The present invention relates generally to a method of and apparatus for automatically filling containers and, in particular, to an improved method and apparatus for aseptically filling and capping, empty, flexible bag-type containers.
This invention relates to filling machines used to automatically uncap, fill with flowable fluids, and recap flexible bag-type containers in a sterilized manner. When filling bags with fluid substances used in the food industry, the maintenance of aseptic conditions is, of course, essential during the filling procedure. Some conventional filling machines generally feed a continuous strip of spouted flexible bags, which bags are joined together along transversely oriented perforations, to a separating station. Each bag has either a capped tube or spout associated therewith and is then separated from the strip by a separating device. Thereafter, successive ones of the capped spouts are advanced to a filling station, whereat an accurate amount of fluid substance is metered into each bag, after the bag has, of course, been uncapped. Both the spout and bag are fully supported during the filling cycle and the bag spout is recapped. As noted, it is important that the filling be done in a sterilized manner. Towards this end, known systems typically utilize a steam sterilization system. The latter has certain drawbacks insofar as steam cleaning tends to lead to condensation during the filling procedure with the consequent shortcomings of the fluid substance being diluted and steam tends to be corrosive. Following filling, the filled bags can be automatically loaded onto a conveyor or into a box. As each filled bag is discharged, another bag is advanced automatically to the filling station for the next filling operation cycle.
With these known systems it is mandatory that the filling head and chamber mechanisms be cleaned. A variety of approaches have been employed One that is fairly common is to manually remove, scrub and wash the components thereof and then sterilize such components. Of course, manual cleaning is less than entirely satisfactory because it, among reasons, is laborious and time consuming not to mention does always lend itself to sterile conditions during reassembly.
While filling machines of the aforenoted type perform adequately, there is nonetheless a desire to improve upon their performance in terms of a number of factors including enhanced sterility of machine, spout and caps, ease of operation, and improved bag filling rates.