US3481099A - Packaging apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

D. CLANCY PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Jan. 17, 1964 Dec.- 2, 1969 '7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 0A V10 LA/VCY ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1969 D. CLANCY PACKAGING APPARATUS `AND METHOD Original Filed Jan. 1'?, 1964 7 sheets-sheet 2 ZNVENTOR DAV/0 CLANCY ATTORNEYS D. CLANCY PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD original Filed Jan. 17, 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 R O W m M M a m 0 V M M e M Y B mm .a om EN J E; mm o w m. R

ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1969 D. cLANcY PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD original Filed Jan. 17, 1964 BY M Mw c@ M ATTORNEYS Dec. Z, 1969 D. CLANCY PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHODv original Filed Jan. 17,l 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 m @sl INVENTOR DAV/D CLA/VCV ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1969 D. cLANcY PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD original Filed aan. 1v.l 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 'IIIIIII"IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM y FIG. l0

m4 wa 1w m M MM@ FIG l2 ATroRNEYs Dec. 2, 1969 D. cLANcY 3,431,099

PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD original Filed Jam.4 17, 1964 7 sheets-sheet v S fi TNS INVENTOR DA V/D CLA/VCV BY Mmgw ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,481,099 PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD vDavid Clancy, Canaan, Conn., assignor to Colgate-Palm- ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for making sealed packages containing folded liquid absorbenttowelettes which comprises forming a moving continuous strip of moisture proof envelope material into substantially channel shape with the upper end open, automatically forming individual folded towelettes of moisture absorbent material from a continuous web of that material 'and inserting these individual towelettes into the channel at predetermined longitudinally spaced locations in timed relation with movement of the strip, sealing opposite sides of the inserted towelettes to form individual compartments therefor, injecting volatile liquid into each compartment, sealing the strip along the upper ends of said compart- 30 Claims ments, and then separating along selected transverse areas into individual dual sealed compartmented packages. The envelope strip and the towelette web are both drawn from supply reels by synchronized drives. The towelette material is given a longitudinal accordion fold prior to severing into individual towelette sections, which are then transversely folded and thrust into the compartment space in the same motion. In an important form of the invention the towelette@ section is transversely folded twice o n itself before insertion into the strip compartment.`

the towelettes are separately folded from sheets and placed in a magazine that in turn -feeds them into package inserting and sealing equipment. In these prior methods and apparatus the folded towelettes were usually inserted into individual open top packages which had to be mounted on a special chair or the like conveyor requiring considerably complex structure.

According to the present invention the towelettes are formed automatically from a continuous web of suitable absorbent material and thrust in timed relation into envelope compartments, either in predetermined spacing along a continuous intermittently advanced folded envelope strip prior to forming that strip into separate towelette receiving compartments or into individual envelopes.

The former does away witharrangements for specially holding and opening individual envelopes toenable insertion of folded towelettes. After receiving the towelettes the strip is heat sealed to form the individual moist towelette containing Acompartments and severed into individual envelopes, all in automatic timed relationiwith towelette forming and insertion and envelope strip advance. f

3,481,099 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 nr' lCC It is the major object of this invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for automatically forming individual folded towelettes from a single web and thrusting them in succession into envelope compartments that are presented in timed relation at a station.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for fully automatically forming individual envelopes each containing a folded moist towelette wherein continuous webs of envelope andtowelette material are automatically formed and brought together in timed relation in a station where individual towelettes are thrust in proper spaced relation into the partially formed envelope strip prior to compartmenting and severing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for successively longitudinally folding the leading end of a continuous web of towelette material, severing the folded portion into lengths and final folding each severed length into final form for insertion into an envelope compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus wherein a continuous web of towelette material is folded and severed into individual towelettes whichare thrust into spaced compartment spaces along the length of a continuous V-folded envelope strip moved intermittently in timed relation thereto, and the strip is heat sealed to isolate the inserted towelettes in individual compartments prior to severing the strip into one or. more compartment envelopes. Pursuant to this object the invention contemplates novel synchronized heat sealing die structure as well as novel liquid injection association, and towelette and envelope strip feed and knife actuate structure, as will appear in the claims.

- Fur'ther objects-of the invention will presently appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a packaging machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, partially broken away and sectioned, and illustrating some of the method steps of the invention',

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, partially broken away and in section, showing further the machine and method of FIGURE l;

FIGURE la is a fragmentary enlarged section showing laminated envelope strip;

FIGURE 1b is a section on line 1b'-1b of FIGURE l showing the envelope strip forming plow;

FIGURE 1c is a section on line lc-lc of FIGURE 1 further showing the envelope strip and plow;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation in section on line 3"-3 of FIGURES l and 2, showing detail of handling the towelette to be packaged',v

FIGURE 3a is a sideV elevation showing a section of the partly heat sealed package strip as it leaves the first heat seal station',

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged section substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 showing the first heat sealing station;

FIGURE 5 is a side `elevation showing the shape of the heat seal elements at the first heat seal station',

FIGURE 5a is a section on line Sa--Sa of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation showing the shape of the heat seal elements at the second heat seal station;

FIGURE 6a is a section on line 6a-6a of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken essentially along line 7---7 of FIGURE 2, showing the operation of final feeding the folded towelettes strip, severing it for packaging and inserting it into the open packaging strip;

FIGURE 7a is a fragmentary section on line 7a-7u 3 in FIGURE 7 showing the folded towelette strip guide and feed arrangement;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view in section on line 8-8 of FIGURE 1, showing a drive to the packaging strip feed and severing mechanisms;

FIGURE 8a is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the package severing mechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view in section on line 9-9 of FIGURE 2, showing the folded towelette severing mechanism;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary side elevation mainly in section illustrating a further embodiment of the invention whereinthe towelettes are differently folded and inserted into the envelope strip;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the first transverse fold region for the severed strip length;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the longitudinally folded envelope strip form at line 12-12 in the apparatus of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the strip of FIGURE 12, partly expanded to show its accordion folding;

FIGURE 14 is a section on line 14-14 of FIG- URE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing the longitudinally folded web of FIGURE 10 as it passes over the first driven feed roller;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing the unidirectionally driven feed roll that keeps the web taut during the severing operation shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 17 is a substantially diagrammatic view showing a further embodiment of the invention wherein the strip feed is closely controlled; and

FIGURE 18 is a diagrammatic view of a further ernbodiment wherein the towelettes are yautomatically formed and inserted into individual envelopes.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 the apparatus of the invention is preferably mounted on a single long stationary support 11 which is bolted to the oor and has an elongated table structure indicated at 12.

