WO1998046486A1 - Aseptic packaging process and apparatus - Google Patents
Aseptic packaging process and apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1998046486A1 WO1998046486A1 PCT/GB1998/001075 GB9801075W WO9846486A1 WO 1998046486 A1 WO1998046486 A1 WO 1998046486A1 GB 9801075 W GB9801075 W GB 9801075W WO 9846486 A1 WO9846486 A1 WO 9846486A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- oven
- cans
- end closures
- sterilising
- container bodies
- Prior art date
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
- B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
- B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
- B65B55/027—Packaging in aseptic chambers
-
- 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
- B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
- B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
- B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
- B65B55/10—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by liquids or gases
Definitions
- This invention relates to the aseptic packaging of liquid food products, and provides a process and an apparatus for such packaging.
- Such cans are made of a body which is formed by bending to cylindrical form and edge-welding a piece of rectangular plate of substantial thickness and rigidity, and circular end closures which are attached by double- seaming to respective ends of the body to complete the enclosure.
- One end closure is fitted by the container manufacturer, that is to say, before the container is filled with product, whereas the other end closure is fitted by the packer after filling.
- Such containers are usually known in the art as "3-piece cans”.
- a known general desideratum for packages of food products, particularly those having a container made of metal, is that the container should be resistant to panelling when closed and/or after opening.
- Patent specification GB 2089191 (Toyo Seikan) describes a method of preventing or reducing panelling of containers which have been aseptically filled with a food product, and proposes that for this purpose either a metered dose of liquid nitrogen (or other inert gas) should be placed in the headspace of the container before closing, or alternatively nitrogen should be dissolved in the product and charged together with the product into the container. With either of these alternatives the nitrogen creates an increased gas pressure within the container after closing, so reducing the danger that inward pressure on the side wall of the closed container will panel the side wall with consequently increased risk of leakage and reduced consumer acceptance.
- liquid nitrogen or other inert gas
- the end closures of the can are deformed inwardly so as to counteract any pressure reduction.
- the reforming operation must be performed at a time when the can is still hot and so already has an elevated internal pressure the magnitude of which may vary within wide limits. The pressure increase which can be safely generated by the reforming operation is therefore limited.
- the present invention is concerned with food products which are packed cold, that is to say, at a temperature which is equal or close to ambient temperatures and typically within the range 5°C to 40°C, and seeks to provide a method and apparatus for aseptically packaging the product in a reliable and simple way.
- EP 059097 James Dole Corpn describes a method possessing some of the features of the invention, but it will be noted that no reforming operation is carried out (operation ' g') . Moreover the end closures and container bodies are permanently united within the sterile environment, which may be aggressive to the closing maching; also, access to the closing machine may be impeded.
- GB Patent Specification 2124597 discloses that lightweight thin walled cans may be supported internally by pressure generated either by a vaporised gas or by inward deformation. However no detail is given for the aseptic packaging process to be used.
- the invention provides an apparatus for aseptically packaging a liquid food product substantially at ambient temperature in metal containers each comprising a body and an end closure having a central panel, the body having a thin side wall liable to panelling, the apparatus being characterised by the following components : -
- Fig.l diagrammatically shows a product-filled can and an end closure prior to placement of the end closure on the can for forming a temporary aseptic seal therewith;
- Fig.lA shows the end closure as it is formed, and prior to its first reforming stage for placement on the can;
- Fig.2 is a block diagram showing the aseptic packaging process for which the can and end closure of Figs. 1 and 2 are used;
- Fig.3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the apparatus used for performing the packaging process
- Fig. is a general arrangement of the apparatus as seen in side elevation
- Fig.5 similarly shows the apparatus as seen from above;
- Figs. 6A and 6B are diagrammatic views showing respective halves of the stator of the can sterilising pven;
- Fig.7 shows the can sterilising oven generally in central vertical section
- Fig.8 is a plan view of the can sterilising oven as seen in section on line X - X of Fig.7;
- Fig.9 similarly shows the can sterilising oven as seen in section, but with the rotor removed for clarity;
- Fig.9A is an enlarged view of the intersection between the two halves of the oven of Fig.9;
- Fig.10 shows cans passing down the helical track of the rotor of the can sterilising oven
- Figs.11 and 11A show the inlet gas lock to the can sterilising oven, respectively in plan view from above and in end elevation;
- Fig.llB diagrammatically shows a can passing through the inlet gas lock when driven by a rotating scroll.
