US3748819A

US3748819A - Arrangement for filling and closing packages, comprising an outer package and an inner package loosely applied therein

Info

Publication number: US3748819A
Application number: US00179698A
Authority: US
Inventors: O Christensson
Original assignee: Christenssons Maskiner and Patenter AB
Current assignee: Christenssons Maskiner and Patenter AB
Priority date: 1970-11-23
Filing date: 1971-09-13
Publication date: 1973-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-31
Also published as: GB1355996A; CH533033A; DE2155441B2; DE2155441A1; SE354456B; DE2155441C3; JPS549559B1; NL7115296A

Abstract

A machine for filling, compressing and closing packages of the type comprising an outer package of stiff material and an inner package of thin weldable material so shaped that the inner package at its upper edge in the unfilled state contacts the inner side of the upper edge of the outer package without being attached thereto includes an arrangement for inserting each unfilled package into a mold, lowering a clamping member formed with inner and outer frame parts down over the package-containing mold such that the inner and outer frame parts clamp the upper edges of the inner and outer packages, the clamping being retained during subsequent filling of the package and compression of the material within the package, the compression being effected by a piston or the like. The clamping frame is thereafter withdrawn, followed by further treatment of the package, such as evacuation, final closing, etc., after which the package is separated from the supporting mold. The clamping frame preferably comprises an outer frame which fits down around the upper edge of the composite package, and inner side parts which are pivotably mounted on the outer frame to pass downwardly into the package. A pressure frame pivots the side parts about their axes to complete the clamping of the upper edges of the package during filling, compression, etc.

Description

Unite States Patent [1 1 Christensson 111 3,748,819 July 31, 1973 ARRANGEMENT FOR FILLING AND CLOSING PACKAGES, COMPRISING AN OUTER PACKAGE AND AN INNER PACKAGE LOOSELY APPLIED TI-IEREIN [75] Inventor: 0d W, Christensson, Bromma near Stockholm, Sweden [73] Assignee: Christenssons Maskimer & Patenter Aktiebolag, Stockholm, Sweden [22] Filed: Sept. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 179,698

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 23, 1970 Sweden 15814/70 52 us. C1 53/124 B [51] Int. Cl 1365b 1/24 [58] Field of Search 53/124 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,468,095 9/1969 Vogt 53/124 B X 3,585,781 6/1971 Blee 53/124 B [57] ABSTRACT A machine for filling, compressing and closing packages of the type comprising an outer package of stiff material and an inner package of thin weldable material so shaped that the inner package at its upper edge in the unfilled state contacts the inner side of the upper edge of the outer package without being attached thereto includes an arrangement for inserting each unfilled package into a mold, lowering a clamping member formed with inner and outer frame parts down over the package-containing mold such that the inner and outer frame parts clamp the upper edges of the inner and outer packages, the clamping being retained during subsequent filling of the package and compression of the material within the package, the compression being effected by a piston or the like. The clamping frame is thereafter withdrawn, followed by further treatment of the package, such as evacuation, final closing, etc., after which the package is separated from the support ing mold. The clamping frame preferably comprises an outer frame which fits down around the upper edge of the composite package, and inner side parts which are pivotably mounted on the outer frame to pass downwardly into the package. A pressure frame pivots the side parts about their axes to complete the clamping of the upper edges of the package during filling, compression, etc.

6 Claims, ll Drawing Figures zos PATENIEUJULl? 1 ma SHEEI 1 0F 6 ARRANGEMENT FOR FILLING AND CLOSING PACKAGES, COMPRISING AN OUTER PACKAGE AND AN INNER PACKAGE LOOSELY APPLIED THEREIN A proposal has been made of packing powderformed, compressible products, e.g., ground coffee, in a package, comprising an outer package of cardboard or similar stiff material and an inner package of foilformed, soft but well tightening material. According to this proposal for instance the outer package could comprise a cup-formed part, and the inner package could comprise a piece formed in agreement with the outer package by folding an even blank of plastic or metal foil or the like. The two parts should thereby be combined with each other at least along the opening edge, and the closure of the inner package could be made by means of a piece of plastic or metal foil or the like, pressed down in the package, so that it will contact the compressed material by an even surface and approach the inner side of the upper edge of the inner package.

as well as the outer package by upstanding edges.

