US1963782A - Method of processing the contents of valved containers - Google Patents

Description

K. L. FORD 1,963,782

METHOD OF PROCESSING THE CONTENTS OF VALVED CONTAINERS June 19, 1934.

Filed Jan. 16. 1931 gwumloc KAEZ L F072? abtmmegs Patented June 19, 1934 METHOD OF PROCESSING THE CONTENTS' OF VALVED CONTAINERS Karl L. Ford, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Food Processing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application January 16, 1931, Serial No. 509,169

7 Claims. 99-8) This invention relates to a new and improved method of processing the contents of valved containers and more particularly to the processing and sealing of containers having valves such as are illustrated in the patent to William B. Fenn,

No. 1,728,533 issued September 1'7, 1929.

The heretofore proposed method of using the valves of the said patent was to employ a multipart chuck to grip the raised or valve part of the can end with sumcient force to enable the chuck to carry the can and its contents and rotate the same about a horizontal axis solely by reason of such gripping engagement. The chuck was provided with connections to one or more fluid lines communicating with the interior of the can through the port in the can end or cover and means such as a spring pressed plunger was provided in the chuck assembly to hold the movable disc, constituting the valve closure, in open position. The initial gripping of the chuck about the raised portion of the can end often lodged the valve disc permanently out of proper position in the raised portion of the can end, so that when the chuck was contracted for flnal.sealing of the 5 valve, the disc could not seat properly and leakage through the valve was permitted. Since commercially satisfactory cans must be leak proof to the extent of not more than one or two leaky cans per thousand, it is evident that the previously pro- 3 posed method of sealing the valves presented difflculties of commercially marked magnitude.

The present invention solves the foregoing difliculties in what is believed to be a new and unobvious manner and in what is certainly a com- 3 mercially satisfactory manner.

According to the present invention substantially no radially contracting pressure is exerted on the raised part of the can end during the steps of processing the contents of the can by fluid op- 40 erations. Fluid connections are placed in communication with the interior of the can and the valve disc is held in open position. When the can is to be sealed the valve disc is brought into sealing position in the raised portion of the can end and while held there is locked in seated position.

The present invention will be better understood by reference to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which:

Figures 1 and 2, are, respectively, views in plan and transverse vertical section of one form of a valved can end with which the present invention may be practiced.

Figure 3 is an inside or bottom plan view of the valved can end of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 are plan and sectional views, re-

.movement. The member 3, as will be noted, is

constricted slightly behind the disc 5 to retain the latter therein and when the disc 5 is moved toward the port 4 it will seat in valve or port closing position, particularly when suitable sealing material, such as a rubber composition 6, is disposed in the annular depression 7 surrounding the port 4.

The periphery of the disc 5 is preferably notched or scalloped as at 8 as shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 5 to permit fluid to flow past the disc and through port 4 when disc 5 is in open or unseated position with respect to port 4.

Containers provided with valves of the type 30 herein described specifically and those broadly included within this specification may be employed in the processing of the contents of the containers in different manners. For example, when the contents of a given container, provided 95 with a valve structure as herein described specifically, is to be processed-by steps including removal of fluid such as air from the container followed by admission of steam into the container, a suitable conduit assembly is brought into contact with the cylindrical ported member 3 and the disc 5 is held in open position while fluid is removed from the container. The disc 5 may be held in such open position by any suitable means, such as a spring pressed rod in the conduit assembly and engaging the disc through port 4. When steam is admitted into the conduit assembly it will force disc 5 into open position, if not already there, and the steam. will pass into the container. After the contents of the container have been suitably processed by such steps or repetition, thereof, with or without other steps, the disc 5 is permitted to move into seated or port closing position in the member 3 by setting up a condition of unbalanced pressure by suitable movements of the can relative to the header or conduit assembly or release of pressure in the header. whereupon the internal pressure, such as that exerted by the steam in the container, will move the disc into seated position. While the disc is maintained in its seated position the member 3 may be locked in such position, as by crimping the member 3 behind the disc 5, thereby forcing the disc 5 firmly into its seat and effecting a permanent closure of port 4. Other means of permanently holding the disc in seated position may be employed if desired.

