The present invention relates generally to methods of compensating for vacuum pressure changes within plastic containers, and in particular embodiments to methods that result in, to plastic containers in which the contents are pressurized to reinforce the walls of the containers.
In order to achieve the strength characteristics of a glass bottle, conventional lightweight plastic containers are typically provided with rib structures, recessed waists, or other structures that reinforce the sidewall of the container. While known reinforcing structures usually provide the necessary strength, they tend to clutter the sidewall of the container and detract from the desired smooth, sleek appearance of a glass container. In addition, the known reinforcing structures often limit the number of shapes and configurations that are available to bottle designers. Thus, there remains a need in the art for a relatively lightweight plastic container that has the strength characteristics of a glass container as well as the smooth, sleek appearance of a glass container, and offers increased design opportunities.
In summary, the present invention is directed to a plastic container having a structure that reduces the internal volume of the container in order to create a positive pressure inside the container. The positive pressure inside the container serves to reinforce the container, thereby reducing the need for reinforcing structures such as ribs in the sidewall. This allows the plastic container to have the approximate strength characteristics of a glass container and at the same time maintain the smooth, sleek appearance of a glass container.
In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a plastic container comprising an upper portion including a finish adapted to receive a closure, a lower portion including a base, a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the upper portion, the lower portion, and the sidewall define an interior volume for storing liquid contents. A pressure panel is located on the container and is moveable between an initial position and an activated position, wherein the pressure panel is located in the initial position prior to filling the container and is moved to the activated position after filling and sealing the container. Moving the pressure panel from the initial position to the activated position reduces the internal volume of the container and creates a positive pressure inside the container. The positive pressure reinforces the sidewall.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a plastic container comprising an upper portion having a finish adapted to receive a closure, a lower portion including a base, and a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, a substantial portion of the sidewall being free of structural reinforcement elements, and a pressure panel located on the container and moveable between an initial position and an activated position. After the container is filled and sealed, the sidewall is relatively flexible when the pressure panel is in the initial position, and the sidewall becomes relatively stiffer after the pressure panel is moved to the activated position.
According to yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a method of processing a container comprising providing a container comprising a sidewall and a pressure panel, the container defining an internal volume, filling the container with a liquid contents, capping the container to seal the liquid contents inside the container, and moving the pressure panel from an initial position to an activated position in which the pressure panel reduces the internal volume of the container, thereby creating a positive pressure inside the container that reinforces the sidewall.
Further objectives and advantages, as well as the structure and function of preferred embodiments, will become apparent from a consideration of the description, drawings, and examples.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements.
Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference as if each had been individually incorporated.
The present invention relates to a plastic container having one or more structures that allow the internal volume of the container to be reduced after the container has been filled and sealed. Reducing the internal volume of the container may result in an increase in pressure inside the container, for example, by compressing the headspace of the filled container. The pressure increase inside the container can have the effect of strengthening the container, for example, increasing the container's top-load capacity or hoop strength. The pressure increase can also help ward off deformation of the container that may occur over time, for example, as the container loses pressure due to vapor loss. In addition, the reduction in internal volume can be adjusted to compensate for the internal vacuum that often develops in hot-filled containers as a result of the cooling of the liquid contents after filling and capping. As a result, plastic containers according to the present invention can be designed with relatively less structural reinforcing elements than prior art containers. For example, plastic containers according to the present invention may have fewer reinforcing elements in the sidewall as compared to prior art designs.
Referring to
The container 1010 will typically be blow moulded from any suitable plastics material but typically this will be polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The container 1010 includes a plurality of reinforcement elements or ribs 1071-1076. As may be clearly seen the reinforcement elements or ribs 1071-1076 may extend about the perimeter or circumference of the container, in the ‘hoop’ direction, and comprise concave hoop rings having a contour defined in sideview by an upper section, a lower section, and middle section between the upper section and the lower section, wherein the upper section and lower section extend radially outwardly further than the middle section, as known by those skilled in the art. By way of example only, the uppermost reinforcement element 1071 includes convex upper edge 1071a, a convex lower edge 1071c and a concave central portion 1071b. Lower edge 1071c comprises a maximum diameter that is greater than the maximum diameter of the upper edge 1071a, as shown with respect to indicator line y-y. By way of further example, the lowermost reinforcement element or rib 1076 comprises upper edge 1076a and lower edge 1076c and concave middle portion 1076b. In this example of the present invention, the maximum diameter of the lower edge 1076c of the reinforcement element or rib 1076 is less than the maximum diameter of the upper base portion 1017.
The base 1002 is shown provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 1003 so as to form the typical “champagne” base although this is merely by way of example only. In
In
To assist this occurring, and as will be seen particularly in
Referring now particularly to
Associated with the initiator portion 1001 is a control portion 1005 which in this embodiment is a more steeply angled inverting section which will resist expanding from the collapsed state.
