Abstract: An apparatus and method by which a single operator, at a single station, can pack pre-counted slugs of flat folded cartons, or trays, in one or more layers, in corrugated cases for discharge to a case taper several times faster than with manual packing by several operators. The "flats" are advanced in a longitudinal path on a secondary apron of a stacker, erect on one edge, pre-counted and divided into slugs, so that the single operator can slide each slug longitudinally past a one-way back stop onto a transfer table. The slug may be turned on its longitudinal axis by the operator for inspection and then compressed longitudinally by a ram against the back stop. The operator has already been presented with a single, flat, tubular case, from a stack of such cases, with the leading flaps folded back, and has manually erected the case and inserted it in a case gripper preferably poised above the table, thereby closing the minor bottom closure flaps.

Abstract: Copies, preferably folded or stitched copies of printed matter, are taken over from a preceding station by means of a loading device, and transferred to a stacking device. The copies are compressed over their full surface before they reach the said stacking device, scaled up by pushing them a certain way one upon the other, and accumulated in synchronism with the operation of the said stacking device. The copies are taken over from the stacking device by a transfer device in the compressed condition, in the form of a total stack. The loading device, the stacking device, the transfer device and the said packaging device are united to one structural unit.

Abstract: A volumetric dosing unit with doser cells or chambers of adjustable volume for continuously operating machines producing dual-use filter sachets for infusion products. The metering unit has a doser with a cylindrical drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and with radial bores opening on its external cylindrical surface. A feeding hopper for the product to be dosed is located above the drum. A compacting element extends from its hopper to the lower deadpoint of the drum tangentially relative to a strip of paper for filter sachets onto which are discharged fractional doses for processing by means of piston elements sliding in the bores. The piston elements are linked to cam control means having an actuator track of adjustable width.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unitizing a load of tires stacked in a longitudinal direction. The stack of tires is compressed in the longitudinal direction between two platens located adjacent the ends of the stack of tires. A web is dispensed and stretched along the direction in which it is dispensed. A leading end portion of the web is held adjacent the stack of tires and mandrels are positioned adjacent the ends of the stack of tires. The stack of tires is rotated relative to the web dispenser about its longitudinal axis. The stretched web is wrapped around and onto the compressed stack of tires and the mandrels, forming a tube which extends in the longitudinal direction beyond the stack of tires and on the mandrels. The mandrels are separated from the web and the stack of tires and the web is collapsed from the mandrel onto the stack of tires, covering the sidewalls of the tires at the ends of the stack.

Abstract: A system for packaging a number of substantially cylindrical packages of generally elastic insulation material. The packages have open ends but are surrounded by a substantially airtight foil layer. The packages are placed close to one another and their ends are temporarily, essentially airtightly closed. The packages are pressed closely against each other by holders. The packages are then connected to a vacuum through a perforated plate to reduce their volume. The reduced volume packages are then wrapped within a tight foil enclosure after the holders are removed but before the vacuum is disconnected. The system not only reduces the volume of the individual packages but also eliminates interspaces therebetween.

Abstract: A process for the transportation and subsequent final compression of, for example, synthetic fiber material from rough filling presses to a central press utilizes thin-walled filling bins for the initial precompression. In the rough presses, the fiber material is deposited into the thin-walled filling bins, the filling bins are then transported to the central press, transferred at that location one after the other into the compressing position of the central press, thereafter an additional compression bin is placed over the filling bin in such a way that the walls of the filling bin are in close contact with the inner surface of the walls of the compression bin, and finally the final compression step is performed. With a final compacting pressure being maintained unchanged, the filling bin as well as the walls of the compression bin are pulled off in the upward direction in order to make it possible to package and reinforce the finished bale.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a cover to a cushion of larger size than the cover by forcing the cushion into a confining chamber which reduces the size of the cushion. The cover is then slid over the cushion. The cushion is then expelled from the chamber taking the cover with it. The cushion expands within the cover as it leaves the confining chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging fibrous insulation batts comprises means for compressing a stack of batts, a bagger for bagging the batts, and means for moving the stack of compressed batts into the bagger, where the bagger comprises upper and lower spouts which have a curvature approximating the curvature of the completed bag of batts.

