A system for evacuating and sealing containers filled with product, for example, food product, includes an enclosed, sealed housing wherein the pressure level and the atmospheric content can be controlled. A vacuum shroud is positioned in registry with a container entrance opening in the housing, the shroud connectible to a vacuum source and to a source of replaceable gas to replace the ambient air to be removed from the container. The shroud is advanceable to seal the container entrance opening and is retractable from the container entrance opening. A container transport system inserts the container through the housing entrance opening and into the shroud. Thereupon, a sealing system seals the housing from the ambient after the container has been inserted into the shroud. After the air in the container has been replaced with an inert gas and then the shroud retracted, a closure subsystem applies a cover to the evacuated container. Thereafter, an out feed subsystem removes the closed container from the housing while maintaining the atmospheric content and pressure level within the housing.

A unit dose container production system (10) is disclosed where a unit dose container (130) is evacuated and thereafter loaded with a radioactive fluid while remaining at a single location. In this regard, the production system (10) uses a first conveyor (12) to sequentially load unit dose containers (130) into an empty container receptacle (24) of a second conveyor (20) at a first location (90). The second conveyor (20) may be operated to dispose a container receptacle (24) at each of the first location (90), a second location (100), and a third location (110). A unit dose container (130) at the second location (100) is evacuated and thereafter loaded with a radioactive fluid, and is thereafter moved to a third location (110) by the second conveyor (20). The unit dose container (130) is removed from the second conveyor (20) at the third location (110), and thereafter the radioactivity content of a unit dose container (130) may be determined, such as at an ionization chamber or the like.

Funnels and gas lances are disclosed for use with filling packages with bulk product.

The present document presents a system and a method for packaging powders in containers (S) through a hopper (T) and a first tube (TC) connected to the hopper (T). Air is sucked both in the area of the first tube and in the area of the hopper. The powder is then drawn directly from inside the hopper thus keeping the flow rate and the degree of compacting of the system constant. Moreover, the powder sucked inside the first tube is thus compacted and can be conveyed compacted towards the outlet. In this way it is possible to control the dosing of the product exiting from the system with high precision.

Funnels and gas lances are disclosed for use with filling packages with bulk product.

Method and apparatus for eliminating oxygen in the filling of a flexible bag with a beverage utilizing sources of inert gas, vacuum, and beverage. A filling head regulates the injection of inert gas and applies a vacuum to the flexible bag the bag spout. The bag spout is separately rinsed of oxygen prior to recapping the same on the flexible bag.

[Problem] Providing a packaging method used in a bag-feeding and packaging apparatus, which can realize speed-up of the bag-feeding and packaging apparatus without limitation of movement acceleration due to the spilling or scattering of an article during movement and which can realize a larger amount of packaging in a short time, and the bag-feeding and packaging apparatus implementing the packaging method. [Overcoming Means] In the packaging method used in a bag-feeding and packaging apparatus P in accordance with the present invention, packaging processes are performed while a packaging bag F is intermittently moved to packaging stations 1 to 9 together with a mover 32, so that an article is packaged, and the packaging stations 1 to 9 include an article (a fluid) filling station 5 where an article filling process of filling the packaging bag with the article is performed. In the article filling station 5, a bag mouth of the packaging bag F is closed before movement to a subsequent packaging station (a steam deaeration/seal part preheating station) 6 after the article filling process has been performed.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to preparation, modified atmosphere and high pressure pasteurization steps for treatment of retail fresh protein preparations. Protein is prepared and subsequently packaged in a modified atmosphere lacking significant amounts of oxygen and then exposed to high-pressure pasteurization. During preparation the protein may be exposed to aqueous ozone further reducing the microbial load, extending shelf-life, and increasing product safety.

Funnels and gas lances are disclosed for use with filling packages with bulk product.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing plastic containers within an open aseptic converter chamber comprising a sanitized environment, a supply line, a sanitizer device, a perforator device, a sealing device, and a conveyer. During operation, the method includes: providing and filling a container with heated or heatable liquid including water; sealing the container with a seal or cap; cooling the container to create a first headspace pressure; enclosing the container within the chamber; creating an opening in the seal or cap within a sanitized environment of the perforator device; increasing the first headspace pressure to a second headspace pressure by introduction of a sanitized fluid; resealing the container within a sanitized environment of the sealing device; and, transporting or conveying the sealed container away from the chamber.