Abstract: Compression packaging of flexible hose into a packaging container using an elongated peripherally closed housing supporting and surrounding an elongated section of flexible hose. A piston is placed at one end of the housing in peripherally sealed relation to the housing. A packaging container is placed at the second end of the housing. Suction is applied at this second end of the housing to create a pressure differential across the piston without creating a pressure differential across the hose wall, causing the piston to travel the length of the housing for axial compression of the hose into the packaging container.

Abstract: Just before a container is sealed by a container sealing apparatus or a container has a sealing body fed to its narrow-mouth by a sealing body feeder, an inert gas is blown into a head space of the container to replaced air present in the head space, and thereafter the container is immediately sealed or a sealing body is fed thereto to sealingly confine the inert gas within the head space. Preferably prior to the above-mentioned step, a heated gas is fed into the head space of the container which has been filled with a liquid to eliminate bubbles existing within the head space and remove the air trapped in the bubbles by the thermal energy of the heated gas. An apparatus to be used for practicing the above method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a container (12) having a receiving passage (14) with material and sealing the receiving passage (14) with a spherical sealing plug which is larger than the receiving passage (14) of the container (12) with the container (12) being subjected to a vacuum before and while being filled. A snout assembly (54) is movably mounted on a support structure (20, 22, 24) and includes a large piston-like portion (59) in sliding engagement within a guideway (28) in a housing (26) with a smaller tubular snout member (62) extending downwardly and into a fill passage (30) which is in sealing engagement with the receiving passage (14) of the container (12). The larger piston-like portion (59) of the snout assembly (54) has a material-receiving chamber (63) and a tubular valve member (68) engages a valve seat (66) to control the flow of material from the material chamber (63) to the delivery passage (56) and out the discharge end (58) of the smaller tubular snout member (62).

Abstract: A metering/dispensing head (10) and system for dispensing small doses of liquid nitrogen into individual filled cans (16) proceeding from a filling station to a closing station. The head includes a nozzle member (32) to which a source of liquid nitrogen under pressure is connected via pipe (12). The lower plane surface (72) of that member cooperates in close sliding relationship with the upper plane surface (70) of a rotary valve disc (40) around which are spaced triangular apertures (68). A small clearance separates those cooperating surfaces, but is of such a size as to effectively prevent loss of liquid nitrogen when the valve disc closes off a downwardly-pointing outlet nozzle (80) which opens into the lower surface of the nozzle member. A jet of liquid nitrogen exiting from said nozzle when uncovered by a said aperture in the valve disc injects a filled can moving beneath the nozzle member with a metered quantity of liquid nitrogen.

Abstract: Method and apparatus which reduces the charger height and the total cycle time when packing leaf or stripped tobacco by the two fill approach. When the first fill is completed, an air pressure differential is established across the tobacco in the charger from top to bottom, the pressure differential compacting the tobacco to make room for the second fill. The second fill is then supplied and the two fills are compacted into the compression chamber by the packer ram. The air pressure differential is established by providing a volume of air under pressure between the press head of the ram and the tobacco of the first fill and withdrawing air from the bottom of the charger, and withdrawal of air is continued during the second fill and the compression stroke of the ram.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treatment of hollow articles by evacuating existing gas or gases therefrom and purging or backfilling the articles with a second gas such as helium. The apparatus includes a sealed enclosure having an article storage drum mounted therein. A multiplicity of such articles are fed singly into the enclosure and loaded into radial slots formed in the drum. The enclosure is successively evacuated and purged with helium to replace the existing gas in the articles with helium. The purged articles are then discharged singly from the drum and transported out of the enclosure.

Abstract: A materials handling method includes the steps of closing and sealing a permanent reusable container to enclose a material in a fluid tight condition. The air in the container is then displaced with a substitute gas so that the material may be transported and stored in air free standard unit measures. The apparatus of the invention is directed to the generally rigid fluid tight container having at least one access opening and a door for closing and sealing the same. A valve mechanism on the container enables air to be removed from the container either by evacuation or substitution by another gas.

Abstract: A method of transporting uncured RTV silicone rubber is the subject of this invention. The silicone rubber is placed in a container and a quantity of argon gas is then added to the container before it is sealed to prevent escape of the gas.

Abstract: Air in the space above the fill level in the neck of a bottle or similar container is displaced before the closure is applied, by injection of a liquid or gaseous medium that causes the product to foam. The system consists of a filling station, a closure station, a star wheel to transfer bottles between the two stations, and a jetting device. The jetting device is mounted to a horizontal holding arm above the transfer star and pivots concentrically around the axis of the transfer star. The conveyor speed is automatically monitored by a tach generator. Its signal activates a servo motor which engages the holding arm and moves it together with the jetting nozzle along the bottle path according to the operating speed. The jetting device is moved closer to the closure station at lower operating speeds while its distance to the closure station is increased during higher speeds.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating a foodstuff in a container which is to be hermetically sealed characterized in that the container is extended by means of an extension piece, foodstuff is added so that it fills the container and at least part of the extension piece, the extended container is fitted with a closing member to form a closed assembly provided with an outlet for the escape of air, the contents are purged with steam until they have shrunk to such an extent that the foodstuff in the extension piece has subsided into the container and the required degree of heat processing has been achieved after which the container, extension piece and closing member are separated from each other.

