ASEPTIC PACKAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF.

Abstract

Aseptic product processing systems and methods may include a hopper for introducing the product into the system and one or more components through which the product flows as it is processed, an enclosure surrounding one or more of the components, a gassing assembly comprising a plurality of gassing elements to maintain a substantially constant flow of inert gas over the product as it travels through the system components, and a filtered gas recirculation system that recirculates air or filtered gas through the enclosure. Such systems may be particularly advantageous for use in the cannabis industry.

Description

ASEPTIC PACKAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 966,519 filed on January 27, 2020 is hereby claimed and the description is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF INVENTION This document describes an apparatus for packaging products and methods of using it, and in particular, an apparatus for the aseptic or substantially aseptic handling and packaging of products and methods of using it. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bag fillers are used in a variety of industries for the bulk packaging of diverse products, such as food and agricultural products, construction and industrial materials, and chemical powders and granules. In some applications, such as the packaging of food, pharmaceutical, and agricultural products, aseptic or substantially aseptic conditions are required. Often, these conditions are achieved by packaging the products in a dedicated cleanroom facility. Such cleanroom facilities require high start-up costs and dedicated space to implement the necessary ventilation and airflow throughout the space. In addition, restrictions on personnel entry to a cleanroom facility and pre-entry cleaning protocols require additional training and may limit the number of personnel who can enter the cleanroom during a given production run. For some industries, such as the cannabis industry, there is limited capacity at cultivation sites and the impossibility of setting up a dedicated cleanroom space for processing the product. While sterilization methods are beginning to be implemented in such industries, the cultivation facilities where sterilization and packaging take place can have high counts of mold and bacteria in the atmosphere, and recontamination of the sterilized product often occurs during post-sterilization processing for bulk production or further packaging. There is a need in such industries for equipment and methods for improved handling of the sterilized product for bulk packaging and / or other downstream uses. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The packaging system modalities described herein can advantageously provide improved post-sterilization processing of a sterilized product, for example, for bulk packaging of the sterilized product or for weighing and filling the product into bottles, bags, sachets and other containers. ML / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an aseptic filling system according to one modality of the description; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a glove box of a system according to the description for the transfer of a sterilized product from a sterilization system to a filling or packaging system; Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the glove compartment in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a rear view of the glove compartment in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a portion of an aseptic filling system according to the modalities of the description; Figure 6 is a side view of a filling system according to the modalities of the description; Figure 7A is a top view of a glove compartment of a system according to the modalities of the description; Figure 7B is a bottom perspective view of the glove compartment in Figure 7A; Figure 7C is a rear view of the glove compartment in Figure 7A; Figure 7D is a front view of the glove compartment in Figure 7A. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a hopper and scale showing the gasification elements for use in a system according to the description; Figure 9 is a flow diagram showing the gas flow through a system according to the modalities of the description; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a scale that has gasification elements according to the description; Figure 11 is the scale from Figure 10 showing the product flowing through the scale; Figure 12 is a schematic illustration showing a gasification system according to the modalities of the description; Figure 13A is a perspective view of a bulk packaging system according to the modalities of the description, showing the hopper door in the open position; Figure 13B is a rear perspective view of the bulk packaging system of Figure 13B, showing the door in the closed position; Figure 14A is a side view of a bulk packaging system according to the modalities of the description, showing the system components through the enclosure and showing the system in a retracted position; Figure 14B is a side view of the bulk packaging system in Figure 14A, showing the system in an extended position; Figure 15 is a rear perspective view of a gasification assembly of a bulk packaging system according to the modalities of the description; ML / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU Figure 16A is a top view of a door of a bulk packaging system having a bag opening apparatus according to the modalities of the description; Figure 16B is a bottom view of the door in Figure 16A; and Figure 16C is a bottom perspective view of the door in Figure 16A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The systems described herein may receive a sterilized product and maintain aseptic or substantially aseptic processing of the product for downstream packaging. The systems maintain a flow of inert gas over and / or through the product as it passes through the system to maintain an aseptic environment and prevent recontamination of the product during processing. Reference hereto to the flow of inert gas over the product shall be understood to mean either or both of a flow over the product or through the product. The systems described herein include a gassing assembly and a plurality of gassing elements arranged throughout the system to maintain a flow of inert gas over the product as it moves through the system. In the embodiments described, the inert gas flow is filtered inert gas.In these models, the inert gas flow is HEPA-filtered inert gas. In these models, the inert gas is nitrogen, and the nitrogen flow over the product throughout the system maintains low oxygen levels in and around the product as it progresses through the system. In these models, the systems described can advantageously maintain an oxygen level in the product transport path of 0.5% or less, enabling aseptic handling of the product throughout the system. The aseptic handling systems described herein can be particularly useful for free-flowing products such as powders or aggregated free-flowing products. In some embodiments, the systems described herein can be particularly useful for the aseptic handling of cannabis and similar products. Any other product requiring aseptic handling can be used herein. Products can be supplied to the system in bags or in loose form. For example, the product can be contained in a sterilized bag and removed from the sterilized bag to enter the system. In other embodiments, the product can be supplied directly from a sterilizer to the systems described. With reference to Figure 9, in any of the embodiments herein, a 300 gassing assembly is in fluid communication with the gassing elements throughout the system. The gassing assembly controls the gas flow to the various gassing elements of the system. The gassing assembly may include one or more inlets to the system to supply gas from a gas source to the gassing elements. In any of the embodiments herein, the gassing assembly may include a filter, for example, a HEPA filter, to purge the gas before it enters the gassing elements of the system. In any of the embodiments herein, the gassing assembly may also be connected to a sterilization fluid source to allow the system to be sterilized by the flow of sterilizing gas through the gassing elements and into the various components of the system.In the different models, the gas installation includes. ML / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU an inert gas inlet, a sterilization fluid inlet, a HEPA filter downstream of the inert gas inlet and the sterilization gas inlet, and a gas rail downstream of the HEPA filter to distribute the gas to one or more gassing elements. The sterilization gas inlet may allow a sterilization gas to flow through the system to enable the sterilization of system components if required between product processing. In any of the system or scale embodiments herein, the system may include a gas recirculation system to recirculate filtered air throughout the system to help remove any contaminants that may be swept from the product by the flow of inert gas over the product components. For example, in some embodiments, the system may include an enclosure over all or part of the system components. A gas recirculation element may be arranged in the upstream portion of the enclosure to flow filtered recirculation gas downstream throughout the system. A recirculation filter may be included and arranged to filter the gas before the gas recirculation element discharges it into the system.In other configurations, the recirculation filter can be placed anywhere in the system, provided that the flow through the recirculation system directs the gas or air through the recirculation filter before the recirculation elements release it into the system, and such that the recirculation exhaust directs the collected gas or air flow back to the recirculation filter. A recirculation system exhaust can be arranged downstream of the gas recirculation element to collect the gas within the enclosure as it flows from the gas recirculation element. The recirculation system may include multiple exhausts arranged in selected locations within the system, for example, where it is suspected that the gassing elements within the components are sweeping potential product contaminants into the environment within the enclosure.The gas recirculation system has piping or other structures to maintain a fluid connection between the recirculation system exhaust (or multiple exhausts, if any), the recirculation filter, and the gas recirculation element. This allows the collected exhaust gas to be filtered and then recirculated back into the enclosure by the recirculation element. The recirculation system may include one or more fans and / or blowers that direct the gas through the system. All exhaust gas passes through the filter before being recirculated. The filter may be a HEPA filter. During system operation, the recirculation system can advantageously and continuously remove any contaminants, such as spores or particles, that may enter the system with the product leaving the system.In any of the configurations described herein, the gas recirculated through the system may be air present in the system and / or any inert gas expelled by the gasification elements and present in the system. In other configurations, the recirculation system may have an inert gas inlet that flows a quantity of inert gas into the system for recirculation. In some models, the recirculation system can be part of the gassing assembly, allowing the gassing assembly to direct inert gas to the recirculation system. In some models, the gassing assembly can be used to direct inert gas to the recirculation system. In some models, the gassing assembly can be used to direct the sterilization fluid to the ML / t / ZUZZ / U 7 OOOU Recirculation system cleaning / sterilization. The gassing assembly can be seamlessly connected to the recirculation system for sterilization only in some configurations. In other configurations, the recirculation system is separate from the gassing assembly. In such configurations, the recirculation system can be seamlessly connected to a separate gassing assembly to deliver inert gas and / or sterilizing fluid to the recirculation system. In some versions, the system is for bulk packaging of the product. In others, the system is for weighing and filling the product for downstream packaging in smaller quantities. For example, the weighing and filling system can be used with any suitable packaging machine, such as vertical form-fill-seal machines, bottle fillers, bag fillers, and the like. In each of the systems described herein, the system advantageously allows a sterilized product to be transferred to the system while substantially maintaining the product's sterility. In some versions, the system is a combination weighing system. Weighing and Filling System In some configurations, the system can process the product on a scale and / or continue processing through the scale to a downstream packaging machine. For ease of reference, such systems are referred to as weigh-and-fill systems. However, the system could include any part of the process from transporting the product to the scale and even processing it within the scale to transfer it to a packaging machine. With reference to Figures 1 and 3, in one embodiment, system 10 can process a sterilized product from a sterilization unit 16 by filling the product 14 onto a weighing scale 60, which is then connected to transfer the measured product to a packaging machine. The weighing and filling systems can be used with any type of weighing scale and can be advantageously interconnected with a variety of packaging machine types for both flexible packaging and box, jar, can, or tray packaging. The system may include one or more enclosures and a gas recirculation system, as described above, around all or any part of the components. With reference to Figure 3, the systems 10 for the aseptic filling of a product may, in various embodiments, include a transfer receptacle 12 for receiving the sterilized product, for example, supplied in a bag 13 from a sterilization unit 16. The transfer receptacle 12 may be interconnected with the sterilization unit 16 or may be located very close to the sterilization unit 16 so that the product can be manually transferred to the transfer receptacle. Any other suitable arrangement or additional device for transferring the product from the sterilization unit 16 to the transfer receptacle 12 may be included.For example, in configurations where the sterilization unit 16 is not very close to the transfer receptacle, the system may also include a conveyor system (not shown) to aseptically transport the product from the sterilization unit 16 to the transfer receptacle 12. The conveyor systems may be a sealed system and / or may include one or more gassing elements. MA / / OOOU maintain a gas flow through the product while it is in the conveying system. In some embodiments, the product can be supplied from the sterilization unit 16 in a sealed bag 13 that maintains the sterility of the bag's contents. In other embodiments, the sterilization unit 16 can be used to sterilize the product as a loose product 14 and can be connected to system 10 to deposit the loose product 14 directly into system 10 after sterilization. Any suitable sterilization unit 16 can be used in connection with the systems described herein. With reference to Figures 2 and 4, in the embodiments, the transfer receptacle 12 includes a door 18 that seals an opening 20 through which the product 14 or bag 13 can be received from the sterilization unit 16. In the embodiments, the door 18 can be a hinged door 18 that opens to reveal the opening 20 while the hinged end of the door retracts into the transfer receptacle 12 to limit exposure of the system interior during insertion of the product into the system 10 through the transfer receptacle 12. With reference to Figure 2, the transfer receptacle 12 can be connected via