Abstract: An indexing motion apparatus and method for vacuum packaging of articles such as hot dogs, sliced luncheon meat, cheese or pharmaceuticals. A lower web of packaging material is indexingly advanced by a lower web drive driven in an indexing manner by a servo motor. Forming tooling is provided for vacuum forming the lower web to form one or more product cavities, and the forming tooling is movable between raised and lowered positions by a lifting and lowering system driven by a servo motor. A plug assist mechanism is provided for assisting the web to conform to the forming cavities. The plug assist mechanism is also movable in response to operation of servo motors, which actuate a pair of linear actuators. After the formed product cavities are loaded with product, the cavities are evacuated and an upper web applied to vacuum package the product. A slitting mechanism severs the upper and lower webs into individual product packages.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring stacked and individual flexible products of variable height such as signatures to a wrapping machine having a continous packaging film includes a conveyor unit for transporting the signatures along a path substantially parallel to the packaging film, a main pushing unit for advancing the signatures transversely across the conveyor unit into the packaging film and a second pushing unit selectively engageable with the packaging film and travelling in advance of the signatures for adjusting the tension of the packaging film to prevent distortion of the signatures during wrapping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for filling a blind cavity, for example a blister of a blister pack, with a quantity of powder. The cavity, with its open side downwards, is urged into a reservoir (30) of powder, and withdrawn from the reservoir with the quantity of powder therein. An elongate sheet (12) with a plurality of blisters disposed along the length thereof preferably passes around, and travels with, a wheel (38) partially immersed in the reservoir (30) of powder.

Abstract: A device comprises an arm pivoting on and supported by a shaft positioned between a station, where a sealed blister strip is cut into individual blister packs, and a blister pack infeed conveyor. The arm is made up of two pieces fitted with suction cups, and oscillates between two positions, so that in a first position the suction cups are at the cutting station, on a smooth surface of a blister pack just cut, while in a second position they are at the side of a pickup bucket, on the infeed conveyor. The suction cups are actuated in the first position, so that the blister pack can be picked up, and then the suction cups are disenabled in the second position, so that the blister pack can be fed into the bucket, with deep-drawn blisters turned upwards. Sidepieces provide for centering the blister pack in respect of the longitudinal axis of said infeed conveyor, while infeeding the blister pack into the bucket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a self-supporting tray-like container wherein a product-receiving well protrudes into a second well in an all-round mutually spaced relationship. The method calls for two parts, each formed with a well therein and each part formed of a thermoplastic having a different resistance to thermal deformation, to be joined at their peripheries. The present invention additionally provides that the two parts are to be formed simultaneously, their peripheries are to be joined so that their respective wells extend in opposite directions after which one well is inverted into the other.

Abstract: A method of forming a series of tray containers from plastic sheet film including intermittently continuously advancing a sheet of film, forming pockets in the film by heating and pressure differential across the film, laterally delivering closure strips between the pockets with the closure strips doubled, and having upper and lower layers with rib and groove fastener profiles therebetween, attaching the lower layer of the fastener to the web at the upper and lower edges of the fastener, laying an upper layer of film over the lower layer and attaching it to the lower layer around the edges of the pockets and attaching the upper layer of film to the top edge of the doubled fastener strip with the upper layer of the fastener strip having a tear perforation sealed by a sealing strip below the rib and groove elements.

Abstract: An apparatus, located downstream of a packaging line for packaging of blister packs, works in conjunction with a carton ready-making line and comprises three devices positioned along a conveyor having an upper surface fitted with crosspieces to delimit seats designed to receive said blister packs. The first device transfers the blister packs from the packaging line to the seats, keeping the blister packs with the blisters turned upwards, while the second device, positioned downstream of a station, fills empty seats, where faulty blister packs where placed and from where the faulty blister packs where removed, with non-defective blister packs, the second device feeding itself with non-defective blister packs taken from the seats. The third device forms stacks of blister packs, folds an information leaflet, and inserts the stacks, together with the leaflet, into cartons coming from the carton ready making line.

Abstract: A packaging machine and a method for continuous forming of filled packages from relatively unstretchable roll stock of crinkled heat sealable filter paper. A series of pouch forming drum sockets are provided in an outer surface of a revolving drum and the paper is trained on the drum over the sockets. Another mechanism is provided for slitting the sheet of the filter paper along its length creating a pair of side-by-side heat sealable filter paper strips before the paper reaches the drum. A driven endless flexible before the paper reaches the drum. A driven endless flexible belt is operatively engaged with the outer drum surface. A suction device is provided for drawing overlapped belt areas of the belt into the drum sockets along with the relatively unstretchable crinkled filter paper strips sandwiched between the overlapped belt area and the pouch forming drum sockets thereby forming side-by-side continuous strips of crinkled filter paper pockets.

