HK1243679B - Apparatus and method for filling a pouch type package - Google Patents

Description

Apparatus and method for filling bag-type packaging

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for filling a bag-type package, and more particularly to filling such a package including a handle compartment adapted to be filled with a gas.

Background Art

It has become increasingly common to package liquid products, in particular liquid food products such as water, milk, juice or wine, in bag-type packaging, which is also known as collapsible packaging.

By bag-type packaging is meant a container having a compartment defined by flexible walls and whose volume depends on the relative positions of the walls. The bag-type packaging may be a stand-up bag type having a bottom wall and two opposing side walls.

It is known to produce a web of interconnected packages of the type described above wound onto a bobbin and to place this web in a filling machine. The web is then fed to the filling machine where the packages are separated from the web and subsequently filled with the contents and sealed.

The package may be provided with a handle compartment adapted to be filled with gas. The gas-filled handle compartment provides rigidity to the package and also forms a handle that enables a user to conveniently use the package.

EP1780129 discloses a filling machine for bag-type packages with a handle compartment suitable for gas filling. The filling machine is of the rotary type, having a rotating table with grippers provided around its periphery. The packages are suspended in the grippers and intermittently conveyed to a number of stations, such as a bag opening station, a filling station, a gas filling station, and a sealing station for the product compartment and handle.

EP2200817 discloses another filling machine for bag-type packages. The filling machine disclosed therein comprises a section through which the packages are intermittently fed in a transverse direction by means of an array of cyclically movable grippers to a plurality of stations such as a filling channel opening station, a filling station, a sealing station for the product compartments, a gas filling station for the handles and a sealing station.

Therefore, providing a bag-type package with a handle compartment suitable for gas filling requires that the filling machine be equipped with a mechanism for implementing the gas filling operation. This can cause the filling machine to become bulky, and there is therefore a need for a more compact filling machine that allows gas filling of the handle compartment of the bag-type package.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device and method for filling a bag-type package having a handle compartment adapted to be filled with a gas.

Another object is to provide such an apparatus and method, that is, an apparatus and method that can improve space utilization.

In order to achieve at least one of the above objects and other objects that will become apparent from the following description, there are provided an apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention and a method according to another aspect of the present invention.

More specifically, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for filling bag-type packages with a liquid product, the bag-type package comprising two opposite flexible side walls, the side walls defining a product compartment communicating with the environment via a filling duct, and a separate handle compartment communicating with the environment via a gas inlet provided in one of the two side walls, wherein the product compartment is adapted to be filled with the liquid product via the filling duct, and wherein the handle portion is adapted to be filled with gas via the gas inlet, the apparatus comprising a plurality of stations arranged to successively receive and process the bag-type packages, the plurality of stations comprising: a filling station for The invention relates to a bag-type packaging system comprising a bag-type packaging system comprising: ...

An improved device for filling bag-type packages is thus provided. Since the gas sealing unit is integrated into the gripping member of the transport unit, a conventional gas sealing station located downstream of the gas filling station can be omitted. Consequently, the device can be made more compact, enabling improved space utilization. Furthermore, the sealing of the handle compartment begins immediately when the package is retrieved from the gas filling station and is completed during transport to an adjacent downstream station, making the conventional step of blocking the gas-filled handle compartment when the package is moved to the gas sealing station unnecessary, thereby eliminating the risk of gas leaking out of the handle compartment.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the gripping member of the transfer unit may comprise a pair of jaws, which are arranged to clamp the upper part of the bag-type package for retrieving it. The pair of jaws may comprise a first jaw having a thermally insulating engagement member, wherein the second sealing member is recessed in an engagement surface of the engagement member. This ensures that a well-defined second seal can be provided by the second sealing member. The engagement surface may comprise a first engagement portion adjacent to the second sealing member, the first engagement portion being arranged to face the pressurized side of the handle compartment when the second sealing member engages the package to provide the second seal. This ensures that the second seal is not exposed to the pressurized gas in the handle compartment when it is formed.

According to another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the transport unit may include an additional gripper, which is configured to transport the bag-type packages from a station located upstream or downstream of the gas filling station to an adjacent station located downstream. The provision of the transport unit including the additional gripper facilitates the synchronous transport of the packages from the upstream station to the downstream station.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing station and the gas filling station may be separate stations or integrated in a single station.

