Abstract: The present invention provides a box sealer for attaching adhesive tape in an L-shape on corners of a box for medical drugs, cosmetics, etc. The box is first received at a rectangular corner furnished on a top surface of the box sealer, and adhesive tape of a predetermined dimensions is sent out from below and is cut. By sliding attachment plates at the corner of one side and at the bottom of the box, the adhesive tape is attached in the L-shaped form. Knurled rollers for sending out the adhesive tape are furnished in tandem, and one of the rollers is rotated by twice as many revolutions as the other roller. Further, a microswitch for detecting the box and rotating a motor is mounted near the rectangular window of the housing, and a pair of operating pins of the microswitch are provided in parallel.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for sealing an inner pouch containing surgical instruments and/or elements in an outer breather pouch is provided. The method involves sequentially transporting a series of open inner pouches contained in an outer breather pouch to a viewing station wherein positioning data is obtained concerning the precise location of the inner pouch relative to a base position. Thereafter positioning data is transmitted to a sealing apparatus which adjustably positions a sealing means to consistently seal the inner pouch through the outer pouch material. The apparatus includes viewing mechanisms for determining the position of an inner pouch disposed in an outer pouch relative to a base position. Adjustable sealing apparatus communicates with the viewing mechanism to receive positioning information relating to the inner pouch. Based on this information the viewing apparatus is adjusted so as to be able to effect accurate sealing of the inner pouch disposed within the outer pouch.

Abstract: A packaging machine and method of packaging utilizing chains of interconnected preopened bags which are fed sequentially and one at a time to a load station. Bag tops are clamped against spreading horns by sensor equipped clamps which cause disablement of a bag filling mechanism unless a bag is properly located at the load station. A bag spreading and transfer mechanism spreads a loaded bag and transfers it to a bag closure station for sealing. The mechanism includes bag-supporting structures for supporting the bag during loading transfer and sealing and for expelling a completed package from the machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a unit made up of a cap and a receptacle with a neck made of plastics, the cap includes a base made of plastics, the base including a sealing member inside the neck which can be fixed on the neck simply by pushing and snapping it on. The base and neck, by longitudinal insertion, cooperate to prevent relative rotation. When the base is pushed onto the neck, insertion with a full cross-section is initiated, then forced insertion of the sealing member in the neck is initiated, and then the snapping on action is initiated. The cap of the invention is used to provide decorated tubes, with the cap oriented in a constant and definitive manner relative to the tubes.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method of inserting a lightweight, oversized, inside head to the end of a partially wrapped roll. An inside head is attached to multiple articulated arms extending from a spider assembly. The spider is moved toward the end of the roll until the articulated arms engage the end of the roll. The spider assembly opens the articulated arms radially outwardly until adjacent a wrapper tube extension. A heating clamp then welds the outer edge of the inside head to the wrapper tube extension.

Abstract: A device for closing the upper lateral flaps of long parallelepiped cases includes a pair of helical guides with a reduced longitudinal length and a pair of extension arms controllable so that they may be displaced from an at rest position to an operating position. In the latter position the two arms are arranged as an extension of the helical guides towards the inlet to the device so as to force the lateral flaps of the case to accomplish the closing engagement with the helices.

Abstract: In a machine including structure for feeding an unsealed envelope downstream in a path of travel, wherein the envelope has a body portion and a flap portion folded in overlying relationship with the body portion and has a free edge, there is provided apparatus for unfolding the flap portion of an envelope.

Abstract: A shrink wrap packaging machine that shrink wraps twice as many packages per unit of time as conventional machines. The machine includes a pair of longitudinally spaced sealing and cutting elements. Both elements are preceded by a sensor. The first sealing and cutting element is activated when the trailing edge of even numbered packages are detected whereas the second sealing and cutting element is activated when the second sensor detects the trailing edge of odd numbered packages. Packages are therefore wrapped in groups of two after leaving the first sealing and cutting station and are individually wrapped after leaving the second sealing and cutting station. The conveyor belt that carries packages through the machine operates at nearly twice the speed of prior art machines but the sealing and cutting elements of the present machines operate at the same rate as prior art machines.

