Abstract:
Apparatus for handling blocklike articles having first and second conveyor means, means controlled by the first conveyor means for causing parts to be delivered by the second conveyor means to the first conveyor means at spaced intervals so that the parts are advanced onto and carried on the first conveyor means at spaced intervals with at least certain of the parts on the second conveyor means being disposed one immediately behind the other in the direction of advance of the second conveyor means.
Abstract:
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WASHING TRAILER INTERIORS USING A HORIZONTAL BOOM CARYING A WASHING HEAD AT ITS FREE END. A DRIVER BACKS, THE TRAILER TO BE WASHED ONTO THE BOOM SO THAT THE BOOM STRUCTURE EXTENDS THROUGH THE REAR OPENING AND INTO THE TRAILER UNTIL THE WASHING HEAD IS PROXIMATE THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR SENSING THIS CONDITION AND FOR STARTING A WASH CYCLE IN WHICH THE WASHING HEAD PROVIDES A SPRAY HAVING A PATTERN EXTENDING LATERALLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE INTERIOR OF THE TRAILER. THE DRIVER THEN SLOWLY PULLS FORWARD AND AS THE HEAD DELIVERS THE SPRAY, THE SAME IS SWEPT ALONG THE TRAILER FLOOR TOWARD THE REAR THEREOF TO CLEAN THE TRAILER.
Abstract:
A machine for forming and testing sealed packages from heatsealable packaging materials employs an apparatus for forming individual packaging trays for receiving the product to be packaged from a first continuously fed web of heat-sealable flexible packaging material. A second continuously fed web of heat-sealable packaging material is directed along a path parallel to the path of the first web and is partially heat sealable thereto to package the product. After partial sealing, each of the serially connected train of packages is connected in fluid communication with means for evacuating the ambient atmosphere therefrom and replacing the ambient atmosphere with a preservative atmosphere. The package is then sealed to prevent escape of the preservative atmosphere and transported along the machine, still in the package train, to automatic inspection apparatus. The inspection apparatus provides a first section for detecting leaks in the individual packages and a second section for marking defective packages. The sensing section includes a pressure chamber for each individual package and means for sensing gas of the preservative atmosphere or a tracer gas portion of the preservative atmosphere should the inspected package be leaking such gas and to develop a control signal when gas leakage is detected. The marking section includes apparatus for marking a defective package received from the sensing section. An electrical control circuit extends between the sensing and the marking section to provide operative control of the marking apparatus at a delayed time which permits the travel of a package from the sensing section of the packaging machine to the marking section of the machine. After inspection, the packages are separated and the unmarked packages are then prepared for shipment while the marked packages are diverted so that their products may be repackaged. Inasmuch as the packages may be scuffed or in other ways have the integrity of their seals weakened or broken, for example the package material may be burned by labelling techniques, the packages are placed in an overwrap carton and the carton is subjected to another pressure test prior to sealing whereupon detection of the preservative atmosphere will signal that the carton contains a leaky package or packages. Cartons containing only sealed packages may then be further packaged for shipment and cartons containing leaky packages may be diverted for testing of the individual packages.