Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for securing covers to metal foil containers, and for sealing the containers. The containers are of the type which have an open top, a horizontal flange surrounding the open top, and a peripheral vertical flange surrounding the horizontal flange, and the cover rests on the horizontal flange. The apparatus includes a stationary platform, on which the unsealed container rests, and a ring which surrounds the platform. The ring is vertically movable, and the top surface of the ring engages the horizontal flange of the container to move the container with it. Located above the ring is a die with an inner camming surface, and the ring will move the container upward so that the vertical flanges of the container engage the inner camming surface to crimp the flange inwardly and downwardly. A press then moves downwardly through an opening in the die to press the crimped flange down so that the cover is secured to the container and the container is sealed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material portioning apparatus and a method which provides portions of material of predetermined weight by measuring and portioning an appropriate volume of the material. Although the apparatus is especially useful when the material consists of whole pieces larger than the portioned sizes, such as fillets of fish or meat, it can also be used for portioning granular materials, or materials of sizes smaller than the portioned sizes. It is only necessary that the material, or bulks of the material, be of such a nature that, when it is compressed in one direction, it will expand or be forced to move in a different direction. In accordance with the invention, the apparatus comprises a preforming stage having an adjustable volume, and a weighing stage also having an adjustable volume. Material is fed, through the preforming stage, into the weighing stage and the weighing stage is overfilled to include a volume greater than the desired weight.