- Figs.12 and 12A are views similar to Figs. 11 and HA of the filler gas lock of the can sterilising oven;
- Fig.13 shows, in central longitudinal section, the filling device by which each sterilised can in turn is charged with a metered dose of product after its sterilisation in the can sterilising oven;
- Fig.l3A shows the filling device in transverse section taken on the line XIIIA-XIIIA of Fig.13;
- Fig.14 is a diagrammatic view of the end closure sterilising oven; and Fig 15 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus, showing the scrolls used for transporting cans between sections of the apparatus.
- Figs 1 to 5 the method and apparatus which are described below are designed to package a liquid food product aseptically in cans closed by easy-opening end closures.
- the food product is a still (i.e. non-carbonated), milk-based product.
- One of the cans 10 and an associated aluminium alloy end closure 11 are shown in central vertical section in Fig.l, as they appear immediately prior to placement of the closure on the product-filled can and the temporary formation of an aseptic seal between superimposed seaming flanges 12 and 13 of the closure and the can as will be described.
- the can 10 has been conventionally formed by a drawing and wall-ironing (DWI) operation from tinplate or aluminium, and accordingly it has an integral base formed with a central recess 14 and surrounding stand ring 15.
- DWI drawing and wall-ironing
- a particular feature of the can (which is not apparent from the drawing) is the thinness of its cylindrical side wall 16 in relation to the wall thicknesses which are normally employed for food cans destined for sterilisation in a conventional steam or water/steam retort.
- the minimum wall thickness of the can lies within the range 0.068mm to 0.084mm, especially 0.07mm, for tinplate, and within the range 0.096mm to 0.114mm, especially 0.1mm, for aluminium. This can be compared with the wall thickness of a conventional tinplate food can, which is typically 0.14mm to 0.17mm.
- the can side wall 16 has a simple cylindrical shape, with no beading, fluting or the like such as has been proposed to impart rigidity to thin-walled cans.
- the can 10 after filling and closing should be artificially pressurised.
- the closure 11 has a central panel 17 which has peen reformed to the raised position shown in Fig.l and which after closing is mechanically and permanently inverted to a lowered position which it had when the closure was originally pressed. In this lowered position the central panel will project towards the interior of the completed pack, as can be understood from Fig.lA which shows the lowered position denoted by the reference 17' .
- the central panel 17 is capable of bulging or "blowing" to indicate product spoilage at pressures of a magnitude which is typical for food products. It is proposed to pressurise the can to within the range 0.5 to 2 bar, whereas the central panel is designed to "blow" at pressures within the range 2 to 4 bar.
- the central panel 17, should be understood as having a tear-away portion defined by a score line, neither of which are specifically indicated.
- a tab 18 attached by rivet 19 enables the tear-away portion to be removed for providing user pouring access to the product in well known manner.
- the closure 11 forms the subject of GB patent Applications Nos. 9707678.0 and 9707688.9 which were filed by the present Applicants on the same day as the GB Application No. 9707687.1 from which priority is claimed for the present Application.
- Fig.2 is a block diagram of the functional stages employed in the packaging process.
- the process comprises sterilisation of the empty cans 10 by a thermal sterilisation operation 20, after which the cans are filled with a measured dose of a cold but sterile liquid product 82 in a filling stage 22. Simultaneously with these operations, easy-opening end closures 11 destined to close the cans are sterilised by a thermal sterilisation operation 24.
