Equipment and materials

knocked-down containers. The offset gravure unit, claimed to offer economy for small to medium-sized runs, prints up to three colors. According to the supplier, long service life and superior print clarity are achieved by using an 18-in.-diameter application cylinder. Cylinder changes can be made without down time for disassembly. Other cited features of the unit include: a specially developed printing surface unaffected by ambient temperature and humidity changes; continuous repeat print to 26 in. wide, and printing speed of 48 ft. per minute. M-H Standard Corp., Conveyorized Finishing Systems Div., 515 Communipaw Ave., Jersey City 4.

Electronic heat sealer

Custom-built, high-frequency generators for heat sealing such thermoplastic packaging films as saran and vinyl are offered by New Jersey Electronic Co. Already in commercial use, the generators are designed for attachment to standard pouchforming and filling machinery (see "A Triumph for Film,"� Modern Packaging, July, 1958, p. 130). Heat for sealing the film is produced by high-frequency current which passes between the sealing dies to the film, without heating the dies. According to the supplier, generators can be made available to accommodate almost any length of end seal or long seal. New Jersey Electronic Co., Passaic, NJ.

Automatic regulation of web tension

The development of "Cons-Ten-Trol,"� a device for automatically regulating the tension of webs of paper and other packaging materials in unwinding to slitter-rewinders, is announced by Black-Clawson's Dilts Div. The attachment reportedly can be added to any existing slitter-rewinder machine that has air-operated friction brakes on the unwind section. Black-Clawson Co., Dilts Div., Fulton, N.Y.

Aerosol pressure tester and venter

Available from Robins Engineering is an apparatus for testing pressure and venting gas in filled aerosol containers. The unit, which is offered in two models (CA-1 shown here for aerosol packages with dip tubes on valves and CA-2 for aerosol

packages with upside-down valves), is claimed to have these four advantages: it vents gas without discharging the product; it automatically fills the dip tube to any desired level; it automatically tests pressure as containers travel along the assembly line; it automatically rejects containers which are not pressurized within the acceptable limit. According to the supplier, the electrically powered device which has direct-reading dial-� can be installed on any standard pressure-packaging line and can reject up to 60 containers per minute. Reduced labor costs are another cited benefit of the unit, which can be installed in single or double rows, according to individual needs. The Robins Engineering Co., North Haven, Conn,

Non-toxic PVO stabilizer

A non-toxic stabilizer for use in polyvinyl chloride foodpackaging materials is available from Ferro Chemical. Called Ferro 763, the white paste compound has been accepted by the U. S. Food & Drug Administration, the company reports. It is suggested for use in concentrations of one to two parts per 100 resin along with USFDA-accepted epoxy plasticizers. Claimed to be excellent for long-term stability, the material reportedly can be used at temperatures up to 385 deg. F. Ferro Corp., 4150 E. 56 St., Cleveland 5.

Speedy former and wrapper for margarine

The latest addition to Girdler Process Equipment's "Votator"� line of packaging machinery is a unit that forms and wraps ¾-lb. prints of margarine at a rated speed of 5,000 to 6,000 lbs. per hour.

According to the company, it also forms and wraps whipped margarine (in which six standard-size prints make a full pound) at speeds of up to 3,400 lbs. per hour. Changeover from one type of margarine to another requires only a few minutes, the supplier claims. Cited advantages of the machine, in addition to high speed, include precise product-weight control and minimum-maintenance operation. Chemetron Corp., Girdler Process Equipment Div., Louisville 1, Ky.

Electric sewing unit for bag closure

A new belt-conveyor sewing unit for closing bags has been introduced by the Dave Fischbein Co. Called the Fischbein Bag Closer Model B-5, it reportedly stitches at the rate of 30 ft. per minute in a two-stage operation controlled by foot pressure. The first stage starts the movement of the conveyor belt to carry the bag to the sewing head and the second stage starts the sewing operation. The electrically operated unit features an adjustment wheel for precise setting of the sewing head, according to the supplier. Dave Fischbein Co., 2720 30th Ave., Minneapolis 6.

Air evacuator, sealer for film pouches

A device for evacuating air from multiple-wound thermoplastic-film pouches (filled with cheese or other product) and then sealing the pouches is offered by Specialty Equipment. Called Evac-Seal, the machine handles pouches up to 20 in. wide. In operation, a flat evacuating needle is inserted into the filled pouch (open end on the sealing bed), after which hold-down bars are lowered, automatically starting a vacuum pump and collapsing the pouch to the product. Then the heating bar is lowered, automatically ejecting the needle and sealing the pouch. According to the supplier, the entire operation can be performed in approximately 30 seconds. Specialty Equipment Co., West Bend, Wis.

Flexographic and letterpress printers

Designed for printing on flat, round, tapered, raised or recessed articles are Cosom Engineering's two new Cosomatic Printers. Available in flexographic or letterpress models, the units are capable of printing on three different level-�with up to three different ink color-�simultaneously, the company claims. Either printer reportedly can print cylindrical items with speed and accuracy. Two types of rotary attachments also are available. For high-production work, the supplier offers a multiple-spindle indexing rotary attachment that can be loaded and unloaded while it is printing. A single-spindle attachment is designed for short runs or for use where frequent changes in part sizes occur. According to the company, improvements on its two new printers assure constant accurate register and minimize wash-up time. Cosom Engineering Corp., 6012 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis 16.