APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FILLING VOID IN AN OUTER CONTAINER HAVING A LIQUID-CONTAINING FLEXIBLE PACKAGE HELD THEREIN

摘要

Apparatus (20) for holding a flexible package (10) filled with a liquid (12). The apparatus includes an inflatable' void-filling device (24) and a rigid outer container (22) having a lid (34) and a hollow interior in which the flexible package is located. The lid is arranged to be located over the filled package, whereupon some void results therebetween. The inflatable device is located within the hollow interior over the flexible package and arranged to be filled with compressed gas to cause it to completely fill the void. The compressed gas within the inflatable member automatically expands it to fill the void, irrespective of changes in the volume taken up by the filled package within the outer container.