a through-opening 22 to a glove box 24. The through-opening 22 can be positioned opposite the opening 20 through which the product is introduced. With reference to Figure 7C, one or more curtains 26 can be placed over the through-opening 22. For example, the curtain 26 can be a rubber curtain. Curtains 26 can be provided across the through-opening 22 to further assist in maintaining the aseptic environment of system 10. As described above, the door 18 of the transfer receptacle 12 can be hinged so that the hinged end partially seals the through-opening 22 during loading of the transfer receptacle 12 to limit the glove box 24's exposure to ambient conditions. With reference to Figures 7A-7D, the transfer receptacle 12 may further include one or more gassing elements 28 to maintain a flow of inert gas within the transfer receptacle to keep oxygen levels low. The oxygen levels and the selection of the inert gas in any of the gassing elements described herein may be selected based on the products being processed and the required aseptic conditions. For example, in some configurations, inert gas may flow throughout the system to maintain a product oxygen level of less than 0.5%. With reference to Figure 5, the glove box 24 may include a central region 30 through which the product 14 can flow via a hopper 36. In certain embodiments, the glove box 24 may include a grid 32 having a plurality of openings in this central region 30. The plurality of openings may be sized to allow the product 14 to flow through but prevent the bag 13 or other objects from passing through. In embodiments, for example, where the product 14 is supplied as a loose product and not in a bag 13, the central region 30 may include an opening without the grid 32. With reference to Figure 4, the glove box 24 may further include a disposal region 34 adjacent to the central region 30. The disposal region 34 can be particularly advantageous when processing products supplied in a bag 13. The bag 13 can be opened when disposed of within the glove box 24, and the product 14 can be emptied into the hopper 36 through the region MA / í OOOU central 30. The bag 13 can then be moved to the disposal region 34. The disposal region 34 may include a door 38 through which the bag 13 can be passed into a waste receptacle 40. The door 38 can seal the waste receptacle 40 from the interior volume of the glove compartment 24, so that when the door 38 is closed, the waste receptacle 40 can be emptied through another door 39 without exposing the glove compartment 24 to ambient conditions. With reference to Figure 5, the glove compartment 24 may include one or more glove openings 42 for accessing various regions of the interior of the glove compartment 24. The glove openings may be of the type conventionally known in the art. The figures show the glove openings 42 without gloves in them so that the interior of the glove compartment can be more easily viewed. With reference again to Figure 7B, the glove box 24 may include one or more gassing elements 44 to maintain an inert gas flow throughout the glove box 24. One or more of these gassing elements 44 may be arranged to direct the inert gas flow over the product as it passes through the hopper 36. In some embodiments, the transfer receptacle 12 can be directly interconnected with the hopper 36, and the glove box 24 can be omitted. In still further embodiments, the transfer receptacle 12 and the glove box 24 can be omitted, and a door structure, as illustrated in Figures 16A-16C and described in detail below, can be incorporated into the hopper 36 of the filling system 10. As detailed below, the door structure can cover the hopper and can include a bag-opening device that can open a bag to release the product contained therein into the hopper. The door structure can also include a door to seal the system from the external environment after the product is loaded into the system.In such embodiments, a gassing element may be provided just downstream of the door structure, within the hopper, or within the door structure to flow inert gas through the hopper opening so that the bag and product come into contact with the inert gas flow during loading. The hopper and / or door structure may further include an exhaust arranged opposite the gassing element to collect the inert gas flow after it comes into contact with the bag or product during loading. The exhaust can ensure that any particles or spores removed from the product during loading are captured and removed so that they cannot pass through the system with the product. In these embodiments, the gassing element and exhaust are part of a gassing recirculation system.The gasification element can flow filtered gas from the gasification recirculation system, and the exhaust can transport the collected gas to the recirculation system filter for filtration and reintroduction as clean gas through the system. With reference to Figure 6, product 14 passes through hopper 36 to a feeder 46. Hopper 36 may include a gassing element that extends vertically and is centrally arranged 48 to maintain a laminar flow of inert gas within hopper 36. Hopper 36 can be sealed or provided in an enclosure to seal the hopper from environmental conditions. Product 14 passes through hopper 36 to feeder 46. They can be used MA / IZ / ZUZZ / U / 300U vibratory and non-vibratory feeders. Feeder 46 includes gassing elements 50 to maintain an inert gas flow over the product 14 as it passes through feeder 46. In some embodiments, the gassing elements 50 are arranged above the product 14. In others, the gassing elements 50 are arranged below the product 14. In still additional embodiments, the gassing elements 50 are arranged both above and below the product 14. Feeder 46 can be sealed so that the product flow path through feeder 46 is sealed from ambient conditions. In embodiments containing a vibratory feeder 46, the feeder 46 can include a tray 52 that defines the product path through the vibratory feeder 46.The tray 52 can vibrate as known in the art to control the flow of product through the feeder 46. The vibratory feeder 46 can include one or more gassing elements 50 arranged above and / or below the tray 52 to direct a flow of inert gas over and / or into the product 14 as it flows through the feeder 46. The feeder 46 feeds the product to a funnel 54. The funnel 54 is in communication with the feeder 46, and the product path from the feeder 46 to the funnel 54 is sealed against ambient conditions. The funnel 54 may include a vertically extending, centrally arranged gassing element 56 to maintain a substantially radial or substantially radially directed flow of inert gas in the funnel 54. The funnel 54 may additionally or alternatively include one or more gassing elements 58 arranged in a side wall of the funnel. Funnel 54 conveys the product to a scale 60. Funnel 54 can be sealed to a receiving region of the scale 60 and / or to a receiving portion of an enclosure for the scale 60. Any suitable scale 60 can be used and can be selected based on the product being handled. In some models, the feeder, funnel, and weighing scale may be enclosed. In such models, a gas recirculation system may be provided to recirculate filtered gas, for example, or HEPA-filtered air, within the enclosure. In other models, the weighing scale is surrounded by an enclosure, which may optionally include a gas recirculation system to recirculate filtered gas, for example, or HEPA-filtered air, within the enclosure. With reference to Figure 8, throughout system 10, the product flows through a product flow path. One or more gassing elements are arranged in the product flow path to maintain a flow of inert gas. In some embodiments, the inert gas flow can be selected to maintain an oxygen level of less than 0.5%. The product flow path can be sealed or substantially sealed to prevent product exposure to ambient conditions. The aseptic product filling system can be interconnected with any suitable weighbridge, which in turn can be interconnected with any desired packaging machine. For example, system 10 can be interconnected with or include a combination weighbridge 100 described herein. Additional gassing elements and / or enclosures can be provided to help maintain aseptic conditions during product transfer to the packaging machine. ML / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU Combination Scale With reference to Figure 10, in the modalities, a gasification system 102 can be provided for a combination weighing scale 100. The gasification system 102 for a combination weighing scale 100 and a combination weighing scale 100 having the gasification system 102 can be incorporated into the aseptic filling systems described herein. In certain embodiments, the scale 100 may be surrounded by an enclosure. In such embodiments, a recirculation system may be provided to recirculate filtered air or gas within the enclosure. In these embodiments, the recirculation system may include a recirculation element at the first end 101 to flow filtered air or gas into the enclosure. The recirculation may further include an exhaust at the second end 103 to collect the air or gas from the system. The recirculation element and the exhaust are in fluid communication with a filter interposed between them so that the air or gas collected from the enclosure is filtered before the recirculation element recirculates it into the enclosure. The filter may be, for example, a HEPA filter. Any of the recirculation system features described above may be implemented in the system used with the scale 100. With reference to Figures 10 and 11, combination weighing scales 100 generally include a weighing funnel 104 arranged to receive product 14 from the system funnel 54 for weighing and filling. The weighing funnel 104 transfers the product to a dispersion feeder 106, which disperses the product 14 to one or more feeders 108, directing the product to the feed hoppers 110. The feed hoppers 110 then transfer the product 14 to one or more weighing buckets 112. The weighing scale 100 then transfers the product 14 from one or more of the weighing buckets 112 to a sorting channel 114, depending on the total weight of product 14 required. The sorting channel 114 then transfers the product 14 to the filling inlet of the packaging machine.Although the models shown in the figures herein are radial scales, linear scales are also considered herein, and the gasification systems having the characteristics described herein may be arranged for use in linear scales. With reference to Figure 12, the gassing system 102 may include a dispersion feeder gassing element 118 arranged at a first end 101 of the scale. The dispersion feeder gassing element 118 may be truncated conical in shape, for example, for a radial combination scale. The dispersion feeder gassing element 118 is arranged to direct an inert gas flow over the product 14 as it is dispersed from the dispersion feeder 106 to the feeders 108. In radial scale embodiments, the feeders 108 may be radial feeders. The scale 100 may include one or more external feeder gassing elements 120 extending outward from the dispersion feeder gassing element 118 to direct an inert gas flow over the product in the feeders 108.In the modalities, the feeders 108 can be radial feeders and the external feeder gassing elements 120 can be external radial feeder gassing elements that are arranged radially outwards from the dispersion feeder 106. The gasification system 102 may also include one or more gasification elements ML / t / ZUZZ / U / 300U feed hopper 122 placed downstream of the external feeder gasification elements 120 and positioned to direct the gas flow to one or more feed hoppers 110 that transfer the product to one or more weighing buckets 112. The system may also include one or more weighing bucket gasification elements 124 arranged downstream of one or more feed hopper gasification elements 122 and positioned to direct the gas flow towards one or more weighing buckets 112. The gasification system 102 may also include one or more sorting channel gasification elements 126 arranged downstream of one or more weighing bucket gasification elements 124 and positioned to radially direct the gas flow into a sorting channel 114. A vertical sorting channel gasification element 128, extending vertically upward from a second end 103 of the scale, opposite the first end 101 of the scale, and arranged to be placed within and maintain the gas flow within the sorting channel 114. In certain modalities, the vertical gasification element 36 arranged through the funnel 54 of the aseptic filling system 10 can be extended into the weighing funnel 104 to provide an inert gas flow within the weighing funnel 104. Bulk Packaging System With reference to Figures 14A and 14B, in the embodiments shown, the system is for the bulk packaging 200 of product 14. In the embodiments shown, the bulk packaging system 200 includes a hopper 202 through which product 14 is introduced into the system 200. The hopper 202 is in fluid communication with a feeder 204 that conveys product 14 from the hopper 202 to a weighing hopper 206. The weighing hopper may include a lower portion 208 that interconnects with a filling station 210. Product 14 is then transferred from the weighing hopper 206 to a filling station 210 to weigh and dispense a predetermined quantity of product 14 into a bulk container with the product from the weighing hopper 206. The system 200 may also include a sealing station 212 for sealing the container. in bulk after filling it.System 200 may have an enclosure 214 surrounding a portion of the hopper 202, feeder 204, weighing hopper 206, and filling and sealing stations 210, 212, in order to protect System 200 from the external environment and better maintain an aseptic environment within the System 200 components through the flow of inert gas. With reference to Figure 13A, the hopper 202 includes a product inlet 218 that is sealed by a door 216. The door 216 opens to expose the product inlet 218 and allow the product to be loaded into the hopper 202. In some embodiments, the enclosure 214 seals around the hopper 202, with the door 216 sealing the top of the enclosure 214 and allowing access to the hopper 202. In other embodiments, the enclosure 214 seals around a lower portion of the hopper 202. With reference to Figure 13B, after product 14 is emptied into hopper 202, door 216 can be closed or shut, sealing system 200 from the external environment. In some embodiments, a gassing element 220 is provided at the product inlet 218. The gassing element 220 can generate an inert gas flow through the product inlet 218, so that the product ML / 7 OOOU must travel through the inert gas flow before flowing through the hopper. 