Abstract: A pouch made of a heat-fusible material is sealed at its mouth while being transferred on a conveyor. A vibrator provided at one side of the track of the conveyor is pressed against the mouth of the pouch for vibrative heating in response to a signal from a sensor and is moved away from the mouth in response to a sensor signal. The sensor detects the coming and passing of the pouch at and through the sealing station. The pouch preferably has an open mouth with a presealed leading edge which ensures that the entire mouth is completely sealed. The provision of the presealed leading edge along with the vibrator for vibrative heat-sealing ensures that a good seal is produced even if powder or fat has adhered to the sealing surface.

Abstract: A packaging machine suitable for the continuous packaging of individual products, or of groups of overlapped products having a different size in height, such as signatures, newspapers, magazines, books, and the like, and provided with at least one running-belt pressing device which is vertically shiftable and is made integral with a car which suitable for reciprocating inside the packaging machine, and which supports a transversal-welding unit, which is provided with a combined motion of the welding element both downwards towards and products and of accompanying of the same products, so as to make it possible said products to be correctly packaged and to be perfectly stacked, with the packaging of even one individual product being made possible, independently on whether it even contains an extremely small number of pages.

Abstract: A machine for the automatic protective wrapping of baggage items having different dimensions comprising conveyor belts for moving successive single baggage to an automatic bundling machine with two sealing bars disposed at right angles to each other, to adapt every individual baggage item in a heat-shrinkable plastic film in such a way to form a wrapper sealed on three sides, the fourth being contact-sealed after passage of the wrapper containing the baggage item through a tunnel-type hot-air oven in which the heat-shrinkage of the plastic film takes place with perfect adherence of it to the baggage.

Abstract: A detecting member for the height of the box with open side flaps is mounted in a vertically variable position on the closing assembly for the top flaps and is connected mechanically to the drive device which draws together the box conveyance units. In this manner drawing together of the conveyance units until they engage the sides of the box causes a corresponding movement of the detecting member which arranges itself in a position dependent upon the width of the box. Fall of the closing assembly starts simultaneously from a raised neutral position and continues until engagement of the detecting member so arranged with the top of an open side flap of the box. Braking means then stop the fall of the closing assembly. Appropriate sensitive means start operation of the closing assembly for the rear flap on the basis of the box length.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically closing and sealing cardboard boxes, cartons and the like of various sizes. A four- or six-corner glued carton having a hinged cover is conveyed in a first direction to a location where the carton is maintained in a prescribed position. Carriage and closure assemblies are advanced simultaneously to initiate closing of the hinged cover and to subsequently completely close the cover and displace the closed carton in a second direction to a means for sealing the carton and to a conveyor means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a package bag binding apparatus for binding openings of package bags filled with packages. A binding device is vertically movably mounted on a frame above a conveyor which conveys filled package bags to a position below the binding device. A detector detects the filling level of the package bags and moves the binding device to the proper vertical level for binding the openings of the bags so that fillings are not sandwiched in the bound place. In one embodiment, the binding device is initially raised to a lifted position and is lowered to a binding position detected by the detector.

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: A machine for sealing the top and/or bottom flaps of random size cases is disclosed. The location of the front and rear of cases moved through the machine by a conveyor is continuously monitored by a programmable controller that uses the location information to control the operation of various case alignment, flap folding, and glue-applying mechanisms. Case entry is initially prohibited by a raised gate. When the conveyor reaches a predetermined position the gate is lowered and a case enters the machine. As a case enters the machine, the case is aligned along the center of the case path of travel through the machine; and a T-deck drops to allow the bottom major flaps to separate from the bottom minor flaps. Such separation is necessary for the bottom flaps to be sealed simultaneously with the top flaps. If the bottom flaps are sealed when the case enters the machine, no separation occurs.

Abstract: A carton sealing machine provided with a pushbutton control situated on the upper sealing head for controlling the separation of conveying belts and lifting of an upper sealing head to allow the easy, efficient and sure intervention of the operator in case of jamming of a carton, and the control can also be used to stop the rotational movement of the belts.

Abstract: Movement of the case conveyor is terminated with the leading flap aligned with a flap engaging element mounted above the case on the end shaft. The shaft is rotated to cause the element to engage and partially open the leading flap. The shaft is supported by a carriage which is movable along a track extending in the direction of conveyor movement. As the element reaches its final rotational position, movement of the carriage along the track is initiated, causing the element to pivot the leading flap to the open position. Movement of the conveyor is then resumed as the carriage returns to its initial position. The rotational and translational movements of the element are independently actuatable and adjustable.

