Multiple package forming and filling machine

A package forming and filling machine having a plurality of stations comprising,

• a plurality of moveable arms, the arms indexably moveable from station to station,
• a plurality of package retaining fixtures on each arm,
• at least one package forming apparatus at a first station and comprising a fixed die having a cavity therethrough, a pair of opposed package forming mandrels, means for reciprocating said mandrels through the cavity, means in the die to permit heat sealing a portion of the package, heat sealing means, means for inserting the heat sealing means into the die to seal a portion of a newly formed package in the die,
• the pair of opposed package forming mandrels further reciprocable into the package retaining fixture indexed below the die to deposit a package therein,
• at least one filling apparatus at a second station and comprising means to expel product into an open top package residing in the package retaining fixture indexed below the filling apparatus,
• at least one top sealing apparatus at a third station and comprising top sealing means adapted to heat seal the top of a package at least partially residing in the package retaining fixture indexed below the top sealing means,
• wherein the moveable arms and package retaining fixtures on the arms, having packages deposited therein at station one, retain the packages therein through station two and through the top heat sealing step of station three,
• and means to eject a filled and sealed package from the package retaining fixture.

A method of forming and filling packages comprising the steps of:

• placing a package blank in a tray spaced above a fixed die cavity, said die cavity having a plurality of apertures,
• entrapping the center of the package blank between upper and lower reciprocable mandrels,
• reciprocating the mandrels into the die cavity thereby drawing the package blank down into the die cavity,
• momentarily hesitating the downward motion of the mandrels with the package blank folded within the die cavity,
• reciprocating heat sealing means into the apertures thereby heat sealing a portion of the folded package blank together within the die cavity during the moment of hesitation to form an open top package,
• resuming the downward motion of the mandrels to remove the package from the die cavity and place the package in a fixture,
• withdrawing the mandrels from the package,
• moving the fixture and package to a filling station and dosing the package with product, the package remaining in the fixture,
• moving the fixture and package to a top sealing station, heat sealing the package top and ejecting the sealed package from the fixture.