Machine for producing filled packages, particularly liquid-filled packages

Claim 1

A MACHINE FOR PRODUCING PACKAGES OF THE KIND CONSISTING OF FILLED CONTAINERS EACH COMPRISING A SLEEVE-FORM BODY PORTION AND TOP AND BOTTOM COVERS SECURED THERETO IN A FLUID-TIGHT MANNER, SAID MACHINE INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPLY REEL CARRYING PACKAGING MATERIAL IN STRIP FORM, A DEVICE OPERABLE FOR CONTINUOUSLY FORMING TUBING WITH AN OVERLAP SEAM FROM SAID MATERIAL FED FROM THE SUPPLY REEL, A MECHANISM WHICH TRAVELS WITH SAID TUBING FOR A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE AND IS OPERABLE FOR SEPARATING THEREFROM SLEEVE-FORM CONTAINER BODY PORTIONS, A CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING MANDREL WHEEL, MANDRELS MOUNTED ON SAID WHEEL, MOVABLE GRIPPERS WITH WHICH SAID MANDRELS ARE EQUIPPED, A DEVICE WHICH FUNCTIONS TO TRANSFER THE CONTINUOUSLY SEPARATED CONTAINER BODY PORTIONS TO THE MANDRELS, THE AFORESAID GRIPPERS FUNCTIONING TO DRAW THE SAID BODY PORTIONS ON TO THE MANDRELS, A FEED DEVICE ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANDREL WHEEL FOR FEEDING THERETO PREFORMED CONTAINER BOTTOM COVERS, A MECHANISM COMPRISING A CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING SERIES OF DEVICES ASSOCITATED WITH THE MANDRELS AND OPERABLE FOR WELDING SAID BOTTOM COVERS TO THE CONTAINER BODY PORTIONS, A FILLING MEANS SUCCEEDING THE MANDREL WHEEL FOR FILLING THE CONTAINERS WITH CONTENTS, A MECHANISM FOLLOWING SAID FILLING MEANS AND OPERABLE FOR WELDING PREFORMED TOP COVERS ON TO THE FILLED BUT STILL OPEN CONTAINERS TO CLOSE THE SAME, AND THUS COMPLETE THE PACKAGES, AND A FEED DEVICE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAID TOP COVER WELDING MECHANISM FOR FEEDING THERETO SAID TOP COVERS.