The present invention relates to a device and a method for decanting a beverage initially contained in one or more closed bottles into smaller containers. The device comprises an enclosure under an inert atmosphere, provided with an inlet port comprising receiving means, into which inlet port the neck of the bottles is fitted, and an outlet port through which the hermetically sealed containers are evacuated. The device contains an opening station for opening the bottles fitted into the receiving means, a collection vessel that collects the liquid flowing out of the bottles, a filling station for filling the containers from the collection vessel, and a sealing station for hermetically sealing the containers. In the method, the steps of opening and emptying the bottles, and of filling and hermetically sealing the containers, are all carried out under an inert atmosphere.

The invention relates to a discharge control device, comprising a hopper (1) receiving a metered product amount where it is deposited, discharge control elements (3) movable between a closed position and an open position by a driving mechanism, and a fill tube (2) connecting the discharge control device with a fill nozzle of the form-fill-seal machine whereby a bag is filled with product, wherein the driving mechanism of the discharge control elements (3) comprise a motor (7) driving the movement of one of the discharge control elements (3), and a synchronizing connecting rod (9) synchronizing the movement of the discharge control element (3) driven by the motor (7) with the other discharge control element (3). The invention allows filling bags reliably and more quickly.

A device and a method for producing fascines in particular straw-fiber fascines, coconut-fiber fascines, wood-fiber fascines, and hemp-fiber fascines are provided. The device comprises a plurality of conveyor screws for conveying fibrous material such as straw fibers, coconut fibers, wood fibers, or hemp fibers, in a tubular element for filling the fibrous material into a tubular net. Moreover, the device comprises a distributor box. The distributor box has an interior space having an infeed opening for infeeding the fibrous material, and one or a plurality of base-side openings. The base-side openings herein serve for in-feeding fibrous material from the distributor box to the conveyor screws.

The present invention involves a system and method for monitoring and controlling the aseptic dispensing of a pharmaceutical fluid into containers. The system employs a pharmaceutical fluid dispensing head to dispense droplets of the pharmaceutical fluid along a droplet path into the container and a droplet monitoring system to monitor the droplets produced and dispensed. The volume of at least one droplet is determined based on images of the droplet falling along the droplet path. The volume of pharmaceutical fluid dispensed is determined from the volume of the droplets. The pharmaceutical fluid dispensing head and the droplet monitoring system may be mutually integrated and may be used in systems using different mechanisms for moving containers, including rotary stage systems and robotic arms.

Containers of the same or different size are filled with a non-viscous fluid at discrete stations, each container being filled independently of each other container. Multiple containers of the same or different size are positioned at multiple discrete stations, each container being at a different station. A non-viscous fluid is flowed into a container to a desired level. The level is sensed with a level sensor and the fluid flow stopped at the desired level. The fluid flow is reversed to prevent fluid dripping when a filled bottle is removed.

A method comprising controlling a beverage-filling system that comprises a filling machine with a ring bowl that feeds beverage to filling elements, each having a valve and a flow meter includes deriving a flow signal and using it to derive a regulating signal for regulating an inflow of beverage into the ring bowl, thereby maintaining a target level of beverage in the ring bowl. The flow signal comes from either summing signals from all flow meters to obtain aggregate quantity of beverage being filled into all containers or a calculation that relies on a measured speed of the filling machine, the number of filling elements in the filling machine, and the volumes of the bottles to be filled.

A system is presented for monitoring and controlling in a sterilizable environment the peeling of a cover from a tub sealed by the cover. The system employs a platform having a fiducial source locating structure for holding the tub, a cover removal station disposed to engage with the cover and to peel the cover from the tub, a light source disposed to illuminate a portion of the platform proximate the cover removal station, a light sensor sensitive to light from the light source and disposed to preferentially collect and measure light diffusely reflected from the illuminated portion of the platform, and a controller with software to operate the system. An associated method for monitoring and controlling the peeling of the cover involves moving a peeled portion of the cover into a predetermined peeling monitor zone within the illuminated portion of the platform, and measuring an intensity of light from the light source diffusely reflected specifically from the peeling monitor zone. The positioning of the elements of the system and the peeling monitor zone allow measured light intensity to be employed as a control measure for the peeling process.

A method for filling packages with changing products in a filling machine is disclosed. Packages are successively transported through a filling machine, and the packages are each successively filled with a first product in a sterile environment via a filling outlet connected to a product tank. To empty the product tank, at least one outlet means is brought into an emptying position, and a residue of the first product is discharged at least partially from the sterile environment, via the outlet means located in the emptying position. The outlet means is removed from the emptying position following the emptying of the product tank. Packages are subsequently each successively filled with a second product in a sterile environment, via a filling outlet connected to a product tank.

A bulk container vacuum filing system includes a base portion and movable portion. The bulk container vacuum filing system serves to position and maintain a bulk container within a chamber, seal the interior of the chamber, dispense material into the bulk container, and draw a vacuum or create positive pressure within the chamber and/or the bulk container during at least a portion of the dispensing process. Base portion of the bulk container vacuum filing system includes a vacuum source and a material supply line along with electronic controls and sensors for operating and monitoring the filling process. The moveable portion include a support structure for supporting the bulk container, such as a bulk bag, in the proper place.

A method of filling containers with liquid product includes receiving a signal from at least one sensor corresponding to an amount of liquid product in a holding tank, the holding tank having an outlet for feeding the liquid product to a container filling apparatus; transferring liquid product from the outlet of the holding tank to an inlet of the container filling apparatus; and filling at least one container with the liquid product through at least one nozzle of the container filling apparatus for a predetermined fill time, wherein an amount of the liquid product dispensed during the predetermined fill time is based on a pressure at the outlet of the holding tank, wherein a head pressure in the holding tank is increased based on the signal from the sensor to control the pressure at the outlet of the holding tank as the liquid product is fed from the holding tank.