Abstract: A method for the automated filling of pharmaceutical multichamber packages for clinical studies. The multichamber packages include a plurality of individual chambers, e.g. in the form of blisters, arranged in one plane. The products to be packed are fed from a storage container by a conveyor device into a mobile duct; the free end of the feed duct is guided to the desired chamber by a robot arm capable of swinging parallel to the plane of the individual chambers, and the product is introduced into the chamber. The individual steps are controlled by a computer. The robot arm has one or more freely programmable axes of movement, allowing the products to be conveyed to and introduced into the predetermined chambers in the plane in accordance with a freely selectable program which can be stored in the computer.

Abstract: A system for automatic inspection and ejection of cartons in a packaging machine includes detection elements (20, 22) for determining whether a carton (C) has assumed a predetermined configuration at a predetermined point in its path of travel. Carton ejection elements include rollers (30, 32) which are actuated to eject a carton (C) when the detection elements (20) determine that the carton has not assumed the predetermined configuration at the predetermined point in its path of travel. A synchronous relationship between a flow of cartons (C) and a flow of groups of articles (G) to be packaged is preserved at and as cartons leave the carton inspection and ejection station of a packaging machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for confirming the presence of contact lens packages in a secondary carton is disclosed, where a sensor that detects the presence or absence of metallic lidstock of the packages through the secondary carton.

Abstract: A device for transferring blister packs comprises an intermediate station situated between a working station (3) and a packaging line. The intermediate station includes a clamp for receiving and holding at least one blister pack. First and second groups of suction cups are driven by a two-arm mechanism situated in the intermediate station. In a first position, the first group of suction cups is placed in the working station for picking up one blister pack while the second group of suction cups is over the intermediate station for picking up another blister pack temporarily held by the clamp. In a second position, the first group of suction cups is located over the intermediate station, to release the blister pack previously picked up, that is received and held by the clamp, while the second group of suction cups is over the packaging line to deliver the blister pack previously picked up.

Abstract: A process for producing packaged products from a film roll includes the steps of detecting whether an elongate film is defective or not, detecting whether a spool is defective or not, detecting whether an assembled cartridge is defective or not, and detecting whether a case is defective or not. Various defective products detected in these steps are removed without being fed to subsequent steps. By thus detecting various defects in the process for producing packaged products from a film roll, high-quality packaged products can efficiently be manufactured.

Abstract: In the production of large packs (10) each comprising a pack group (11), in particular comprising cigarette packs (12), different-wrapper versions have to be taken into account. For this purpose, two folding turrets (21, 22) for different packaging material are provided, namely a folding turret (21) for cardboard blanks (13) and a folding turret (22) for blanks (20) made of paper or film. The two folding turrets (21, 22) are arranged one beside the other in horizontal alignment. Each folding turret (21, 22) is provided with four pockets which each run through three operating stations.

Abstract: A method and means of detecting the seals of a package is disclosed herein. The invention includes coloring the inner coating of a laminated material that is used to create a package on a form, fill and seal packaging machine. The invention also discloses coloring the longitudinal strip of the package. The coloring of the inner coating allows an operator to distinguish between an acceptable seal and a defective seal since a delamination, which is acceptable, may appear to be a defective seal without the inner coating coloring. The colored longitudinal strip also allows one to distinguish between a defective longitudinal seal and a delamination of the longitudinal strip.

Abstract: A method of carrying out quality control of a packaging container or packaging container blank comprises providing a package or blank having one or more poles (12) for interconnection with electric quality control equipment (24). The packaged product (20) will be directly or indirectly electrically accessible, whereby both the quality of the packed product and the tightness of the surrounding packaging container (1) may be determined in a rational and partly automated manner. This is of particular importance in the production of aseptic packaging containers for, for instance, ready-made, heat-treated soups or similar foods.

Abstract: A process for applying a biobarrier member to a vent opening in a foil member used for medical device packaging. The process provides for cutting a biobarrier member from a roll of stock and sealing the biobarrier member about the vent opening in the foil member. The seal is tested for integrity and the biobarrier member is tested for porosity.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sealing unsealed surgical suture packages by applying heat and sealing pressure substantially simultaneously to both the sealed edge and the unsealed edge of an unsealed surgical suture package, thereby forming a sealed surgical suture package.

