Dual channel bag filling machine with a clean-in-place system that cleans one channel while the other continues to fill bags

Apparatus for filling containers with fluid product, comprising:

• means for moving a plurality of said containers in succession through a filling station,
• at least two filling nozzles provided as part of the filling station,
• a source of fluid product,
• an individual means associated with each of said at least two filling nozzles for delivering fluid product thereto from said fluid product source,
• a source of cleaning fluid,
• means including at least one receptacle provided as part of the filling station for individually receiving at least one of said filling nozzles at a time to provide fluid communication therewith,
• means providing relative motion between said filling nozzles and both said at least one receptacle and a container positioned within the filling station for establishing fluid communication between individual ones of said nozzles and either said at least one receptacle or a container positioned in the filling station,
• means operable when one of said nozzles establishes fluid communication with a container positioned in the filling station for delivering fluid product from said fluid product source through a respective one of said individual product delivery means to its associated nozzle, thereby to fill said container with the fluid product, and
• means operable when one of said nozzles establishes fluid communication with said receptacle means for delivering cleaning fluid from said cleaning fluid source through a respective one of said individual product delivery means to its associated nozzle and into said receptacle means.