Tests which have been made have proved that the normally existing, compressible products, which may be packed in packages of the above mentioned kind, e.g., ground coffee, have the property, that they retain after strong compression their compressed state, as long as they are not subjected to mechanical movement or similar influence. These tests especially have been made in connection with packing of ground cofiee. Such coffee hitherto was usually packed in a loose state in a package, comprising an outer package made of cardboard and an inner package made of plastic or metal foil. In these known packages no other compression took place than a moderate shaking of the package, after this had been filled with the product to be packed. It has thereafter been closed incompletely, that means one has left a small opening at the closing place and introduced the package into a vacuum chamber, where it was subjected to a vacuum in the order of magnitude of about 996 mb, which means by other words, that the remaining air pressure was in the order of magnitude of 4 mb. When the package was still in the vacuum chamber under this very low pressure, the closure was completed, whereafter the package was brought out in the outer atmosphere of full 1000 mb. Then it has been subjected to a very strong pressure acting all around, which caused that it decreased in volume to about 80 percent of the initial volume but simultaneously the inner package got free from the outer package.

One has been of the opinion that this method of packing means certain disadvantages. Amongst these the following ones should be mentioned: The outer package will comprise more material than correctly would have been required for receiving the compressed inner package with its material. The outer package will lack support from the hard inner package after the compression, and it will therefore easily be subjected to a deformation, which is not desirable. After such deformation the package as a whole will loose is stackability. The buying general public easily will understand that the inner package is' loosely applied in the outer package as an error.

The new kind of packing proposed herein has for its purpose to remove these disadvantages, such that the package is not made essentially greater than required for receiving the compressed inner package, but the product in this is compressed by mechanical pressure in advance, before it is introduced into the vacuum chamber. After such mechanical compression the product will remain in its compressed state except for a very unessential resilient movement in the order of magnitude of about 2 or 3 percent, which means that if one has decreased the volume of the packed material by mechanical compression to for instance 80 percent of the volume after shaking, and thereafter releases the mechanical pressure, a resilient return will take place by 2 or 3 percent, whereas the compression during careful handling of the package will remain by 17 to 18 percent or with other words the inner package and the I product packed therein will retain a volume of 82 or 83 percent provided by compression.

The vacuum closing of such a package, however, causes some difficulties. It is known to the man skilled in the art that in vacuum closing one should suitably provide a weld connection between the plastic layer or the layer of metallized plastic of the same thickness. There is no difficulty in manufacturing the inner package from such a material suitable for welding in the form of the rather thin wall of plastic or plastic covered metal foil, but on the other side this means firstly that the inner package must not be bond to the outer package at the place where the weld joint will be situated, secondly that the lid, which is connected .to the inner package by welding, should be of approximately the same thickness and preferably even of approximately the same material. Hereby the difficulties enter.

For the said reasons, thus, the inner package which has to be made from a rather thin and soft material must not be connected to the outer package, at least at its upper parts. When filling the material to be packed, therefore a danger will exist that the inner package is sucked to follow the material falling down and be folded and will shrink in altitude, so that its upper edge will no longer be at the expected level. To still higher degree this action may enter at the following compression. It is then obvious that the only way of preventing such folding and shrinking in vertical direction of the inner package is during the time for filling the package and compression of the filler to bond the inner package to the stiff outer package, and thereafter again releasing this bond, after filling and compression has been executed, and when welding of the lid shall take place.

The present invention refers to an arrangement in machines for filling, compression and closing packages of the above mentioned kind.

According to the invention there is within the machine a number of circulatory moulds and arrangements for lowering each package into such a mould before filling the package with material and compressing said material, as well as a number of frames, which are arranged after the package has been lowered into the mould to be lowered down over the mould containing the package. The moulds as well as the frames are formed in such a way that the upper edge of the package above the mould will be clamped between the upper edge of a part of the frame and/or the mould, situated outside of the package, and a part of the frame, introduced into the package. Means for controlling this clamping are so arranged that the clamping is retained during the time for filling and/or compression of the compressed material, and that the frame is not lifted up from the package until after completed compression in order of making possible the closing of the inner package with a lid provided for such purpose, which is welded to the edge of the inner package.

