EP0136104A2 - Verfahren zum Füllen eines Aerosolbehälters mittels eines viskösen Produkts - Google Patents

Verfahren zum Füllen eines Aerosolbehälters mittels eines viskösen Produkts Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0136104A2
EP0136104A2 EP84305912A EP84305912A EP0136104A2 EP 0136104 A2 EP0136104 A2 EP 0136104A2 EP 84305912 A EP84305912 A EP 84305912A EP 84305912 A EP84305912 A EP 84305912A EP 0136104 A2 EP0136104 A2 EP 0136104A2
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EP
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Prior art keywords
piston
viscous product
valve assembly
opening
nozzle
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EP84305912A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0136104A3 (de
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Christian Theodor Scheindel
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Individual
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Individual
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    • 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
    • B65B31/003—Adding propellants in fluid form to aerosol containers
    • 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
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles

Definitions

  • This invention relates to aerosol cans of the type which house a piston slidable along the axis of the can and which contain a viscous product. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved method of filling an aerosol can having a piston slidable along the axis of the can with a viscous product.
  • Aerosol cans or containers which have a piston slidable along the axis of the can have been used for many years for dispensing viscous products such as cheese spreads and toothpaste.
  • the product to be dispensed occupies the region within the can above the piston and a pressurized fluid, usually air, occupies the region below the piston.
  • a pressurized fluid usually air
  • the pressurized fluid is able to push the piston toward the top of the can, and the piston in turn pushes some of the viscous product out of the can through the valve. Aerosol cans of this type are discussed in U.S. Patent No. 3,897,672 to Scheindel.
  • the prior art methods for dispensing a viscous product into the can required expensive equipment and was relatively slow.
  • One such prior art method comprises inserting a tubular dispensing member into the can with its discharge end positioned near the piston (which would be at its lowermost position near the bottom of the can) at the commencement of filling.
  • the diameter of the tubular dispensing member is substantially less than the diameter of the hole in the top wall of the can through which it is inserted.
  • Viscous product is pumped through the tubular dispensing member and as viscous product flows out of the tubular member into the can, the can is lowered as the viscous product is introduced into the can.
  • the tubular dispensing member may be retracted from the can as the viscous product is introduced into the can.
  • cans of this type usually have a longitudinally extending seam.
  • the internal' periphery of the can is not perfectly circular because the seam projects into the can.
  • the piston is a hollow and thin-walled member and is formed of a flexible material such as a suitable plastic.
  • the piston will not conform exactly to the internal shape of the can in the vicinity of this seam. A small space will remain between the piston side surface and the can interior surface on each side of the seam.
  • the top of the piston is generally shaped somewhat like a truncated cone so as to generally conform to the top wall of the aerosol can.
  • the prior art viscous product filling methods typically left voids or air spaces in the region of the outer periphery or margin of the piston. Upon completion of the filling of the can, an air space usually also remained above the product at the top of the can, particularly in the region near the side walls of the can. As a result, when the can is laid on its side for a considerable amount of time [a condition which is not unusual in normal handling of the can], the viscous product has an opportunity to settle into these air spaces thereby leaving a channel or air space running along the entire length of the can between the piston and the top of the can where the valve is located.
  • opening the valve permits the pressurized air to flow from beneath the piston through the spaces between the piston sidewall and the can wall on each side of the seam, through the channel alongside the product, and out through the valve.
  • the pressure beneath the piston is therefore reduced and the ability of the piston to push the product out of the can is greatly hindered or eliminated. Therefore, some or all of the viscous product can never be dispensed from the can. Any product which cannot be dispersed is wasted.
  • U.S. Patent Ho. 3,897,672 proposed to apply a vacuum to a hole located at the bottom of the can after the can had been filled with viscous product.
  • the vacuum would draw the viscous product toward the top of the piston upper surface area and between the piston outer periphery and the side walls of the can in order to fill any voids between the product and the piston.
