Methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed including a method of filling a container with substantially only a liquid. The method can include the removal of a gas from the container prior to, during or after the filling of the container with the liquid. According to one embodiment, the container includes an inner liner and a lid. The method includes providing a volume defined by at least the inner liner and the lid of the container. In such embodiment, the liquid can initially be contained within a first portion of the volume and a remaining portion of the volume can contain a gas. The method can include removing substantially all the gas from the volume via one or more ports that communicate with the volume while retaining substantially only the liquid within the volume.

A tube holder for a tube-filling machine has a cup-shaped housing which comprises an upwardly opening tube receiving means into which a tube is insertable by way of one axial end region thereof. A clamping device, by which a clamping force can be applied to the tube, is arranged in the region of the tube wall of the tube receiving means. It can be provided in this case that that the clamping device comprises at least one magnet which is movable by means of at least one electric coil and/or at least one permanent magnet between a clamping position, in which a clamping force is applied to the tube, and a releasing position in which a clamping force is not applied to the tube. Alternatively, the clamping device can comprise a magnetorheological fluid, the viscosity of which is modifiable by at least one electric coil and/or at least one permanent magnet.

A tube holder for a tube-filling machine has a cup-shaped housing which comprises an upwardly opening tube receiving means into which a tube is insertable by way of one axial end region thereof. A clamping device, by which a clamping force can be applied to the tube, is arranged in the region of the tube wall of the tube receiving means. It can be provided in this case that that the clamping device comprises at least one magnet which is movable by means of at least one electric coil and/or at least one permanent magnet between a clamping position, in which a clamping force is applied to the tube, and a releasing position in which a clamping force is not applied to the tube. Alternatively, the clamping device can comprise a magnetorheological fluid, the viscosity of which is modifiable by at least one electric coil and/or at least one permanent magnet.

Methods for manufacturing a plastic container and for filling it with a fill product are described. The methods include introducing a perform into a blow mold, pressuring the preform with a blowing medium, evacuating the interior space of the container to an underpressure, and introducing a fill product in the interior space at an overpressure.

A tube holder for a tube-filling machine has a cup-shaped housing, which has an upwardly opening tube mount, into which a tube can be inserted with an axial end area thereof. A clamping device, by which a clamping force can be applied to the tube, is arranged in the area of the tube wall of the tube mount. Provisions are made for the clamping device to have at least one inflatable clamping element with an inner chamber, into which a pressurized fluid can be filled through a feed line. The clamping element can be adjusted between a clamping position, in which a clamping force is applied to the tube, and a releasing position, in which no clamping force is preferably applied to the tube.

A tube holder for a tube-filling machine has a cup-shaped housing, which has an upwardly opening tube mount, into which a tube can be inserted with an axial end area thereof. A clamping device, by which a clamping force can be applied to the tube, is arranged in the area of the tube wall of the tube mount. Provisions are made for the clamping device to have at least one inflatable clamping element with an inner chamber, into which a pressurized fluid can be filled through a feed line. The clamping element can be adjusted between a clamping position, in which a clamping force is applied to the tube, and a releasing position, in which no clamping force is preferably applied to the tube.

Provided is a filling apparatus including: a conveyor line configured to intermittently convey spout-equipped bags, which are suspended so that spouts protruding from one side of the spout-equipped bags, the bags being flat, are located on an upper side and the bags are located on a lower side, in a width direction of the suspended spout-equipped bags on a movement straight line; a printing apparatus disposed in the middle of the conveyor line and configured to print manufacturing information on the suspended spout-equipped bags; and nozzles configured to fill the suspended spout-equipped bags with a liquid material through the spouts. The conveyor line is further configured to convey the spout-equipped bags so that fronts of the spout-equipped bags directly face the printing apparatus.

A machine for packaging a product into flexible packages comprises one or more shaping and filling units for shaping and filling the packages; each shaping and filling unit extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises at least one nozzle, feeding means configured to make advance along the longitudinal axis a tubular casing of the material with which to make the packages and having an internal surface facing toward the nozzle, longitudinal welding means configured to form at least a first longitudinal weld that joins together at least two sides of the tubular casing and preliminary sterilization means, disposed in proximity to said longitudinal welding means for delivering a sterilizing agent.

A machine for packaging a product into flexible packages comprises one or more shaping and filling units for shaping and filling the packages; each shaping and filling unit extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises at least one nozzle, feeding means configured to make advance along the longitudinal axis a tubular casing of the material with which to make the packages and having an internal surface facing toward the nozzle, longitudinal welding means configured to form at least a first longitudinal weld that joins together at least two sides of the tubular casing and preliminary sterilization means, disposed in proximity to said longitudinal welding means for delivering a sterilizing agent.

An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid. The apparatus including a connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source, a plurality of conduits, and a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and each of the plurality of containers, each container being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of conduits via a knot formed from material forming a neck of the container, the knot being configured to releasably couple the container to the respective conduit and automatically seal the container when the container is decoupled from the apparatus.