Abstract: A downwardly acting air-outlet nozzle (8) is provided in a device (1) for packaging between a funnel (2) and a fill pipe (5) for the purpose of producing an air stream and to thus enable filler to fall quicker through the fill pipe (5). In order to be able to determine and regulate the pressure (P) in the lower area of the foil tube, the pressure P is determined by means of a measuring device (26) and a measured-value indicator (27). The measuring device (26) can include a hollow pipe (29), which guides the pressure (P) to a measuring device (28). Tubular bags with a specific interior pressure can be manufactured with the device (1).

Abstract: A packaging machine which carries out the conventional packaging of products with a stretchable and gas-tight film is housed in a main chamber (1) which is seable and contains a modified and controlled atmosphere suitable for the conservation of the product to be packaged. The product enters and leaves the main chamber by passing through corresponding sealable airlock chambers (7, 8) provided with corresponding automatic doors (107, 207, 108, 208) and in any case designed to provide a seal with respect to the external environment and to the main chamber to which these chambers are attached. When the outer sides of the airlock chambers are opened, their inner sides are closed, so that the modified and controlled atmosphere cannot issue from the main chamber.

Abstract: A container forming apparatus to form fluid filled containers from a tube of flexible packaging material includes a fluid delivery conduit to deliver fluid into the tube. A heat sealing mechanism receives the tube and forms spaced seals across the tube between which fluid is located. The seals are formed in a downstream to upstream succession and are non-orthogonal with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tube. Hydraulic equalization supports associated with the heat sealing mechanism support the tube indirections generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis adjacent the seals as the seal is formed.

Abstract: A process is provided for displacing air from containers prior to seaming a lid to a container. In the process, a container body is filled with contents and is then injected with liquid nitrogen. A lid is immediately placed on the container body, and a biasing force is immediately applied against the lid to maintain the lid on the liquid nitrogen filled container bodies until the container body reaches the seaming mechanism. The biasing force is sufficient to allow a portion of nitrogen gas from vaporization of the liquid nitrogen to escape from the container body, and to allow air originally present in the container body to escape from the container body, while preventing surrounding air from entering the container body.

Abstract: A method of packaging includes unwinding a center-folded film from a roller, the center-folded film having a first web and a second web; forming a recess between the first and second film webs; feeding a plurality of products into the thus formed recess, as the film advances, the products spaced apart from each other, and the products having a first and second transverse side; sealing and severing the advancing film between each product to be packaged along each of the two transverse sides of each product so as to form a plurality of bags with one open mouth on a front side of each bag, wherein each bag encloses a respective product; and sealing or clipping each open bag mouth. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A controlled environment sealing system and method of operating the same. The controlled environment sealing system having a transport system for transporting containers between processors, a lid placement processor positioning lids on the containers, a controlled environment processor providing the containers with a controlled environment and pre-sealing the lids to the containers, and a permanent sealing processor permanently sealing the lids to the containers in a contaminating environment.

Abstract: A continuous lamina (3) is indexed through a forming station so as to be arranged around a tubular element (14); edges of the lamina (3) are welded together to form an unexpanded envelope (2a) which is then inflated when the envelope (2a) is closed in a die (11) through opposite sides of which said tubular element (14) passes; a container (2) formed by expanding said envelope (2a) is then filled and closed while a following envelope (2a) is being expanded.

Abstract: A continuous particle monitoring system for use in a filling machine is provided. The filling machine has a plurality of processing stations in which containers are conveyed to each processing station to execute at least one process to collectively form, fill and seal each container. The filling machine also includes an air intake in fluid communication with a clean air supply. A chamber is connected in fluid communication with the air intake to receive the clean air supply. The particle monitoring system is constructed and arranged to monitor the clean air supply within the chamber. To this end, the particle monitoring system includes a sampling probe arranged in the chamber and oriented anisoaxially with respect to the clean air supply. The sampling probe preferably includes a substantially tubular body having a sampling port arranged at an end thereof. Also, a mounting plate for securing the probe within the filling machine is formed in the tubular body.

Abstract: A process for packaging coffee, which includes a grinding phase of the coffee coming from silos, a forming phase for forming flexible or semi-rigid containers and a phase for filling such containers with the coffee and subsequent sealing of the pack, in which, during the container forming phase, the containers are preliminarily filled with gas and, at the same time, closed at their top, in such a way as to be able to be opened again immediately before filling. The filling takes place in an atmosphere controlled by a flow of gas, wherein the gas for preliminarily filling the containers and/or for controlling the atmosphere during the container filling phase is drawn from a coffee grinding plant. An installation for putting such process into effect is also proofed.

Abstract: Equipment which automatically manufactures cushioning material by filling air inside polyvinyl alcohol laminated paper and sealing the filled material into individual bags. The manufacturing equipment 1 is provided with a material roll 20 on which a sheet material of polyvinyl alcohol laminated paper is wound. The sheet material 10 is rolled out by a feeding roller 40 from the material roll 20, and the sheet material 10 in a known length, adjusted by a length adjusting device 50 having a roller 42 which goes up and down, is supplied intermittently to a bag forming device 100 located downstream thereof. The bag forming device 100 is provided with a pipe member 105 and a sailor 110, which is a guide plate to reverse the sheet material 10 and form it into a tubular shape, and the sheet material 10 is fed along the pipe member 105 after being formed into a tubular shape. Feed rollers 130 and auxiliary belt 120 are arranged at the periphery of the pipe member 105.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the operation of a packaging machine of the type which carries out the operations of causing a tube film placed around articles under transport to be cut and sealed between adjacent articles for being successively formed into bags, then causing individual bags, each with an article contained therein, to be conveyed forward by a delivery conveyor, causing the bags to be sequentially transferred from the delivery conveyor onto moving surface plates, causing each surface plate to be covered with a cover member, and then causing the interior of the cover member to be placed under a vacuum atmosphere while the open end of the bag is hermetically sealed. A bag sensor sequentially detects the passage of open ends of bags on the delivery conveyor, and a surface plate detecting sensor sequentially detects the passage of individual surface plates.

Abstract: A method for sterilizing an article supported in a housing is provided. The method includes placing an article in a housing, introducing pressurized steam and a sterilizing gas into the housing and closing the housing. The sterilizing gas may be mixture of ethylene oxide/carbon dioxide or ethylene oxide/nitrogen. The percent by volume of ethylene oxide in the housing at the conclusion of the sterilizing gas introducing step may range from at least about 2% to about 25% by volume. The present invention is particularly well suited for use with a form-fill-seal process.

Abstract: A package for cylindrical products, particularly cigarettes or similar, this package consisting of a wrapping sheet (2) in which the cigarettes are wrapped. The wrapping sheet consists of heat-weldable plastic material and is sealed, when wrapped around a group of cigarettes (S), by the welding of parts, flaps or wings (102, 202, 402, 502, 602, 702) overlapping each other on one or more sides of the group of cigarettes (S). A vacuum or low pressure may advantageously be created inside the sealed wrapping sheet (2). A process and device for the fabrication of the package, according to which the phase of wrapping, in other words that of folding the wrapping slip (2), is executed completely in only one station to which the group of cigarettes (S) and the wrapping slip (2) are fed and in only one subsequent folding station (P), while the welding is executed in intermediate phases or in a final phase.

Abstract: A packaging machine (1) is adapted to form a web (8) of packaging material into a tube to surround items (3) to be packed, the tube then being closed, sealed and severed between successive items to produce individual packages (5). The tube is formed by sealing one surface of an edge zone of the web to the same surface of the opposite edge zone of the web so that, in the finished package, the sealed zones form a flap (45) extending longitudinally of the package.