  • valve assembly must be restrained within the top wall opening of the can. After the air is expelled, the can is moved to a crimping station for fastening of the valve assembly to the top edge of the can in an airtight manner. Although the valve assembly was restrained within the top wall of the can at the work station where the piston was moved upward and the air expelled, the prior art does not restrain the valve assembly when the can is being transported from the piston moving station to the crimping station.
  • the present invention may be generally summarized as a method of filling and pressurizing a can having a top end with an opening, a side wall, a bottom wall formed with a hole, wherein said side wall and said bottom wall provide an enclosed volume, and a piston positioned within said can enclosed volume, said piston having a periphery closely adjacent said side wall, with said piston being slidable along the axis of the can, said method comprising the steps of:
  • valve assembly means may be restrained, for example, by mechanical means external to the aerosol can or by the means connecting the valve assembly to the body of the can.
  • Step (k) points out that, in accordance with the method of the present invention, a vacuum is not applied to the hole in the bottom wall of the can in order to draw viscous product into voids between the surface of the piston and viscous product.
  • the viscous product is discharged from the nozzle at high velocity sufficient to cause spreading of a viscous product impinging on the piston at the start of filling toward the side wall of the can.
  • the nozzle for dispensing the viscous product may have a cross-sectional geometry so that fluid communication between the enclosed volume of the can and the exterior of the can is restricted during the dispensing of a viscous product into the can from the nozzle. This results in building a positive pressure within the enclosed volume of the can during the dispensing of the viscous product which assists in filling any voids between the viscous product and the piston.
  • a gaseous pressure may be applied to the top opening of the can after the viscous product is dispensed into the can in order to substantially fill any voids between the viscous product and the piston.
  • a preferred nozzle for discharging the viscous product into a can will gradually constrict the viscous product flowing in the nozzle. This substnatially prevents expansion of the viscous product upon exiting the discharge orifice of the nozzle and substantially prevents a jet of viscous product after being discharged from the nozzle from expanding.
  • a pair of parallel, spaced apart tracks may be positioned over the piston moving station to restrain the valve assembly seated on an edge member surrounding the top wall opening of the can during movement of the piston.
  • the spaced apart tracks would extend a distance toward a valve assembly fastening or crimping station sufficient to prevent the venting of pressure from the interior of the can from misaligning the valve assembly with respect to the top wall opening when the can is being transported from the piston moving station to the valve assembly fastening station.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a conventional cylindrically shaped aerosol can or container 10 comprising substantially cylindrical side wall 11 to the bottom edge of which a bottom wall 12 is secured in a fluid-tight manner.
  • Bottom wall 12 is of a downward concave shape so that it will not be bellied out by pressure within the can.
  • the bottom wall 12 is furnished with a hole 13, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.
  • a top wall 14 is secured in a fluid-tight manner to the upper edge of sidewall 11.
  • the top wall 14 has an opening 15 surrounded by an edge member 16.
  • the type of can described is often referred to in the art as a "three-piece can.” Such cans are typically fabricated from sheet metal.
  • the invention may also be practiced with what is frequently referred to in the art as a "two-piece" can or container in which the side wall and either the top wall or bottom wall are formed as one piece by a deep drawing operation.
  • the invention may also be practiced using what is referred to in the art as a "dimple cup” valve assembly.
  • the side wall 11 is formed from initially flat stock which is curved into the cylindrical shape.
  • the two meeting edges 18, 19 are welded together to form a seam 20 extending longitudinally along the can.
  • a conventional shell-like piston 21 fabricated, e.g., from a suitable molded plastic such as polyethylene.
  • the piston has a cylindrical side wall 22 merging into a generally frusto-conical shaped top wall 23.
  • the piston is slidable axially (upwardly in Fig. 1) with respect to the can.
  • the piston top wall is formed with a depression 24 adapted to accommodate the portion 26 of a valve assembly 25 (Fig. 6) which projects into the interior of the can.