- the sterilised and product- filled cans are fitted loosely but aseptically with the sterilised end closures in a combining operation 26, following which they and the end closures on them are subjected to a seaming operation 28 by which the cans and end closures are double-seamed together at their seaming flanges 13,12 to form a closed pack having a permanent hermetic seal.
- the process is completed by a reforming operation 30 by which the end closures of the packs are reformed inwardly so as to pressurise the pack internally for the purpose described above.
- the closed and internally pressurised packs are denoted 32 in Fig.2 as they emerge from the apparatus on a conveyor 52.
- the apparatus by which the packaging process of Fig.2 is performed is shown as a diagrammatic perspective a view in Fig.3 and as a general arrangement in Figs. 4 and 5. From those drawings in combination with Fig.2 it will be understood that the apparatus has a welded tubular support frame 34, and includes a can sterilising oven 36 with associated scroll 38 ' for carrying the cans (not shown) into the oven in single file.
- This oven performs the can sterilisation stage 20 of the packaging process.
- From the oven 36 the sterilised cans are passed horizontally through an elongate filler 40 by which they are charged with a metered dose of the liquid product which is supplied in a cold but sterilised condition by a supply pipe 91.
- the filler accordingly performs stage 22 of the packaging process.
- An end closure sterilising oven 42 is mounted above the downstream end of the filler 40. In addition to sterilising the end closures by sterile hot air the oven serves to combine them individually with filled cans received from the filler, so as to close the cans temporarily but in an aseptic manner.
- the oven 42 accordingly performs the end closure sterilisation stage 24 of the packaging process; in combination with the filler it also performs the combining stage 26 of the process .
- the sterilising ovens 36 and 42 form the input ends of the sterile zone 54 of the apparatus.
- the output end 56 of this zone which also includes the filler 40, is located upstream of a rotary seamer 48 to which the cans are moved by a scroll 211 (Fig.15) after their temporary sealing by the end closures.
- the seamer which is accordingly and desirably located in a normal, non- ⁇ sterile environment, is conventional except for its omission of the end closure application apparatus which must usually be provided in can filling lines.
- the seamer performs the seaming stage ' 28 of the packaging process of Fig.2.
- the seamer 48 is further modified by the addition of a reforming station 50 at which the raised end panel 17 (Fig.l) of the cans leaving the seamer are mechanically engaged by a reciprocating plunger (not shown) and inverted into the cans.
- the reforming station accordingly performs the reforming stage 30, and the internally pressurised cans 32 (Fig.2) which leave it are carried away by the conveyor 52 for subsequent dispatch and sale.
- Figs .4 and 5 in particular show the arrangement of the ancillary equipment by which filtered and heated air is supplied to the ovens 36 and 42, and the filler 40 is separately supplied with sterile but cold gas and, through supply pipe 91, with sterile liquid product.
- the ancillary equipment is generally mounted at the top of the apparatus on a support table 58 forming part of the frame 34. It has primarily separate and independent air circulation and heating units 152 and 154 for the can sterilising oven 36 and the end closure sterilising oven 42 respectively.
- the unit for the can sterilising oven comprises a blower 156 driven by electric motor 158, and supply and return ducts 160, 162 connecting the blower to the can sterilising oven.
- the unit 154 for the end closure sterilising oven has blower 164 with motor 166, and supply and return ducts 168, 170 respectively.
- electrical heating elements are mounted in the supply duct and/or the return duct for heating the air flowing through the unit.
- the oven 36 by which the empty cans 10 are sterilised before filling and closing is shown in Figs.6 to 12. It is generally cylindrical, having a central rotor 60 which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in an anticlockwise direction (Figs.6, 8 and 9) within a cylindrical stator 62.
- the stator 62 has inner and outer skins 64 and 66, and a thermally insulating layer (not shown) attached to the inside of the outer skin.
- a thermally insulating layer (not shown) attached to the inside of the outer skin.
- the stator halves 62A, 62B are shown individually and diagrammatically, the half 62B being shown in relation to the rotor 60 and to cans 10 moving through the oven.
