Abstract: A container of draft beer is substantially filled with beer having a volume of dissolved carbon dioxide greater than 2.6 and not more than 3.1 times the volume of beer. The beer is packaged in a plastic container that is slightly permeable to carbon dioxide, but retains a satisfactory dissolved carbon dioxide content even after a normal shelf life. Beer is dispensed by gravity, without use of external pressure source, after release of head space pressure. Moreover, when the container contents are partially dispensed by the consumer and then maintained at appropriate low temperature for several days, the remaining beer still retains a satisfactory volume of dissolved carbon dioxide. A spigot on the container employs a barrel valve closure member that seals the pressurized container and is movable to a pressure release position in which pressurized gas within the container is slowly released without forcibly projecting container contents.

Abstract: This invention provides a dispenser for a beverage, such as beer, in which the contents of the container are pressurized by gas from a cartridge in the container. A pressure responsive member in the container is movable in response to differences in pressure between that of the atmosphere and of the inside of the container. A valve member is carried by the pressure responsive member and includes a tapered pin for forming an opening through a diaphragm over the cartridge outlet and metering the discharge of gas from the cartridge in response to movements of the pressure responsive member.

Abstract: The fluid dispensing device includes a tubular spout attachable to a fluid-containing vessel, such as a bag, the spout including an outer end portion of a first lateral dimension and an inner portion of a smaller lateral dimension. A valve member is slidable in the spout, the valve member being tubular and having an open outer end adapted to receive a fluid-transmitting probe and a closed inner end. The valve member has openings through its sidewall. The outer end portion of the valve member is laterally outwardly deflectable and includes localized protrusions adapted to enter the recess of a probe. In the closed position of the valve member, opposed shoulders of the valve member and of the spout resist axial movement of the valve member in either direction, and interengaged sealing surfaces block fluid flow to the openings. The outwardly deflectable portion of the valve member can be deflected as the probe enters, and the protrusions thereafter spring inwardly into the recess of the probe.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided which is in two units, each of which assumes a normally closed position when the units are separated and is opened when the units are mated. One unit includes a valve body with a transverse wall having an opening therethrough which is normally closed by a diaphragm which is provided with openings through it outside of the location where it engages the wall. The other valve unit includes a valve body having a spring-biased plunger which at its end has an integral pin engageable with the diaphragm when the units are advanced toward each other for deflecting the diaphragm away from the opening in the transverse wall, and an additional projecting portion for engaging the transverse wall to cause the plunger to be deflected away from the valve seat, thereby to open up communication through both valves.

Abstract: A flexible drum liner assembly having a fitting which mates with a specially cut hole in the lid of the drum. The fitting of a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a mouth with internal and external threads. A standard externally threaded bung hole cover fits in the mouth and mates with its external threads. A vertical slot is cut on either side of the mouth of the fitting interrupting the external threads. A circular bung hole with two opposed inwardly directed tabs is cut into the lid of the drum. The two tabs act as keys and fit into the keyways defined by the vertical slots on either side of the mouth of the fitting.

Abstract: A spigot for association with a spout connected to a container, the spigot including a cylindrical portion to fit over the end of the spout, a diaphragm for engaging the end of the spout to prevent flow of liquid, a toggle member for deflecting the diaphragm and an opening through the cylindrical portion for dispensing liquid upon the deflection of the diaphragm. The spigot includes a downspout extending from the opening and having a sealed outer end which is of a relatively thin-walled construction, the downspout having a thicker wall inwardly of the outer end to prevent collapse of the downspout during deflection of the diaphragm. The spigot member includes a relatively thin-walled portion inwardly of the thickened part of the downspout for facilitating deflection of the diaphragm. The spigot may be sealed by heat sealing together opposed wall portions of the downspout or by a tab heat sealed over the end of the downspout.

Abstract: A container of draft beer is substantially filled with beer having a volume of dissolved carbon dioxide greater than 2.6 and not more than 3.1 times the volume of beer. The beer is packaged in a plastic container that is slightly permeable to carbon dioxide, but retains a satisfactory dissolved carbon dioxide content even after a normal shelf life. Beer is dispensed by gravity, without use of external pressure source, after release of head space pressure. Moreover, when the container contents are partially dispensed by the consumer and then maintained at appropriate low temperature for several days, the remaining beer still retains a satisfactory volume of dissolved carbon dioxide. A spigot on the container employs a barrell valve closure member that seals the pressurized container and is movable to a pressure relase position in which pressurized gas within the container is slowly released without forcibly projecting container contents.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing assembly is disclosed which includes a connector valve and a diaphragmic container valve that permits a fluid dispensing passageway to be connected to a disposable container of fluid in a simple, efficient manner to provide continuous fluid flow. The connector valve engages the container valve to simultaneously open both the container valve and the connector valve in a single connecting step to dispense fluid from the container into the dispensing passageway. Upon disengagement of the valves, both valves simultaneously close. The assembly is simple, lightweight and inexpensive, thereby being particularly suitable for use with lightweight disposable fluid containers.

Abstract: A device for filling a container through a spout extending from the container includes a sterile chamber having a wall opening therethrough for inserting the spout into the chamber. A cover inside the chamber is positioned over a base plate which encloses the wall opening to prevent the escape of sterile gas from the chamber when the spout is being inserted into and removed from the wall opening. A pair of jaws fit around the spout when the spout is in the opening to hold the spout in position for filling and to prevent contamination of the sterile chamber during the filling operation.