According to yet another embodiment, each of the plurality of stations can be configured to process a group of packages comprising at least two pouch-type packages in parallel. Parallel processing of packages can increase the throughput of the apparatus of the present invention. The gripping member of the transfer unit can be configured to grip the upper rear portion of the packages, including the inlet, and the upper front portion of the packages being processed in parallel. The use of a single gripping member for engaging two packages being processed in parallel can increase the compactness of the apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for filling a bag-type package with a liquid product is provided, the bag-type package comprising two opposing flexible side walls, the side walls defining a product compartment connected to the environment via a filling pipe and a separate handle compartment connected to the environment via a gas inlet provided in one of the two side walls, wherein the product compartment is adapted to be filled with the liquid product via the filling pipe, and wherein the handle portion is adapted to be filled with gas via the gas inlet, the method comprising: filling the product compartment with the liquid product at a filling station, wherein a filling tube is inserted into the filling pipe of the bag-type package; transferring the bag-type package with the product compartment filled with the liquid product from the filling station to a sealing station; providing the bag-type package with a first seal closing the filling pipe at the sealing station; transferring the package from an adjacent upstream station to the gas filling station; introducing gas into the handle compartment at the gas filling station by means of a nozzle applied above the gas inlet of the bag-type package to expand it; and providing the bag-type package with a second seal at the gas filling station to trap the gas introduced into the handle compartment. The method further comprises transferring the package from the gas filling station to an adjacent downstream station, wherein the step of providing the bag-type package with a second seal is performed during the step of transferring the package from the gas filling station to the adjacent downstream station by means of a gas sealing unit integrated in a gripping member of a transfer unit.

According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the adjacent upstream station from which the bag-type packages are transferred to the gas filling station may be the sealing station.

According to another embodiment, the adjacent downstream station to which the bag-type packages are transferred from the gas filling station may be an output station.

According to a further embodiment, the second seal may be provided on the bag-type package such that it extends across a third section of the handle compartment, the third section being arranged between a first section of the handle compartment forming a handle in the expanded state of the handle compartment and a second section comprising the inlet.

Details and advantages of the second aspect of the invention are largely similar to those of the first aspect of the invention, to which reference is made above.

Generally speaking, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the art, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, mechanism, step, etc.]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of that element, device, component, mechanism, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not necessarily have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used for similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bag-type package for use with the apparatus and method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

3a-3d are schematic side views illustrating the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an example of a bag-type package 1 in the form of a stand-up pouch is shown, to which the apparatus and method according to the present invention can be applied. This bag-type package can be used as a prefabricated package suitable for filling and sealing in a filling machine. Alternatively, the package can be produced entirely or partially in the filling machine. This bag-type package can also be referred to as a collapsible package.

This bag-type packaging is particularly used for products in the form of liquid food, such as milk, water, fruit drinks, juice or wine, but it can of course also be used for some other forms of products or for other purposes.

The disclosed bag-type package includes three flexible walls, two of which constitute side walls 2, and the third constitutes bottom wall 3. These walls are joined along a connecting portion 4 to define a product compartment 5. Walls 2, 3 are made of a bendable and flexible material, which means that the volume of product compartment 5 depends on the relative distance between walls 2, 3. Therefore, the volume of product compartment 5 is directly dependent on the fill rate of package 1. In other words, the package is of the collapsible type.

The walls 2, 3 of the package 1 are preferably joined by welding or sealing in the connecting portion 4. Other joining methods such as gluing are also conceivable.

The illustrated package 1 has an opening portion 6 at its upper front end, formed as a spout. To open the container 1, the outer end of the opening portion 6 is separated, thereby placing the product compartment 5 in contact with the surrounding environment. The outer end can be separated, for example, by cutting or tearing off. Thus, the package 1, in its filled state, can be emptied using a pouring motion similar to that of a pot. The contents of the package can, of course, be consumed in other ways, such as with a straw inserted through the spout or through the side wall of the package.

The packaging material may be a multilayer plastic film material and may comprise a core layer of a mineral based filler and a polyolefin adhesive. It will be understood that other materials and layers are also possible, such as a gas barrier layer or a light barrier layer.

At the rear end of the bag-type package 1 , a handle compartment 7 is shown which is intended to be filled with gas to form a handle. The handle compartment 7 is defined by two side walls 2 and a peripheral connecting portion 4.