Abstract: To improve the efficiency of powerful packaging machines for cigarettes or the like, the blanks (10) for wrapping the cigarettes or the like are monitored in respect of correct formation whilst being conveyed along a blanks path (27) to a revolving folding unit (28). Bifurcate photoelectric barriers are positioned on side regions of the blanks path (28) as monitoring units (40, 41). These barriers monitor the state of folding flaps (19. .24), arranged at the side, of the transported blanks (10).

Abstract: From a web of paper a mailing item (10) comprising envelope and contents is printed personalized on a first conveying section (2) in individual stations. After being turned over the web of paper is supplemented, where necessary, by further paper parts, it then being cut to contour laterally and provided with side flaps folded inwards for the envelope. After this, the cut-to-size item is parted as a unit from the web of paper by a cross-cutter (43) and the contents folded on themselves transversely as well as on the cut-to-size item for the envelope. This unit is then diverted at right angles to a second conveying section (3) in which the cover sheets of the envelope are folded open with interposition of the contents, the cover sheets thereby being secured to each other by the side flaps. After this, the envelope opening is closed by the closing flap.

Abstract: A drug filling machine has a plurality of feeders containing a plurality of different kinds of drugs. A plurality of drugs are discharged from one or some or the feeders into a vial. A sealing unit is provided for sealing the mouth of the vial with a transparent sheet. The sealing unit includes a sheet presser for pushing the transparent sheet into the mouth of the vial to form a sealing sheet having a tray-shaped section, a cutter for cutting the transparent sheet into a predetermined shape, and a heater for fusing the transparent sheet to the top end of the vial to seal the mouth of the vial.

Abstract: Bags, (1) produced at generic machines (2), are removed by means (3) toward grippers (5) associated to a conveyor line consisting of endless chain sections (4)-(10), including means (8) for weighing the bags (1), and bar-code and bag dimension verifying means (48) and (28). The sections (4) and (10) are related by transfer means (9) which may or may not connect the same, depending on an order received from means (8), (48) and (28), rejecting in the latter event faulty bags or grippers without a bag, or directing them toward a fitting station (12) at which the grippers and bags are released from the chain (10), suspended at different heights and grouped in the projection of a box (16) that is lifted toward the group by a lift (17).

Abstract: An interactive control system for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility, the interactive control system consisting of a first robot device for periodically transferring individual arrays of a first predetermined amount or discrete contact lens packages each containing a contact lens therein from a first station to an intermediate conveyor where the individual arrays are conveyed to a second station, and a controller for initiating a time stamp for each individual array transferred from the first station and determining elapsed time data for each individual array and for generating position status data indicating a good array or a bad array of defective lenses for each individual array as it is conveyed to the second station, the controller shifting the elapsed time data and position status data for each individual array as it is conveyed on the intermediate conveyor for transfer to the second station.

Abstract: With rapidly-operating packaging machines for cigarette packages, monitoring of blanks is becoming increasingly necessary, such a system supervising the feed of correct blanks in the correct relative position. The same applies to monitoring systems for revenue seals.In the method according to the invention for monitoring blanks or revenue seals with the aid of a sensor, contours of an edge and of a surface of the blank or of the revenue seal are scanned. Pulses obtained thus are compared with a reference value by an evaluating unit.

Abstract: A device for transferring blister packs comprises an intermediate station situated between a working station (3) and a packaging line. The intermediate station includes a clamp for receiving and holding at least one blister pack. First and second groups of suction cups are driven by a two-arm mechanism situated in the intermediate station. In a first position, the first group of suction cups is placed in the working station for picking up one blister pack while the second group of suction cups is over the intermediate station for picking up another blister pack temporarily held by the clamp. In a second position, the first group of suction cups is located over the intermediate station, to release the blister pack previously picked up, that is received and held by the clamp, while the second group of suction cups is over the packaging line to deliver the blister pack previously picked up.

Abstract: A packaging arrangement for packaging products such as contact lenses in packages such as blister packs. The packaging arrangement includes an intermittently indexed, linearly driven endless conveyor which includes a plurality of identical support pallets, equally spaced apart along the endless conveyor. Each support pallet is designed to support and align an array of individual package bases. The arrangement is such that each support pallet with an array of individual package bases thereon is sequentially stopped at a plurality of spaced work stations along the endless conveyor.

Abstract: The lower end 11 of a foil tube 6 rests in a vertical tubular bagging machine 1 without any mechanical tension from the remainder of the foil tube 6 on a scale 17. The scale 17 weighs the end 11 together with dosed product portion of a flowable product, which portion is fed into the end 11. The measured value of the scale is delivered to a volumetric dosing device 20. The dosing device 20 changes the mass of the dosed product portion dependent on measured values of the scale 17. The invention improves the packaging speed and the dosing exactness, in particular for dosed masses of less than 5 kg. of flowable product, for example powders.

Abstract: A bottle cap removing system which is easily adapted to a conveyor system of either 5-gallon or 3-gallon bottle movement within a bottling or recycling facility. Such system automatically determines which, if any, bottles have attached bottle caps and automatically removes such bottle caps in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Multiple lengths of steel comprise a main support structure which supports an overhead decapping assembly. As bottles from a conveyor line pass underneath this decapping assembly, a sensor determines whether or not the first bottle in the line has an attached bottle cap. If such bottle has an attached bottle cap, pneumatic actuators located at both the lower and upper front end of the support structure are energized to extend a set of bottle pads into the path of the bottle. This bottle's movement is thus stopped and its bottle cap situated immediately underneath the decapping assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of packs (10), especially cigarette packs. In the manufacture of packs (10) by a packaging machine, it may be desirable, for several reasons, to separate individual predetermined packs out of the feed flow and to supply them for suitable use. This involves, in particular, faulty packs (23) which are gripped by an outward-transfer wheel (26) in the region of a separating-out assembly and are transferred to a separate pack conveyor (45).

Abstract: For manufacturing cross bottom valve sacks, the ends of continuously transported tubular sections are opened out with the formation of so-called "bottom squares" with triangular corner folds lying opposite each other. A valve leaf or a valve tube is tacked onto one side of an opened-out bottom square in such a way that, after the side folds of the opened-out bottom have been folded-in with a mutual overlap, the leaf forms a valve tube leading into the inside of the sack, and with its outer end freely accessible at one side of the sack bottom. For checking the correct position of the valve leaves or of the valve tube, the valve leaf or the valve tube, or the zone of the corner fold, covered thereby when the leaf is tacked in its correct position, is provided with a mark that can be registered by a photocell device fixed to the frame. The photocell device is activated by a reference pulse when, in the manufacturing installation, the sack bottom has reached its predetermined position to be checked.

Abstract: A down-article indicator which automatically adjusts for the height difference of articles, such as bottles, when article size is changed for a new run on a machine conveying articles. A pivotably mounted height sensing arm, located on one lane of the machine, down stream from an array of freely pivoting detecting arms, is connected by an adjustable mechanical linkage to a pivoting bracket holding a retro-reflective photo eye in proper location with respect to the detecting arms so that the detecting arms do not break a light beam from the photo eye during normal operation. A non-upright article will cause a detecting arm to pivot and break the light beam to stop the machine. As a new group of articles having a different height moves into the down-article indicating station, the height sensing arm automatically moves the photo eye to its proper location for the new height articles.

Abstract: In a wrapping machine that packages products by enveloping each one in a tubular wrapper with two edges united lengthwise and heat-sealed thus together, the integrity of the packaging is verified by a device comprising a feeler located at a given point along the wrapping line and offered in sliding contact to the advancing wrapper at an area coinciding with the junction between the edges and the tubular envelope. The feeler is loaded against a spring delivering a force of known intensity, and able consequently to hold a stable operating position as long as resistance is offered by the wrappers, but will find the gaps in any wrapper of which the edges have failed to unite successfully. The resulting movement of the feeler is sensed by a transducer.

Abstract: A method for making sterile suture packages employs a frame assembly line, a sterilization line and a blanker/cartoner line. A web of foil is advanced in a series of movements through the frame assembly line to assemble a frame containing needle-suture assemblies in a plurality of cavities in the frame, the frame having top and bottom aluminum foils with heat seal coatings on their facing surfaces. The cavities are formed in the bottom foil of each frame by a combination of pressurized air and mechanical plugs which are forced against the bottom foil and an underlying die having recesses for defining the cavities. A blanking operation following sterilization and sealing separates individual packages, each containing one needle-suture assembly, from the frame. The packages are then conveyed by belts through inspection stations and reoriented for loading into shipping cartons.

