Patent Application
20060043113
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a cap assembly, and more particularly, to a cap assembly capable of hermetically sealing a container assembly, the cap assembly undergoing sterilization processes with superheated steam at temperatures in excess of 280° F. Such sterilization processes are generally suitable for filling of food grade flowable material including low acid flowable material. Of course, the invention is not limited to any particular flowable material.
2. Background Art
The use of flexible containers for the shipment and dispensing of flowable material has greatly increased in recent years. Increasingly, flexible containers are common for food grade products. Among other procedures, it is necessary to properly sterilize the containers to minimize contamination and to maximize shelf life of the products within the containers. While the sterilization of containers for high acid products has been readily achieved, there have been problems associated with low acid applications. This is because high acid products have an inherent advantage; microbes and microorganism have difficulty surviving and reproducing in highly acidic materials.
The same is not true for low acid materials. In particular, microbes and microorganisms can thrive in a low acid environment. For this reason, the sterilization procedures for containers utilized in low acid environments are substantially more rigorous than for high acid environments. In a low acid filling process, for example, prior to and after filling, a spout assembly is exposed to superheated steam for a predetermined period of time. For example, at a temperature of 280° F., sterilization is achieved after 13 seconds (the steam is at approximately 30 psi). At 290° F., sterilization is reached in about 3.6 seconds. In excess of 300° F., sterilization is reached in about 1 second. Temperatures as high as 307° F. and higher (pressure of approximately 60 psi) are utilized to achieve quick sterilization of components. It will be understood that if chemicals are added for purposes of sterilization, the temperatures required for the steam can be lower.
Providing covers for fitments which are both suitable for use in low acid conditions, and which include openings extending therethrough for dispensing purposes which cannot substantially withstand the sterilizing environment has proven difficult. First, the seal over the dispensing opening often fails during the sterilizing procedure. In other situations, the covers deform in such an environment to the extent that the cover dislodges or otherwise disengages from the fitment. In either case, the end result is that the material within the container is destroyed and must be discarded.
Inasmuch as such sterilizing is highly destructive to fitments and covers, containers used for low acid applications often include two separate fitments. The fitment within which product is to be filled generally includes a cap member free of openings. A second fitment is provided on the container for dispensing. Such a fitment includes a cap member which is capable of receiving various different dispensers for coupling therewith. Inasmuch as no manipulation or removal of the second (dispensing) fitment is required during filling of the container, the second fitment does not undergo the sterilizing procedures described above. Problematically, the use of two separate fitments increases the cost of the containers, the assembly of the containers and the ease of manipulation of the containers. Furthermore, the greater use of components leads to increased container failure rates.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a cap assembly for a flexible container which includes a resealable dispensing means which are suitable for low acid applications including sterilization processes which occur at elevated temperatures with superheated steam.
It is another object of the invention to provide a cap assembly adapted for receipt of a number of different dispensers, wherein the cap assembly which is suitable for low acid applications including sterilization processes which occur at elevated temperatures with superheated steam.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in light of the specification and claims appended hereto.
The invention comprises a container assembly, having a container, a fitment and a cap assembly. The container has at least one panel and at least one seal sealing the at least one panel to define a cavity. The fitment is coupled with the container, comprising a body having a first end and a second end. The second end extends away from the container, wherein the fitment provides fluid communication with the cavity. The cap assembly is releasably attachable to the second end of the fitment. The cap assembly comprises a base and a cover. The base includes an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending therethrough. The opening including an upper annular rim extending from the upper surface of the base and a lower annular rim extending from the lower surface of the base. The cover is attachable to the base to cover the opening. The cover includes an annular ring that extends along at least a portion of the upper annular rim of the opening and the lower annular rim of the opening. The annular ring forms a hermetic seal with at least one of the upper and lower annular rims of the opening.
In a preferred embodiment, the upper surface of the base includes a shoulder extending at least partially around an outer region thereof. The shoulder defines a valley therebetween. In one such preferred embodiment, the shoulder comprises a pair of opposing shoulder components defining a valley therebetween. In another such preferred embodiment, the shoulder comprises at least four spaced apart shoulder components defining a valley therebetween. In one such embodiment, the four spaced apart shoulder components include a plurality of arcuate channels positioned therebetween.