The handle compartment 7 is divided into three sections, all of which are interconnected. The first section 8 comprises the portion that forms the actual handle. The first section 8 is therefore the section that provides the desired functionality in the finished package. The third section 9 is directly connected to the first section 8 and constitutes a narrow conduit. The second section 10 is directly connected to the third section 9. In its simplest form, the second section 10 consists of an area defined by a portion of two opposing side walls 2 and an inlet 11 in the form of a hole in one of the side walls 2. The inlet 11 thus constitutes the inlet to the handle compartment 7, through which the handle compartment 7 communicates with the environment before being filled with gas and sealed.

As mentioned above, third section 9 forms a narrow conduit. Its primary function is to form a surface upon which the mechanism for sealing the conduit after gas filling is complete can be positioned. The cross-sectional area of third section 9 is significantly smaller than that of first section 8. In this context, cross-sectional area refers to the area between the sidewalls, which may be formed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the conduit.

The third section 9 and the second section 10 of the handle compartment 7 may be provided with an embossed surface (not shown) on their inner side. This embossed surface may facilitate the separation of the associated side wall portions in connection with gas filling.

The handle compartment 7 having three sections 8, 9, 10 is oriented in the embodiment shown in such a way that the second section 10 is located adjacent the upper rear portion 15 of the container 1. However, it will be understood that the handle compartment 7 may be arranged as desired.

As mentioned above, handle compartment 7 is filled with gas to form a handle for the container. The gas is preferably air, but other gases may also be used. Handle compartment 7 has a geometry and fill ratio that creates a grippable handle in the expanded state. This handle also contributes to the considerable rigidity of container 1 through its geometry and gas filling.

The package 1 has a filling duct 12 in its upper center, through which the product compartment 5 of the package 1 can be filled with product. When the package 1 is provided as an empty piece for a filling machine, as in the embodiment shown, the filling duct 12 can be closed by an end cap 13, which must be removed before filling. After filling is completed, the filling duct 12 is sealed again with a first seal indicated at 16.

As described above, the handle compartment is intended to be sealed after its expansion, which is exemplified by the second seal indicated at 17 .

The bag-type packages can be supplied to the filling machine in a prefabricated state and included in a roll of interconnected packages. The roll can be wound on a reel. The roll can be fed into the filling machine, where the packages are separated from the roll and filled.

The packages may initially be fed in an edge wise direction while the end caps 13 are removed and the packages separated. The feeding in the edge wise direction may be intermittent or continuous.

After the end caps 13 have been removed and the packages have been separated, the packages can be fed in a transverse direction to a section of a filling machine for filling the packages 1. The feeding in the transverse direction can be intermittent. For feeding in the transverse direction, a transfer unit can be provided and arranged to pick up the packages in the upper front part indicated at 14 and in the upper rear part indicated at 15.

Reference is now made to Figure 2, in which is schematically shown an apparatus 20 according to an embodiment of the invention for filling bag-type packages 1. The shown embodiment of the apparatus 20 of the invention represents a section of the kind described above for filling packages fed intermittently in the transverse direction.

The device 1 of the present invention may comprise a plurality of stations, each of which may comprise a gripper (not shown) for holding the packages at the associated station. It will be appreciated that the stations may be integrated in the gripper.

In the embodiment shown, the plurality of stations comprises an input station S1 for receiving packages fed to the device, for example, from a section of a filling machine where the packages are already fed edgewise; an opening station S2 for opening the filling duct of the package; a filling station S3 for filling the product compartment of the package; a sealing station S4 for sealing the product compartment of the filled package; a gas filling station S5 for inflating the handle compartment of the package; and an output station S6 from which the packages are transported for subsequent processing. A package 1 of the type described above with reference to FIG1 is shown at each station.

The opening station S2 may include a pair of suction cups 21 arranged to engage opposing side wall portions defining the filling duct 12 and to separate the opposing side wall portions by separation of the suction cups 21 .

The filling station S3 may comprise a filling tube 22 connected to a source 23 of liquid product via a product valve 24. The filling tube 22 may be inserted into the filling duct 12 of the package 1 once the filling duct 12 has been opened in the preceding opening station S3.

Sealing station S4 may include a pair of sealing jaws 25, at least one of which includes a first sealing member 26 that may be permanently heated. The sealing jaws 25 may be arranged to engage the package 1 located at sealing station S3 so that, once the product compartment 5 has been filled at the previous filling station S3, the first sealing member 26 provides a first seal 16 for the package, closing the filling channel 12 and thereby sealing the product compartment 5. The sealing jaws 25 may be integrated into a gripper that holds the package 1 at sealing station S4, or form a gripper that holds the package 1 at sealing station S4.

In the embodiment shown, the gas filling station S5 comprises a nozzle 27 connected to a source of pressurized gas 28 and a dock 29, against which the nozzle 27 is movably arranged to clamp the package 1 and apply the nozzle 27 to the inlet 11 of the handle compartment 7. The nozzle 27 and the dock 29 may be integrated into a gripper that holds the package at the gas filling station S5.

It will be appreciated that these stations may be designed differently and as their specific design is not the focus of the present invention, they will not be described in detail.

The inventive device 20 further comprises a transfer unit 30. The shown embodiment of the transfer unit 30 is arranged to transfer packages 1 intermittently in transverse direction along the direction indicated by arrow P1 and to pick up packages 1 in the upper front portion 14 and the upper rear portion 15.

The transfer unit comprises gripping members 31 for retrieving a package 1 from the gas filling station S5 and transferring it to an adjacent station situated downstream, in the embodiment shown the output station S6.

In the embodiment shown, the transfer unit 30 further comprises an additional gripper arranged to retrieve packages from a station situated upstream of the gas filling station S5 and transfer them to an adjacent station situated downstream.

Therefore, in the embodiment shown, the additional grippers include a first additional gripper 32a for retrieving the package 1 from the input station S1 and transferring it to the opening station S2; a second additional gripper 32b for retrieving the package 1 from the opening station S2 and transferring it to the filling station S3; a third additional gripper 32c for retrieving the package 1 from the filling station S3 and transferring it to the sealing station S4; and a fourth additional gripper 32d for retrieving the package 1 from the sealing station S4 and transferring it to the gas filling station S5.

The transport unit 30 is carried by rotatable mounts 33. Each mount 33 comprises an arm 34 which is pivotally carried in a bearing in the transfer unit 30 at its end 35 remote from the center of rotation C of the mount 33. This enables a circular motion to be transmitted to the transfer unit 30, and more specifically to each of the additional grippers 32a-32d and the gripping member 31, which moves cyclically along a circular, endless path between a pick-up position and a delivery position.

Each of the gripping member 31 and the additional grippers 32a-32d may comprise a pair of jaws 42a-42d movable against each other to grip the upper rear portion 15 of the package. An additional pair of jaws (not shown) may be provided to grip the upper front portion 14 of the package.

The transmission unit 30 may for example comprise pneumatic, hydraulic and/or mechanical means (not shown) for operating the pair of jaws. In the figures, the pair of jaws is shown in an open position.

The gripping member 31 may further comprise an integrated gas sealing unit 36. The gas sealing unit 36 comprises a second sealing member 37 arranged to provide the bag-type package 1 with a second seal 17 for trapping gas introduced into the handle compartment 7, wherein the gripping member 31 retrieves the package 1 from the gas filling station S5 and transfers it to an adjacent downstream station, in the embodiment shown, the output station S6.

The pair of jaws 38, 39 of the gripping member 31 may include a first jaw 38 having a thermally insulating engagement member 40, which may be made, for example, of polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The engagement member 40 defines an engagement surface 41, and the second sealing member 37 is recessed in the engagement surface 41. The second sealing member 37 is located in the engagement surface 41 such that when the jaws 38, 39 of the gripping member 31 grip the upper rear portion 15 of the package 1, the second seal 17 provided by the second sealing member 37 extends across the third section 9 of the handle compartment 7.

Hereinafter, the operation of the transmission unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 a - FIG 3 d .

In FIG3 a , the transport unit 30 has been operated by rotating the mounting 33 so that the additional grippers 32 a - 32 d and the gripping member 31 have been brought along their respective circumferential paths to the associated upstream station. Furthermore, the pair of grippers has been moved to a closed position to grip the upper rear portion 15 of the package 1 located at the respective station. As mentioned above, an additional pair of grippers (not shown) is provided for gripping the upper front portion 14 of the package 1.

