Abstract: A machine for filling packaging containers with a flowable product comprises a control valve in the form of a plug valve having a body defining a bore forming a frusto-conical valve seat, a plug having a complimentary frusto-conical surface, and a valve chamber for pressurized fluid formed at the wider end of the plug. The chamber communicates with the bore. The plug is axially displaceable between a first position, in which the frusto-conical surface seals against the valve seat and in which it is rotatable to control flow through the valve, and a second position, in which it is withdrawn into the chamber to provide clearance between the mating surfaces of the plug and the seat but retaining clearance between its wider end and the opposite surface of the chamber so that all surfaces of the plug are exposed for cleaning and sterilization.

Abstract: Thermally processable plastics tubs (10) filled with a liquid or semi-liquid product so as to leave a headspace are closed by preformed lids (12) which are heat-sealed to their peripheral flanges when the headspace is filled with steam. In order to prevent the steam from affecting the heat-sealing operation, the lid flanges are wider than the container flanges, and their projecting annular parts (29) are engaged so as to form a barrier separating the steam from the heated heat-sealing head.

Abstract: A pouch-like bag for containing a liquid for medical or surgical use has two walls (10, 11) formed by respective plies of flexible plastics material sealed together (at 12) around at least their top and side edges and one or more, folded plies (14) of flexible plastics material of substantially smaller dimensions forming a gusset bottom portion having opposed leaves (16, 17) each of which is sealed (at 18) to the adjacent wall (10, 11). The gusset ply (14) carries one or more elements (21, 22 ) of elastomeric material capable of making an hermetic and liquid-tight seal with a needle, e.g. an administration set needle for a hospital drip-feed system or a hypodermic or injection needle for injecting a drug into the bag contents.

Abstract: A conveyor handling system is described in which two endless belts are serially arranged along a predetermined path. The rollers supporting the two belts at adjacent ends of the belts are mounted on a common rotary shaft. The rotary shaft is supported upon a reciprocatable carriage which also supports the downstream belt and when activated, the carriage is arranged to reciprocate the downstream belt bodily. The upper run of the upstream belt is extendable to follow the reciprocation of the downstream belt. The upstream belt is driven at a constant speed.The downstream belt, which is coupled to the rotary shaft through a one way clutch, is initially driven at the same speed as the upstream belt, but when the carriage is reciprocated (at a speed greater than the upstream belt), the clutch locks and the downstream belt adopts the speed of the carriage.

Abstract: A conveyor handling system, includes three paths along which articles travel, and a diverter located in an intermediate portion of the paths and operative to effect transfer between the paths. Sensors located upstream and downstream of the diverter monitor the rate at which the articles arrive at and leave the diverter. A comparator is responsive to the downstream sensor to cause the diverter to direct the articles between the paths in such a sense as to maintain the rates of flow of articles along the three paths downstream of the diverter substantially equal. A control unit responds to the upstream sensor to determine whether there is sufficient space for each article to be transferred transversely of the direction of motion to an adjacent path without reducing a predetermined minimum spacing requirement for the articles in each path. If there is insufficient space to effect a transfer, the control unit acts to inhibit the diverter from performing such a transfer.

Abstract: A packing machine is described having rollers respectively guiding first and second webs of flexible packing material along a horizontal path, and a conveyor for feeding a succession of articles onto the first web to be conveyed by the first web along the horizontal path. Two blocks are provided for forming a cavity around each article and through which the two webs pass. A pressure difference is provided to inelastically expand the two webs to conform to opposite halves of the cavity in which the article is housed and so form pockets therein. Two heat sealing blocks are located downstream of blocks to seal the perimeter of the pocket in the first web to the perimeter of the adjacent pocket in the second web.

Abstract: A conveyor handling system for transporting articles from a first position to a second position is described. The system includes first and second conveyors extending in series between the two positions and arranged to convey articles at two respectively different speeds. A sensor is responsive to the approach of an article to the junction between the two conveyors at which the article is transferred from one conveyor to the other to displace the junction, without altering the speeds of the two conveyors, in a sense to accelerate the transfer of the articles between the two conveyors.

Abstract: A conveyor handling system is described for separating into discrete batches a stream of articles arriving at regular intervals. The system includes two endless belts extending between first and second locations and arranged to be driven at the same predetermined speed in the same sense. A movable carriage between the first and second locations constrains the intermediate portions of the said endless belts so that one belt forms the upper run of an intermediate portion of the conveyor system and the other belt forms the upper run of the conveyor system both upstream and downstream of the intermediate portion. The carriage is arranged to be reciprocated at a speed greater than the predetermined speed between a first position where the intermediate portion lies adjacent a loading position and a second position where the upstream portion of the conveyor lies adjacent the loading position.