- Fig.9A shows detail of each intersection between the stator halves 62A, 62B, and it will be seen that for each stator half the skin material is extended radially through the intersection, so as to join the inner and outer skins 64, 66 to one another.
- Overtoggle catches 70 attached by bolts 72 enable the stator halves to be clamped firmly but releasably together, a resilient hollow sealing strip 74 then providing a gas-tight seal between them.
- Figs 6A and 6B show the general arrangement of the oven insofar as it relates to the cans 10 ' from Figs 6A and 6B, of which Fig.6A shows the ' interior of the stator half 62A which provides both an inlet port 76 and an outlet port 78 at which cans can respectively enter and leave the oven. Cans are driven to pass in single file through the oven between these ports when supported on the turns of a continuous and inwardly projecting helical track 80 which extends down the interior of the stator with a pitch between turns slightly greater than the height of the cans.
- the track is provided in an integral manner by suitable deformation of the sheet material forming the inner skin 64.
- it has the form of a V on its side and having its apex directed inwardly of the oven.
- Its upper flank 80A is arranged to support the cans as they move down the track, by engagement with the stand rings 15 (Fig.l) of the cans.
- Its lower and upper flanks 80A, 80B are inclined at approximately equal and opposite angles to the horizontal, and they are formed with gas outlet holes 81, 82 at spaced intervals along their lengths.
- the track pitch whilst greater than the can height, is sufficiently small to ensure that gas issuing from the outlet holes can enter, respectively, the interiors of the cans and the recesses 14 on their underside in a forceful manner.
- the temperature of the gas issuing from the holes 81, 82 is typically within the range 180°C to 200°C, especially 190°C.
- the rotor 60 of the can sterilising oven has a support cylinder 83 which is mounted and driven for rotation as will be described. The rotor is arranged to engage the cans for driving them, with the assistance of gravity, down the helical track 80. For that purpose vertical bars 84 are attached at regular intervals around the exterior of the support cylinder.
- the bars 84 are L-shaped in cross-section, having one arm 85 in face-to-face contact with the support cylinder 83 and attached to it by rivets and adhesive (not shown) .
- the other arm 86 of each bar projects radially outwards from the rotor, the spacing of the bars being selected so that cans 10 passing through the oven on the turns of the helical track 80 can be individually received and located in the pockets which are formed between the arms 86 of adjacent bars.
- the stator 62 is closed to form a thermally insulating and gas-tight enclosure by transverse end structures 200 and 201 respectively at its top and bottom ends, to which rotary bearings 202, for the rotor are attached.
- the rotor is arranged to be driven from below the oven, by means of a vertical drive shaft 203 passing through the bearing 202.
- empty cans 10 are fed into the oven 36 by a horizontal inlet scroll 38 which is driven by gearing
- the cans enter the oven through an inlet gas lock 102 (Fig.4) which begins the sterilisation process and prevents substantially any contaminants from entering the oven past the incoming pans.
- heated air for the outlet holes 81, 82 of the track 80 is supplied from the gas circulation and heating unit 152 via the duct 160 to openings 204 (Fig. ⁇ B) formed in the inner skin 64. From there it is distributed to the outlet holes via the cavity 205 (Fig.7) between the rotor skins. Having heated and purged the cans 10 within the oven 36 the gas leaves the hollow centre of the rotor 60 at a temperature typically of 185°C, and returns to the unit 152 through the central duct 162.
- the arrangement of the inlet gas lock 102 can be seen from Figs. 11, HA and 11B. It is generally in the form of a hollow, generally rectangular tube forming an external blister on the stator 62. It has an inlet end plate 104 with a shaped shaped aperture 106 (Fig. HA) through which the cans are moved on the scroll 38. As can be clearly understood from Fig.llB which shows it in diagrammatic cross-section, the gas lock 102 provides an enclosure 108 for a part of the inlet scroll 38 and for the cans 10 carried by it. Within this enclosure a gas manifold having inlet and outlet gas distribution chambers 110 and 112 separated by a partition 114 extends above the cans.
- Holes 116 formed in the floor of the inlet distribution chamber 110 enable hot gas supplied from the gas circulation system via the inlet chamber 110 to be fed downwardly into the interior of the cans. After heating the cans and purging them of ambient, non-sterile air the gas is returned to the gas circulation system for filtering and reheating, via holes 118 formed in the floor of the outlet chamber 112.
- the free end of the inlet scroll 38 within the inlet gas lock 102 is open to the interior of the oven 36 via the inlet port 76.
- Cans carried by the scroll are therefore presented in turn to the helical track 80 and to successive pockets between bars ' 84 of the rotor 60.
- the scroll and rotor are synchronised and suitably dimensioned for this purpose.
- Guide bars (not shown) on the stator ensure a smooth transition of the cans as they move from one device to the other.
- a filler gas lock 120 which is in many respects the same as the inlet gas lock 102, likewise having gas inlet holes 122 and gas outlet holes 124 supply heated gas to, and extract it from, cans 10 passing through the lock.
- the cans emerge from the lock through a shaped aperture 126 in an outlet and plate 128. At that time their temperature is typically within the range 150°C to 160°C.
- the filler gas lock 120 is associated with a scroll 130 which extends throughout the filler 40 to drive gearing (not shown) at its downstream end by which it is driven in synchronism with the rotor 60 of the can sterilisation oven.
- This scroll is located opposite guide bars (not shown) at the outlet port 78 of the oven, and cans which have been sterilised in the oven are picked smoothly by the flights of the scroll off the helical track 80, and leave the oven via the filler gas lock.
- the filler 40 is as has been described and claimed in European Patent EP 0591396B1 (Agents ref: 4211EP) , Figs 1 and 2 of which, when suitably renumbered, are reproduced as Figs 13 and 13A of this specification. From those drawings it will be seen that the filler has a metering screw 87 having a helical thread 88 with thread gap 89, and mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis above cans 10 which are moved at regular intervals along and beneath it in synchronism with the screw rotation as indicated by the arrow A. The screw 87 is mounted within a containment vessel 90 to which the liquid product being filled into the cans is supplied via a pipe 91.
- the screw is free to undergo limited movement transversely of its rotational axis, and is biassed downwardly by spring-loaded presser pads 92 arranged to make sliding contact with the thread 88.
- the containment vessel 90 Beneath the screw 87, and aligned with it, the containment vessel 90 is formed with an elongate slot 93 on each side of which it provides a bearing surface (not referenced) for the screw.
- the screw is biassed downwardly against these bearing surfaces by its own weight and by the presser pads 92, and as it rotates it distributes product 94 from the containment vessel 90 to the parts of the dispensing slot 93 which at the time in question correspond with the gap 89 between its turns.
- each can 10 passing through the filler is subjected to a continuous stream of the liquid product 94 which is first produced as the container passes beneath the upstream end of the dispensing slot 93 and which is terminated as the can passes the downstream end pf the dispensing slot.
- the filler 40 has its containment vessel 90 mounted above a closed filling chamber 132 through which the empty cans 10 are carried at a regular spacing by the scroll 130 previously mentioned.
- the filling chamber has its side walls formed with windows 134 through which the filling process can be viewed, and a convergent base 138 which tapers downwardly to an outlet at which any liquid product which has escaped is collected for recirculation via a pipe 140.
- a sterile gas e.g. nitrogen or air
- the sterile gas has a temperature which typically lies within the range 15°C to 30°C, that is to say, it is substantially at ambient temperature; likewise, the temperature of the liquid product entering the filler via the filler pipe 91 is substantially ambient, typically again between 15°C and 30°C.
- the cans 10 Being thin-walled and light-weight, the cans 10 have a low thermal mass; therefore, despite leaving the filler gas lock 120 at an elevated temperature they quickly cool and cause substantially no temperature increase of the food product which is charged into them from the filler pipe.
- the filled cans therefore have a substantially uniform ambient temperature.
