Abstract: A lidding station for containers, including a conveyor structured and arranged for moving unrestrained containers in a conveyance direction; a lid infeed chute above said conveyor; and first, second and third compression rollers positioned above said conveyor and downstream of said lid infeed chute, and methods for affixing lids to containers.

Abstract: A cap rotation device includes a cap rotator, a liquid transferring device and an optical detecting device. The liquid transferring device is disposed near the cap rotator, and the optical detecting device is disposed between the cap rotator and the liquid transferring device. The optical detecting device is used to detect a position of a sealing cap of a chemical drum to guide the cap rotator aligning with the sealing cap. Therefore, the sealing cap is opened by the cap rotator, and then the chemical liquid is transferred by the liquid transferring device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for packing a material in a packing container. The method includes the steps of providing a gaseous atmosphere with superheated steam in a housing; supplying a material to the gaseous atmosphere and delivering a packing container to the gaseous atmosphere. Thereafter, the material is filled into the packing container, the packing container is sealed inside the gaseous atmosphere, and filled packing container is moved out of the gaseous atmosphere.

Abstract: Affords a compound semiconductor substrate packaging method for preventing oxidation of the surface of compound semiconductor substrates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterilization in which items to be sterilized are placed in an impervious sealable package and the sterilization process is carried out within the package. The apparatus (10) includes a cabinet (18) in which a package (P) preferably with a carrier (11) located within, can be positioned. A snorkel (17) is inserted into the package (P) and via connector (23) vacuum, pressure and sterilant can be applied to the interior of the package (P). A sealing arrangement (14b, 22b) can seal the package closed after the sterilization process has been completed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for packing a material in a packing container. The method includes the steps of providing a gaseous atmosphere with superheated steam in a housing; supplying a material to the gaseous atmosphere and delivering a packing container to the gaseous atmosphere. Thereafter, the material is filled into the packing container, the packing container is sealed inside the gaseous atmosphere, and filled packing container is moved out of the gaseous atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of making a packaged antimicrobial suture having improved shelf life. The method comprising the steps of providing an inner package having a source of antimicrobial agent, providing an adsorbent material effective to adsorb a portion of the antimicrobial agent over time, positioning a suture within the inner package, the suture comprising one or more surfaces, covering the inner package with an outer package having an inner surface and subjecting the suture, the inner package and the inner surface of the outer package to time, temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to vapor transfer an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent from the antimicrobial agent source to the suture and the inner package, thereby substantially inhibiting bacterial colonization on the suture and the inner package, wherein the packaged antimicrobial suture exhibits improved shelf life.

Abstract: A vertical bag packaging machine has a steam nozzle that is inserted into a bag to inject steam thereinto after an article to be packaged has been filled into the bag, thereby replacing the air in the bag with the steam to effect deaeration. After the steam-replacement deaeration, a seal portion to be ultrasonically sealed is preheated by a preheating device, thereby making the temperature of the seal portion uniform throughout it. The preheating temperature is not lower than a temperature of a highest temperature region of said seal portion before it is preheated and below a melting temperature of a material constituting an inner side of said bag Thereafter, the seal portion is ultrasonically sealed by an ultrasonic sealing device. Thus, reliable and stable ultrasonic sealing can be realized.

Abstract: Steam from a steam supply source is heated in a heating device, supplied to a nozzle through a secondary steam supply passage and injected from a spout. The temperature of steam at the outlet of the heating device is measured by a first sensor, and a cartridge heater constituting the heating device is controlled on the basis of the difference between the measured temperature and a target value. Steam temperature at the nozzle spout is measured by a second sensor, and a difference between the measured temperature and a target value is obtained. The target value of steam temperature at the heating device outlet is changed to a set value predetermined according to the magnitude of the difference obtained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterilization in which items to be sterilized are placed in an impervious sealable package and the sterilization process is carried out within the package. The apparatus (10) includes a cabinet (18) in which a package (P) preferably with a carrier (11) located within, can be positioned. A snorkel (17) is inserted into the package (P) and via connector (23) vacuum, pressure and sterilant can be applied to the interior of the package (P). A sealing arrangement (14b, 22b) can seal the package closed after the sterilization process has been completed.

