WO1998033708A2

WO1998033708A2 - Apparatus for packaging flowable material in flexible sealable containers arranged in a strip

Info

Publication number: WO1998033708A2
Application number: PCT/GB1998/000290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malcolm Shipway
Original assignee: David S. Smith Packaging Limited
Priority date: 1997-01-31
Filing date: 1998-01-30
Publication date: 1998-08-06
Also published as: EP1036007A2; CA2279356A1; WO1998033708A3; AU5873398A; ZA98804B; GB9702066D0

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for packaging flowable material such as a liquid or particulate material, characterised by a station for feeding (6, 26) a strip (14) of flexible sealable containers (8) to be filled with material, by a station (10, 30) for filling a container (8), a station (7, 47) for providing an open second container (9, 48), by a station (7, 47) for transferring a filled first container separated from the strip into the second container, and a means (28, 29, 53) for conveying the first and second containers through the apparatus. The first containers (8) are arranged in an element comprising a continuous strip (14) of containers in the form of plastic bags, separated by integral imperforate relatively wide webs (15).

Description

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING

The invention relates to apparatus for packaging, and an element for packaging, particularly for packaging known as "bag-in-box" , where a flexible container loosely known as a plastic bag is filled with product which is a flowable material such as wine, and held in a relatively rigid second container, usually a cardboard box. The flexible container has a port which acts as both a filling or charging orifice, and as a dispensing orifice, the port in use being accessible from outside the second container.

Such packaging is for volume distribution, and accordingly the time spent in filling the packaging is of importance as a wholesaler or retailer will require to acquire a finished "bag-in-box" item for onward sale, as quickly as possible. Presently, filling is a time-consuming operation and takes up a relatively large space in a packaging filling location.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an element for packaging flowable material such as a liquid or particulate material, comprising a plurality of flexible sealable containers arranged in a strip, each one being joined to an immediately adjacent one by an imperforate web extending the width of the strip.

The containers may comprise bags and the webs may be integral therewith. This provides a relatively simple construction, and which provides for severance of the bags one from another. The webs may be overlapped to provide a double thickness web. This provides for strength of the strip in a sequential operation of filling the bags.

The material of the web may be sevcrablc by severing means whereby to separate one bag from another.

Each bag may comprise a port adapted to receive material for filling the bag and for dispensing material from the bag.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for packaging flowable material such as a liquid or particulate material, comprising a station for feeding a strip of flexible sealable containers to be filled with material, a station for filling a container, a station for providing an open second container, a station for transferring a filled first container separated from the strip into the second container, and means for conveying the first and second container through the apparatus.

The feeding station and filling station may be downstream of the station for providing a second container.

The station for providing a second container may comprise means to erect the second container from a blank supplied to the said station.

The transfer means may comprise a chute or slide for transferring a filled first container to the second container.

There may be means to close a filled first container associated with the filling station. There may be means to close the open second container downstream of the transfer station. This provides a complete filled unit such as a "bag-in-box"

The securing means may comprise means to close the second container and apply adhesive, glue or tape whereby to secure the second container closed. This is a relatively simple construction.

The various stations may be arranged for substantially horizontal movement between the stations. This can provide a compact unit.

Alternatively, the various stations may be arranged for substantially vertical movement between the stations. This provides for control of the whole packaging operation, particularly when the material being charged into the first container is a liquid for example wine.

The filling station may comprise a filling head and a first sealing station for a first container after charging same with material.

There may be means between the feeding station and the filling station may comprise means to reduce the dwell time at the filling station.

The dwell time reducing means may comprise means to form a loop in the strip of first containers whereby to draw a filling port of a first container down close to the filling head while an immediately preceding first container being charged with material. This can significantly reduce throughput time through the apparatus.

There may be a further station downstream of the filling station comprising a device to effect final sealing of a first container. The further station may also comprise means to mount a fitment into the port of the first container.

