HEADSPACE MODIFICATION METHOD FOR REMOVAL OF VACUUM PRESSURE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

• US 20110094618A1
• Filed: 05/18/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Melrose
• Original Assignee: David Melrose
• Inventors: Melrose, David Murray
• Application Number:
  US12/993,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20110094618A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/11
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/006 Adding fluids for preventing deformation of filled and closed containers or wrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/06 the nozzle being arranged for insertion into, and withdrawal from, the mouth of a filled container and operating in conjunction with means for sealing the container mouth
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2807 Feeding closures
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/2842 Securing closures on containers in general B65B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/243 moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/30 with plug valves , i.e. valves that open and close a passageway by turning a cylindrical or conical plug without axial passageways
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/0087 the deformable part being located in a closure, e.g. in caps or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 2003/226 Additional process steps or apparatuses related to filling with hot liquids, e.g. after-treatment

Abstract

To modify the headspace in a container to remove vacuum pressure, a container has a seal or cap which may provide a temporary opening into the container which is sealable under compression to provide a controlled raising of the internal pressure as the heated contents of the container cools. A sealing chamber (84) may enable the introduction of a fluid into the headspace (23b) to force the fluid level (40) lower. Other methods and apparatus are described.

Claims

1. A container having a seal or cap including, or adapted to provide, an opening or aperture into said container, said opening or aperture providing, in use, for the introduction under pressure of at least one fluid, said opening or aperture also being sealable, under pressure, in use, to provide an increased internal pressure within the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one fluid is introduced under pressure and said opening or aperture is sealable under compression.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said seal or cap is temporarily applied such that said opening or aperture is provided by an incomplete seal being formed between the seal or cap and a neck finish of the container.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said seal or cap provides a temporary sealing means after filling of the container, said opening or aperture being accessible under substantially sterile conditions to provide for the introduction of said at least one fluid.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4 wherein said at least one fluid is heated and/or sterile and said opening or aperture is further adapted to be sealable under substantially sterile conditions to provide said controlled raising of internal pressure.

6. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which said at least one fluid is a heated liquid or a gas injected through said opening or aperture.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6 in which said opening or aperture is adapted to be permanently closed following the injection of said liquid or gas.

8. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which said cap is compressible within a neck of the container towards its interior.

9. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which said opening or aperture includes a valve means which is operable to open and close said opening or aperture.

18. A container filling apparatus for filling a container as claimed in claim 1.

20. A cap for a container, the cap being adapted for use with the container of claim 1.

22. A container when filled by the apparatus of claim 18.

10. (canceled)

11. A method of filling a container with a fluid including introducing the fluid through an open end of the container so that it, at least substantially, fills the container, heating the fluid before or after its introduction into the container, providing a seal or cap having an opening or aperture, providing at least one fluid through the opening or aperture and sealing the opening or aperture under pressure so as to compensate for subsequent pressure reduction in a headspace of the container under the seal or cap following the cooling of the heated contents.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the at least one fluid passes through the opening or aperture under pressure.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 in which the container is positioned in a pressurizing means.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the container is positioned in a sterilizing means and the fluid is a heated liquid injected through the opening or aperture.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the opening or aperture is provided with a temporary or partial seal through which the at least one fluid is provided.

16. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which a neck of the container is provided with a compressible cap which is moveable within the neck towards the heated contents before the heated contents have cooled.

19. A container when filled by the method of claim 11.

21. A container filling apparatus for performing the method of claim 14.

23. A cap for a container, the cap being adapted for use with the apparatus of claim 16.

17. (canceled)