Abstract: An improved system (10) is provided for loading compacted waste bales (34) in each compartment (22, 24, 26) of a container (14). The system (10) includes a container handling apparatus (12) which sequentially positions each of the compartments before the discharge opening (32) of a compactor assembly (18) for receiving a bale. Further, a control circuit is provided which controls the operation of the compacting ram (20) so that an overlength bale is prevented.

Abstract: A fibrous insulation batt packaging machine comprises a vacuum chamber, an inlet tube for receiving batts, the inlet tube being defined by (a) a pair of sidewalls, (b) a pair of moveable end walls, and (c) a platen, the platen being mounted for vertical movement, vacuum means for partially evacuating the vacuum chamber thereby causing compression of the batts, vacuum chamber top doors mounted for movement to close the inlet tube, means for moving the platen vertically upward to further compress the batts, means for moving the moveable end walls to open the inlet tube, and pushing means for pushing the compressed batts from the vacuum chamber into a bag.

Abstract: The invention provides a machine for manufacturing and handling tea bags, wherein the tea bags are produced by laminating together two webs with individual quantities for tea therebetween. Two rows of tea bags, formed in the webs, and the tea in the bags is biased upwardly of the webs. This is followed by severing of the webs into two individual single tea bag row webs, and this is followed by transverse severing of the web to produce individual tea bags. The tea bags are held into magazines so as to form two stacks therein and stacks of tea bags are moved laterally of the magazine into the inserting device and the inserting device places the two stacks of tea bags into a carton. The two stacks of tea bags are placed together prior to insertion of the carton and extra conversion is given to the stacks to compensate for revising the tea.

Abstract: A machine for apportioning and packaging quantities of bulky particulate product has a weighing device (11), a conveying device (12) and a packing device (13). In order to ensure that the weighed product quantities (10) have approximately the same volume, a level sensor (32, 33), a compressing member (46) and a secondary apportioning device (50) are assigned to the conveying device. When the volume of product quantities is too large it is compressed, wherein bulky portions of the product break; when the volume is too small, a small quantity of product is added to the main quantity. In addition, an addition device (52), which supplies addition articles (53), is assigned to the conveying device.

Abstract: An automated trash management system for measuring the fullness of a plurality of trash containers, each trash container associated with a packing system having a compression member for engaging and compacting the trash in the container and, optionally having a limit switch activated by the compression member when the compression member is fully extended for controlling the movement of the compression member by the packing system.

Abstract: This invention relates to compression of a paper roll for reducing a volume thereof. The paper roll is introduced into a receiver which includes side wall members disposed in parallel with each other and leaning a given space therebetween, a wall member spanning the space between the side wall members for bearing the paper roll during the compression thereof, and a compressing plate member disposed between said side wall member and connected to a pusher rod member. The paper roll is compressed by moving the compressing plate member toward the spanning wall member and is deformed into a flat shape until a diameter of the paper roll is reduced to a thickness within the range between one-half and one-fifth. A degree of the compression is regulated so that the volume reduction can be effectively obtained while it can be easily restituted to its original shape.

Abstract: A machine for conditioning a stack of pads, such as sanitary pads, for packaging includes a rotor. Radially extending chambers having closed sides and open front and rear ends are fastened to the rotor. There is a compressor plunger in each chamber. The plungers are carried on guide rods extending from cam follower brackets. A stationary cam plate is mounted perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotor. The follower rollers are spring biased into contact with the periphery of the cam plate. The chambers are incremented in angular steps starting with a position in which the chamber is stopped momentarily for being loaded with a stack of pads at which time its plunger is retracted. As the loaded chamber increments in two angular steps to an unloading position, the plunger is driven out by the cam to compress the stack. When the chamber rotates from loading position to unloading position, the pads are effectively turned so they are standing on their edges in the unloading position.