The final sealing device may comprise means to force opposite walls of the first container together during sealing, whereby to exclude air from the first container, and an element for fusing the first container locally to effect sealing in the first container.

The stations may be arranged in line substantially vertically so that the charged first container may drop into a second container at the transfer station substantially on the centre line of the transfer station.

The transfer station may comprise a chute loader and a lift means for raising a second container and the chute towards a charged first container whereby to receive same on severance of a charged first container immediately above the second container, from the strip.

There may be a severance station upstream from the transfer station adapted to sever a charged first container from the strip.

The severance station may comprise clamp means for clamping a charged first container at the web, and means to sever the web when the strip is held by clamping means.

For non-aseptic filling the filling station may comprise reciprocable means for closing the walls together to seal the port, and for releasing same, means to remove and return a tap from and to the port, and means for applying a filling head to the port in an air-tight fashion and charging material through the port. The fiscalisation station may comprise means to apply an indicia in addition to a duty seal.

The fiscalisation station may be immediately upstream of the severing station.

There may be a fiscalisation station downstream of the filling station. This provides for application of a duty disc immediately after filing.

The means to sever the first container from the strip may comprise a knife means adapted to sever the web substantially centrally longitudinally thereof.

There may be a fiscalisation station downstream of the filling station.

For non-aseptic filling of a first container in the form of a bag, there may be a purging of air, a vertical run of the strip which is laterally offset from an initial vertical run of the web.

There may be an inclined station between the two runs adapted for effecting filling of a bag with material.

The inclined station may comprise a table and means for reinserting the tap in the open position, whereby to expel air, and for closing the tap after reinsertion.

There may be a plurality of stations for filling a plurality of strips of a first container respectively in parallel.

The stations may be housed in a single unit.

There may be means to index a strip through the respective stations in a controlled manner. The indexing means may comprise computer means or numerical data control means.

The said means may comprise visual display means for display of information relating to the status of operation of the apparatus.

There may also be alarm means adapted to warn an operator of irregularities in operation of the apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a container comprising a bag filled with material in a box, whenever assembled by apparatus as hereinbefore defined, or using an element as hereinbefore defined.

An element and apparatus for packaging a flowable material such as a liquid or particulate material embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side view in direction of arrow 'A' in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an element for packaging according to the invention;

Figs. 5 and 5A are schematic views of a second embodiment of apparatus for packaging according to the invention; Figs. 6 and 6A are schematic views of a third embodiment of apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 5 and Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view to a larger scale through an aseptic gland mounted in a bag; and

Figs. 9 and 9A show respectively to a yet larger scale a perspective and side view of a non-aseptic gland and valve mounted in a bag.

There is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings embodiment of apparatus 1 for forming a package, like parts being indicated by like reference numerals.

As shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figs 1 - 3, the apparatus 1 comprises a single unit which consists of a rigid frame 5 formed from any suitable material such as metal, on which are disposed the various elements which combine to form a finished package from its component parts. The apparatus 1 illustrated is adapted for the simultaneous construction and filling of "bag-in-box" products, that is products which are sold in flexible bags housed within rigid or semi-rigid containers such as cardboard boxes. One example of such a product is the well- known wine box. This type of package requires a number of steps for its formation, and this is also true for a wide variety of other packaging types which require the incorporation of at least one distinct element within another to make the finished package.

The constituent parts of the package, namely flexible scalable containers such as (the first containers) bags and cardboard blanks for forming cartons or boxes, (the second containers) are fed or drawn into the apparatus at 6 and 7, respectively providing stations. This may be by, for example, any known form of conveyor means. In the illustrated embodiment bags 8 are utilised in the form of a continuous strip (Fig. 4), without perforations between discreet bags. The boxes 9 are folded from flat blanks by the erecting means 2. although in this embodiment the walls formed thereby are not secured in place at this stage in the operation. It will be understood that any suitable erecting means 2 can be utilised for this purpose, and will vary depending on the type and size of box, the material from which it is made, and whether or not the blank is pre-creased. Whilst formation of the boxes 9 is under way, the bags 8 are filled by the filling means 3 in the fill head 10. Again, any suitable filling apparatus can be utilised, and the precise type of filling apparatus will depend upon the type of product being packaged, for example a liquid or a powder, and also whether or not aseptic packaging is required.