Forming the outer perimeter of the bottom portion 1011 of the side wall 1009 is shown the side wall standing ring or annular portion 1006 which following collapsing of the panel 1011 will provide the new container support.
To allow for increased evacuation of vacuum it will be appreciated that it is preferable to provide a steep angle to the control portion 1005 of the pressure panel 1011. As shown in
By way of example, it will be appreciated that when the panel 1011 is inverted by mechanical compression it will undergo an angular change that is double that provided to it. If the conical control portion 1005 is set to 10 degrees it will provide a panel change equivalent to 20 degrees. At such a low angle it has been found to provide an inadequate amount of vacuum compensation in a hot-filled container. Therefore it is preferable to provide much steeper angles.
Referring to
Referring to
The initiator portion 1001 and the control portion 1005 of the embodiment of the preceding figures will now be at a common angle, such that they form a uniformly inclined panel portion. However, initiator portion 1001 may still be configured to provide the area of least resistance to inversion, such that although it shares the same angular extent as the control portion 1018, it still provides an initial area of collapse or inversion. In this embodiment, initiator portion 1001 causes the pressure panel 1011 to begin inversion from the widest diameter adjacent the decoupling structure 1013.
In this embodiment the container side walls 1009 are ‘glass-like’ in construction in that there are no additional strengthening ribs or panels as might be typically found on a container, particularly if required to withstand the forces of vacuum pressure. Additionally, however, structures may be added to the conical portions of the vacuum panel 1011 in order to add further control over the inversion process. For example, the conical portion of the vacuum panel 1011 may be divided into fluted regions. Referring to
In the embodiment as shown in
In such an embodiment as shown in
It will be appreciated that in a further embodiment of the invention the panel may be inverted in the manner shown in
In this way, the panel will be inverted from an upwardly inclined position of
Referring again to
Although particular structures for the bottom portion of the side wall 1009 are shown in the accompanying drawings it will be appreciated that alternative structures could be provided. For example a plurality of folding portions could be incorporated about the base 1002 in an alternative embodiment.
There may also be provided many different decoupling or hinge structures 1013 without departing from the scope of the invention. With particular reference to
In a further embodiment of the present invention, and referring to
For reference, the angles of inclination of the initiator portion and control portion are shown in
The container of
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Pressure panel 22 can be activated by moving it from an initial position (shown in
Container 10 can be filled with the pressure panel 22 in the initial position, and then the pressure panel 22 can be moved to the activated position after container 10 is filled and sealed, causing a reduction in internal volume in container 10. This reduction in the internal volume can create a positive pressure inside container 10. For example, the reduction in internal volume can compress the headspace in the container, which in turn will exert pressure back on the liquid contents and the container walls. It has been found that this positive pressure reinforces container 10, and in particular, stiffens sidewall 20 as compared to before the pressure panel 22 is activated. Thus, the positive pressure created as a result of pressure panel 22 allows plastic container 10 to have a relatively thin sidewall yet have substantial portions that are free of structural reinforcements as compared to prior art containers. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that pressure panel 22 may be located on other areas of container 10 besides base 18, such as sidewall 20. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the container can have more than one pressure panel 22, for example, in instances where the container is large and/or where a relatively large positive pressure is required inside the container.
The size and shape of pressure panel 22 can depend on several factors. For example, it may be determined for a specific container that a certain level of positive pressure is required to provide the desired strength characteristics (e.g., hoop strength and top load capacity). The pressure panel 22 can thus be shaped and configured to reduce the internal volume of the container 10 by an amount that creates the predetermined pressure level. For containers that are filled at ambient temperature, the predetermined amount of pressure (and/or the amount of volume reduction by pressure panel 22) can depend at least on the strength/flexibility of the sidewall, the shape and/or size of the container, the density of the liquid contents, the expected shelf life of the container, and/or the amount of headspace in the container. Another factor to consider may be the amount of pressure loss inside the container that results from vapor loss during storage of the container. Yet another factor may be volume reduction of the liquid contents due to refrigeration during storage. For containers that are “hot filled” (i.e., filled at an elevated temperature), additional factors may need to be considered to compensate for the reduction in volume of the liquid contents that often occurs when the contents cool to ambient temperature (and the accompanying vacuum that may form in the container). These additional factors can include at least the coefficient of thermal expansion of the liquid contents, the magnitude of the temperature changes that the contents undergo, and/or water vapor transmission. By considering all or some of the above factors, the size and shape of pressure panel 22 can be calculated to achieve predictable and repeatable results. It should be noted that the positive pressure inside the container 10 is not a temporary condition, but rather, should last for at least 60 days after the pressure panel is activated, and preferably, until the container 10 is opened.