  • the top wall of the piston 21 is generally shaped to conform to the inner surface of the top wall 14 of the can and the lower portion 26 of valve assembly 25 so that when the piston reaches the top of the can it will have expelled substantially all the product remaining in the can.
  • the interior of the shell-like piston defines a space 27 for accommodating a pressurized fluid.
  • seam 20 projects into the can making the internal cross-section of the can side wall 11 non-circular in the region of seam 20.
  • the piston side wall 22 is pressed against the inner surface of can side wall 11 to produce a snug but slidable fit.
  • the piston side wall does not have sufficient flexibility to conform to the internal ridge formed by the seam 20. Consequently, spaces 28 result between the piston sidewall 22 and the can sidewall 11 on both sides of the seam 20.
  • Can 10 is filled with a viscous product 29 by a nozzle 30 which is positioned such that the discharge end 31 forming a discharge orifice is located near the top opening 15 of the can 10.
  • the nozzle 30 would be connected by suitable conduit means 32 [Fig. 2] to a reservoir for holding a viscous product to be discharged into the can [the last elements being conventional and not illustrated].
  • Suitable pumping or pressurizing means [not illustrated] are provided for discharging a high velocity viscous product jet from the nozzle 30 with a pressure sufficient for causing the viscous product impinging on the piston to spread toward the periphery of the piston and the side walls 11 of the can. [Best illustrated in Fig.
  • selecting an appropriate nozzle discharge pressure for the viscous product will cause sufficient spreading of the viscous product to substantially avoid the formation of voids between the viscous product discharged into the can and the top of the piston including the space 36.
  • the nozzle 30 is located near the top end of the can 10 during the entire operation of dispensing the viscous product from the nozzle into the can for filling of the can with a selected amount of viscous product. This increases the speed of filling the can in comparison with prior art methods of filling the can wherein a tubular dispensing member is positioned near the piston at the bottom of the can and either the can was lowered or the tubular dispensing member was withdrawn from the can as the can was filled with a viscous product.
  • the viscous product dispensing nozzle 30 remains stationary near the top end of the can 10 during the filling of the can, the expensive prior art equipment used to move the can and the tubular dispensing member relative to one another responsive to the rate at which the can is filled is no longer required.
  • the preferred nozzle shape for use in the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.
  • the preferred nozzle shape as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, is a nozzle having a smooth, gradually converging cross-section parallel to the axis 3 f the nozzle [vertical cross-section as illustrated in Fig. 2 and 3].
  • the smooth, gradually converging nozzle cross-section is suitably located near the discharge end 31 of the nozzle 30.
  • the purpose of such a nozzle is to provide substantially laminar flow [i.e., substantially non- turbulant flow] of the pressurized viscous product as it approaches the discharge end of the nozzle.
  • a nozzle having the shape as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 also substantially prevents expansion of the jet of the viscous product 35 which is being discharged from the discharge orifice of the nozzle 30. Significant expansion of the jet of viscous product discharged from the nozzle 30 would result in energy losses and degrade the spreading of the viscous product which strikes the upper surface of the piston toward the side walls of the can during the initial filling of the can.
  • discharge nozzle 30 comprises a conduit 39 for transporting a viscous product under pressure.
  • Conduit 39 has a circular cross-sectional area A 1 .
  • the circular cross-sectional area of the nozzle fluid conduit 39 is gradually and smoothly contracted 38 to a smaller cross-sectional area A 2 .
  • the diameter of the viscous product jet 35 discharged from the discharge orifice of nozzle 30 is D 1 .
  • Diameter D 1 is substantially equal to the diameter of the nozzle fluid conduit when it has the cross-sectional area A 2 . That is, there is substantially no expansion of the viscous product upon discharge of the viscous product from the nozzle 30.
  • the diameter of the viscous product jet 35 at a distance spaced from the discharge end 31 of nozzle 30 is D 2 , where D 2 substantially equals D 1 . That is, there is substantially no expansion of the viscous product jet 35 after it has been discharged from the nozzle 30. Thus there are only minimum energy loses in the viscous product jet due to expansion and turbulence in the jet.
