Abstract: A packaging machine for making filter bags with infusion products including a plurality of processing stations and a cleaning unit. The processing stations define a processing path and are configured for making infusion products. The cleaning unit is configured for removing dust from the processing path and in turn includes a generator device positioned above the processing path and configured for generating a flow of air designed to push the dust beneath the processing path; at least one ventilation grille coupled to the generator device and designed to convey the flow of air along a predetermined direction of emission which extends around the processing path and at least one suction device positioned the processing path and configured for sucking the dust promoting the evacuation from the machine.

Abstract: A bag sealing system for securing one or more items in a closable bag comprises a moveable frame, a closable bag, a closing device and a driving device. The moveable frame can have an open configuration, intermediate configurations and a closed configuration. The closable bag has an open end and a closed end wherein the open end of the closable bag is coupled to the moveable frame. The closing device is provided for securely closing the open end of the bag via a securing element, and the driving device is coupled to the closing device to actuate the closing device to securely close the closable bag.

Abstract: A cassette to dispense a pleated tubing. The cassette includes a circular body having an annular channel housing with a central cylindrical core. At least one wall has an upper end with a lip disposed thereon. An annular cover is attached to the lip at the upper end defining a gap over the annular body. A tubing is disposed within the annular channel housing and withdrawn from the gap. At least one of a plurality of apertures is provided at a lower end of the annular channel housing. The apertures have reinforced walls. The apertures are adapted to be aligned with a projection extending upward from within a container.

Abstract: A waste storage device includes a container (21) in which a cassette (1) is mounted. Tubing (2) is pulled through the center of the cassette (1) to store packages (35) separated by twists. The cassette (1) is rotated relative to the container (21) to provide the twists between packages (35) by virtue of a rotatable disk (100) and user grip portion (102). The package is gripped against rotation by a gripper diaphragm (120) and is guided towards a wall of the container by a guide diaphragm (122) to prevent untwisting between packages.

Abstract: A waste disposal device has a rotatable geared rim to operate a cartridge. The device comprises a rotation mechanism. A flange supports a rotatable geared rim. The support flange is operatively configured to be driven by the rotation mechanism. The cartridge is also operatively configured to engage the geared rim so as to be capable of rotating with the support flange upon actuation of the rotation mechanism.

Abstract: A container adapted for waste storage is provided. The container has a mechanically operated sealing mechanism that allows a user to seal the waste storage film by depressing an actuator.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for stretch wrapping articles, especially heads of lettuce, wherein a roll (23) of film (24) is supported on a housing (21), and the film is supplied from the roll around a dancer roller (50) and film feed roller (51) to a pair of film feed grippers (33, 34) which grip a leading edge of the film and advance it past an opening (26), whereupon a clamp (27) engages the leading edge of the film to hold it while the grippers release and return to their home position. Additional clamps (28–32) then engage the film to hold it in place over the opening. A head of lettuce (L) is placed on the film in centered relation to the opening, and a ram (37) engages the lettuce and pushes it against the film to stretch the film through and below the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a bait sack using a netting material comprises a filling collar having a tubular configuration and an inside surface for directing bait into the netting material. A forming sleeve has a tubular configuration and is disposed coaxially about the filling collar. A netting material is disposed between the filling collar and the forming sleeve. The filling collar and the forming sleeve are movable relative to each other to form a bait sack with the netting material.

Abstract: A device for closing tubular containers of flexible material, such as sausage casings or the like, contains plate-shaped constricting components for the purpose of forming constrictions in the container and a power-driven device for fastening a closure clip around the constrictions. The closure clip is advanced and pressed against a closing matrix by a punch. The power source for driving the punch and closing the closure clip is fastened to one of the constricting components and can swivel with it, whereby the punch of the device is guided on this constricting component across its entire advance path.

Abstract: This invention concerns a segmenting device in particular for the manufacture (portioning) of sausages from a string of sausage filling in a flexible tubular casing, which consists of a plurality of tye elements (12) in the form of strips which can be rotated against each other. One of their ends is secured locally in a ring concentric to the axis of the casing at regular intervals, and whereas the other end region is collected to form a ring (11) concentric with the axis of the casing, which, relative to this, can undergo movement of a rotational nature as well as parallel movement in their major plane, at least tee tying elements are provided, whose contact surface segments, which face the opening, are bent or curved in the main plane. In this manner each strip impinges on the casing with several contact surface segments and promotes the radial tying of the casing, avoiding shearing movements between the casing and the strips.

Abstract: A method for packaging objects by the use of heat-shrink material, in which there is wrapped in the manner of a sleeve around the objects, a sheet of heat-shrink material, heated to a temperature which is at least equivalent to the “defrosting” temperature of the material, a front portion and a rear portion of the sheet being disposed overlapping one another, in which the two portions are welded to one another, and in which the object-sheet assembly obtained is allowed to cool until the sheet shrinks onto the object.

Abstract: A machine for automatically loading tubes with elasticated netting in a folded condition comprises an array of fingers which, by reciprocative movement of the tube relatively through the array, will draw off a continuous sleeve of the netting from a spreader device and store it on the tube. Thereafter the fingers and spreader device are raised and the fingers splayed from the tube, enabling the sleeve of netting to be cut above the tube, after which the loaded tube can be removed and replaced by an unloaded one.