A reel holding bracket 13 is fixed upon the rear end of support 11 and it rotatably mounts a roll 14 of continuous strip envelope material indicated at 15. This strip material is that which is to be formed into the towelette enclosing envelopes in the invention. It comprises in the preferred embodiments (FIGURE 1a) a exible strip 16 of paper which has surface bonded thereto on one side a coextensive strip 17 of metal foil such as aluminum foil. The bonding material is preferably a thermoplastic film 18 of polyethylene, polyvinyl resin, cellulose acetate or the like which in addition to securing the metal strip in full surface engagement with the paper strip helps to provide a flexible barrier layer impervious to the passage of gas, so that even if the metal foil which is primarily relied upon to be gas tight has existing pin holes or develops cracks or apertures on folding the fiexible barrier may insure that the envelope is entirely gas tight to prevent evaporation of the contents as will appear.

The paper is usually glossed and printed on the side opposite the foil, and the foil helps the paper retain a folded shape. The surface 10 of foil 17 is a thin coating of heat sensitive plastic which will melt and fuse during the heat applying operations to be described.

A pair of parallel rearwardly extending rigid frame rods 19 are mounted on rigid support posts 20 and have secured thereon pairs of spaced brackets 21 and 23 on which are freely rotatably mounted parallel guide rolls 24 and 26. A pair of parallel arms 22 are pivoted on the bracket at 22 and mount a guide roll 25 in a loop of strip 15. The axes of roll 14 and rolls 24, 25 and 26 are parallel and transverse to the direction of movement of the strip material 15 which passes over roll 26 with the foil side 17 uppermost.

After leaving roll 26 strip material 15 descends at an angle to pass below and in contact with the lower smooth surface of a downwardly convex smooth surfaced sheet metal plow 27 which gradually merges from the shallow V-shape of FIGURE 1b to the substantially U-shape 31 of FIGURE lc where the plow shape becomes uniform.

A pair of side guide rolls 28 mounted on upright posts 29 are suitably spring biased at 30 toward the plow to press the sides of folded strip material against the plow. Plow 27 is supported by transverse bridge strips 32 and 33 which extend between support post pairs 20 and 29.

The plow 27 ends just forwardly of guide rollers 28, and the now U-folded strip 15 (FIGURE 1c) passes between a pair of vertical guide rolls 35 to enter a towelette forming and insertion station generally indicated at 36.

As it enters this station the folded strip 15 is essentially U- or V-shaped open at its upper end and, as lshown in FIGURE 3, its open upper end embraces a hollow guide member 37 depending from fixed table 38 in the station. As will appear, the folded envelope strip essentially moves in closing relation to the bottom of guide 37 so as to receive a series of folded towelettes thrust down through guide 37.

Longitudinal tension is placed on the folded strip material 15 for drawing it off the roll 14 and through the inserting station 36 and other operation stations to be described by the intermittent feed rollers 41 which are similar and rotated on fixed vertical axes.

As shown in FIGURE 1, each feed roll 41 has upper and lower strip engaging lianges 42 frictionally driving the strip. An electric motor 43 has its continuously driven output shaft `44 connected through a mechanism 45 to a bevel gear 46 meshed with a bevel gear 47 on the shaft 48 of one feed roller 41. Mechanism 45 converts the continuous rotation of shaft 44 into intermittent rotation of gear 46 so that feed rolls 41 are intermittently rotated to periodically advance the strip 15 to the right in FIGURE l the distance a', in synchronism with other operations as will appear. As intermittent feed rollers 41 feed the strip 15, the loop in the strip containing rollers 25 is diminished, arms 22 pivoting upward, and then the loop is replenished during the dwell periods. This provides for substantially continuous smooth rotation of the roll 14 during operation.

A roll 50 of moisture absorbent towellette material in the form of a single thickness web 51 is rotatably mounted on the support by end brackets 52. Web 51 passes over guide roller 53 into the wide end of a fixed sheet metal form 54 (FIGURE 2) that folds the moving web longitudinally upon itself into a two ply web at 55 where it passes under guide rollers 56 and 57 to turn upwardly toward station 36.

Above roller 57, the two ply web 55 enters a fixed sheet metal form 58 that again longitudinally folds the moving web until it is four ply (FIGURE 7a) and turns it at right angles until the emerging four ply web designated at 59 is continuously moving upward in a plane parallel to the paper.

The forms 54 and 58 are of known type having smoothly curved transition sections that gradually fold and turn the web into desired form. Twice folded web 59 is now one-fourth the width of original web 51. Any suitable folding mechanism may be employed for the purpose.

At station 36 directly above and parallel to roller 57 is a guide roller 61 over which, FIGURE 7, passes the' folded `web 59 to move horizontally over table 38. Initially web 59 passes through a guide channel 62 formed by opposed elements 63 fixed to the table and extending toward each other over the web (FIGURE 7a), with a longitudinal space 64 between their inner edges.

Guide 62 and table 38 are transversely apertured at 65 and 66 to accommodate feed rollers 67 and 68 at least one of which is driven. The surface of roller 67 has a raised feed section 69 of an arc length equal to the desired length `fof feed of web 59 designed to coact with roller 68 by intermittently gripping web 59 and feeding it to the right in FIGURE 7 a distance t equal to the unfolded length of each individual towelette to be inserted into the envelope strip 15.

Roller 67 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 71 journaled in blocks 72 secured upon table 38, and shaft 7,1 is continuously rotated by a chain 73 extending from sprocket 74 on shaft 44 to sprocket 75 on shaft 71 (FIGURE 1).

