EP0434764A1 - Method of filling and sealing a deformable container. - Google Patents
Method of filling and sealing a deformable container.Info
- Publication number
- EP0434764A1 EP0434764A1 EP89911514A EP89911514A EP0434764A1 EP 0434764 A1 EP0434764 A1 EP 0434764A1 EP 89911514 A EP89911514 A EP 89911514A EP 89911514 A EP89911514 A EP 89911514A EP 0434764 A1 EP0434764 A1 EP 0434764A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- container
- lid
- product
- headspace
- sealing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 77
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 47
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000011010 flushing procedure Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010411 cooking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003475 lamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000003908 quality control method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004826 seaming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
- B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
- B65B31/025—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers
- B65B31/028—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method of filling and sealing a container with a product, and more particularly, to a method of producing a package in which the integrity of the seal is preserved and voids within the container are virtually eliminated.
- This headspace gas hinders exploitation of sterilizable containers, because of the difficulty of accurately controlling the pressure within the containers during temperature changes, to ensure the seals are not ruptured or containers otherwise deformed or damaged. If the headspace gas is air, this will cause spoilage of oxygen-sensitive products.
- This headspace also has the appearance of a partially filled container, giving a poor value impression to the consumer.
- the headspace allows movement of product during shipment, resulting in stressing of the lid material (which may rupture) , and also damage to the product.
- This invention relates to a method of filling and sealing a package with a product, and more particularly to a method of producing a sterilized package in which the integrity of the seal and the lid is preserved and the voids within the container that allow product movement are eliminated.
- the container of the present invention is designed with a base having a deformable or drawable insert and with the correct ratio of wall strength to the radius of curvature so that the bottom is stable in either the up or down position.
- the whole container is made of a semi-rigid material, and hence, the bottom is not a stretchable diaphragm.
- the use of laminations of thermoplastic foil, thin aluminum or steel enables the container to be puncture resistant and provides for considerable resistance to damage in handling and transportation.
- the container is filled with the base in its downward position so that the charging product falls below the seal surface.
- the edge of a top cut lid is then positioned adjacent to a rim section of the container.
- the filled container and lid are then transferred into a vacuum chamber with the sealing surface of the container being supported on an anvil.
- the gas in the vacuum chamber is then evacuated.
- a sealing head above the container is in a raised position. This process lowers the pressure of the headspace gas within the container to that of the chamber.
- the sealing head is lowered and the lid is sealed to the container.
- the chamber is brought back to atmospheric pressure such that the base is inverted thereby forcing the product to move upwardly to fill the headspace or voids within the container.
- this method to fill and seal a container enables the fill volume to be less than the initial container volume to thereby isolate the product from the seal area to avoid seal area contamination.
- this process eliminates the voids within the container which allow product movement.
- Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the container of this invention.
- Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the base of the container in its downward position.
- Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the base of the container in its intermediate position.
- Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the base of the container in its upward position.
- Figures 5-9 illustrate a preferred method of filling and sealing a deformable container.
- a preferred embodiment of a container 10 is provided.
- the body 10 has a bottom 12 which has a flexible insert 14 substantially deformable in shape. Since the hoop stress provides for tension along the circumference of the container base, in the preferred embodiment, the container can be "bi-stable" in that it is stationary in either the up or down positions of the container.
- the base includes a deformable hoop webbing 16 between the insert 14 and the side edges 18 of the container. These rigid side edges 18 support an upper flange 20 which extends outwardly therefrom.
- the upper flange 20 includes a sealing surface 22 which terminates in a crimped raised rim section 24.
- the container body is capable of receiving and retaining a top cut lid 26 which is sealed to the container in the grooves 27 formed between the sealing surface 22 and the raised rim section 24.
- This lid is preferably formed of a puncture-resistant plastic material, but any material, including a nonplastic material, such as reinforced paper, which is substantially puncture-resistant may be utilized.
- a force A moves the base 12 upwardly, the outer rim or hoop member 16 of the base is stretched.
- the bending at the edges of the body induces stress to restore the body 10 to its original shape in the intermediate position of the deformable bottom.
- the bottom is inverted forming an inverted U shape (see Fig. 4) .
- This angle ⁇ is decreased as the hoop stress of the hoop member 16 resists the bending stress around the base.
- the bottom is stable in either the up or down position, and as such, the bottom is bi-stable. Since the whole container is made of a semi-rigid material, the bottom is not a stretchable diaphragm. The base 12 is thus held stable in either position by the hoop stress of the outer diameter 16 of the base 12.
- the container body may have a deformable bottom which is entirely deformable in shape.
- the base does not include a hoop member, such as 16 (see Fig. 1) .
- the body of this preferred embodiment also includes semi-rigid side members which support an upper flange which extends outwardly from the side surfaces.
- the upper flange includes a sealing surface which terminates in the rim section.
- a force A applied to the container base moves the base upwardly thereby stretching the outer rim of the base.