Abstract: An aseptic filling machine for food is described which is filled in containers of a deep-drawn bottom film and sealed with a top film. In order to get a properly aseptic packaging, the bottom and top film are cleaned wet or dry, deionized and sterilized in a clean-air chamber in which the food is filled, and sterilized by means of UV-C radiators.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for production of display packages in which an item is packaged on a card sealed under a transparent film, the cards each having a window being carried through the apparatus on jigs which are indexed around in an endless path travelling from a card-applying station to a film-applying station, a packing station, a heat-sealing station, a package ejection station and back to the card-applying station, with automatic application of a card to each jig at the card-applying station.

Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus employ (i) a thermoforming station 6 through which a support film web 4 is advanced by means of an endless chain carrying clamps 16, followed by (ii) a loading station in which product articles are inserted into the trays formed by the thermoforming station, and (iii) a film-combining station II at which a covering film 3 is stretched longitudinally and then applied in its stretched configuration to the support web 4 (with or without the above-mentioned thermoformed trays) and is clamped thereto for subsequent vacuum skin packaging of the product articles between the support web 4 and the upper film 3. The resulting vacuum skin packs from such a process and apparatus are wrinkle free whereas the conventional vacuum skin packs exhibit longitudinal wrinkling in the covering film.

Abstract: For baling shrubs or bushes, in particular rose bushes, the roots (12) of the plants (10) substantially freed from soil are embedded in a moisture-containing substrate (14) such as peat and provided with a sheath or envelope. For this purpose a hollow of wire grating (16) is formed which is then partially filled with substrate (14). Thereafter the roots (12) of the lying plant (10) are placed on the substrate (14). Further substrate (14) is then applied to the roots (12). Finally the wire grating (16) is deformed by bending two edges (24, 26) of the hollow together to form a tube and the edges (24, 26) of the wire grating (16) are fixedly connected together. A machine for carrying out this method comprises at least one trough (48) onto which the wire grating (16) can be placed. A ram (74) is shaped complementary to the trough (48) and adapted to be pressed into the latter to deform the wire grating (16 ) to a hollow.

Abstract: A dispenser for an active substance which is positioned in the region of the nostrils for inhalation and is used for the evaporation of active substances of a medicinal, paramedicinal, and flavor-therapeutic types. The dispenser includes a flat dish that is made of absorbent, air-penetrable material and is surrounded by a circular edge. The dish is covered by a lid that is pasted on the edge. Loosely poured micro-capsules containing an active substance are contained in a closed chamber formed between the lid and the dispenser. A central area of the outside of the lid is covered with a tampon-like adhesive layer which, in turn, is covered by a peelable siliconized protective foil. A process and a production line for the manufacturing of the dispenser of active substances are described.

Abstract: A device for producing plastic trays (1) in which two parallel opposed walls (6, 7) are slanted in respect to a plane perpendicular to the sealing plane thereof. The two molding or thermoforming tools (12, 13) in this device are respectively carried by two movable supports (14, 15) capable of moving the tools along an axis (Z--Z') parallel to slanted walls of the tools which correspond to the slanted walls (6, 7) of the tray (1) to be produced. This slanted axis (Z--Z') makes it possible to use simple molding tools, namely an external female tool (12) and an internal punch (14). The packaging plant comprises a tray-forming device (8) as above-described, followed by a welding station (17) for welding a sealing film (18) onto the salient peripheral rim (3) of each plastic tray (1). In this station (17), a movable support member (22) for the tray (1) is movable along an axis (W--W') having the same slant as the sidewalls (6, 7) of the tray.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a deep drawing station for deep drawing containers in a film sheet and a sealing station for sealing filled containers by means of a cover sheet. For obtaining a reclosable package means are provided for forming protuberances in the edge of the packages, wherein the protuberances cooperate for reclosing the container.

Abstract: A machine is provided for continuously packing food or pharmaceutical products in thermoformed plastic material containers, comprising a station for receiving and unwinding reels of plastic material film, heating stations, a thermoforming station, a dosing station, a sealing station and a cutting station, and chains for moving the plastic material film step by step from one end of the machine to the other, which are driven without slipping over drive wheels having a smooth surface.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and device for sterilizing a packaging installation for food or pharmaceutical products. The sterilizing device comprises, on the one hand, at least one row of discharge tubes adapted to apply a heat-resistant sheet and obturating the base of a tunnel to be sterilized, against the lower end of the outlet tubulures of a metering/dispensing device, and on the other hand, at least one row of perforating members adapted to perforate the sheet and to create a passage therethrough for a sterilizing fluid while the discharge tubes and the outlet tubulures grip the heat-resistant sheet.