202. In the embodiments, an exhaust 221 is provided positioned opposite the gasification element 220 to remove the inert gas flow after it crosses the product inlet 218. In the embodiments, the gasification element 220 and the exhaust 221 are part of a gas recirculation system 250. The gas recirculation system may further include a recirculation filter 252. With reference to Figure 15, the recirculation system 250 may include the recirculation filter 252 located in the enclosure 214 and may include a recirculation element 254 for flowing gas from the filter to the enclosure 214. With reference to Figure 14A, the recirculation element 254 may be positioned to flow filtered inert gas in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 13B, so that the gas flow passes over the components of system 200. The recirculation system 250 may include an additional exhaust 256 at the bottom or downstream of the enclosure to collect the gas flow. Exhausts 224 and 256 are in fluid communication with the recirculation filter 252, passing the collected gas flow to the filter for filtration and then reintroducing it to system 200 through the gasification element 220 and the recirculation element 254.In the various configurations, the recirculation system 250 may also include additional recirculation exhausts (not shown), which can collect the gas flow at different points within enclosure 214, downstream of the recirculation element 254. This can beneficially remove potential contaminants flowing into the gas flow from the recirculation system 250 via gasification elements within the system components (described in detail below). Any suitable number of exhausts may be included along the system's product flow path within enclosure 214. In certain configurations, a UV radiation source 222 can be provided within or adjacent to the hopper 202 to expose the product inlet 218 and the product 14 entering thereto to UV radiation upon entering the hopper 202. For example, with reference to Figure 16C, a UV radiation source can be included in a frame structure located above the hopper 202 to seal the product inlet 218. The frame structure can include the door 216 and the bag-opening apparatus 224 as described in detail below. In the embodiments, product 14 is supplied to the hopper 202 from a sterilized bag 13. In the embodiments, a bag-opening apparatus 224 can be positioned in or just downstream or upstream of the product inlet 218. For example, with reference to Figures 16A-16C, the bag-opening apparatus 224 can be positioned within a frame structure that seals the hopper and includes the door 216, so that when the door 216 is opened, the bag-opening apparatus 224 is exposed and the bag can be partially inserted into the product inlet for opening by the bag-opening apparatus 224. In such embodiments, the gassing element 220 can flow inert gas through the bag-opening apparatus 224. The bag-opening apparatus 224 can cut an opening in the bag to allow product 14 to flow out of the bag 13 and into the hopper 202.With reference to Figures 16B and 16C, in the embodiments, the product opening apparatus 224 may include a blade 226 that acts to cut the bag, a portion of the open form, leaving the cut portion attached to the bag so that the product can flow through it. MA / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU opening towards the hopper 202, while the cut portion remains attached to the bag and can be removed through the door 216 with the bag 13 for disposal. In the embodiments, as shown in Figure 16B, the blade 226 can operate in an arced path. In the embodiments, a knob or handle 227 connected to the blade 226 can be positioned adjacent to the door 216 so that the user can open the door 216 and use the knob or handle 227 to operate the blade 226 while holding the bag 13 in the path of the blade 226. In other embodiments, product 14 is received directly from a sterilizing unit (not shown). In such embodiments, door 216 can be coordinated with the sterilizing unit to allow door 216 to open when the sterilizing unit completes the sterilization cycle and is ready to dispense the sterilized product. In other embodiments, the sterilizing unit can be integrally formed with system 200 so that door 216 serves both as a seal for the sterilizing unit and as access to hopper 202 for releasing the sterilized product 14 into it. Any suitable configuration can be used to provide access to the product inlet 218 during the loading of product 14 into system 200, while allowing system 200 to seal itself afterward. With reference to Figure 14A, the hopper 202 may include one or more gassing elements 228 positioned downstream of the product inlet 218 to maintain a flow of inert gas over and / or through the product 14 as it flows through the hopper 202. Any of the element arrangements described herein may be used in the hopper. For example, the hopper may include a vertical gassing element 228 extending from the product inlet to the product outlet to emit a radial flow of inert gas within the hopper 202. Feeder 204 is located downstream of hopper 202 and receives product 14 from hopper 202. Vibratory and non-vibratory feeders may be used. Feeder 204 includes one or more gassing elements 230 to maintain a flow of inert gas over and / or through product 14 as it passes through feeder 204. In some embodiments, the gassing elements 230 are positioned above the product. In others, the gassing elements 230 are positioned below the product. In still others, the gassing elements 230 extend across the product's flow path to circulate the inert gas through the product. In still others, the gassing elements 230 are positioned both above and below the product. In some embodiments, the gassing elements 230 may be positioned above and / or below the product and in the product's flow path.In some embodiments, feeder 204 can be sealed so that the flow path of product 14 through feeder 204 is sealed to maintain better residence time of the inert gas within the flow path. In other embodiments, feeder 204 is not sealed but remains protected from the external environment by enclosure 214 of system 200. In embodiments containing a vibratory feeder 204, the feeder 204 may include a tray 232 that defines the path of the product through the vibratory feeder 204. The tray 232 may vibrate as known in the art to control the flow of the product 14 through the feeder 204. The vibratory feeder 204 may include one or more gassing elements 230. ML / t / ZUZZ / U / OOOU placed above and / or below tray 232 to direct an inert gas flow over product 14 as it flows through feeder 204. Feeder 204 feeds the product to a weighing hopper. The weighing hopper 206 can be as described above and include one or more gassing elements 234 to maintain an inert gas flow throughout the weighing hopper 206. The filling station 210 may include a container receiving area 238 where an empty container can be placed for filling with product 14. In the embodiments, the enclosure 214 may include an access panel 240 disposed in the region of the filling station 210 to allow a user to reach the enclosure 214 and hold an empty container in the filling station 210 to fill it with a measured quantity of product 14 from the scale 208. The sealing station 212 may be disposed just downstream of the filling station 210 so that the user can quickly transfer the filled container to the sealing station 212 to seal the filled container before removing it through the access panel 240. Enclosure 214 may include one or more gasification elements that flow inert gas through access panel 240. An exhaust may be provided in the vicinity of the flow through access panel 240 to remove the inert gas after it flows through the access panel 240. This can advantageously remove any potential contaminants that may be carried by the inert gas flow from the system. For example, such contaminants may enter when a user reaches enclosure 214 through access panel 240. In some embodiments, one or more gasification elements and the exhaust, located in the access panel, may be part of the gas recirculation system 250. In some embodiments, the exhaust in the access panel region may be the main exhaust 254 of the gas recirculation system 250, which collects the gas flowing throughout the enclosure and recirculates the gas to the recirculation filter 252. Enclosure 214 may include a curtain 246 that covers the access panel 240 to provide a barrier against the external environment entering the system. The curtain 246 may be, for example, strips that hang together to block the access panel 240 but can be separated by applying pressure when the user reaches enclosure 214. Such curtains 246, which may be made of, for example, vinyl, PVC, and other materials, are known in the art. For example, curtains 246 may be made of a transparent, flexible PVC material. In other configurations, the access panel 240 can be provided with glove openings (not shown), similar to a glove box, to maintain the enclosure sealed against the external environment during user filling and sealing. For example, glove openings as shown on glove box 24 of the weighing and filling system 10 can be used on the access panel 240. The 212 sealing station can include a gassing element that injects a gas into the package before sealing to provide modified atmosphere packaging. Any known system for introducing gas into a package for modified atmosphere packaging can be used. Modified atmosphere packaging can be advantageous in the cannabis industry, for example, where it is desirable to maintain low oxygen levels in the package to prevent potential contamination. ML / / OOOU recontamination. In such modes, the gassing element can inject nitrogen into the container. Other gases are also contemplated herein to generate a desired modified atmosphere. Any suitable modified atmosphere can be generated depending on the nature of the product to be packaged. In these embodiments, filling and sealing can be performed automatically, so an access panel 240 in enclosure 214 is not required for user access. In such embodiments, enclosure 214 can be provided with a packaged product extraction door (not shown) that opens to release the packaged product. Similar to access panel 240 or hopper door 216, the extraction door can include gassing elements to flow gas through the opening so that the packaged product must pass through the gas flow as it exits the extraction door. Alternatively, a UV radiation source can be provided to expose the packaged product to UV radiation at the extraction door. With reference to Figures 14A and 14B, the bulk filling system 10 may include a frame 248 that can be adapted to raise and lower the system 10. Figure 14A illustrates the bulk filling system 10 in a retracted position. The retracted position can be useful for moving the bulk filling system 10 into various positions. For example, the ability to position a bulk filling system 10 as described can facilitate transporting the system to a facility, such as a cannabis cultivation facility, for on-site packaging. Figure 14B illustrates the bulk packaging system in the extended, ready-to-use position. A method of bulk packaging a product using the described system may include loading the hopper with loose product. In some embodiments, the hopper can be loaded through the door at the product inlet. In others, the product can be loaded from a sterilized bag. The sterilized bag can be opened by operating a device located inside the product inlet to tear open a portion of the bag, leaving the cut portion attached. The product can then be removed from the bag and loaded into the hopper, and the bag can then be removed from the product inlet. The door is then sealed to isolate the system from the external environment. During product loading, a gassing element at the product inlet flows an inert gas through the inlet so that the product passes through the gas flow as it is deposited into the hopper.In some models, the product entry may also include a UV radiation source that exposes the sterilized bag to UV radiation when it is opened to remove the product from inside the bag. In other modalities, the product can be received directly as a loose product from a sterilizer and deposited into the hopper. Once in the hopper, a substantially constant flow of inert gas is maintained over the product by one or more gassing elements located in the hopper. The product flows through the hopper into a feeder. In the feeder, feeder gassing elements maintain a flow of inert gas above and / or below the product's flow path. The feeder conveys the product to a funnel, which has one or more gassing elements for the continuous maintenance of the inert gas flow over the product. For example, a gassing element located The ML / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU centrally maintains a radial flow of inert gas within the funnel as the product flows through it. The funnel conveys the product to a scale for weighing and dispensing a predetermined quantity of product to a filling station. The filling station fills a container with the pre-set amount of product. In some models, the filling station is operated by a user who holds a container up to a filling funnel, which then dispenses the required amount of product into the container. The user can access the filling station through an access panel in the enclosure. An inert gas flow can be maintained over the access panel. The containers to be filled can be provided in a stack, for example, inside the enclosure, allowing the user to reach and access them. In models with a glove access panel, the user can access the filling station while wearing gloves, with the containers within easy reach so that a container can be grasped and held at the filling station. After filling, the user can transfer the container to a sealing station by inserting the open end of the filled container into the sealing station for sealing. In configurations such as those shown in Figure 14A, the sealing station is positioned below the filling station to allow for quick and easy container transfer from the filling station to the sealing station after filling. After sealing, the product can be removed from enclosure 214 through access panel 240 or a product extraction door. The modalities described are represented in the accompanying figures. These modalities are provided for illustrative purposes only. Aspects According to aspects of the description, an aseptic product processing system may include one or more components for transporting the product through the system; the components comprise a hopper through which the product can be loaded into the system and one or more of a feeder, a weighing hopper, a funnel, a scale, and a filling station; an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of one or more components; a gassing assembly comprising at least one gassing element placed within one or more of the components to flow inert gas over and / or through the product within one or more components;A recirculation system comprising at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust located downstream of the recirculation element, and a recirculation filter interposed between and in fluid communication with at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation system is configured to flow a filtered gas into the enclosure through at least one recirculation element so that the filtered gas flows over one or more components within the enclosure and is collected by at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation exhaust directs the collected gas to the filter, which filters the collected gas and directs the filtered gas to at least one recirculation element for reintroduction into the enclosure. In this aspect of the system, one or more components also comprise a station MA / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU filling to fill a container with the product. According to one aspect of the description, a bulk container filling system may include components for conveying the product through the system. These components comprise a hopper through which the product can be loaded into the system; one or both of a feeder and a weighing hopper through which the product can flow from the hopper to a filling station; the filling station has a container receiving area for positioning an empty container to be filled with the product; and a sealing station for sealing the filled container. The system may also include an enclosure surrounding one or more of the components; a gassing assembly comprising at least one gassing element positioned within one or more of the components to flow inert gas over the product within one or more components; and a recirculation system.The recirculation system may include at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust located downstream of the recirculation element, and a recirculation filter interposed between and in fluid communication with at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation system is configured to flow a filtered gas into the enclosure through at least one recirculation element so that the filtered gas flows over one or more components within the enclosure and is collected by at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation exhaust directs the collected gas to the recirculation filter, which filters the collected gas and directs the filtered gas to at least one recirculation element for reintroduction into the enclosure. In the system of any