After it emerges from guide 62, the Web 59 is severed into individual towelette lengths 76 by a knife assembly comprising a sharp knife blade 77 pivoted to the table at 78 on an axis parallel to web movement and extending transversely to be connected by pivoted link 79 (FIG- URE 9) to one end of an arm 81 that is pivoted to the table at 82. A spring 83 anchored at one end to a fixed table supported bracket 84 and secured at its other end to the knife blade biases the knife away from web 59 and urges a cam follower projection 85 on arm 81 against a cam 86 that rotates with feed roller shaft 71.

Feed roller 67 is so related to cam 86 that knife blade 77 is pulled down to sever 'web 59 only after the web has been advanced by the rollers 67 and 68 one length t equal to the length at 76 and has stopped.

Now the severed towelette length indicated in dotted :lines in FIGURE 7 at 76 is disposed with its leading edge wall past a transverse feed slot 88 formed in table 38 at right angles to the direction of movement of the web. Preferably severed towelette length 76 is disposed in longitudinal centered relation to slot 88, and the length of slot 88 (transversely of the web path) is greater than the width of the web. The final folded form of the towelette is indicated at 87 in FIGURE 7.

Feed slot 88 is located just above guide 37 which enters folded envelope strip as before described, and mechanism is provided for folding each severed towelette length 76 lengthwise upon itself and inserting it in timed relation into the V-shaped envelope strip 15. This action is shown in FIGURE 7 wherein a guillotine-like insertion blade 89 is shown descending to fold towelette length 76 into final form and thrust it into strip 15.

Insertion blade 89 is vertically slidably mounted in side grooves 90 in a frame 91 upstanding from table 38 and is connected to be reciprocated by a link 92 pivoted at 93 to the blade and at 94 to one end of a lever 95 that has its other end pivoted on the table at 96. Intermediate its ends lever 95 has pivoted thereto at 97 the upper end of a crank arm 98 driven by a cam 99 secured on shaft 44 (FIGURE 3) The lower end of crank arm 98 is pivotally connected at 100 to a lever 101 pivoted upon the frame at 102. A cam follower roller 99' on the lever 101 is biased into engagement with cam 99 by a spring 100 anchored at one end to the machine frame.

Eccentric 99, intermittent feed rollers 41, the intermittent towelette feed rollers 67, 68 and knife cam 86 are all so related and synchronized that blade 89 descends to fold and thrust a towelette length 76 into the strip 15 only when strip 15 is in stationary dwell period between intermittent feed periods and only when a severed length of towelette is symmetrically disposed across slot 88.

In this manner successive finally folded towelettes 87 are inserted into strip 15 Aduring dwell periods of the strip so as to be located apart in longitudinally spaced relation exactly the distance shown at d in FIGURE 1.

So far the folded towelettes 87 are merely frictionally held in position within the folded strip 15 and no heat sealing has taken place.

The V-folded envelope strip 15 containing the inserted ytowelettes now leaves the insertion station 36 and enters the first heat seal station 103 (FIGURES 1 and 2). At this point during each dwell period the strip 15 is laterally gripped intermittently from opposite sides under pressure between two heated dies 104 that are secured upon arms I105 pivoted on the support at 106 and normally urged apart by a spring 107.

Dies 104 are preferably identical and each has a fiat smooth sealing face 108 in the form of an inverted T. These sealing faces are laterally opposed in the assembly. The lower lcross bar 109 of face 108 is located to engage along the folded lower edge region of folded strip 15, and the upright bar 110 of face 108 extends from top to bottom of the strip 15. Thus, when strip 15 is gripped between dies 104, the entire lower folded edge is heat sealed on a band 111 over a length w (FIGURES 3a and 5) and a compartment defining band 112 extending from top to bottom is sealed over the full height of the folded strip indicated at h. Preferably the length w is slightly greater than the preselected strip feed distance d whereby (FIG- URE Sa) the bottom seals somewhat overlap each time the strip 15 is gripped, to insure that a continuous seal band is effected along the folded lower edge of the strip 15.

Sealing pressure is obtained by a spreader cam 113 between arms 105 and mounted on the shaft 44 (FIGURES l and 4), and sealing pressure is controlled by adjustable stops 114 which may engage to limit movement of dies 104 together. Cam 113 is synchronized with feed rolls 41 to grip strip 15 only during the feed dwell periods, and these dwell periods are sufficiently long for heat sealing. The location of dies 104 along the strip 15 is so related to the insertion station 36 that successive actions of the dies in intermittently gripping strip 15 forms the strip with successive open top compartments isolating the spaced folded towelettes 87.

Thus, emerging from the first heat station 103, the folded strip 15 is still continuous but is now divided into a longitudinal compartment each containing a folded towelette and open at its top.

It is important at this point to note that in the invention the compartment isolating transverse seal band 112 extends up to the top edge of the folded strip, as compared to prior art methods which formed the compartments prior to insertion of the towelette and required that this transverse heat seal terminate short of the upper edge to enable sufficient compartment opening for the towelettes to be inserted after formation of the compartments. In the invention the towelettes are already in place before the compartments are formed by the foregoing heat seal action and so the transverse seal band is complete. This has proved to be very advantageous in practice because it insures the full sealing along the top edge of the strip may later be secured and insured using a straight bar die (FIGURE 6) and no special attention need be paid to complete the transverse seal.

A suitable electrical connection is indicated at 115 for heat energizing the die jaws at 104.

So far the towelette is dry. Now the liquid for moistening the towelettes is introduced into the successive towelette holding compartments, and this is done at the liquid introduction station 116 in FIGURE 1. Here the opposite sides of the strip are engaged by suction jaws 117 connected by conduits 118 to a source of suction. These jaws are so located along the strip that during successive feed dwell periods each compartment becomes centered between the jaws which act to pull the compartment sides outwardly and insure that the non-sealed open upper end is open to receive the liquid. Liquid is periodically injected in metered amounts into the compartments from a nozzle 119 carried by a fixed stand 121 and connected by a flexible conduit 122 to a suitable supply of liquid.

The pull of suction heads 117 is enough to separate accidentally closed compartment walls sufficiently to receive the liquid, but not enough to break the heat seal bonds or otherwise rupture the strip material. The timing of the liquid injections from nozzle 119 is set to occur only during the strip feed dwell periods.