Abstract: A container, for example for herbicide, is manufactured by securing a flexible wall (8) to a rigid housing part (2), and subsequently deforming the flexible wall (8), in a plastic manner, into a predetermined configuration. A further housing part, possibly complementary to the housing part (2), may then be applied to the housing part (2) in order to provide a closed chamber which is divided by the flexible wall (8) into two compartments. The flexible wall (8) is preferably deformed into a configuration which enables it to lie, unstressed, against the internal surface of the housing part (2), so that herbicide contained in the cavity between the housing part (2) and the flexible wall (8) can flow substantially completely from the container under gravity.

Abstract: Form and fill packaging apparatus including a vacuum thermoformer where a first plastic web is formed to provide receptacles for receiving articles, a filling station where articles are placed in the formed receptacles, a sealing station where a second web is placed over the filled receptacles and sealed to portions of the web around the receptacles, first web drive means for driving the first web through the thermoformer, filling station and sealing station, and a feed mechanism for positively feeding the second web to the first web at the sealing station synchronously with driving of the first web.

Abstract: Liquid filled receptacles are made from a thermoplastic flat tube. The flat tube is extruded from plasticized material. A strip of receptacles is formed in a molding assembly from the tube. The strip has groups of pluralities of small receptacles lying one beside the other, the receptacles preferably being ampoules. All of the receptacles of a group of receptacles are filled simultaneously by filler mandrels. The number of filler mandrels corresponds to the number of small receptacles lying adjacent to one another in any group of receptacles, while the group of receptacles are still held in the molding assembly. In the molding assembly, configurational irregularities of are formed in the side flange areas. The irregularities cooperate with a thrust device conveying the receptacle strips from the molding assembly to a punching device, and position the strips in the punching device.

Abstract: A new computerized control system designed for packaging machines. This control system can be installed on any dieless packing machine. The advances achieved by this control system are: High speeds are achieved by synchronizing the machine index cycle and tooling controls, permitting the prestart of tooling before the end of the index cycle; because the motor speed is monitored and profiled by the computer continuously, faster machine speeds can be achieved while maintaining the minimum machine jerk; total index time savings; diagnostics which dramatically reduce machine down time as a user friendly hard-copy print out is produced describing and pinpointing locations of malfunctions in the timers, tooling, and motor performance; access to all timer control settings through easy to use thumbwhell switches. In addition, a new arrangement of the tooling stations is used, allowing for the increase of per cycle capacity several times the capacity of the prior art.

Abstract: A machine is provided for continuously packing products, in particular food or pharmaceutical products, in plastic material containers, comprising a thermoforming station in which a horizontal platen receives two identical mold parts and is mounted for rotation about an axis between a position for thermoforming the containers and a position for receiving decorative elements for the containers.

Abstract: A method of changing or replacing one liquid or semi-liquid product by another for insertion in a succession of thermoplastic receptacles bearing respective decorative and/or informative elements wherein, a minimum buffer volume is determined for a first product contained in a metering dispenser and in a buffer tank, the buffer volume corresponding to the sum of the portions of first product which remain to be inserted into the receptacles prior to the receptacles being replaced in a filling station zone by receptacles provided with different decorative elements. While the installation is in operation, a first master strip of the decorating station and/or a first strip of receptacle tops are cut transversely at distances from the filling zone which corresponds to the lengths of the first master strip and/or of the first strip of tops which will be consumed by the receptacles receiving the last portions of product from the minimum buffer volume of the first product.

