Abstract: A flexible pouch having a removable cap for use with the tube spout fitment and a method of filling the flexible pouch is provided. The removable cap is formed from a tube of pliable material, and has a first opening and a second opening. The first and second openings each have a peripheral edge. The peripheral edge of the first opening is configured to engage the outer surface of the tube spout fitment. The peripheral edge of the second opening is pressed onto itself and sealed so as to form a flattened edge. The method includes the steps mounting the removable cap onto the tube spout fitment. Filling the pouch, and sealing the second opening of the removable cap so as to form a flattened edge.

Abstract: The bagging machine has a rotary table with openings to receive a series of bags. Each bag is staked onto four pins two of which are stationary and two of which are laterally movable. After filling, the bag is heat sealed using a pair of heat seal bars and then severed by a fly knife above the heat seal. The bag is then removed manually or automatically.

Abstract: A multi-compartment container is charged with a plurality of doses of powdered medicament so that the volume of each dose is than that of the respective compartments in which it is contained. A respective protuberance is inserted into each respective compartment, which is then filled with medicament and the protuberance is then removed. The container may take the form of an apertured plate, in which case the filling step can be achieved by placing the container on a porous bed and in communication with a reservoir of particulate material, and then passing gas through the reservoir, the apertures in the container and the bed. There is also shown apparatus for performing the method, the apparatus comprising a reservoir for the particulate material and a conduit for relaying particulate material from the reservoir to the compartments, the conduit including protuberances which are insertable into the compartments to reduce the available volume of the latter.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing product such as meat into packaging therefor comprises a portioning cell movable between a first station wherein it is charged with product and a second station wherein it locates above the packaging. A funnel is associated with the second station, and is mounted for vertical movement so as to locate the discharge opening of the funnel below the level of the upper perimeter of the packaging when the portioning cell is at the second station, and to raise the funnel thereafter so as to permit the passage of the packaging. A gutter is provided adjacent the second station for intercepting fluid leakage from the portioning cell.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling containers whose upper ends are open and which are moved seriatim and stepwise to a filling station has a receptacle which is disposed at a level above a container at the filling station and below a metering device whose lower end can be opened to discharge a metered quantity of flowable material onto a normally horizontal bottom wall of the receptacle. The receptacle is thereupon pivoted to move a discharge opening thereof into the open end of the container at the filling station and to incline the bottom wall to such an extent that the metered quantity of flowable material slides off the bottom wall and enters the container by way of the opening. The opening is normally sealed by a flap which is opened when the opening extends into the open end of a container at the filling station.

Abstract: A method of treating waste material, particularly radioactively contaminated waste such as ion exchange resins or molecular sieves incorporating .sup.137 Cs. The waste is one which is associated with water, e.g. the waste is wet, and is admixed with a synthetic resin composition which hardens on reaction with water. Also disclosed is an apparatus which may be used for producing the hardened waste/resin mixture in a protectively lined drum or other vessel for subsequent dumping, e.g. at sea.

Abstract: An automatically operational net weight filling machine having a plurality of similar but independently adjustable operational stations which conveyably receive from a bulk storage source a loose and flowable dry particulate material, measures out an adjustably predetermined net weight amount of that material into a net weight receptacle enclosed within a chamber provided with a selected atmosphere, and then dispenses the net weight amount of that material from the net weight receptacle into an evacuated container such as a bottle or the like, wherein the respective containers are also automatically delivered to and discharged from the machine after net weight filling thereof with the subject material.

Abstract: A transfer type of product filling machine includes a stationary deadplate positioned under a moving line of openbottom transfer receptacles. Containers moving in a separate line under the deadplate in synchronism with the line of transfer receptacles are progressively filled as the transfer receptacles pass over either a continuously tapered or a stepped termination of the deadplate to prevent bridging of loose materials or individual items across the container openings by abrupt dumping of the materials into the containers. The stepped type of deadplate termination also facilitates exact count filling of a single container from a plurality of intermediate receptacles, each holding an integral fraction of the total count fill, and speeds the filling operation by providing a plurality of filling locations.