When the contents of a container are to be processed by steps which include the formation of a vacuum or substantially atmospheric condition in the container as a final step, a conduit assembly may bebrought into contact with the member 3 and a movable member in the assembly utilized to hold the disc 5 in open po-- sition in the'member 3. Preferably this movable member .of the conduit assembly weighs enough to hold the disc in open position while fluid is being withdrawn from the container through port I and also preferablysuch member. constitutes the core of a solenoid, so that when the desired pressure condition has been created in the container, the solenoid may be energized and the core moved thereby, carrying up with it the disc 5 into seating or port-closing position in the member 3. While the disc 5 is maintained in its seated postion, as by the solenoid and its core, the member 3 may be crimped behind the disc 5 to retain the disc 5 permanently in its seated position.

Having thus described my invention so that those skilled in the art may be able to practice the same, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What I claim is-- 1. In the art of processing the contents of valved containers, the methodwhich includes the steps of maintaining a movable valve closure member clear of a seat therefor in a ported valve housing during the processing operation, then moving the closure member onto its seat by a force acting in a plane substantially normal to the seating surface of said member, and while holding said member in seated position, locking the same in sealing position by applying radial contractive pressure to the valve housing.

2. In the art of processing the contents of valved containers, the method which consists in the steps of maintaining a movable valve closure member clear of a seat therefor in a ported valve housing during the processing operation, then utilizing unbalanced pressure to move said member bodily into seating position with respect to the valve port, and while holding the member to its seat by such pressure permanently looking said member in sealing position by applying radial contractive pressure on the valve housing.

3. In the art of processing the contents of valved containers, the method which includes the steps of maintaining a movable valve closure member in unseated position in a ported valve housing while passing therepast fluid including the passage of steam into the container, permitting the pressure of steam in the container to move the member bodily into seating position weaves with respect to the valve port, and, while the member is maintained in such seated position by the force of a pressure higher than atmospheric in the container, permanently looking it in its seated, port-closing position by applying radial contractive pressure to the valve housing.

,4. In the art of processing the contents of valved containers, the method which includes the steps of maintaining a movable valve closure member in'unseated position in a ported valve housing while passing fluid through the valve port, including the withdrawal of fluid from the container to create a vacuum condition therein, then drawing the said member bodily back into seating position with respect to the valve port, and, while the member is so seated, crimping the housing in rear of said member to lock the same in its seated, port-closing position.

5. In the art of processing the contents of valved containers, the method which includes the steps of bodily inwardly displacing a movable valve closure member while passing fluid through the valve port, creating a pressure condition within the container approximately equal to atmospheric pressure, then drawing the said member bodily back into seating or port-closing position with respect to the valve port, and, while the member is so seated, permanently looking it in position to seal the port by applying radial contractive pressure on the valve housing.

6. In the art of processing the contents of valved containers, the method which includes the steps of maintaining a movable valve closure member clear of a seat therefor in a ported valve housing of a container during the processing opllil eration, passing steam directly from a suitable source thru the valve port into and creating steam pressure within the container, relieving the steam pressure on the outside of the valve closure member to produce a condition of unbal- I15 anced pressure on opposite sides thereof, utilizing the unbalanced pressure to move said member bodily into seating position with respect to the valve port, and while holding said member in its seated position by such pressure, permanently looking it in sealing position by'applying radial and contractive pressure to the valve housing.

'7. In the art of processing the contents of valved containers, the method which includes the 5 steps of maintaining a movable valve closure member clear of a seat therefor in a ported valve housing of the container during the processing operation, passing steam directly from a suitable source through the valve port into and creating steam pressure within the container, relieving the steam pressure on the outside of the valve closure member thereby permitting the steam pressure within the container to move the valve closure member in a direction normal to its seating surface to seat the said member, and while holding said member in seating position, locking it in seating position.

KARL L. FORD.

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