold the product within it, a former to reconfigure a web of heat sealable plastic film into a longitudinally open tube around the forming tube, a heat welder to close the longitudinal opening and provide a continuous plastic tube, take-off conveyors which receive the plastic tube containing the product at a point downstream of the forming tube and displace the product a preset distance from the forming tube to create a pocket, means to close the plastic tube behind the displaced product and ahead of the next product which is fed into the forming tube as the product is displaced, and means to cut the plastic tube between the two closures so formed, characterised in that air is removed from the pocket before closure by applying vacuum, thereby reducing the time for closing the plastic tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming and packing bundles (46) of boxes produced by a folding-glueing or stitching machine, in which a station (28) for conveying and possibly overturning at least one stack (24) of boxes which comprises substantially as many boxes as a half of those forming a bundle (46) of boxes, feeds a station (44) for matching the bundles (46) of boxes with a first and a second stack (24) of boxes whereby said two stacks (24) of boxes overlap to each other. In the matching station (44), the bundle (46) of boxes is moved along a plane inclined in the direction of movement by a pushing means (52) acting on the rear side of the bundle (46) of boxes while this is laterally guided by stationary walls (54).

Abstract: A packet, consisting of a stack of band sections lying parallel to one another, is formed in a magazine compartment. The packet is ejected by an ejecting apparatus onto the receiving table of a transfer apparatus. There it is compressed between holding members to a width B, which width is smaller than the corresponding internal measurement A of a mold, which mold is made of a base and side walls and which mold is open on its side opposite to the base. The mold is put over the packet and the packet is clamped within the mold, whereby the packet is made ready for further processing.

Abstract: A compacting unit for groups of flat products arranged side by side on edge, wherein the groups are transported on a conveyor, with the products in each group housed axially separate inside a transverse pocket moving with the conveyor, and are successively engaged by a compacting device featuring a pair of opposed compacting arms. Each compacting arm presents an operating end, and is operated cyclically so that, for each cycle, the operating end is aligned with a pocket of a group, travels with and penetrates inside the pocket, and moves along the pocket towards the operating end of the other arm so as to move the products in the respective group transversely into contact with one another.

Abstract: Feedstuff is compacted in a tube which lies on the ground by a mobile device which includes a traction vehicle, a trailer unit, and a rotatable feeding screw mounted at the rear of the trailer unit for feeding feedstuff from a container into the tube where it is compacted. The screw is rotated by a hydraulic motor which is driven by hydraulic fluid at a pressure which is proportional to loading of the feeding screw due to compaction of feedstuff by the screw. A brake system brakes the wheels of the trailer unit to produce a braking force while the feedstuff is being fed into the tube. A control unit controls the brake system in response to signals from a transducer which senses the hydraulic pressure at the motor. The braking force is reduced when the sensed hydraulic pressure rises to a predetermined maximum value, and the braking force is increased when the sensed hydraulic pressure decreases to a predetermined minimum value.

Abstract: A machine for filling containers with cosmetic products including a support device (3) having a cosmetic powder receiving station and an outlet, a homogenizing and feeding device (1, 2, 20) for depositing cosmetic powder onto the support device at the receiving station, a leveling device (4) for forming the cosmetic powder into a layer having a predetermined height, a tablet forming station, a tablet forming device movably mounted (5) relative to the support device for pressing portions (12) of the layer into tablets of cosmetic product and withdrawing the formed tablets from the layer at the tablet forming station, a discharge station for receiving the tablets in respective tablet containers (14), guides (5) for supporting the tablet forming device for movement between the tablet forming station and the discharge station, a discharge device (11) for ejecting the tablets from the tablet forming device into the respective containers at the discharge station, a collection sump (15) at the outlet of the support

Abstract: Collating apparatus for stacking generally flat articles comprises a chute on opposite sides of which are two pairs of conveyor bands carrying supports for the articles. The conveyor bands are driven as two diagonally opposite pairs so that the stack builds on the supports of one pair of bands while a preceding stack built on the supports of the other pair of bands is discharged from the chute. The supports carried by the bands also comprise members which act on the completed stack to compress it before it is discharged.

Abstract: A trash compactor having a single inlet and multiple parallel outlets a single ram mechanism for servicing all of the outlets. a semi-circular ram chamber and a pie-shaped ram which is connected to the ram chamber at the center of the semi-circular diameter. The outlets are disposed on either side of the center point so that when the ram is moved in a pivotal compacting motion the material is pushed out the outlets into rigid containers, bags or the like. The ram driving mechanism can be a yoke and parallel piston-cylinder mechanism, a gear rack and spur gear or pinion driven by a pair of piston-cylinders or a gear reduction motor whose output shaft is connected to the ram to provide the compacting motion. A sensing device such as a photo-electric eye can be placed in the compactor with its beam traversing the inside of the body.

Abstract: An agricultural bagging machine is disclosed which includes a plurality of horizontally disposed and vertically spaced cables positioned at the rearward end of the tunnel of the machine. The cables are dragged through the silage being bagged as the bagging machine moves away from the closed end of the bag so that the proper amount of density is created in the material being bagged. Each of the cables defines a cable loop which extends rearwardly from the output end of the tunnel into the open end of the bag. The lengths of the cables may be adjusted to permit the density to be controlled. The number of cables may also be varied to control the density in various types of silage materials.

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: 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: An apparatus for packaging potted plants. A plant support is mounted at the upper end of a vertical column and is adapted to support a potted plant having heavy foliage. One or more tapered paper sleeves are disposed around the support column beneath the plant support. A ring having a larger diameter than the pot is mounted for vertical movement on a second vertical column, and the ring carries an open-ended, flexible bag. The lower end of the bag includes an elastic cord, so that the lower end has a contracted diameter, which is smaller than the rim of the pot. The ring is initially positioned beneath the level of the plant support, the plant is then positioned on the support and the bag is drawn upwardly around the plant, folding the foliage inwardly, until the lower end of the bag is slightly above the rim of the pot. The sleeve is then drawn upwardly around the bag encompassing the foliage, and the bag is withdrawn from the sleeve.

Abstract: A machine for receiving and compressing agricultural harvested crops, such as hay, straw or grass, to roll-shaped bales with a coiling chamber, which can be swung open and moved by means of a chassis comprises a front chamber housing and a rear chamber housing, which is coupled pivotably to the front chamber housing for forming the boundary of a front and a rear bale-forming space. A first bale conveyor is allocated to the front bale-forming space and a second bale conveyor, which can be caused to move in a direction of rotation opposite to that of the first bale conveyor, is allocated to the rear bale-forming space. The first bale conveyor and the second bale conveyor are guided over at least one upper and one lower stationary deflector rolls which are supported so that they can rotate at the housing wall parts.

Abstract: A tubular shirred formation (34) is covered by a previously shirred tubular net (38), which is held ready on a supply drum (36), with one end (42) closed and, with axial insertion, the tubular shirred formation (34) is covered, and then the other end is closed off. To simplify the device and to avoid an axial expansion of the tubular shirred formation (34) before packing, its axial insertion into the closed tubular net (38) and the covering of the tubular shirred formation take place while the tubular shirred formation is still seated on the shirring tube (16). Before covering the tubular shirred formation (34) is compressed further by pushing its front end against a stop (64) which is fixed in the axial direction.

Abstract: A can star drive for a fish-canning machine in which a turret 11 and can star 75 are separately driven, with the can star 75 being rotated through its 120.degree. advance in each cycle during half again as much time as it takes for the turret 11 to advance through its 120.degree. advance. The slower rate of rotation of the can star 75 reduces the exit velocity of the filled cans as they are discharged from the machine to avoid ejection of fish from filled cans. In addition, the can star 75 rotates through its 120.degree. continuously in a one-step advance, rather than through a two-step advance with an intermediate stop as in prior machines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging a plurality of cylindrical paper rolls in a compressed state. Rolls are conveyed in a side-by-side relationship and are first progressively compressed in the vertical direction to a partially compressed state. The compressed rolls are then rotated 90.degree. to orient their flattened dimension vertically, and are further compressed as they are further conveyed. The compressed rolls are then joined, wrapped in a plastic flim, and the film is sealed to package the rolls and retain the rolls in their compressed state.

