The invention relates to apparatus for filling a container such as a plastic bag with product. The apparatus comprises a fill valve and a chamber formed as an integral unit, in which during a filling operation a container with a cap is in place is offered up to and placed in the bag by gripping devices or jaws, the cap is removed by a capper mechanism the bag is filled with product, and the cap is replaced, all the flow paths and surfaces being sterilised by steam during the filling operation.
A filler device for filling flexible bags including a table, a container gripper assembly, a fill valve and a evacuation facilitating assembly. The table has a top surface configured for receipt of a flexible bag. The container gripper assembly is configured for receipt of a spout of a flexible bag positioned on the table. The fill valve is positionable in fluid communication with the flexible bag. The evacuation facilitating assembly comprises a frame, a leg member and displacing assembly. The frame is spaced apart from the table. The leg member is associated with the frame. The displacing assembly displaces the leg member relative to the frame to, in turn, direct the leg member between a first position wherein the leg member is spaced apart from the table to a second position wherein the flexible bag is sandwiched between the leg member and the table.
An aseptically operating packing machine comprises a processing track with tools for treating a packing sheet arranged in a sterile chamber partially open to the atmosphere. Heated sterile air is blown through a sterile air filter, and a mixing nozzle is arranged downstream directly behind the filter within an ari channel terminating in the sterile chamber. The mixing nozzle is connected to a steam- and sterilizing agent-supply conduit and points downstream towards the sterile chamber. A tank in the sterilizing supply conduit holds the sterilizing agent under constant pressure, and a steam volume regulator is arranged in the steam supply conduit.
A method of packaging fluid or powdery products, in particular foodstuffs or beverages, in an essentially sterile manner in a packaging material in the form of a pouch of foil material having a filler opening closable by a closure cap, said method includes: providing a pouch whereby the closure cap can be placed in a first and second sealing position relative to the filler opening, whereby the closure cap is removable non-destructively from the filler opening in at least the first position; subjecting the interior of the empty substantially flat pouch having the closure cap in its first position to a germ-killing treatment; conveying the pouch having the closure cap in its first position and its interior already subjected to a germ-killing treatment to a filling plant; subjecting the exterior of the pouch having the closure cap in its first position to a germ-killing treatment; removing the closure cap from the pouch; filling the product into the pouch through the filler opening; and re-placing the closure cap on the filled pouch and closing the filler opening by moving the closure cap into its second position. A corresponding flexible pouch is also described.
An apparatus for aseptically packaging of a food product in presealed and internally presterilized pouches. The apparatus comprises a filling chamber (2b) positioned above a sterilization pre-chamber (2a) of the pouches (S). At an opening (9) between the filling chamber (2b) and the sterilization pre-chamber (2a) there is arranged a widening device (17) of the pouches (S) which is suitable for holding a pouch (S) in a working position for the filling wherein only a filling end of the pouch is located in the filling chamber (2b).
