A packaging machine comprises a filling device (13) for filling a tube T of packaging material having an open upper end and a closed lower end with contents in a predetermined amount at a time, and a device (14) for forming containers C by sealing and cutting the filled tube T transversely thereof into a length corresponding to one container at a time. The amount of contents to be filled into the container and the capacity of the container are so determined that the capacity is greater than the amount of contents to be filled.
For pre-sterilizing a tubular bag packing machine to be operated under sterile conditions after the pre-sterilization phase, following the steam sterilization of the device metering the loading material and forming part of the machine, and of the forming pipe simultaneously serving as a filling pipe, the subsequent supply of sterile air to the meter, to the forming pipe and to the sterile chamber will be maintained. The longitudinally sealed tube of packing material formed on the forming pipe from the web of packing material is kept open underneath the opening of the sterile chamber in order to allow both the sterile air and the mixture of steam and sterilization agent conducted after pre-sterilization of the metering device into the sterile chamber to be discharged through the forming pipe and the tube of packing material open at the bottom.