Once a bag 8 has been filled with an appropriate amount of product, the bag is released from the fill head 10 and travels via transfer means 5 to a box, which is partially formed, and which has been passed from the erecting means 2 into position by, for example, a conveyor belt. In the illustrated embodiment the transfer means 5 comprises a chute loader. Once the bag is in the box, it is then transferred to means 11 which secures the parts of the box together to close it. This means can be adapted to, for example, for apply adhesive or tape to the box, or any other securing means. It will be appreciated that for some types of box, this securing means 11 is not required, because the parts of the container are secured together by means such as tabs and grooves integral in the blank for making the box, such as tabs and grooves. A further alternative is to have the securing means 11 placed at the same point as the erecting means 2 in the apparatus.

The apparatus is preferably controlled by numerical control means 12 such as a computer to coordinate the functioning of the various parts of the apparatus and to monitor the package forming procedure. As will be appreciated, the apparatus functions most efficiently if a bag 8 filled with product and a box 9 fully or partially assembled arrive together for combination into the bag-in-box structure at the same time. The computer therefore controls the rates of formation of the boxes 9, and also of the filling of the bags 8 to achieve this. The apparatus is provided with a platform 13 to enable easy access by an operator.

Apparatus according to the invention is capable of erecting boxes, presenting the box to a bag chute loading station then indexing the pack to a tape or gluing station within the module. The elements of the apparatus are fully interactive and controlled to ensure functions of the system would only index place providing all packaging and product is available. The apparatus can also be provided with text display means to provide system status such as a monitor or LCD device and visual and/or audible alarm means to warn an operator of a malfunction. The apparatus can handle a variety of sizes of package and can also be adapted to code packed product. Moreover, the various stations for erecting, filling, transferring and finally forming the package are essentially arranged substantially horizontally in the apparatus 1. In other words, the conveying means acts horizontally or substantially so in indexing from station to station through the apparatus.

The plurality of flexible scalable containers or bags 8 are arranged in a strip 14, each bag or container 8 being joined to an immediately adjacent one by an imperforate web 15 extending the width of the strip 14. The webs 15 are relatively wide or stated in another way the distance 'd' is wide enough for one bag 8 to be separated from another, in a manner to be described, for there to be no puncturing or rupturing of either bag 8, joined by the web 15. The material of the bags 8 is a fusible plastic material. The web 15 may be formed by fusing the two opposite sheets which will form walls of the bag together to form the web, which is thus a continuous "solid" web of plastic as considered in a direction at right angles to the plane of Fig. 4. Alternatively, the web 15 is of double thickness, being formed by forming webs on individual bags during a sealing process to form an empty bag, overlapping the webs and fusing them together, as by heat and pressure, to form the strip 14.

The bags 8 may be used in aseptic or non-aseptic filling procedures.

There is a port 16 comprising a gland secured as by welding to a wall 17 of the bag, the gland being generally cylindrical with a flange 18 spaced from the bag 8 for securing of a membrane 19 to the flange 18 (Fig. 8), and a mounting flange 20 internally of the bag 8 and which also mounts a membrane 21 for sealing the contents of the bag against contact with the atmosphere.

The membrane 21 is secured to the flange 20 as by welding, there being zones of weakness, usually in the form of four 'D' shaped zones which can rupture or lift for filling the bag, again as will be described. The membranes 19, 21 provide that the interior of the body of the gland 16 between the flanges 18, 20 is sealed from the atmosphere too. This gland, Fig. 8, thus provides for aseptic filling procedures.