Abstract: A filler pipe for a packing machine for consecutively filling a traveling and continuous series of connected packing container blanks, with a liquid product such as yogurt, and a separate jam product, without mixing the two types of product. This filler pipe is used in conjunction with blanks formed of two joined webs and provides sealing of the filled packing containers. The invention utilizes a nozzle with multiple filling paths each of which passes product to at least one of the packing container blanks. The nozzle receives the liquid product from a flat shaped larger delivery pipe, and the jam product from a smaller delivery pipe parallel to the larger pipe. The smaller pipe, which may be located inside or on the outer wall of the large pipe, is placed at a predetermined distance above the junction of the larger delivery pipe and the nozzle. In this way each container is first filled with its share of jam product and then with the liquid (yogurt) product with no mixing of the two products.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically assembling and packaging articles including an assembler at which the articles are assembled and discharged one after another, a form and fill packaging line including a vacuum thermoformer where a plastic web is formed to provide receptacles for receiving the articles, a filling station where articles are placed in the formed receptacles, and a sealer where a sheet seals closed the filled receptacles, a transporting line receiving the articles from the assembler and transporting them to the filling station, the articles being presented in a group at a location spaced from the web at the filling station, and a first transfer mechanism for engaging the articles one group at a time and transferring them to a corresponding group of the receptacles at the filling station.

Abstract: For the purpose of producing filled foil-containers adapted to stand upon their bases, container-parts having tubular parts are initially deep-drawn, in a strip of foil, on each side of centerline running in the direction of travel, the said tubular parts running towards the edges of the foil but terminating at a distance therefrom. Thereafter, the foil-parts lying on each side of the centerline are heated and are folded up about the said centerline, which thereby becomes a fold-line to form open containers which are then sealed, at a first sealing station around their peripheries, except for the perpheries of the upwardly projecting tubular parts. The edges of the foil are then spread apart in the vicinity of the said tubular parts, through which the containers are filled. The spreading is released and the containers are sealed, in a second sealing station in such a manner as to close the peripheries of the said tubular parts also.

Abstract: A continuous motion packaging machine which forms packages from overlying webs advanced along a path at a constant speed. A tooling carriage traverses a repetitive path which includes an "on-line" increment during which the tooling carriage matches web movement and package operations are performed. The tooling carriage is driven by linkage including a power input shaft operated at varying speeds throughout each cycle to maintain carriage position relative to the webs. Two brushless servo motors are used. One drives the webs, the other drives the tooling carriage. A computer program compares relative motor positions at points throughout each cycle to a pre-established position pattern and adjusts motor controller output to maintain one motor position relative to the sensed position of the other motor.

Abstract: A carrier tape system includes an elongated base strip and an elongated cover strip both formed of a plastic film material. The cover strip is substantially coextensive in length with the base strip. The cover strip has a top surface and opposed sidewalls extending downwardly from the top surface. The opposed sidewalls are spaced apart from each other a distance substantially equal to the width of the base strip. The cover strip further includes a hump projecting upwardly from the top surface and extends longitudinally in a parallel relationship to the sidewalls. Each of the sidewalls has an inwardly extending hooked portion formed integrally therewith. The hooked portion has its top surface spaced beneath the edge of the base strip to form a U-shaped recess to secure the cover strip to the base strip. A mechanism for forming the carrier tape system is provided by making modifications to existing carrier tape joining apparatuses.

Abstract: The invention is related to a machine for the production and separation of packages, which packages are formed through deep-drawing from a foil strip transported through a forming station and a separating station of the machine and are then punched out. The foil strip is heated prior to deep-drawing and undergoes a cooling in its travel between the forming station and the separating station. When a transport interruption occurs, the still warm foil strip is stretched between the forming station and the separating station so much, and optionally the size of the elongation is controlled timewise in such a manner that, when the machine is restarted, the foil strip, in spite of the increased cooling which has taken place in the meantime, does maintain the same length as the still warm foil strip at the beginning of the machine interruption.

Abstract: A wrapping machine for making blister packs has two machine sections for the formation of a continuous strip of blister packs by means of a stamping operation on a thermoplastic tape and for the separation of the individual blisters from the strip for the packaging thereof. Each of the machine sections is provided with its own drive which is phase-synchronized with the pilot motor of the downstream machine section effecting the separation of the individual blister packs from the continuous strip of blister packs and their packaging and the motors controlled by the stamping elements of the upstream machine section which forms the continuous blister pack strip.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing sanitary articles having a body contact layer of a body fluid permeable sheet, an absorptive pad and a cover layer of a body fluid impermeable sheet are disclosed. The apparatus includes a drum having a stationary flange and a rotatable drum portion. A plurality of dies are mounted on the circumferential surface of the rotable drum in a side-by-side relationship. A strip of fluid impermeable sheet is wound around about half of the circumference of the rotary drum. As the rotary drum rotates, the fluid impermeable sheet is forced by fluid pressure into the cavities of the dies, deforming the sheet to form pockets therein for receiving the absorptive pads. The fluid permeable sheet is brought into contact with the fluid impermeable sheet near the bottom of the drum while introducing absorptive members into the formed pockets. The superposed sheets are thermally fused together by means of a heat seal roller.