Abstract: Twin packets of cigarettes, each consisting of two half packets with respective foil wrappings and arranged side by side inside an outer wrapping, are formed on a wrapping line by feeding a single succession of half packets along the input portion of the wrapping line, and successively transferring the half packets to the output portion of the wrapping line by grouping the half packets into twos to form, at the output portion, a single succession of groups, each consisting of two side by side half packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for testing seal strength and integrity of packages and for testing container and lid integrity, during an on-line production processing environment. Air pressure is introduced in a unique way to test the container and/or container seal in an additional step of an otherwise typical processing environment. A computer may be in communication with the testing sensors to control the processing in the event a failure is detected. The present invention provides a way to meet the continuously increasing line speed in form, fill and seal production processes with a unique ability of having complete package integrity testing for any odd shapes and package combinations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for singulating sheets from a stack of sheets and transporting individual ones of them to a conveyor. A picker arm is mounted at its upper end to a rotatable shaft, for reciprocating movement between first and second positions. A lower end of the arm includes a foot and a movable gripper jaw. When the arm is rotated into the first position, it grasps a segregated sheet. As the arm reverses direction and rotates toward the second position, it draws the sheet away from the stack. A sensor, provided within the foot, produces an electrical signal corresponding to the thickness of the sheet. The digital output signal is compared to a reference, or calibration value stored in a computer. If the output signal falls unacceptably outside the reference value, a signal is stored to effect later outsorting. Just before the arm reaches the second position, the jaw is opened, dropping the sheet upon the conveyor.

Abstract: A transport apparatus (C) for transporting products (X), supplied onto a lower transport path, successively to an upper transport path, and a loading apparatus for loading the products (X), which have been transported by the transport apparatus, into a receptacle (Y). The system includes a first transport mechanism (2) for transporting the products (X) towards a pick-up station (P2), a lifter mechanism (4) for holding the products (X), having been transported to the pick-up station (P2), and transferring the products (X) from the pick-up station (P2) towards a delivery station (P3) defined generally above the pick-up station (P2), and a second transport mechanism (5) for receiving the products (X), which have been transferred to the delivery station (P3) by the lifter mechanism (4), and transporting the products (X) towards a stand-by station (P4) defined above a loading station (P5) at which the bagged products are loaded into the receptacle (Y).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for testing seal strength and integrity of packages and for testing container and lid integrity, during an on-line production processing environment. Air pressure is introduced in a unique way to test the container and/or container seal in an additional step of an otherwise typical processing environment. A computer may be in communication with the testing sensors to control the processing in the event a failure is detected. The present invention provides a way to meet the continuously increasing line speed in form, fill and seal production processes with a unique ability of having complete package integrity testing for any odd shapes and package combinations.

Abstract: A method of preparing items to be mailed, in which periodically at least one main document is inserted into an envelope by way of a mail preparation system comprising an inserter station. A printing is printed through use of a printer on an envelope, which printing corresponds to a given main document. In accordance with the invention the printed envelope is fed from the printer to the inserter station, where the given main document is inserted into the printed envelope that corresponds to that main document. Furthermore a system for preparing items to be mailed comprises a printer, an envelope supply path and an inserter station connected thereto. In accordance with the invention the printer (6) is connected to the envelope supply path (5), in such a way that the envelopes can be fed from the printer (6) along the envelope supply path (5) to the inserter station (2).

Abstract: An apparatus checks a closure on an end of a bag having loosely packed goods contained therein. A first conveyor extends the length of the apparatus. Second and third conveyors are positioned adjacent one side of the first conveyor. A gap is defined between the second conveyor and the third conveyor. Adjacent portions of the first conveyor and second conveyor are coplanar to define a first surface moving in the same direction at the same speed that fully supports the bag moving thereon. Adjacent portions of the first conveyor and the third conveyor are coplanar to define a second surface moving in the same direction at the same speed as the first surface that also fully supports the bag moving thereon. The first conveyor partially supports the bag such that the end thereof and a portion of the loosely packed goods contained in the bag are unsupported by the first conveyor in the area of the gap.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically placing a lid on a component package and then securing the lid with a clip. The apparatus includes a programmable robot arm having a gripping assembly, an inspection station, a first conveyor for conveying a boat along a path between a first position and a second position, a pick arm for removing a first lid from a lid feeder station, a second conveyor for reciprocating the pick arm between first and second positions to thereby transfer the first lid from the lid feeder station to the inspection station, and a camera located at the inspection station for inspecting the first lid. The apparatus further includes a rotary actuator arm and a mechanism for reciprocating the rotary actuator arm into contact with a first lid bottom surface following inspection of the first lid and for releasing the pick arm.

