Funnels and lances for package filling
Funnels and gas lances are disclosed for use with filling packages with bulk product.
1. An assembly for transferring products to a package comprising:
a funnel having an exit end where products enter a package; and
a lance having an exit end where gas enters the package, wherein the funnel and the lance share a common wall.
2. A method for blowing gas into a package filled with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel having a geometry and having an exit end where products enter a package;
providing a lance for blowing a gas into the package, the lance having an exit end where the gas enters the package;
blowing gas into the package; and
changing the blowing gas from turbulent flow to laminar flow using the geometry of the funnel.
3. A method for blowing gas into a package being filled with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel having an exit end where products enter a package;
providing a lance for blowing a gas into the package, the lance having an exit end where the gas enters the package;
blowing gas into the package; and
decreasing the velocity of the gas as it enters the package to reduce the amount of product being blown out of the package.
4. A method for filling a package with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel with an exit end;
providing a lance with an exit end, wherein the funnel and the lance share a common wall;
moving the funnel and the lance into a package with the common wall being the first parts of the funnel and the lance to enter the package.
5. A method for filling a package with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel with an exit end;
providing a lance with an exit end;
moving the funnel and the lance into the package so that the exit end of the funnel and the lance are inside the package;
transferring products into the funnel so that the products travels through the funnel, out the exit end of the funnel and into the package; and
blowing a gas through the lance, out the exit end and into the package to displace oxygen in the package to under 2%.
6. A method for blowing gas into a package filled with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel having an exit end where products enter a package;
providing a lance for blowing a gas into the package, the lance having an exit end where the gas enters the package; and
blowing gas into the package such that the gas flows out of the exit end in a direction that is not substantially parallel to the flow of the products entering the package.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein gas flows out of the exit end in a direction approximately perpendicular to the flow of products entering the package.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein gas flows out of the exit end in a direction approximately at a 45 degree angle to the flow of products entering the package.