Abstract: An apparatus for the non-damaging packaging of a product whose consistency can be effected by outside influences, has at least one metering container that is rotatably supported in a housing. The housing has an inlet cross section, through which during the filling operation, the product can slide into the metering container and which after the metering container has been rotated, is turned towards the packaging unit that is to be filled as an outlet cross section. The metering container is of a cross section that is constant throughout its whole length, and which is configured symmetrically to a mid-line axis that extends through the metering container and which extends approximately in a vertical direction during the filling operation. The metering container has a space content that is variable with regard to its size.

Abstract: A filling valve wherein a piston is mounted for angular movement about a vertical axis immediately above a thin bottom wall of a housing which defines a metering chamber for a flowable material to be introduced into a succession of vessels. The material which is to be dispensed flows from a metering chamber in the housing through one or more channels in the piston and into and from dispensing openings in the bottom wall. The bottom surface of the piston has sharp sealing edges which slide along the upper side of the bottom wall and shear off the flow of material at the outlets of the channels when the piston is turned to a position in which the outlets of the channels are sealed from the dispensing openings in the bottom wall. This prevents dripping of flowable material in such position of the piston.

Abstract: Open-top cup-shaped containers which contain supplies of perishable foodstuffs are transported seriatim past a station where they receive jets of preserving gas which expels air from the unfilled portions of containers, and the containers are then sealed by application of metallic or plastic foils which are bonded or otherwise sealingly secured to washer-like rims surrounding the open tops of the containers. The foils can be partially applied ahead of the gas introducing station and are thereupon finally sealed in at least one second step, particularly in a chamber wherein the containers advance stepwise downstream of the gas introducing station and wherein the temperature and/or pressure is maintained at a preselected value to promote expulsion of air from the containers prior to the final sealing step.

Abstract: The method serves to gently pack a product the consistency of which can be affected by external influences. The product consists of a number of separable components which adhere to one another to at least some extent and are readily deformed under the influence of mechanical forces. The product is piled in a position of potential energy from which it is directed into a measuring vessel by gravity. After it is filled, the measuring vessel is tilted and, in its tilted position, is emptied by gravity into a waiting packing unit below it.

Abstract: A machine for transferring metered quantities of flowable materials, such as yoghurt, between a source and successive receptacles on a conveyor has a housing with an inlet in register with the source and an outlet in register with successive empty receptacles on the conveyor, and a metering device which is rotatably mounted in the housing and has an internal chamber as well as an opening which communicates with the chamber and registers with the inlet in a first angular position of the metering device and with the outlet in a second angular position of the metering device. The opening is provided in or close to one end portion of the metering device and the other end portion of the metering device extends from the housing and can be indexed between the first and second positions by a mechanism including a driving unit and a torque transmitting sleeve between the driving unit and the other end portion of the metering device.

Abstract: A machine for transferring metered quantities of viscous materials from a source of such materials into successive receptacles has a tubular housing with inlets and outlets disposed diametrically opposite each other. The housing confines a rotary metering device having an axially extending chamber and an opening which communicates with the inlet in one angular position and with the outlet in another angular position of the metering device. A piston in the metering device draws flowable material from the source into the chamber in the first angular position and expels such material from the chamber into a receptacle in the second angular position of the metering device. The housing and the metering device have adjacent frustoconical surfaces and the metering device is movable axially to establish between such surfaces a frustoconical clearance for admission of a liquid or gaseous cleaning fluid while the metering device remains in the interior of the housing.