Abstract: A packing machine for wrapping compressed insulation products in heat sealable plastic film, including a forming tube having product feed means to move or hold the product within it, a former to reconfigure a web of heat sealable plastic film into a longitudinally open tube around the forming tube, a heat welder to close the longitudinal opening and provide a continuous plastic tube, take-off conveyors which receive the plastic tube containing the product at a point downstream of the forming tube and displace the product a preset distance from the forming tube to create a pocket, means to close the plastic tube behind the displaced product and ahead of the next product which is fed into the forming tube as the product is displaced, and means to cut the plastic tube between the two closures so formed, characterised in that air is removed from the pocket before closure by applying vacuum, thereby reducing the time for closing the plastic tube.

Abstract: A method of unitizing a cargo of multiple substantially identical high density hay bales into a multiple non-palletized units capable of being handled by a forklift truck or the like and fitted into shipping containers and utility vehicle cargo spaces comprises the steps of selecting a plurality of substantially identical high density bales of hay, arranging the plurality of bales of hay into selected size stacks of at least one layer of multiple horizontal rows, and wrapping multiple layers of an elongated continuous sheet of pre-stretched polymeric film having a memory horizontally around the plurality of bales of hay.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing bag-like packs including a continuous strand (17) which is formed from packaging material folded in a V-shape and having transverse seams (15). Prepared portions (21) of fibrous filling material are pushed into pockets (18), open at the side, during the continuous transporting of the strand (17) by the apparatus. Thereafter, the pockets (18) are closed at a longitudinal seam (16) formed during the continuous transporting. The packs are formed by being severed from the strand (17). The strand (17) and the portions (21) are transported by synchronously running endless conveyors, and specifically by a spreading ring (27) and a portion turret (35), respectively. The above-mentioned conveyors are mounted axially parallel to each other such that, with synchronous running, the portions (21) are pushed radially out of the portion turret (35) into the pockets (18).

Abstract: An apparatus for compacting flexible, compactible articles, comprising a pair of vertically upwardly extending and converging wall members, a platform arranged with the wall members for relative vertical movement therebetween, and a tongue member arranged with the wall members for relative vertical movement therebetween. The wall members have limit stop means associated therewith, so that during relative movement between the wall members and tongue member, the platform engages the limit stop means. Subsequently, relative movement takes place between the tongue member and the wall members and between the platform and the tongue member, such that at the end of such relative movements, the tongue member extends upwardly above upper ends of the wall members, following which the movements are reversed. An appertaining method of compacting a flexible, compactible article is disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous extrusion type reciprocating baling apparatus includes an end pad insertion mechanism which permits end pads to be automatically inserted into the baling chamber at each end of the bale. The end pad insertion mechanism works in conjunction with a bale tying apparatus so that end pads can be provided on each end of automatically tied bales. The end pad insertion mechanism is located above the baling chamber so that end pads are inserted downwardly into the baling chamber, to permit the typing apparatus to be provided on each side of the baler. The end pad insertion mechanism includes an enclosure for containing a supply of end pads and a plate to push the end pads downwardly through a slot provided in the baling chamber.

Abstract: A conveyor system is disclosed having two independent conveyor belts which travel along the same path at various speeds. Each conveyor belt has at least one set of material handling platens attached thereto. Product is fed into the space between each pair of platens and is transported to a distal location where it is removed. A control mechanism operates the two conveyor belts such that product can be loaded into one set of platens at one speed, while product already loaded into another set of platens on the other conveyor belt can be transported and unloaded at a different rate.

Abstract: A device for covering bales of unpacted fiber materials includes a winding device, which has spaced apart substantially parallel first and second rolls of bale covering material, on which a single covering material is wound such that the material extends between the two rolls of material. A bale of the fibrous material is formed on a support which, in one embodiment, comprises a carriage so that there is a relative movement between the bale support and the winding device, so as to cause the support with the bale to move through the plane of the covering material, thus, cause the material to wrap around the adjacent end and the sides, and up to the front end which is opposite the adjacent end. Covering material ends, which are arrived at the front of the bale are directed to a clamping device so that they are closed in the front of the bale.

Abstract: The machine comprises a central vertical tube and an outer tube guided on the central tube, these tubes being movable according to constant strokes which are appropriately in step with respect to one another. A casing is fixed to the outer tube and has a lower pipe which is parallel to the tube. A lever is pivoted to a ring positionable longitudinally on the outer tube and a rod is guided in the casing and is provided, in a downward position, with a plunger guided inside the pipe. An adjustable-height loading cell is supported on the central tube, and the lever has an end which is operatively associated with the top of the rod. The opposite end of the lever is free and acts on the loading cell.

