a machine for the automatic packaging of granular materials or small items into bags or other containers. The fundamental component of such a machine is the dispensing device, which portions out the material by weight or volume or, as in item packaging, by number of items. The measured quantity is dispensed into a bag, made from rolled polymer film, paper, or from several layers of different materials, or into a carton; the package is then closed or glued.
Automatic packaging machines are widely used in the food industry for packaging food concentrates, confectionery goods, flour, grain, groats, sugar, salt, and spices. In the USSR, for example, the KMKh-75 automatic packaging machine, which features a dispensing device that measures volume, is widely used for packaging food concentrates for the first and second courses of meals. The machine guarantees portion accuracy of four percent for a portion of 75 g (one package) and can produce 52 packages/min.