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: A gripping device for cases is mounted in an automatic packaging machine and includes a pair of stationary prongs and an associated pair of counterfacing prongs which cooperate to clamp a case between them. At least the movable prongs have notchings facing the stationary prongs which are adapted to grip a side wall panel of the case.

Abstract: A pneumatic apparatus for withdrawing goods from defective blister packages on a blister packaging machine and comprising a pair of spaced-apart and laterally shiftable vacuum heads reciprocally mounted above the carrier strip between the detection station and the sealing station of the blister packaging machine so that when one head is in vertical registration with the carrier strip the other head is laterally offset from the carrier strip. Each vacuum head comprises a plurality of suction elements depending from the bottom thereof which are adapted to selectively engage a predetermined plurality of goods on the carrier strip.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for rejecting defective packages in the region of a packaging machine are disclosed. In the production of bundles formed from several individual packages, especially from a group (11) of cigarette packages (10), it is required to inspect the cigarette packages (10) as regards completeness of the group. Packages (13) which are thus found to be defective are marked in an exteriorly visible manner and are rejected at a later stage, especially in the region of a discharge track (26). The defective package (13) is marked by way of folding over a folding tab of an outer wrapping (12), especially a lower tab (33) in the region of a rearward side wall with respect to the conveying direction. The lower tab (33) forms a gusset (36) which is folded over to the outside.

Abstract: A filling/sealing apparatus used for ampules generally has a feed star wheel feeding ampules, a turntable transporting the ampules delivered from the feed star wheel, and an intermediate star wheel interposed between the feed star wheel and the turntable. Around the turntable, filling needles fill the ampules with liquid, burners seal the upper ends of the ampules, and pincers pinch the upper ends of ampules. Sensors determine whether the ampules being transported by the intermediate star wheel have the upper ends intact and damaged ampules are removed. The number of ampules that can be held by the turntable as well as the star wheel is set to integral times as many as the number of ampules that can be simultaneously filled by the filling needles.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for inserting documents into an envelope. The apparatus includes: an envelope inserting station; a device for feeding documents toward an envelope situated at the envelope inserting station; a device for inserting the documents into the envelope; a device for sensing whether or not the envelope is properly aligned at the insert station to receive the documents; and a device for diverting an envelope not properly aligned at the insert station.

Abstract: A cigarette packaging machine is provided with a mechanism for rejecting defective cigarette packs of a two pack stack of cigarette packs. A defective top pack of the stack is rejected at a first rejection station by a blast of pressurized air or a pusher bar and a defective bottom pack of the stack is rejected at a second rejection station downstream of the first rejection station by a movable arm which pivots away from a position supporting the stack and then pivots toward the stack to strike the bottom pack and eject it from the stack. A magazine filled with acceptable packs is located downstream of the second rejection station for replacing defective packs ejected from the stack.

Abstract: A slewing device for screw closures for containers includes a screw closure receiving member, a drive for rotating the receiving member, and a control arrangement for controlling power supply to the drive and including a torque sensor for sensing an instantaneous drive torque, a comparator for comparing the instantaneous drive torque with a closing torque having a predetermined value, and a sensor for sensing an angle of rotation of the receiving member and actuatable only upon the instantaneous drive torque reaching the predetermine value. The method of placing a screw closure on a container includes applying a drive torque to the screw closure to screw it down onto the container, sensing an instantaneous drive torque applied to the screw closure, comparing the instantaneous drive torque with a closing torque having a predetermined value, and sensing an angle of rotation of the screw closure only upon the instantaneous drive torque reaching the predetermined value of the closing torque.

Abstract: A machine for conditioning filled and sealed bags for testing, to assure that the bags are accurately tested without damaging the product contained in the bags, and for packaging the bags that have passed the test in cartons with the longitudinal axis of the bags arranged vertical.

