Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A machine for compressing and packaging soft and semi-soft materials into substantially spherical packages comprising, a frame, a compression cylinder having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, a work piston mounted within said cylinder for movement therein, said piston having a substantially semi-spherical concave head adapted to receive a first hollow substantially semi-spherical package component for movement therewith within said cylinder, hydraulic ram means for moving said piston between said inlet and said outlet, a feeding box at said inlet for receiving material to be compressed and packaged and for feeding the material into said cylinder through said inlet, liquid outlet means in said cylinder adjacent said outlet to permit the escape of liquid therefrom during movement of said piston and said first package component toward said outlet, and movable gate means mounted adjacent said outlet for movement between a closed position sealing said outlet and an open position remote from said outlet, said gate member having a concave substantially semi-spherical inner wall adapted to receive a second hollow substantially semi-spherical package component in opposed relation to said concave head and in position to engage and mate with said first package component when said gate is in said closed position and when said piston is moved within said cylinder to said outlet, whereby upon movement of said piston to compress material within said cylinder, the material is packaged in a substantially spherical package defined by said first and second package components, and whereby said liquid outlet permits liquid to escape from the material before the package components are brought together to package the compressed material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A machine for compressing and packaging soft and semi-soft materials into substantially spherical packages comprising, a frame, a compression cylinder having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, a work piston mounted within said cylinder for movement therein, said piston having a substantially semi-spherical concave head adapted to receive a first hollow substantially semi-spherical package component for movement therewith within said cylinder, hydraulic ram means for moving said piston between said inlet and said outlet, a feeding box at said inlet for receiving material to be compressed and packaged and for feeding the material into said cylinder through said inlet, liquid outlet means in said cylinder adjacent said outlet to permit the escape of liquid therefrom during movement of said piston and said first package component toward said outlet, and movable gate means mounted adjacent said outlet for movement between a closed position sealing said outlet and an open position remote from said outlet, said gate member having a concave substantially semi-spherical inner wall adapted to receive a second hollow substantially semi-spherical package component in opposed relation to said concave head and in position to engage and mate with said first package component when said gate is in said closed position and when said piston is moved within said cylinder to said outlet, whereby upon movement of said piston to compress material within said cylinder, the material is packaged in a substantially spherical package defined by said first and second package components, and whereby said liquid outlet permits liquid to escape from the material before the package components are brought together to package the compressed material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said liquid outlet means comprises an elimination zone adjacent said outlet and consisting of a band of apertures extending around the wall of said cylinder adjacent said outlet, and a shell extending around said band for containing and directing the extracted liquids.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The machine as defined in claim 2 further comprising means for moving said gate between said closed position and said open position, and means for moving said piston within said cylinder to remove a formed package from said outlet when said gate is in said open position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The machine as defined in claim 3 further comprising means on said substantially semi-spherical piston head and said substantially semi-spherical gate wall for engaging and retaining said first and said second package components, respectively.