In another preferred embodiment, the cover comprises a body, an arm and a hinge. The body has an upper surface and a lower surface. The arm extends from the body. The hinge is attached to each of the body and the cap assembly to permit hinged engagement of the cover to the cap assembly. In one such preferred embodiment, the cover further comprises a tamper evidencing assembly. The tamper evidencing assembly provides indication as to whether the cover has been moved into an orientation wherein the opening of the cap assembly is exposed.
In one such embodiment, the tamper evidencing assembly further comprises a plug frangibly coupled with one of the cover and the cap assembly and coupled with the other of the cover and the cap assembly.
In another such preferred embodiment, the upper surface of the body of the cap includes a dome region. The dome region is capable of deflecting fluids directed thereat.
In another preferred embodiment, the upper annular rim of the opening further comprises an engagement surface, and the annular ring includes an engagement tab, the engagement surface interfacing with the engagement tab, to, in turn, facilitate the engagement of the cap over the opening.
In a preferred embodiment, the upper annular rim of the opening further includes a ring wedge extending therefrom. The lower surface of the cap further includes a mating channel positioned therein, wherein the ring wedge is capable of interfacing with the mating channel, to, in turn, create a hermetic seal therebetween.
In another preferred embodiment, the opening includes a frangible cover positioned thereacross, to, in turn, preclude fluid communication with the cavity.
In another preferred embodiment, the frangible cover comprises a molded portion of the cap assembly. The molded portion of the cap extends across the lower annular rim.
In a preferred embodiment, the cap assembly is capable of maintaining the hermetic seal after exposure to superheated steam of a temperature of at least 280° F. for a predetermined period of time adequate to achieve sterilization.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the invention comprises a cap assembly releasably attachable to the second end of the fitment. The cap assembly comprises a base and a cover. The base includes an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending therethrough. The opening includes an upper annular rim extending from the upper surface of the base and a lower annular rim extending from the lower surface of the base. The cover is attachable to the base to cover the opening. The cover includes an annular ring that extends along at least a portion of the upper annular rim of the opening and the lower annular rim of the opening. The annular ring forms a hermetic seal with at least one of the upper and lower annular rims of the opening.
The invention further comprises a method of utilizing a container assembly suitable for use in association with the filling and dispensing of low acid flowable food material. The method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a container assembly, the container comprising: a container having at least one panel and at least one seal sealing the at least one panel to define a cavity; a fitment, coupled with the container, comprising a body having a first end and a second end, the second end extending away from the container, wherein the fitment provides fluid communication with the cavity; a cap assembly releasably attachable to the second end of the fitment, the cap assembly comprising: a base having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening extending therethrough, the opening including an upper annular rim extending from the upper surface of the base and a lower annular rim extending from the lower surface of the base; and a cover attachable to the base to cover the opening, the cover including an annular ring that extends along at least a portion of the upper annular rim of the opening and the lower annular rim of the opening, the annular ring forming a hermetic seal with at least one of the upper and lower annular rims of the opening (b) insuring the orientation of the cover to be in the closed orientation; (c) positioning at least a portion of the fitment and the cap assembly within a sterilizing chamber; (d) sterilizing the portion of the fitment positioned within the sterilizing chamber and the cap assembly; (e) disengaging the cap assembly from the second end of the fitment; (f) filling the cavity with a flowable material; (g) replacing the cap assembly upon the second end of the fitment; and (h) removing the fitment and the cap assembly from the sterilizing chamber.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown, in the drawings, several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, are identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely representations of the present invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.
Referring now to the Figures, and in particular to
An exemplary fitment 14 is shown in
An exemplary cap assembly 16 is shown in each of
With reference to the embodiment shown in
As is shown in each of
Referring now to
As is shown in
The upper and lower opening annular rims provide enhanced rigidity to opening 43, provide an anchor to which dispensing assemblies may be attached and furthermore in combination with cover 60 providing a sealing assembly (preferably hermetic) for opening 43. For example, as is shown in
In certain embodiments, such as is shown in
Referring now to
With reference to
Additionally, as is shown in
In one embodiment, as is shown in
Handle 64 is shown in FIGS. 3 and/or 4 as extending from the cover 60. In the embodiment shown, the handle is positioned between opposing shoulder components 44a and 44b. Handle 64 provides a means by which to manipulate cover 60 relative to base 40. In the embodiment shown, handle 64 includes tamper evidencing assembly 82. The tamper evidencing assembly comprises plug 84 which is coupled to handle 64 by frangible members, such as frangible members 86. The plug is securable to upper surface 41 of base 40 by way of heat welding, adhering and co-molding, among others. The securement of the plug to the upper surface is stronger than the frangible members. Thus, the frangible members will break leaving the plug attached to the upper surface, to, in turn, indicate that the cover has been removed at least one time from the sealed position.
In another embodiment, as is shown in
Hinge 66 is shown in
Referring now to
In other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in
In operation, the container apparatus is first assembled from a plurality of panels having a plurality of seals positioned thereon. Next, the fitment is coupled to opening 24 of the container. Finally, cap assembly 16 is coupled to the fitment, thereby sealing cavity 26 from fluid communication with the surrounding environment.
Once fully assembled, the container may be gamma irradiated. In typical high acid filling process, the container may undergo approximately 15 kGy of gamma irradiation. In a typical low acid filling process, the container may undergo approximately 30 kGy of gamma irradiation. Of course, the particular quantity of gamma irradiation that is transmitted to the container can be varied without departing from the scope of the invention.
Once irradiated, the cavity is substantially sterilized. The container is next directed to a fill device wherein a chamber is positioned in sealing engagement with at least a portion of the fitment. Once the chamber is sealed to the fitment, a superheated steam is directed onto the fitment and the cover to effectively sterilize the region. For food products, sterilization can be achieved through an application of superheated steam at temperatures generally in excess of 250° F. The higher the temperature, the lower the exposure time needed to achieve sterilization. For example, at 250° F., sterilization is reached in approximately 600 seconds. At 260° F., sterilization is reached in approximately 170 seconds. At 270° F., sterilization is reached in approximately 52 seconds. At 280° F., sterilization is reached in approximately 13 seconds. At 290° F., sterilization is reached in under 4 seconds. At temperatures in excess of 300° F., sterilization is reached in approximately 1 second. Accordingly, to decrease the time necessary for the superheated steam application, the sterilization process generally occurs at temperatures in excess of 280° F. Of course, the cap is not limited to use in association with any particular sterilization process, or with the use of superheated steam. Indeed, in certain operations chemicals may be utilized alone, or with steam (including but not limited to superheated steam) at various temperatures.
After the application of superheated steam, the chamber and the contents (i.e., at least a portion of the fitment and the cap assembly) are sterilized. The filling process is then initiated. To initiate the process, the cap assembly is removed from the second end of the fitment 14. Once removed, the fill valve is placed in fluid communication with the fitment, and, the fill material is directed into cavity 26. After filling, the valve is removed and the cap assembly is replaced onto the fitment. Inasmuch as the fitment and the cap assembly remain within the chamber (which is substantially sterilized), the fill process occurs in a substantially sterile environment.
Once recapped, the container can be removed from the filling device and the container is ready for use. In certain embodiments, the container assembly can be inserted into an outer box (i.e., a bag in box). The cover can then be removed from the cap, and the fitment can be attached to a dispensing valve, hose or the like. Due to the unique construction of the cap and the cover, after some of the material within the container has been dispensed, the cover can be repositioned over the cap to effectively seal the container. As such, a resealed container can be stored for future use.
Advantageously, the present fitment and cap assembly are capable of withstanding the sterilization process utilized in association with filling processes wherein the flowable material comprises a low acid food product. The cap and the cover remain firmly positioned upon the fitment and the cap, respectively, and the hermetic seal is maintained throughout the sterilization process. Moreover, the cover can be selectively closed or opened repeatedly, as desired.
The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing the scope of the invention.
