FLUID INJECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCAVENGING OXYGEN IN A CONTAINER

• US 20150121807A1
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC (Silgan Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Silgan White Cap LLC (Silgan Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taber, James M., Orth, Kevin W., Szczesniak, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US14/071,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20150121807A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/431
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/006 Adding fluids for preventing deformation of filled and closed containers or wrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/047 the nozzles co-operating with a check valve in the opening of the container or wrapper
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 31/08 the nozzle being adapted to pierce the container or wrapper
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/02 Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/28 by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers

Abstract

A method and system for injecting fluid into a sealed container that contains a consumable product is provided. The container is filled with a consumable product and then sealed with a closure. A fluid is injected through the closure into the container cavity after filling and sealing. The fluid increases the internal pressure of the container and scavenges oxygen in the container.

Claims

1. A fluid injection method for a container that contains a consumable product comprising:

providing a container including a cavity and an opening providing access to the cavity;

providing a closure, wherein at least one of the container and the closure contains a redox catalyst;

filling the container cavity through the opening with a consumable product;

sealing the container opening with the closure; and

injecting a fluid through the closure into the container'"'"'s cavity after sealing, wherein the fluid acts to pressurize the container and to scavenge oxygen from the contents of the container.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the injected fluid has a percentage composition of hydrogen greater than 0.1%.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the injected fluid is pure hydrogen.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the injected fluid is a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the fluid is a gas.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the fluid is a liquid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the container is permeable to molecular oxygen.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the container is made from blow-molded thermoplastic.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the injection of a fluid occurs via a nozzle, the method further comprising:

piercing the closure with the nozzle prior to injection of the fluid; and

removing the nozzle from the closure after the injecting the fluid.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein piercing the closure creates a hole through the closure, and the method further comprising:

sealing the hole in the closure.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a material of the closure is configured to self-seal, wherein the sealing of the hole is accomplished by the self-sealing of the material of the closure.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the redox catalyst includes a compound containing a Group VIII metal or a molecule containing a Group VIII metal.

13. A fluid injection method for a sealed container that is permeable to molecular oxygen and that contains a consumable product comprising:

providing a container permeable to molecular oxygen including an opening providing access to the contents of the cavity of the container;

providing a thermoplastic closure including a top panel, a skirt extending downward away from the top panel and a thermoplastic elastomer liner coupled to a lower surface of the top panel, wherein at least one of the container, closure and liner includes a catalyst material;

filling the cavity of the container through the opening with a consumable product;

sealing the opening of the container with the closure;

then inserting a nozzle through the closure and through the thermoplastic elastomer liner into the cavity of the plastic container;

injecting a fluid via the nozzle into the container'"'"'s cavity after filling and sealing; and

removing the nozzle from the closure and thermoplastic elastomer liner, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer liner self-seals forming a hermetic seal, and wherein the fluid acts to pressurize the container and to bind oxygen from the contents of the container.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the injected fluid has a percentage composition of hydrogen greater than 0.1%.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the injected fluid is pure hydrogen.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the injected fluid is a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the insertion of the nozzle includes piercing at least one of the closure and the liner.

18. A system for injecting fluid into a container that contains a consumable product and that is sealed by a closure, the system comprising:

an injection nozzle;

a pressurized fluid source containing a fluid;

a conduit coupling the injection nozzle to the fluid source; and

an actuator coupled to the injection nozzle and configured to move the injection nozzle toward and away from the closure sealing the container;

wherein the injection nozzle is configured to inject the fluid through the closure into the container, and wherein the fluid is configured to change the internal pressure of the container and react to bind oxygen in the cavity of the container.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the injected fluid has a percentage composition of hydrogen greater than 0.1%.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the injected fluid is a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen.