Abstract: An aseptic packaging machine includes a chain conveyor conveying cartons along a path in an aseptic chamber including an advance leg and a return leg each along the machine. Ultra-violet germicidal lamps extend over at least a major portion of the advance leg. Aseptic liquid is fed into the cartons by a filling device comprised of, in turn, an expansion chamber, a non-return inlet valve, a reciprocatory bellows and a non-return valve. After filling, the cartons are top-sealed. The only non-aseptic matter deliberately introduced into the chamber is the cartons. The chamber is cleaned internally by cleaning fluid from spray nozzles. The carton entry to and exit from the chamber have aseptic air curtains.

Abstract: A gable-topped, flat-bottomed carton has a side seam which, in a fin of the gable top closure, fits in a gap between respective junctions of two pairs of internal sub-panels of the fin. Two opposite external sub-panels of the fin have tabs for pulling to open the closure to form a spout. The seam edge of one oblique sealing sub-panel of the closure has a tab, with scorelines from the tab into that sub-panel, while the seam edge of the other oblique sealing sub-panel has a corresponding recess covered by the one oblique sealing sub-panel, so that pulling of the tab tears back the sub-panel portion between the scorelines to expose the recess. The flat bottom closure has at the free edge of its widest sub-panel a sealing projection of a width of about one third of that of the sub-panel to facilitate interdigitation of the blanks.