of the above aspects, the enclosure may surround at least a part of the hopper, one or more of the feeder, the weighing hopper, the filling station, and the sealing station. In any of the above systems, the recirculation filter is a HEPA filter. In the system of any of the above aspects, the hopper comprises a product inlet opening through which the product is loaded, the recirculation system further comprises a recirculation element placed in a product inlet opening to generate an inert gas flow from the recirculation system through the product inlet opening, and a recirculation exhaust arranged to collect the inert gas flow from the recirculation element placed in the product inlet opening, wherein the recirculation element and the recirculation exhaust in the product inlet opening are in fluid communication with the filter such that the recirculation exhaust in the open product inlet directs the collected gas through the filter,that filters the collected gas and directs it to the recirculation element at the product inlet opening and at least one recirculation element to direct the filtered gas to the enclosure. In any of the above systems, the recirculation system is configured to filter and flow the air contained within the enclosure through the recirculation element. According to one aspect of the description, a bulk filling system for a container with a product may include a hopper, a feeder, a weighing hopper, a filling station, and a MA / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU sealing station. The hopper may include a product inlet and a product outlet positioned opposite each other, a movable door between an open position in which the product inlet is exposed to receive product and a closed position in which the door seals the product inlet, and a gassing element positioned at the product inlet and configured to flow an inert gas through the product inlet. The feeder may be positioned to receive the product from the hopper and transfer the product to a weighing hopper; the feeder comprises a gassing element extending through the feeder to maintain a substantially constant flow of inert gas within the feeder.The weighing hopper can be positioned to receive the product from the feeder and transfer a measured quantity of the product to a filling station. A gassing element is located within the weighing hopper to maintain a laminar flow of gas. The filling station can be in fluid communication with the weighing hopper and arranged to receive the measured quantity of product from the weighing hopper and transfer the product into a container. The sealing station can be located downstream of the filling station to seal the container after filling. The sealing station includes a gassing element to inject an inert gas into the container before sealing.The system also includes an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the hopper, feeder, weighing hopper, filling station, and sealing station. The enclosure comprises an access panel to allow access to the filling and sealing stations, enabling a user to place a container in the filling station for filling with the product and then transfer the filled container to the sealing station for sealing before removing it from the enclosure. The system also includes a gassing assembly for supplying inert gas to each of the gassing elements from one or more gas inlets located in the hopper and / or the enclosure. The system of the above aspect may further include a recirculation system comprising at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust located downstream of the recirculation element, and a recirculation filter interposed between and in fluid communication with at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation system is configured to flow a filtered gas into the enclosure through at least one recirculation element so that the filtered gas flows over one or more components within the enclosure and is collected by at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation exhaust directs the collected gas to the recirculation filter, which filters the collected gas and directs the filtered gas to at least one recirculation element for reintroduction into the enclosure. In the system of the above aspect, the gasification element placed at the product inlet and configured to flow an inert gas through the product inlet is part of the recirculation system; the gasification element is in fluid communication with the recirculation filter of the recirculation system; and the recirculation system further comprises an exhaust placed at the product inlet to collect the inert gas flow from the gasification element placed at the product inlet and direct the collected gas to the filter for filtration and recirculation to the gasification element and at least one recirculation element. In the system described above, at least one recirculation element comprises a ML / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU recirculation element placed near the access panel to flow the filtered gas through the access panel, and at least one recirculation exhaust comprises a recirculation exhaust placed near the access panel to collect the filtered gas flow. In the system of the above aspect, the recirculation system comprises a plurality of recirculation elements, at least one recirculation element is placed at the top of the enclosure to direct the flow downstream through the enclosure, at least one recirculation element is the gasification element placed at the product inlet, and at least one recirculation element is placed to flow filtered gas through the access panel, and at least two recirculation exhausts, at least one recirculation exhaust being placed at the product inlet to collect the inert gas flow from the gasification element placed at the product inlet,and at least one recirculation exhaust located downstream of at least one recirculation element at the top of the enclosure and arranged to collect filtered gas flowing through the enclosure from at least one recirculation element at the top of the enclosure and at least one recirculation element positioned to flow filtered gas through the access panel. The system of any of the above aspects may include a bag-opening device for opening a product bag and releasing the product contained within the bag into the hopper, wherein the bag-opening device is positioned within or adjacent to the hopper. The bag-opening device may include an actuating blade configured to actuate and cut a portion of the bag, opening the bag to release the product into the hopper and leaving the cut portion attached to the bag. In the system of any of the above aspects, the hopper or a structure that seals over the hopper, such as the door structure, may further comprise a UV radiation source arranged to expose the product and / or a product bag present from which the product is released into the hopper to UV radiation at the product inlet. In the system of any of the above aspects, the gasification element placed at the product inlet causes inert gas to flow laterally through the product inlet so that the product must cross the inert gas flow before entering the hopper. In the system of any of the above aspects, the hopper further comprises a vertically mounted gasification element that extends from the product inlet to the product outlet. In any of the above systems, the feeder is a vibratory feeder. In the system of any of the above aspects, one or more gassing elements placed in the feeder are positioned one or more of (i) above the product, (II) below the product, and (iii) in a flow path of the product through the feeder. In any of the above systems, the access panel comprises a curtain through which the interior of the enclosure can be accessed. The system may also include a gasification element to flow inert gas through the curtain. The system may further include at least one exhaust located near the access panel to collect the filtered gas flowing through the enclosure. ML / / 300U In any of the above systems, the enclosure is sealed around the hopper. The system of any of the above aspects may further include legs on which the enclosure is placed, wherein the enclosure is movable between a first position in which the enclosure is placed adjacent to the legs and a second position in which the enclosure is moved away from the legs. In any of the above systems, the gasification assembly includes a filter placed before one or more gas inlets. The filter may be a HEPA filter. In the system of any of the above aspects, the gasification assembly controls the gas flow to one or more gasification elements and comprises an inert gas inlet, a sterilization fluid inlet, a HEPA filter downstream of the inert gas inlet and the sterilization gas inlet, and a gas rail downstream of the HEPA filter to distribute the gas to one or more gasification elements. According to aspects of the description, an aseptic container filling system may include a transfer receptacle having an internal volume for receiving a sterilized product from a sterilization unit; and a glove box communicating with the internal volume of the transfer receptacle, so that the sterilized product can be transferred from the transfer receptacle into the glove box. The glove box comprises an internal volume with a central region having an opening that provides communication to a hopper located downstream of the glove box. The hopper is positioned to receive the sterilized product from the glove box. A feeder is positioned to receive the sterilized product from the hopper and transfer the product to a funnel. The funnel is positioned to receive the product from the feeder and transfer the product to a scale.A plurality of gassing elements are placed throughout the system to maintain a substantially constant flow of inert gas over and / or through the sterilized product as it flows through the system. Any combination of the features described below with reference to the above aspect can be combined as appropriate. In the above aspect, the central region of the glove box comprises a grid that has a plurality of openings sized to allow only the sterilized product to flow through the hopper. In the above aspect, the sterilized product is received in the transfer receptacle as a sterilized product bag, and the plurality of openings are sized to prevent the bag from passing into the hopper. In the above aspect, the glove compartment also includes a disposal region to receive the bag after the sterilized product has been removed. In the above aspect, the disposal region comprises a door that can be opened to allow the removal of the bag from the glove compartment to a sealed container in communication with the disposal region; the door is adapted to seal against the sealed container to allow the sealed container to be opened to remove a bag from it without exposing the glove compartment to the conditions ΜΛ / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU environmental. In the above aspect, the plurality of gasification elements comprises one or more gasification elements placed in the transfer receptacle, one or more gasification elements placed in the glove box, one or more gasification elements placed in the hopper, one or more gasification elements placed in the feeder, and one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel. In the above aspect, one or more gasification elements placed in the hopper comprise a vertically mounted gasification element. In the above aspect, one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel comprise a vertically mounted gasification element. In the above aspect, one or more gasification elements placed in the feeder are positioned one or more of (i) above the product, (ii) below the product, and (iii) in a flow path of the product through the feeder. In the above aspect, one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel and / or hopper comprise gasification elements on one or more sides of the funnel and / or hopper. In the above aspect, the scale is a combination scale and the combination scale comprises a plurality of gassing elements directed to maintain a flow of gas over and / or through the sterilized product while the sterilized product flows through the scale. In the above aspect, the transfer receptacle comprises a door that opens to receive the sterilized product and is hermetically sealed during the transfer of the sterilized product to the glove box. According to one aspect of the description, an aseptic filling system for a flowable product container with a cam includes a transfer receptacle comprising an internal volume for receiving a sterilized pouch of product, an opening for accessing the internal volume, a door adapted to switch between a first position in which the door seals the opening and a second position in which the door is set back from the opening allowing access to the internal volume, and one or more gassing elements for maintaining a gas flow within the internal volume. The system may further include a glove box, the glove box being arranged so that the transfer receptacle is aligned with an opening in a wall of the glove box to receive the sterilized pouch of product from the transfer receptacle.The glove box may include an interior volume having a central region positioned above a hopper. The central region comprises a plurality of openings sized to allow the product to flow through the hopper but prevent the bag or parts thereof from entering the hopper. A disposal region comprises a door through which the bag or parts thereof can be disposed of in a waste receptacle, one or more glove openings through which a user can access the interior volume, and one or more gassing elements to maintain a gas flow within the interior volume. The hopper may be positioned below the central region of the glove box to receive the product from the glove box. The hopper comprises a vertically mounted gas element to maintain a gas flow within the hopper. The system may further include a... A feeder that fluidly couples the hopper to a funnel and has one or more gas rails positioned within the feeder above a region where the product flows through the feeder, and one or more vibratory elements for vibrating the feeder at least in the region where the product flows. The funnel and vibratory feeder can be sealed so that the product path through the feeder and into the funnel is sealed from ambient conditions. The funnel comprises a vertically mounted gas rail to maintain radial gas flow within the funnel. The scale can be sealed in a scale enclosure and fluidly coupled to the funnel to receive the product for weighing and transfer to a forming tube of a packaging machine. Any of the following features described with reference to the previous aspect may be combined as appropriate. In the above aspect, the vibratory feeder comprises a tray that defines a product flow path, wherein the tray comprises one or more gassing elements. In the above aspect, the scale also comprises one or more gasification elements to maintain a gas flow within the scale. In the above aspect, the scale comprises one or more weighing cubes to receive a measured quantity of product, each of one or more weighing cubes comprising one or more gasification elements. In the above aspect, the system may further include a gas flow system or gasification assembly that controls the flow of gas to one or more gasification elements. The gas flow system comprises an inert gas inlet, a sterilization fluid inlet, a HEPA filter downstream of the inert gas inlet and the sterilization gas inlet, and a gas rail downstream of the HEPA filter to distribute the gas to one or more gasification elements. In the previous aspect, the system is adapted to seal itself substantially to the environmental conditions. In the previous aspect, the funnel is sealed at the top of the scale enclosure. In the above aspect, the funnel comprises a flexible rubber protrusion that seals to the scale enclosure. In the above aspect, the system is adapted to maintain oxygen at a level of approximately 0.5% or less in at least the paths in which the