- the side walls of the container are pushed outward as the base is inverted. The bending at the edges induces stress to restore the container to its original shape.
- the base is in its final upward position, the hoop stress along the side edges resists this bending stress and holds the base stable in the up position.
- the containers may be manufactured with the base either up or down, provided the hoop stress induced in the outer diameter of the base can resist the restoring stresses, and can hold the base stable in the position opposite to the manufactured position.
- FIG. 5 A preferred method for filling and sealing these deformable containers is shown in Figs. 5-9.
- the sealing surface 22 of the container body 10 is mounted on support arms 28 of an anvil 30.
- the cavity 32 of container body 10 is charged with a product 34 from a filler 36.
- This product charge is sufficiently fluid or malleable so that it will not tend to assume any specific natural shape, but however, will fill the void volume of the container with a secured lid.
- the container is filled with the insert 14 of the base 12 in its downwardly position. After the product has been initially charged into the container, there is still sufficient headspace, however, to permit lid placement without squeezing the top of the product fill onto the sealing surface (see Fig. 6) .
- a sealing head 40 is disposed in the vacuum chamber immediately above anvil 30 in its raised position.
- the gas in the vacuum chamber 38 is evacuated through multiple ports 42a, b and c. Due to the force of the evacuation, an opening 44 is formed between lid 26 and sealing surface 22 of the container body 10, and as a result thereof, the pressure of the headspace air within the container is lowered to that of the vacuum chamber.
- the seal head 40 When the desired vacuum level is achieved within the chamber 38, and as such, gas has been exhausted through ports 42a, b and c, the seal head 40 is lowered and the lid 26 is sealed to the sealing surface 22 of the container body 10, as is shown in Fig. 8.
- the lid may be heat sealed to the sealing surface 22 of container body 10
- the edges 46 of the seal head 40 apply pressure to the outward edges 48 of the continuous top lid 26 such that the outward edges 48 are closely confined to the sealing surface 22 of container body 10 (see Fig. 8) . During this sealing process, the vacuum is maintained.
- the container is removed from the vacuum chamber such that the container is brought back to atmospheric pressure.
- the deformable insert 14 of base 12 is inverted upwardly, thereby forcing the product 34 in the direction of arrow B to fill the headspace and voids 50.
- the wet or dry products within the container must be sufficiently mobile to move into the voids. Since the product is forced into the voids 50 when the container is brought back to atmospheric pressure, the value impression of the product to the consumer is thereby improved.
- such a method of filling and sealing a deformable container enables the fill volume to be less than the initial container volume to thereby isolate the product from the seal area to avoid seal area contamination. This process, however, also eliminates voids within the container which allow product movement.
- the force A may be caused by either the return to atmospheric pressure of the container after the vacuum environment is terminated or by a mechanical push.
- the container body is bi-stable, i.e., the container is stable with the deformable insert being in either the up or down position.
- the container is not bi-stable, such that the deformable bottom will remain in the down position unless held up by a vacuum, or partial vacuum, within the container, a worker will then be able to recognize that a loss of sufficient vacuum occurred during filling. As a result thereof, the product should be rejected.
- this method may be utilized for steam flushing, as is shown in Figs. 10 and 11, which is an important alternative for filling the container with a hot product. Without steam flushing, the vacuum maintained during the process would cause the hot product to boil. With this steam flushing process, the evacuation of the pack may be achieved by flushing out the headspace gas 52
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US24482988A | 1988-09-14 | 1988-09-14 | |
US244829 | 1988-09-14 | ||
PCT/US1989/003987 WO1990002687A1 (en) | 1988-09-14 | 1989-09-13 | Method of filling and sealing a deformable container |
CA002038380A CA2038380C (en) | 1988-09-14 | 1991-03-15 | Method of filling and sealing a deformable container |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0434764A1 true EP0434764A1 (en) | 1991-07-03 |
EP0434764A4 EP0434764A4 (en) | 1991-08-28 |
EP0434764B1 EP0434764B1 (en) | 1994-07-06 |
Family
ID=25674517
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP89911514A Expired - Lifetime EP0434764B1 (en) | 1988-09-14 | 1989-09-13 | Method of filling and sealing a deformable container |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0434764B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2742954B2 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE108156T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU632765B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2038380C (en) |