  • a pressure of, e.g., about 36 p.s.i.g. is suitable.
  • a gradually converging nozzle used to limit the expansion of a jet of discharged fluid is generally known in the field of fluid mechanics.
  • the advantages of using a gradually converging nozzle to fill a piston-type aerosol container with a viscous product had not been known.
  • converging nozzles have not been used with equipment for filling piston-type aerosol containers with a viscous product.
  • the discharge end 31 of the nozzle 30, positioned near the top end of can 10, is disposed within the can 10.
  • the cross-sectional area of the nozzle 30 adjacent the top end of the can 10 be less than but substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the top end opening 15 of the can.
  • only a small annular area 40 will be provided for permitting the escape of air from the interior of the can to the exterior as viscous product 29 fills the can.
  • the interior of the can 10 [i.e., the enclosed volume of the can] may thus be said to be in restricted fluid communication with the exterior of the can. Accordingly, there will be a positive pressure buildup in the can enclosed volume as the can is filled with viscous product.
  • the positive pressure buildup will assist the viscous product filling any voids between the viscous product 29 and the piston 21 and assist in having the viscous product enter space 36 between piston wall 23 and can side wall 11 . In many applications, sufficient positive pressure can be built up to force the viscous product between the side of the piston 23 and the side wall of the can 11.
  • the external diameter of the nozzle 30 adjacent the top opening 15 of the can may be about 0.975 inches.
  • An alternative way to build a positive pressure in the can enclosed volume when the viscous product is being dispensed into the can would be to have the discharge end 31 of the nozzle rest on the edge member 16 surroundings the opening 15 of the top wall 14 of the can [not illustrated].
  • the discharge orifice of the nozzle 30 would be aligned with the top opening 15 of the can.
  • the resting of the discharge end 31 of nozzle 30 on edge member 16 would also result in restricting fluid communication between the internal volume of the can 10 and the exterior of the can thereby causing positive pressure to build in the can when viscous product is being dispensed into the can.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates an alternate location for the nozzle 30 having a discharge end 31 positioned near the top opening of the can 10 in accordance with the present invention.
  • the discharge orifice of the nozzle 30 discharge end 31 is positioned near the top opening 15 of the can 10 but external to the enclosed volume of the can.
  • the diameter of the jet of viscous product 35 discharged from the nozzle 30 will be substantially less than the diameter of the top opening of the can.
  • Dimensions suitable for the practice of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 could be, for example, the diameter of the nozzle discharge orifice and hence the diameter of the jet of viscous product being about one-half the diameter of the top end opening of the can. It will be appreciated that in embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in Fig. 4, there will not be substantial positive pressure buildup within the enclosed volume of can 10 during the filling of the can with the viscous product.
  • the next step, in accordance with the present invention, which follows filling the can with a selected amount of viscous material, is optional and would be practiced when circumstances dictate.
  • the viscous product 29 may be forced further down and around the skirt area 23 of the periphery of upper surface area of the piston 21 in order to fill any voids that may exist in the space 36 between piston surface area 23 and side wall 11 of can 10 by introducing fluid pressure, most suitably gaseous pressure in the form of air pressure, at the top opening 15 of can 10.
  • fluid pressure most suitably gaseous pressure in the form of air pressure
  • the top wall 14 of can 10 may be engaged by a cylindrical clamping member 42 forming an enclosed hollow space 45.
  • the bottom edge of clamping member 42 is provided with a seal 43, fabricated from an elastomer or rubber like material, for engaging the top wall 14 of can 10.
  • a conduit 44 would be connected to a source of air pressure [not illustrated] and penetrates the wall of clamping member 42 for introducing air pressure on the top of viscous product 29 through top opening 15 of can 10 for further forcing viscous product 29 into contact with the upper surface of the piston and especially into space 36.
  • the top wall of clamping member 42 may be connected by a rod 46 to a suitable means, such as an air operated cylinder [not illustrated], for moving clamping member 42 up and down as desired.
  • the optional pressurization step of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 5 has been found useful when the viscous product is latex caulk or silicone caulk.
  • the optional pressurization step of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 5 has been found generally not to be necessary when the viscous product is cream or gel.
  • Typical pressures used may be, e.g., about 10 p.s.i.g. to 80 p.s.i.g.
  • the typical length of time of pressurization may be, e.g., about 1 second to 3 seconds.
  • the determination of whether or not the optional pressurization step of the present invention is necessary or desirable would depend on factors such as the viscosity of the viscous product introduced into the can, the product flow characteristics, the pressure, and the velocity at which the viscous product is introduced into the can during the filling step, and the size of the can.
  • factors such as the viscosity of the viscous product introduced into the can, the product flow characteristics, the pressure, and the velocity at which the viscous product is introduced into the can during the filling step, and the size of the can.
  • One skilled in the art could perform routine tests with selected viscous products and selected can sizes and selected filling pressures to determine if the optional pressurization step in accordance with the present invention is desired prior to filling of cans on a production line scale.
  • the pressurization step of the present invention described in conjunction with Fig. 5 represents an important advance in the art.
  • the prior art used a vacuum method wherein a vacuum was introduced at the hole 13 located in the bottom wall 12 of can 10.
  • a vacuum method is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,897,672.
  • the pressurization method in accordance with the present invention, will force the viscous product around the piston more rapidly than the prior art vacuum method.
  • the higher speed pressurization method of the present invention is complementary to the higher speed automated filling method of the present invention for use in high speed filling operations.
  • the pressurization method of the present invention described in conjunction with Fig. 5 may also be practiced after the valve assembly has been placed into the top opening of the aerosol can. In this instance, the valve assembly would be opened by mechanical means and the pressure applied through the open valve.
  • the next step in the method of filling an aerosol can with a viscous product is to insert a valve assembly means 25 into the hole 15 in the top wall 14 of the can 10 such as illustrated in Fig. 6.
  • the valve assembly means 25 rests on the edge member 16 surrounding hole 15.
  • the step of inserting the valve assembly means in the hole 15 and the mechanical means for doing so are conventional and are not illustrated.
  • Clamping head 50 includes clamping legs 51 for engaging top wall 14 of can 10.
  • Clamping head 50 is connected to rod 52 which is connected to suitable means [not illustrated] for moving clamping head 50 up and down.
  • Track members 60 [which will hereinafter be discussed in detail] are disposed within clamping head 50 and are spaced just slightly above lip 34 of valve assembly means 25.
  • a nozzle 53 engages hole 13 in bottom wall 12 of can 10.
  • the nozzle 53 is provided with a seal 54 for making a substantially fluid-tight engagement with the bottom 12 of can 10.
  • Nozzle 53 is connected to a source of pressurized air [not illustrated] by conduit 55.
  • Nozzle 53 is mounted on a rod 56 which is connected to suitable means for selectively moving nozzle 53 up and down, i.e., into and out of engagement with the bottom wall 12 of can 10 in alignment with hole 13.
  • valve assembly means 25 has been placed but not fastened on edge member 16 surrounding hole 15 in the top wall 14 of can 10. As piston 21 moves upwardly in can 21, valve assembly 25 will be lifted off edge member 16 by the air being displaced from space 57 until the valve assembly contacts tracks 60. A path is thus provided for air to flow out of hole 15 between edge member 16 and the lip 34 of valve assembly means 25.
  • Tracks 60 only permit minimal upward movement of valve assembly means 25 so that valve assembly means 25 is substantially retained within hole 15 and enough space is not provided for the viscous product to leave the can. Tracks 60 may be said to be restraining valve assembly means 25. It will be appreciated that clamping member 25 is holding or restraining can 10 in place during this piston moving step.
  • the step illustrated in Fig. 7 may be referred to as a piston moving step or piston positioning step and may take place at what may be referred to as a piston moving ata- tion.