The invention will be further described below in connection with the attached drawings, but it is understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form of execution shown in the drawings, but that all different kinds of modifications may occur within the scope of the invention.

In the drawings FIG. 1 shows a blank for the outer package, and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective of the outer package in its formed state.

FIG. 3 shows in a corresponding way a picture of the inner package with indication of the creasing lines, according to which the inner package is shaped, and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective of the mounted inner package.

FIG. 5 shows a section through a filled package along with the inner package as well as the lid of the outer package in so called exploaded projection, separated from a re-closing lid pertaining to said parts, and

FIG. 6 shows from above a picture of the inner lid with perforations arranged therein for opening the package. v

FIG. 7 shows a strongly schematical picture of the machine for filling, evacuation and closing of a package, in which the arrangement according to the present invention is introduced.

FIGS. 8 11 show different phases in the function of the specific arrangement according to the invention.

In FIG. 1, thus, the blank of the outer package is shown, which is cut from a rectangular piece 10 of cardboard, preferably double-side plastic covered cardboard. In the cutting of this piece 10 recesses have been made at the places, which are scraffated, viz. symmetrically opposite to each other two pairs of recesses 11' and 11" and 12' and 12''. For a purpose, which will be evident from the following,

further recesses

13 and 13" are made at two sides opposite to each other, and recesses 14', 14', 15' and 15" are also made at each comer. Only two

creasing lines

16 and 16" are arranged over the comprehensive part of the blank 10, and two further creasing lines 17' and 17" are arranged between the centre part 18 of the blank, on the one hand, and each of the two tongues 19' and 19", on the other hand, formed by the recesses 11 and 12. The centre part 18, which will form the bottom in the future outer package, in this way will be limited by the four creasing lines 16', l7, l6" and 17" as well as by the four cuts 20 at comers, which are formed by the innermost ends of the recesses "'11", 12' and 12".

At the reshaping of this blank to cup-form one has first to fold up the two flaps 19' and 19" over their

creasing lines

16 and 16" and thereafter the two long flaps 21' and 21" over their creasing lines 17' and 17", whereafter the end parts of the long flaps 21' and 21" are bent over, so that they will be positioned edge to edge with the outer side of the flaps 19' and 19". The flaps have been provided in advance with paste, so that they will attach to each other. Thereby an outer package of the form, shown in FIG. 2 will be obtained. In this outer package the corner recesses 14' and 15' will meet each other for forming a recess at the right side of the outer package according to FIG. 2, and in a corresponding way the two

recesses

14' and 14" at the two remaining corners of the initially existing blank 10 will meet each other for forming a recess in the middle of the upper edge of the side of the outer package shown in FIG. 2. The bottom of the outer package is limited between the four creasing lines 16', 17', 16" and 17" as well as the weak roundings 20 positioned between them, whereas, due to the stiffness of the cardboard material, roundings of greater diameter will be obtained at the upper edge of the outer package.

The outer package is thereafter ready produced in the state, in which it will be fed in for continuous treatment in the machine according to FIG. 7. This description of the outer package will be required in order that one shall understand, what happens with this package in the machine according to FIG. 7. v

The inner package may be made from any deliberate material which gives the required vacuum tightness. It should be mentioned in this connection that with a vacuum packing is meant a way of packing, where the air pressure is below the solution pressurefor oxygen in the oils or fats, often of the type aromatic oils" existing in the packed material. As an example packing of finely ground coffee may be mentioned. This contains rather a lot of aromatic oils, and one knows that the solution pressure for oxygen in these oils is in the order of magnitude of 4 mb, which thus forms a partial pressure, corresponding to an air pressure of 20 mb. Oxygen of higher partial pressure will cause solution and thereafter following oxidation of the aromatic oils, which is called within the food stuff industry, that the coffee has got ransid." If, however, the partial pressure is lower than the solution pressure, no oxidation can occur. Therefore it has been usual within the range concerned that the packages, before they are vacuum closed, are introduced into a vacuum chamber, from which one will pump out the air to a remaining total pressure in the order of magnitude of about 4 mb. This, anyhow, concerned the above mentioned old type of packages. When removing a package from these vacuum chambers, as mentioned above, the packages are compressed so that they will assume a smaller volume of about percent of the initially existing volume. Thereby, however, the interior air pressure raises more than in the proportion 80:100, because an essential part of the contents comprise solid, non-compressible materia. The purpose is that the partial pressure of oxygen shall nevertheless be keptlower than the just mentioned value of the solution pressure or about 4 mb. The above values of course, are only approximative, but the real values nevertheless are in the same order of magnitude.

