Apparatus for packaging loose fibrous material

Apparatus for vacuum-compacting and packaging loose fibrous material within a sleeve of porous material, said apparatus comprising a suction housing having a pair of opposite end walls and an enclosing sidewall, said end walls having a pair of aligned openings respectively therein, a perforated duct extending through the suction housing in spaced relationship to the enclosing sidewall, having inlet and outlet openings aligned respectively with the openings in said end walls, and being formed of material having perforations therein, the perforations being of a size normally preventing passage of fibrous material while allowing passage of air therethrough, means for transitionally disposing a sleeve of porous material in said perforated duct substantially in engagement therewith adjacent said inlet opening, supply means upstream of said inlet opening for supplying loose fibrous material into said sleeve of porous material and accommodating the passage of air to the inlet opening of said perforated duct, and an air exhaust duct communicating with said housing.