Fluid injection system and method for supporting container walls
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fluid injection method for pressurizing a filled and sealed food or beverage container comprising:
- providing a container having an opening and cavity;
filling the container cavity through the opening with a food or beverage product;
providing an injection molded thermoplastic closure, the closure including;
a top panel;
a skirt extending downward away from the top panel; and
a thermoplastic elastorner liner coupled to a lower surface of the top panel, the liner comprising;
a central portion having a first thickness and an outer portion located radially outward of the central portion and having a second thickness;
wherein the first thickness is between 0.010 and 0.110 inches and the first thickness is more than twice the second thickness; and
a sealing rib extending downwardly relative to the outer portion and configured to contact an inner rim of the container;
sealing the container opening with the closure, the container having a first internal pressure following sealing of the container with the closure;
after filling and sealing the container, inserting a nozzle into the cavity of the container by piercing through the top panel and the central portion of the thermoplastic elastomer liner;
injecting a pressurizing fluid through the nozzle into the container cavity after sealing and filling;
controlling the injection of the pressurizing fluid with a valve and control, system; and
removing the nozzle from the thermoplastic elastomer liner, wherein the central portion of the thermoplastic elastomer liner self-seals forming a hermetic seal after withdrawal of the nozzle, wherein the container has a second internal pressure after injection of the pressurized fluid and removal of the nozzle, wherein the second internal pressure is greater than the first internal pressure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for injecting pressurizing fluid into a filled and sealed container is provided. The container is filled with a product and is then sealed with a closure. A pressurizing fluid is injected through the closure into the container cavity after sealing and filling.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A fluid injection method for pressurizing a filled and sealed food or beverage container comprising:
-
providing a container having an opening and cavity; filling the container cavity through the opening with a food or beverage product; providing an injection molded thermoplastic closure, the closure including; a top panel; a skirt extending downward away from the top panel; and a thermoplastic elastorner liner coupled to a lower surface of the top panel, the liner comprising; a central portion having a first thickness and an outer portion located radially outward of the central portion and having a second thickness; wherein the first thickness is between 0.010 and 0.110 inches and the first thickness is more than twice the second thickness; and a sealing rib extending downwardly relative to the outer portion and configured to contact an inner rim of the container; sealing the container opening with the closure, the container having a first internal pressure following sealing of the container with the closure; after filling and sealing the container, inserting a nozzle into the cavity of the container by piercing through the top panel and the central portion of the thermoplastic elastomer liner; injecting a pressurizing fluid through the nozzle into the container cavity after sealing and filling; controlling the injection of the pressurizing fluid with a valve and control, system; and removing the nozzle from the thermoplastic elastomer liner, wherein the central portion of the thermoplastic elastomer liner self-seals forming a hermetic seal after withdrawal of the nozzle, wherein the container has a second internal pressure after injection of the pressurized fluid and removal of the nozzle, wherein the second internal pressure is greater than the first internal pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A fluid injection method for pressurizing a filled and sealed food or beverage container comprising:
-
providing a container having an opening and cavity; filling the container cavity through the opening with a food or beverage product; providing an injection molded thermoplastic closure, the closure including; a top panel having a thickness; a skirt extending downward from the top panel; and a thermoplastic elastomer liner coupled to a lower surface of the top panel, the liner comprising; a central portion having a thickness; an outer portion located radially outward of the central portion and having a thickness that is less than the thickness of the central portion; wherein the thickness of the central portion is between 0,010 and 0.060 inches and is substantially the same as the thickness of the top panel; and a sealing rib extending downwardly relative to the outer portion and configured to contact an inner rim of the container; scaling the container opening with the closure, the container having a first internal pressure following sealing of the container with the closure; after filling and sealing the container, inserting a nozzle into the cavity of the container by piercing through the top panel and the central portion of the thermoplastic elastomer liner; injecting a pressurizing fluid through the nozzle into the container cavity after sealing and filling; controlling the injection of the pressurizing fluid with a valve and control system; and removing the nozzle from the thermoplastic elastomer liner, wherein the central portion of the thermoplastic elastomer liner self-seals forming a hermetic seal after withdrawal of the nozzle, wherein the container has a second internal pressure after injection of the pressured fluid and removal of the nozzle, wherein the second internal pressure is greater than the first internal pressure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A fluid injection method for pressurizing a filled and sealed food or beverage container comprising:
-
providing a container having an opening and cavity; filling the container cavity through the opening with a food or beverage product; providing an injection molded thermoplastic closure, the closure including; a top panel having a thinned central portion; a skirt extending downward from the top panel; and a thermoplastic elastomer liner coupled to a lower surface of the top panel, the liner comprising; a central portion located within the thinned central portion of the top panel and having a thickness between 0.010 and 0.110 inches; an outer portion located radially outward of the liner central portion and having a thickness that is less than the thickness of the liner central portion; and a sealing rib extending downwardly relative to the outer portion and configured to contact an inner rim of the container; scaling the container opening with the closure, the container having a first internal pressure following sealing of the container with the closure; after filling and sealing the container, inserting a nozzle into the cavity of the container by piercing through the top panel and the central portion of the thermoplastic elastomer liner; injecting a pressurizing fluid through the nozzle into the container cavity after sealing and filling; controlling the injection of the pressurizing fluid with a valve and control system; and
removing the nozzle from the thermoplastic elastomer liner, wherein the central portion of the thermoplastic elastomer liner self-seals forming a hermetic seal after withdrawal of the nozzle, wherein the container has a second internal pressure after injection of the pressurized fluid and removal of the nozzle, wherein the second internal pressure is greater than the first internal pressure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification