Abstract: An apparatus for and process of pasteurizing or sterilizing and subsequent cooling of edible foodstuffs in containers. The containers are relatively thin-walled and are fabricated from plastic. At least one of the containers is provided with an internal probe which monitors the pressure and temperature at its substantially geometric center. The pressure within a chamber of the apparatus, within which pasteurization or sterilization is to be effected, is also monitored. A comparator compares the pressures within the chamber and the container having the probe therein to develop a control signal representative of the pressure difference. A controller is arranged to respond to the control signal to maintain a predetermined pressure relationship while heating and subsequently cooling the foodstuffs. The pressure difference which is maintained may be zero, or be slightly above or below zero.

Abstract: A probe suitable for monitoring temperature and pressure in a relatively thin-walled container fabricated from plastic. The internal probe monitors the pressure and temperature at substantially the geometric center of a container in a pasteurizing or sterilizing apparatus. The probe is provided with a sharp container-wall piercing end and a tapered threaded self tapping portion which provides an effective seal. The probe is hollow so that fluid can be conducted from the interior of the container and its pressure determined. A temperature sensing member is carried within the hollow probe so that temperature within the container may be sensed.

Abstract: An apparatus for pasteurizing or sterilizing and subsequent cooling of edible foodstuffs in containers. The containers are relatively thin-walled and are fabricated from plastic. At least one of the containers is provided with an internal probe which monitors the pressure and temperature at its substantially geometric center. The pressure within a chamber of the apparatus, within which pasteurization or sterilization is to be effected, is also monitored. A comparitor compares the pressures within the chamber and the container having the probe therein to develop a control signal representative of the pressure difference. A controller is arranged to respond to the control signal to maintain a predetermined pressure relationship while heating and subsequently cooling the foodstuffs. The pressure difference which is maintained may be zero, or be slightly above or below zero.

Abstract: A blank for use with an apparatus for continuously and sequentially forming cylindrical bodies with the blanks which are each made from a fiber board material which is rectangular in shape and has a leading and trailing edge, both of which are coated with a heat activatable adhesive so that when the blank is heated and immediately passed to a formal mandrel to be formed into a cylindrical body, the heat activated adhesive will secure the blank in a cylindrical form as well as seal the leading and trailing edges.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously and sequentially forming cylindrical bodies from flat sheet material includes a rotating mandrel and an array of forming belts spaced along the mandrel for receiving and winding either continuous ribbon or discrete blanks of composite material about the mandrel to form a cylindrical body such as for a container and passing the formed body along the mandrel to a heat sealing means to seal the overlapping edges of the material; the array of belts are disposed to partially surround and run in contact with the mandrel and a gap is provided in the spiral path of the belts to permit continuous feeding of sheet material to the mandrel to enable continuous operation of the forming apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously and sequentially forming cylindrical bodies from flat sheet material includes a rotating mandrel and an array of forming belts spaced along the mandrel for receiving and winding either continuous ribbon or discrete blanks of composite material about the mandrel to form a cylindrical body such as for a container and passing the formed body along the mandrel to a heat sealing means to seal the overlapping edges of the material; the array of belts are disposed to partially surround and run in contact with the mandrel and a gap is provided in the spiral path of the belts to permit continuous feeding of sheet material to the mandrel to enable continuous operation of the forming apparatus.

Abstract: A container is formed by providing a composite wall with reinforcing strips which surround the exterior of the wall at its opposite ends. The container is capped by end closures the edges of which engage the reinforcing strips to deform the strips to both overlap the closure edges and compress the container wall between the strips and the closures.