Machine for sealing packages

A machine for sealing packages, comprising:

• a frame comprising a base, a pair of generally parallel columns extending upwardly from the base, and a member spanning between the columns at a position along the columns remote from the base for maintaining the columns generally parallel;
• a sealing assembly for sealing a package, said sealing assembly comprising an upper die, means mounting the upper die between said pair of columns for traveling along the length thereof, a hollow lower die having an opening extending theretherethrough in a direction along the extent of said columns for receiving a package to be sealed, means mounting said lower die to pivot between a position between said pair of columns and underneath said upper die, thereby to permit the upper die to travel down said columns to engage said lower die and seal the package received within the opening extending through said lower die, and a position away from said columns and clear of said upper die, and means operable for displacing said upper die to travel up and down along said columns;
• and
• an extractor for extracting a sealed package from said lower die, said extractor comprising a plate-like member normally positioned beneath said lower die when said lower die is at the position away from said columns, said plate-like member being dimensioned to fit through the opening extending through said lower die, and means operable for raising said plate-like member to advance into the opening extending through said lower die thereby to extract a sealed package retained within said lower die.