Abstract: A fill valve assembly for filling a flat bag with an inhomogeneous fluid or viscous product, comprises a valve head of a cross-section dimensioned to fit into the flat bag and having a an outlet for the product and an extension of the outlet, the outlet and outlet extension extending along a central longitudinal axis of the valve head, and at least two product supply passageways extending in the valve head substantially parallel to the outlet and outlet extension, each product supply passageway having an end section terminating in the outlet at an angle of 25° to 45°. A purging space adjoins the outlet extension along the central longitudinal axis. The purging space has a somewhat larger diameter than the outlet extension, and at least a part of the purging space is located in the valve head. A plunger comprising a piston and a piston rod moves the piston up and down through the outlet extension into three positions, the outlet and outlet extension having at least twice the length of the piston.

Abstract: Hot melt guns comprising a melt body having a melt chamber and a mechanism for feeding a rod of solid hot melt material to the chamber for melting and dispensing. The feeding mechanism comprises a carriage mounted for movement towards and away from the melt body, a clamp member pivotally mounted on the carriage and a trigger to cause the clamp member to grip the rod and feed it into the melt chamber. The clamp member has two pivot pins projecting from opposite sides, each pin having an arcuate coaxial bearing portion and at least one flat face. The pins are received in bearing openings defined by circular bearing surfaces in the carriage, Assembly openings are provided in each bearing surface extending around a minor arc and sufficiently wide for the pins to pass through when the flat faces are suitably oriented relative to the openings.