close the top of the carton the top sealing station 130 further comprises a top sealer such as an ultrasonic sealer that hermetically seals the top of the carton an example of such a carton sealing station 130 is disclosed in a patent application entitled 34 top folding and sealing apparatus for forming and sealing the fin of a gabled carton 34 u s pat no 5 809 743 filed on even date herewith other top sealing mechanisms are likewise suitable for use in the illustrated machine after the carton is filled and sealed it is transferred out of the filling machine 100 at the off loading station 135 fig1 also illustrates an optional screw cap applicator station 170 that is optionally provided to apply a screw cap to each carton the screw cap applicator station 170 may be constructed in accordance with any known system it may also include a cap sterilizing station such as the one disclosed in a patent application entitled 34 filling machine having a screw cap sterilization apparatus and method of operating same 34 u s patent application ser no 08 828 343 filed on even date herewith further the filling machine 100 includes a plurality of doors 180 arranged to enclose the various stations the doors 180 preferably have transparent portions 185 to allow observation of the operation of the individual stations fig3 is a perspective view of the filling machine 100 with certain components removed such as the doors.