Now each folded towelette is properly disposed in its separate compartment, and the strip 15 advances into the second heat station 123 which is structurally the same as station 103 except that the dies 124 (FIGURES 6 and 6a) contain only opposed linear flat smooth sealing faces which are adapted to grip and heat seal closed the open upper ends of the successive compartments. The longitudinal dimension of each face 125 is preferably equal to w, the same as the lower face 109 at the first heat station, and the location of face 125 along the strip is such as to be centered laterally with the compartment being closed and slightly overlap at opposite ends so that a continuous upper edge seal is provided along the folded strip 15. A suitable electric connection 126 supplies energy to heat face 125, and a cam 127 similar to cam 113 controls the associated die arrn structure which is the same as shown in FIGURE 4.

The parallel longitudinal sealed areas 128 along the upper and lower strip edges are about 1/36" wide, while the transverse sealed areas 129 between compartments is about twice as wide or about ls as evident from FIG- URE 5 wherein face 110 is twice as wide as face 109.

The continuous sealed strip continues intermittently through the feed roller pass at 41, and then through a severing station 131 wherein the strip is laterally severed along the midline of each transverse sealed area 129 to separate the strip into individual packages 132 as shown in FIGURE 1. l

At severing station 131 there is disposed a vertical knife arrangement comprising a stationary knife blade 133 mounted on a fixed carrier 134 upstanding from the support 11, and a movable knife blade 135 mounted on a lever 136 that is pivoted on the frame at 137 and spring biased at 138 into engagement with a cam 139 on a vertical shaft 141 which is coupled to be continuously rotated from a continuously driven section 142 of shaft 44 projecting from mechanism 45. Shaft section 142 is connected as by bevel gearing to the lower end of shaft 141.

Cam 139 periodically swings blade 135 clockwise in FIGURE 8a with a scissors like action during feed dwell periods of the strip 15, and the location of the knife blades is so correlated to the feed roller action that during the feed dwell periods a transverse seal area 129 is vertically centered in the severing station. Thus the individual severed package 132 has a continuous heat sealed edge area of uniform width all around its periphery.

The final article 132 is very much like the package disclosed in Williams Patent No. 3,057,467 issued Oct. 9, 1962. Where the package is for a cleansing application, the material of web 51 and the volatile liquid injected at nozzle 119 are essentially the same as disclosed in said patent. For other uses the liquid may of course vary f according to requirements.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 7, in feed position roll 68 comprises a cylinder 144 mounted by bearings 145 for rotation upon a cylindrical support 146 about an axis 147 that is in the same vertical plane as shaft 71. Support 146 in turn is rockably supported eccentrically of axis 147 on arbors 148.

A hand lever 149 is pivoted on the support at 151 and pivoted at 152 to a link 153 which in turn is pivotally connected at 154 to support 146. Normally lever 149 is positioned to locate the parts as shown in FIGURES 3 and 7 whereby the folded towelettes material is intermittently gripped and fed in normal operation. However, should it be desired to interrupt towelette feed, it is necessary only to rock lever 149 clockwise. This actuates link 153 to rock support 146 about its eccentric ends and thereby lower the roll 68 to a point where the towelette will not be grippe-d between rolls 67 and 68 during rotation of the feed roll.

FIGURES 10-14 illustrate another embodiment of the invention wherein a different towelette folding and handing arrangement is provided.

As shown in FIGURE 10 the full width of a continuously moving continuous web 155 of towelette material from a supply roll like that at 50 in FIGURE l enters a sheet metal forming device 156 wherein it is accordion pleated longitudinally to the form shown in FIGURE 14, an-d emerges as a transversely folded web section 157 having the appearance shown in FIGURE 12.

Web section 157 turns down in engagement with the peripheries of two similar feed rollers 158 and 159 that are constantly rotated at the same speed in the same direction. An idler roller 161 which is preferably rubber surfaced is located to maintain an adequate area of drive contact between the feed rollers and the web.

Below feed roller 159 web section 157 extends through a guide 162 delivering it into a rotary knife station where a rotating knife member 163 having a sharp edge 164 coacting with a fixed edge member 165 severs the web section into towelettes 166 of predetermined length, about eight inches in the preferred embodiment.

Below the knife assembly, each severed towelette length 166 in turn enters a guide 167 apertured to accommodate a feed roller pass wherein rollers 168 which are geared together frictionally grip opposite sides of the towelette and feed it away from the knife. At the lower end of guide 167 is another feed roller pass wherein rollers 169 which are geared together frictionally grip the opposite sides of towellette 166 and feed it into the guide chute 171 of a rst fold station 172 (FIGURES l0 and ll).

Feed rollers 158, 159 and 168 are all driven at the same peripheral speed, as by a common chain and associated sprocket drive. Feed rollers 168 keep the web taut during the knife action. Feed rollers 169, however, are driven at a much higher peripheral speed than rollers 158, 159 and 168, and the spacing between the roller pass at 168 and the roller pass at 169 is such that rollers 169 start fast feed of the towelette 166 before the trailing end of the towelette leaves rollers 168. Rollers 168 are driven through a unidirectional overrunning clutch 170 that is shown in FIGURE 16. This clutch enables the severed towelette to be pulled through pass 168 by the action of fast drive rollers 169 faster than it would be driven by rollers 168, (FIGURE 16).

The purpose of this speed-up of towelette 166 is to advance each towelette quickly into the rst fold station and subject it to the folding action before the next towelette enters the roller pass at 169, as will appear. Rollers 169 are preferably driven by the same chain as rollers 168 but with smaller sprockets for the increased speed.

At the lower end of chute 171 is a stop 173 which may be the bottom of the chute, or may be an adjustable projection for different length towelettes, and this arrests travel of towelette 166. The location of stop 173 is preferably such that the leading edge of the towelette engages the stop just as the trailing edge leaves rollers 169.

Now the lowermost towelette 166 is stopped in the vertical position of FIGURE l0. A horizontal folding blade 174 is slidably mounted in a guide 175 and adapted to be reciprocated back and forth by an arm 176 carried by rock shaft 177 and having a pin and slot slide pivot connection at 178 with the blade. A suitable drive mechanism (not shown) is provided for rocking shaft 177 to shift arm 176 between its full and dotted line positions of FIGURE 10.