product travels. In the above aspect, the glove compartment comprises three gloved openings, two gloved openings are positioned to access the central region and one gloved opening is positioned to access the disposal region. In the above aspect, the disposal region comprises a trash receptacle to receive and retain the disposal region bag, and the disposal region door seals the disposal region from the trash receptacle when closed to allow the trash receptacle to be emptied without exposing the glove box to ambient conditions. In the above aspect, the system is adapted to interconnect with a selected packaging machine from vertical forming, filling and sealing machines, forming machines, MA / IZ / ZUZZ / U / 300U horizontal filling and sealing machines, horizontal flow wrapping machines, jar and / or can filling machines, tray filling machines, auger type filling machines, and the like. In the previous aspect, the interface between the system and the packaging machine is sealed from the ambient conditions. In the above aspect, the interface comprises one or more gasification elements. According to one aspect of the description, an aseptic method of filling a container with a product may include receiving the sterilized product from a sterilization unit in a transfer receptacle; transferring the sterilized product from the transfer receptacle to a glove box while inert gas is flowed over and / or through the sterilized product; transferring the sterilized product from the glove box to a hopper through an opening in the glove box while inert gas is flowed over and / or through the sterilized product; and flowing the sterilized product through the hopper to a feeder, where an inert gas flow is maintained in the hopper during the flow of the sterilized product.and transferring the sterilized product using the feeder to a funnel, through which the sterilized product flows into a scale, where an inert gas flow is maintained above, below and / or through the sterilized product during the transfer in the feeder and an inert gas flow is maintained inside the funnel.; In the previous method, the inert gas flow maintains an oxygen level of 0.5% or less during the flow of the product through the hopper, the transfer of the product in the feeder, and the flow of the product through the funnel to the scale. In the aspect of the above method, the scale comprises one or more gassing elements and the method further comprises flowing inert gas over the product during the flow of the product through the scale to maintain an oxygen level of 0.5% or less during the flow of the product through the scale. In the aspect of the above method, the sterilized product is provided as a sterilized product bag and the method further comprises opening the sterilized product bag to remove the sterilized product when the sterilized bag is in the glove compartment. In the aspect of the previous method, the glove box comprises a grid placed over an opening that provides communication between the glove box and the hopper, wherein the sterilized product is removed from the bag and passes through the grid to flow into the hopper, and wherein the grid prevents the bag from flowing through the hopper. In the aspect of the previous method, where the glove box also comprises a disposal region, where the bag is transferred to the disposal region after removing the sterilized product. In the aspect of the above method, the disposal region comprises a garbage receptacle and a door that seals the glove compartment garbage receptacle when the door is in the closed position; the method further comprises opening the door and transferring the bag to the garbage receptacle after the sterilized product is removed. Any of the above-described appearance characteristics of the method can be ΜΛ / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU combine with each other. According to one aspect of the description, a method of aseptic bulk filling a container with a product may include loading the product into a hopper through a product inlet where an inert gas flow is maintained through the product inlet during loading; flowing the product through the hopper to a feeder, where an inert gas flow is maintained over and / or through the product in the hopper and where an inert gas flow is maintained over, through, and / or under the product in the feeder; transferring the product from the feeder to a funnel, where an inert gas flow is maintained over the product within the funnel, the funnel being arranged to flow the product to a scale; maintaining an inert gas flow from the product on the scale during weighing the product into a bulk packaging quantity; transferring the bulk packaging quantity of product to a filling station to fill the product into a container;Fill the container with the quantity of bulk-packaged product, maintaining a flow of inert gas over the product during filling; and seal the container. The flow of inert gas throughout the system can maintain an oxygen level of 0.5% or less. According to one aspect of the description, a combination scale gasification element system may include a truncated cone-shaped dispersion feeder gasification element positioned at a first end of the system; one or more external radial feeder gasification elements extending radially outward from the dispersion feeder gasification element; one or more feed hopper gasification elements positioned downstream of the external radial feeder gasification elements and positioned to direct gas flow to one or more feed hoppers that transfer product to one or more weighing buckets; one or more weighing bucket gasification elements positioned downstream of one or more feed hopper gasification elements and positioned to direct gas flow to one or more weighing buckets;one or more classification channel gassing elements placed downstream of one or more weighing bucket gassing elements and positioned to radially direct gas flow into a classification channel; a vertical classification channel gassing element, extending vertically upward from a second end of the system, opposite the first end of the system, and arranged to be placed within and maintain gas flow within the classification channel. According to one aspect, a combination weighing scale having a gassing element system may include a scale funnel positioned at a first end of the scale, the scale funnel comprising one or more gassing elements for maintaining a gas flow within the scale funnel; a dispersion feeder positioned downstream of the scale funnel; a truncated cone-shaped dispersion feeder gassing element positioned downstream of the funnel and positioned to direct a gas flow to the product placed in the dispersion feeder; one or more radial feeders positioned to receive product from the dispersion feeder;one or more external radial feeder gasification elements positioned to direct a gas flow towards one or more radial feeders, one or more radial feeder gasification elements are positioned radially outwards from the dispersion feeder gasification element; MA / / OOOU truncated conical shape; one or more feed hoppers placed downstream of one or more radial feeders to receive product from one or more radial feeders; one or more feed hopper gassing elements positioned to direct a gas flow towards one or more feed hoppers; one or more weighing buckets placed downstream of one or more feed hoppers to receive product from one or more feed hoppers; one or more weighing bucket gassing elements positioned to direct a gas flow towards one or more weighing buckets; a classification channel to receive products from one or more weighing buckets; a vertical gassing element placed in the classification channel; and one or more classification channel gassing elements positioned to direct a radial gas flow within the classification channel. Any of the following scale and / or scale gasification system features can be combined. In the aspect of the scale gasification system above, one or more of the external radial feeder gasification elements, feed hopper gasification elements, and weighing bucket gasification elements are arranged to direct a gas flow outward from a central axis of the system. In the aspect of the previous scale gasification system, where the classification channel gasification elements are arranged to direct a gas flow radially around a central axis of the system. The above scale aspect may further include a plurality of radial feeders arranged radially around a central axis of the scale, each of the plurality of radial feeders having an external radial feeder gassing element. The above scale aspect may further include a plurality of feed hoppers arranged radially around a central axis of the scale, each of the plurality of feed hoppers having a feed hopper gassing element. The above scale aspect may further include a plurality of weighing cubes arranged radially around a central axis of the scale, each of the plurality of weighing cubes having a weighing cube gasification element. The above scale aspect may further include a plurality of classification channel gassing elements arranged radially around the vertical gassing elements, each of the plurality of classification channel gassing elements being positioned to direct a gas flow radially in the direction in which the classification channel gassing elements are arranged. In the aspect of the above scale, one or more of the external radial feeder gasification elements, the feed hopper gasification elements, and the weighing bucket gasification elements are arranged to direct a gas flow outward from a central axis of the scale. The previous scale appearance may include a scale enclosure that substantially encloses the entire scale and seals the scale from environmental conditions. MA / í OOOU In one aspect of the description, a combination weighing scale gasification element system may include a truncated cone-shaped dispersion feeder gasification element positioned at a first end of the system; one or more external radial feeder gasification elements extending radially outward from the dispersion feeder gasification element; one or more weighing bucket gasification elements positioned downstream of the dispersion feeder gasification element and positioned to direct gas flow into one or more weighing buckets; one or more sorting channel gasification elements positioned downstream of one or more weighing bucket gasification elements and positioned to radially direct gas flow into a sorting channel;a vertical classification channel gasification element, extending vertically upwards from a second end of the system, opposite the first end of the system, and arranged to be placed within and maintain the flow of gas within the classification channel. According to one aspect of the description, an aseptic container filling system may include a transfer receptacle having an internal volume for receiving a sterilized product from a sterilization unit; a hopper positioned to receive the sterilized product from the transfer receptacle; a feeder positioned to receive the sterilized product from the hopper and transfer the product to a funnel; the funnel is positioned to receive the product from the feeder and transfer the product to a scale; and a plurality of gassing elements positioned throughout the system to maintain a substantially constant flow of inert gas over and / or through the sterilized product as it flows through the system. In the above system, the plurality of gasification elements may include one or more gasification elements placed in the transfer receptacle, one or more gasification elements placed in the hopper, one or more gasification elements placed in the feeder, and one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel. In the previous system, one or more gasification elements placed in the hopper may include a vertically mounted gasification element. In the above system, one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel may include a vertically mounted gasification element. In the above system, one or more gasification elements placed in the feeder can be placed one or more of (i) above the product, (ii) below the product, or (ii) in a flow path of the product through the feeder. In the above system, the system may include a combination weighing scale as defined in any of claims 73 to 78. In the previous system, the scale can be in a weighing enclosure sealed from ambient conditions. In the previous system, the system may also include a conveyor device to transport the product from the sterilization unit to the transfer receptacle. The conveyor device may include one or more gassing elements to maintain a gas flow over and / or ML / t / ZUZZ / U 7 OOOU through the product during transport. According to one aspect of the description, an aseptic product processing system may include a hopper through which the product can be loaded into the system; the hopper has a gate that operates between open and closed positions to expose an opening in the hopper for loading the product and substantially seal the opening after loading, respectively; a feeder that fluidly couples the hopper to a funnel; a scale arranged to receive product from the funnel; a gassing assembly comprising at least one gassing element disposed in one or more of the hopper, feeder, funnel, and scale to maintain a flow of inert gas over and / or through the product as it flows through the system; and an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the hopper, feeder, funnel, and scale.and a gas recirculation system comprising at least one recirculation element in fluid communication with at least one recirculation exhaust and at least one recirculation filter, wherein at least one recirculation element is arranged to maintain a flow of filtered gas within the enclosure, at least one recirculation exhaust is arranged downstream of at least one recirculation element to collect the filtered gas from within the enclosure, and at least one filter is arranged to receive the filtered gas collected from at least one exhaust, filter the collected filtered gas and return the filtered gas to at least one recirculation element for recirculation within the enclosure. The system described above may further include a bag-opening device located in, within, or upstream of the hopper to open a product bag and release the product contained within the bag into the hopper. The bag-opening device may include an actuating blade configured to actuate and cut a portion of the bag, open the bag to release the product into the hopper, and leave the cut portion attached to the bag.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An aseptic product processing system, characterized in that it comprises: one or more components for transporting the product through the system, the components comprising a hopper through which the product can be loaded into the system and one or more of a feeder, a weighing hopper, a funnel, a scale and a filling station; an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of one or more of the components; a gassing assembly comprising at least one gassing element positioned within one or more of the components for flowing inert gas over and / or through the product within one or more of the components;and a recirculation system comprising at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust located downstream of the recirculation element, and a recirculation filter interposed between and in fluid communication with at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation system is configured to flow a filtered gas into the enclosure through at least one recirculation element such that the filtered gas flows over one or more components within the enclosure and is collected by at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation exhaust directs the collected gas to the filter, which filters the collected gas and directs the filtered gas to at least one recirculation element for reintroduction into the enclosure.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more components further comprise a filling station for filling a container with the product.

