Patent ID: 7530374

Claim:
A system for filling a container with a fluid, the system comprising: a container comprising an attached connector including a fitting having a side opening; and a filling machine including a nozzle mechanism which is movable to enter the side opening in the fitting to transfer the fluid therethrough into the container and further including a filling chamber including—an outer body including a bottom opening for receiving at least a portion of the connector, and a side opening for receiving the nozzle mechanism; and an inner body slidably received within the outer body and movable between a first position in which the inner body blocks the side opening in the outer body, and a second position in which the inner body does not block the side opening in the outer body; and a sterilization mechanism for sterilizing the connector and the filling chamber, the sterilization mechanism including—a sprayer component for spraying a sterilizing liquid into the filling chamber; an evacuation component for evacuating an airborne portion of the sterilizing liquid prior to filling the container; and a contact component for applying the sterilizing liquid directly to at least a portion of the connector wherein the sprayer component pumps the sterilizing liquid from a reservoir, and the contact component wicks the sterilizing liquid from the reservoir.