Abstract: Precise control of the vertical motion of a piston or series of pistons within a cylindrical housing of a positive displacement pumping device to precisely set the discharge volume of viscous and non-viscous liquid products from the pistons. Uses a linear ball bearing screw actuated by an electronically-controlled servo motor. An electronic pulse generator incorporated in the servo motor provides pulses which are counted and used to set the maximum range of movement of the pistons.

Abstract: A high productivity packaging apparatus and method utilize a drum and a plurality of circularly arranged trap chambers, or traps, which communicate and rotate with the drum as an integral, compact unit. During rotation of the drum, the level of material to be packaged is sensed within the drum and material is fed intermittently into the drum by a positive screw feed to replace material withdrawn. Each trap successively draws from the material stored within the drum a unit of material to be packaged, traps the unit, discharges any excess and during continued rotation directs the material toward a trap outlet for discharge at a discharge station in synchronism with the passage of packet containers. The packet containers are formed in a continuous strip of heat settable, coated, sheet material (e.g.