Metal foil as well as some plastic foils, however not all such plastic foils, have proved to be tight against pressure of the order of magnitude concerned of close to l at. If metal foil is used this should be plastic covered, so that onewill obtain amsteriai, which can be bonded by welding without the packed material thereby being damaged by the welding heat, e.g., by burning" or dry destillation with carbonizstion following therefrom.

FIG. 3 shows a cut blank from such a foil material, before it has been re-shaped into an inner package. it should be mentioned already now that this blank is cut in the machine, which will be further described in connection with FIG. 7, from a roller of foil material. Dependent upon the resistance of the foil against deformation, one may. either without preparatory creasing shape the material in the machine according to FIG. 7 to an inner package according to FIG. 4, or one may in advance crease the blank according to FIG. 3, so that it may easily be re-shaped into the inner package according to FIG. 4. In the method, which will be described further below, it is assumed for making the description more clear, that creasing has been made, but it should especially be emphasized that as a rule no creasing is required.

The bottom 23 in the inner package thus is separated by means of a creasing line 24 of rounded corners, which is so adapted that the inner package will after its resizing be well adapted to the outer package according to FIG. 2. In the machine to be described below, as a matter of fact, the inner package is ready shaped and corner welded before it is put down in the outer package. Further indications for the folds to be formed are made by creasing lines. As the folds are mutually equally shaped, it will be sufficient for the purpose existing to describe the fold formation at one of the corners.

The four folds 25, 26, 27 and 28 thus are indicated in advance by means of creasing lines. In the re-shaping into cup-form one folds inwardly the

sides

29 and 30 situated on each side of such a corner, whereby the parts, placed between the creasing lines 25 28 will be bent outwardly. They are thereafter flattened and bent around the formed corner, so that one will obtain a package picture of the type shown in FIG. 4. It is suitable but not absolutely necessary that the inner package is stabilized by welding at the places, marked in FIG. 3 by 31 and 32. The two edge parts 31' and 31" as well as the two

edge parts

32 and 32" are thus welded together each per se, whereby it is of value for the continuous treatment of the package that the welding joints do not extend up to the upper edge of the cup-formed inner package. Due to the weakness of the material a well rounded corner formation will be created, possibly under creation of folds, such as indicated at 311 in FIG. 3.

Under use of the machine, which will in short terms be described in connection with FIG. 7, the inner package according to FIG. 4 is put down into an outer package according to FIG. 2. FIG. 7 shows as mentioned above, the machine in a very schematical way, because essential parts of the machine according to FIG. 7 have no direct connection with the present invention but one has nevertheless to know the main features of the machine in order of understanding the meaning of the invention.

There are a lot of different operations to be made in the machine according to FIG. 7. These could be made in one single turntable or within one single straight or bent path, but if the machine should be shown in this way, it would be difficult to look over to a high degree, and for simplification of the description therefore the machine has been divided in FIG. 7 into no less than four turntables, arranged in cascade, whereby the package is subjected in each of these turntables to certain individual treatment.

