Patent US3837482A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4452030A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4452030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contamination-free method and apparatus for filling spouted bags with a fluid
Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-06-27
•
Granted: 1984-06-05
•
Expires: 2003-06-27
Abstract
Abstract For filling successive spouted bags with a beverage or like fluid product to a prescribed weight, a filling valve assembly and a cap remover assembly are immovably mounted side by side in a germfree chamber formed over a weighing platform. After the germfree chamber and the interior of a filling head forming a part of the filling valve assembly have been sterilized, a bag is placed on or over the weighing platform, with its capped spout caught by a spout carrier arm, which is supported on the weighing platform for both linear up-and-down motion and pivotal motion about a vertical axis. Following the removal of the cap from the spout by the cap remover assembly, the arm carries the spout to a position under the filling valve assembly and holds the spout against the filling head. The fluid is first charged into the bag at a high rate to an extent slightly less than the prescribed weight and then, with the spout separated and held at a slight distance from the filling head, at a reduced rate to the prescribed weight as ascertained by the weighing platform. Sterilized air under pressure is introduced into the germfree chamber throughout the progress of the filling operation to maintain the chamber at a higher-than-atmospheric pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Junji Inada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:54
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B55/00; B65B55/02; B65B55/022; B65B1/00; B65B1/30; B65B1/32; B65B1/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
347 words
A contamination-free method of filling bags with a fluid product to a prescribed weight, each bag having a spout openably closed with a cap, which method comprises: (a) providing a filling valve assembly and a cap remover assembly in fixed positions and in side-by-side relation in a germfree chamber, the filling valve assembly having a filling head for downwardly dispensing the fluid product through an opening in the bottom of the chamber; (b) providing a weighing platform under the germfree chamber; (c) sterilizing at least the germfree chamber and the interior of the filling head; (d) supporting a bag on said weighing platform while holding the spout of a bag in a first position substantially within the chamber; (e) removing the cap from the spout of the bag in the first position by the cap remover assembly; (f) carrying the open spout of the bag to a second position substantially within the chamber and under the filling head while the bag is supported on the weighing platform; (g) raising the spout into engagement with the filliing head located above the spout and charging the fluid product into the bag from the filling head through the open spout to an extent less than the prescribed weight while the spout of the bag is being held against the filling head; (h) lowering the spout of the bag from the filling head to said second position to disengage the spout from the filling head and to freely rest the bag on the weighing platform; (i) further charging the fluid product into the bag from the filling head to the prescribed weight, as ascertained by the weighing platform, while the spout of the bag is being held at a slight distance from the filling head; (j) carrying the spout of the filled bag back to the first position; (k) reclosing the spout of the bag with the cap by the cap remover assembly; and (l) introducing sterilized air under pressure into the germfree chamber at least throughout the steps (d) through (k), inclusive, to maintain the chamber at a higher-than-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
347 words
A contamination-free method of filling bags with a fluid product to a prescribed weight, each bag having a spout openably closed with a cap, which method comprises: (a) providing a filling valve assembly and a cap remover assembly in fixed positions and in side-by-side relation in a germfree chamber, the filling valve assembly having a filling head for downwardly dispensing the fluid product through an opening in the bottom of the chamber; (b) providing a weighing platform under the germfree chamber; (c) sterilizing at least the germfree chamber and the interior of the filling head; (d) supporting a bag on said weighing platform while holding the spout of a bag in a first position substantially within the chamber; (e) removing the cap from the spout of the bag in the first position by the cap remover assembly; (f) carrying the open spout of the bag to a second position substantially within the chamber and under the filling head while the bag is supported on the weighing platform; (g) raising the spout into engagement with the filliing head located above the spout and charging the fluid product into the bag from the filling head through the open spout to an extent less than the prescribed weight while the spout of the bag is being held against the filling head; (h) lowering the spout of the bag from the filling head to said second position to disengage the spout from the filling head and to freely rest the bag on the weighing platform; (i) further charging the fluid product into the bag from the filling head to the prescribed weight, as ascertained by the weighing platform, while the spout of the bag is being held at a slight distance from the filling head; (j) carrying the spout of the filled bag back to the first position; (k) reclosing the spout of the bag with the cap by the cap remover assembly; and (l) introducing sterilized air under pressure into the germfree chamber at least throughout the steps (d) through (k), inclusive, to maintain the chamber at a higher-than-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the germfree chamber is sterilized by: (a) heating the chamber by passing heated, sterilized air therethrough; (b) hermetically closing the heated chamber; (c) introducing a sterilizing liquid in subdivided form into the heated, closed chamber; (d) passing heated, sterilized air into and out of the chamber for exhausting the sterilizing liquid therefrom and for drying the chamber; and (e) opening the chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the sterilizing liquid is a hydrogen peroxide solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the solution is about 35%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the heated, sterilized air is continuously introduced into the germfree chamber even after the chamber is opened, and as long as the filling operation of the bags proceeds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the germfree chamber is sterilized by introducing sterilized steam into the chamber while the latter is closed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the pressure and temperature in the chamber are controlled by adjusting a pressure control valve provided in a drain conduit connected to the chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6, wherein a part of the steam is introduced through the interior of the filling head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the interior of the filling head is sterilized by passing steam therethrough under increased pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid product is charged into the bag at a higher rate when the spout of the bag is held against the filling head than when the spout is held at the slight distance therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the spout of the bag is separated from the filling head, to be held at the slight distance therefrom, immediately after the reduction of the rate at which the fluid product is charged into the bag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, which further comprises sterilizing at least the spout of the bag being held in the first position on the weighing platform, before the cap is removed therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the spout of the bag is sterilized with a spray of chlorine water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US676100A
Cited
US2017766A
Cited
US2337170A
Cited
US3359062A
Cited
US3299606A
Cited
US3403826A
Cited
US3254683A
Cited
US3377775A
Cited
US3447281A
Cited
US3491803A
Cited
US3430639A
Cited
US3595281A
Cited
US3765142A
Cited
US4024896A
Cited
US4077182A
Cited
JPS532395A
Cited
US4120134A
Cited
US4300600A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-05 | 1987-12-05 | 1988-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-05 | 1991-12-05 | 1992-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-05 | 1995-12-05 | 1996-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |