Method for gas filling of a handle portion of a container

1. A method for gas filling a handle portion of a container of a collapsible type, the handle portion being defined by two opposite side walls of the container and communicating, via a duct defined by said side walls, with an opening formed in one of the side walls, the method comprising

supplying, at a gas filling station, a gas to the handle portion via said opening and said duct,

blocking the duct by a squeezing action to retain the gas supplied to the handle portion, the duct is blocked by a squeezing action produced by a movable pinching device, which grips the container for transport thereof from the gas filling station to a sealing station, said pinching device is moved along, in the vertical plane, a curved path from said gas filling station to said sealing station,

moving the container laterally to said sealing station while maintaining the squeezing action, and

sealing the duct, at said sealing station, while maintaining the squeezing action, so as to permanently enclose the gas in said handle portion.

2. A method according to claim 1 , in which the gas is supplied by a gas supply nozzle, which is applied to the opening.

3. A method according to claim 2 , in which the duct is sealed with the aid of a sealing device, which is applied to the container for producing a seal extending across said duct.

4. A method according to claim 2 , in which the method is a step of a process for producing finished containers.

5. A method according to claim 1 , in which the duct is sealed with the aid of a sealing device, which is applied to the container for producing a seal extending across said duct.

6. A method according to any claim 1 , in which the method is a step of a process for producing finished containers.