Abstract: A packaging and disposal system for sealing waste and related materials within flexible plastic tubing for odorless and sanitary disposal. Improvements in the latch, including the addition of a transverse mounted latch spring, and improvements in the support retention springs serve to increase the ability of the device to operate efficiently and effectively and reduce the potential of accidental spills or other exposure of the waste package. The latch requires two independent motions to actuate and incorporates a transversely mounted latch spring. The reduced cross-sectional area of the retention spring design concentrates force applied to the package to increase the effective holding ability of the system.

Abstract: A device for crimping a flexible tubular container filled with a dividable filling to form portion packs thereof, which comprises an outer ring, a concentric inner ring, at least four crimping elements in the form of strips, each of which elements is pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said inner ring and engaged at the other end in recesses radially extended in said outer ring, said crimping elements cooperating to form an aperture of variable size, which can be closed upon rotation of said outer ring to crimp a flexible tubular container inserted therein.

Abstract: System and method for packing loose fill materials in bags to form cushions for use in protecting articles in shipping cartons. The bags are produced from a length of flexible plastic tubing which is folded and gathered to form a coil which is disposed about the outlet of a loose fill dispenser. A section of the tubing is pulled from the coil, and its lower end is closed to form a bag which is then filled with loose fill material dispensed through the outlet. Another section of tubing is then pulled from the coil, and the tubing is drawn together to close the upper end of the first section and the lower end of the second section. The closed ends are secured with tape, and the tubing is severed to separate the first section from the second. The cushions thus formed are placed in the shipping cartons with the articles, and in some embodiments are compressed and reexpanded in conformance with the contour of the articles.

Abstract: Apparatus for inflating balloons to enable inserting objects thereinto include a housing having a lower compartment and an upper compartment, a first elongate tubular element disposed in the upper compartment to extend upwardly from the lower compartment where the upper end of the tubular element includes one or more openings, and a second elongate tubular element telescopically disposed in the upper compartment about the first tubular element to slide longitudinally relative thereto between an upper position, in which an object may be inserted into the second tubular element to rest against the upper end of the first tubular element, and a lower position, in which the upper ends of the first and second tubular elements are generally at the same elevation. The upper end of the second tubular element is open and is adapted to receive and releasably hold a balloon orifice thereover.

Abstract: A device and method for baling a plurality of items in a sack-like bale enclosure which includes a conduit for conducting items from a conveyor to a sock-like item receptacle coaxially mounted over an outlet end of the conduit.

Abstract: A bagging device for transferring material from a first chamber through an opening in a wall to a second chamber includes an outer housing communicating with the opening and having proximal and distal ends relative to the wall. An inner housing having proximal and distal ends corresponding to those of the outer housing is mounted in a concentrically spaced, sealed manner with respect to the distal end of the outer housing. The inner and outer housings and mounting means therebetween define an annular chamber, closed at its distal end and open at its proximal end, in which a pliable tube is slidably positioned in sealed engagement with the housings. The pliable tube includes a sealed end positioned adjacent the proximal end of the inner housing so as to maintain isolation between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A bagging device for transferring material from a first chamber through an pening in a wall to a second chamber includes an outer housing communicating with the opening and having proximal and distal ends relative to the wall. An inner housing having proximal and distal ends corresponding to those of the outer housing is mounted in a concentrically spaced, sealed manner with respect to the distal end of the outer housing. The inner and outer housings and mounting means therebetween define an annular chamber, closed at its distal end and open at its proximal end, in which a pliable tube is slidably positioned in sealed engagement with the housings. The pliable tube includes a sealed end positioned adjacent the proximal end of the inner housing so as to maintain isolation between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A packing apparatus, in particular for provisions in a squeezed style package, is provided comprising a hopper to supply a predetermined amount of the provisions into a synthetic resin film tube, a heat-seal and fusion cutting device disposed beneath the hopper to heat seal and cut the tube, a squeezing device disposed beneath the heat-seal and cutting device comprising two pairs of horizontal parallel bars disposed at right angles such that the confronting bars of each of the pairs are adapted to be moved towards and away from each other, a taping device disposed near the squeezing device and adapted to tape around the squeezed portion of the packing with an adhesive tape, a cutting device to sever the adhesive tape after taping, and a driving means to actuate the various components in a synthronized manner.

Abstract: A portioning and packaging machine for pasty materials, especially food products such as butter, margarine and cheese, comprises a stationary feed tube around which a portioning head is rotated. The portioning head is formed with radial portioning cylinders receiving the material from the feed tube and pistons which are displaceable relative to the cylinders for driving the material into vertical filling tubes. The filling tubes are raised and lowered with respect to the head by a stationary cam arrangement which can also include a cam for raising and lowering a sleeve forming a packaging foil or sheet into a cup adapted to receive the portion. The sleeve picks up the sheet from a table rotating with the head and forms the cup which it carries into a cavity of a forming table in which the portion is deposited in the resulting cup.