  • the piston moving step may be performed using a conventional clamping head 65 such as illustrated in Fig. 8 and discussed in U.S. Patent No. 3,897,672.
  • the clamping head 6 5 would be provided with a lower cylindrical portion for engaging the top wall 14 of the can 10. Openings would be provided in the clamping head 65 for the escape of air expelled from can 10 during the piston moving step.
  • Clamp 65 would be provided with an internal shoulder 66 which, when the clamp engages can top wall 14, is spaced just slightly above lip 34 of valve means 25.
  • the clamping head 65 would be connected, e.g., by a rod member 67 to suitable means, such as air cylinders, for moving clamping head 65 upwardly and downwardly.
  • piston moving step discussed in conjunction with Fig. 7 disclose the use of a pressurized fluid, typically a pressurized gas such as air, for moving piston 21 upwardly in can 10. It will be appreciated that one skilled in the art may use other means for moving piston 21.
  • piston 21 could be moved upwardly in can 10 by mechanical means by inserting a rod having appropriate control mechanisms through hole 13 and into contact with piston 21.
  • the viscous product dispensing step of the present invention offers advantages over the prior art viscous product dispensing methods with respect to the piston moving step discussed in conjunctiol with Fig. 7.
  • the track members 60 of the present invention will now be discussed in conjunction with Figs. 7, 9, 10 and 11.
  • the can is next moved [as indicated by the arrow 69 of Fig. 9] to a crimping or fastening station [Fig. 11] where the valve assembly means 25 is crimped or fastened in a fluid tight manner to the can 10.
  • the clamping head 50 is removed from the can, typically by upward movement of the clamping head 50.
  • the parallel, spaced apart tracks are stationary and thus retain their position with respect to the valve assembly means 25.
  • the can is transported to the crimping station 70 [Fig. 11] by conventional mechanical means [not illustrated].
  • the stationary, parallel, spaced apart tracks 60 extend from the piston moving station toward the crimping station while retaining their relationship with valve assembly means 25 of being in alignment with and spaced a small distance above the lip 34 of the valve assembly means.
  • the reason the tracks 60 extend toward the crimping or fastening station is as follws.
  • residual pressure may remain and thus the escaping gas which results from the residual pressure [or the viscous product itself] could displace the valve assembly means 25 with respect to the can top wall opening 15 when the can is being transported to the crimping station.
  • Misalignment of the valve assembly could cause an unsatisfactory crimping of the valve assembly to the edge member 16 and thus result in the need to reject the filled can.
  • the misaligned valve assembly could result in a jam at the crimping station and necessitate stopping the production operation while the crimping station is unclogged.
  • the tracks 60 of the present invention may extend all the way to being adjacent to the crimping or fastening station, if this is desired.
  • the tracks 60 should at least extend a distance from the piston moving station toward the crimping or fastening station which is sufficient to permit venting of pressure from the enclosed volume of the can 10 above the piston during transporting of the can from the piston moving station to the crimping station in order to prevent misalignment of the valve assembly means.
  • Fig. 9 discloses the tracks 60 extending toward the valve assembly crimping or fastening station which is illustrated in Fig 11. End 61 of track 60 may be adjacent the fastening or crimping station.
  • the can 10 is illustrated in Fig. 9 as being located in the piston moving station which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 7. The can 10 would be transported from the piston moving station to the crimping station in the direction of the arrow 69.
  • Means 62 are illustrated for mounting the tracks 60 in their desired stationary position. Means for mounting tracks 60 are not illustrated in detail because the could readily be provided for by one skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that mounting means 62 could be adjustable in order that tracks 60 can be located in selected stationary positions for cans of various sizes.
  • Fig. 10 is a schematic elevation view along line 10-10 of Fig. 9 illustrating parallel, spaced apart track members 60A and 60B of tracks 60 and their mounting means 62.
  • track members 60 in accordance with the present invention, may be usefully employed with other methods for filling a piston type aerosol can with a viscous product such as the method as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,897,672.