Thus, the pair of jaws 42a of the first additional gripper 32a has retrieved an unfilled package that was provided in a flat state 1 and was located at the input station S1; the pair of jaws 42b of the second additional gripper 32b has retrieved a package 1 that had an open filling pipe 12 and was located at the opening station S2; the pair of jaws 42c of the third additional gripper 32c has retrieved a package 1 that had been filled with liquid contents and was located at the filling station S3; the pair of jaws 42d of the fourth additional gripper 32d has retrieved a package 1 that had been provided with a first seal 16 that had been closed the filling pipe 12 and was located at the sealing station S4; and the pair of jaws 38, 39 of the gripping member 31 has retrieved a package 1 that had a gas-filled handle compartment and was located at the gas filling station S5.

In Figure 3b, the mounting base 33 has been rotated in the direction indicated by arrow P2, thereby transferring each retrieved package 1 along its own circular path toward its associated, adjacent, downstream station. As indicated, each station has been operated to allow its respective package to be retrieved and also to allow new packages to be received. Thus, the suction cup 21 has been deactivated and separated; the sealing jaws 25 have been separated; and the nozzle 27 has been separated from the docking portion 29. As described above, while the gripping member 31 transfers the package 1 from the gas filling station S5 to the output station S6, the gas sealing unit 36 integrated in the gripping member 31 provides the package 1 with a secondary seal 17 that traps gas introduced into the handle compartment 7.

In Figure 3c, the mounting base 33 has continued to rotate in the direction P2 to position the additional grippers 32a-32d and the gripping member 31 at the associated downstream stations. Thus, the first additional gripper 32a has been brought to the opening station S2; the second additional gripper 32b has been brought to the filling station S3; the third additional gripper 32c has been brought to the sealing station S4; the fourth additional gripper 32d has been brought to the gas filling station S5; and the gripping member 31 has been brought to the output station S6. At each station, a gripper (not shown) can then be activated to hold the package 1 being transported to the respective station.

Further, when the package 1 transferred by the gripping member 31 reaches the output station S6, the second seal 17 provided by the gas sealing unit 36 integrated in the gripping member 31 is completed.

When the grippers, not shown, have been activated to hold the packages at the respective stations, the additional grippers 32a-32d and gripping members 31 may be opened, thereby completing the transport and delivery of the associated packages.

By continuing to rotate the mounting base in the direction P2, as shown in Figure 3d, the additional grippers 32a-32d and the gripping member 31 can be moved towards the associated pick-up position to initiate a new retrieval-transfer-delivery cycle while the associated operations are performed at the respective stations. As can be seen in the figure, a new package a has been provided at the input station S1.

It will be appreciated that each station of the apparatus of the present invention can be configured for the parallel processing of two or more packages. Thus, the jaw pairs of the additional gripper and gripping member can be configured to grip, in addition to the upper rear portion 15 of the package 1 shown in Figures 3a-3d, also the upper front portion 14 of a group of packages being processed in the parallel section of the station.

Reference is now made to Figures 4 and 5, in which a portion of an embodiment of the apparatus 20 of the present invention is shown in greater detail.

In the illustrated portion of the apparatus 20, a sealing station S4 and a gas filling station S5 are illustrated, along with a portion of a transfer unit 30, which includes a fourth additional gripper 32d configured to transfer packages 1 from the sealing station S4 to the gas filling station S5, and a gripping member 31 configured to transfer packages 1 from the gas filling station S5 to an adjacent station located downstream. In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping member 31 and the fourth additional gripper 32d are configured to grip the upper rear portion 15 of the package 1, but it will be understood that the transfer unit 30 can also be configured to grip the upper front portion 14 of the package 1 to establish a secure grip of the package 1. To this end, the transfer unit can include an arrangement of gripping members and additional grippers corresponding to those described below and arranged on opposite sides of the sealing and gas filling stations.

The bag type package 1 is shown at the gas filling station S5. For the sake of clarity, the package is not shown at the sealing station S4.

In the figure, filling of the handle compartment 7 with gas has been completed and the gripping member 31 has retrieved the package 1 by gripping its upper rear portion 15. Subsequently, the gripper holding the package at the station will be opened and will start transporting the package to a station located downstream.

Sealing station S4 comprises two jaws 43, 44 brought together to provide a first seal 16 that closes the filling pipe 12 of the package (not shown). More specifically, sealing station S4 comprises a first sealing member 26 integrated into at least the first jaw 43 of the jaws. First sealing member 26 may be permanently heated. The second jaw 44 of the jaws may be a butt-jointed jaw having a seal defining a joint section against which the first jaw 43 and the first sealing member 26 integrated therein are pressed. The pair of jaws 43, 44 also constitutes a gripper for holding the package (not shown) in sealing station S4.

Gas filling station S5 includes a gripper for holding packages in the form of a pair of jaws 45, 46, of which only the first jaw 45 is shown in FIG4 . In FIG5 , the second jaw is indicated by 46. The nozzle 27 is integrated into the first jaw 45. The nozzle 27 is arranged so that it is positioned above the inlet 11 of the third section 9 of the handle compartment 7, as can be clearly seen in the partial cross-section shown in FIG5 . The second jaw 46 of the pair of jaws forms an abutment against which the first jaw 45 and the nozzle 27 integrated therein are pressed during the gas filling operation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the transport unit 30 comprises a first rod 47 and a second rod 48 arranged in parallel and supporting the gripping member 31 and the fourth additional gripper 32d. The rods 47 and 48 are rotatably connected to an arm (not shown) via a mounting (not shown) as disclosed above. Rotation of the arm of the mounting moves the fourth additional gripper 32d and the gripping member 31, respectively, from the sealing station S4 and the gas filling station S5 to their respective downstream stations, namely, the gas filling station S5 and the output station (not shown).

The fourth additional gripper 32d comprises a pair of jaws 42d, wherein a first jaw of the pair 42d is supported by a first rod 47 and a second jaw of the pair 42d is supported by a second rod 48. Correspondingly, the gripping member 31 comprises a first jaw 38 supported by the first rod 47 and a second jaw 39 supported by the second rod 48. The gripping member 31 and the fourth additional gripper 32d are opened and closed by means of a relative displacement of the rods 47, 48 in their longitudinal direction. In the embodiment shown, the rods 47, 48 have been displaced so that the gripping member 31 and the fourth additional gripper 32d are closed, i.e. the pair of jaws have been moved against each other so as to grip the upper rear portion 15 of the packaging 1.

A gas sealing unit 36 is integrated in the gripping member 31 for providing a second seal 17 for trapping gas introduced into the handle compartment 7. To this end, the gas sealing unit 36 comprises a second sealing member 37 provided in a first jaw 38 of the gripping member 31 .

More specifically, the first jaw 38 of the gripping member includes a thermally insulated engagement member 40 that is movable against the second jaw 39 to grip the package 1. The second sealing member 37 is recessed in an engagement surface 41 of the engagement member 40, which can be clearly seen in FIG5 . It can also be seen in this figure that the section of the engagement surface 41 adjacent to the second sealing member 37 forms a first engagement portion 49 that faces the pressurized side of the gas-filled handle compartment 7 when the first and second jaws 38, 39 are brought together and the second sealing member 37 engages the package 1 to provide the second seal 17. The non-heated first engagement portion 49 will therefore release the second seal 17 while it is being formed, thereby ensuring that it will not be exposed to gas pressure, which in turn minimizes the risk of an unsatisfactory seal.

4 , the engagement surface 41 of the engagement member 40 also includes a non-heated second engagement portion 50 that is arranged to grip the upper front portion 14 of a package (not shown) being processed in parallel with the illustrated package 1. The second jaw 39 will serve as an abutment also for this second engagement portion 50.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

For example, the apparatus of the present invention may include different groups of stations. Similarly, two or more stations may be integrated into a single station. Thus, a sealing station and a gas filling station may be integrated into a single station. Furthermore, two subsequent stations may perform the same operation. Thus, the plurality of stations may include two filling stations and/or two sealing stations.

Several modifications and variations are therefore conceivable within the scope of the invention, which is therefore defined solely by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. An apparatus for filling a pouch-type package (1) with a liquid product, the pouch-type package (1) comprising two opposing flexible sidewalls (2), the sidewalls (2) defining a product compartment (5) in communication with the environment via a filling conduit (12), and a separate handle compartment (7) in communication with the environment via a gas inlet (11) disposed in one of the two sidewalls (2), wherein the product compartment (5) is adapted to be filled with the liquid product through the filling conduit (12), and wherein the handle compartment (7) is adapted to be filled with gas through the gas inlet (11), the apparatus comprising A plurality of stations configured to continuously receive and process the bag-type packaging (1), the plurality of stations comprising: A filling station (S3) for filling the product compartment (5) with the liquid product, and includes a filling tube (22) that can be inserted into the filling tube (12) of the bag-type package (1); A sealing station (S4) is used to seal the product compartment (5) after it has been filled with the liquid product, and includes a first sealing member (26) configured to provide a first seal (16) to the bag-type package (1) to close the filling channel (12); A gas filling station (S5) is configured to introduce gas into the handle compartment (7) for expansion and includes a nozzle (27) that can be applied above the gas inlet (11); and A transmission unit (30) including a gripping member (31) for retrieving the package (1) from the gas filling station (S5) and transmitting it to an adjacent downstream station, characterized in that... A gas sealing unit (36) is integrated into the gripping member (31) of the transfer unit (30). The gas sealing unit (36) includes a second sealing member (37) configured to provide a second seal (17) to the bag-type package (1) to trap gas introduced into the handle compartment (7). 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping member (31) of the transmission unit (30) includes a pair of jaws (38, 39) configured to grip the upper part of the bag-shaped package (1) for retrieving it. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the pair of jaws (38, 39) of the gripping member (31) includes a first jaw (38) having a thermally insulating engagement member (40), wherein the second sealing member (37) is recessed in the engagement surface (41) of the engagement member (40). 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the engagement surface (41) includes a first engagement portion (49) adjacent to the second sealing member (37), the first engagement portion (49) being configured to face the pressurized side of the handle compartment (7) when the second sealing member (37) engages the package (1) to provide the second seal (17). 5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission unit (30) includes an additional gripper (32a-32d) configured to transmit the bag-type package (1) from a station located upstream or downstream of the gas filling station (S5) to an adjacent downstream station. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing station (S4) and the gas filling station (S5) are integrated into a single station. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of stations is configured to process in parallel a group of packages comprising at least two bag-type packages. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the gripping member (31) of the transmission unit (30) is configured to grip the upper rear portion (15) of the package (1) including the gas inlet (11) and the upper front portion (14) of the package being processed in parallel. 9. A method for filling a pouch package (1) with a liquid product, the pouch package (1) comprising two opposing flexible sidewalls (2), the sidewalls (2) defining a product compartment (5) in communication with the environment via a filling conduit (12), and a separate handle compartment (7) in communication with the environment via a gas inlet (11) disposed in one of the two sidewalls (2), wherein the product compartment (5) is adapted to be filled with the liquid product via the filling conduit (12), and wherein the handle compartment (7) is adapted to be filled with gas via the gas inlet (11), the method comprising: The product compartment (5) is filled with liquid product at the filling station (S3), wherein the filling tube (22) of the filling station (S3) is inserted into the filling tube (12) of the bag-type package (1); At the sealing station (S4), a first seal (16) is provided to the bag-type package (1) to close the filling tube (12); At the gas filling station (S5), gas is introduced into the handle compartment (7) by means of a nozzle (27) applied above the gas inlet (11) of the bag-type package (1) to inflate it; and A second seal (17) is provided at the gas filling station (S5) to the bag-type package (1) to trap the gas that has been introduced into the handle compartment (7), characterized in that... The step of transferring the package from the gas filling station (S5) to an adjacent downstream station, wherein the step of providing a second seal (17) to the bag-type package (1) is performed by means of a gas sealing unit (37) integrated in the gripping member (31) of the transfer unit (30) during the step of transferring the package (1) from the gas filling station (S5) to the adjacent downstream station, is performed by means of a gas sealing unit (37) integrated in the gripping member (31) of the transfer unit (30). The second seal (17) is provided on the bag-type package (1) by extending across the third section (9) of the handle compartment (7), the third section (9) being disposed between the first section (8) of the handle compartment (7) forming the handle in the expanded state of the handle compartment (7) and the second section (10) including the gas inlet (11). 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transferring the bag-type package (1) with its product compartment (5) filled with liquid product from the filling station (S3) to the sealing station (S4). 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising transferring the package (1) from an adjacent upstream station to the gas filling station (S5). 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adjacent upstream station is the sealed station (S4). 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the bag-type packaging (1) is transferred from the gas filling station (S5) to the adjacent downstream station as an output station (S6).