Abstract: A disposable container suitable for retaining liquids comprises two opposed container sections, each having a peripheral ring like flange about a recess with the flanges being sealed therebetween. The recesses of the opposed container sections define a common central cavity and the flanges include a throat opening into said cavity through which product within the cavity can be dispensed. The throat is at least partially defined by the opposed container flanges and each container section is of a thermoformable plastic material. These container sections are originally formed from flat strip packaging material having diecut side edges with the strip defining individual container body sections. A tapered neck portion of each body section accommodates dispensing of the contents and preferably a hot melt adhesive secures the opposed container sections.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a segmented head seal for a cup packaging machine which has independent sealing head segments. The segmented head seal has a mounting plate having an insulator plate attached thereto. Attaching to the insulator plate is a support plate. Attached to the support plate are a plurality of locator assembly members. Movably linked to each individual locator assembly member is an independent sealing member. The links between the sealing members and the locator assembly members allow the sealing member to move on the locator assembly member. The locator assembly members are attached to the support plates with one or more bias springs located in openings in the locator assembly members between the support plate and the sealing blocks.

Abstract: The machine comprises a thermoforming box (116) which receives the container (126) and which is itself fitted into a cutting box (100), a heating die (148) mounted in vertically slideable manner above the said boxes and capable of squeezing a thermoforming film (44) or a closing film on the upper edge of the thermoforming box and of thermoforming the film (44) inside the container.

Abstract: A method and a machine for putting said method into effect, for separating individual blister packs from a continuous strip of blister packs, arranged in multiple parallel rows thereon and transversely aligned, in which said individual transversely aligned blister packs are separated simultaneously in each of said rows in a respectively echeloned manner by a corresponding operational step and being thus progressively separated and echeloned are aligned transversely during the respective simultaneous advance to the corresponding stacking, and the stacks, being transversely aligned, are echeloned and aligned longitudinally in a single file for packaging into boxes or cases.

Abstract: A vacuum packed, frozen, cooked or non-cooked shrimp pack, in which the shrimp-containing plastic pouch has a center thickness less than its outer, surrounding periphery, with more shrimp contained one above the other at the peripheral edges in comparison to a lesser number at the center in the pack. This produces a relatively even heating or cooking of the shrimp when the frozen pack is placed in a micro-wave for defrosting or cooking. Such a pack can be produced by providing an upwardly curved, rigid form underneath the bottom film layer of the pack in the "form, fill and seal" machine during commercial packing of the product in the sealing station and, if so desired, in the forming and fill stations. The rigid form can be provided by a curvi-linear section (FIG. 4) or a hemispherical section (FIGS.

Abstract: By providing raised peripheral edges, preferably walls, for the supporting member of a vacuum skin package, a superior vacuum package is achieved when a product is vacuum packaged on such a supporting number. Wrinkles and weak spots are avoided. Preferably, the raised edges are formed in-line as the package is made.

Abstract: A compact form-fill-seal machine for producing sealed cups and other sealed package structures, including dispenser packages for flowable substances having a fault line extending over a stress concentrating protrusion member.

Abstract: A form, fill, seal and separate packaging machine wherein receptacle forming, filling and sealing is accomplished by a plurality of stations disposed along the path of travel of a web which continuously moves through the packaging machine. Both the base web material and the lid web material are supplied to the packaging machine from supply rolls of appropriate material. Not only are the work stations of the machine constructed and disposed so that the packaging operation is performed on a continuously moving web, but also both the base and lid web supplies include primary and secondary rolls so that the source of web material may be replenished without interrupting the continuous movement of the web material through the machine. Once the receptacles have been formed, filled and sealed, the packaging machine further includes an intermittent drive station for perforating and cutting the sealed receptacles from the main web body.

Abstract: A support tray 6a with a product 11a thereon is covered loosely by a cover sheet 8 in a first chamber portion 12 to be drawn upwardly into contact with the heated walls of a shallow first mould cavity. The combination of the product 11a, support tray 6a and cover sheet 8 is then advanced to a second chamber portion 13 defined by a deeper second mould cavity into which the cover sheet can be drawn while vacuum is applied to the interior of the ensuing pack through slits in the tray 6a, by means of suction ports 20.

