Abstract: A sterilization system for use in association with a filler device configured for filling at least one of rigid and flexible containers comprising a sterilization chamber and a sterilant supply assembly. The sterilization chamber includes a housing, an inlet into the housing, an outlet from the housing and a product retainer assembly. These components define a cavity within which to position a portion of a fitment. The sterilant supply assembly comprises a steam generating system having a steam supply conduit extending therefrom and a joint mixing conduit coupled with the inlet into the housing of the sterilization chamber, a hydrogen peroxide storing system and a member for metering liquid phase hydrogen peroxide from the hydrogen peroxide storing system into the steam supply conduit for mixing therewith, and, in turn, introduction thereof into the cavity of the sterilization chamber.

Abstract: A flexible bag container (10) is filled by a system (500) and method for filling the bag container (10). The flexible bag container (10) has a pair of walls (12, 14) and a spout member (18) attached to one side wall of the container. This spout member is opened and closed in the filling system. A plug member (22) is inserted into the spout member (18) from outside of the bag container (10) and is withdrawable in the opposite direction in order to open the bag container. The bag container is filled via the spout member after removal of the plug member outwardly of the bag container and into a filling head, and then the plug member is replaced from within the filling head into the spout member to close the bag container.

Abstract: A collapsible bag for dispensing liquids which includes at least one sheet sealed to define an enclosure and a fitment (spout) attached to the enclosure and out through which liquid in the enclosure is dispensed. An interior surface of the one or more sheets has an integral texture to assist with withdrawal of the liquid from the enclosure when collapsed. The texture can be provided by sheet surfaces that are mechanically or ultrasonically embossed or are bubble-cushioned or which have sealed pleats or accordion folds. The bottom surface of a lower flange of the fitment may have concentric ridges (or spirals) and/or radial grooves. Also disclosed are methods of making the bag from one, two, three or four sheets.

Abstract: A sterilization system for use in association with a filler device configured for filling at least one of rigid and flexible containers comprising a sterilization chamber and a sterilant supply assembly. The sterilization chamber includes a housing, an inlet into the housing, an outlet from the housing and a product retainer assembly. These components define a cavity within which to position a portion of a fitment. The sterilant supply assembly comprises a steam generating system having a steam supply conduit extending therefrom and a joint mixing conduit coupled with the inlet into the housing of the sterilization chamber, a hydrogen peroxide storing system and a member for metering liquid phase hydrogen peroxide from the hydrogen peroxide storing system into the steam supply conduit for mixing therewith, and, in turn, introduction thereof into the cavity of the sterilization chamber.

Abstract: A method of aseptically and adiabatically processing liquid or semi-liquid food product at ambient temperatures so that the food product is transported from one sterile environment (such as a food processing machine), and into another sterile environment (such as a food package) via a food package filling machine head. During operation of the filling machine head, plural surface portions alternate between exposure to ambient and exposure to the food product. The method includes steps such that microbes from the ambient are not allowed to migrate along these alternatingly exposed surfaces. The method includes steps of initially heat sterilizing the alternatingly exposed surfaces at elevated temperature and pressure using culinary steam. Subsequently, an ambient temperature sterilizing barrier is maintained at a selected location along each of the alternatingly exposed surfaces so that migration of microbes along these surfaces and to the food product is prevented.

Abstract: A bag-in-box container includes a box defining a cavity receiving a bag. The bag includes walls formed of plastic sheet material forming a variable-volume chamber, and a fitting carried on one of the walls provides a passage communicating with the variable-volume chamber. The fitting is formed of material which is essentially impermeable to oxygen. A method of sealingly attaching the fitting to a wall of the bag without the use of heat sealing or adhesives is disclosed.

Abstract: A two-part coupling structure (22, 32) includes a male coupling part (32) and a female coupling part (22) which are mutually engageable to open fluid communication between the coupling parts (22, 32). For example, the coupling parts (22, 32) may be used to establish fluid communication between a container (12) and a conduit (14). The coupling parts (22, 32) are disengageable from one another to discontinue fluid communication between them, and also to close communication between ambient and each of the container (12) and the conduit (14). The male coupling part (32) includes a mounting structure (44a-44e) for supporting on the female coupling part (32), and also includes a guide structure (44) effective to guide a male probe portion (36) of the male coupling part (32) into engagement with the female coupling part (22).