Abstract: A capsule filling machine comprising a turntable supported for intermittent rotation about a vertical shaft. The turntable when at one work station receives in top-capped posture empty capsules each comprising an empty cup body having a cap body mounted thereon in telescopic fashion. The turntable is passed during one complete rotation through a plurality of work stations, at which the separation of the cap body from the cup body, the filling of a material into the cup body, the mounting of the cap body on the filled cup body to provide a filled capsule, and the ejection of the filled capsule are successively and sequentially performed. The empty capsule and the cap body, separated from the associated cup body, are conveyed along a horizontal circumferential path whereas the cup body in a region of separation is conveyed along a modified path including a side way extending outwardly and downwardly with respect to the horizontal circumferential path.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging particulate product in bags for deposit into cartons of predetermined cross section and height.

Abstract: An apparatus and method by which a single operator, at a single station, can pack pre-counted slugs of flat folded cartons, or trays, in one or more layers, in corrugated cases for discharge to a case taper several times faster than with manual packing by several operators. The "flats" are advanced in a longitudinal path on a secondary apron of a stacker, erect on one edge, pre-counted and divided into slugs, so that the single operator can slide each slug longitudinally past a one-way back stop onto a transfer table. The slug may be turned on its longitudinal axis by the operator for inspection and then compressed longitudinally by a ram against the back stop. The operator has already been presented with a single, flat, tubular case, from a stack of such cases, with the leading flaps folded back, and has manually erected the case and inserted it in a case gripper preferably poised above the table, thereby closing the minor bottom closure flaps.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling compactible articles, and particularly recyclable articles includes a housing forming a compaction chamber with a bottom door movable between a closed position and an open position and having a feed opening through which articles are passed to be collected in said chamber. A retractable loading chute into which articles are discharged directs the articles into the feed opening when in the open extended position is movable to a retracted position to form wall portion of said chamber closing the feed opening. A first drive has a platen that is moved between extended and retracted positions in said compaction chamber to compress the collected articles in the chamber into a unitary block of mechanically interconnected compacted articles and move the block from the chamber. A second drive connected to the bottom door moves said bottom door between a closed position for compaction and a retracted position for the discharge of said block from said chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling and handling bags with tobacco comprises (a) an intermittently rotatable turret having a plurality of stations for sequential indexing, (b) a pair of chambers at each station for receiving measured portions of tobacco to be packaged as each station is indexed at a delivery position, (c) a hopper for supplying the measured portions of tobacco to said chambers, (d) movable plates at each station for compressing the portions of tobacco within the chambers, (e) arms for receiving and clamping a pair of bags at each station as each station is indexed at a bag receiving position, and (f) chutes for discharging the compressed portions from the chambers into the bags in pairs as each station is indexed at a tobacco transfer position.Each chamber is defined by a base plate and movable jaws disposed vertically and parallel to each other.

Abstract: An automatic container stuffing apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus is especially useful for the insertion of two component gas generating pouches into pressurized containers of the type wherein the pressurizing gas does not come into contact with the contents of the container. The apparatus receives the pouches, performs necessary bursting operations to initiate gas pressurization, compresses the pouch into an elongate shape and inserts the pouch into a container. Two embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment receives pouches in a continuous sheet and separates the pouches from the continuous sheet prior to insertion into a container. Another embodiment receives individual separate pouches arranged in a stack extending in the longitudinal direction of a transport conveyor, thus eliminating the need to separate the pouches from a continuous sheet.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprising:(a) an intermittently rotatable pouch filling turret (1) having a plurality of pouch receiving stations;(b) a pouch supplier (4);(c) a pouch transfer unit (5) for taking empty pouches in sequence or in pairs from said pouch supplier and delivering the pouches in pairs to a first receiving position to the filling turret;(d) means (2,3) for supplying material to be packaged in measured portions to said turret at a second receiving position of said turret;(e) means (33) for discharging the measure portions from the turret into said pouches in pairs, and(f) a pouch take-off device (6) for taking off the pairs of filled pouches at a delivery position of said turret.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing a card on a bundle of sheet-like articles comprises a support for supporting the card adjacent the bundle, a feed device for feeding the card into the support, and a mechanism for placing a strap around the bundle, the card being stripped from the support by relative movement between the bundle with the card attached thereto and the support.

Abstract: A load compactor for compacting compressible loads of a carton loading machine is provided with compactor members which reciprocate vertically and are located directly above the load as it is driven through the loading station. The compactor members are mounted on a compactor conveyor which consists of a pair of endless chains. A plurality of carriers are mounted on the endless chains at spaced intervals. Carriages are slidably mounted on each carrier and have a compactor head at their lower end which bears against the compressible load. A guide track is provided for guiding the movement of the carriages toward and away from the load. The guide track has a forward run which is vertically spaced from its return run so that the heads of the compactors are vertically spaced from one another during the forward run and the return run and overlap one another to achieve a compact lateral configuration.

Abstract: A nuclear waste packaging facility for receiving both contact and remote handled nuclear waste in portable shipping containers and encapsulating this waste into ground-disposable modules is disclosed herein. The facility generally comprises a separately shielded section for processing remote handled waste including various remotely-controlled winches and conveyors, as well as a second, separately shielded section for processing contact handled waste. A module transportation and loading section is disposed between the remote and contact handled waste sections of the facility, and places empty module containers in a loading position adjacent each of the two, separately shielded sections of the facility. Both the contact and remote handled waste sections include radiation and ultrasonic detectors for determining the radioactive level of the waste, and whether or not any of this waste is in liquid form.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing multiple crimped flexible pieces into concave formed shells. In the method, a plurality of flat fibrous web pieces are provided on a shuttle device and are picked up and crimped longitudinally by gripper fingers, and each piece is transferred laterally to a location over a formed shell then lowered and inserted into the shell. While the pieces are on the shuttle device they are moved apart from each other. Also, during lateral transfer the crimped pieces are moved longitudinally and are also bowed longitudinally while being placed into the concave formed shells. Suitable apparatus is also disclosed for picking up and crimping the flexible pieces and laterally transferring the pieces and placing them in the concave formed shells.

Abstract: Elongated rectangular pouches are longitudinally compressed for packing in a conventional packing case by a pair of counter-rotating paddle assemblies. Each paddle assembly has four paddles arranged in staggered relationship around an associated shaft, the shaft being located outside of and slightly below the path of movement of the pouches as the pouches move in side-by-side relationship between two upright paddles. Two horizontally arranged adjacent paddles receive the pouches at a load station, and rotation of the paddle assemblies drops the pouches between the paddle assemblies as these two paddles move into depending vertical positions where they are more closely spaced relative to one another than the upright paddles in order to compress the pouches as the pouches drop into the case.

Abstract: A rotating, indexable carousel-like apparatus for retaining lead frame containers for use in combination with a singulation press which severs a reel of lead frames and progressively loads the lead frames into the containers. The carousel-like apparatus can accommodate multiple lead frame containers and comprises a baseplate, circular container holder, lead frame guide means and indexing means. Also, there are means to ensure container retention within the apparatus. The apparatus includes means which raise the baseplate and container holder to a loading position and lower them to an indexing position. The apparatus will automatically index to the next loading position when a container is fully loaded. The apparatus includes means which monitor both carousel position and lead frame position and will inhibit press operation if either the apparatus, lead frames or containers within the apparatus are misaligned.

Abstract: A machine for arranging signatures in bundles includes a receiving conveyor onto which the signatures are initially directed, and this conveyor moves the signatures in a shingled condition between deflecting surfaces which cause the signatures to simultaneously bow forwardly and rise at their leading edges so as to assume an edge-standing condition. The edge-standing signatures move onto a consolidating conveyor which advances them at a lesser velocity so that they move closer together, and here the signatures are also jogged into marginal registration. At the end of the consolidating conveyor the signatures pass onto an accumulating conveyor which normally advances the signatures at a slightly lesser velocity than the consolidating conveyor, so that the signatures pack together.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for canning meat, tuna fish and the like and in particular a device for cutting and shaping the slices as well as their insertion in cans. The device comprises essentially means for feeding the meat vertically to a horizontal shaping channel wherein the meat is pressed by a compactor against a suitably lobed end of the channel, each lobe being provided with a passage bore inside which runs a die that cuts a cylindrical pellet of meat which is pushed into a can lying underneath, through a gate placed under said bore, by a piston running inside the die. The empty cans are brought under the passage bore by a rotating horizontal star shaped plate which simultaneously discharges the filled cans laterally.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing cigarettes comprises a compression pocket having opposite open ends which comprises a pair of L-shaped compression members which are disposed in an opposite manner. Each member includes short and long segments which extend in an axial direction of a continuously rotatable drum, one of the members being movable in a tangential direction of the outer circumference of the drum, the other member being movable in a direction at an desired angle relative to said tangential direction. The apparatus also includes a device for moving the pair of L-shaped compression members in opposite directions using a rack and pinion combination system.

Abstract: A bin transport system for a fiber baling apparatus utilizes a plurality of portable upwardly opening bins which have openable bottoms. The bins are transported from a plurality of fiber filling stations to a single compression station by a four-part transport means utilizing a dual carriage cross shuttle which moves the portable bins to and from positions adjacent the filling stations and the compression station . A pair of dedicated bin transporters are utilized to transport the bins such that one transporter delivers full bins from the filling stations to a position adjacent the compression station while the other transporter delivers empty bins from the compression station to a position adjacent each filling station.

Abstract: A compression drum (1) for orderly groups of cigarettes (G) in automatic cigarette-packing machines has one or more compression pockets (2). Each compression pocket has a substantially rectangular cross-section and includes at least partly, movable sidewalls (3, 3', 4, 4') permitting the cross-section of a pocket to be varied between a maximum expansion condition, wherein an orderly group of cigarettes (G) to be packed is introduced thereinto, and a maximum compression condition, wherein the group of cigarettes (G) received in the pocket (2) is compressed.

Abstract: An improved tyer includes a central station where loose stacks of signatures sre received. A pair of tying stations are disposed on opposite sides of the central station. A pair receiving stations are disposed adjacent to the tying stations. An improved shuttle assembly is used to sequentially move loose stacks of sheets from the central station to one or the other of the tying stations. The shuttle assembly includes three pusher arms which are movable along tracks between the central and tying stations. Gaps are provided in the tracks at the tying station to enable bands or straps to be moved through the tracks and secured around loose stacks of signatures at the tying stations. In order to provide for as compact a loose stack of signatures as possible at a tying station, the loose stack of signatures is compressed between a pair of pusher arms as it is moved to a tying station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for packaging a fibrous, preferably compressible material; such as mineral fiber insulation shapes, in which the method and apparatus provides for delivering one or more such shapes (which are preferably rolls) through a staging area to a compression chamber in which they are compressed from a generally cylindrical shape or roll (or rolls) of a first diametral size, to a roll (or rolls) of a second, reduced diametral size, with the roll then being discharged from the compression chamber and being secured to substantially retain the cylindrical configuration of reduced diametral size, preferably by means of a sleeve or the like placed thereover. The operation occurs with a minimum of operator assistance, and may optionally be effected to occur automatically. The package formed may be of various roll lengths, and to this end, in the staging area prior to the compression chamber, the number of rolls that will be simultaneously compressed may be determined.

Abstract: Container stuffing apparatus and methods are disclosed. The apparatus is especially useful for the insertion of two component gas generating pouches into containers of the type wherein the pressurizing gas does not come into contact with the contents of the container. The apparatus receives the pouches, performs necessary bursting operations to initiate gas pressurization, compresses the pouch into an elongate cylindrical shape and inserts the pouch into a container. The apparatus includes a bursting station which comprises first and second plates having recesses which move toward each other and compress a pouch received between the first and second plates to thereby burst a rupturable member within the pouch to initiate gas generation and direct the gas generating components toward each other. A reciprocable latch is provided to hold the pouch in position during the bursting operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a food packing machine which includes the following components: a piston mounted for reciprocation during an operating cycle between a pair of limit positions toward and away from a cake forming cavity, for compressing food material in the cavity; bias apparatus for exerting pressure on the piston to provide compression pressure on the material, the bias apparatus including a resilient material mounted to the piston, and a seat to which the resilient material is also mounted to effect a resilient mounting between the piston and the seat; and pressure relief apparatus for selectively urging the set away from the piston to reduce the bias thereon upon reception of a predetermined signal. The machine normally also includes a sensor for sensing when the machine is deactivated, and a signal device for providing the signal to the pressure relief apparatus when the sensor determines that the machine is deactivated.

Abstract: The apparatus forms multi-stack arrays of compressible, generally flat articles--for example, elongate catamenial napkins--on a receiving platform disposed adjacent a stack forming apparatus by pushing one stack against the back wall of the receiving platform, and then pushing successively formed stacks into adjacent relation with the last stack pushed onto the receiving platform. This is done with a stack pusher, and controlling the lengths of its successive strokes as required. Upon moving each stack into its respective position on the receiving platform, it is individually compressed to reduce the height of the stack to about the height of the carton into which the array is to be loaded as a unit. An array pusher then pushes the array orthogonally with respect to the direction of pushing the stacks onto the receiving platform to displace the array as a unit into a carton through a loading funnel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming sealed pharmaceutical capsules containing precisely compacted charges of a powdered material. A pair of substantially cylindrical sealing rolls are arranged in nipping relationship for directing a pair of webs of gelatin material along predetermined paths between the nip of the sealing rolls. For each sealing roll there is provided a powder supply hopper which contains a supply of powdered material and a cylindrical roll rotatably mounted adjacent the supply hopper. The cylindrical roll has chambers extending radially inwardly from the surface thereof for receiving therewith powdered material as the cylindrical roll rotates past the supply hopper. A compaction mechanism is associated with each cylindrical roll for compacting the predetermined charge of powdered material in the chambers so as to form a compacted slug.

Abstract: A method and system for packaging insulation units comprising a receiving section that indexes each roll-set that comes off a production line, a roll breaking section that separates the roll-set into individual units and spaces each unit, a diverter section that verifies height and facing and then diverts a selected roll unit to the proper packaging material and a packaging section that receives a roll unit, orients it properly, and packages it in the proper packaging. The system allows rejection of unsuitable product and reduced handling of product by employees.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for packing tubular bags into boxes by machinery. The tubular bags to be packed are conveyed over various conveyor belts to a positioning belt and from the positioning belt to a positioning table. Layers of tubular bags are then moved onto a rake-like main base that is lowered in a stepwise fashion to receive consecutive layers of tubular bags. When the desired number of tubular bag layers is positioned on the main base, the main base is lowered to deposit the tubular bags onto an intermediate base which together with side walls makes up an intermediate container. Once the intermediate container is in a lower position, a box is pushed over the intermediate container and the intermediate container is swung through a 90.degree. arc onto a conveyor belt. The intermediate container is then removed from the box and by this process the tubular bags which were previously in the intermediate container are transferred into the box.

