Process for the aseptic packing of products and machine employing said process

A packing machine for aseptically packing a product and in particular a dairy product, said machine comprising:

• an enclosure defining a space,
• means for producing a stream of sterile air which sweeps through said space,
• an extrusion-blowing first station including extrusion-blowing means for producing internally and externally sterile containers,
• a container filling second station,
• a container closing third station, and
• a container transfer device within said enclosure for moving containers sequentially through said first, second and third stations, said stations all being within said enclosure space and in the path of said sterile air flow, and
• said means for producing said stream of sterile air comprising air inlets having filters provided above said stations and said transfer device and air outlets provided under said stations and said transfer device,
• said containers having orifices having upwardly towards said air inlets and wherein said moving mechanical parts of the machine which are capable of being contaminated being either located outside of the part of the stream of sterile air corresponding to at least the upstream side of the orifices of the containers relative to the direction of flow of the stream of sterile air or being protected therefrom.