Abstract: A mechanism for automatically feeding individual pre-cut sheets and stuff a personalized letter or some other pre-cut inset into a personalized envelope. The mechanism has means to permit additional inserts to be automatically added to the envelope and to automatically seal the contents within the envelope. The mechanism will also combine pre-cut inserts and envelopes fed from different sources and form them into a completed mailing envelope.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pill dispensing machine which can selectively dispense a plurality of different medications into preformed recesses in a plastic strip. The machine includes data entry means for entering the various types of medications to be dispensed and the time and date at which such medications are to be administered to the patient. The machine controls a plurality of dispensing devices to dispense into each of the recesses one or more pills associated with a particular time and date for administration. The machine also includes printing means for printing the date and time of administration onto a backing label adapted to cover the recesses to form a wholly contained pill container. The machine also includes a conveyor mechanism for moving the plastic strips past the dispensing means and the label applying area so that, at the output of the machine, completed packages of pills ready for administration at the specified printed time can be given to the patient.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing the method of the present invention comprises an indexing conveyor bag support defining a pick-up location for filled bags. A bag gripper comprising either clamps or suction cups is provided for gripping filled bags and a bag transporter supports and moves the bag gripper between the pick-up location and a drop-off location. A programmable controller is provided for controlling the bag transporter and the bag gripper such that filled flexible bags are engaged by the bag gripper at the pick-up location, carried from the pick-up location to the drop-off location and deposited at the drop-off location. Preferably, a conveyor is positioned to carry cartons for supporting filled bags to the drop-off location such that filled bags may be inserted into supporting cartons by the method and apparatus of the present invention.

Abstract: Wrapping material which is supplied from a reel to the intermittently actuated withdrawing tongs of a cigarette packing machine is looped in a magazine adjacent to the tongs and is stabilized against fluttering and other stray movements by a pneumatic conveyor which attracts one leg of the loop and tensions it so that such leg of the loop remains in its prescribed path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the continuous automated manufacture of sausage wherein tubular material for sausage casing from a supply source is axially shirred by shirring means into shirred sections, of continuously measured length; the shirred sections are stuffed with force meat into divided up and closed off portions with the amount of tubular material utilized being continually measured; and, the entire process is controlled and activated by sensing means, memory means, comparator means and means responsive to such sensing, memory and comparator means, to maximize utilization of shirred casing and to avoid stuffing into a void.

Abstract: A metering/dispensing head (10) and system for dispensing small doses of liquid nitrogen into individual filled cans (16) proceeding from a filling station to a closing station. The head includes a nozzle member (32) to which a source of liquid nitrogen under pressure is connected via pipe (12). The lower plane surface (72) of that member cooperates in close sliding relationship with the upper plane surface (70) of a rotary valve disc (40) around which are spaced triangular apertures (68). A small clearance separates those cooperating surfaces, but is of such a size as to effectively prevent loss of liquid nitrogen when the valve disc closes off a downwardly-pointing outlet nozzle (80) which opens into the lower surface of the nozzle member. A jet of liquid nitrogen exiting from said nozzle when uncovered by a said aperture in the valve disc injects a filled can moving beneath the nozzle member with a metered quantity of liquid nitrogen.

Abstract: In a photofinishing operation, the correlation of order envelopes, films and the paper prints produced therefrom is carried out automatically. The order envelopes, films and the strip of paper prints are provided with the same machine-readable control number per order. These control numbers are monitored during final processing by machine and, in case of a lack of agreement, the cutting of the film and the paper is prevented and an appropriate alarm is actuated.