Abstract: X ray films are withdrawn from a drawer type magazine positioned above an X ray film cassette unloading station. The films drop down freely from the magazine through a hopper and towards the said X ray cassette. The hopper comprises two substantially U shaped guide elements, one placed opposite the other in such a way as to form two channels along which slide the edges of the two opposite sides of each individual film. One of the elements is fixed, while the other is supported in a sliding fashion by the frame of the machine. The sliding element is able to undergo, in the direction of the fixed guide element, a two way displacement, and is connected to a pusher device provided on the machine for positioning the X ray cassette inserted into the unloading station, up against an abutment member located on the same side of the machine as the fixed guide element.

Abstract: A carton sealing machine for sealing cartons in which a clutch is provided to connect a pair of oppositely disposed conveyor belts for movement thereof from a driving motor.

Abstract: A bag tying machine comprises a guide (17, 18) which receives the open end part of a filled bag as it is moved through the machine, a follow-up member (29) which is movable adjacent the guide (17, 18) following a bag to gather together the open end of the bag, and means (39, 40, 43) for supplying a length of pressure sensitive adhesive tape and holding it across the path of the gathered together end of the bag. The machine also includes a pair of pivoted arms (20, 21) having a first pair of jaws (30, 31), upstream from the length of pressure sensitive adhesive tape and against which the gathered together end of the bag is initially compressed, and a second pair of jaws (34, 35) immediately downstream of the adhesive tape which support the adhesive tape as the gathered together neck of the bag is urged into contact with it and which then clamp the adhesive tape around the gathered together neck of the bag to tie it together.

Abstract: Apparatus for sealing the foldable flaps of cartons of random sizes by applying a self-adhesive tape material along the edges of the flaps having improved assemblies for automatically infolding the trailing minor flaps and for controlling the positioning of the flap folding assembly at or above the upper edge of the carton. The assembly for infolding the trailing minor flap includes a kicker arm assembly which incorporates a kicker arm member mounted for sliding longitudinally along a generally horizontal axis between an extended position and a retracted position. The assembly for controlling the positioning of the flap folding assembly includes a brake assembly for selectively retaining the flap folding assembly in a fixed position, a control means for controlling the brake assembly and an actuator assembly for activating the control means.

Abstract: A heat control system used in apparatus for packaging articles in a tray by applying a film of thermoplastic material over the articles in the tray. The apparatus includes a plurality of electrically operated heating units successively moving along a prescribed path and adapted to captivate each tray and the film over the articles in the tray between adjacent heating units as the heating units move along a prescribed portion of the prescribed path to press the film against opposite sides of the tray and heat the film to a temperature to cause the film to bond to the tray.

Abstract: A device for attaching a tab with a central opening and bag receiving passage formed therein in which is gathered the neck of a flexible bag comprising: conveyor means to receive and flatten a portion of the bag adjacent the open end thereof and guide the flattened neck of the bag into the bag receiving passage and gather the bag neck in the tab; a tab strip feed mechanism and means severing each tab singly from the tab strip and positioning and bracing the tab to receive the bag neck; means detecting the completed passage of the bag and in response thereto releasing said tab and bag gathered therein prior to positioning another tab to receive a bag neck; means responsive to the reception of a product thickened bag neck in said conveyor means to cause said tab support means to release said tab prior to detection of completed passage of said bag. Also included is means to hold the passage of said tab open for the reception of a bag.

Abstract: A garment bag bottom sealing machine used in a dry cleaning operation or garment manufacturing industry includes a V-link belt which receives hangers fed thereto one at a time by a feeder. A sealer on the machine effects a double seal of a garment bag, and the bagged garment is discharged from the machine for further processing. The sealing machine is separate from any other equipment used in a garment dry cleaning operation or garment manufacturing industry.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of transferring a strip-like plastic bag material in a packing machine. The method comprises the steps of transferring the bag material by a pair of intermittently operated pinching rollers. The bag material comprises a series of interconnected bags each having a heat-sealed bottom portion with a flap-like margin. The flap-like margin is raised during transfer of the bag material by guide means. The bottom portion is then detected by means of a microswitch having an elongated contact adapted to be releasably engaged with the flap-like margin as the flap-like margin is raised by the guide means during transfer of said bag material. The bag material is then stopped for a packing operation in response to detection by the microswitch of the bottom portion.