In non-aseptic applications, Figs. 9, 9A, there is a gland 16 as before, defining the port, but there are no membranes. Rather, the gland 16 mounts a tap 22, usually of the kind having a body 23 with a transverse dispensing spout 24 which is opened and closed by a push valve 25, manually operated by a push button 65, mounted under pressure of biassing means such as a spring so that when the valve is released from an open position, the spring returns the valve to a position to obturate the spout 24. A strip 14 of bags destined for non-aseptic filling and use is shown in Fig. 6 and 6A, the cylindrical body of the gland 16 mounting the tap 22, the cylindrical body 23 of which is received as a push fit in the body of the gland 16.

Referring now to the apparatus 100 of Fig. 5 and 5A for providing an aseptic packaging of material such as a liquid, there is a station 26 for feeding a strip 14 of bags 8 each with an aseptic filling gland 16, adjacent bags in the strip being joined by a relatively wide web 15, as described with reference to Fig. 4. The strip 14, which may be folded in zig-zag fashion in a bin 27 (Fig. 7), is drawn in the direction of the arrow 'S' by conveyor means in the form of rollers 28, 29 one of which may be driven, and which "pinch" the strip 14 laterally whilst providing a passage for the gland 16 to provide a positive feed, the strip 14 passing downwardly vertically from the rollers 28, 29, the bags being oriented so that the gland 16 is at the top (in use and as viewed). There is a station 30 for filling the bag below the feeding station 26, and means 31 immediately upstream of the filling station to ensure that there is as little dwell time during flushing and aseptic filling. The means 31 comprises a roller system of three rollers 32, 33, 34 arranged to form a loop in the bag 8 immediately following the bag 8F being filled. The roller 33 is spaced vertically between the rollers 32, 34 and about half a bag length from them so effectively drawing the gland down by a full bag length during filling of the preceding bag 8F. It will be understood that the rollers 32, 33, 34 are in pairs laterally, like the rollers 28, and are arranged to act on the sides of the bag 8, there then being space for the gland 16 to pass between the lateral rollers.

Turning now to the aseptic filling at the filling station 30, this comprises a reciprocable piercer (not shown) operated by a piston and cylinder arrangement 35, a filling head 36 for mounting in an air-tight fashion on the flange 18 of the gland 16, a means 37 for sterilising the interior of the filling head 36, gland 16 body, and the piercer, and means (not shown) to effect an initial re-sealing of the internal membrane 21 as described below. The filling head 36 is on the right hand side of the strip 14 as shown. At the same level there is a pad 38, reciprocable horizontally on a piston 39, which can engage the left hand, as viewed, wall 40 of the bag 8 from the outside at the level of the gland 16 during sealing. At the filling station 30 the following procedures take place. The filling head 36 is offered up to and mounted on the external flange 18 of the gland 16, in an air-tight manner, by operation of the piston and cylinder arrangement 35. The piercer, which is usually of cruciform shape, is then moved forward by the piston and cylinder to pierce the membrane 19 sealed to the external flange. During this operation, the pad 38 holds the walls 17, 40 of the bag 8 together, to ensure that there is no flexing of the bag 8 and gland 16 away from the filling head and piercer. Sterilising medium such as steam is then passed from a source (not shown) down the inlet 37 to pass round the piercer into the interior of the body of the gland 16 and into contact with the external face of the internal membrane 21. The steam exits down an exit path (not shown) and sterilisation takes place for a desired time. The pad 38 is then withdrawn, so the walls 17, 40 of the bag are not forced together, and material, in the embodiment wine, is passed from a source thereof (not shown) through an inlet 41 into the gland 16 through the perforated, and now sterilised, external membrane 19, the interior of the gland 16, the internal membrane being sterilised too by the steam (the interior of the bags having been sterilised before they arrived at the feeding station as by irradiation, and exhaustion of air when the bags were made up into the strip). The force of the flowing wine lifts the internal membrane 21 away from the internal flange 20 at the zones of weakness as described previously, so enabling the wine to flow into the bag 8. When the desired amount of wine has been charged into the bag, the flow is ceased from the source and the pad 38 is reapplied by movement to the right. A quick seal is then made of the internal membrane 21 to the internal flange 20 of the gland, for example by ultrasonic welding by an ultrasonic head which is part of the filling head 36. The pad 38 ensures a positive welding, which is enough to hold the flange 20 and membrane 21 together round their whole periphery (being annular), and hence close off the interior of the bag 8 and contents from the atmosphere, so that they remain sterile. The pad 38 and filling head 36 arc then retracted and the filled bag 8F, which has assumed the tear-drop shape shown owing to the wine it now contains and gravity, is moved to the next station 42. During this movement it draws the next bag downwardly to the filling station 30, and because of the proximity of the port 16 and the quick first seal step at the filling station 30, the time at that station 30 including flushing can be cut to Vτ to 1 second in the embodiment, a saving of about seven seconds, a significant saving. The filled bag 8F then indexes to the station 42, the flushing and filling of the next succeeding bag 8 commencing and the bag succeeding that being drawn down over the rollers 32, 33, 34 to form a loop as described above.