Abstract: An overlapping signature stream is aligned, squeezed and formed into a stack which is dropped onto a rotatable platform of a lower bin. The platform is raised to reduce the distance between the lower bin and the platform. Pivotally mounted compression clips have compression arms which are pushed into the supports by the dropping stack. The platform lowers the stack beneath the clips enabling them to resume their normal horizontal orientation. The platform is raised to compress the stack between the platform and the clip arms. The platform is then lowered and rotated 180 degrees to receive the next stack and form a compensated bundle. The platform is split, providing a gap enabling passage of a pusher arm to eject a completed bundle. The pusher arm can move through the gap as the platform is raised to significantly reduce cycle time.

Abstract: A preserved forage crop, such as grass or lucerne, is cut and allowed to wilt to a given dry matter content, it is then conventionally baled and bales (1) are subsequently compacted in one direction only and sealed into airtight bags (31) before the compacted bale can fully re-expand; preferably the bale (1) is cut longitudinally (z) and each part-bale (8) is compacted longitudinally to produce flat-sided, oblong bagged bales of stackable proportions and forage crop sealed under compaction in the bag and layered in planes (y) or (z) transverse to the longitudinal axis of the bag.

Abstract: Stacks of paper sheets are transported from a sheeter into a wrapper by the upper reach of an endless infeed conveyor. The front end faces of successive stacks catch up with and are decelerated by successive flights on an endless second conveyor which is driven at a speed less than the speed of the corresponding section of the infeed conveyor. This ensures that the dimensions of so-called tails, consisting of lowermost sheets of a stack which are shifted rearwardly with reference to the sheets above them, are reduced in size or that the tails are eliminated before the stacks enter the wrapping station. Misoriented stacks are reoriented ahead of the second conveyor by two endless lead-in conveyors having flexible belts trained over vertical pulleys and defining a channel the width of which decreases in the direction of advancement of the stacks.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming cigarettes groups consisting of a plurality of cigarette layers to be received by a pack, employs a group-forming turret and cells equipped with a tamping device adjustable relative to the cell floor via a control cam. Layers of cigarettes are transferred to the cells from exit orifices of a funnel. To prevent a change of position of the cigarettes in the cells as a result of the forces occurring during the movement of the turret, the control cam for the tamping devices possesses, for each exit orifice, a step opening the respective cell at least by the amount of the height of a cigarette layer, and movable cam portions serving to temperarily bridge the steps.

Abstract: A mobile or stationary apparatus receives refuse in a bin or a chute. The refuse is consolidated by a first moveable shell into a transfer station of generally cylindrical shape. The member serves as a guide as the consolidated refuse is pushed by a compactor ram from the transfer station into a compactor chamber in a bagging station by a transfer actuator which, while transferring the refuse, compacts and crushes it. The bagging station includes a moveable piston against which the refuse is compacted and crushed. Then the baggage station is moved out-of-line with the transfer/compactor ram to a position where a fabric-coated impermeable bag is be installed over an open end of the bagging station. An ejector ram in the bagging station is operated to drive the cylindrical block of compacted refuse into the bag. The bag is sealed snugly around the refuse block and ready for delivery to the dumping site. The bag material is designed to permanently encase the compacted refuse block forever.

Abstract: The receiving station of a packaging machine for stacks of folded paper napkins or the like has a cassette with a base plate and a cover plate. The spacing between the base and cover plates changes automatically not only during the course of each operating cycle, rather the basic spacing between the cover and base plates also capable of being adjusted while the machine is operating, in order to be able to quickly and reliably adapt the width of the cassette to different stack thicknesses.

Abstract: An apparatus for mechanically bagging relatively fragile, leafy vegetables including a bag distending assembly, a sleeve-like inserter, a barrier movably mounted inside the inserter, and a drive assembly coupled to displace the inserter into the bag. The drive assembly includes two pneumatic cylinders so that the barrier can be controlled independently of the inserter and maintained in position inside the bag while the inserter is withdrawn. The inserter carries the leaves inside the bag without substantially compresssing or crushing and bruising the leaves, and the barrier permits inserter withdrawal without leaf damage. A process for inserting fragile leafy vegetables into a bag also is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for canning food products wherein segmented food product contained in a basin of the apparatus is compressed by a plunger down through a cylindrical bore and into a shuttle pocket. The shuttle pocket contains a pre-determined quantity and mass of the food product which is then transferred to a container. The apparatus can be converted to fill different container sizes with different quantities of the food product due to the provision of interchangeable inserts for passages, e.g. for the cylindrical bore. The shuttle product itself is interchangeable as are the plunger heads. The design for interchangeability of these components is adapted for rapid changeover to different container sizes utilizing quick connect fasteners for the interchangeable components.