3. A bulk container filling system for a product, characterized in that it comprises: components for transporting the product through the system, the components comprising: a hopper through which the product can be loaded into the system, one or both of a feeder and weighing hopper through which the product can flow from the hopper to a filling station, the filling station having a container receiving area for positioning an empty container to be filled with the product, and a sealing station for sealing the filled container; an enclosure surrounding one or more of the components; a gassing assembly comprising at least one gassing element positioned within one or more of the components for flowing inert gas over the product within one or more components;and a recirculation system comprising at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust located downstream of the recirculation element, and a recirculation filter interposed between and in fluid communication with at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation system is configured to flow a filtered gas into the enclosure through at least one recirculation element so that the filtered gas flows over one or more components within the enclosure and is collected by at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation exhaust directs the collected gas to the recirculation filter, which filters the collected gas and directs the filtered gas to at least one recirculation element for reintroduction into the enclosure.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the enclosure surrounds at least a part of the hopper, one or more of the feeder, the weighing hopper, the filling station, and the sealing station.

5. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recirculation filter is a HEPA filter.

6. The system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hopper comprises a product inlet opening through which the product is loaded, the recirculation system further comprises a recirculation element positioned in a product inlet opening to generate an inert gas flow from the recirculation system through the product inlet opening, and a recirculation exhaust arranged to collect the inert gas flow from the recirculation element positioned in the product inlet opening, wherein the recirculation element and recirculation exhaust in the product inlet opening are in fluid communication with the filter such that the recirculation exhaust in the open product inlet directs the collected gas through the filter,that filters the collected gas and directs it to the recirculation element at the product inlet opening and at least one recirculation element to direct the filtered gas to the enclosure.

7. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recirculation system is configured to filter and flow the air contained within the enclosure through the recirculation element.

8. A bulk filling system for a container with a product, characterized in that it comprises: a hopper comprising: a product inlet and a product outlet positioned opposite each other, a movable door between an open position in which the product inlet is exposed to receive the product and a closed position in which the door seals the product inlet, and a gassing element positioned at the product inlet and configured to flow an inert gas through the product inlet; a feeder positioned to receive the product from the hopper and transfer the product to a weighing hopper, the feeder comprising a gassing element extending through the feeder to maintain a substantially constant flow of inert gas within the feeder;The weighing hopper is positioned to receive the product from the feeder and transfer a measured quantity of the product to a filling station; a gassing element is placed inside the weighing hopper to maintain a laminar flow of gas within the weighing hopper; the filling station is in fluid communication with the weighing hopper and arranged to receive the measured quantity of the product from the weighing hopper and transfer the product to a container; a sealing station is located downstream of the filling station to seal the container after filling it with the product; the sealing station comprises a gassing element to inject an inert gas into the container before sealing.an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the hopper, feeder, weighing hopper, filling station, and sealing station, wherein the enclosure comprises an access panel arranged to allow access to the filling and sealing stations to enable a user to position a container in the filling station for filling with the product and to transition the filled container to the sealing station for sealing before removing it from the enclosure; and a gasification assembly for flowing inert gas to each of the gasification elements from one or more gas inlets located in the hopper and / or the enclosure.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises a recirculation system comprising at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust located downstream of the recirculation element, and a recirculation filter interposed between and in fluid communication with at least one recirculation element and at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation system is configured to flow a filtered gas into the enclosure through at least one recirculation element such that the filtered gas flows over one or more components within the enclosure and is collected by at least one recirculation exhaust, wherein the recirculation exhaust directs the collected gas to the recirculation filter, which filters the collected gas and directs the filtered gas to at least one recirculation element for reintroduction into the enclosure.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that the gasification element located at the product inlet and configured to flow an inert gas through the product inlet is part of the recirculation system, the gasification element is in fluid communication with the recirculation filter of the recirculation system, and the recirculation system further comprises an exhaust located at the product inlet for collecting the flow of inert gas from the gasification element located at the product inlet and directing the collected gas to the filter for filtration and recirculation to the gasification element and at least one recirculation element.

