Abstract: A seal pickup station for supplying a plurality of seals to a position where the seals may be picked up by a gas exchange head. The station comprises a supply roll of seals adhesively attached to a carrier sheet, and a pickup block having a channel through which the seals can be transported on the carrier sheet. The station further includes a sensor to detect the presence of a seal, a take-up reel to collect the carrier sheet, and a pressure roller mounted in the pickup block to maintain tension on the carrier sheet as seals are removed therefrom.

Abstract: A method for controlling an apparatus for exchanging a first gas contained in a sealed container for a second gas while the container is in a chamber. The method comprises the steps of withdrawing the first gas from the container for a predetermined period of time and approximating the head space volume of the container based directly or indirectly upon a change in headspace pressure in the container. The method further includes the step of withdrawing the first gas from the container and air from the chamber under conditions which are dependent upon the approximation of the headspace volume and which reduce the damage to the container due to pressure forces.

Abstract: A gas exchange head for contacting and piercing a container to allow gas communication and exchange between the gas exchange head and the container. The gas exchange head comprises a flow probe for piercing the container, the probe being hollow so as to allow the gas communication and exchange therethrough. The gas exchange head further includes an intermediate sleeve and an outer cylinder coaxially received on the intermediate sleeve. The outer cylinder includes a lower cup portion at its distal end and is reciprocatingly mounted on the intermediate sleeve. The gas exchange head further includes a spring mounted on the outer cylinder for applying a biasing to the outer cylinder, and an inner cylinder adapted at its distal end to receive and retain the flow probe.

Abstract: An apparatus for exchanging a first gas contained in a sealed container for a second gas. The apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber for receiving the container and for maintaining a controlled pressure about the container, a gas exchange head for exchanging gas in the container while maintaining a seal between the container and the chamber, and a vacuum source coupled to the gas exchange head and to the vacuum chamber for evacuating the first gas from the container and air from the chamber. The apparatus further has a gas source for supplying the second gas, the gas source being coupled to the gas exchange head for supplying the second gas to the container, and a sensor for monitoring the pressure in the container during gas exchange.