- the end closure sterilising oven 42 is shown iiagrammatically in Fig.14. It has a rotor 140 driven from below to rotate about a vertical axis, in an anticlockwise direction as shown, within a generally cylindrical stator 141.
- the rotor 140 has regularly spaced vertical L-section bars 142 attached to its exterior surface. In combination with the adjacent interior surface. In combination with the adjacent interior surface of the stator 141 the radially projecting arms 144 of these bars form pockets in which vertical columns of the end closures 11 can be formed and supported from beneath as they move around with the rotor.
- the columns of end closures within the oven 42 are created from a supply of the end closures fed one-at-a- time into the stator 141 by a star wheel 146 which is itself supplied from an end closure feed unit 148.
- the oven 42 forms part of the sterile zone of the aseptic packaging system, and a gas Jock (not shown) is therefore provided for the star wheel 146 to prevent any substantial gas or contaminant entry through that route.
- Air heated to a temperature typically within the range 180°C to 200°C, especially 190°C, is supplied to the oven 36 by pipe 168 fed from heater/blower unit 154, and is extracted from the ' oven via further pipe 170 aligned with its central axis; see also Figs. 4 and 5.
- the average temperature in the interior of the oven accordingly is typically about 185°C.
- the oven 42 also serves, by virtue of rotation of the rotor 140 in the appropriate direction and speed, to place the sterile closures on the sterile and product-filled cans ⁇ LO arriving from the filler 40.
- the cans are guided to enter the oven beneath a rail 150 which is supported by the stator 141 and serves to support the columns of end closures 11 over part of the rotor 140 periphery.
- the rail is located so as to progressively release the bottom end closures 11 of successive columns on the rotor, so that each can 10 in turn has an end closure placed on it with the seaming flanges 12, 13 of the end closure and the can in engagement.
- a further rail (not shown) on the oven then engages the end closure from above, and so applies downward pressure by which a temporary aseptic seal is formed between the seaming flanges. In this condition the closed can safely leave the sterile environment for subsequent operation of the seamer 48 and reformer 50.
- the temperature of the end closure when it first makes contact with the can beneath it should be above 80°C, typically 100°C to 120°C, so that the lining compound on the underside of the end closure remains tacky.
- the end closure does not cause any substantial temperature increase of the latter within the can before it cools.
- the closed can therefore leaves the sterile environment substantially at ambient temperature but with a slightly positive superatmospheric pressure derived from the pressure within the filler 40.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU70594/98A AU7059498A (en) | 1997-04-16 | 1998-04-14 | Aseptic packaging process and apparatus |
EP98917349A EP0975522A1 (en) | 1997-04-16 | 1998-04-14 | Aseptic packaging process and apparatus |
JP54361898A JP2001519748A (en) | 1997-04-16 | 1998-04-14 | Method and apparatus for aseptic packaging |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9707687.1 | 1997-04-16 | ||
GBGB9707687.1A GB9707687D0 (en) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-04-16 | Aseptic packaging process and apparatus |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1998046486A1 true WO1998046486A1 (en) | 1998-10-22 |
Family
ID=10810870
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1998/001075 WO1998046486A1 (en) | 1997-04-16 | 1998-04-14 | Aseptic packaging process and apparatus |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0975522A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2001519748A (en) |
AU (1) | AU7059498A (en) |
GB (1) | GB9707687D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1998046486A1 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2004018298A1 (en) * | 2002-08-19 | 2004-03-04 | Khs Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau Aktiengesellschaft | Sterilization device for caps of beverage containers |