Referring to
Once the container 10 is filled and sealed, the pressure panel 22 can be activated by moving it to the activated position. For example, as shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
As discussed above, moving the pressure panel 22 to the activated position reduces the internal volume of container 10 and creates a positive pressure therein that reinforces the sidewall 20. As also discussed above, the positive pressure inside container 10 can permit at least a substantial portion of sidewall 20 to be free of structural reinforcements, as compared to prior art containers.
Referring to
Containers according to the present invention may have sidewall profiles that are optimized to compensate for the pressurization imparted by the pressure panel. For example, containers 10, 110, 210, 310, and 410, and particularly the sidewalls 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, may be adapted to expand radially outwardly in order to absorb some of the pressurization. This expansion can increase the amount of pressurization that the container can withstand. This can be advantageous, because the more the container is pressurized, the longer it will take for pressure loss (e.g., due to vapor transmission through the sidewall) to reduce the strengthening effects of the pressurization. The increased pressurization also increases the stacking strength of the container.
Referring to
Referring to
One of ordinary skill in the art will know that the above-described sidewall shapes (e.g., teardrop, pendant, S-shaped, fluted) are not the only sidewall configurations that can be adapted to expand radially outwardly in order to absorb some of the pressurization created by the pressure panel. Rather, one of ordinary skill in the art will know from the present application that other shapes and configurations can alternatively be used, such as concertina and/or faceted configurations.
As will be seen particularly in
The processing of a container, for example in the manner described with respect to
Similarly, container holding devices Hare fed in and spaced by a second feed scroll 526, which feeds in and spaces container holding devices H to match the spacing on a second feed-in wheel 528, which also comprises a generally star-shaped wheel. Feed-in wheel 528 similarly includes a fixed plate 528a for supporting container holding devices H while they are fed into turret system 530. Container holding devices H are fed into main turret system 530 where containers C are placed in container holding devices H, with holding devices H providing a stable bottom surface for processing the containers. In the illustrated embodiment, main turret system 530 rotates in a clock-wise direction to align the respective containers over the container holding devices fed in by star wheel 528. However, it should be understood that the direction of rotation may be changed. Wheels 522a and 528 are driven by a motor 529 (
Container holding devices H comprise disc-shaped members with a first recess with an upwardly facing opening for receiving the lower end of a container and a second recess with downwardly facing opening, which extends upwardly from the downwardly facing side of the disc-shaped member through to the first recess to form a transverse passage through the disc-shaped member. The second recess is smaller in diameter than the first so as to form a shelf in the disc-shaped member on which at least the perimeter of the container can rest. As noted above, when a container is deactivated, its vacuum panels will be extended or projecting from the bottom surface. The extended or projecting portion is accommodated by the second recess. In addition, the containers can then be activated through the transverse passage formed by the second recess, as will be appreciated more fully in reference to
In order to provide extra volume and accommodation of pressure changes needed when the containers are filled with a hot product, such as a hot liquid or a partly solid product, the inverted projection of the blow-molded containers should be pushed back out of the container (deactivated). For example, a mechanical operation employing a rod that enters the neck of the blow-molded container and pushes against the inverted projection of the blow-molded container causing the inverted projection to move out and project from the bottom of the base, as shown in
Referring to
Actuator assemblies 534 deactivate the containers (extend the inverted projection outside the bottom surface of the container), while actuator assemblies 536 support the container holding devices and containers. Shaft 530a is also driven by motor 529, which is coupled to a gear or sheave mounted to shaft 530a by a belt or chain or the like. In addition, main turret system 530 includes a fixed plate 532a for supporting the containers as they are fed into container carrier wheel 532. However, fixed plate 532a terminates adjacent the feed-in point of the container holding devices so that the containers can be placed or dropped into the container holding devices under the force of gravity, for example. Container holding devices H are then supported on a rotating plate 532b, which rotates and conveys container holding devices H to discharge wheel 522b, which thereafter feeds the container holding devices and containers to a conveyor 518b, which conveys the container holding devices and containers to a filling system. Rotating plate 532b includes openings or is perforated so that the extendable rods of the actuator assemblies 536, which rotate with the rotating plate, may extend through the rotating plate to raise the container holding devices and containers and feed the container holding devices and containers to a fixed plate or platform 523b for feeding to discharge wheel 522b.