Abstract: A collapsible bag for dispensing liquids which includes at least one sheet sealed to define an enclosure and a fitment (spout) attached to the enclosure and out through which liquid in the enclosure is dispensed. An interior surface of the one or more sheets has an integral texture to assist with withdrawal of the liquid from the enclosure when collapsed. The texture can be provided by sheet surfaces that are mechanically or ultrasonically embossed or are bubble-cushioned or which have sealed pleats or accordion folds. The bottom surface of a lower flange of the fitment may have concentric ridges (or spirals) and/or radial grooves. Also disclosed are methods of making the bag from one, two, three or four sheets.

Abstract: A flexible bag container (10) is filled by a system (500) and method for filling the bag container (10). The flexible bag container (10) has a pair of walls (12, 14) and a spout member (18) attached to one side wall of the container. This spout member is opened and closed in the filling system. A plug member (22) is inserted into the spout member (18) from outside of the bag container (10) and is withdrawable in the opposite direction in order to open the bag container. The bag container is filled via the spout member after removal of the plug member outwardly of the bag container and into a filling head, and then the plug member is replaced from within the filling head into the spout member to close the bag container.

Abstract: A flexible bag is positioned in a rigid container, such as a fifty-five gallon drum, and the bag is filled through its spout with flowable product, such as tomato paste. The bag is then expanded in the container to be substantially rigid and thereby reduce film movement and resultant flex cracking. A lid is sealed onto the container and a vacuum drawn from between the bag and the container, to, in turn, expand the bag. Gas volume needs to be present in the bag before the vacuum is applied so that the gas in the bag can expand from the vacuum on its outside. Once expanded, the container can be shipped.

Abstract: A collapsible bag for dispensing liquids which includes at least one sheet sealed to define an enclosure and a fitment (spout) attached to the enclosure and out through which liquid in the enclosure is dispensed. An interior surface of the one or more sheets has an integral texture to assist with withdrawal of the liquid from the enclosure when collapsed. The texture can be provided by sheet surfaces that are mechanically or ultrasonically embossed or are bubble-cushioned or which have sealed pleats or accordion folds. The bottom surface of a lower flange of the fitment may have concentric ridges (or spirals) and/or radial grooves. Also disclosed are methods of making the bag from one, two, three or four sheets.

Abstract: Filling and sealing devices and methods of aseptically filling containers are disclosed herein. More specifically, the filling and sealing devices include a sterile filling chamber and an induction sealing device provided within the filling chamber. The induction sealing device is capable of withstanding and operating in the adverse conditions required to maintain the sterile environment within the filling chamber. Within the filling chamber, the container may be uncapped, filled, recapped, and foil sealed by an induction sealing process.

Abstract: A flexible bag (10) and system and method for aseptically filling it. The bag has two walls (12a, 12b) and a spout (16) attached to one wall. This spout is opened and closed during filling. A plug member (18) may be attached to the wall of the bag opposite the wall containing the spout. During filling, the plug member is aseptically removed from the spout member inwardly of the bag contrainer; the bag is filled via the spout; and then the plug member is replaced from inside the bag. The plug may also be free of the opposite wall of the bag container. The filling system includes a set of jaws (130) for holding the spout in position for filling, a support mechanism (110) for controlling the movement of the plug member into and out of the spout member, and facility for sterilizing the inside of the filling head, the spout member, and the plug member.

Abstract: A collapsible bag for dispensing liquids which includes at least one sheet sealed to define an enclosure and a fitment (spout) attached to the enclosure and out through which liquid in the enclosure is dispensed. An interior surface of the one or more sheets has an integral texture to assist with withdrawal of the liquid from the enclosure when collapsed. The texture can be provided by sheet surfaces that are mechanically or ultrasonically embossed or are bubble-cushioned or which have sealed pleats or accordion folds. The bottom surface of a lower flange of the fitment may have concentric ridges (or spirals) and/or radial grooves. Also disclosed are methods of making the bag from one, two, three or four sheets.