It is assumed that the outer packages are ready produced and fed to the machine in a path 101, so that they will arrive into the turntable 102 at the place 103. They are not yet provided with any inner package, but they are provided with such a one at the place 103, which takes place in the following way. The material of the inner packages is taken off from a roller 104, which is hinged in an shaft device 105. This material is tapeformed, and is brought in the form of the trace 106 through a cutter apparatus 107, in which the blanks of the inner packages according to FIG. 3 are cut and provided with the perhaps existing creasing lines. In this form they are fed into the turntable 102 at the place 108. Thereby they are kept by means of suction cups not shown in the drawing, so that they will follow the turntable 102 in its rotation in the direction of the arrow 109. When they have in this way, carried up by the suction cups, been brought in correct position above the outer package just introduced in the position 103, they are pressed down into the outer package under shaping such as indicated in FIG. 4. Thereafter, thus, the inner package is loosely introduced into the outer package. During the continuous rotation of the turntable 102 this package will arrive to the position 110, where it is fed out .into a conveyor path 111, in

which it is displaced in the direction of the arrow 112 to an apparatus 113, in which it is mounted in a mould, which has meantime been brought forward along the path 114 in the direction of the arrow 115. The aggregate comprising the package and the mould is brought forward along the path 116 to the second turntable 117, rotating in the direction-of the arrow 118. Introduced into its mould the package is now transported to a position, in which the material to be packed is fed to the package. Already in the position 119, however, a frame is folded down into the mouth part of the package, so that in a way, which will be described below in detail, the mouth parts of the outer package and of the inner package are clamped between the mould existing outside of the outer package and the frame existing inside of the inner package. The outer package is so stiff, that it will not be deformed by the friction at filling on the material to be packed, and by the inner package being clamped onto the inner side of the outer package along the upper edge, deformation of the inner package is also prevented, when the aggregate of outer package, inner package, mould and frame get into the position 120. In this position, as a matter of fact, the material to be packed is filled into the package, after this has been transported over the path 121.

The package with the material therein hereafter continues its movement in the turntable 117 past to

positions

122 and 123. In the first one of these a piston is pressed down onto the packed material with a rather moderate pressure, so that a pre-compression takes place, driving out an essential part of the air existing between the particles of the material, however without this air being blown out so heavily, that any substantial part of the packed material follows it. In the second position 123 the compression is completed under such pressure that the material is compressed to its final pressure. In the position 124, finally the piston and the frame are drawn up from the package, whereafter this continues to the position 125, where it is transferred to the next turntable 126 over a path 127. I

The turntable 126 rotates in the direction of the arrow 128. This turntable is intended to cause the closure of the inner package along with its contents now compressed. This takes place by means of a foil of weldable and tightening material of about the same thickness and preferably of exactly the same kind as the one, from which the proper inner package was made. This material is collected from a roller 129, resting in a shaft construction 130 and drawn forward by a cutter apparatus 131, in which the tape 132 is cut off to adapted pieces 133, which are fed into the position 134. These pieces of foil are kept by means of suction nozzles hovering in such altitude, that they at least in the beginning will not get in contact with the packages, which are brought into the turntable in the position 135. In the position 136, however, the foil is pressed down onto the upper surface of the packed material by means of a piston, which is so formed that the edges of the foil will be raised upwardly along the edges of the inner package, and in the position 137 the cover foil will be welded together with the upper edge of the inner package along the corners and partly into each side, however so that at the middle of each side a small part is left unwelded in order of making subsequent evacuation possible. In the position 138 finally the welding tools are elevated and in the position 139 the package is transferred over the path 140 to the next turntable 141, rotating in the direction of the arrow 142, so that the packages are introduced into this turntable in the position 143. It should be observed that the packages were inside of the mould during all of the time from the moment, when they were conbined with said mould into an aggregate in the arrangement 113, so that they have obtained the required support from the mould.

The turntable 141 has for its purpose to cause evacuation and final feeling of the package. For this purpose the package is subjected in the position 144 to a preparatory low vacuum and thereafter in the position 145 for high vacuum. In.the position 146 the remaining parts of the connection between the cover foil and the inner package are welded together, so that the package will be sealed vacuum tightly, and in the position 147 vacuum is released. Cooling of the welded parts of the package will take place in the position 148, and finally the package, still included in its mould, will be brought out in the position 149 into a path 150, transferring the package along with the mould to an apparatus 151, in which the package is elevated out from the mould. The mould thereafter continues along the path 152 back to the turntable 117 over the path 114 and the apparatus 113 for introducing the package into the mould, whereas the package continues along the path 153 to means for its continued preparation.