Abstract: A method of sealing a peelable lid (7) to a package is disclosed. The package contains a base (1) and a potentially rupturable flexible web (5) of plastics material covering the base (1) which together define a sealed space therebetween. The lid (7) is in turn sealed above the flexible web (5). The method comprises the steps of: 1) placing a lid (7) over a thin flexible web (5); 2) sealing the lid (7) to the thin flexible web (5) over the base (1) with a strip like seal (13) which extends around the perimeter of the space so the lid (7) will be sealed at the same region as the thin flexible web (5) is sealed to the base (1). The sealing is achieved by a thermosealing process which provides a temperature gradient across the width provides the seal (13) with a peelable adhesion gradient across its width so that when the lid (7) is stripped from the package, it will be unlikely to rupture the thin flexible web (5). A package made by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vacuum operated processing station having a liquid separating system is set forth. The liquid separating system includes a separator tank disposed between a vacuum operated processing apparatus and an under-pressure source. The separator tank prevents liquid from reaching the under-pressure source. The system may be controlled to automatically drain the separator tank when the liquid level within the tank reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: Improved packaging for perishable goods such as meats comprising a base over which the goods are placed, and a lid positioned over the top of its base and sealed to said base. Strands are placed over the goods for holding said goods relative to the packaging, with a space above the goods and under the lid. A gas is introduced in the space for enhancing preservation of the packaging goods by contacting the surface of the goods. The gas contacts the goods by passing through the strands, with the strands being of a size permitting viewing of a major portion of an upper surface of the goods. The invention further includes the method of and apparatus for producing the packaging.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging articles in deaerated condition. A belt-like film is tubulated to enclose a plurality of articles transported in a longitudinally aligned fashion. The articles and the film are transported together in integral relation while the air in the tubular film is evacuated by a pipe nozzle inserted in the film tube. The pipe nozzle is connected to a vacuum source via a connecting pipe. Usually, the interior of the tubular film is kept in a suitable negative pressure condition by suction through a tube bypassing a normally closed valve disposed on the connecting pipe. The valve is impulsively opened immediately before seal bars press the film from opposite sides so that the air in the film is instantly discharged.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing containers filled with product are disclosed. The method includes partially introducing an end piece into the open end of a filled tubular container, softening the end of the container and a corresponding portion of the end piece which is to be molded, thereto, contacting a transverse end wall of the end piece with an abutment device with a flange for direct contact with the transverse end wall, cooling the abutment device with a cooling medium in order to indirectly cool the flange in order to prevent the flange from adhering to the transverse end wall, and closing the container by relatively displacing the abutment device carrying the end piece and the tubular container.

Abstract: An improved packaging machine is provided for vacuum packing elongated products such as french fries into a succession of sealed bags. The packaging machine includes a weigh station for dropping pre-weighed product charges through a vertical column for product free-fall into a bag at a fill station, with the bag being formed from a sheet of film material drawn downwardly about the column. A divider vane subdivides the vertical column and the fill station into a pair of passages of elongated cross section, whereby the products falling through the column passages are substantially aligned as they fall into the bag. The bag is transferred from the fill station to a settling station, preferably by displacement of the divider vane and fill station. The settling station includes vibratory members to achieve substantial product settling. The bag film material may also be retracted a short stroke through a seal jaw assembly, resulting in stripping and squaring of an open end of the bag.

Abstract: The apparatus for manufacturing bags for medical use includes an extruding machine, a device for forming an extruded tube, a device for supplying outlet devices, and a device for conveying the extruded tube horizontally. The device for forming the extruded tube has a die through which pass a sterile air supply line, a medical fluid supply line, an air recovering line and a second sterile air supply line which passes through the medical fluid supply line. The extruding machine extrudes a tube in a fused state and outlet devices are welded to the extruded tube in the fused state. The extruded tube is pressed by the formation device at intervals along it to form fused portions bounding chambers and a fluid passage through each fused portion to connect the chambers. Sterile air is fed into the extruded tube and the shape of the extruded tube is maintained by the pressure of the sterile air.

Abstract: An apparatus for enveloping successive groups of items in a plastic film as the items traverse a linear path. Items are gathered in a group, and the group of items is then inserted in a tubular packaging film as the items and the film are conveyed at the same linear velocity. After the items are completely enveloped in the film, the film is severed and sealed to fully encapsulate them in the film. A vacuum is used to eliminate excess air generated within the tube, and also, in one form of the invention, form side gussets as sealing dies are closed. A tight package made at speeds results, with no need for any holes in the film to relieve internal air pressure.

Abstract: A packaging machine (1) is adapted to form a web (8) of packaging material into a tube to surround items (3) to be packed, the tube then being sealed and severed between successive items to produce individual packages (5). The tube is formed by sealing one surface of an edge zone of the web to the same surface of the opposite edge zone of the web so that, in the finished package, the sealed zones form a flap extending longitudinally of the package.

Abstract: A gas exchange manifold includes a pair of plates which may be threadedly connected to one another. Gas supplying passages are formed through the plates to supply a desired gas to the package during fabrication. Also, vacuum supplying passages extend through the same plates and communicate with the package as well. A third plate, which may be sandwiched between other two plates, may contain a plurality of apertures which form part of the gas supplying passages. In this way, the third plate, which may be smaller, may be replaced to provide the desired pattern of apertures for a given configuration of packages being formed.