Abstract: A wrapping machine which includes a film former for shaping a continuous film of packaging material into a continuous tube, a film drive for drawing the continuous film of packaging material past the former and past a cutting and sealing station, a product infeed drive for feeding products to be packaged through the former into the continuous tube of packaging material so that the products are spaced apart from one another in the tube, and a motor-driven rotary cut/seal head at the cutting and sealing station for cutting and sealing the continuous tube of packaging material as each product moves through that station. The wrapping machine also includes independent closed-loop servo-control circuits for the film drive, the product infeed drive, and the cut/seal head drive, each of which is responsive to a desired velocity control signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for the dosed filling of highly viscous material, particularly pasty sealing compound, into tubular bags has a dosing device and a filling device connected thereto, which is provided with a filling tube projecting into the foil tube. The apparatus also has a closing device for the filled tubular bags. In order to permit a dosed filling of highly viscous, stringy materials into tubular bags, the filling device has a foil tube formation device surrounding the filling tube. There is also a conveying mechanism for the foil tube and a pick-up for determining the dosed material quantity and a pick-up for determining the conveying length of the foil tube. A device for cutting through the material strand is positioned directly at the end of the filling tube. There is also a transverse welding means with a cutting device below the filling device.

Abstract: An automatic X-ray film unloading and loading apparatus is actuated by sensing indicia on the cassette to perform various operations on the cassette and/or the film therein.

Abstract: In a horizontal packaging machine for wrapping and sealing articles with flexible films, a servo control system for maintaining synchronism between the finwheel drive, the in-feed conveyer and the cut-off knife assembly so that proper registration of the graphic art work on the packaged article is achieved. The finwheels are driven by a D.C. motor whose armature windings are connected to the output of a servo amplifier. A master tachometer driven by the horizontal wrapper's drive motor provides a voltage which is directly proportional to the angular velocity of that drive motor. The output from the master tachometer is passed through a calibrating network and into a first input of the servo amplifier circuit. A second tachometer is coupled to the finwheel shaft and produces a feedback signal proportional to the angular velocity of the finwheels. The feedback signal is applied to the second input of the servo amplifier and functions to control the D.C. current driving the finwheel drive motor.

Abstract: Method of automatically changing reels (17,20) of strip material (15-21) in packaging machines, especially packaging machines (1) for cigarettes, equipped, along a feed line (2), with an ejection device (9) adapted for ejecting from said line (2) those objects (5) to be packaged that are defective and for determining a corresponding arresting of said strip material (15-21), the method providing for the utilization of said ejection device (9), in response to an end of reel signal emitted by a sensor (26,27), for determining the arresting of the associated strip material (15,21) so as to permit the changing of the reels (17,20) with strip (15,21) stopped and the subsequent recommencing of the feed of the strip (15,21) in perfect synchronism with the packaging line (2).

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

Abstract: A horizontal wrapping machine which includes a former for shaping a continuous film of packaging material drawn past the former into a continuous tube, a film drive for drawing the continuous film of packaging material past the former and past a cutting and sealing station, a product infeed drive for feeding products to be packaged through the former into the continuous tube of packaging material so that the products are spaced apart from one another in the tube, and a pair of motor-driven cut-heads at the cutting and sealing station for cutting and sealing the continuous tube of packaging material as each product moves past the cutting and sealing station. The horizontal wrapping machine further includes independent closed loop servo control circuits for the film drive, product infeed drive, and cut-head drive, each of which are responsive to a desired velocity control signal.

Abstract: Sheet processing apparatus including a bursting machine for feeding and bursting a continuous web along perforation lines, a folding machine for folding the sheets from the bursting machine and an inserting machine for inserting the folded sheets into an envelope, and [i] a device for removably connecting the bursting machine to the folding machine, [ii] a device for removably connecting the folding machine to the inserting machine and [iii] a device for removably connecting the bursting machine directly to the inserting machine in the absence of the folding machine; controls operatively interconnected between the inserting machine and the folding machine for controlling the sequential operation of the folding machine with the cyclical operation of the inserting machine so that the folding machine operates on demand from the inserting machine; controls operatively interconnected between the folding machine and the bursting machine for controlling the sequential operation of the bursting machine in timed relat

Abstract: A controller for a continuous motion drop bottle type case packer has a real time processing means for accessing a plurality of controller instructions and for determining one of a number of possible courses of action to be taken in response to control signals from a plurality of detectors in the packer. The controller is responsive to changing operational parameters and causes the packer to operate at the maximum of a number of predetermined bottle transfer rates as selected by the real time processing means.

