An aseptic filler apparatus (30) includes an actuatable fitment plug assembly (500) that may be placed against the bottom of a fitment collar, which is in communication with a flexible bag to be filled with flowable food products, thereby to prevent steam or other gasses or liquids from entering the
An aseptic filler apparatus (30) includes an actuatable fitment plug assembly (500) that may be placed against the bottom of a fitment collar, which is in communication with a flexible bag to be filled with flowable food products, thereby to prevent steam or other gasses or liquids from entering the fill bag when undesirable to do so. The plug assembly (500) includes a plug (502) mounted on a distal end portion of a pivot arm (504). The opposite end of the pivot arm is rotatably axled on a cross pin. A linear actuator (518) is connected to the distal end of a lug (512) projecting transversely from the pivot arm. The opposite end of the linear actuator (518) is pinned to a stationary location, enabling the actuator to pivot the plug (502) from an engaged position against the fitment collar and a retracted position away from the fitment collar.
대표청구항▼
1. An aseptic filler apparatus operable in a fill cycle to fill flexible bags with food products, the flexible bags fitted with a fitment composed of a collar nominally in food flow communication with the flexible bag and a removable cap engageable with the collar, the filler apparatus comprising: a
1. An aseptic filler apparatus operable in a fill cycle to fill flexible bags with food products, the flexible bags fitted with a fitment composed of a collar nominally in food flow communication with the flexible bag and a removable cap engageable with the collar, the filler apparatus comprising: a. An enclosed filler chamber comprising a top ceiling structure spanning across a top of the filler chamber and a bottom floor structure spanning across a bottom of the filler chamber, the floor structure defining an opening extending therethrough;b. A filler head disposed in the filler chamber to direct food products into the flexible bag through the fitment, the filler head movable downward in the filler chamber and through the bottom floor structure opening to engage the fitment to fill the flexible bags with food products and movable upward in the filler chamber to disengage from the fitment when not filling the flexible bag with the food products;c. A fitment chamber positioned beneath the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber, the fitment chamber comprising a top section in communication with the bottom floor structure opening, and extending below, the filler chamber bottom floor structure, an internal wall structure extending downwardly from the filler chamber bottom floor structure to an elevation below the filler chamber bottom floor structure, the fitment chamber positioned to receive the filler head when the filler head is engaged with the fitment, the fitment chamber being of a substantially smaller volume than the volume of the filler chamber;d. A holder assembly to releasably hold the fitment stationary within the fitment chamber and at an elevation below the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber during the filling of the flexible bag, the holder assembly located below the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber;A powered closure system to selectively close the opening of bottom floor structure while the fitment is held stationary within the fitment chamber; andf. A fitment plug assembly moveable between an actuated position to bear against the fitment collar to block communication between the filler chamber and the interior of the flexible bag during desired portions of the fill cycle and a retracted position wherein the fitment plug assembly is spaced away from the fitment collar to not hinder food flow communication between the filler chamber and the interior of the flexible bag. 2. The filler apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fitment plug assembly is positioned externally of the flexible bag. 3. The filler apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the fitment plug assembly is in actuated position, a portion of the flexible bag is interposed between the fitment collar and the fitment plug. 4. The filler apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fitment plug assembly when in actuated position closes off the fitment collar at the intersection of the fitment collar and the flexible bag, thereby to prevent communication between the filler chamber and the interior of the bag. 5. The filler apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fitment plug assembly comprises an actuator assembly for moving the fitment plug between the actuated position and the retracted position of the fitment plug assembly, the actuator assembly comprising a pivot arm for supporting the fitment plug and an actuator for moving the pivot arm between the actuated position of the fitment plug assembly and the retracted position of the fitment plug assembly. 6. The filler apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fitment cap removal and replacement apparatus, the cap removal and replacement apparatus positionable within the fitment chamber to engage with the fitment cap to remove the fitment cap from the fitment collar, thereby to provide access to the fitment collar during filling of the flexible bag by the filler head, and replacement of the fitment cap into engagement with the fitment collar. 7. The filler apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a source of steam;a steam delivery system for directing the steam from the steam source to an inlet within the fitment chamber, the steam collected within the fitment chamber; anda steam removal system for directing steam out of the fitment chamber. 8. The filler apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the closure system comprises a plug structure to engage snugly down into the fitment chamber to close the opening of the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber, without the need to continually apply downward pressure on the plug structure. 9. The filler apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fitment chamber is defined at least in part by a housing structure located under the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber. 10. The filler apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fitment chamber further comprises a cleaning fluid inlet and a cleaning fluid outlet. 11. The filler apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the closure system extends downwardly into the fitment chamber when closing the opening of the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber. 12. An apparatus for aseptically filling flexible bags with a flowable food product, the bags fitted with a fitment composed of a collar nominally in food product flow communication with the interior of the flexible bag, and a cap engageable with the collar to close off the collar, the apparatus comprising: a. a filler chamber defined by a top ceiling structure spanning across a top of the filler chamber and a bottom floor structure spanning across a bottom of the filler chamber, the bottom floor structure defining an opening extending therethrough;b. a filler head disposed in the filler chamber, the filler head in communication with a supply of flowable food product, the filler head configured to direct flowable food product to the fitment collar, the filler head movable downward in the filler chamber and through the bottom floor structure opening to engage the fitment to fill the flexible bags with food products and movable upward in the filler chamber to disengage from the fitment when not filling the flexible bag with the food products;c. a fitment chamber positioned below the filler chamber, the fitment chamber: having a top section in communication with the filler chamber bottom floor structure opening;extending below the filler chamber bottom floor structure;comprising an internal wall structure extending downwardly from the filler chamber bottom floor structure to an elevation below the filler chamber bottom floor structure; andpositioned to receive the filler head when the filler head is engaged with the fitment;d. a fitment holder for releasably holding the fitment collar stationary within the fitment chamber, and below the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber, during filling of the bag via the filler head, the fitment holder located below the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber;a powered closure system to selectively close the opening of the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber while the fitment is held stationary within the fitment chamber; andf. an activatable fitment closure apparatus for selectively closing off the fitment collar, thereby to prevent communication between the filler chamber and the interior of the flexible bag before and after the flowable food product has been introduced into the flexible bag. 13. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein the fitment holder holds the fitment in communication with the filler chamber. 14. The improvement according to claim 12, further comprising a steam inlet within the fitment chamber for connecting the fitment chamber to a source of steam, and a steam outlet within the fitment chamber for expelling steam from the fitment chamber. 15. The improvement according to claim 12, further comprising a fitment cap removal/replacement apparatus, the removal/replacement apparatus positionable within the fitment chamber to engage with the fitment cap to selectively remove the fitment cap from the fitment collar, thereby providing access to the fitment collar, and for replacement of the fitment cap engaged with the fitment collar to close off access to the fitment collar. 16. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein the fitment closure apparatus is disposed external to the flexible bag. 17. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein the fitment closure apparatus comprises a fitment plug and an actuator assembly for moving the fitment plug between an actuated position, wherein said fitment plug is adjacent the fitment collar at the intersection of the fitment collar and the flexible bag, and a retracted position, wherein the fitment plug is retracted away from the fitment collar, the fitment plug configured to present a barrier to the end of the fitment collar at the intersection of the fitment collar and the flexible bag. 18. The improvement according to claim 17, wherein when the fitment closure apparatus is in an activated position, a portion of the flexible bag is disposed between the adjacent end of the collar and the fitment plug. 19. The improvement according to claim 17, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a pivot arm for supporting the fitment plug and an actuator for pivoting the pivot arm between an activated position, wherein the fitment plug presents the barrier to the fitment collar, and a retracted position wherein the fitment plug is retracted away from the fitment collar, thereby not hindering communication between the filler chamber and the interior of the bag. 20. The filler apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fitment chamber is defined at least in part by a housing structure located under the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber. 21. The filler apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the fitment chamber further comprises a cleaning fluid inlet and a cleaning fluid outlet. 22. The filler apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the closure system extends downwardly into the fitment chamber when closing the opening of the bottom floor structure of the filler chamber.
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