Abstract: A vacuum nozzle draws off foam from the headspace of filled containers as they approach container closers. The nozzle has a substantially rectangular head at its lower end, preferably turned at an angle to the path of the containers. From the head depends a pair of parallel scraper-like blades of rubber-like material. Spaced slits extend upward from the bottom edges of the blades. The upper end of the nozzle leads to a source of vacuum which includes means for salvaging the liquid content of the foam for re-use.

Abstract: Containers (such as metal, glass, plastic, fiber, but not limited thereto) are sterilized in a section of the apparatus having a helical or spiral belt conveyor within an insulated casing through which air above atmospheric pressure at up to about 500.degree. F. is circulated by means of a heater and blower, in a recirculation path. The containers then travel along a straightline encased conveyor where sterile air above atmospheric pressure prevents ingress of non-sterile ambient air. During part of the path through the straight-line conveyor, the containers are driven by a helical screw which forces the containers into close proximity (in fact the out-turned flanges of the containers preferably overlap). Pre-sterilized, preferably cooled, product is delivered into the containers preferably through a curtain, slit-type filler. Other fillers, such as rotary fillers, may be used. The speed of the containers is timed to deliver the desired product volume into the containers.

Abstract: In a hot air aseptic canning system, containers are sterilized by hot air in an adaptation of a commercially available machine. In accordance with the improvement of the present invention, hot air is blown into the tops of the containers to displace ambient air trapped therein and thus lower the time required to sterilize the containers. As the containers travel along a helical conveyor, inside an insulated housing, they pass under off-center nozzles having openings in their bottoms to cause swirling of air within the containers. The nozzles are connected by ducts to a source of sterilizing air. As the containers leave the conveyor, with their axes vertical, they travel side-by-side down a waterfall with their axes horizontal, then onto a rapidly moving horizontal conveyor which carries the containers away as rapidly as they reach the bottom of the waterfall, and then are turned to vertical position and directed into a filler.

Abstract: Magnetic actuation methods and apparatus provide in an air gap a first magnetic field and a magnet having a second magnetic field at an angle to and interacting with the first magnetic field. A pivot axis for the magnet is located laterally and entirely outside of the air gap, and such magnet is displaced in the air gap with the interacting first and second magnetic fields about the laterally located pivot axis. In practice, the air gap may be provided by a pair of pole pieces and the magnet may be located on a lever extending past the air gap. Such lever may be pivoted about an axis extending through one of the pole pieces. The lever is then displaced with the magnet and the magnetic field in the air gap.