EP0434764A1 - Procede de remplissage et de fermeture hermetique d'un conteneur deformable. - Google Patents

Procede de remplissage et de fermeture hermetique d'un conteneur deformable.

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
Application number
EP89911514A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0434764B1 (fr
EP0434764A4 (en
Inventor
Roy Balcombe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mars Inc
Original Assignee
Kal Kan Foods Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kal Kan Foods Inc filed Critical Kal Kan Foods Inc
Publication of EP0434764A1 publication Critical patent/EP0434764A1/fr
Publication of EP0434764A4 publication Critical patent/EP0434764A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0434764B1 publication Critical patent/EP0434764B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de remplissage et de fermeture hermétique d'un conteneur (10) ayant un fond déformable (12), le conteneur étant rempli d'un produit (34) ayant un volume inférieur au volume initial du conteneur mais égal au volume du conteneur final lorsque son fond (12) est déformé vers le haut. Le conteneur est rempli et un couvercle (26) est placé sur le conteneur adjacent à une surface de fermeture hermétique (27). Dans sa position initiale, l'espace en haut est suffisant pour permettre l'agencement approprié du couvercle sans écraser le produit sur la surface de fermeture hermétique (27). Le conteneur rempli avec son couvercle non scellé (26) est placé sur une enclume (30) dans une chambre à vide (38). On crée un vide dans la chambre à vide (38) à une pression désirée et le couvercle (26) est scellé sur la surface de fermeture hermétique (27) à l'aide d'une tête de scellement (40). Le conteneur est ensuite extrait de la chambre à vide (38). La pression atmosphérique provoque alors l'inversion vers le haut du fond (12) qui se galbe et force le produit (34) à remplir le vide constitué par l'espace se trouvant en haut.
EP89911514A 1988-09-14 1989-09-13 Procede de remplissage et de fermeture hermetique d'un conteneur deformable Expired - Lifetime EP0434764B1 (fr)

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 (fr) 1988-09-14 1989-09-13 Procede de remplissage et de fermeture hermetique d'un conteneur deformable
CA002038380A CA2038380C (fr) 1988-09-14 1991-03-15 Methode de remplissage et de bouchage d'un contenant souple

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0434764A1 true EP0434764A1 (fr) 1991-07-03
EP0434764A4 EP0434764A4 (en) 1991-08-28
EP0434764B1 EP0434764B1 (fr) 1994-07-06

Family

ID=25674517

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89911514A Expired - Lifetime EP0434764B1 (fr) 1988-09-14 1989-09-13 Procede de remplissage et de fermeture hermetique d'un conteneur deformable

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0434764B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2742954B2 (fr)
AT (1) ATE108156T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU632765B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2038380C (fr)
DE (1) DE68916647T2 (fr)
WO (1) WO1990002687A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK9400340U3 (da) * 1994-09-06 1995-05-26 Torben Boedtker Emballage til spiseis
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 (fr) * 2003-06-30 2005-09-23 Bonduelle Sa Ets Procede et installation de conditionnement de produits alimentaires sous atmosphere modifiee.
KR100947895B1 (ko) * 2008-01-30 2010-03-18 김가은 외부형상이 변하며 재사용이 가능한 진공보관용기와 그밀폐뚜껑
KR101278451B1 (ko) * 2012-02-17 2013-07-01 조성오 백-인-박스 방식의 포장시스템
CN109204978A (zh) * 2018-07-27 2019-01-15 福建元弘自动化科技有限公司 节噪型多功能的包装装置
JP2021102164A (ja) * 2019-07-18 2021-07-15 株式会社大協精工 医療用機器コンテナー

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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 (fr) * 1967-05-06 1968-11-29 Bellaplast Gmbh Récipient en matière plastique à paroi mince avec fermeture hermétique
US3492773A (en) * 1967-01-25 1970-02-03 Anderson Bros Mfg Co Method of vacuum packaging
EP0251877A1 (fr) * 1986-06-23 1988-01-07 Societe Vulliez S.A. Procédé d'obtention de produits alimentaires emballés de façon étanche dans des récipients, installation pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé; récipient destiné en particulier à l'emballage étanche de produits alimentaires
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)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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 (de) * 1974-06-25 1981-05-21 Krämer & Grebe GmbH & Co KG Maschinen- und Modellfabrik, 3560 Biedenkopf Vorrichtung für die Verpackung von Ware
DE3130616A1 (de) * 1981-08-01 1983-02-17 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Vorrichtung zum begasen und verschliessen von verpackungsbehaeltern
US4791775A (en) * 1987-04-22 1988-12-20 Raque Food Systems, Inc. Packaging device

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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 (fr) * 1967-05-06 1968-11-29 Bellaplast Gmbh Récipient en matière plastique à paroi mince avec fermeture hermétique
US4796411A (en) * 1986-05-06 1989-01-10 Prima Meat Packers, Ltd. Research And Development Center Packaging food in raised state
EP0251877A1 (fr) * 1986-06-23 1988-01-07 Societe Vulliez S.A. Procédé d'obtention de produits alimentaires emballés de façon étanche dans des récipients, installation pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé; récipient destiné en particulier à l'emballage étanche de produits alimentaires

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9002687A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU4342789A (en) 1990-04-02
JPH04500651A (ja) 1992-02-06
EP0434764B1 (fr) 1994-07-06
CA2038380A1 (fr) 1992-09-16
JP2742954B2 (ja) 1998-04-22
CA2038380C (fr) 1997-04-01
AU632765B2 (en) 1993-01-14
WO1990002687A1 (fr) 1990-03-22
DE68916647T2 (de) 1994-11-03
ATE108156T1 (de) 1994-07-15
EP0434764A4 (en) 1991-08-28
DE68916647D1 (de) 1994-08-11

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