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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: A spigot for dispensing the liquid contents of a container having a filling and dispensing spout adjacent the bottom thereof comprising an integral elastomeric member of generally cup shape having a peripheral wall complementary to and adapted to fit within and seal against the inner surface of the spout axially inwardly of the lip of the spout, a transverse wall at the inner end of said peripheral wall for closing off the spigot and the spout, and a manipulatable lever on said transverse wall for flexing said transverse wall and a portion of said peripheral wall to move said portion of said peripheral wall radially inwardly away from the spout to permit the dispensing of the contents of the container, said walls automatically and resiliently snapping back into their spout sealing positions upon release of said manipulatable means.

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 reciprocating, fluid operated pump, which is reversed at opposite ends of its travel by shifting of a directional valve, is characterized by a control valve for rapidly and completely shifting the directional valve.In the disclosed embodiment, the pump includes a pair of pumping portions each operated by a respective reciprocating air motor. The air motors are coupled for conjoint reciprocation, and the directional valve alternately applies compressed air to one and then to the other of the air motors. The arrangement is such that when air is applied to one of the motors fluid is forced from its associated pumping portion to an outlet from the pump while fluid is drawn into the other pumping portion from an inlet to the pump, and when air is applied to the other of the motors fluid is forced from its associated pumping portion to the outlet from the pump while fluid is drawn from the pump inlet into the one pumping portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of filling flexible containers, each having a spout adapted to be closed by a separable cap, characterized in that the containers are connected together seriatim in a continuous row and are fed automatically one after another to a filling and capping station, rather than being hand fed one at a time to the station. This results in increased speed of operation and decreased labor costs. In one embodiment the containers are moved seriatim to the filling station by an intermittently operated conveyor. In another embodiment the weight of the filled containers pulls succeeding empty containers to the filling and capping station. At the station, between the filling and capping steps, the container is manipulated so as to seal off the spout and prevent entry of foreign matter to the container during the time between removal of the filling nozzle from the spout and application of the cap to the filled container.

Abstract: A fluent dispenser comprising an outer shell having one closed end and one open end, a fluent filled flexible plastic bag inserted in the shell through the open end thereof, and a generally planar closure or wall detachably mounted in the open end of the shell to retain the bag therein, the bag having a dispensing spout and the shell or closure having movable flaps facilitating extraction of the spout and mounting of the spout to provide for convenient dispensing of the fluent contents of the bag. In the preferred embodiment, the shell is an integral, semi-rigid, molded plastic member, and the closure is fiber-board. Also in the preferred embodiment, the shell is formed to simulate a barrel to complement the packaging and service of beverages such as wine.

Abstract: Multiple ply packaging materials formed of certain polymer films, each having a gas permeability of 10 or less cc per 100 square inches per mil thickness over a 24 hour period at one atmosphere pressure, and 73.degree. F. and 50% R.H., such as polyvinylidene chloride, exhibit unexpectedly high gas barrier properties in comparison with a single film of the same equivalent thickness.

Abstract: Relates to battery grids for storage battery plates of the accumulator type, wherein the grids are initially die cast-injection molded in joined pairs of lead and plastic in a single mold. Each grid of the pair includes a plastic latticework with a lead conductor embedded therein, and a common lead lug extends between the grids and is connected at its ends with the conductors. Plastic lugs extend outward from opposite sides of the pair of grids to facilitate support of the grids during transport through subsequent manufacturing (pasting, drying, etc.) to form battery plates. The plastic lugs are later severed from the grids, and the lead lugs are cut in half between each pair of grids to form two separate battery plates, with each half of the severed lead lug providing a separate lug for each plate.

Abstract: A structural multiple ply wall for a product container has an inner container sheet ply having a composition providing low product permeability through the ply for a product disposed adjacent to a first face of the ply. A fluid coating consisting of an aqueous solution of a reducing sulfite salt is disposed adjacent to the second face of the inner sheet ply, the coating actively reacting with oxygen gas from the adjacent atmosphere. At least one sheet exterior ply has one face of one of the exterior ply disposed adjacent to the fluid coating. The exterior ply can have a composition providing low oxygen permeability through the sheet exterior ply. The inner sheet ply, the liquid coating, and the sheet exterior ply are contiguously integrally disposed together forming the structural multiple ply wall. The wall is formed into a product container providing at least the major proportion of the container wall area. A method of manufacturing the multiple ply wall is taught.

Abstract: Flexible diaphragms mounted on the ends of a shaft contact a liquid to be dispensed (e.g., syrup bases). A chamber is located about the shaft side of each diaphragm, which chamber is in communication via shaft passages with outlets in the shaft wall. A valving member is slidingly received on the shaft and interconnected with a source of pressurized gas by a flexible hose. The valving members transfers from a position where one opening is in communication with the pressurized gas and the other opening is exposed, to a second position where the relationship of the shaft openings to the valving member is reversed. A pair of opposed coil openings urge the valving member past the longitudinal shaft center to reverse direction after the coils are sufficiently loaded, which results when the valving member is at the end of either shaft stroke.