Abstract: A horizontal wrapping machine which includes a former for shaping a continuous film of packaging material drawn past the former into a continuous tube, a film drive for drawing the continuous film of packaging material past the former and past a cutting and sealing station, a product infeed drive for feeding products to be packaged through the former into the continuous tube of packaging material so that the products are spaced apart from one another in the tube, and a pair of motor-driven cut-heads at the cutting and sealing station for cutting and sealing the continuous tube of packaging material as each product moves past the cutting and sealing station. The horizontal wrapping machine further includes independent closed loop servo control circuits for the film drive, product infeed drive, and cut-head drive, each of which are responsive to a desired velocity control signal.

Abstract: A case feeding apparatus moves open cases onto a lift table where each case is moved upwardly onto the funnel portion of a shifting grid structure so that a slug of articles can be deposited therein. Line pressure advances the cases toward a retractable stop and side belts move the cases individually into an intermittently operated pair of case conveyors capable of handling cases of different size. Arrival of a case at the lift table triggers both the raising and lowering of the lift table and an indexing device controls the case conveyor cycle. The cases have their side flaps folded down by side guides to maintain the case in laterally centered positioned on the lift table and each case conveyor has either pusher lugs or leading lugs to control case position longitudinally.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed herein for detecting possibly defectively-sealed bags and for preventing said bags from being filled. A sensor is provided to develop a first signal upon detection of a defect in a line of adhesive on flexible bag-forming material moving past the sensor. The first signal is used to generate an output signal at a time corresponding to the time when the defect-containing portion of the bag-forming material has moved from the sensor into position to be filled with product. Preferably, said filling position is located a plurality of bag lengths downstream from said sensor.

Abstract: A case loader for articles in which the articles are received in a straight line extension from the article conveyor and in which they trip a first sensor when a case load is received, and the cases are directed to a loading station below and beside the article receiving station, the cases themselves tilted to receive the articles from an inclined chute the articles falling down the chute, the chute being arranged to reorient the bottles from a straight line into the rows and columns for the case, the case falling back onto the conveyor when filled and being removed from the case loader by the conveyor chain.

Abstract: A case loader for articles in which the articles are received in a straight line extension from the article conveyor and in which they trip a first sensor when a case load is received, and the cases are directed to a loading station below and beside the article receiving station, the cases themselves tilted to receive the articles from an inclined chute the articles falling down the chute, the chute being arranged to reorient the bottles from a straight line into the rows and columns for the case, the case falling back onto the conveyor when filled and being removed from the case loader by the conveyor chain.

Abstract: Apparatus for testing the contents of successive cells in a chain which transports arrays of cigarettes in or to a packing machine has a support for reciprocable sensing pins, each of which is caused to engage a discrete cigarette when the support is moved toward a cell. The pins are shifted relative to the support as the latter continues to move toward the array whereby the shanks, heads or collars of the pins at least partially seal openings which connect a pneumatic monitoring unit with the atmosphere. If all of the openings are properly sealed or nearly sealed, the array of cigarettes which are engaged by the pins contains a requisite number of articles and all of the cigarettes have satisfactory tobacco-containing ends.

Abstract: A packaging machine in which a belt-shaped packaging sheet fed continuously is cut to a predetermined length while being guided and conveyed in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of articles to be packaged. Position detectors detect the arrival of the top end of said packaging sheet, detect the arrival of each article at a position before the position where said article crosses said packaging sheet and the arrival of the top end of the packaging sheet returned from the feeding limit position by being moved as said article abuts against said packaging sheet and is further conveyed, at a predetermined reverse return position. The detectors are used to generate the necessary control signals for feeding and cutting the packaging sheet.