Abstract: A device for filling outers with filled bags comprises a cassette (1) for the accommodation of a number of bags or rows of bags stacked on each other, feed apparatus (10, 11) for filling the cassette with bags from the top, and discharge apparatus (4, 5) for sliding the stack laterally out of the cassette into a tilted outer. For the purpose of simplification and for making the structure less susceptible to faults, the cassette has a fixed position, and a sliding cover plate or deposit plate (8) is placed at the top side of the cassette for supporting a row of bags. Structure (9) is present for sliding the cover plate (8) to and fro between a covering position in which the top side of the cassette is covered and a free position in which the bags can fall into the cassette.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making an easy open substantially rectangular bag of compressed flexible articles in which the flexible articles are arranged in a stack and held in compression in a direction substantially parallel to their thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying covers to seat cushions, including a frame cushion support which is rotatable between a portion in which the cushion covered thereby is compressed to facilitate placing the cover over the cushion and a position which provides access to the bottom of the cushion to facilitate fastening the cover to the cushion.

Abstract: A continuous signature stacker machine is provided with a transversely operating assembled package ejecting device. The stacker includes a platform onto which individual signatures are sequentially fed on edge to form a stack of predetermined length and a slide member against which the formed stack is pushed. The slide member is moved by a pair of chains slowly in one direction as a stack is formed and rapidly in the opposite direction to a position for forming a new stack after the formed stack is removed. The formed stack is manually or automatically pressed and strapped.

Abstract: An automated trash compaction system having an hydraulic cylinder displacing a ram to compact trash in a mobile trash container and having an electronic control unit controlling the displacement of the ram. The electronic control unit generates a ram forward signal in response to a start signal, generates a part-full signal in response to electrical current being supplied to an electric motor driving a fluid pump exceeding a part-full value, and generates a full signal in response to the current being supplied to the electric motor exceeding a full value. After a predetermined full stroke time or upon the generation of the full signal, the electronic control unit terminates the ram forward signal and generates a ram return signal returning the ram to a retracted position. The ram return signal is terminated when the current to the electric motor exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing bags and depositing the filled bags in cartons, wherein the bags are formed, filled and sealed by a vertical form-fill-seal machine and each bag is compressed to shape it to fit in a carton.

Abstract: The invention is an improved compression member for use in the packaging of insulation material. The compression member includes a plurality of curvilinear finger members defining a plurality of voids extending in the machine direction of the insulation material. The finger members and defined voids enhance the compression operation by encouraging an even release of compressed air across the width of the insulation pack and by guiding the insulation material into the packaging apparatus in a desired orientation.

Abstract: A system for recovering, selecting and recycling empty containers returned after use which includes two specific sequences. In the first sequence, a container (4) passes a door (2) to remove material of a different type, while the accepted product activates a microswitch (9) for counting and activating a warming device to blow in hot air onto the same material which is thus softened; the container is then pushed between a motor driven heated pressing roll (18) with tension supplied by sliding contacts (22) to carry out a compact and permanent pressing by using pressing-welding points and another inertia roller (19). Knives (24) cooperate with the two rollers to ensure the separation. In the second sequence or selection phase, recovered bodies (29), are applied from hopper (30) and fall onto a feeding system with vibrating canals, to maintain the containers individually; photocells (34) check that no superpositions occur.

Abstract: The side walls (6, 7) adjacent a vertically reciprocable platform (3) are moved towards each other to compress compressible products (1), such as kitchen paper towels, toliet paper and the like, for introducing them into a plastic bab (B) upon vertical movement of the platform (3). The side walls are coupled through cam follower rollers (6b, 7b) to inclined guide tracks on guide track elements (9, 10), and slidably coupled to move with the platform on a guide rod (8). The angle of inclination of the guide tracks is adjustable, as well as the separation of the guide tracks from each other, so that the degree of compression, as well as the size of the compressed package, can be readily controlled.