US7089715B2 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2006-08-15 | Khs Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau Ag | Beverage bottling plant and method for filling bottles including a treatment device for beverage container caps |
WO2022170323A1 (en) * | 2021-02-02 | 2022-08-11 | Coldsnap, Corp. | Filling aluminum cans aseptically |
US11470855B2 (en) | 2018-08-17 | 2022-10-18 | Coldsnap, Corp. | Providing single servings of cooled foods and drinks |
US11486631B2 (en) | 2018-08-17 | 2022-11-01 | Coldsnap, Corp. | Rapidly cooling food and drinks |
US11492193B2 (en) | 2018-08-17 | 2022-11-08 | Coldsnap, Corp. | Rapidly cooling food and drinks |
US11498751B2 (en) | 2016-06-16 | 2022-11-15 | Coldsnap, Corp. | System for providing a single serving of a frozen confection |
US11503841B2 (en) | 2020-01-15 | 2022-11-22 | Coldsnap, Corp. | Rapidly cooling food and drinks |
US11634312B2 (en) | 2020-06-01 | 2023-04-25 | ColdSnap, Corp | Refrigeration systems for rapidly cooling food and drinks |
Citations (7)
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---|---|---|---|---|
GB655851A (en) * | 1947-08-13 | 1951-08-01 | Continental Can Co | Method of canning food products under aseptic conditions |
GB942715A (en) * | 1962-01-19 | 1963-11-27 | William Mckinley Martin | Aseptic canning process and apparatus |
FR2407135A1 (en) * | 1977-10-28 | 1979-05-25 | Coudert Sa Eng Jean | FOOD STERILIZATION PLANT |
EP0059097A2 (en) * | 1981-02-23 | 1982-09-01 | James Dole Corporation | Hot air aseptic packaging system |
FR2583713A1 (en) * | 1985-06-24 | 1986-12-26 | Torterotot Roland | Method and installation for the sterile packaging of food products in metal preserve tins |
FR2593489A1 (en) * | 1986-01-28 | 1987-07-31 | Dardaine Edgar | Device for grasping and setting down caps on containers and automatic machine for packing containers equipped with this device |
WO1995025039A1 (en) * | 1994-03-15 | 1995-09-21 | Serac | Apparatus for aseptically filling and sealing cans |
-
1997
- 1997-04-16 GB GBGB9707687.1A patent/GB9707687D0/en active Pending
-
1998
- 1998-04-14 JP JP54361898A patent/JP2001519748A/en active Pending
- 1998-04-14 AU AU70594/98A patent/AU7059498A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-04-14 EP EP98917349A patent/EP0975522A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-04-14 WO PCT/GB1998/001075 patent/WO1998046486A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB655851A (en) * | 1947-08-13 | 1951-08-01 | Continental Can Co | Method of canning food products under aseptic conditions |
GB942715A (en) * | 1962-01-19 | 1963-11-27 | William Mckinley Martin | Aseptic canning process and apparatus |
FR2407135A1 (en) * | 1977-10-28 | 1979-05-25 | Coudert Sa Eng Jean | FOOD STERILIZATION PLANT |
EP0059097A2 (en) * | 1981-02-23 | 1982-09-01 | James Dole Corporation | Hot air aseptic packaging system |
FR2583713A1 (en) * | 1985-06-24 | 1986-12-26 | Torterotot Roland | Method and installation for the sterile packaging of food products in metal preserve tins |
FR2593489A1 (en) * | 1986-01-28 | 1987-07-31 | Dardaine Edgar | Device for grasping and setting down caps on containers and automatic machine for packing containers equipped with this device |
WO1995025039A1 (en) * | 1994-03-15 | 1995-09-21 | Serac | Apparatus for aseptically filling and sealing cans |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7360345B2 (en) | 2002-08-19 | 2008-04-22 | Khs Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau Ag | Beverage bottle cap treatment device |
CN100457555C (en) * | 2002-08-19 | 2009-02-04 | Khs机械及设备制造股份公司 | Sterilization device for caps of beverage containers |
WO2004018298A1 (en) * | 2002-08-19 | 2004-03-04 | Khs Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau Aktiengesellschaft | Sterilization device for caps of beverage containers |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0975522A1 (en) | 2000-02-02 |
AU7059498A (en) | 1998-11-11 |
GB9707687D0 (en) | 1997-06-04 |
JP2001519748A (en) | 2001-10-23 |
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