Abstract: A pre-forming technique for web material utilized to make flexible pouches for fluent products comestibles and non-comestibles in form-and fill equipment of well known type characterized by the initial stretching displacement of each web from its normal plane and in a configuration corresponding to the ultimate spout configuration prior to forming of the pouch with the spout therein, thereby preventing undesired blockage of the spout by unintended adherence of the packaging film in the spout zone during sealing operations. The technique is especially desirable in pouches having a unique and complex reversely curved discharge passageway.

Abstract: A method of loading chip components orientation-specific into a carrier tape that itself comprises a narrow strip of diaphanous material having a series of depressions embossed therein comprising the steps of moving a series of open-ended recesses, sized and shaped to receive a single chip component in a specific orientation, upwardly through a loose mass of chip components at a speed that is continually interrupted with real time pauses and ultimately transferring the chip components into conjunctive registry with the tape embossments and an apparatus therefor.

Abstract: The packing machine comprising a passageway for continuous strip movement is intended for continuous and cyclical molding, filling, sealing and at least group-wise severing of containers, and comprises deep-drawing stations located along the path of continuous movement of the strip.

Abstract: A blister packaging apparatus comprises a blister forming part for forming a plurality of blisters in a thermoplastic resin sheet, an automatic material supplying part for automatically supplying materials into the blisters of the thermoplastic resin sheet, a metal foil member adhering part for adhering a metal foil member to the thermoplastic resin sheet so as to cover openings of the blisters accommodating the materials, a half-cutting part comprising at least one circular blade which is fixed in a non-rotational state and has a blade formed on an entire circumference thereof for forming a half-cut line in the thermoplastic resin sheet for facilitating separation of the blisters, and a curl reforming part for reforming a curl in the thermoplastic resin sheet on which the metal foil member is adhered.

Abstract: Machine for packaging paper pockets or bags containing substances used in infused beverages comprising a plurality of cup or pan-like devices, having a central depression, on which bears a first or lower paper ribbon or web receiving measures or doses or said substance, e.g. in powdered form, metering means to supply said measures to said paper ribbon, tamping means to tamp said substance and means to apply and seal a second paper ribbon on said first paper ribbon closing said substance measures in pockets or bags so-formed.

Abstract: A supply device with a vibrating cylindrical container for the supply of products, via a multiple channel device, to machines for blister packaging, in which the container has a vertical axis which is eccentric with respect to the vertical axis of the vibrator device and has an annular base which develops in an ascending manner over a first portion starting from the multiple channel device, followed by a second portion which develops conventionally. Guide and flow stop means are provided along the base sections with ascending and conventional development as well as supply means for supplying the products into the peripheral zone of the container and suction means to suction the dust and/or fragments of products below the base of the container at the opposite sides of the multiple channel device.

Abstract: A method for cutting flexible formed shell product from a flexible plastic foam sheet. In the method, a foam shell formed in the sheet is drawn into and positioned in a die unit lower cavity and the die assembly is clamped together. A cutting die unit having dual curved serrated knife elements then descends and severs the formed shell from the sheet at all locations except for two short segments located at opposite ends of the formed shell. Then as a separate step, the partly severed formed shell is punched out from the flexible foam sheet, so as to provide multiple formed products. The products are usually formed as multiple units oriented in an end-to-end relationship in the foam sheet and which are simultaneously severed from the sheet. Cutting die apparatus adapted for cutting the formed products from the foam sheet is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a machine for making sealed containers such as blister packages, the continuous feeding of the films (1, 7) for the formation and sealing of the containers is effected alternately by at least one unit of side clamping grippers (13) and by a unit comprising the stations operating cyclically on the films, namely, a heating station (3), a container-forming station (4), a sealing station (6) and a cutting station (8). The grippers and stations are movable on rectilinear guides (11, 12) disposed parallel to the path of travel of the films, and the operative units are reciprocated over the guides by a mechanism comprising a single cylindrical cam (24) having a closed helical outline or profile that is followed by two cam-followers (21-21') angularly spaced 180.degree. from each other and slidable on stationary guides p parallel to the axis of the cam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing small liquid type containers is disclosed which is based on the forming and sealing of opposed container halves made from strip material. The apparatus and method take flat strip material and suitably form, shape and seal the strip material resulting in containers which are further processed to fill and seal the containers. Such a method and apparatus reduces the unit cost for packaging such products as cream in individual portion containers.

Abstract: The invention provides a cover for one or more articles, the cover being easily applied to each article by softening a portion of a sheet then forcing the non-softened portion around the article to cause the softened portion to stretch and conform to the article, providing a closely fitting cover. The shape of the softened area can be different than the shape of the article; various advantages are indicated for different configurations. A machine, a method, and the cover itself are all disclosed.