Abstract: A loading system for loading articles into containers includes a container handling assembly and an article handling assemby, the paths of which intersect at a loading station. The container handling assembly carries a series of empty containers which it intermittently drives for moving the forwardmost one to the loading station while pushing a filled container from the loading station. The article handling assembly includes an input conveyor which moves the articles to a loading conveyor having alternating conveyor sections and window sections passing over the loading station. A platen carries a plurality of upwardly extending pins and is movable vertically between a receiving position with the pins disposed through complementary holes in the bottom of the container at the loading station and a depositing position wherein the pins are withdrawn from the openings in the container.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically dispensing stacks of cookies into the pockets of cookie packaging trays. A succession of multi-pocket cookie trays are intermittently advanced along a horizontal tray conveyor. Cookie delivery assemblies located in spaced relation along said tray conveyor each include a cookie delivery line and a cookie dispenser assembly which deposits stacks of cookies in the tray pockets during the dwell phase of the intermittent tray conveyor. Each said cookie delivery line includes a shingler assembly and a separator assembly. The shingler assembly comprises a pair of spaced parallel horizontal feed belts onto which the cookies are manually loaded in edge-supported face-abutting relation and an underlying shingling belt traveling at a faster speed than said feed belts. The feed belts serve to advance the array of cookies toward the separator assembly while the shingling belt engages the lower edges of the cookies and tilts the cookies into an inclined attitude.

Abstract: Apparatus for placing flexible packages in a rigid container incorporates an infeed chute and diverter gate system for directing packages into a rotatable load head in preselected fashion. After the load head is filled, the packages are released therefrom into an empty shipping container located below the load head. The apparatus incorporates a control system which activates the components of the system in preselected cyclic fashion to enable continuous packaging in a rapid manner. The apparatus is especially suitable for the handling of flexible packages of fluid products such as milk. A method of effecting continuous packaging is also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for collating prints and related sections of developed photographic customer films in a processing laboratory has a first conveyor whose receptacles advance stepwise into register with discharge ends of feeding devices for film sections and prints, and a packing unit with a second conveyor which advances empty containers past an assembly station where the containers receive assemblies of film sections and related prints in response to forward strokes of a reciprocable pusher. The second conveyor advances successive loaded containers past a closing device and a labelling device and thereupon into a receiving device. A computer receives signals from the severing mechanisms of the two feeding devices and from a reader which decodes information on envelopes used by customers or dealers to deliver or send exposed customer films to the laboratory.

Abstract: A carton set-up and loading machine including a magazine for a stack of flattened cartons, suction cups to pull lowermost carton onto one end of a conveyor having spaced perpendicular blades forming compartments to receive a flattened carton and, as traveling around a sprocket, the blades move from diverging to parallel relation to set-up the carton, cam and rotatable members fold side and one end flap at one end closed to receive products from a lateral guideway while conveyor is momentarily stopped. Additional cams and rotatable means fold the side and one end flap at other end of carton closed followed by adhesive being applied to outer end flaps at both ends of carton and pivoted power-operated plates close the same against the previously folded flaps to complete the package. Overall sensing and safety controls insure no jams or unfilled cartons from occurring. Weighing means to prevent short weight also are included.

Abstract: An improved automatic and continuous packaging machine is disclosed formed by a support table supporting a turret, the turret being generally hexagonal in configuration said machine further including a plurality of six processing stations for processing a food package, including a first station provided with a magazine for containing a plurality of food pouches, and deposition means for retrieving and depositing a single food pouch on the turret, a second processing station for automatically imprinting upon the food pouch pre-determined indicia, and also including pouch opening means for opening the pouch to its substantial dimension, a third processing station provided with protection means for determining the presence of a properly opened food pouch and in response to the proper signal, food loading means for loading a food product into the open food pouch.

Abstract: A packaging machine for loading trays with delicate articles such as cakes or tarts comprises a first conveyor for conveying a stream of the articles to be loaded, a plate pivotally mounted at the end of a first conveyor to receive articles from the first conveyor, a stop above the plate to locate on the plate an article fed by the first conveyor, a pusher mounted above the plate and on the same side of the stop as the first conveyor, a second conveyor beneath the plate for conveying the tray to be loaded and a mechanism for moving the plate the stop and the pusher. In use the packaging machine is arranged so that articles from the first conveyor move in turn under the pusher and on to the plate where they are located by the stop, the plate is then tipped, the stop moved away from the article and the pusher moved downwards and away from the first conveyor to push the article on the plate down the plate past the stop and off the plate into a tray on the second conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to packaging machines wherein a web of flexible material is transformed into a tube, filled, sealed and discharged onto a conveyor mechanism, the completed package being then transported to a positioning device where it is deposited in a shipping case.The packaging and shipping case loading machines are coordinated by a plurality of sensor means which preclude the necessity of an operator having to start and stop the machines when a filled shipping case is removed from the platform and supplanted by an empty one.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and useful apparatus for filling cartons with pre-packaged bags of a product from a Bag Form Fill and Seal Machine. The apparatus comprises, in combination, a horizontal feeder that transfers the bags to a vertical flite conveyor; said conveyor conveying the bags to a hopper having a trap door. A carton is positioned under the trap door of the hopper for receiving the bags. When a pre-set number of bags have passed through the hopper into the carton, the trap door closes. The carton, while it is being filled, is continually subjected to a series of impacts that enables the bags to lay flat within the carton. When the carton receives the pre-set number of bags, the impacting ceases and the carton is transferred to an output conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supplying empty boxes to a plurality of filling and weighing stations for filling boxes at said stations each independently of other filling stations, and removal of filled boxes from said filling and weighing stations along a common discharge path without box interference. The filling and weighing stations are arranged in a line. Parallel to this line for at least the length of the filling station line is an empty box feed conveyor. Empty boxes are moved along said box feed conveyor so that an empty box is in ready position opposite a filling and weighing station for immediate replacement of a filled box, the empty box being utilized to displace the filled box from the filling and weighing station and to move the filled box onto a discharge conveyor arranged along a line parallel to said filling and weighing station line and on the side opposite from the box feed conveyor.

Abstract: A control apparatus is provided for properly positioning an empty case on an elevator platform of an article loading machine having a conveyor for moving the empty case onto the elevator platform to be raised thereby to a loading position beneath a loading mechanism, a clutch and brake arrangement for intermittently controlling the conveyor, and hydraulic or pneumatic means for raising and lowering the elevator wherein the control apparatus comprises a cam means having a first position abutting a front end of the case when transported onto the elevator platform for physically stopping the case and for sequentially de-actuating the clutch, and actuating the brake for stopping the conveyor and for actuating the hydraulic means for raising the elevator platform. The cam means has a second position below a bottom surface of the case when loaded and lowered to an original position for actuating the means for starting the conveyor while providing a roller surface over which the loaded case is moved.

Abstract: A filling and sealing process and apparatus for retort foods, in which a plurality of retort pouches are treated at the same time. The retort pouches are gripped by a plurality of grippers fixedly connected to an endless transfer chain and fed through first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth stations. The endless transfer chain is arranged to be intermittently movable around the outer periphery of a platform mounted on a base. At the first station, a plurality of retort pouches are gripped by the grippers and opened and dilated at the second station. The opened retort pouches are fed to third station where a defectively opened retort pouch is sensed and released from the gripper. The retort pouches gripped by the grippers are fed to the fourth station, where solid food materials are introduced into the retort pouches. At the fifth station, the retort pouches are supplied with viscous liquid.

Abstract: A packing machine wherein a first feeding unit supplies groups of cigarettes into successive mandrels of a first turret which is driven stepwise and moves successive mandrels into register with first and second supplying devices for tinfoil blanks and paper blanks which are thereupon draped around the mandrels to form open-ended packs. The packs and the groups of cigarettes are transferred simultaneously from successive mandrels into successive pockets of a second turret on which the packs are closed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to tumble pack a pre-selected number of tetrahedron containers into a transport container without breaking the seals of any of the tetrahedron containers. A sliding discharge chute is employed which slides into the transport container adjacent the bottom thereof to allow the first few containers to be placed therein without dropping a long distance. Then the chute is slid upward as the rest of the containers are dropped into the transport container.