As blade 174 moves to the right in FIGURE l0, it engages the central part of towelette 166 and displaces it in folding condition through an idler roller pass formed by rollers 179 into a horizontal chute 181 of such size as to frictionally receive and hold the in-thrust first-folded towelette indicated at 182 indotted lines in FIGURE l0.

Chute 181 is formed in vertical alignment with a slotted top wall 183 and a slotted bottom wall having depending guide members providing a folded towelette directing passage at 184, and the folded towelette 182 is now resting in position below thel vertically reciprocable nal fold blade 89 driven by lever 95. As blade 89 descends it displaces and again folds the towelette into final form while thrusting it into upwardly open folded envelope strip 15 disposed therebeneath. The final folded towelette is indicated at 185 in FIGURE l0.

Folding blades 174 and 89 are intermittently operated in such synchronism with each other and the fast feed rolls 169 and with the intermittent feed of strip 15 that while blade 89 is thrusting towelette 182 into strip 15 during a dwell period rollers 169 are feeding a towelette 166 into chute 171 with blade 174 retracted.

Thus, according to the invention, either the single tranverse fold apparatus of FIGURES 1-9, or the dual transverse fold apparatus of FIGURES 10-15, may be used with the envelope strip forming, feeding, sealing and inserting apparatus of FIGURES l-9.

Furthermore, while the strip has been described as advanced intermittently in one compartment increments, it is within the scope of the invention to advance it for a distance of two compartment lengths. This is for certain packages wherein two compartments are desired in a single envelope. In such apparatus two duplicate towel insertion devices are provided side by side to simultaneously thrust the two folded towelettes into the dual compartment envelope. The other parts are correspondingly duplicated and/or adjusted in synchronism. The same procedure would be followed for three or four compartment envelopes.

While I have described the invention as fully automatic, that is where the formed towelettes are thrust into the continuous enevelope strip 15, a subcombination aspect thereof is a feature of the basic invention here and also claimed. This involves the automatic fold ing and severing of the towelette material strip and automatically thrusting severed lengths thereof into individual compartment envelopes presented in timed relation at the severing station as will be indicated in connection with FIGURE 18, as well as thrusting them into the connected compartments of folded strip 15.

FIGURE 17 illustrates the invention provided with means for monitoring the feed of the envelope compartments with respect to the towelette insertion and other operational stations.

In this embodiment the output shaft of motor 43 has a sprocket and chain drive connection 186 to gear box 187. The output shaft 188 of the gear box carries a disc 189 having an eccentric pin 191 pivotally connected to a link 192 operatively connected at its other end to a rotary-to-intermittent motion conversion clutch 193, whereby main shaft 194 is intermittently rotated. Clutch 193 is of any well known type wherein rotary motion derived from disc 189 is transmitted through a friction clutch to shaft 194 only during a predetermined arc of rotation, the clutch overrunning shaft 194 during the remainder of each revolution. Any suitable equivalent mechanical arrangement for driving shaft 194 intermittently may be provided.

Bevel gears connect shaft 194 to shaft 48 of the strip feed couple whereby the feed rollers for strip 15 are intermittently driven as in FIGURES 1-16.

It is important that the feed of strip 15 be uniform and sufficiently accurate that each towelette compartment should properly register with the insertion station of FIG- URE 7, or FIGURE 10. In order to prevent overtravel of the drive due to inertia the invention provides positive means for arresting rotation of shaft 194 during the feed dwell periods. This may take the form of a -brake drum 195 secured on shaft 194 and a brake shoe 196 on a lever 197 pivoted on a xed axis at 198 and pivotally connected at 199 to the plunger 201 of a solenoid having a coil 202. Shoe 196 is biased to brake disengaged position by a spring 203.

.Coil 202 is energized through a solenoid switch having contacts 204 adapted to be bridged by an armature 205 normally biased to switch open position and a coil 206 in series with a microswitch 207 operated by a cam 208 on shaft 194.

Cam 208 is of such disposition as to close switch 207 during the non-drive periods of clutch 193, or in other words during the feed dwell periods of strip 15. When switch 207 is closed coil 206 is energized to complete the circuit through contacts 204 and thereby cause solenoid 202, 201 to actuate lever 197 to apply the brake shoe 196 to drum and thereby insure more rapid stopping of shaft 194. Usually the brake application period is slightly longer than the dwell period. This affords a positive accurate control of the strip feed period.

The strip 15 is provided with equally spaced index areas 209 along one edge. This edge is continuously scanned by a photocell unit 210 comprising a source of light 211 and a photocell 212. Areas 209 are of diiferent reflective power from the edge areas between them. Lead 213 from the microswitch to coil 20'6 is interrupted at contacts 214 that are associated with an armature 215 positioned by a coil 216 connected to the output line 217 of the photocell unit 210. Armature 215 is normally biased to switch closed position. The circuit in unit 210 is such that a control circuit through lead 217 is energized whenever light is reflected from the strip edge between areas 209, and deenergized when areas 209 are in the light path. Thus, should the clutch feed stroke terminate before an index area 209 reaches the scanning region, even though switch 207 has closed, the brake applying solenoid remains inactive to essentially permit coasting of the drive mechanism to continue a small increment of feed usually sufficient to regain registration of the strip with the towel insertion station. When an area 209 enters the scanning region the brake is immediately applied. Cam 208 is of sufficient extent to permit this monitoring action.

Any other suitable equivalent arrangement for varying the intermittent feed of strip 15 by the photocell scanning unit may be employed for maintaining registration of strip 15 With the various operational stations.

Otherwise the embodiment of FIGURE 17 is essentially the same as FIGURES 1-16, with suitable means on shaft 194 controlling the synchronized operation of strip feed, towellette insertion, liquid injection, sealing and severing.

FIGURE 18 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention wherein the envelope strip is formed into separate envelopes before towelette insertion, but the other structure and operation may` be as described in FIGURES 1-17.

Referring to FIGURE 18 the strip handling structure to the left of vertical guide rolls 35 is the same as that of FIGURE l and therefore not shown. The V-shaped folded strip 15 rst enters the iirst heat station 103 in this embodiment, at which point it is sealed along the bottom and transverse areas to achieve the form shown in FIGURE 3a but without the inserted towelettes.

