Patent ID: 8375686

Claim:
A method of making an aseptic package in a vertical/fill/seal process comprising: a) providing a lay-flat film on a first roll of film, the lay-flat film comprising a first and second surface; b) providing a plurality of fitments; c) unwinding the film from the first roll of film; d) advancing the lay-flat film to an apparatus for attaching each of the plurality of fitments to the film; e) feeding each of the plurality of fitments from a fitment feed device to the apparatus for attaching each of the plurality of fitments to the film; f) attaching each of the plurality of fitments to the second surface of the film; g) advancing the film, with the plurality of fitments attached to the second surface thereof, to an assembly for sterilizing the film and each of the plurality of fitments; h) sterilizing the film and each of the plurality of fitments; i) advancing the sterilized film, with the plurality of sterilized fitments attached to the second surface thereof, to an assembly for drying the film and each of the plurality of fitments; j) drying the film and each of the plurality of fitments; k) advancing the sterilized film, with the plurality of sterilized fitments attached to the second surface thereof, to a vertical form/fill seal apparatus for making a plurality of packages from the sterilized film and each of the plurality of sterilized fitments; l) advancing the sterilized film over a forming device to convert the lay-flat film to a folded film having a sterilized interior surface; m) advancing each of the plurality of sterilized fitments with the film such that when the package is made, a fitment is disposed on an exterior surface of each package; n) making a longitudinal seal in the folded film; o) transversely sealing the folded film to produce a first transverse seal to define a first pouch, wherein the first transverse seal is a bottom transverse seal of the first pouch; p) putting a sterilized product in the first pouch; q) advancing the folded film, with the first pouch, downward a predetermined distance; r) transversely sealing the first pouch to produce a top transverse seal in the first pouch, and a bottom transverse seal in a second pouch, the second pouch disposed above the first pouch; and s) transversely cutting the folded film to separate the first pouch from the second pouch to make a package, the package comprising i) a pouch comprising (a) a first transverse seal at a first end of the pouch, (b) a second transverse seal at a second end of the pouch, (c) a first fold at a first side of the pouch, (d) a second fold at a second side of the pouch, (e) a sterilized interior surface, (f) the exterior surface, (g) a longitudinal seal extending from the first end of the pouch to the second end of the pouch; and (h) an external fitment sealed to the exterior surface of the pouch; and ii) a sterilized product disposed in the pouch.