11. The system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one recirculation element comprises a recirculation element positioned near the access panel to flow the filtered gas through the access panel, and at least one recirculation exhaust comprises a recirculation exhaust positioned near the access panel to collect the filtered gas flow.

12. The system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the recirculation system comprises: a plurality of recirculation elements, at least one recirculation element being positioned at the top of the enclosure to direct the flow downstream through the enclosure, at least one recirculation element being the gasification element positioned at the product inlet, and at least one recirculation element being positioned to flow the filtered gas through the access panel, and at least two recirculation exhausts, at least one recirculation exhaust being positioned at the product inlet to collect the inert gas flow from the gasification element positioned at the product inlet,and at least one recirculation exhaust positioned downstream of at least one recirculation element at the top of the enclosure and arranged to collect the filtered gas flowing through the enclosure from at least one recirculation element at the top of the enclosure and at least one recirculation element positioned to flow the filtered gas through the access panel.

13. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a bag-opening apparatus for opening a product bag and releasing the product contained within the bag into the hopper, wherein the bag-opening apparatus is placed within or adjacent to the hopper.

14. The system according to claim 13, characterized in that the bag opening apparatus comprises an actuating blade configured to act to cut a portion of the bag, open the bag to release the product into the hopper, and leave the cut portion attached to the bag.

15. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hopper further comprises a UV radiation source arranged to expose the product and / or a product bag present from which the product is released into the hopper to UV radiation at the product inlet.

16. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gasification element placed at the product inlet causes inert gas to flow laterally through the product inlet so that the product must cross the inert gas flow before entering the hopper.

17. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hopper further comprises a vertically mounted gasification element extending from the product inlet to the product outlet.

18. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeder is a vibratory feeder.

19. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more gasification elements placed in the feeder are positioned one or more of (i) above the product, (ii) below the product, and (iii) in a flow path of the product through the feeder.

20. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the access panel comprises a curtain through which access to the interior of the enclosure is possible.

21. The system according to claim 20, characterized in that it further comprises a gasification element for flowing inert gas through the curtain. MA / t / ZUZZ / U í OOOU 22. The system according to claim 20, characterized in that at least one exhaust is placed near the access panel and collects the filtered gas flowing through the enclosure.

23. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the enclosure is sealed around the hopper.

24. The system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises legs on which the enclosure is placed, wherein the enclosure can be moved between a first position in which the enclosure is placed adjacent to the legs and a second position in which the enclosure is moved away from the legs.

25. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gasification assembly comprises a filter placed before one or more gas inlets.

26. The system according to claim 25, characterized in that the filter is a HEPA filter.

27. The system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gasification assembly controls the gas flow to one or more gasification elements and comprises an inert gas inlet, a sterilization fluid inlet, a HEPA filter downstream of the inert gas inlet and the sterilization gas inlet, and a gas rail downstream of the HEPA filter for distributing the gas to one or more gasification elements.

28. An aseptic filling system for a container with a product, characterized in that it comprises: a transfer receptacle having an interior volume for receiving a sterilized product from a sterilization unit; a glove box in communication with the interior volume of the transfer receptacle, such that the sterilized product can be transferred from the transfer receptacle into the glove box; the glove box comprising an interior volume comprising a central region having an opening providing communication to a hopper positioned downstream of the glove box; the hopper positioned to receive the sterilized product from the glove box; a feeder positioned to receive the sterilized product from the hopper and transfer the product to a funnel; the funnel positioned to receive the product from the feeder and transfer the product to a scale;and a plurality of gassing elements positioned throughout the system to maintain a substantially constant flow of inert gas over and / or through the sterilized product as it flows through the system.

29. The system according to claim 28, characterized in that the central region of the glove box comprises a grid having a plurality of openings sized to allow only the sterilized product to flow through the hopper.

30. The system according to claim 28, characterized in that the sterilized product ML / t / ZUZZ / U / OOOU is received in the transfer receptacle as a sterilized product bag, and the plurality of openings are sized to prevent the bag from passing into the hopper.

31. The system according to claim 30, characterized in that the glove compartment further comprises a disposal region for receiving the bag after the sterilized product has been removed.

32. The system according to claim 31, characterized in that the disposal region comprises a door that can be opened to allow the removal of the bag from the glove compartment to a sealed container in communication with the disposal region, the door being adapted to seal against the sealed container to allow the sealed container to be opened to remove a bag therefrom without exposing the glove compartment to ambient conditions.

33. The system according to any of claims 28 to 32, characterized in that the plurality of gasification elements comprises one or more gasification elements placed in the transfer receptacle, one or more gasification elements placed in the glove compartment, one or more gasification elements placed in the hopper, one or more gasification elements placed in the feeder, and one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel.

34. The system according to claim 33, characterized in that one or more gasification elements placed in the hopper comprise a vertically mounted gasification element.

35. The system according to any of claims 33 or 34, characterized in that one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel comprise a vertically mounted gasification element.

36. The system according to any of claims 33 to 36, characterized in that one or more gassing elements placed in the feeder are positioned one or more of (i) above the product, (ii) below the product and (iii) in a flow path of the product through the feeder.

37. The system according to any of claims 33 to 36, characterized in that one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel and / or hopper comprise gasification elements on one or more sides of the funnel and / or hopper.

38. The system according to any of claims 28 to 37, characterized in that the scale is a combination scale and the combination scale comprises a plurality of gassing elements directed to maintain a flow of gas over and / or through the sterilized product while the sterilized product flows through the scale.

39. The system according to any of claims 28 to 39, characterized in that the transfer receptacle comprises a door that opens to receive the sterilized product and is hermetically sealed during the transfer of the sterilized product to the glove box.

40. An aseptic filling system for a container with a fluid product, characterized in that it comprises: a transfer receptacle comprising: an inner volume for receiving a sterilized bag of product, an opening for accessing the inner volume, and a door adapted to switch between a first position in which the door seals the opening and a second position in which the door is positioned away from the opening allowing access to the inner volume; one or more gassing elements for maintaining a gas flow in the inner volume; a glove box, the glove box being arranged so that the transfer receptacle is aligned with an opening in a wall of the glove box for receiving the sterilized bag of product from the transfer receptacle, the glove box comprising: an inner volume comprising: a central region positioned over a hopper,The central region comprises a plurality of openings sized to allow the product to flow through the hopper, but prevents the bag or parts thereof from entering the hopper; a disposal region comprising a door through which the bag or parts thereof can be disposed of into a waste receptacle; one or more glove openings through which a user can access the interior volume; and one or more gassing elements for maintaining a gas flow in the interior volume, wherein the hopper is positioned below the central region of the glove box to receive the product from the glove box; the hopper comprises a vertically mounted gas element for maintaining a gas flow within the hopper; a feeder that fluidly couples the hopper to a funnel, and having one or more gas rails positioned within the feeder above a region where the product flows through the feeder.and one or more vibrating elements for vibrating the feeder at least in the region where the product flows; the funnel, wherein the funnel and the vibrating feeder are substantially sealed, so that the path of the product through the feeder and into the funnel is sealed from ambient conditions, the funnel comprising a vertically mounted gas rail for maintaining radial gas flow within the funnel; and the scale, wherein the scale is substantially sealed in a scale enclosure and fluidly coupled to the funnel to receive the product for weighing and transferring it to a forming tube of a packaging machine.

41. The system according to any of claims 28 to 40, characterized in that the vibratory feeder comprises a tray that defines a product flow path, wherein the tray comprises one or more gassing elements.

42. The system in accordance with any of claims 40 or 41, characterized in that the scale further comprises one or more gasification elements to maintain a gas flow within the scale.

43. The system according to claim 41, characterized in that the scale comprises one or more weighing buckets for receiving a measured quantity of product, each of one or more weighing buckets comprising one or more gasification elements.

44. The system according to any of claims 28 to 43, characterized in that it further comprises a gas flow system that controls the gas flow to one or more gasification elements, the gas flow system comprising an inert gas inlet, a sterilization fluid inlet, a HEPA filter downstream of the inert gas inlet and the sterilization gas inlet, and a gas rail downstream of the HEPA filter for distributing the gas to one or more gasification elements.

45. The system in accordance with any of claims 28 to 44, characterized in that the system is adapted to be substantially sealed to environmental conditions.

46. ​​The system in accordance with any of claims 28 to 45, characterized in that the funnel is sealed in the upper part of the weighing chamber.

47. The system in accordance with any of claims 28 to 46, characterized in that the funnel comprises a flexible rubber projection that seals the weighing chamber.

48. The system according to any of claims 28 to 47, characterized in that the system is adapted to maintain oxygen at a level of approximately 0.5% or less in at least the paths in which the product moves.

49. The system according to any of claims 28 to 48, characterized in that the glove compartment comprises three glove openings, two glove openings being positioned to access the central region and one glove opening being positioned to access the disposal region.

50. The system according to any of claims 28 to 49, characterized in that the disposal region comprises a waste receptacle for receiving and retaining the bag from the disposal region, and the disposal region door seals the disposal region from the transfer receptacle when closed to allow the waste receptacle to be emptied without exposing the glove compartment to ambient conditions.

51. The system according to any of claims 28 to 50, characterized in that the system is adapted to interconnect with a packaging machine selected from vertical forming, filling and sealing machines, horizontal forming, filling and sealing machines, horizontal flow wrapping machines, bottle and / or can filling machines, tray filling machines, auger type filling machine, and the like.

52. The system according to claim 51, characterized in that the interface between the system and the packaging machine is sealed to ambient conditions.