Abstract: A flexible bag is positioned in a rigid container, such as a fifty-five gallon drum, and the bag is filled through its spout with flowable product, such as tomato paste. The bag is then expanded in the container to be substantially rigid and thereby reduce film movement and resultant flex cracking. One way that the bag can be expanded, pursuant to this invention, is for a lid to be sealed onto the container and a vacuum drawn from between the bag and the container. Gas volume needs to be present in the bag before the vacuum is applied so that the gas in the bag can expand from the vacuum on its outside. Another way to expand the bag is, after filling the bag with the flowable product, to inject pressurized gas into the bag. For this embodiment, the container need not be vacuum sealable. For example, the container may be formed from a metal, plastic, cardboard and the like, and the container walls can be either solid or have openings.

Abstract: A two-part connector structure (22, 32) includes a male connector part (32) and a female connector part (22) which are mutually engageable to open fluid communication between the connector parts (22, 32). For example, the connector parts (22, 32) may be used to establish fluid communication between a container (12) and a conduit (14). The connector parts (22, 32) are disengageable from one another to discontinue fluid communication between them, and also to close communication between ambient and each of the container and the conduit. The male connector part (32) includes a mounting structure (32a) for supporting on the female connector part (22), and also includes a guide structure (44) effective to guide a male portion (36) of the male connector part (32) into engagement with the female connector part (22).

Abstract: Filling and sealing devices and methods of aseptically filling containers are disclosed herein. More specifically, the filling and sealing devices include a sterile filling chamber and an induction sealing device provided within the filling chamber. The induction sealing device is capable of withstanding and operating in the adverse conditions required to maintain the sterile environment within the filling chamber. Within the filling chamber, the container may be uncapped, filled, recapped, and foil sealed by an induction sealing process.

Abstract: A collapsible bag for dispensing liquids which includes at least one sheet sealed to define an enclosure and a fitment (spout) attached to the enclosure and out through which liquid in the enclosure is dispensed. An interior surface of the one or more sheets has integral texture to assist in withdrawal of the liquid from the enclosure when collapsed. The texture can be provided by sheet surfaces that are mechanically or ultrasonically embossed or are bubble-cushioned or which have sealed pleats or accordion folds. The bottom surface of a lower flange of the fitment may have concentric ridges (or spirals) and/or radial grooves. Also disclosed are methods of making the bag from one, two, three or four sheets.

Abstract: A collapsible bag for dispensing liquids which includes at least one sheet sealed to define an enclosure and a fitment (spout) attached to the enclosure and out through which liquid in the enclosure is dispensed. An interior surface of the one or more sheets has integral texture to assist in withdrawal of the liquid from the enclosure when collapsed. The texture can be provided by sheet surfaces that are mechanically or ultrasonically embossed or are bubble-cushioned or which have sealed pleats or accordion folds. The bottom surface of a lower flange of the fitment may have concentric ridges (or spirals) and/or radial grooves. Also disclosed are methods of making the bag from one, two, three or four sheets.

Abstract: A flexible bag is positioned in a rigid container, such as a fifty-five gallon drum, and the bag is filled through its spout with flowable product, such as tomato paste. The bag is then expanded in the container to be substantially rigid and thereby reduce film movement and resultant flex cracking. One way that the bag can be expanded, pursuant to this invention, is for a lid to be sealed onto the container and a vacuum drawn from between the bag and the container. Gas volume needs to be present in the bag before the vacuum is applied so that the gas in the bag can expand from the vacuum on its outside. Another way to expand the bag is, after filling the bag with the flowable product, to inject pressurized gas into the bag. For this embodiment, the container need not be vacuum sealable. For example, the container may be formed from a metal, plastic, cardboard and the like, and the container walls can be either solid or have openings.