Abstract: A press for packing loose compressible material, such as tobacco, into rectangular cases or cylindrical hogsheads. The press includes a charger for delivering the material into the container and a pressing ram movable through the charger to pack the material into the container. The bottom of the charger, which is receivable in the container, comprises a double-walled sleeve, the inner wall being perforated and the outer wall being imperforated. An air conducting channel is defined between the walls which communicates with a manifold at the top of the sleeve. This manifold is connected to a pump to draw air out of the sleeve, up the channel and into the manifold. Use of the sleeve creates a negative pressure in the sleeve so that atmospheric pressure, exerted on the top of the loose material in the charger, will reduce the height of the material in the charger and thus allows use of shorter chargers, rams and cycle times, as well as reducing dust.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for crimping in a controlled atmosphere constituted by a frame forming a support for a crimping head rotated about a vertical axis and for a device for supplying and evacuating the sub-assemblies to be assembled, said device and the frame cooperating to constitute an enclosure surrounding the crimping head and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum or of neutral gas. According to the invention, the said enclosure is shaped at least for one part in an element in the frame mobile with respect to the rest of the support structure about a lateral pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the crimping head forming door adapted to be closed in sealed manner on a front surface of join arranged on the said fixed structure. The head is mounted on a pivoting bracket. The invention is more particularly applicable to packing food products.

Abstract: Apparatus for the aseptic packaging of high acid foods having a pH below 4.6 includes conveying means with carrier plate receptacles having orifices to receive preformed cups, the orifices being contoured to match the shape of the sealing flanges of the cups. The conveying means carries cups through a lock of liquid sterilant, past sprays that ensure against air pockets in the cups, through a bath of sterilant liquid in submerged, inverted position, lifts the cups from the bath and into a chamber of sterile inert gas, allowing liquid sterilant to drain therefrom, moves the cups in sequence to filling means and then to sealing means, where cover elements, pre-sterilized from the liquid of the cup bath, dried and preheated, are applied to hermetically close the cups by the action of heat and pressure. Jets of the sterile inert gas, recirculated from the chamber, are directed at the cups after liquid sterilant has drained therefrom, so as to dry the sealing flanges of the cups.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for purging air from containers, such as pouches, while in the ambient atmosphere, which apparatus uses a continuous flow of a neutral purging gas at a pressure between a range of about 1"-2" of water that is directed into the open end of the container through a flow control valve having a flat surface overlapping the open end of the container and disposed substantially parallel to and within about 1/8th inch from the open end of the container.

Abstract: A vacuum packaging machine for producing sealed vacuum packages is disclosed which includes an improved sealing station. The sealing station has a heatable sealing member and a backing member for co-operation therewith, and deflector means are associated with the scaling member to deflect the air and moisture sucked off from the evacuating chamber of the evacuating and sealing station in operation in order to direct said air and moisture away from the sealing member to avoid contact therebetween, so that the air and moisture contained therein will substantially not be heated by the sealing member which is heated in operation. As a result, the moisture contained in the air sucked off from the evacuating chamber will not expand under the action of heat from the sealing member, and a substantially better vacuum will be achieved with the same capacity of the evacuating system.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for making vacuum or gas-filled packages of the type including a flanged cup-shaped receptacle with a closure film sealed to the flanges and stretched down into the cup to engage and press against the product. The apparatus comprises a first packaging station where the film is sealed to the cup flanges part way around the cup mouth; simultaneously the film is heated in pre-selected locations to soften it for subsequent stretching. In a subsequent station, the partially-completed package is placed in a vacuum chamber and evacuated. Thereafter, a plug is driven against the still heated film, to force it down into the cup interior adjacent the product. Before or after the plug movement, the film is fully sealed to the cup, to make a hermetically-sealed package.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing cans with lids under vacuum is provided with a vacuum chamber. The chamber is formed by two parts vertically movable by a lifting device relative to one another so that the chamber is closed when these parts have been moved together and open when these parts have been moved apart. A vacuum bell is mounted on the upper one of the two parts. The lower part has a recess in a surface thereof for receiving a can. A pressure plate movable to a limited extent relative to the upper part and forming part of a sealing device is provided to press a lid onto a can. Only the lower part is movable, the upper part is made fixed. The vacuum bell is movable relative to the fixed, upper part when the vacuum chamber is closed. A lifting device which effects movement of the lower part can be stopped in an intermediate position, in which the vacuum chamber is already closed, but the pressure plate is still in a lower position a short distance from the can.

Abstract: In a method for packing of powder formed goods in a container which is hermetically sealable under vacuum, a container blank is formed into an open topped container and a predetermined amount of powder formed product is deposited into the container. The product is slightly compacted by a piston which moves relatively slowly down into the container and presses the product at a relatively low pressure, the piston being then removed. In a second step, the product is compressed by a piston at a relatively high pressure so that the surface of the product is compressed to a level which is below the intended final level of the container. Thereafter the product is subjected to a relatively slight compression by means of a piston which, with a relatively low pressure, is pressed onto the surface of the product. In this third compression step, the relatively low pressure may be followed by a momentary thrust of the piston at a higher pressure.

Abstract: Air is flushed from containers by surrounding the container open tops with a layer of flushing gas and directing a high velocity jet of flushing gas downwardly through the layer into the open top containers.

Abstract: A method for packaging foodstuffs including a liquid constituent comprises filling a tray with the foodstuff while the tray is horizontal, applying a cover to the tray and sealing the cover to leave a small gap at the periphery of the tray. The tray is then tipped to bring the gap to the top of the resultant package and the package squeezed so that the liquid moves towards the gap to displace air from the package. Sealing is then completed. Apparatus to effect the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A package comprising a receptacle cup of semi-rigid plastic having a top of semi-rigid plastic sealed to flanges of the receptacle and formed inwardly to press against the packaged product and hold it in place with or without evacuation of the interior. Different techniques and apparatus are disclosed for forming such packages. Package configurations also are disclosed providing improved recloseable characteristics, wherein the semi-rigid nature of both the top and the cup are utilized to enable the reclosed top to be held securely in place.