Abstract: A method for telecamera-checking of products (1) wrapped with transparent material, in particular packets of cigarettes, in which a product (1) wrapped with transparent material is illuminated by an ultraviolet lamp (6) and is scanned by a telecamera (4), which feeds an image of the product (1) into an image processor (5) to verify the soundness of the wrapped product (1) by processing the image in accordance with a determined programme.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for feeding products, in particular packets of cigarettes (3) comprising a feeder (5) for feeding a succession of packets (2), a first conveyor (9) driven with intermittent motion and provided with seats (1) for receiving respective packets (2) from the feeder (5), and a receiver (3) for receiving the packets (2) from the first conveyor (9) in succession. The apparatus (2) also comprises a second conveyor (19) driven with intermittent motion and provided with seats (18) for containing respective packets (2), the path of travel of the seats (18) of the second conveyor (19) intersecting the path of travel of the seats (10) of the first conveyor (9) at a station (17) for the discarding and replacement of defective packets (2). During each of its stages of movement the second conveyor (19) is able to remove a defective packet (2) from a seat (10) of the first conveyor (9), and to introduce a sound packet (2) into the same seat (10).

Abstract: A plurality of clamps arranged in equally spaced relation on an endless track are intermittently advanced at a pitch equal to the distance of each two adjacent clamps. A switch reactive only to the passage of a sufficiently heavy or filled bag which has been filled with an article is disposed downstream of a filling station, one of the stop positions for clamps. When the passage of a bag is not responded by switch, that is, when an empty or unfilled bag has passed near the switch, the particular clamp by which the empty bag is held is caused to pass through the final stop position and, in turn, through the first stop position before it can again reach the filling station, with the empty bag being held by the clamp all the while.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing cigarette packages from a packaging machine for the purpose of inspection by a Machine Vision System includes an index wheel and machine vision machine for detecting defective packages and returns only good packages to the machine output flow.

Abstract: A pneumatic apparatus for withdrawing and recycling goods from defective blister packages on a blister packaging machine comprising a housing which is positioned on the blister packaging machine between the detection station and the sealing station and having a plurality of transversely spaced-apart open chambers in the bottom thereof. A plurality of air valves are connected to a high air pressure source and to the blister package machine detection station, and each air valve corresponds to a respective chamber in the bottom of the housing. A plurality of air venturi nozzles are provided wherein each air venturi nozzle is fluidly connected at its air pressure input end to a corresponding air valve and chamber.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises an aseptic chamber having a required packaging work space as separated from the outside air, a container outlet and a closure for the outlet, an inner container conveyor disposed inside the chamber to provide an inner path of transport of containers, an outer container conveyor disposed outside the chamber to provide an outer path of transport of containers, a fixed transfer member interposed between the outlet and the terminal end of the inner transport path, a movable transfer member interposed between the outlet and the starting end of the outer transport path and movable about its front end upward to a raised position or downward to a horizontal position, and means for successively forwarding containers on the fixed transfer member from its rear end to the front end thereof and then delivering the containers from the front end to the rear end of the movable transfer member in the horizontal position.

Abstract: A system for introducing liquified gas into filled containers in a continuous container fill line (10), wherein, the dosage of liquified gas dispensed into each container is calibrated to the individual container's particular head-space volume. The system (10) includes measuring the head-space volume of each filled container in-line and communicating that measurement to a controller (28) which can adjust the dosage of liquified gas to be dispensed to each individual container. The system also provides for measuring the internal pressure of each container after sealing, which measurement is also communicated to the controller so that the controller can make additional dosage corrections and can direct the ejectment of improperly pressurized containers.

Abstract: For use with automatic machinery for packaging a food product in foil pouches and then inserting a desired number of pouches in a box, a method and apparatus for scanning the boxes to check for missing pouches. The scan is accomplished by applying like alternating magnetic fields through each box and through the foil used to make the pouches at a point upstream from where the pouches are formed. Detected field absorption associated with the upstream foil is used as a reference, and the difference between it and detected field absorption associated with a box is proportional to the number of pouches in the box. The apparatus can detect if one out of two, one out of three, or one out of four is missing, and compensates the differential signal for variations in foil thickness by multiplying the reference signal by N-1, where N is desired pouch count per box. If a pouch is missing from a box, a signal is generated which can be used to trigger a rejection mechanism to remove the short-count box.