Abstract: A method of making a hermetically sealed container is disclosed. In the method, a water vapor (40) is blown into a container body (1) that has been placed with a product such as solid foods or the like leaving a space portion (3). Immediately thereafter or immediately after an inert gas (51) has been blown into the container body, the container body is hermetically sealed. The container has a relatively low negative internal pressure which is controllable with a small range of variation. The water vapor (40) is generated by blowing a non-condensable gas such as air, nitrogen gas or the like at a constant flow rate into a water (13) which is controlled to a constant temperature. When the inert gas (51) is blown, only the surface and its vicinity of the product (4) is heated by blowing the water vapor (40).

Abstract: Thermally processable plastics tubs (10) filled with a liquid or semi-liquid product so as to leave a headspace are closed by preformed lids (12) which are heat-sealed to their peripheral flanges when the headspace is filled with steam. In order to prevent the steam from affecting the heat-sealing operation, the lid flanges are wider than the container flanges, and their projecting annular parts (29) are engaged so as to form a barrier separating the steam from the heated heat-sealing head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a canned aqueous food product contained in a hermetically closed rigid container. According to the invention, the pressure inside of the container as measured at 20.degree. C. has a value between 3,300 and 6,600 pascals and the partial pressure of steam is at least equal to 40% of said pressure. The invention is in particular applicable to the canned food industry.

Abstract: A phased aseptic sterilization and packaging process is disclosed wherein the solid component of a product is separately sterilized within the container in which the product is ultimately sealed. The liquid component is aseptically sterilized independently, and is aseptically filled into the container in a chilled condition to quench the hot solid component prior to final sealing of the container. A novel apparatus is provided for handling the containers during processing.

Abstract: A container filling system and method is disclosed which includes a filling valve which receives a product through an inlet port in the side of a vertically movable cylinder having a vertically moving plunger therein that opens and closes the port. While the port is open and product is metered into the pouch, steam is directed through the filling valve to purge air from the product and from the pouch and to clean the product from the plunger. The system also includes pouch spreading fingers which leads the filling valve cylinder into the pouch to assure proper opening of the pouch. A dynamic parallelogram linkage is provided to move the filling valve and finger operating mechanisms vertically as a unit and includes resilient means which raises the filling valve above the top of the pouch in the event the power means which actuates the linkage fails.

Abstract: A gelatin capsule is formed with an elongated portion and a bulb portion with a medicinal material therein for supply to a body through inserting the elongated portion in a body orifice. The elongated portion is treated with a hardening agent which withdraws water and/or glycerin from the elongated portion of the capsule so that the elongated portion has sufficient rigidity for insertion within the body orifice. The hardening agent can be a polymer of a glycol, which is preferably polyethylene glycol, an inorganic drying agent such as silica gel or phosphorus pentoxide, an alcohol, or a ketone, such as acetone, for example. When a polymer of a glycol is utilized as the hardening agent, the polymer of a glycol can remain on the elongated portion to function as a lubricant when the elongated portion is inserted in the body orifice. Furthermore, the polymer of a glycol can include an anesthetic for deadening the nerves around the body orifice.

Abstract: To remove air from pouches filled with foodstuffs or other products prior to sealing, equipment has been used which opens the top of the pouch, inserts a nozzle, injects steam through the nozzle, draws the edges of the top of the pouch together and then seals the top edges. The present invention is an improvement in the nozzle construction which prevents droplets of water from condensing on the top edges of the pouch, a deficiency of the prior art which inhibits an air-tight seal. The nozzle has an inner tube with a flared terminus which is lowered into the pouch, the tube being surrounded by a jacket connected to a source of saturated steam at about 50-60 psi. An adjustable pressure reducing orifice interconnects the jacket and tube so that the steam pressure emitted from the terminus is reduced to near atmospheric pressure and the temperature is increased to about (270.degree.-290.degree. F.

Abstract: A food product, such as fruit or vegetables either whole or in pieces, or in the form of a pulp, or meat in pieces, is preserved by feeding hot liquid or steam into a contained body of the product to sterilize the product. Some liquid is retained in the product which is sealed in a container under aseptic conditions. The sterilization preferably takes place in the container in which the sterile product is ultimately sealed.