The continued preparation of the package comprises the following steps, see FIG. and 6: A lid 36 is attached with its grove 37 over the extending edges of the package, whereby the inner package and the outer package are bond together. Suitably this attachment takes place in the way, that the package is turned upside down and the edge is dipped into a wax,'pre ferably a plastic wax, whereafter the package is pressed against the lid, so that its edges along with the wax attached thereto is pressed down in the groove 37. The lid should be easily possible to open. For this purpose it is provided with a perforation row all around, comprising slots 38 and between them bridges 39. When opening one has to cut by means of a knife along the perforation row, whereby one will cut away firstly the interior part 40 of the lid, and secondly also cut up a corresponding hole in the closing foil 35 of the inner package. The lid may suitably be provided with an outer flange 41 for causing an improved stability of the package.

The package is delivered in the state thus ready made preferably however with a re-closing lid 42 applied outside of the lid 36 and provided with grooves 43, adapted to the extending edge-part of the lid 36.

As mentioned above, different states in the production of the package in the parts, which are directly connected to the present invention, are shown in FIGS. 8 11, whereby these parts have been shown more in detail. Purely mechanical driving means, the character of which will be obvious to the man skilled in the art, however have not been shown in the said figures.

FIG. 8 thus shows a section through the important parts of the arrangement 113, FIG. 7, for showing how the package 201, which approaches the arrangement 113 on the path 202 (corresponds to path 111 in FIG. 7) is displaced outwardly at right under a suction nozzle 203, which is controlled by means of a piston bar 204 and attacks the bottom of the package. When the suction nozzle 203 is lowered to the position 203', the attachment with the bottom of the package will take place, and when the suction nozzle is thereafter further lowered, the package 201 will be brought down into the position 201' in the interior of the mould 205. The suction nozzle 201 is thereafter elevated, after its subpressure has been released, and the mould with its contents of a package is displaced over the path 116, see FIG. 7, into the turntable 117.

In the position 119, see again FIG. 7, the frame shall now be introduced, by which the upper edge part of the package shall be clamped between the inner side of the mould 205 and the outer side of said frame. Thereby it should be observed that the frame exists in as many samples as the number of working pockets in the turntable 117, and that they are contained as parts of the tool equipment in this turntable and thus rotate with the turntable under an upward and downward movement, whereas, on the other side, the mould is not mechanically bonded to any turntable but is in a continuous movement from the arrangement 113 around the turntable 1 17, through the path 127, around the turntable 126, through the path 140, around the turntable 141, through the path 150 and to the arrangement 151. From the arrangement 113 and until the arrangement 151 the mould has contained a package and protected this against every kind of deformation due to the strains, occuring at filling, compression, closing, evacuation and the final sealing. In the arrangement 151, however, the mould is released from its package and brought back over the path 152 -'114 to the arrangement 113 in order of receiving a new package, carried on to the mould over the path 111.

The frame according to FIG. 9 contains an outer frame 206, which is polished even on its lower side and arranged to contact tightely the upper side of the mould 205. In this outer frame 206 by means of joints 207 the four side parts of the inner frame are attached,

from which, however, only the two

side parts

208 and 209, opposite to each other are visible in FIG. 9. These side parts are a little shorter than the inner side of the outer frame 206, so that they can be brought down in the mouth of the package in such an inclined position, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 9. After being introduced therein, they are spaced out into theposition shown by full drawn lines, by means of a pressure frame 210, controlled by a piston bar 211.

Thereafter the frame will assume the position shown in FIG. 10. This figure further shows the state in the position 120, in which the mould with its package and frame has been introduced under a funnel 212, through which the material, which is fed through the path 121, is fed down into the package. This material is shown in FIG. 10 at 213. One will see that the

frame

209, 210 protects the upper inner edge of the package against direct' contact with the material 213 falling down, which causes firstly that the inner package may not be drawn down with this material, so that it folds, and that its upper edge will get into an erronous position in relation to the upper edge of the outer package, and secondly also that no grains of the material falling down, which may be electrostatically loaded, will stick to the upper most edge part of the inner package, later on subjected to welding, whereby otherwise advices for untightness could occur.