53. The system according to claim 53, characterized in that the MA / í OOOU interface comprises one or more gasification elements.

54. An aseptic method for filling a container with a product, characterized in that it comprises: receiving sterilized product from a sterilization unit in a transfer receptacle; transferring the sterilized product from the transfer receptacle to a glove box while inert gas is flowed over and / or through the sterilized product; transferring the sterilized product from the glove box to a hopper through an opening in the glove box while inert gas is flowed over and / or through the sterilized product; and flowing the sterilized product through the hopper to a feeder, wherein an inert gas flow is maintained in the hopper during the flow of the sterilized product;and transferring the sterilized product using the feeder to a funnel, through which the sterilized product flows to a scale, where an inert gas flow is maintained above, below and / or through the sterilized product during the transfer in the feeder and an inert gas flow is maintained within the funnel.; 55. The method according to claim 54, characterized in that the inert gas flow maintains an oxygen level of 0.5% or less during the flow of the product through the hopper, transfer of the product in the feeder and flow of the product through the funnel to the scale.

56. The method according to claim 54 or 55, characterized in that the scale comprises one or more gassing elements and the method further comprises flowing inert gas over the product during the flow of the product through the scale to maintain an oxygen level of 0.5% or less during the flow of the product through the scale.

57. The method according to any of claims 54 to 46, characterized in that the sterilized product is provided as a sterilized product bag and the method further comprises opening the sterilized product bag to remove the sterilized product when the sterilized bag is in the glove compartment.

58. The method according to claim 57, characterized in that the glove box comprises a grid positioned over an opening providing communication between the glove box and the hopper, wherein the sterilized product is extracted from the bag and passed through the grid to flow into the hopper, and wherein the grid prevents the bag from flowing through the hopper.

59. The method according to claim 57 or 58, characterized in that the glove box further comprises a disposal region, wherein the bag is transferred to the disposal region after the sterilized product has been removed.

60. The method according to claim 59, characterized in that the disposal region comprises a waste receptacle and a door that seals the waste receptacle from the glove compartment when the door is in the closed position, the method further comprising opening the door and transferring the bag to the waste receptacle after removing the sterilized product.

61. A method for aseptic bulk filling of a container with a product, characterized in that it comprises: loading product into a hopper through a product inlet where an inert gas flow is maintained through the product inlet during loading; flowing the product through the hopper to a feeder, where an inert gas flow is maintained over and / or through the product in the hopper and where an inert gas flow is maintained over, through and / or under the product in the feeder; transferring the product from the feeder to a funnel, where an inert gas flow is maintained over the product within the funnel, the funnel being arranged to flow the product to a scale; maintaining an inert gas flow from the product on the scale during weighing the product into a bulk packaging quantity; transferring the bulk packaging quantity of product to a filling station for filling the product into a container;Fill the container with the quantity of bulk-packaged product, maintaining a flow of inert gas over the product during filling; and sealing the container.

62. The method according to claim 61, characterized in that the inert gas flow throughout the system maintains an oxygen level of 0.5% or less.

63. A gasification element system for a combination scale, characterized in that it comprises: a truncated cone-shaped dispersion feeder gasification element located at a first end of the system; one or more external radial feeder gasification elements extending radially outward from the dispersion feeder gasification element; one or more feed hopper gasification elements located downstream of the external radial feeder gasification elements and positioned to direct the gas flow to one or more feed hoppers that transfer the product to one or more weighing buckets; one or more weighing bucket gasification elements located downstream of one or more feed hopper gasification elements and positioned to direct the gas flow towards one or more weighing buckets;one or more classification channel gassing elements placed downstream of one or more weighing bucket gassing elements and positioned to radially direct gas flow into a classification channel; and a vertical classification channel gassing element, extending vertically upward from a second end of the system, opposite the first end of the system, and arranged to be placed within and maintain gas flow within the classification channel.

64. The gasification element system according to claim 63, characterized in that one or more of the external radial feeder gasification elements, feed hopper gasification elements and weighing bucket gasification elements are arranged to direct a gas flow outwards from a central axis of the system.

65. The gasification element system according to claim 63 or 64, characterized in that the classification channel gasification elements are arranged to direct a gas flow radially around a central axis of the system.

66. A combination weighing scale having a gassing element system, characterized in that it comprises: a scale funnel located at a first end of the scale, the scale funnel comprising one or more gassing elements for maintaining a gas flow within the scale funnel; a dispersion feeder located downstream of the scale funnel; a truncated conical dispersion feeder gassing element located downstream of the funnel and positioned to direct a gas flow to the product located in the dispersion feeder; one or more radial feeders positioned to receive product from the dispersion feeder;one or more external radial feeder gasification elements positioned to direct a gas flow towards one or more radial feeders; one or more radial feeder gasification elements positioned radially outwards from the truncated conical dispersion feeder gasification element; one or more feed hoppers positioned downstream of one or more radial feeders to receive product from one or more radial feeders; one or more feed hopper gasification elements positioned to direct a gas flow towards one or more feed hoppers; one or more weighing buckets positioned downstream of one or more feed hoppers to receive product from one or more feed hoppers; one or more weighing bucket gasification elements positioned to direct a gas flow towards one or more weighing buckets; a classification channel to receive products from one or more weighing buckets;a vertical gassing element placed in the classification channel; and one or more classification channel gassing elements positioned to direct a radial flow of gas within the classification channel.

67. The combination weighing scale according to claim 66, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of radial feeders arranged radially around a central axis of the scale, each of the plurality of radial feeders having an external radial feeder gassing element.

68. The combination weighing scale according to claim 66 or 67, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of radially arranged feed hoppers ML / / 300U around a central axis of the scale, each of the plurality of feed hoppers having a feed hopper gasification element.

69. The combination weighing scale according to any of claims 66 to 68, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of weighing cubes arranged radially around a central axis of the scale, each of the plurality of weighing cubes having a weighing cube gassing element.

70. The combination weighing scale according to any of claims 66 to 69, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of sorting channel gassing elements arranged radially around the vertical gassing elements, each of the plurality of sorting channel gassing elements being positioned to direct a gas flow radially in the direction in which the sorting channel gassing elements are arranged.

71. The combination weighing scale according to any of claims 66 to 70, characterized in that one or more of the external radial feeder gasification elements, feed hopper gasification elements, and weighing bucket gasification elements are arranged to direct a gas flow outwards, away from a central axis of the scale.

72. The combination weighing scale according to any of claims 66 to 70, characterized in that it comprises a scale enclosure that substantially encloses the entire scale and seals the scale from ambient conditions.

73. A gasification element system for a combination weighing scale, characterized in that it comprises: a truncated conical dispersion feeder gasification element located at a first end of the system; one or more external radial feeder gasification elements extending radially outwards from the dispersion feeder gasification element; one or more weighing bucket gasification elements located downstream of the dispersion feeder gasification element and positioned to direct the gas flow towards one or more weighing buckets; one or more sorting channel gasification elements located downstream of one or more weighing bucket gasification elements and positioned to radially direct the gas flow towards a sorting channel;and a vertical classification channel gasification element, extending vertically upwards from a second end of the system, opposite the first end of the system, and arranged to be placed within and maintain the flow of gas within the classification channel.

74. An aseptic filling system for a container with a product, characterized in that it comprises: a transfer receptacle having an internal volume for receiving a sterilized product from a sterilization unit; a hopper positioned to receive the sterilized product from the transfer receptacle; a feeder positioned to receive the sterilized product from the hopper and transfer the product to a funnel; the funnel is positioned to receive the product from the feeder and transfer the product to a scale; and a plurality of gassing elements positioned throughout the system to maintain a substantially constant flow of inert gas over and / or through the sterilized product as it flows through the system.

75. The system according to claim 74, characterized in that the plurality of gasification elements comprises one or more gasification elements placed in the transfer receptacle, one or more gasification elements placed in the hopper, one or more gasification elements placed in the feeder, and one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel.

76. The system according to claim 75, characterized in that one or more gasification elements placed in the hopper comprise a vertically mounted gasification element.

77. The system according to any of claims 75 or 76, characterized in that one or more gasification elements placed in the funnel comprise a vertically mounted gasification element.

78. The system according to any of claims 75 to 77, characterized in that one or more gassing elements placed in the feeder are positioned one or more of (i) above the product, (ii) below the product or (iii) in a flow path of the product through the feeder.

79. The system according to any of claims 74 to 78, characterized in that the system comprises a combination weighing scale as defined in any of claims 73 to 78.

80. The system in accordance with any of claims 74 to 79, characterized in that the scale is in a weighing enclosure sealed from ambient conditions.

81. The system in accordance with any of claims 74 to 80, characterized in that it further comprises a conveyor device for transporting the product from the sterilization unit to the transfer receptacle.

82. The system according to claim 81, characterized in that the conveying device comprises one or more gasification elements to maintain a flow of gas over and / or through the product during transport.

83. An aseptic product processing system, characterized in that it comprises: a hopper through which the product can be loaded into the system, the hopper having a gate that operates between open and closed positions to expose an opening of the hopper for loading the product and substantially seal the opening after loading, respectively; a feeder that fluidly couples the hopper to a funnel; a scale arranged to receive product from the funnel; a gasification assembly comprising at least one gasification element disposed in one or more of the hopper, feeder, funnel, and scale to maintain a flow of inert gas over and / or through the product as it flows through the system; an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the hopper, feeder, funnel, and scale;and a gas recirculation system comprising at least one recirculation element in fluid communication with at least one recirculation exhaust and at least one recirculation filter, wherein at least one recirculation element is arranged to maintain a flow of filtered gas within the enclosure, at least one recirculation exhaust is arranged downstream of at least one recirculation element to collect the filtered gas from within the enclosure, and at least one filter is arranged to receive the filtered gas collected from at least one exhaust, filter the collected filtered gas and return filtered gas to at least one recirculation element for recirculation within the enclosure.

84. The system in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a bag-opening apparatus placed in, within or upstream of the hopper for opening a product bag and releasing the product contained within the bag into the hopper.

85. The system according to claim 13, characterized in that the bag opening apparatus comprises an actuating blade configured to act to cut a portion of the bag, open the bag to release the product into the hopper, and leave the cut portion attached to the bag.