  • valves which are mounted in what is the top wall of the aerosol can, are commonly used in the aerosol industry for charging or pressurizing cans using the under the cap (i.e. under the valve) method.
  • the dimples prevent the valve from sealing on the lip during the charging.
  • a valve type could be used with the viscous product filling method of the invention.
  • the dimple cup valve would be snapped into position prior to the can being placed in the piston moving station.
  • the dimple cup valve would eliminate the need for restraining the valve in position when the piston was moved or positioned. However, the can itself would have to be held or restrained in position by a clamping head while the piston was being positioned.
  • the crimping station may comprise a crimping mechanism 70 having expanding collets 71 for performing the crimping.
  • the crimping station is not illustrated or discussed in detail because it is convention in the piston-type aerosol can art.
  • the aerosol can 10 is next transported by conventional means to a piston pressurization station illustrated in Fig. 12.
  • a nozzle member 75 is provided to engage hole 13 in the bottom wall 12 of the can.
  • the nozzle would be connected to a source of pressurized fluid, e.g., a pressurized gas such as pressurized air and would pressurize the region of the can below shell-like piston 21.
  • the nozzle would then plug the hole with a precut grommet 76.
  • a clamp member 77 would be provided to hold or restrain the can 10 in position when the can region below piston 21 is pressurized and the grommet 76 is inserted.
  • Means [not illustrated] are provided for moving nozzle 75 and clamp 77 upwardly and downwardly with respect to the can 10. As illustrated in Fig.
  • grommet 76 has been inserted into hole 13 so the nozzle 75 is in a downward position out of engagement with the can bottom wall 12 and clamp 77 is in upward position out of engagement with the top wall 14 of can 10. If the can were being pressurized, the nozzle 75 would be in engagement with can bottom wall 12 in alignment with hole 13 and the clamp 77 would be in engagement with the top of can 10 to restrain the can.
  • the mechanisms of Fig. 12 have not been illustrated or described in detail because they are conventional and well known in the art.
  • a piston-type aerosol can having a nominal diameter of 2 2/16 inches and a nominal length of 5 9/16 inches was filled with a gel type of product. The filling operation took place at room temperature.
  • the diameter of the top wall opening of the can was about 1 inch.
  • a gradually converging discharge nozzle was positioned as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, near the top wall opening of the can.
  • the outside diameter of the nozzle at the discharge orifice was about 0.975 inches.
  • the inside diameter of the discharge orifice was about 0.5 inches.
  • About 150 grams of the gel viscous product were discharged into the can.
  • a piston-type aerosol can having a nominal diameter of 2 2/16 inches and a nominal length of 7 1/2 inches was filled with latex caulk which is a viscous product having a viscosity of about 220,000 centipose at 25°C. The filling operation tooke place at room temperature.
  • the diameter of the top wall opening of the can was about 1 inch.
  • a gradually converging discharge nozzle was positioned as illustrated in Fig. 4 near the top wall opening of the can.
  • the outside diameter of the nozzle at the discharge orifice was about 0.975 inches.
  • the inside diameter of the discharge orifice was about 0.5 inch.
  • the viscous product was discharged into the can at a pressure of about 36 p.s.i.g. About 350 grams of the latex caulk were discharged into the can.
  • the top wall opening pressurization step as described in conjunction with Fig. 5 was practiced.
  • the viscous product was subjected to air pressure of about 17 p.s.i.g. through the top wall opening of the can for about 2.3 seconds.
  • this top wall opening pressurization step there were substantially no voids observed between the viscous product and the upper surface of the piston including the region between the skirt of the piston and the wall of the can.
  • the pressure at which the product is discharged into the can may vary the area or diameter of the discharge or exit orifice of the dispensing nozzle to obtain optimal results for a given product. Variation of these parameters will directly effect the velocity at which the viscous product is discharged into the can.
  • the pressurization step of the present invention described in conjunction with Fig. 5, may be found most useful when filling the aerosol can with a very viscous product.