After the package has in this way been filled with the material 213 to be packed therein, it is transferred during the continuous rotation or stepwise turning of the turntable 117, dependent upon the way of driving the turntables, successively into the

position

122, 123, and 124, in which compression takes place by means of a piston 215, controlled by means of a piston bar 214. This is thereafter elevated, and the package moves on in the turntable 122, until it gets into the position 125, where it is transferred to the turntable 126 over a path 127, which hasalready been described in connection to FIG. 7.

During the interval] between the

positions

124 and 125 the above described arrangement is elevated, said arrangement comprising the outer frame 206 and the four frame side parts, of which only two are shown in FIG. 11, and which are connected with the outer'frame by means of the joints207. The package is now free to be transferred over the path 127 to the evacuation turntable 126. The procedure in this turntable has already been described in connection with FIG. 7.

1 claim:

1. In a machine for filling, compressing and closing packages, each unfilled package comprising an outer package of cardboard or similar relatively stiff material and an inner package of thin weldable foil, both being cup-formed and so shaped that the inner package at least at its upper edge in the unfilled state contacts the inner side of the upper edge of the outer package without being attached thereto, the improvements comprising: means for inserting such unfilled package into an outer supporting mold, means for lowering over each package-containing mold a clamping frame for clamping together the upper edges of the inner and outer packages, means for filling each said package with material while said clamping frame is in clamping position,

means for compressing said material in each said package while said clamping frame is in clamping position, and means for retracting said clamping frame from the package-containing mold, each said clamping frame comprising inner and outer frame parts configured to be respectively inside and outside the upper edges of said inner and outer packages for clamping said edges between said inner frame parts, on the one hand, and at least one of said outer frame parts and said mold, on the other hand, and means mounting one of said frame parts for relative movement toward and away from the other. I

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said package is of generally rectangular form at its upper edge, and wherein each said clamping frame comprises an outer frame part of generally rectangular form and four inner frame parts, each inner frame part being pivotally coupled to said outer frame part along a respective side of the rectangle for pivotal movement toward and away from the adjacent outer frame part, such that said inner frame parts may be brought into the interior of the upper mouth of the package while oriented in inwardly and downwardly inclined positions so as to avoid damaging the upper edges of the inner package.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a pressure frame movable downwardly over said clamping frame for pivoting said inner frame parts outwardly against the upper edges of the inner package so as to press the upper edges of the inner and outer packages outwardly against at least one of said mold and said outer frame part.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamping frame has an open center so as to permit passage therethrough of the filler material and said clamping means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said molds and said packages are configured such that the upper edges of the inner and outer packages extend above the upper edge of the mold -to receive said clamping frame.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine includes a rotatable turntable provided with a number of pockets for receiving said packagecontaining molds, each packet having a clamping frame and control means therefor,and wherein said filling means and compression means are located at subsequent stations of said turntable movement.

Claims

1. In a machine for filling, compressing and closing packages, each unfilled package comprising an outer package of cardboard or similar relatively stiff material and an inner package of thin weLdable foil, both being cup-formed and so shaped that the inner package at least at its upper edge in the unfilled state contacts the inner side of the upper edge of the outer package without being attached thereto, the improvements comprising: means for inserting such unfilled package into an outer supporting mold, means for lowering over each package-containing mold a clamping frame for clamping together the upper edges of the inner and outer packages, means for filling each said package with material while said clamping frame is in clamping position, means for compressing said material in each said package while said clamping frame is in clamping position, and means for retracting said clamping frame from the package-containing mold, each said clamping frame comprising inner and outer frame parts configured to be respectively inside and outside the upper edges of said inner and outer packages for clamping said edges between said inner frame parts, on the one hand, and at least one of said outer frame parts and said mold, on the other hand, and means mounting one of said frame parts for relative movement toward and away from the other.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said molds and said packages are configured such that the upper edges of the inner and outer packages extend above the upper edge of the mold to receive said clamping frame.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said machine includes a rotatable turntable provided with a number of pockets for receiving said package-containing molds, each pocket having a clamping frame and control means therefor, and wherein said filling means and compression means are located at subsequent stations of said turntable movement.