Abstract: A random box closing apparatus of the type having a box closing and sealing station having a sealing head which is movable upwardly and downwardly to accommodate boxes of different heights and having a main conveyor adjustable for box width, and having a box sensing station for sensing the height of the box, and having a sensing conveyor adjustable for box width and for further sensing the width of the box, and thereby controlling the spacing of the main conveyor in the box closing and sealing station, in which the apparatus is characterized by height sensing means operable to sense the combined height both of the box and the upper closure flaps extending thereabove when open, and delivering a combined height signal responsive thereto, and movable carriage means upon which said height sensing means is movable upwardly and downwardly, at the box sensing station, and having signal communication means connecting between the height sensing means and the power operated movement means, whereby to move the box seali

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically placing large plastic lids onto containers. Lids 24 are dispensed individually from magazine 11 onto slide 33. Each dispensed lid is individually retained at the bottom of the slide 33 for pickup by a container 41. The lid is urged onto the container by a pivoted roller 47 and further leveled by a roller 58 which is extended twice by a pneumatic piston to first contact a leading edge of the lid and to secondly contact a trailing edge of the lid. Thereafter a pneumatically operated lid securement means 61 comprising a convex plate 70' burps the air from beneath the lid and fully seats the lid on the container. The apparatus has various sensing means for sensing the depletion of lids from magazine 11, for sensing that a lid has been dispensed onto slide 33 and for sensing a container at the capping station. The sensing means control the various operations of the machine in proper sequence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a liner from a formed metal closure by at least partially everting the closure with an advancing punch adapted to temporarily couple the everted closure. By everting the closure, the liner becomes accessible to be retained within the closure support and is separated from the closure when the punch is retracted. A stripper is provided adjacent the punch to separate the everted metal portion of the closure from the punch.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for securing covers to metal foil containers, and for sealing the containers. The containers are of the type which have an open top, a horizontal flange surrounding the open top, and a peripheral vertical flange surrounding the horizontal flange, and the cover rests on the horizontal flange. The apparatus includes a stationary platform, on which the unsealed container rests, and a ring which surrounds the platform. The ring is vertically movable, and the top surface of the ring engages the horizontal flange of the container to move the container with it. Located above the ring is a die with an inner camming surface, and the ring will move the container upward so that the vertical flanges of the container engage the inner camming surface to crimp the flange inwardly and downwardly. A press then moves downwardly through an opening in the die to press the crimped flange down so that the cover is secured to the container and the container is sealed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bagging a garment which is supported on a hanger wherein the bag is closed at both the upper and lower ends. The bag is placed or formed about the garment and the upper end, through which the hook extends, is closed with the hanger supported at a first station. The bagged garment is then moved to a second station where the lower end of the bag is sealed. The method and apparatus are disclosed in preferred embodiments wherein the entire bagging operation, including bottom sealing, is carried out in a completely automated manner.

Abstract: A conveyor in combination with a strapper for strapping objects on the conveyor automatically as the conveyor is automatically stopped in many pre-selected places.

Abstract: An apparatus for closing boxes comprising a conveyor for bringing a box in centralized position between two vertically arranged transport belts which can be moved toward each other to engage the side walls of the box the four top flaps of which are open, whereafter the said transport belts move the box to a bridge the height of which is adjustable and which is provided with a sensing member, which on the engagement thereof with the fore wall of the box when the bridge is in its lowest position operates means to cause raising of the said bridge until the said sensing member comes into engagement with the fore wall flap of the box, which flap is closed by further movement of the box, the bridge being provided with a pivotably mounted arm carrying a rotatable wing for closing the rear flap of the box, with fixed arms for raising the side flaps and with pivotable arms carrying closing members which can be moved downwardly at an oblique angle toward the center of the upper surface of the box for closing the side f

Abstract: A machine for folding the top flaps on a succession of boxes which are advanced on a conveyor belt. A shaft extends across the path of the boxes and has arms journaled on it for rotating and folding the trailing end flap of each box when the shaft is rotated. Torsion springs have one of their ends fastened to the shaft and another of their ends in driving contact relationship with the respective arms. When a box is in a position for one of its end flaps to be folded, limit switches are actuated in succession to cause an electrically operated clutch to turn the shaft one revolution so the arms swing around under the driving influence of the torsion springs and fold and hold the trailing top end flap until the box is advanced to the position where its end flaps are finally restrained by folding and holding its side flaps.