Next the strip 15 enters the intermittent feed roll pass 40, and proceeds to the severing station 131 where it is severed into individual open top envelopes 220.

The feed stroke which projects strip 1'5 into the severing station also projects the lead end of the strip into the grasp of spring clips 221 of a holder 222 on an endless chain 223.

Chain 223 is essentially supported on vertical axis sprockets 224 and 225, of which one sprocket 225 is driven by a shaft 226 that is intermittently rotated from the main shaft (not shown) corresponding to shaft 194 of FIGURE 17.

Chain 223 also passes through a towelette insertion station 227 such as that shown in FIGURE l0 where the folded towelettes are thrust into the envelopes. After receiving the towelettes the envelopes are intermittently advanced on the chain in turn to the solution injection station 116 and the iinal heat seal station 123 where each envelope is sealed across the top.

In the foregoing description of FIGURE 18 the same reference numerals as are used in FIGURE 1 are applied to the various operational stations, since these stations differ essentially only in location for sequential action on the strip. The drives to roller pass 40 and sprocket 22S in FIGURE 18 may thus be essentially the same.

In operation the continuous strip is fed by roller pass 40 into the rst heat station 103 where it is stoppe-d and partially heat sealed during the dwell period. Then it is advanced into the severing station and stopped With its front edge in the grasp of springs 221. The knife acts during the dwell period and then the envelope is move-d away on the chain toward the towelette insertion station. The dwell periods, of the roller pass 40 and chain 223 are the same. In succession, the envelopes on the chain receive the towelette, are injected lwith the liquid solution and sealed across the top. By this time they have reached the end of the chain span, and suitable means not shown strip the complete envelopes off the chain.

In the invention for the first time a towelette web is severed and the severed web folded and automatically thrust during the folding action into an envelope compartment prior to injection of the liquid to be absorbed by the towelette and final sealing. The invention includes this action where the severed web lengths are not longitudinally folded, as well as `where they may be longitudinally folded. This is common to al1 embodiments, as are other features as explained.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to Ibe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of making sealed packages containing folded liquid absorbent sheets which comprises the sequential steps of forming a moving strip of liquid impervious packaging material into substantially channel shape with the upper end open, automatically forming and inserting individual folded sheets into said channel at predetermined longitudinally spaced locations in timed relation with movement of said strip, sealing opposite sides of said formed strip together in transverse areas at opposite sides of said inserted folded sheets to form individual compartments containing said inserted folded sheets, separately injecting volatile liquid into each compartment, sealing the formed strip along the upper ends of said compartments, and then separating said strip along selected transverse areas into individual sealed compartmented packages.

2. The method of making sealed packages defined in claim 1, wherein said strip is intermittently advanced between predetermined dwell periods, and wherein said folded sheet inserting and subsequent steps take place during said dwell periods.

3. The method of making sealed packages containing folded sheets which comprises the sequential steps of forming a moving strip of liquid impervious packaging material into substantially channel shape with the upper end open, intermittently advancing said folded stripl through an insertion station, longitudinally folding the leading end of a sheet of liquid absorbent material and severing successive folded lengths thereof and advancing said lengths into said station in timed relation with said strip, inserting the individual folded sheet lengths successively into said channel at predetermined longitudinally spaced locations in timed relation with strip advance, sealing opposite sides of said formed strip together in transverse areas at opposite sides of said inserted folded sheets to form individual open top compartment containing said inserted folded sheets, separately introducing volatile liquid through the open tops of said compartments, sealing the formed strip along the upper ends of said compartments, and then separating said strip along selected transverse areas into individual sealed compartmented packages.

4. The method of making sealed packages containing folded towelettes moistened with a volatile liquid which comprises the sequential steps of forming a moving strip of moisture impervious packaging material into substantially channel shape with the upper end open, inserting7 individual folded towelettes into said channel at predetermined longitudinally spaced locations, sealing opposite sides of said channel strip together in transverse areas at opposite sides of said inserted towelettes to form individual compartments containing said inserted towelettes, separately injecting a charge of Said liquid into each said compartment, subsequently sealing said strip along the upper ends of said compartments, and then separating said strip along selected transverse areas into individual sealed compartmented packages.

5. The method of making individual sealed packages each containing a folded towelette moistened with a volatile liquid which comprises the sequential steps of forming a moving strip of moisture impervious packaging material into channel shape with the upper end open, inserting a series of folded towelettes in succession into said channel at longitudinally spaced locations, sealing opposite sides of said formed strip together in transverse areas at opposite sides of said inserted towelettes to form individual compartments containing one of said inserted towelettes, separately injecting a charge of said liquid into each of said compartments, subsequently sealing said formed strip along the upper ends of said compartments, and then severing said strip along said transverse areas into individual sealed compartmented packages.

6. Apparatus for continually automatically making sealed compartmented packages with each compartment containing a towelette moistened with a volatile liquid comprising means for forming and positioning a succession of open top envelope compartments at a towelette insertion station comprising means intermittently feeding a V-folded strip of envelope material toward said station and means transversely heat sealing said folded strip to provide said compartments, means automatically effective at the end of each intermittent advance of the strip to positively arrest said feed means, means for severing lengths of towelette material from a continuous web and positioning said severed lengths in said station in timed relation with positioning of said envelope compartments, means at said station for simultaneously folding and thrusting each said positioned web length into an envelope compartment, and means for subsequently injecting said volatile liquid into each compartment and then sealing the top to enclose the moistened towelette.

7. In the apparatus defined in claim 6, registration means automatically effective during advance of the strip for variably controlling said feed means to maintain synchronism between said strip feed and said web thrusting means.

8. Apparatus for automatically making sealed packages each containing a folded towelette moistened with a volatile liquid comprising means for intermittently advancing a continuous strip of moisture impervious material folded to generally V-shape with its upper end open, means defining a towelette insertion station adjacent the open end of said folded strip, means at said station for automatically inserting folded towelettes into said folded strip at longitudinally spaced regions, means for sealing said foldedstrip in transverse areas intermediate the inserted towelettes to provide individual compartments containing s aid towelettes, means for separately injecting said volatile liquid into each of said compartments to moisten said towelettes, means for sealing said folded strip along the upper edges of said compartments, and means for severing said strip into sealed individual packages containing a folded towelette in each compartment.

