Flexible walled container having membrane fitment for use with aseptic filling apparatus
First Claim
1. For use with an asceptic filling apparatus having a filling chamber adapted to be sterilized and provided with an opening for the passage of asceptic filling means, an asceptic container for the storage of flowable food product comprising:
- gas impermeable walls, a rigid fitment member sealed to one of said walls and detachably receptive in the opening of the filling chamber to effect sealed connection therebetween;
a rupturable membrane closing said fitment member and located axially inwardly of the outer end thereof, and seal means to effect sealed connection with the filling means during the filling of said container, said membrane being rupturable by the filling means for the introduction of flowable food product to the container'"'"'s interior, and said fitment member being capable of gamma ray sterilization without substantial embrittlement or loss of strength.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed an aseptic flexible walled container having a rigid fitment member cooperative with an aseptic filling apparatus and including a neck, outer flanges surrounding the neck, a frangible membrane and an outer end rim receptive of an hermetically sealed lid. The neck is formed with an internal chamferred seating shoulder for fluid-tight engagement with a fill tube. One outer flange cooperates with clamping jaws of the aseptic filling apparatus for detachably sealing the fitment to a sterilizing chamber and placing it in position for insertion of the filling tube which ruptures the membrane and permits the aseptic introduction of product to the container'"'"'s interior. The other outer flange is secured to an opening in a wall of the flexible container. The joined fitment and container are presterilized prior to filling. Selected materials for the multi-ply container walls and the fitment permit the container to withstand gamma ray and other sterilization treatment, heat and pressure while maintaining required strength. After the container is aseptically filled, such as with flowable food product, the fill tube is withdrawn and a lid is hermetically sealed onto the rim of the fitment. A heat shield adjacent a container wall surrounds the fitment to protect the container from excessive heat generated by the associated filling apparatus during filling.
151 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. For use with an asceptic filling apparatus having a filling chamber adapted to be sterilized and provided with an opening for the passage of asceptic filling means, an asceptic container for the storage of flowable food product comprising:
- gas impermeable walls, a rigid fitment member sealed to one of said walls and detachably receptive in the opening of the filling chamber to effect sealed connection therebetween;
a rupturable membrane closing said fitment member and located axially inwardly of the outer end thereof, and seal means to effect sealed connection with the filling means during the filling of said container, said membrane being rupturable by the filling means for the introduction of flowable food product to the container'"'"'s interior, and said fitment member being capable of gamma ray sterilization without substantial embrittlement or loss of strength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- gas impermeable walls, a rigid fitment member sealed to one of said walls and detachably receptive in the opening of the filling chamber to effect sealed connection therebetween;
-
14. In an internally asceptic container attachable to an asceptic filling chamber of filling apparatus having asceptic fill tube means for introducing flowable product to the interior of the container, a fitment member adapted for sealed connection with the filling chamber, comprising:
- a rigid, open top neck, a chamfered inwardly projecting seal portion formed axially inwardly of the open top of said neck for sealed connection with the asceptic fill tube means, asceptic rupturable membrane means joined to said chamfered portion and extending across said neck to block the interior thereof, said membrane being ruptured by the passage of the fill tube means therethrough;
an external first flange extending radially outwardly of said neck and operable to effect sealed connection with the asceptic filling chamber, and a second external flange extending radially outwardly of the lower end of said neck and operable to effect sealed connection with one wall of the container.
- a rigid, open top neck, a chamfered inwardly projecting seal portion formed axially inwardly of the open top of said neck for sealed connection with the asceptic fill tube means, asceptic rupturable membrane means joined to said chamfered portion and extending across said neck to block the interior thereof, said membrane being ruptured by the passage of the fill tube means therethrough;
-
15. A new article of manufacture comprising:
- a bag having two opposed walls of flexible, gas impermeable, material said walls being joined about their peripheries to form a sealed interior chamber for the bag; and
a rigid fitment member sealed to one of said walls in communication with said chamber;
said fitment member having a rigid, open top neck;
said neck having an exposed outer rim, adapted to receive a lid in heat sealed relationship therewith, and an inner end;
a rupturable membrane closing off the interior of said neck;
a first external clamping flange extending about an intermediate portion of said neck, and a second external flange extending outwardly of said inner end of said neck. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- a bag having two opposed walls of flexible, gas impermeable, material said walls being joined about their peripheries to form a sealed interior chamber for the bag; and
Specification