At the second or fitment feed station 42, there is a pad 38 as before and a head 43. The head is carried by a suitable actuating means such as a piston and cylinder, and is offered up to and mounted on the flange 18 in an air-tight manner while the pad 38 is moved forward (to the right as viewed) to provide a firm support for the bag adjacent the gland. Sterilising medium such as steam from a source (not shown) is then passed through an inlet 44 into the interior of the gland 16 body to clean it of residual material and to sterilise it, the internal membrane 21 and the now perforated external membrane 19. Before, during or after this sterilisation, but suitably before, a sealing means at the station effects a further final seal by welding the internal membrane 21 to the internal flange 20 by suitable means such as ultrasonic welding, or heat and pressure. The port 16 is thus now sterilised. If desired a fitment such as a screw down piercing device fed from a bin 45 can be mounted in the body of the gland 16, and is also sterilised by the flow of steam, it being understood that the piercing device is spaced from the internal membrane and is only subsequently operated to pierce the membrane for liberating the carton 5 of the bag through the gland for consumption. It will also be understood that the fitment fits into or onto the gland in an air-tight manner, so that air or other contaminants cannot enter the gland.

The sterilised and sealed bag 8F is then passed vertically downwardly towards a separating station 46, for separating it from the bag immediately preceding it. That bag 8P is as shown at a station 47 for transferring or loading the bag 8P into the second container, a carton or box 48 which has been erected from a blank and is open for receiving the filled bag 8P. The transfer station 47 comprises a chute or hopper loader 49 which leads into the open carton or box 48 which is raised on a lift 50 so that when the bags are separated at the separating station, the lower separated bag drops via the chute 49 into the carton 48. The lift is then lowered and the filled box is transferred to a through conveyer 53 and then to a station 52 where the box is then transferred from the through conveyer 53 to the lift by a pusher 54, and the lift is raised to receive the next filled bag to be separated from the strip 14 so every time there is a bag to be transferred, there is an open box waiting to receive it. By raising the box and using the hopper or chute, which is mounted integrally with the lift on an arm 55, it is provided that the filled bag drops on the centre line of the box into the box, so there is a positive feed of the bag into the box. The bags are separated at the separation station 46 by a severing means such as a knife 56 which severs the bag through the median line of the web 15. At the separation station 46 there is also clamping means 57 which are in the form of clamps, which clamp the bag at the web at upper and lower positions, the knife then passing between the clamps on a line substantially intermediate the width of the web 15. When the clamps are released after severing, the separated bag drops into the boxes or carton 48, as described hereinbefore. After a severing step, the clamp means and knife withdraw to left and right respectively so that the next filled bag can be lowered for separation from the web.

It will be understood that the indexing of the web vertically between the stations is controlled by numerical control apparatus or computer means, so that the timing of arrival of a bag at each station is the optimum for the operation to be performed at a respective station.

It will be understood too that by providing for a substantially vertical passage of the strip of bags through the apparatus, the vertical filling of the bags and the vertical transfer of the filled bags to the container, the bags are always controlled to be substantially on the centre line of the apparatus, with no "wobble" , so a positive packaging is achieved.

A vertical movement of the bags being filled is also carried out in the filling or charging and packaging, non aseptically, of the first container or bag 8 into the second relatively rigid container 48, as shown in Figs. 6 and 6 A which show a third embodiment of apparatus 200 embodying the invention, for non-aseptic filling.

In Figs. 6 and 6A, the gland 16 includes the tap 22, the filling being non- aseptic, in other words there is no requirement to sterilise during filling.

The tap 22 is a separate item which is mounted in the gland 16 when the bags are made so comes along with the bag from the feeding station 14 as shown. As in the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 5 A, there are rollers to provide a loop 32, 33, 34 to draw the gland/tap arrangement, which forms the filling or charging port, down as quickly as possible towards the filling station while the immediately preceding bag is being filled. At the filling station 30 there is a pressure pad 38 which is movable towards and away from the strip on one side thereof (to the left as viewed) and a fill head station 58 on the opposite pad 38. The fill head station 58 comprises grippcr means such as gripping fingers 59 which can on actuation grip a flange 60 of the tap 22 and pull it out of the gland 16 whilst holding the tap 16. A fill head 61 is then offered up to the gland in an air-tight manner and charges the bag with say wine through the gland 16. When the required amount has been metered into the bag, the filling head 61 is retracted. and the tap 16 reinserted into the gland by the fingers 59, which then retract, ready to repeat the operation on the next bag in the strip 14. The bags 8 when they are made are exhausted of air and in some cases the walls of the bags are charged electrostatically to keep the walls 17, 40 together during storage etc. Thus the bags 8 when the strip is mounted in the apparatus 200 for a filling sequence are air free. The sequence of operations at the filling station 30 is that the strip is indexed downwardly so that a bag is positioned with its gland/tap arrangement at the level of the pad 38 and fill head 58. The pad 38 is then actuated to push the left hand (as viewed) bag wall 40 against the right hand wall 17, so effectively sealing the orifice in the right hand bag wall and the gland 16 against entry of air (the gland being mounted in an orifice in the wall 17). The tap 22 is then removed as described above, the fill head 61 is mounted on the flange 18 of the gland in an air-tight manner, the pad 38 is retracted, and the fill head 61 is operated to fill the bag 8 with he required volume of wine. At the end of the fill, the pad 38 is reapplied, to close off the gland and hole, against air entry into the bag, the fill head 61 is removed, and the tap 22 is reinserted by the fingers and released. The pad 38 is then withdrawn, and the filled bag 8F, tear-drop shaped now as in the previous embodiment, is indexed to the next or fiscalisation station 62 vertically below the filling station.

The fiscalisation station 62 comprises a device 63 for applying a tax or excise duty disc or "capsule" to the tap 22 when wine is being filled. The tax or excise duty discs are generally held on a reel 64 and arc applied to the tap 22 as it is indexed up to an application for a disc. One disc is applied to each tap, the disc having an adhesive surface for application to the tap and being mounted on a strip with a release surface so each one is readily removed for application. The important aspect of this fiscalisation station is that it comes after the "fill" , so the tax disc reflects the correct amount of duty paid on the correct volume of wine accurately charged into the bag. The fiscalisation station could also have means for applying other indicia such as a trade mark of a producer or seller of the wine. The tap too could have a tamper evident means applied over the button 65 after filling and before attachment of the disc.

The strip 14 is then indexed to a separation station 46, and a transfer station 47, which are identical to and operate in the same way as those stations in the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 5A.

