Filler assembly and method of filling a pouch

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filler assembly comprising:
 a pouch preheat zone including:
 at least one preheat nozzle assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet engageable with a pouch assembly; 
 at least one preheat vacuum nozzle assembly having an inlet engageable with a pouch assembly and an outlet attachable to a vacuum; 
   a pouch sterilization zone positioned after the pouch preheat zone and including:
 at least one sterilization nozzle assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet engageable with a pouch assembly; 
 at least one sterilization vacuum nozzle assembly having an inlet engageable with a pouch assembly and an outlet attachable to a vacuum; 
   a pouch flush zone positioned after the pouch sterilization zone and including:
 at least one pouch flush nozzle assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet engageable with a pouch assembly; 
 at least one pouch flush vacuum nozzle assembly having an inlet engageable with a pouch assembly and an outlet attachable to a vacuum; 
   wherein a pouch assembly is configured to traverse sequentially from the pouch preheat zone to the pouch sterilization zone, to the pouch flush zone; wherein a vacuum is pulled on the pouch assembly in the preheat zone with the preheat vacuum nozzle prior to attachment of the pouch assembly to the at least one sterilization nozzle assembly, and wherein a vacuum is pulled on the pouch assembly in the pouch sterilization zone with the sterilization vacuum nozzle prior to attachment of the pouch assembly to the at least one pouch flush nozzle; and, a vacuum is pulled by the at least one pouch flush vacuum nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The filler of  claim 1  wherein the at least one preheat nozzle assembly comprises at least four preheat nozzle assemblies positioned sequentially. 
     
     
         3 . The filler of  claim 2  wherein the at least one sterilization nozzle assembly comprises at least four sterilization nozzle assemblies positioned sequentially. 
     
     
         4 . The filler of  claim 3  wherein the at least one flush nozzle assembly comprises at least four flush nozzle assemblies positioned sequentially. 
     
     
         5 . The filler of  claim 1  wherein the at least one preheat nozzle assembly comprises at least eight preheat nozzle assemblies positioned sequentially, with the pouch assembly treated by every other one of the at least eight preheat nozzle assemblies, and the at least one preheat vacuum nozzle assembly comprises at least two preheat vacuum nozzle assemblies, with the pouch assembly treated by every other one of the at least two preheat vacuum nozzle assemblies. 
     
     
         6 . The filler of  claim 5  wherein the at least one sterilization nozzle assembly comprises at least eight sterilization nozzle assemblies positioned sequentially, with the pouch assembly treated by every other one of the at least eight sterilization nozzle assemblies, and the at least one sterilization vacuum nozzle assembly comprises at least two sterilization vacuum nozzle assemblies, with the pouch assembly treated by every other one of the at least two sterilization vacuum nozzle assemblies. 
     
     
         7 . The filler of  claim 6  wherein the at least one flush nozzle assembly comprises at least eight flush nozzle assemblies positioned sequentially, with the pouch assembly treated by every other one of the at least eight flush nozzle assemblies, and the at least one flush vacuum nozzle assembly comprises at least two flush vacuum nozzle assemblies, with the pouch assembly treated by every other one of the at least two flush vacuum nozzle assemblies. 
     
     
         8 . The filler of  claim 7  further comprising a pouch fill zone positioned after the pouch flush zone, the pouch fill zone comprising at least two pouch fill valves. 
     
     
         9 . The filler of  claim 8  further comprising a pouch cap zone positioned after the pouch fill zone, the pouch cap zone having a cap twisting assembly having at least two cap engaging bits, each coupled to a rotational actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The filler of  claim 1  further comprising a pouch fill zone positioned sequentially after the pouch flush zone, and a pouch cap zone positioned sequentially after the pouch fill zone. 
     
     
         11 . The filler of  claim 10  wherein a pouch movement mechanism extends from the pouch preheat zone, to the pouch sterilization zone, the pouch flush zone, the pouch fill zone and the pouch cap zone, the pouch movement mechanism includes a first region comprising a pair of opposed helical screws, each helical screw having a helical slot, wherein the helical slots of the pair of helical screws correspond to each other proximate a lower channel extending below and therebetween, and a second region including a first linear movement assembly, a second linear movement assembly and a linear lower channel positioned therebetween and comprising an extension of the lower channel at a second end thereof, each linear movement assembly including a pouch engagement member having an inner edge with receiving slots structurally configured to engage the spout assembly positioned within the linear lower channel, each of the pouch engagement members configured to move transversely toward and away from the linear lower channel, and longitudinally toward and away from the first end of the linear lower channel. 
     