  • the gradually converging nozzle (sometimes referred to in fluid mechanics as a fire hose type nozzle] discussed in conjunction with Figs. 2 and 3 is preferred in the practice of the present invention
  • other nozzle types which will discharge the viscous product at high pressure and which will not cause the discharged high velocity jet of viscous product to substantially expand upon exiting the nozzle discharge orifice may prove satisfactory.
  • the discharge of a high velocity jet of viscous product is most important and in some instances an abruptly converging nozzle may be satisfactory provided spreading of the viscous product occurs upon commencement of the filling of a can.

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  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
EP84305912A 1983-08-30 1984-08-29 Verfahren zum Füllen eines Aerosolbehälters mittels eines viskösen Produkts Withdrawn EP0136104A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US52775383A 1983-08-30 1983-08-30
US527753 1983-08-30

Publications (2)

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EP0136104A2 true EP0136104A2 (de) 1985-04-03
EP0136104A3 EP0136104A3 (de) 1986-07-02

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84305912A Withdrawn EP0136104A3 (de) 1983-08-30 1984-08-29 Verfahren zum Füllen eines Aerosolbehälters mittels eines viskösen Produkts

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0136104A3 (de)
AU (1) AU3250584A (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2668119A2 (fr) * 1990-10-18 1992-04-24 Valois Procede de conditionnement sous vide en distributeurs a enveloppe rigide et distributeurs correspondants.
WO1993022200A1 (en) * 1992-04-30 1993-11-11 Norden Pac Development Ab Method of producing a substantially air-free container
FR2829748A1 (fr) * 2001-09-19 2003-03-21 Nestle Sa Procede pour le conditionnement d'un produit pateux et sa distribution a l'etat foisonne
FR2829747A1 (fr) * 2001-09-19 2003-03-21 Ile Riviere Silvente Et Associ Procede pour le conditionnement d'un produit pateux et sa distribution a l'etat foisonne
WO2006029693A1 (de) * 2004-09-14 2006-03-23 Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien Vermeidung der serumbildung bei lagerung pastenförmiger zubereitungen
CN112244166A (zh) * 2014-07-30 2021-01-22 雀巢产品有限公司 用于将填料封装在食物产品中的装置和方法

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2888789A (en) * 1958-02-17 1959-06-02 Kartridg Pak Machine Co Method of filling volatile propellant on warm product
US3897672A (en) * 1974-09-11 1975-08-05 Christian T Scheindel Method of filling and pressurizing an aerosol can

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2668119A2 (fr) * 1990-10-18 1992-04-24 Valois Procede de conditionnement sous vide en distributeurs a enveloppe rigide et distributeurs correspondants.
WO1993022200A1 (en) * 1992-04-30 1993-11-11 Norden Pac Development Ab Method of producing a substantially air-free container
FR2829748A1 (fr) * 2001-09-19 2003-03-21 Nestle Sa Procede pour le conditionnement d'un produit pateux et sa distribution a l'etat foisonne
FR2829747A1 (fr) * 2001-09-19 2003-03-21 Ile Riviere Silvente Et Associ Procede pour le conditionnement d'un produit pateux et sa distribution a l'etat foisonne
WO2003033355A1 (fr) * 2001-09-19 2003-04-24 Rsa Riviere Silvente Et Associes Procede pour le conditionnement d'un produit pateux et sa distribution a l'etat foisonne
WO2006029693A1 (de) * 2004-09-14 2006-03-23 Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien Vermeidung der serumbildung bei lagerung pastenförmiger zubereitungen
CN112244166A (zh) * 2014-07-30 2021-01-22 雀巢产品有限公司 用于将填料封装在食物产品中的装置和方法
CN112244166B (zh) * 2014-07-30 2023-08-25 雀巢产品有限公司 用于将填料封装在食物产品中的装置和方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0136104A3 (de) 1986-07-02
AU3250584A (en) 1985-03-07

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