9. Apparatus for automatically making sealed packages each containing a folded towelette moistened with a volatile liquid comprising feed means for intermittently advancing a continuous strip of moisture impervious material folded to generally V-shape with its upper end open into a towelette insertion station, means at said station synchronized with said feed means for automatically forming individual folded towelettes from a continuous web of moisture absorbent material and inserting folded towelettes in succession into said folded strip at longitudinally spaced regions, means for sealing said folded strip in transverse areas intermediate the inserted towelettes to provide individual open-top compartments containing said towelettes, means for separately injecting said volatile liquid into said compartments to moisten said towelettes, means for sealing said strip along the upper edges of said compartments to close said compartments, and means for severing said strip at said transverse areas to form sealed individual packages containing a folded towelette in each compartment.

10. Apparatus for automatically packaging folded moistened moisture absorbent material in leak-proof packages comprising means providing a continuous strip of moisture impervious envelope material, means defining an insertion station, means for intermittently feeding said strip of envelope material through said apparatus, means for forming said strip of envelope material into substantially V-shaped and positioning it with its open end at said station, means providing a continuous strip of said moisture absorbent material, means feeding said strip of moisture absorbent material toward said station, means for longitudinally folding the leading end of said strip of moisture absorbent material, means for severing said folded moisture absorbent strip into sections of predetermined length, means timed with said feed means for transversely folding said severed sections in succession and thrusting them into the V-formed envelope strip at said station in spaced relation along said strip of envelope ma terial, means for subsequently sealing said strip of envelope material along transverse areas to position said folded moisture absorbent sections in open-top compartments along said envelope strip, means for separately injecting said volatile liquid into said compartments, means for sealing the upper ends of said compartments, and means for severing said envelope strip along selected transverse areas.

11. In the apparatus defined in claim 10, apertured means at said station guiding the open upper end of said formed envelope strip, means for positioning each said section over said apertured means, and means reciprocating in timed relation to said feed means for thrusting said positioned folded moisture absorbent section into said envelope strip.

12. Apparatus for forming packages of the type wherein a multiply folded sheet of moisture absorbent material is inserted into an envelope of moisture resistant material comprising means defining an insertion station, means continually positioning open top envelopes in succession at said insertion station, supply means providing a continuous web of said moisture absorbent material, feed means drawing said web from said supply, means for longitudinally folding the leading end of the moving web, means defining a first transverse folding station toward which said longitudinally folded leading end of the web is advanced, means for severing the folded leading end of the web into longitudinally folded individual sections and positioning said individual web sections in succession at said irst transverse folding station, means at said first transverse fold station for imparting a first transverse fold Ato each individual web section, means defining a second transverse fold station toward which said individual web section with the first transverse fold therein is advanced, and means operating in synchronism with said first transverse folding means for imparting a second transverse fold to said individual web section at said second transverse fold station wherein said individual section is again transversely folded upon itself and thrusting the dual transverse folded section into an envelope at said insertion station in timed relation with positioning of said envelope at said insertion station.

13. In the apparatus defined in claim 12, said second transverse fold station being located adjacent said insertion station.

14. In the apparatus defined in claim 12, said feed means comprising positively driven feed roller means engaging said longitudinally folded web and disposed immediately adjacent said web severing means.

15. In the apparatus defined in claim 12, said severing means being a rotary knife.

16. In the apparatus defined in claim 12, each said individual folded web section being disposed substantially vertically at said first transverse folding station, and said first transverse folding means comprising a horizontally reciprocable folding blade.

17. Inthe apparatus defined in claim 12, said second transverse fold station comprising a vertically reciprocable folding blade and means for horizontally receiving the individual web section following its first transverse fold and locating it in the path of said vertically reciprocable blade, and said insertion station being disposed below said second transverse fold station in alignment with said path.

18. Apparatus for automatically forming a web of sheet material into individual folded sections and inserting said folded sections into envelope means comprising means defining an insertion station, means forming a spaced succession of individual open-topped V-shaped envelope means moving toward said station, means positioning said open envelope means in succession at said station, means for longitudinally folding the leading end of a moving continuous web of said material, means for severing the longitudinally folded web into individual sections of predetermined length, and means comprising two reciproca- |ble blades operating in synchronism for twice sequentially transverse folding each of said folded sections upon itself with the second transverse folding blade also thrusting the folded web section into said envelope means at said station in timed relation with positioning of said envelope means at said station.

19. In the apparatus defined in claim 18, said blades operating in directions at right angles to each other.

20. In combination with the structure defined in claim 18, means for introducing liquid into said envelope means to moisten said folded sections and means for sealing said envelope means closed.

21. Apparatus for forming packages of the type Wherein a multiply folded sheet of moisture absorbent material is inserted into an envelope of moisture resistant material comprising means defining an insertion station, means continually positioning a succession of open top envelopes at said insertion station, supply means providing a continuous web of said moisture absorbent material, feed means drawing said web from said supply, means for continuously longitudinally folding the leading end of said web, means defining a -first transverse folding station toward which said longitudinally folded leading end of the web is advanced, means for severing the folded leading end of the web into longitudinally folded individual sections and positioning said individual web sections in succession at said first transverse folding station, comprising feed means engaging each said severed individual folded web section and advancing said individual folded web section into the first transverse folding station at a higher linear speed than that at which it leaves said severing means, means at said first transverse fold station for imparting a first transverse fold to each said individual web section, means defining a second transverse fold station located adjacent said insertion station and toward which said individual web section with the first transverse fold therein is advanced, and means operating in synchronism said second transverse fold station wherein said individual section is again transversely folded upon itself and thrusting the dual transverse folded section into an envelope at said insertion station in timed relation with positioning of said envelope at said insertion station.

22. Apparatus for folding sheet material and inserting it into envelope means comprising means defining an insertion station, means continually positioning open V- shaped envelope means at said station, supply means providing a continuous web of said sheet material, feed means drawing said web from said supply, means for longitudinally folding the leading end of said web before it enters said feed means, means for severing the web into longitudinally folded sections after leaving said folding means, means for transversely folding each said longitudinally folded section and thrusting it into said envelope means at said station in timed relation wtih positioning of said envelope means, and means for feeding each of said severed web sections into said transverse folding means faster than the continuous portion of the web is driven by said feed means.

