ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 17 -- United States Patent no. 12,576,576, issued on March 17, was assigned to KOCHER-PLASTIK MASCHINENBAU GMBH (Sulzbach/Laufen, Germany).

"Apparatus and process for producing moulded, filled and sealed receptacle products made of plastics material" was invented by Michael Schultes (Fichtenau, Germany), Michael Sobottka (Welzheim, Germany) and Achim Rawolle (Aalen, Germany).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Apparatus for producing molded, filled and sealed receptacle products made of plastics material, comprising-a hose head (32) for dispensing at least one hose extruded using an extrusion means, -a separating means (12) for separating a preform from the hose, -a main mold...