flexible plastic valve bags having a valve opening spaced from an edge of the bag are placed on filling spouts by first advancing the bag towards a filling spout on a carriage , and means are provided for blocking the communication of the valve opening with the body of the bag and means are provided for blowing open and billowing the valve opening of the bag while it is being moved towards the spout , and the blown - open valve is in direct alignment with the spout . another embodiment provides for the location and placing of bags on at least two spouts by mounting the carriage on a lateral traveller such that when one bag is placed on a first spout , the traveller and carriage will be activated to move into alignment with a second spout .