Apparatus for sterilizing a spout assembly of a container

An apparatus for disinfecting a spout assembly for subsequent application on a container, the spout assembly comprising a cap disposed on a fitment, the spout assembly further comprising an interior portion for subsequent disposition toward the interior of the container and an exterior portion for subsequent disposition toward the exterior of the container, the apparatus comprising:

• a track for supporting and guiding a plurality of the spout assemblies along a predetermined path;
• a gate mechanism disposed to interrupt movement of the plurality of spout assemblies along the predetermined path, the gate assembly being operable to selectively retain individual ones of the spout assemblies at a predetermined position along the predetermined path and to selectively pass the retained spout assembly for further travel along the predetermined path;
• a spray mechanism disposed in fixed alignment with a spout assembly retained at the predetermined position for spraying the retained spout assembly with a disinfecting solution.

A fitment and cap sterilizer for sterilizing an interior portion of a spout assembly prior to application of the spout assembly to a container, the sterilizer comprising:

• a track for guiding the spout assembly through the sterilizer;
• a gate disposed at a predetermined position along the track for controlling the movement of the spout assembly at the predetermined position along the track;
• a sprayer disposed opposite the gate at the predetermined position to spray the interior portion of the spout assembly with a disinfecting solution.