Abstract: A packing machine for wrapping compressed insulation products in heat sealable plastic film, including a forming tube having product feed means to move or hold the product within it, a former to reconfigure a web of heat sealable plastic film into a longitudinally open tube around the forming tube, a heat welder to close the longitudinal opening and provide a continuous plastic tube, take-off conveyors which receive the plastic tube containing the product at a point downstream of the forming tube and displace the product a preset distance from the forming tube to create a pocket, means to close the plastic tube behind the displaced product and ahead of the next product which is fed into the forming tube as the product is displaced, and means to cut the plastic tube between the two closures so formed, characterised in that air is removed from the pocket before closure by applying vacuum, thereby reducing the time for closing the plastic tube.

Abstract: A machine for packaging articles is provided and includes a support for a roll of heat-shrinkable film (12) defined by a fold and two opposing faces (13, 14) which is drawn in a predetermined direction between an article loading station and a film heat shrinking and sealing station. Air is directed transversely to the predetermined direction to open the opposing faces (13, 14) to facilitate the introduction of an article between the faces (13, 14) of the film (12). Thereafter the packaged film is advanced to a heat shrinking and sealing station which includes a chamber (11) having a movable hood (15) and a support (20) with apertures through which hot air can be circulated for shrinking the film. At the same time, an exhaust fan (25) exhausts air from the chamber (11) and the interior of the folded film (12) incident to the shrinking thereof and the eventual heat sealing of at least the free edges of the film faces (13, 14). A pivoted damper (29) controls the flow of air associated with the blower (24).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a container filled with a product is disclosed. The container has a substantially tubular body portion of thin-walled plastic or laminated plastic material and a butt-weldable end-piece at each end of the body portion. A first end-piece is fitted to one end of the body portion and the product is introduced into the container via the open end of the body portion, a second end-piece 13 is introduced into the open body portion end to an intermediate position at which it partially projects into the body portion, and the plastic material of the body portion end region and the second end-piece is softened through application of heat energy. The end-piece by means of relative displacement between it and the body portion, is pressed into the body portion to its terminal position during evacuation of air from the interior of the container via an opening in the end-piece and the opening is thereafter heat-sealed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved air extraction apparatus for continuous package making. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved air extraction apparatus that continuously packages a continuous succession of objects in a continuous length of heat-sealable packaging film. The apparatus extracts air from the packaging film that has been folded in a manner so that margins along opposite longitudinal edges of the film form a seam with two overlapping flaps for heat sealing, wherein just ahead of a heat sealing station, the improved apparatus of the invention extracts air from between the film flaps.

Abstract: A device for transferring objects from one atmosphere into a second atmosphere includes a housing which encloses an area through which the objects travel between an inlet funnel and an outlet in the housing. The objects are set in motion in a specified direction of travel. A gas stream is caused to circulate inside the housing in a direction of travel opposite to that of the objects.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically compressing and packaging loose fiber material. The fibrous material compressed in the bale tube to form a bale while a tube of bale overwrap material is being formed. The doors to the base overwrap material is being formed. The doors to the base tube open to allow the compressed material to be pushed out of the bale tube by the piston. The base overwrap material is then cut, sealed at the ends of the bale, and cooled at desired locations.

Abstract: A packing machine for wrapping compressed insulation products in heat sealable plastic film, including a forming tube having product feed means to move or hold the product within it, a former to reconfigure a web of heat sealable plastic film into a longitudinally open tube around the forming tube, a heat welder to close the longitudinal opening and provide a continuous plastic tube, take-off conveyors which receive the plastic tube containing the product at a point downstream of the forming tube and displace the product a preset distance from the forming tube to create a pocket, means to close the plastic tube behind the displaced product and ahead of the next product which is fed into the forming tube as the product is displaced, and means to cut the plastic tube between the two closures so formed, characterised in that air is removed from the pocket before closure by applying vacuum, thereby reducing the time for closing the plastic tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel deflator means for expelling excess air from packages which is used in connection with form, fill and seal packaging machines, said deflator means comprising flexible walled, fluid-filled bladder means which engages a product-containing bag and forces excess air out from the bag, the bladder fluid also being provided to be in communication with a reservoir which permits fluid exchange between the bladder, and the reservoir during the packaging cycle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for packaging, continuously and under vacuum, individual articles in the form of plates or sheets in a wrapping sheet folded along its longitudinal axis. The articles (6,7,8) are introduced within the fold (1) of the wrapping sheet (9); the two free edges of the wrapping sheet (9) are brought close in order to delimit a substantially enclosed space; a partial vacuum is applied at the base (1) of the fold inside the space such defined; and the open edges (2,3,4) surrounding each article are welded.