Abstract: A can stuffer and method of stuffing a can with a flexible sheet product by placing the product in a generally flat receiver chamber and pushing the product edgewise to crowd the product into one edge region of the chamber by forming longitudinal folds or creases in the product to effectively reinforce and strengthen the product in the direction of the folds, and endwise ejecting or ramming the strengthened folded or creased product from the chamber into a container or can.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for collecting and stacking insulation batts or other similar articles and transferring these collections into one of a plurality of packing or compression chambers. The apparatus has a batt-transfer device that operates in a horizontal reciprocating motion, moving a first collection of batts from a collecting surface to a position in a packing chamber located on either side of the collection surface, and cycling back for another collection. Lifting members in each chamber raise the stack up to a predetermined height and holding fingers are inserted underneath this collection to hold them in place. The lifting members then cycle back down to the floor or bottom of the chamber for successive loads with the holding fingers being alternately extended and retracted in sequence to retain the successively larger collection of batts.

Abstract: A case loading apparatus comprises a first conveyor for moving a plurality of articles therealong and a second conveyor for moving open-ended cases therealong. The first conveyor deposits a stacked plurality of the articles on a platen, mounted on an elevator, for movement to a lowered position whereat the articles are transferred to a receptacle. The receptacle is moved adjacent to one of the cases and is inserted therein.

Abstract: A system for segregating and baling textile wastes supplied from a plurality of separate sources embodies a plurality of filling stations which receive the wastes from the separate sources. An upwardly opening portable waste receiving bin is mounted within each filling station with the lower end of each bin carrying a detachable bottom platen. A transfer mechanism moves each bin selectively, back and forth between its filling station and a compression station where the wastes are compressed within the bin. Actuator units in the compression station disconnect the bin from its platen and raise the bin to an upper position about a movable ram to thus expose the bale for final bale out.

Abstract: When hanging from a conveyor line, cleaned eviscerated, whole poultry is stiff and in a "rigor mortis" type condition. This condition makes it very difficult to compress the stretched-out, stiff bird into a compact, plumb-appearing shape so that it can be readily placed into a bag for further packaging. Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus in which a cam actuated tray picks up the bird while it is hanging from shackles, and pushes the bird towards its legs so that the legs are forcibly flexed and the stiffened condition is overcome. Once this initial flexing takes place the legs can easily be repositioned either manually or on most automatic loading equipment.

Abstract: In a paper sheet bundling apparatus for a paper sheet processing system, a thermally fusible bundling tape is wound round a paper sheet stack, and the trailing end of the tape is thermally bonded to a portion of the tape wound round the stack by a heating means. The bonding operation is effected on a heat receiving member interposed between the paper sheet stack and the tape wound thereround. The heat receiving member has a back side, outwardly curved contact surface, against which one edge portion of the paper sheet stack is urged and curved along it by a pressing lever in an initial stage of the bundling operation commencing with the rotation of a rotary body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for making a series of coil springs pocketed within individual pockets in an elongate fabric strip comprised of two overlying plies capable of being thermally welded together. The fabric strip is fed along a guide path during which compressed coil springs are inserted between the piles with the axes of the springs substantially normal to the planes of the plies, whereafter the fabric plies are thermally welded together longitudinally and transversly to form a series of connected pocketed springs. After thermal welding, the pocketed springs are passed through a turner assembly during which the coil springs are reoriented within the fabric pockets to positions wherein the axes of the springs are transverse to the fabric strip.

Abstract: A device for moving two members (6, 18) the one (6) for pushing the body of a poultry and the other (18) for pushing the legs of the poultry against its body, said two members being connected to two pivot arms (2, 12) by means of links (5, 16) one (12) of said arms being connected to a driving means (15) and said arms being mutually coupled by means of at the one hand a curved control slit (4) and at the other hand a control member (14) protruding into said slit, which is so formed that at the end of the stroke of the directly driven arm (12) the other is almost at a stand still.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for pressing and binding voluminous material into bales, in which material in the form of several layers is supplied through a closable opening into a pressing chamber where compression takes place of each supplied layer. Final pressing is carried out at high pressure after a desired number of layers have been supplied into the pressing chamber, whereafter the pressing effect is lowered to a substantially lower pressure, so that the material compressed into a bale is permitted to expand, and the bale thereafter is discharged from said pressing chamber through a closable opening and bound while said substantially lower pressure is being maintained.