Apparatus and method for aseptically filling a container

Abstract

A flexible bag ( 10 ) and system and method for aseptically filling it. The bag has two walls ( 12 a , 12 b ) 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.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A flexible bag container comprising: 
 a pair of opposed flexible walls sealingly attached to one another so as to form an expansible chamber therebetween;    a tubular spout member attached to one of said pair of walls, said tubular spout member defining a through passage and defining an axis along the length of said through passage;    a plug member attached to the opposing wall of said pair of walls, said plug member in a first position being received into and sealing closing said spout member, and said plug member moving inwardly of said chamber to a second position spaced from and opening said spout member, said plug member defining at least one axial recess opening axially of said plug member, and said at least one axial recess being free of engagement surfaces which would allow said plug member to be pulled from within said spout member.    
     
     
         2 . The flexible bag container of  claim 1 , wherein said plug member defines a pair of oppositely extending axial recesses each opening axially of said plug member, and each of said pair of axial recesses being free of engagement surfaces which would allow said plug member to be pulled from within said spout member.  
     
     
         3 . The flexible bag container of  claim 1  wherein said at least one axial recess is at least in part conical.  
     
     
         4 . The flexible bag container of  claim 1  wherein said at least one axial recess is of truncated conical shape.  
     
     
         5 . The flexible bag container of  claim 2  wherein said pair of recesses are each of truncated conical shape.  
     
     
         6 . The flexible bag container of  claim 1  wherein said tubular spout comprises: a tubular body; said passage forming an internal opening; and a flange portion extending radially outwardly on said tubular body.  
     
     
         7 . The flexible bag contain of  claim 1  wherein said plug member is sealingly attached to the other of said pair of walls in opposition to said spout member.  
     
     
         8 . The flexible bag container of  claim 7  wherein said plug member includes a radially outwardly extending flange portion, and said other of said pair of walls being attached to said flange portion.  
     
     
         9 . The flexible bag container of  claim 8  wherein said other of said pair of walls defines an opening, and said other of said pair of walls being sealingly attached to said flange potion of said plug member around said opening.  
     
     
         10 . The flexible bag container of  claim 1  wherein said plug member is not attached to said the other of said pair of walls, and the other of said pair of walls is free of an opening aligned with said spout member.  
     
     
         11 . A filling system for filling a flexible bag container having a spout member defining a through passage for inflow and outflow of contents to and from said container, said filling system comprising: 
 a filling head sealingly engageable with said spout member to flow product into said flexible bag container,    a support plane apparatus for supportingly interfacing with a plug member of the flexible bag container;    jaws for engaging the spout member to retain the spout member in a selected axial position; and    means for expelling said plug member forcefully from within said spout member to be supported on said support plate apparatus within said bag container.    
     
     
         12 . The filling system of  claim 11  wherein said means for expelling said plug member forcefully from within said spout includes: 
 means for cooperating with said spout with said plug member therein for defining a substantially closed chamber; and  
 portion of said plunger member advances from said shut off plunger and engages with said plug member to push said plug member from said spout member and inwardly of said bag container.  
 
     
     
         13 . (original) The filing system of  claim 12  wherein said support plate is arranged to controllably withdraw from said spout member as said plug member is expelled therefrom, so that said support plate member controls expelling of said plug member from within said spout member in response to said pressurized steam.  
     
     
         14 . (original) The filling system of  claim 11  further comprising said filling head including a shut-off plunger, in a first position, said shut off plunger cooperating with said spout member with said plug member therein to define said substantially closed chamber; and 
 said shut off plunger controllably moving to a second position in said filling head to control product flow from said filling head into said bag container via said spout member.  
 
     
     
         15 . (original) The filling system of  claim 12  further comprising said steam flow means including a steam inlet passage for supplying steam to said substantially closed chamber.  
     
     
         16 . (original) The filling system of  claim 15  further comprising a steam outlet passage for controllably allowing steam to be purged from the interior of the filling head.  
     
     
         17 . (original) The filling system of  claim 11  wherein said means for expelling said plug member forcefully from within said spout includes: 
 said filling head including a shut-off plunger, in a first position, said shut off plunger cooperating with said spout member with said plug member therein to define said substantially closed chamber; and said shut off plunger controllably moving to a second position in said filling head to control product flow from said filling head into said bag container via said spout member;  
 said shut off plunger defining an axial bore, and a plunger member carried in said axial bore and aligning with said plug member;  
 means for controllably moving said plunger member relative to said filling head and shut off plunger between a first position in which a distal part of said plunger member is adjacent to a head portion of said shut off plunger, and a second position in which said distal portion of said plunger member advances from said shut off plunger and engages with said plug member to push said plug member from said spout member and inwardly of said bag container.  
 
     
     
         18 . A method of filling the flexible bag container, said flexible bag container including a pair of walls sealingly attached to one another so as to cooperatively define a chamber therebetween, a spout member sealingly attached to one of said pair of walls at an opening therein so as to allow product to flow into and from said chamber via said spout member, and a plug member sealing received into and closing said spout member, said method comprising steps of: 
 sealingly engaging said spout member with a filling head, and employing said filling head and spout member with said plug member therein to define a substantially closed chamber;    pressurizing steam to forcefully expel said plug member from said spout member inwardly of said bag container and into said chamber thereof;    filling said chamber of said bag container with a selected volume of contents; and pushing said plug member once again into said spout member for a side thereof facing toward said chamber, to once again sealingly close said spout member.    
     
     
         19 . The method in  claim 18  further including the step of admitting seam to said substantially closed chamber before expelling said plug member from said spout member, and utilizing said steam to sterilize outwardly exposed surfaces of both said spout member and of said plug member.  
     
     
         20 .  
     
     
         21 . The method in  claim 20  further including the step of utilizing a support plate member to support said plug member allowing controlled expelling of said plug member form within said spout member in response to pressured steam admitted to said substantially closed chamber.  
     
     
         22 . The method in  claim 18  further including the step of providing said filling head with a plunger member which aligns with said plug member and is controllably and forcefully axially movably; 
 advancing said plunger member into engagement with said plug member to forcefully expel said plug member from within said spout member and inwardly of said chamber of said bag container.