Abstract: A gas feed arrangement for supplying gas into bags in a packaging machine is disclosed. A belt-like film is tubulated by a tube former and, as articles to be packaged are supplied into the tubulated film, both the tubulated film and the articles are transported while being held between a pair of tension conveyors. Double pipes, each consisting of an outer evacuation pipe and an inner gas jet pipe, are inserted into the tubulated film. The locations for evacuation and gas blow by the inner and outer pipes within the film are spaced from each other a distance corresponding to a length of more than one article. Cushion blocks provided in multiplicities on a pair of tension belts exert pressure against the film from opposite sides thereby to eliminate any superfluous space within the film and, at same time, to isolate adjacent articles from each other. Thus, the oxygen present in each bag is efficiently displaced by inert gas fed into the bag, and the required inert gas consumption can be minimized.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous bakery products includes a carriage having opposed sealing jaws. Upper and lower webs of wrapping material extend between the jaws of the carriage along a bakery product path. Bakery products to be wrapped are advanced along the bakery product path between the webs of wrapping material and between the initially open jaws of the carriage. The jaws of the carriage are then closed to form transverse seals at the trailing edge of a leading package of bakery products and at the leading edge of a trailing package of bakery products. The carriage is advanced along the bakery product path during the sealing operation so that sealing of the bakery product packages is carried out on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A packaging machine for producing a reclosable package from a bottom film, a top film and a closure strip therebetween shall be designed to facilitate the generation of a hermetic seal in particular in the region of the closure strip with low film consumption. To this end a sealing station for sealing an edge portion between the product and the closure strip and an evacuation and sealing station having a chamber for sealing the package including the edge portion are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a self-supporting tray-like container wherein a product-receiving well protrudes into a second well in an all-round mutually spaced relationship. The method calls for two parts, each formed with a well therein and each part formed of a thermoplastic having a different resistance to thermal deformation, to be joined at their peripheries. The present invention additionally provides that the two parts are to be formed simultaneously, their peripheries are to be joined so that their respective wells extend in opposite directions after which one well is inverted into the other.

Abstract: A machine and method for sealing closed an integral neck of blow molded bottle and simultaneously forming an integral twist-off.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine includes an elongated frame, packaging forming stations for forming a lower container and top or cover for a package, a vacuum seal and sizing station, a chill station and a cutoff or package separating station. The vacuum seal and sizing station includes an upper tool defining an upper chamber and a lower tool defining a container chamber. The lower tool is movable towards and away from the upper tool and defines a vacuum chamber therewith. A pressure and sealing bar disposed within the upper chamber is movable to seal the package top to the container. A platform is adjustably positionable in the container chamber to vary the volume or size of the vacuum chamber. A product sizing plunger carried by the upper tool engages and compresses the product placed within the container prior to application of a vacuum and sealing of the cover or top to the container.

Abstract: A method of continuously making packages from groups of stacked items includes the steps of advancing consecutive groups of flat, edgewise standing, stacked items on a conveyor while supporting each item group by holders engaging each article group; during the advancing step, wrapping a wrapper sheet about an item group by a wrapper folding device, whereby the wrapper sheet supports and holds together the items in consecutive item groups; removing the holders from a just-wrapped article group; drawing the wrapper sheet, together with an item group wrapped in the wrapper sheet for conveying the item groups after the holders are removed therefrom; and withdrawing air from the wrapper sheet at a suction location where at least a partial wrapping has been completed, for generating a vacuum inside the wrapper sheet for causing the wrapper sheet to be pressed against edges of items in wrapped item groups downstream of the suction location.

Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus employ (i) a thermoforming station 6 through which a support film web 4 is advanced by means of an endless chain carrying clamps 16, followed by (ii) a loading station in which product articles are inserted into the trays formed by the thermoforming station, and (iii) a film-combining station II at which a covering film 3 is stretched longitudinally and then applied in its stretched configuration to the support web 4 (with or without the above-mentioned thermoformed trays) and is clamped thereto for subsequent vacuum skin packaging of the product articles between the support web 4 and the upper film 3. The resulting vacuum skin packs from such a process and apparatus are wrinkle free whereas the conventional vacuum skin packs exhibit longitudinal wrinkling in the covering film.

