A filling/closing device comprises a conditioned zone 2 for performing operations to containers. A drive actuator 11 of an operating system is movable with into and out of the zone. The drive actuator extends through a decontamination box 14 with an outer suction chamber 15 and an inner sterilization chamber 16 is provided. A sterilization medium supply 17 connects to the sterilization chamber, and a discharge 22 connects to the suction chamber. One or more outflow gaps 20, 21 are provided which connect the sterilization to the suction chamber. According to the invention an inner inflow gap 24 is provided in between the suction chamber and the drive actuator which connects the zone to the suction chamber.

A method and device for supplying an inert gas in a beverage filling plant are provided. The method includes feeding surplus process heat from the beverage filling plant to a heat exchanger, feeding an inert gas from an inert gas source to the heat exchanger, heating the inert gas in the heat exchanger, and supplying the heated inert gas for use in the beverage filling plant.

A method is described and illustrated for filling packages open on one side, in particular cardboard composite packages, with flowable products, in particular foodstuffs, in a filling machine. So that the packages can be impinged sufficiently and reliably with hot air, drying air and/or sterilising agent simply, quickly and with a small space requirement, it is provided that hot air, drying air and/or sterilising agent is introduced into the packages 2 open on one side from above via at least one nozzle as they are transported past under the nozzle and in that the hot air, the drying air and/or the sterilising agent are directed towards the packages from at least one elongated nozzle slot extending transverse to the transport direction.

A method and device for supplying an inert gas in a beverage filling plant are provided. The method includes feeding surplus process heat from the beverage filling plant to a heat exchanger, feeding an inert gas from an inert gas source to the heat exchanger, heating the inert gas in the heat exchanger, and supplying the heated inert gas for use in the beverage filling plant.

A method is described for filling packages open on one side with flowable products in a filling machine. In order for the packages open on one side to be processed reliably, it is provided that hot air, drying air, sterilising agent and/or flowable product is introduced via at least one nozzle into packages open on one side, that the packages are moved from a starting position, before the introduction of the air, agent, and/or flowable product, into an end position, after the introduction of the air, agent, and/or flowable product, and that the packages, during the introduction of the air, agent, and/or flowable product, are moved along a straight or continuously curved transport direction defined by the starting position and the end position and are moved in a processing movement overlaying the transport direction and extending at least in sections transversely to the transport direction.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for processing containers. The system may include an apparatus for processing sealed plastic containers having a first headspace pressure. The apparatus may include: an open entry port or tunnel for continuously receiving containers; a sanitizer configured to sanitize outside surfaces of the received containers; a perforator configured to perforate or open a cap or seal of the containers within the apparatus; a sealer configured to seal the perforation or opening formed in the cap or seal of the containers; an open exit port or tunnel for continuously exiting the processed containers; and a conveyor system configured to transport or convey the containers. The system may further include a production line including a filler for filling empty blow-moulded containers with a heated liquid to pasteurize inside surfaces of the containers and a capper for sealing the filled blow moulded containers.

A method and a device for treating food and/or containers for holding food treats the food and/or containers in at least one treatment zone by a process liquid, wherein the process liquid is at least partially recirculated into the treatment zone or the treatment zones after completed treatment of the food and/or the containers. During continuous treatment at least some or all of the process liquid is used per time unit to form at least one stream of the process liquid, the formed stream is filtered by at least one membrane filtration system, and a filtered stream is at least partially fed back into an element holding and/or conducting the process liquid and/or into a treatment zone.

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 closure apparatus for openings for access to industrial machines includes a door which can move, by virtue of the action of a respective actuator which includes a motorized shaft which supports at least two mutually opposite pulleys for winding flexible elements connected to respective substantially upper and external portions of the door. The actuator includes substantially at an intermediate section of the shaft, at least one third idle pulley for winding at least one third flexible element connected to a substantially upper and central portion of the door. The third pulley is provided with at least one position sensor for detecting an unrolling of the third flexible element.

A modular production system including a plurality of production modules connected in a linear series to form a production tunnel, and collectively defining a production channel, and wherein at least one fluid inlet port defined along the production tunnel, said inlet port is in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source, whereby influx of fluid from said fluid source through said fluid inlet port acts to maintain the fluid pressure within the production channel at a higher pressure than the atmospheric pressure outside of the production tunnel; and wherein one of said production modules positioned between said proximal-most and distal-most production modules comprises a depyrogenator and/or sterilization module, comprising a transparent tubular body, and an irradiation source positioned external to said transparent tubular body, said irradiation source capable of heating the internal environment of the depyrogenation and/or sterilization module to a temperature sufficient to depyrogenate or sterilize articles passing therethrough, and associated processes.