Apparatus for and method of filling flexible containers

In an apparatus for filling flexible containers connected in continuous web form, each container having a spout communicating therewith adapted to be closed by a separable cap, means for incrementally advancing said containers seriatim to a filling station, filling means at said filling station for sequentially filling each container through the opening in its spout, and means for placing a cap on the spout to close the filled container, said filling means including means for excluding the entry of foreign matter into each container through the spout after filling the container and before applying the cap, said means for excluding foreign matter including means for moving a portion of the container toward the spout to engage about and seal off the spout.

In an apparatus for filling flexible containers connected in continuous web form, each container having a spout communicating therewith adapted to be closed by a separable cap, means for incrementally advancing said containers seriatim to a filling station, filling means at said filling station for sequentially filling each container through the opening in its spout, means for placing a cap on the spout to close the filled container, and means for severing each successively filled and capped container from the succeeding connected web of containers.

In an apparatus for filling flexible containers connected in continuous web form, each container having a spout communicating therewith adapted to be closed by a separable cap, means for incrementally advancing said containers seriatim to a filling station, filling means at said filling station for sequentially filling each container through the opening in its spout, and means for placing a cap on the spout to close the filled container, said filling means including means for releasably holding each spout while the respective bag is filled and capped, said means for incrementally advancing said containers including a downwardly sloping trackway for supporting filled containers, whereby upon release of the spout of a given container by said holding means the weight of a filled container moves said container down said trackway and pulls the succeeding empty container to said filling station.

In an apparatus for filling flexible containers connected in continuous web form, each container having a spout communicating therewith adapted to be closed by a separable cap, means for incrementally advancing said containers seriatim to a filling station;

• a spout holder at said filling station for releasably holding the spout of a container advanced thereto, a filling nozzle connectable with said spout for filling said container with contents through said spout, and a capping mechanism at said filling station for applying a cap to the spout of the filled container, said spout holder thereupon releasing said spout and said advancing means then advancing said containers to move the filled container from said filling station and to move a succeeding empty container thereto.

Apparatus for filling flexible containers having a filling aperture adapted to be closed by a separable cap, comprising container filling means engagable with the container aperture, a pressure plate for supporting the container under the filling means, said plate being movable toward and away from the filling means, and means operable upon completion of a filling cycle for moving said plate toward said filling means for causing an internal wall of the container to engage about and seal off said aperture thereby to exclude entry of foreign matter into the container until the aperture is closed by a cap.

A method of filling containers each having a filling aperture therein adapted to be closed by a closure, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of containers connected together seriatim in a continuous row;

• moving the row of containers to move the containers seriatim to a filling station;
• and at the filling station, filling the respective container with contents through the aperture therein, and placing the closure on the container to close the aperture therein.

A method of filling containers each having a filling aperture therein adapted to be closed by a closure, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of containers connected together seriatim in a continuous row;

• moving the row of containers to move the containers seriatim to a filling station;
• and at the filling station, filling the respective container with contents through the aperture therein, and placing the closure on the container to close the aperture therein;
• and after said filling step and prior to said closure placing step, manipulating the filled container to exclude entry into the container of any foreign substance.

A method of filling containers each having a spout communicating therewith adapted to be closed at its outer open end by a separable cap, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of containers connected together seriatim in a continuous row;

• moving the row of containers intermittently to advance the containers seriatim to a filling station;
• and at said filling station, holding the spout on each container with said outer end thereof substantially upright, introducing contents through the outer end of the spout to fill the respective container, placing the cap on the spout to close the same, and releasing the spout.

A method of filling containers each having a spout communicating therewith adapted to be closed at its outer open end by a separable cap, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of containers connected together seriatim in a continuous row;

• moving the row of containers intermittently to advance the containers seriatim to a filling station;
• and at said filling station, holding the spout on each container with said outer end thereof substantially upright, introducing contents through the outer end of the spout to fill the respective container, placing the cap on the spout to close the same, and releasing the spout, and between said introducing and placing steps, manipulating the respective container to exclude entry of gases through the spout.

A method of filling containers each having a spout communicating therewith adapted to be closed at its outer open end by a separable cap, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of containers connected together seriatim in a continuous row;

• moving the row of containers intermittently to advance the containers seriatim to a filling station;
• and at said filling station, holding the spout on each container with said outer end thereof substantially upright, introducing contents through the outer end of the spout to fill the respective container, placing the cap on the spout to close the same, and releasing the spout;
• causing at least one filled container to move the row of containers by an increment equal to the length of one container thereby to advance the next succeeding unfilled container to said filling station, guiding the spout of each successive container to a spout holding means at the filling station and causing said holding means to engage the spout and thereby arrest the movement of the row of containers, and thereafter severing said one filled container from the row of containers.

A method of filling flexible collapsible bags having a filling spout thereon adapted to be closed by a cap, comprising the steps of inserting a filling nozzle into the spout and introducing contents into the bag to fill the bag, moving an internal wall of the bag into overlying relationship relative to the inner end of the spout to seal off the spout and exclude entry of foreign matter, and thereafer removing the filling nozzle from the spout and applying a cap to the outer end of the spout.