Abstract:
The invention provides a process for making a dry powder box with greater geometrical stability and free of pin holes, gaps and the like through which powder may sift. The process uses a carton blank having a bottom closure wherein a pair of relatively large, opposing dust flaps are first folded into the carton tube, in order to define, maintain and stabilize the cross section of the carton. Then, a pair of relatively smaller, opposing major flaps are folded and glued over the open sides of the large dust flaps. This combination of flaps keeps the large flaps from working out of alignment and helps maintain the cross sectional stability of the box. The top of the carton may be a gable having panels at the ends of the gables which are slightly larger than the cross section, of the gable roof sides. When the gable is formed, the larger ends are pushed down to create a leverage which closes the top opening more securely. The cut lines which form and define the flaps extend across approximately 80.degree. of the width of the flap, thereby leaving about 20% of the blank to form a bulk in the corner of the box. This cut line has a taper of about 15.degree. to 40.degree.. Thus, upon folding the flaps at both the top and the bottom, there is a small amount of bulk which must crumple together so that no pin holes are formed at a corner of the box.
Abstract:
The invention greatly increases the versatility and the speed at which an automatic packaging machine may fill boxes or other containers. Two fill stations are provided for alternately filling empty boxes as they move in single file past two separate fill stations. If no empty box is available to receive the product, a transfer cup is diverted and travels over one of two alternate paths at the fill station would otherwise fill the missing box. The product dumped from any non-diverted transfer cup goes into a corresponding box. The product dumped from any diverted transfer cup is returned to the start of the fill cycle. This way, the machine may simultaneously (i) fill one box with two separate products, (ii) fill alternate boxes with two different products or product volumes, or (iii) fill different kinds of boxes with product. A swing arm enables a part to be moved at each of the fill stations so that it may be repaired, maintained or cleaned without having to disassemble the machine. The resulting machine not only acts much faster, but also is able to simultaneously handle different products, and boxes in many different ways.
Abstract:
An automatic packaging machine is custom constructed from standardized modules in order to reduce cost and standardize operational and maintenance procedures. The standardized modules include conveyor chain modules which may be ganged to maintain synchronization of operations. Various types of attached may be attached to the conveyor chain in order to mandrels adapt the machine to load different types of products. A cam pin guides and directs selective transfers of products when both box and product are present and to cancel transfer when one of said box or product is absent. One example of such a customized machine is a machine for loading golf balls.
Abstract:
An elongated preferably plastic handle has a sleeve lock on the tip end. When a twisted wire brush is placed in the handle, there is a guy wire effect from the sleeve which holds the brush firmly in place, as the sleeve stretches slightly over a bent end of the twisted wire of the brush. The inventive handle also holds the end of a wooden toothpick, which may be broken without leaving any exposed jagged fibers which could form splinters.
Abstract:
An automatic packaging machine for forming a latching flip-top box from a blank. A plurality of mandrels are coupled to a conveyor system. Each of the mandrels include a mounting block for coupling the mandrel to the automatic packaging machine, a package-holding assembly operatively connected to the mounting block and being rotatable about a first axis from a first position to a second position, and a flap holder assembly operatively connected to the mounting block. The flap holder assembly is rotatable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A plurality of plows and tucker assemblies sequentially manipulate portions of the blank in order to form portions of the box.
Abstract:
An automobile packaging machine having a conveyor which travels over a fixed and closed path. A plurality of carriers are mounted at fixed intervals along the conveyor. A tray having a fixed physical dimensions, is mounted on the carrier to carry an object having the same dimensions. The tray is releasably locked onto the carrier by a detent and a set screw associated with interconnectors. A spring biased detent indexes the position of said tray on said carrier. Then, a set screw is tightened to lock the tray in place. This way trays may be changed quickly and easily.
Abstract:
An automatic packaging machine having a conveyor which travels over a fixed and closed path. a plurality of carriers are mounted at fixed intervals along the conveyor. A tray having a fixed physical dimensions, is mounted on the carrier to carry an object having the same dimensions. The tray is releasably locked onto the carrier by at least two inverted, bolt-like interconnectors located at positions displaced along the length of a support plate which is on the carrier. A key hole in the support plate receives a head on one of the bolt-like interconnectors which passes through and then slide along the length of and is captured in a small end of the key hole slot. A leaf spring snaps over the head of one bolt as it slides in the key hole slot. The leaf spring is flexed away from the bolt head to release the tray.
Abstract:
A spool of thread, such as dental floss, is housed in a two-part shell or holder, preferably made of plastic. The floor on the bottom one of the shell parts includes a platform to provide a bearing surface for enabling rotation of the spool with a minimum of friction. The top of the upper shell part includes at least one finger which depends far enough to drag, with predetermined friction, against the top of the spool. This friction is sufficient to prevent a random unwinding of the spool and yet small enough to preclude any substantial impedance to the withdrawal of a desired amount of thread from the spool.