The invention refers to a plant for treating receptacles adapted to contain a pourable product comprising: at least a treatment unit apt to carry out a treatment process on the receptacles; an isolation chamber housing the treatment unit and containing, in use, a controlled atmosphere controlled in sterile and/or aseptic conditions; and a filtering unit configured to filter a gas to be introduced in the isolation chamber for constituting the controlled atmosphere; wherein the treatment plant further comprises a test device housed inside the isolation chamber, immersed, in use, in the controlled atmosphere and configured to perform one or more test operations on the filtering unit.

In combination a spouted pouch (1) to be filled with a flowable product by a filling machine, a plug (50), and a cap (70). The interference fit plug is releasably mounted over the top end of the neck of the spout body and hermetically seals the product passage of the spout body. The plug is adapted to be removed by the filling machine and to be replaced by pressing the plug onto the neck after filling of the pouch. The plug removal, filling, and replacing of the plug are preferably performed in an aseptic environment. The cap is after the filling of the pouch and the replacing of the plug onto the neck. The capping is preferably performed by a capping machine in a non-aseptic environment.

Described and illustrated is a device for filling and/or processing packagings, in particular composite cardboard packagings, and/or for processing packages, preferably comprising composite cardboard packagings, with a space delimited at least partially by side walls, in particular for receiving a sterile or aseptic atmosphere, with at least one cell carrier for receiving at least one packaging and/or package and with at least one transport device for transporting the packagings and/or packages at least partially and at least in sections through the space. In order to easily and reliably achieve a sterile or aseptic atmosphere in the limited space, it is provided that at least one side wall with a lower edge is immersed in a liquid bath and that the at least one cell carrier is guided beneath the side wall through the liquid bath outwards to the transport device arranged on the side of the side wall immersed in the liquid bath facing away from the space.

A package for holding pharmaceutical containers on a filling line includes: a transport and packaging container having a plurality of connected sidewalls, a base, an upper edge opposite the base, and a step defining a step height that is constant relative to the upper edge and less than an overall height defined between the upper edge and the base; and a holder placed in the transport and packaging container and having a plurality of holder openings formed therein. The holder is supported on the step and configured to hold a container in each of the holder openings so the held containers are suspended within the transport and packaging container. The step height is constant and independent of at least one of a shape, a type, or a size of each of the held containers.

Embodiments of a cell traverse for an aseptic region of a filling machine for filling packages with flowable products are provided. The cell traverse includes a frame structure with at least one first lateral longitudinal structure, at least one second lateral longitudinal structure opposite the first longitudinal structure, and a plurality of transverse elements arranged between the first and second longitudinal structures and connecting the longitudinal structures. Between the longitudinal structures and the transverse elements there are a plurality of cells of the cell traverse for receiving packages to be filled. At least some of the transverse elements are connected exclusively in an form-fit and/or force-fit manner to the longitudinal structures.

Embodiments of a cell traverse for an aseptic region of a filling machine for filling packages with flowable products are provided. The cell traverse includes a frame structure with a first lateral longitudinal structure and a second lateral longitudinal structure opposite the first longitudinal structure. Also included are a plurality of transverse elements arranged between the first and second longitudinal structures and connecting the longitudinal structures. Between the longitudinal structures and the transverse elements a plurality of cells of the cell traverse are formed for receiving packages to be filled. The cell traverse also includes insert elements, which each have the frame structure, in particular at least one longitudinal structure and/or at least one transverse element, and at least some of the insert elements are detachably connected to the frame structure of the cell traverse.

According to aspects of this disclosure there is provided a method for processing plastic containers comprising: i. Providing a container suitable for hot-filling; ii. Filling the container with heated or heatable liquid including water; iii. Sealing the container with a seal or cap to close the container; iv. Cooling the liquid in the sealed container to create a first headspace pressure within the container; v. Enclosing the cooled and sealed container within an open aseptic converter chamber, wherein the converter chamber comprises: 1. A sanitized environment; 2. Means for maintaining the sanitization of the container within the converter chamber; 3. Means for perforating or opening the cap or seal of the container within the converter chamber; 4. Means for sealing the opening or perforation within the converter chamber; and 5. Means for transporting or conveying multiple containers within the converter chamber. vi. Creating an opening in the seal or cap of the container within a sanitized environment of a perforator means or device for creating an opening in the seal or cap; vii. Increasing the first headspace pressure to a second headspace pressure within the container by the introduction of a sanitized fluid to the headspace of the container; viii. Resealing the container within a sanitized environment of a sealing means or device; ix. Transporting or conveying the sealed container from the sanitized environment of the converter chamber.

A method for controlling a packaging machine in which at least two operating states of the packaging machine are defined and independent from one another. At least one of a plurality of defined process sequences is allocated to each of the operating states and at least one actuator of the packaging machine is actuated by a process sequence, in order to carry out at least one action. Improved control and maintenance of the machine is made possible by an authorisation for access to an actuator being exclusively and specifically allocated to only one process sequence depending on the operating state.

A filler assembly comprising a pouch preheat zone, a pouch sterilization zone, and a pouch flush zone. The preheat zone includes a preheat nozzle assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet engageable with a pouch assembly, and a preheat vacuum nozzle assembly having an inlet engageable with a pouch assembly and an outlet attachable to a vacuum. The pouch sterilization zone includes a sterilization nozzle assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet engageable with a pouch assembly, and, a sterilization vacuum nozzle assembly having an inlet engageable with a pouch assembly and an outlet attachable to a vacuum. The pouch flush zone includes a pouch flush nozzle assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet engageable with a pouch assembly, and, a pouch flush vacuum nozzle assembly having an inlet engageable with a pouch assembly and an outlet attachable to a vacuum.

A method for the production of a stabilized packaged food product comprising the steps of: filling a tray with a predetermined quantity of a food starting material; introducing the tray into a pressure vessel and conveying the tray through the pressure vessel while performing the following steps in sequence inside the pressure vessel: (i) treating the food starting material with high-temperature pressurized steam to sterilize the material, and (ii) dosing the sterile food material inside said tray with a predetermined amount of sterile water; and (iii) applying a lid to the tray to seal the food product inside the tray while maintaining the tray in a sterile environment. Suitable food starting materials comprise starchy food products, such as rice, wheat or pasta, and/or meat or vegetable pieces. Also provided are an apparatus for performing the method and packaged stabilized full moisture food products obtainable by the process.