Abstract: A device for binding a thermally adhesive tape to articles to be bundled, such as spinach, trefoil, asparagus and the like, includes a base, an arm pivotally mounted on the base, a tape supply mounted on the arm, and a working stand provided on the base at a position where the working stand is faced with a free end of the arm when it is pivotally moved to a working position. A working head is provided on the free end of the arm and comprises a cutter to cut the tape from the tape supply, a tape bundling member to hold a tape portion around the articles between the tape bundling member and the working stand when the arm is pivotally moved to the working position, and a tape leading member to lead a new tape leading end from the succeeding tape after the tape portion around the articles is cut. A heater is provided in either of the working head or the working stand so as to heat and bond the overlapped portion of the tape around the articles.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening the front flap of a container moving on a conveyor line toward a filling station. The invention includes a circular brush maintained above the conveyor line and rotatable by means of an air motor. The air motor is mounted upon a support member having rollers at the bottom thereof and movable between adjustable stops defining a track, the track running parallel to the conveyor. An air cylinder, pivotally mounted to a bracket at one end thereof, has an extendable rod connected to the top of the support member at another end thereof. Actuation of the air cylinder and air motor causes the rod to pass the rotating brush along the conveyor with the brush making lifting engagement with the front flap of the container. At the end of the track, the support member stops and the rod causes the brush to pass through an arc, assisting in the opening of the flap. A limit switch senses the arcuate motion of the brush and causes the rod to retract to an original position.

Abstract: A garment bag sealing machine includes a loading pole for loading a bagged garment onto said machine, the loading pole being movable to transfer the bagged garment to a pick-off unit and lifting cylinder which lifts the bagged garment until a detector, such as a photo electric cell, detects the bottom of the garment at which point a sealing unit, such as a heat sealing unit, is brought to bear upon the bottom portion of the garment bag causing the garment bag to be sealed. The lifting mechanism then carries the bagged garment to a slide rail system which then carries the garment to a packing or removal station.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatically lidding drinking cups with a film of thermoplastic sheet material. The apparatus includes a cup support adapted to raise a cup placed thereon into contact with a leading section of thermoplastic film drawn from a roll and to hold the cup while a reciprocating heated platen heat seals the film section against the cup rim. The cup support then lowers the lidded cup while a film advance mechanism draws out a fresh section of film into sealing position. A control system is included with the apparatus for operating the apparatus in predetermined timed sequence.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically applying tape to effect the closing of a carton, such tape to be placed not only across the top surface but also continuously down each end of the carton. The apparatus includes means for advancing the containers with the top flaps in folded position into an initial station where the leading end has applied to it one end of a length of tape and where the end flaps and tape are pressed into position by downwardly extending rollers. The rollers are then retracted and the carton is moved under a tape supply which tapes the top of the carton and moves the carton into a second station at which point a mechanism cuts the trailing edge of the tape to size and the carton is moved upwardly into a stacking chute having side rails which engage the taped ends of the carton insuring that they are folded into position and holding them in position while the adhesive has time to set.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically sealing random sized cartons which includes a unique side arm control mechanism which translates rotary motion to linear motion to push and pull against both ends of each side arm. The apparatus also includes a unique lift mechanism to raise and lower the top sealing means.

Abstract: Carton setting up and loading machine to facilitate an operator successively setting up in empty chamber-defining shape a plurality of cartons in upright position on their flat stack of bottom closing flaps folded inward and the loading of their chambers to release them to remainder of the machine for sealing of their tops and bottoms. Lateral machine bed has an entrance end and a discharge end with transport means to move a loaded carton laterally forward along a path from the former end to the latter end while sealing closed at least the folded top flaps thereof. A carton setting up and loading lateral support or table top precedes the entrance end of the machine bed adjacent thereto.

Abstract: An automatic L-sealer is arranged to pass product, including fragile items and loose piles of stacked paper, tiles or similar flat articles, through the machine without abrupt drops or changes in support level for the product to avoid breakage or upsetting of the pile. In the case of stacked loose flat articles an infeed conveyor deposits a package on an air table and an insertion arm progresses the package through the overwrap station to a sealing area where the L-seal completes and separates the overwrapped package. The sealing area includes a discharge conveyor pivoted at its discharge end and elevated at the end adjacent the air table to transfer the overwrapped package without an abrupt drop but is thereafter lowered during the sealing cycle to permit the seals to be made midway of the height of the package. The insertion arm retracts out of the path of package flow during its return stroke permitting infeeding of the next package to be initiated prior to the completion of the return stroke.