During non-aseptic filling, although the bag is initially air free, and the pad 38 and fill head 58 are operative to ensure that atmospheric air does not enter the bag 8, nevertheless there is a volume of air in the cylindrical body 23 of the tap 22 which when the tap 22 is reinserted after filling, flows into the bag 8 above the wine. This can have a deleterious effect on the wine (or other product) in the bag. In order to overcome this, and to -ensure that no air, apart from that dissolved in the wine or product er se, enters the bag, in a modification of the apparatus 200, there is at the filling station 30 a table which is slightly inclined, which receives the bag in such a way that the gland 16 is directed upwardly. When the bag 8 is filled, the wine is charged up to say within about 2mm of the outer flange 18 of the gland 16. When the tap 22 is reinserted, an additional device carried by the fill head, in the form of an additional finger, is operated to act on the push button 65 and open the tap 22. Thus on reinsertion of the tap into the gland, the wine in the gland forces the air out of the body of the tap through the spout 24 to the atmosphere. When the tap 22 is fully reinserted, the additional finger is actuated to release the button 65 and close the tap, which is then, released by releasing the fingers 34 from the flange 60, so that the filled bag can progress to the fiscalisation station 62. In this modification, the table (not shown) may be inclined downwardly to the right and the vertical run of fiscalisation station 62, separation section 46 and transfer station 47 may be offset laterally to the right from the vertical run of the feeding station 26. looping rollers 32, 33, 34 and filling station 30. In a yet further modification to effect virtual total air purging from the bag, the table could be hinged or pivoted so that it pivots out of the way of the strip 14 after purging so that the filled bags 8 follow the course shown in Fig. 6. -

In all the embodiments of Figs. 5 to 6A and their modifications, the strip 14 is always indexed vertically to the waiting open box 48 at the transfer station 47, so that there is control of the bag, which would otherwise "wobble" owing to movement of the wine charged into it and the flexible walls 17, 40, and which "wobble" movement would prove difficult on transfer. The apparatus 100, 200 hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings ensure that the centre line of the bags and boxes are always aligned, the weight of the wine acting under gravity ensures no "wobble", and the bag is positively inserted into the box, which is raised to meet it so again asserting in positive transfer.

Turning now to Fig. 7, there is shown schematically a triple run unit 300 embodying three sets of apparatus 100 or 200 as shown in Figs. 5 and 5A or 6 and 6A. There is a carton erector 301, where boxes or cartons 48 are erected from blanks to an open condition, a conveyor 302 conveying them to the triple "heads" 303, three sets of bins 27 for respective strips 14 of empty bags, and three "runs" each in a respective head arranged in parallel and each having the stations 26, 30 etc. in series previously described with reference to Figs. 5 and 5A or 6 and 6A. Filled cartons 8, 48 progress on the conveyor 302 to a device 52 for closing the cartons, as by tape or adhesive.

All the operations of the apparatus 200 or 300 are controlled by numerical control or computer, as for the embodiment of Figs. 1 - 3, to ensure correct indexing and timing to and at each as for each station as for apparatus 100.

It will be understood that the apparatus and element herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings arc not limited specifically to use for a so called "bag-in-box" package formation, which is illustrated here for convenience. Thus the package may be used to hold, transport and/or store particulate material such as a powder to be dispensed and mixed with a liquid to provide a drink, e.g. circulate powder to form a chocolate drink.

Claims

1. An element for packaging flowable material such as a liquid or paniculate material, comprising a plurality of flexible scalable containers arranged in a strip, each one being joined to an immediately adjacent one by an imperforatc web extending the width of the strip.

2. An element according to claim 1 , the containers comprising bags and the webs being integral therewith.

3. An element according to claim 2, the webs being overlapped to provide a double thickness web.

4. An element according to claim 2 or claim 3, the material of the web being severable by severing means whereby to separate one bag from another.

5. An element according to any of Claims 2 to 4, each bag comprising a port adapted to receive material for filling the bag and for dispensing material from the bag.

