PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GROUND COFFEE OR THE LIKE

摘要

TITLE: PACKAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GROUND COFFEE OR THE LIKE A method and an apparatus for packaging of ground coffee or a like material are provided in which an inert gas such as carbon dioxide is supplied to surround discrete quantities of the material carried in a longitudinally moving folded trough-like web of impervious material, the gas being supplied into a region in which the discrete quantities of material enter a sealing region in which portions of the folded web are sealed together ahead of, above and behind the discrete, quantity of material. Important features relate to the covering over of the folded web to enclose a space therein as it enters the sealing region, to the guiding of the edges of the web to cause them to converge as they approach the sealing region and to the injection of the gas at an angle and with a flow rate and velocity such as to cause the gas to completely surround the material without displacing the material relative to teh web. Nozzle means arc provided in a cover having converging guide grooves in its lower surface, the nozzle being located between the grooves and at a point a short distance behind a point at which the grooves join. The edges of the web are in close proximity as they enter the sealing region and a narrow cover is provided at the sealing region to block entrance of air and exit of the gas. Additional features relate to the thorough mixing of gas with ground coffee in a bin to the supply of gas into filler tubes and to the supply or gas into a web of an outer wrap material as it is being formed.