As best seen in
Again as best seen in
Referring again to
Similarly, lower cam assembly 552 includes a lower cam plate 560 and an upper cam plate 562 which define there between a cam surface or groove 564 for guiding extendable rods 540 of actuator assemblies 536. Mounted to extendable rod 538 may be a guide member or cam follower, which engages cam groove or surface 558 of upper cam assembly 550. As noted previously, actuator assemblies 534 are mounted in a radial arrangement on main turret system 530 and, further, are rotatably mounted such that actuator assemblies 534 rotate with shaft 530a and container holder wheel 532. In addition, actuator assemblies 534 may rotate in a manner to be synchronized with the in-feed of containers C. As each of the respective actuator assemblies 534 is rotated about main turret system 530 with a respective container, the cam follower is guided by groove 558 of cam assembly 550, thereby raising and lowering extendable member 538 to deactivate the containers, as previously noted, after the containers are loaded into the container holding devices.
If the container holding devices are not used, the containers according to the invention may be supported at the neck of each container during the filling and capping operations to provide maximum control of the container processes. This may be achieved by rails R, which support the neck of the container, and a traditional cleat and chain drive, or any other known like-conveying modes for moving the containers along the rails R of the production line (see
The process of repositioning the projection outside of the container preferably should occur right before the filling of the hot product into the container. According to one embodiment of the invention, the neck of a container would be sufficiently supported by rails so that the repositioning operation could force or pop the inverted base outside of the container without causing the container to fall off the rail conveyor system. In some instances, it may not be necessary to invert the projection prior to leaving the blow-molding operation and these containers are moved directly to a filling station. The container with an extended projection, still supported by its neck, may be moved by a traditional neck rail drive to the filling and capping operations, as schematically shown in
Referring to
Feed-in wheel 586 is of similar construction to wheel 522b and includes a generally star-shaped wheel that feeds-in the container holders and containers to turret assembly 588. Turret assembly 588 is of similar construction to turret assembly 530 and includes a container holder wheel 590 for guiding and moving container holding devices H and containers C in a circular path and, further, a plurality of actuator assemblies 5104 and 5106 (see
As previously noted, turret assembly 588 is of similar construction to turret assembly 530 and includes container holder wheel 590, upper and lower cam assemblies 5100 and 5102, respectively, a plurality of actuator assemblies 5104 for griping the containers, and a plurality of actuator assemblies 5106 for activating the containers. In addition, turret system 588 includes a support plate 5107, which supports the container holders and containers as they are moved by turret system 588. As best seen in
Looking at
Similar to upper cam assembly 550, upper cam assembly 5100 includes an upper plate 5110 and a lower plate 5112, which define therebetween a cam surface or recess 5114, which guides guide members 572 of actuator assemblies 5104 to thereby extend and retract extendable rods 538 and in turn to extend and retract container grippers 5108. As the containers are conveyed through turret assembly 588, a respective gripper 5108 is lowered onto a respective container by its respective extendable rod 538. Once the gripper is positioned on the respective container, actuator assemblies 5106 are then actuated to extend their respective extendable rods 5116, which extend through plate 5107 and holders H, to apply a compressive force onto the invertible projections of the containers to move the projections to their recessed or retracted positions to thereby activate the containers. As would be understood, the upward force generated by extendable rod 5116 is counteracted by the downward force of a gripper 5108 on container C. After the activation of each container is complete, the container then can be removed from the holder by its respective gripper 5108.
Referring to
The physics of manipulating the activation panel P or extendable rod 5116 is a calculated science recognizing 1) Headspace in a container; 2) Product density in a hot-filled container; 3) Thermal differences from the fill temperature through the cooler temperature through the ambient storage temperature and finally the refrigerated temperature; and 4) Water vapor transmission. By recognizing all of these factors, the size and travel of the activation panel P or extendable rod 5116 is calculated so as to achieve predictable and repeatable results. With the vacuum removed from the hot-filled container, the container can be light-weighted because the need to add weight to resist a vacuum or to build vacuum panels is no longer necessary. Weight reduction of a container can be anticipated to be approximately 10%.
The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/499,031, filed Sep. 26, 2014. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/499,031 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/775,995, filed Feb. 25, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,802,730 issued Oct. 31, 2017, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/413,124, filed on Apr. 28, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,381,940 issued Feb. 26, 2013. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/413,124 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/529,198, filed on Dec. 15, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,010, issued Apr. 10, 2012, which is the U.S. National Phase of International Application No. PCT/NZ2003/000220, filed on Sep. 30, 2003, which claims priority of New Zealand Application No. 521694, filed on Sep. 30, 2002. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/413,124 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/566,294, filed on Sep. 5, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,106, issued Jun. 1, 2010, which is the U.S. National Phase of International Application No. PCT/US2004/024581, filed on Jul. 30, 2004, which claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/551,771, filed Mar. 11, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/491,179, filed Jul. 30, 2003. The present application is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/142,882, filed Dec. 29, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,878,816, issued Jan. 30, 2018. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.
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