6. Apparatus for packaging flowable material such as a liquid or particulate material, comprising a station for feeding a strip of flexible sealable containers to be filled with material, a station for filling a container, a station for providing an open second container, a station for transferring a filled first container separated from the strip into the second container, and a means for conveying the first and second containers through the apparatus.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, the feeding station and filling station being downstream of the station for providing a second container.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, the station for providing a second container comprising means to erect the second container from a blank supplied to the said station.

9. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8, the transfer means comprising a chute or slide for transferring a filled first container to the second container.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 9, there being means to close a filled first container associated with the filling station.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 10, comprising means to close the open second container downstream of the transfer station.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, the securing means comprising means to close the second container and apply adhesive, glue or tape whereby to secure the second container closed.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 12, the various stations being arranged for substantially horizontal movement between the stations.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 12, the various stations being arranged for substantially vertical movement between the stations.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, the filling station comprising a filling head and a first sealing station for a first container after charging same with material.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, comprising means between the feeding station and the filling station comprising means to reduce the dwell time at the filling station.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, the dwell time reducing means comprising means to form a loop in the strip of first containers whereby to draw a filling port of a first container down close to the filling head while an immediately preceding first container is being charged with material.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, there being a further station downstream of the filling station comprising a device to effect final sealing of a first container.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, the further station also comprising means to mount a fitment into the port of the first container.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18 or claim 19, the final sealing device comprising means to force opposite walls of the first container together during sealing, whereby to exclude air from the first container, and an element for fusing the first container locally to effect sealing in the first container.

21. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 20, the stations being arranged in line substantially vertically so that the substantially charged first containers drop into a second container at the transfer station substantially on the central line of the transfer station.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 , the transfer station comprising a chute loader and a lift means for raising a second container and chute towards a charged first container, whereby to receive same on severance of a charged first container immediately above the second container, from the strip.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, there being a severance station upstream from the transfer station adapted to sever a charged first container from the strip.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, the severance station comprising clamp means for clamping a charged first container at the web, and means to sever the web when the strip is held by the clamping means.

25. Apparatus according to Claim 25, comprising for non-aseptic filling a filling station comprising reciprocable means for closing the walls together to seal the port, and for releasing same, means to remove and return a tap from and to the port, and means for applying a filling head to the port in an air-tight fashion and charging material through the port.

26. Apparatus according to Claim 25, comprising a fiscalisation station downstream of the filling station.

27. Apparatus according to Claim 26, the fiscalisation station comprising means to apply an indicia in addition to a duty seal.

28. Apparatus according to Claim 27, the fiscalisation station being immediately upstream of the severance station.

29. Apparatus according to any of Claims 26 to 28, for non-aseptic filling of a first container in the form of a bag, with purging of air, comprising a vertical run of the strip which is laterally offset from an initial vertical run of the web.

30. Apparatus according to Claim 29, there being an inclined station between the two runs adapted for effecting filling of a bag with material.

31. Apparatus according to Claim 30, the inclined station comprising a table and means for reinserting the tap in the open position whereby to expel air, for closing the tap after reinsertion.

32. Apparatus according to any of Claims 6 to 31, there being a plurality of stations for filling a plurality of strips of first containers respective in parallel.

33. Apparatus according to any of Claims 6 to 32, the stations being housed in a single unit.

34. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 33, including means to index a web through the respective stations in a controlled manner.

35. Apparatus according to claim 34, the indexing means comprising computer means or numerical data control means.

36. Apparatus according to claim 35, the said means comprising visual display means for display of information relating to the status of operation of the apparatus.

37. Apparatus according to claim 35 or claim 36, including alarm means adapted to warn an operator of irregularities in operation of the apparatus.

38. A container comprising a bag filled with material in a box, whenever assembled by apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 37, or using an element according to any of Claims 1 to 5.

39. Apparatus for filling a package with product comprising a first station for charging a first container with product, and a station for transferring the charged first container into a second container, the stations being arranged in a single unit whereby a compact apparatus is provided.

40. An element for packing flowable material such as a liquid or particulate material , substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

41. Apparatus for packaging a flowable material such as a liquid or particulate material, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.