     
         12 . The filler of  claim 11 , wherein the first region of the pouch movement mechanism extends across the pouch preheat zone, the pouch sterilization zone, the pouch flush zone and the pouch fill zone, and, the second region of the pouch movement mechanism extends across the pouch cap zone. 
     
     
         13 . The filler of  claim 1  wherein the at least one preheat nozzle assembly includes a spout engagement portion proximate the outlet, and a circumferential sealing rim extending about an outer surface thereof structurally configured to sealingly engage a spout of the pouch assembly, and at least one transverse slot traversing across the circumferential sealing rim so as to allow fluid to pass beyond the circumferential sealing rim when the circumferential sealing rim engages the spout of the pouch assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The filler of  claim 13  wherein the at least one sterilization nozzle assembly includes a spout engagement portion proximate the outlet, and a circumferential sealing rim extending about an outer surface thereof structurally configured to sealingly engage a spout of the pouch assembly, and at least one transverse slot traversing across the circumferential sealing rim so as to allow fluid to pass beyond the circumferential sealing rim when the circumferential sealing rim engages the spout of the pouch assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The filler of  claim 14  wherein the at least one flush nozzle assembly includes a spout engagement portion proximate the outlet, and a circumferential sealing rim extending about an outer surface thereof structurally configured to sealingly engage a spout of the pouch assembly, and at least one transverse slot traversing across the circumferential sealing rim so as to allow fluid to pass beyond the circumferential sealing rim when the circumferential sealing rim engages the spout of the pouch assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A pouch movement mechanism for a filler assembly comprising:
 a first region comprising a pair of opposed helical screws, each helical screw having a helical slot, wherein the helical slots of the pair of helical screws correspond to each other proximate a lower channel extending below and therebetween; and   a second region including a first linear movement assembly, a second linear movement assembly and a linear lower channel positioned therebetween and comprising an extension of the lower channel at a second end thereof, each linear movement assembly including a pouch engagement member having an inner edge with receiving slots structurally configured to engage the spout assembly positioned within the linear lower channel, each of the pouch engagement members configured to move transversely toward and away from the linear lower channel, and longitudinally toward and away from the first end of the linear lower channel.   
     
     
         17 . A nozzle assembly for use with a filler assembly to provide one of a preheat fluid, a sterilization fluid and a flush fluid, the nozzle assembly comprising:
 a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end;   a nozzle inlet proximate the first end;   a spout engagement portion proximate the second end and terminating with an outlet, the spout engagement portion comprising:
 an outer surface, with a circumferential sealing rim extending about the outer surface and structurally configured to sealingly engage a spout of the pouch assembly; and 
 at least one transverse slot traversing across the circumferential sealing rim so as to allow fluid to pass beyond the circumferential sealing rim when the circumferential sealing rim engages the spout of the pouch assembly. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method of utilizing a filler assembly comprising the steps of:
 directing a pouch assembly into a pouch preheat zone;   preheating the pouch assembly by directing preheated fluid into the pouch assembly through a preheat nozzle assembly;   applying a vacuum to the pouch assembly after preheating with a preheat vacuum nozzle assembly;   sterilizing the pouch assembly by directing sterilizing fluid into the pouch assembly through a sterilizing nozzle assembly;   applying a vacuum to the pouch assembly after sterilizing with a sterilization vacuum nozzle assembly;   flushing the pouch assembly by directing a flushing fluid into the pouch assembly through a flush nozzle assembly; and   applying a vacuum to the pouch assembly after flushing with a flushing vacuum nozzle assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the steps of:
 allowing preheated fluid to exit the pouch assembly through an outlet of the pouch assembly during the step of preheating; 
 allowing sterilization fluid to exit the pouch assembly through the outlet of the pouch assembly during the step of sterilizing; and 
 allowing the flushing fluid to exit the pouch assembly through the outlet of the pouch assembly during the step of flushing. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of:
 filling the pouch assembly with a flowable material after the step of applying a vacuum to the pouch assembly after flushing with a flushing vacuum nozzle assembly. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of:
 sterilizing a cap; and 
 applying a cap to the pouch assembly after the step of filling the pouch assembly with a flowable material.