Abstract: A device for filling containers through a spout on the container includes a sterile chamber that has an opening in a wall through which the spout of the container may be inserted into the chamber, a filling head inside the chamber for connecting with the spout and filling the container through the spout, a cup-shaped cap inside the chamber that covers the opening in the wall to substantially prevent the escape of a sterile gas from the chamber when the spout is not in the opening, a fluid spray head inside the cup-shaped cap for sterilizing the spout before it is exposed to the sterile chamber, and a pair of jaws that fit around the spout when the spout is in the opening to substantially prevent the escape of the sterile gas during the filing operation when the cap is removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for aseptically filling premanufactured, presterilized, flexible containers, connected in a continuous web, includes a chamber with an inlet mouth for receiving empty containers seriatim, and an outlet mouth for dispensing filled containers seriatim. The inlet and outlet mouths have respective seals for sealing to the surface of the containers to prevent entry of contaminants into the chamber. This chamber is partitioned to form a spraying compartment, adjacent to the inlet mouth, and a filling compartment, adjacent to the outlet mouth, with a drying compartment therebetween. A sterilizing agent is continuously sprayed, as a mist, into the spraying compartment to coat the exterior of the containers with the sterilizing agent as they are serially advanced through the chamber. This mist also provides an aseptic barrier between the inlet mouth and the drying compartment.

Abstract: Apparatus for advancing flexible containers that are connected together seriatim in a continuous row, automatically, to a filling and capping station by preliminarily moving the filling spout of each container to a position adjacent the filling nozzle during the filling of the next previous container. Because the containers are flexible, excess container material forms a loop between the container spout at the filling station and the container spout at the pre-positioning station, and does not interfere with the filling operation, particularly since the empty flexible containers can be supported as they are advanced toward the filling station by guides which capture the filling spout itself.

Abstract: A container for holding and dispensing fluid has a flexible bag to which a spout is connected. A specially designed adapter within the spout has an opening sealed by a plug. A tubular probe is inserted into the adapter opening and snapped onto the plug. The connected probe and plug are pushed into the bag to permit fluid to flow through apertures in the probe. The probe channel is filled with fluid before insertion into the bag, thus introducing substantially no air into the system. Withdrawing the probe snaps the plug back into the adapter to re-seal the bag without substantial introduction of air, and without any leakage.

Abstract: A spigot for dispensing viscous contents of a container having a filling and dispensing spout comprises an integral elastomeric member having a recessed, transverse diaphragmic wall adapted to fit within the spout and form a seal therewith; an annular radial flange at the outer end of the transverse wall having an arcuate slit therethrough extending a significant angle therearound; and a manipulatable lever on the transverse wall for flexing portions of the wall and the slit portions of the flange to move said portions away from the spout to open the slit and provide a large area dispensing opening through the spigot, the tranverse wall and flange automatically and resiliently snapping back toward spout sealing position upon release of the manipulatable lever.

Abstract: A roller chute apparatus for packaging a flexible plastic bag filled with liquid in a box has four stacks of rotatably supported vertically spaced rollers. The four stacks extend a substantial depth into the box around the inside of the box sidewalls forming two pair of mutually opposing stacks. A first pair extends above the open top of the box and cooperates with the second pair in guiding the bag into the box. The second pair extends above the top of the box with opposing stacks being mutually spaced a greater distance than opposing sidewalls of the box, thereby forming a funnel-like opening with the first pair. A driver roller is substantially located above and adjacent to the top of the box forming an angular transition between each of the portions of the second pair extending above and below the top of the box.

Abstract: Multiple ply packaging materials formed of an inner ply of substrate material superimposed between outer plies of thermoplastic films exhibit excellent gas barrier properties. The inner ply may comprise any suitable material such as nylon, but for significantly improved gas barrier properties preferably comprises either a plastic film having a metal coating on one or both surfaces thereof, or a metal foil. The inner ply is encapsulated between the outer thermoplastic plies to isolate the inner ply from the contents of the package, especially when the material is exposed to or is employed to package liquids, the outer plies of thermoplastic film being sealed about their edges outwardly from the edges of the inner ply.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a battery grid is characterized by a molding die for molding a lead conductor with a plastics frame. The die has runners or channels defining the grid structure, and valves are positioned at the intersections of the channels for the lead conductor and the channels for the plastics frame. The valves are actuable to selectively block the channels for the plastics frame from the channels for the conductor. In the use of the die to form a battery grid, with the valves actuated to block the channels for plastics from the channels for lead, molten lead is injected into the channels therefor and is confined therein to form the conductor. The valves are then actuated to unblock the channels for plastics and hardenable plastics are injected therein to form the plastics frame, with the frame being molded around the conductor at intersections therewith.

Abstract: A normally closed valve is characterized by an integral valve body forming a fluid passage between an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, and a flow barrier within the passage integrally joined with the body to hermetically seal the passage. The barrier is movable or rupturable by a fluid coupler, inserted into the outlet end of the passage, to open the passage between the inlet thereto and the coupler.Preferably, the valve is economically formed of a plastic material, such as polyethylene, and connects at its outlet with a fluid coupler having a normally closed, movable seal at its inlet. In the use of the valve, upon movement of the inlet end of the coupler into the outlet end of the passage, the valve passage forms a fluid seal therewith prior to engagement of the barrier thereby.

Abstract: A container for holding and dispensing fluid has a flexible bag to which a spout is connected. A specially designed adapter within the spout has an opening sealed by a plug. A tubular probe is inserted into the adapter opening and snapped onto the plug. The connected probe and plug are pushed into the bag to permit fluid to flow through apertures in the probe. The probe channel is filled with fluid before insertion into the bag, thus introducing substantially no air into the system. Withdrawing the probe snaps the plug back into the adapter to re-seal the bag without substantial introduction of air, and without any leakage.