Container filling machine and method

A machine for filling flexible containers under aseptic conditions, each container having a spout adapted to be closed by a separable cap, a plurality of the containers being joined together end-to-end to form a continuous row of containers and being packaged in an outer container, the machine including:

• a machine frame defining a container conveying zone through which the joined row of containers are fed one by one during machine operating;
• a container sterilizing assembly on the machine frame and defining a loading station in the conveying zone for receiving the packaged row of containers, the loading station being maintained under aseptic conditions during machine operation and allowing opening of the outer container for feeding of the row of containers along the conveying zone, and the container sterilizing assembly operable to sterilize the outer container with the row of containers packaged therein, said container sterilizing assembly provided with means for sterilizing the separable caps and spouts by application of sterilizing radiation to the row of containers once the row of containers is removed from the outer container;
• a container filling assembly on the machine frame and defining a filling station in the conveying zone, the filling station arranged to receive a continuous stream of sterilized gas during machine operation which maintains the filling station at a pressure at least marginally above atmospheric pressure, and the container filling assembly operable to receive the row of containers fed one by one along the conveying zone from the loading station, remove the separable caps from each received container, fill each received container, and then replace the separable cap;
• and, a container discharge assembly on the machine frame and defining a discharge station in the conveying zone, the discharge assembly operable to receive the row of containers fed one by one along the conveying zone from the filling station.