Abstract: An inert gas substitution method comprising blowing an inert gas into a container in the state wherein an opening of a container is covered with an inert gas substitution apparatus (5, 20) having an inert gas blow opening (7, 30), thereby substituting the inert gas within the container, and after substitution, covering the opening of the container with a cover material film (15). An inert gas substitution apparatus (5) formed with an inert gas blow opening (7) and having a plate of which bottom surface is flat. An inert gas substitution apparatus (20) having a chamber (21) of which bottom surface is open, the chamber (21) covering an opening of a container to blow an inert gas into the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for packing perishable goods in which perishable foods are placed in a pre-formed base. A first flexible gas permeable plastic web is then placed over said goods, and a reduced pressure is established below the first web relative to that above the first web for effecting at least partial skin packing of the first web over the goods. A second plastic web is then placed over the first web, the goods and the base. A second web is then sealed to the base so as to provide a space between the first web and the second web. A gas is provided in the space between which can permeate through the first web toward the base to enhance preservation of the goods. The second web comprises a lid serving to retain the gas in the space.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous bakery products includes a carriage having opposed sealing jaws. Upper and lower webs of wrapping material extend between the jaws of the carriage along a bakery product path. Bakery products to be wrapped are advanced along the bakery product path between the webs of wrapping material and between the initially open jaws of the carriage. The jaws of the carriage are then closed to form transverse seals at the trailing edge of a leading package of bakery products and at the leading edge of a trailing package of bakery products. The carriage is advanced along the bakery product path during the sealing operation so that sealing of the bakery product packages is carried out on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A packaging machine of the type, in which products are inserted into the gap between two halves of center-folded film. The machine comprises two sealers. The first sealer cuts and heat-seals the center-folded film along a line extending at right angles to the fold of the film, thereby forming a bag containing a product. The second sealer heat-seals each bag at the open side thereof which extends parallel to the fold of the film. The machine further comprises a clamper and an evacuator. The clamper clamps the open side of the bag before the bag is sealed completely. The removes air from the bag through the clamper before the bag is sealed completely.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for forming filling and sealing packages in which flexible packaging material is formed into tubing, the tubing is fed downwardly and transversely heat sealed at package length intervals by closing a pair of sealing members, the seal area is cut to form a top seal of the package being completed and a bottom seal for the next package to be formed, a quantity of product with which the packages are to be filled is delivered into the lower end of the tubing to provide a fill for each package, the tubing is pinched closed, after the delivery of each fill, above and below the level of the next seal to be made, the pinches are maintained as the sealing members are opened, following the formation of the aforementioned top and bottom seals, to keep product for the next fill from dropping down on the bottom seal, and to hold the package being completed from dropping away, and air is blown on the top and bottom seals to cool them while the pinches are maintained.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for inserting objects into balloons. The apparatus preferably includes a housing having a balloon chamber and a vacuum pump chamber therein. The balloon chamber is large enough to accommodate an inflated balloon and has a lid through which the inflated balloon can pass. The vacuum pump chamber houses a vacuum pump which is in gaseous communication with the balloon chamber in order to create a vacuum therein. The lid includes an adjustable mechanism for first expanding and then maintaining a balloon orifice in an expanded condition to enable access to the interior of the balloon in a position in which the balloon extends downwardly from the lid to a position inside the balloon chamber. The vacuum pump may then be actuated to cause the balloon to inflate within the balloon chamber so that the desired object may be inserted through an access opening in the lid to the inside of the balloon.

Abstract: A device and method of constructing articles of fresh cut parts of plants and artificial decorative embodiments. The packaging is characterized by enveloping such articles with an inflated balloon. The article being placed in an open container, a balloon is then inflated and receives the article and container and is then securely attached to the container, thereby enclosing the article. A device for constructing the packaged article employs a rigid conduit which is received in the balloon to facilitate reception of the article and container. The gas used to inflate the balloons can be air or nitrogen. If cut flowers are used, the container is provided with some water and plant food.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming, filling, sealing and deflating a package of goods prior to the time the fill opening is sealed includes a blast of air against the exterior flexible sidewalls of the package to thereby drive gas from the inside of the package.

Abstract: This relates to the mounting of a sealing head for sealing a plastic lid in a plastic container by way of induction heating. In order that a sealing head may be readily removed and replaced by a like sealing head for cleaning and repair, there is provided a quick detachable coupling between the sealing head and a support which is carried by a movable positioner for vertically positioning the sealing head. Further, there is associated with the support a supply unit which supplies to the sealing head electrical energy for an induction heating coil and for a gas detector. In addition, there is supplied to the sealing head from the supply unit two separate vacuum supplies and an inert gas supply with one of the vacuum supplies serving to hold a lid in place on the underside of the sealing head and the other vacuum supply serving to evacuate the container prior to the lid being applied thereto. The inert gas supply is provided to supply an inert gas to an evacuated container prior to sealing.