Apparatus and process for manufacturing a filled flexible pouch

A process of manufacturing a filled flexible pouch, said method comprising the steps of:

• placing a flexible pouch having a front panel joined to a back panel at side edges and a lower edge and open at an upper edge into a cylindrical cup member having an open upper end, a closed lower end and a side wall extending therebetween the upper end and lower end, an inside portion of the side wall includes a pair of opposed guide channels for receiving the side edges of the flexible pouch, the side wall includes a slot positioned adjacent the guide channel, the side wall includes a notched opening positioned above each of the guide channels, and a pouch opening lever arm pivotally attached to the side wall of the cup member, wherein the pouch opening lever includes a lower portion below the pivotal attachment point having a wheel at an outer end and an upper portion above the pivotal attachment point having an outwardly extending push member at an outer end;
• opening the pouch by engaging the wheels of the lever arm by a lifting surface disposed below a transport means to pivotally move the pushing member through the notched opening in the cup member to push apart the front and back panels of the pouch;
• filling the pouch with the product using a fill nozzle positioned above the opened pouch;
• closing the pouch by pivotally moving the pouch opening lever arm away from the pouch;
• sealing the upper edge of the panels of the pouch;
• and
• removing the filled pouch from the cup member.