23. Apparatus for folding sheet material and inserting it into envelope means comprising means defining an insertion station, means continually positioning open V- shaped envelope means at said station, supply means providing a continuous web of said sheet material, feed means drawing said web from said supply, means for longitudinally folding the leading end of said web before it enters said feed means, means for severing the web into longitudinally folded sections after leaving said folding means, means for transversely folding each said longitudinally folded section upon itself and at the same time thrusting it into said envelope means at said station in timed relation wtih positioning of said envelope means, said feed means being operable to continuously advance said web, and means for feeding each of said severed web sections into said transverse folding means faster than the continuous portion of the web is driven by said feed means.

24. Apparatus for continually automatically making sealed compartmented packages with each compartment containing a towelette moistened with a volatile liquid comprising means for forming and positioning a succession of open top envelope compartments at a towelette insertion station, means for severing lengths of towelette material from a ycontinuous web and positioning said severed lengths in said station in timed relation with positioning of said envelope compartments, means for folding and thrusting each said positioned web length into an envelope compartment at said station, means for subsequently injecting liquid into each compartment and then sealing the top to enclose the moistened towellette, and registration means for automatically variably controlling said means for positioning the envelope compartments relative to said towellette thrusting means for continually maintaining synchronism therebetween.

25. Apparatus for continually automatically making sealed compartmented packages with each compartment containing a towelette moistened with a volatile liquid comprising means for forming and positioning a succession of open top envelope compartments at a towelette insertion station, means for severing lengths of towelette material from a continuous web and positioning said severed lengths in said station in timed relation with positioning of said envelope compartments, means at said station for simultaneously folding and thrusting each said positioned web length into an envelope compartment, means for subsequently injecting liquid into each compartment and then sealing the top to enclose the moistened towelette, and registration means for automatically variably controlling said means for positioning the envelope compartments relative to said towelette thrusting means for continually maintaining synchronism therebetween,

26. Apparatus for folding sheet material and inserting it into envelope means comprising means defining an insertion station, means forming a strip of envelope material intoa spaced succession of individual open top envelope means moving toward said station, means for intermittently positioning said open envelope means in succession at said station, means for longitudinally folding the leading end of a continuous moving web of said sheet material, means for severing the longitudinally folded web into individual sections ,of predetermined length, means including a blade operated in timed relation with intermittent positioning of said envelope means for transversely folding said longitudinally folded sections and simultaneously thrusting them in succession into the envelope means positioned at'said station and guide members at said station forming a passage above which said longitudinally folded sections are positioned at said station in synchronism with blade .operation and below which said envelopey means'is positioned to :receive the transversely folded web section directed theretoward by said guide members and means for sealing said envelope means to contain saidfolded web sections in individual envelope compartments.

27. In the apparatus defined in claim 26, said -insertion station comprising a fixed member having a through slot over which said transversely folded web section is positioned and said guide members comprising a depending hollow guide structure below said slot.

28. Apparatus for forming packages of the type wherein a multiply folded sheet of moisture absorbent material is inserted into an envelope of moisture resistant material comprising means defining an insertion station, means continually positioning a succession of open top envelopes at said insertion station, supply means providing acontinuous web of saidv moisture absorbent material, feed means drawing said web from said supply, means for continuously longitudinally folding the leading end of said web, means defining a first transverse folding station toward which said longitudinally folded leading end of the web is advanced, means for severing the folded leading end of the web into longitudinally folded individual sections, means supporting and positioning each said severed individual web section at said first transverse folding station, means at said first transverse fold station for imparting a first transverse fold to each said individual web section, means defining a second transverse fold station located adjacent said insertion station and toward which said individual web section with the first transverse fold therein is advanced, and means operating in synchronism with said first transverse folding means for imparting a second transverse fold to said individual web section at said second transverse fold station wherein said individual section is again transversely folded upon itself and thrusting the dual transverse folded section into an envelope at said insertion station in timed relation with positioning of said envelope at said insertion station.

29. Apparatus for continually automatically making sealed compartmented packages with each compartment containing a towelette moistened with a volatile liquid comprising means for forming and positioning a succession of open top envelope compartments at a towelette insertion station comprising means intermittently feeding a V-folded strip of envelope material toward said station,Y means transversely heat sealing said folded strip to provide said compartments, means automatically effective at the end of each intermittent advance of the strip to positively arrest said feed means, means severing said folded strip in heat sealed regions between compartmentsfor separating envelopes from the folded strip, an endless carrier having a spaced series ofY clips disposed to receive separated envelopes, and means intermittently driving said carrier to dispose open top envelopes in .succession at said station, means for severing lengths of towellet material from a continuous web and positioning said severed lengths in said station in timed relation with positioning 17 of said envelope compartments, means at said station for simultaneously folding and thrusting each said positioned web length into an envelope compartment, and means for subsequently injecting said Volatile liquid into each compartment and then sealing the top to enclose the moistened towellette.

30. The apparatus defined in claim 29, wherein the leading end of said web is longitudinally accordion folded prior to severing, and each severed length is twice transversely folded, the second transverse fold being effected during said simultaneous folding and thrusting operation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 979,439 12/1910 Cox 53-l20 2,940,230 6/l960 Flax 53-28X 18 Maclellan et al. 5321 X Milrnoe et al 53--160 X Gerhauser 53--36 X Waters 53-28 X Weinberger 53-28 X Trewella et al 53-28 X Quaadgras 53-59 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,481 ,099 December 2 1969 David Clancy It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as show-n below:

Column 2, line 34, "actuate" should read actuation Column 6, line 32, "a longitudinalcompartment" should read a longitudinal.compartments line 46, "the", first occurrence, should read that Column 9, line 28, "enevelope" should read envelope Column ll, line ll, "periods," should read periods line 7l, "compartment" should read compartments Column l6, line 73, "towellet" should read towelette Signed and sealed this 16th day of June 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER,

ttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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