DE (1) | DE68916647T2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1990002687A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DK9400340U3 (en) * | 1994-09-06 | 1995-05-26 | Torben Boedtker | Ice cream packaging |
GB2337746B (en) * | 1998-05-26 | 2002-09-18 | Linpac Plastics Ltd | Sealed container |
GB9821225D0 (en) * | 1998-10-01 | 1998-11-25 | Shetland Seafood Specialities | Method |
AU2003285992B2 (en) * | 2002-12-09 | 2011-03-03 | Impress Australia Pty Ltd | A container with a flexible bottom wall |
AU2002953207A0 (en) * | 2002-12-09 | 2003-01-02 | Amcor Limited | A container |
FR2856657B1 (en) * | 2003-06-30 | 2005-09-23 | Bonduelle Sa Ets | METHOD AND INSTALLATION OF PACKAGING OF FOOD PRODUCTS UNDER MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE. |
KR100947895B1 (en) * | 2008-01-30 | 2010-03-18 | 김가은 | The reuseable vacuum container with flexible body and the sealed cover |
KR101278451B1 (en) * | 2012-02-17 | 2013-07-01 | 조성오 | Packing system of bag-in-box type |
CN109204978A (en) * | 2018-07-27 | 2019-01-15 | 福建元弘自动化科技有限公司 | Save the multi-functional packing device of type of making an uproar |
JP2021102164A (en) * | 2019-07-18 | 2021-07-15 | 株式会社大協精工 | Container for medical devices |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2124959A (en) * | 1936-08-08 | 1938-07-26 | Vogel William Martin | Method of filling and closing cans |
US3103089A (en) * | 1961-01-23 | 1963-09-10 | Lever Brothers Ltd | Method of filling containers |
US3351265A (en) * | 1964-07-24 | 1967-11-07 | Scientific Atlanta | Container and closure |
FR1547599A (en) * | 1967-05-06 | 1968-11-29 | Bellaplast Gmbh | Thin-walled plastic container with airtight seal |
US3492773A (en) * | 1967-01-25 | 1970-02-03 | Anderson Bros Mfg Co | Method of vacuum packaging |
EP0251877A1 (en) * | 1986-06-23 | 1988-01-07 | Societe Vulliez S.A. | Process for obtaining food products hermetically packaged in containers, installation for carrying out this process, container especially suited for this process |
US4796411A (en) * | 1986-05-06 | 1989-01-10 | Prima Meat Packers, Ltd. Research And Development Center | Packaging food in raised state |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2768487A (en) * | 1952-06-23 | 1956-10-30 | Crown Cork & Seal Co | Method and apparatus for sealing containers |
US3104506A (en) * | 1960-10-26 | 1963-09-24 | Howard A Rohdin | Method of sealing blister type packages |
US3289383A (en) * | 1964-01-27 | 1966-12-06 | Anchor Hocking Glass Corp | Method and means for feeding caps |
US3360382A (en) * | 1965-12-27 | 1967-12-26 | Scientific Atlanta | Method of packaging meat |
DE2430497B2 (en) * | 1974-06-25 | 1981-05-21 | Krämer & Grebe GmbH & Co KG Maschinen- und Modellfabrik, 3560 Biedenkopf | Device for packing goods |
DE3130616A1 (en) * | 1981-08-01 | 1983-02-17 | Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart | DEVICE FOR FUMING AND SEALING PACKAGING CONTAINERS |
US4791775A (en) * | 1987-04-22 | 1988-12-20 | Raque Food Systems, Inc. | Packaging device |
-
1989
- 1989-09-13 AU AU43427/89A patent/AU632765B2/en not_active Expired
- 1989-09-13 AT AT89911514T patent/ATE108156T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-09-13 DE DE68916647T patent/DE68916647T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-09-13 WO PCT/US1989/003987 patent/WO1990002687A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1989-09-13 JP JP1510650A patent/JP2742954B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-09-13 EP EP89911514A patent/EP0434764B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1991
- 1991-03-15 CA CA002038380A patent/CA2038380C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2124959A (en) * | 1936-08-08 | 1938-07-26 | Vogel William Martin | Method of filling and closing cans |
US3103089A (en) * | 1961-01-23 | 1963-09-10 | Lever Brothers Ltd | Method of filling containers |
US3351265A (en) * | 1964-07-24 | 1967-11-07 | Scientific Atlanta | Container and closure |
US3492773A (en) * | 1967-01-25 | 1970-02-03 | Anderson Bros Mfg Co | Method of vacuum packaging |
FR1547599A (en) * | 1967-05-06 | 1968-11-29 | Bellaplast Gmbh | Thin-walled plastic container with airtight seal |
US4796411A (en) * | 1986-05-06 | 1989-01-10 | Prima Meat Packers, Ltd. Research And Development Center | Packaging food in raised state |
EP0251877A1 (en) * | 1986-06-23 | 1988-01-07 | Societe Vulliez S.A. | Process for obtaining food products hermetically packaged in containers, installation for carrying out this process, container especially suited for this process |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of WO9002687A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2038380C (en) | 1997-04-01 |
JP2742954B2 (en) | 1998-04-22 |
CA2038380A1 (en) | 1992-09-16 |
EP0434764B1 (en) | 1994-07-06 |
AU632765B2 (en) | 1993-01-14 |
DE68916647T2 (en) | 1994-11-03 |
EP0434764A4 (en) | 1991-08-28 |
ATE108156T1 (en) | 1994-07-15 |
WO1990002687A1 (en) | 1990-03-22 |
AU4342789A (en) | 1990-04-02 |
JPH04500651A (en) | 1992-02-06 |
DE68916647D1 (en) | 1994-08-11 |
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