Abstract: Tape sealing machine elevator head control equipment which avoids tipping up a loaded and tape-sealed carton as it is being advanced to the machine discharge end for withdrawal of its trailing end from beneath lowered and loading elevator head bearing down on this carton during the application of tape thereto. Powered means is provided to raise and lower the elevator head and to dictate the loading thereof down on the carton top as the carton is being advanced through the machine. There is also provided control means responsive to the forwardly traveling carton in the vicinity of the machine discharge end section to activate the powered means for raising the elevator head up from the carton top for a relatively short period of time sufficient to relieve the carton back end of the load of the head as this carton back end is withdrawn from therebeneath.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for closing and sealing the open end of a carton of thermoplastic coated paperboard material or the like. A rotatable drum has a cylindrical wall that supports a plurality of carton closing and sealing units. During rotation of the drum, open ended cartons are successively picked-up at a carton receiving station and are carried by the drum to a carton delivery station. During the movement of the carton from the receiving to the delivery station, the open end of the carton is folded to a closed condition and the layers of the closed carton end are vibration welded together by one of the carton closing and sealing units. Each carton closing and sealing unit includes a pair of jaws movable between an open and closed position with respect to each other, a latching member for locking the jaws in their closed position, and a vibration welding device.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying to the neck of a bagged package a closure comprising stiff resilient sheet plastics material having therein a bag-neck retaining aperture communicating with an edge of the closure by means of a narrow slit, which apparatus comprises means for gathering and holding the neck of the bagged package, means for locating the closure with the slit aligned with the gathered neck, and means for effecting relative movement between the gathered neck and the closure such as to force the gathered neck through the slit and into the aperture. The holding means is a stop member which prevents advance of the bag neck until a sensor detects passage of the trailing end of the bag neck, whereupon the stop member is released and a claw advances the gathered bag neck into the closure.

Abstract: A carton sealer system moves a plurality of boxes with telescoping upper and lower sections along a horizontal conveyor path, and the top sections are lifted to expose the side walls of the bottom section. Adhesive is applied to the exposed side walls of the bottom sections, the top sections are urged downwardly to their fully closed positions, and the top wall of the top section is urged downwardly and the side walls are pressed inwardly to expel the air from the box and to seal the sections of the box together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging various relatively thin and long rolls, which is suitable for packaging rolls having a center hole or recess in the opposite ends thereof. According to the present invention, it is possible to package the rolls with high efficiency and without the necessity of changing packaging paper rolls even when the length of the rolls to be packaged is varied. Firstly, a packaging paper is derived and cut from a packaging paper roll to a desired length and the cut paper sheet is put on a flat table. A roll to be packaged by this paper sheet is made to roll on the paper sheet in a direction normal to the paper sheet supply direction. When one edge of the packaging paper sheet is adhered to the roll to be packaged and the roll is advanced with the rotation thereof, the paper sheet wraps around the outer periphery of the roll tightly.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying objects to be bound to an automatic band-binding means in packing boxes or the like.

Abstract: An end gathering machine for gathering the loose ends of flexible wrapping material at the end of roll wrapped articles, the machine being located between an infeed conveyor and a discharge conveyor which are used to intermittently transport the roll wrapped articles in a timed sequence to the end gathering machine, the articles being initially aligned with the lead end positioned in the machine and subsequently aligned with the trailing end positioned within the machine.

Abstract: A bottle stoppering machine includes a travelling belt which carries the bottles to be stoppered, a stopper distributor positioned over the belt, and a stopper driver also positioned over the belt at a position downstream of the distributor. To adjust the vertical separation of the belt and distributor according to undesired variations in the height of the bottles, a first detector detects the approach of a bottle to the distributor, second and third detectors detect excess or deficiency in the height of the approaching bottle, and servo-mechanism controlled by these detectors raises or lowers the belt at the position beneath the distributor, or alternatively raises or lowers the distributor, in response to the signals of the detectors to match the separation of the belt and distributor at the distributor to the height of the bottle to be stoppered.