A filling machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages is provided. The filling machine comprises a sterilization station configured to provide a flow of gaseous sterilizing agent towards open ends of ready-to-fill packaging containers passing through said sterilization station. The filling machine comprises at least one clean air supply and at least one baffle plate arranged above the at least one clean air supply, wherein the air supply is configured to direct a stream of clean air towards the ready-to-fill packaging containers. The clean air supply in turn comprises at least one distribution pipe and wherein the distribution pipe extends in a horizontal direction, the horizontal direction being in the direction of the flow of packages through the filling machine.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for filling containers in a sterile environment, comprising a filling unit (40) configured to fill containers with sterilized liquids or powders in a sterile environment comprising interchangeable parts characteristic of each production run; a washer sterilizer (20) configured to wash, sterilize, decontaminate, dry in one single process said interchangeable parts of the filling unit (40) before each run for filling the unit (40). The washer sterilizer (20) is directly coupled to the filling unit (40) and is configured to aseptically transfer the interchangeable parts directly to the filling unit (40).

One embodiment of the present invention provides 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 of tunnel for continuously exiting the processed containers; and a conveyor system configured to transporting or convey the containers from the open entry port or tunnel, through and within the apparatus, to the open exit port or tunnel and away from the sanitized environment of the apparatus. The apparatus may be further configured to maintain a sanitized environment within the apparatus, perforator, and/or sealer.

A machine for the preparation of pharmaceutical products in a sterile environment, including at least two stations of a line for preparing pharmaceutical products and automatic transport means for containers of pharmaceutical products, wherein the machine includes a robot positioned inside the machine and robot control means, the robot being a robotic arm which includes movement means for accessing the stations of the machine.

The present application disclosed a method for sterilizing flexible containers using a flexible container sterilizing arrangement. Such containers may comprise bags, pouches, or similar containers. The method comprises moving container material, using a conveying arrangement of the flexible container sterilizing arrangement, through an entry port into a housing of the flexible container sterilizing arrangement. The entry port is formed by a container-material sterilizing device.

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 for hot-filling and sterilizing laminated packages, comprising a pre-heating step, a hot-filling and sterilizing step, a holding step, and a rapid cooling step. The pre-heating step is to perform high-temp-short-time sterilization and to keep the product at the controlled temperature within the first-time interval. The hot-filling sterilization step is to fill up the laminated package with the product after sterilization. The package is sealed and sterilized by the heat from the product. The holding step is to keep the laminated package and the product at an effective sterilization temperature within the second time interval and to achieve the safety standard of sufficient sterilization. The rapid cooling step is to rapidly cool down the filled package within the third time interval and to prevent the product from deteriorating due to overheating. A device utilizing the aforementioned method is also provided.

A method of filling pharmaceutical containers includes: filling a first plurality of containers, the first plurality of containers being supported by a first holder supported on a first step of a first transport and packaging container defining a first step height, the filling includes moving filling needles of a filling device to a filling needle height and dispensing a substance into each of the first plurality of containers; and filling a second plurality of containers, the second plurality of containers being supported by a second holder supported on a second step of a second transport and packaging container defining a second step height equal to the first step height, the filling includes moving the filling needles to the filling needle height and dispensing the substance into each of the second plurality of containers, the second plurality of containers differ from the first plurality of containers in at least one aspect.

The invention relates to a method and a device for treating foods and/or containers for holding foods. The foods and/or containers (2) are treated in at least one treatment zone (4) by a process liquid (3), wherein the process liquid (3) is at least partially recirculated into the treatment zone (4) or the treatment zones (4) after completed treatment of the foods and/or the containers (2). It is provided herein that during continuous treatment at least some or all of the process liquid (3) is used per time unit to form at least one stream (20) of the process liquid (3), the formed stream (20) is filtered by at least one membrane filtration system (19), and a filtered stream (46) is at least partially fed back into an element (8) holding and/or conducting the process liquid (3) and/or into a treatment zone (4).

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for manufacturing food products. In a general embodiment, systems for manufacturing a food product include at least one heat exchanger, at least one food product tank, at least one conduit downstream of the food product tank for flow of the food product, and a flow detection device coupled to an exterior of the conduit. The flow detection device includes a processor and a computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to perform a spread spectrum analysis of the flow of the food product through the conduit. Methods for manufacturing food products are also provided.