This invention relates to a method and to a capping or closing machine for the capping or closing of bottles or similar containers filled with an oxygen-sensitive product.

An apparatus and a method are provided for a container filling and sealing production line to produce a target final pressure of liquid contents within containers during variable production line speeds, The container filling and sealing production line comprises a bottle filler that receives containers fabricated by manufacturing equipment and fills the containers with liquid contents. A cryogen dosing system adds a volume of a cryogen to the liquid contents. A bottle sealer seals the containers and entraps the cryogen and liquid contents, such that vaporization of the cryogen imparts the target final pressure of liquid contents within the containers. A communication line enables the bottle filler to pass information to the cryogen dosing system about upcoming changes in production speed such that the cryogen dosing system accordingly adjusts the volume of the cryogen.

The invention concerns a method of degasification of a carbonated beverage-filled container in an apparatus for blowing and filling containers, the apparatus comprising: a mold (12) enclosing a blown and carbonated beverage-filled container (14) that comprises a dispensing opening (16), an injection head (24) that is movable along a longitudinal axis (A) passing by the dispensing opening of the container between a sealing position in which the injection head is in a sealing engagement with the dispensing opening and a non-sealing position in which the injection head is at a distance from the dispensing opening, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: i) moving the injection head (24) away from the sealing position (3A) to a non-sealing position (3B). ii) moving back the injection head to the sealing position (30), iii) moving the injection head away from the Position sealing position to a non-sealing position (3D).

A method and system of transferring matter through a sealed container during a bottling process are provided. The method includes accessing a headspace of the filled and sealed container by creating at least one opening. An inert gas is provided within the headspace while allowing O.sub.2 to exit from the headspace until substantially all of the O.sub.2 has been flushed out of the headspace. The headspace is then pressurized by continuing to direct the inert gas into the headspace after it has been flushed of O.sub.2. The at least one opening of the container is then sealed while the headspace is under pressure. The filled and sealed container can be a hot-filled container.

A system for deaeration of constituents of a liquid product blend includes a first liquid stream supply system and a second liquid stream supply system. A control system is configured to: (i) monitor flow of the first liquid and responsively/automatically control flow of the first deaeration gas in order to achieve a first target ratio of first deaeration gas to first liquid; and/or (ii) monitor flow of the second liquid and responsively/automatically control flow of the second deaeration gas in order to achieve a second target ratio of second deaeration gas to second liquid; and/or (iii) monitor a dissolved oxygen level of (a) the first liquid, at a location downstream of injection of the first deaeration gas, and (b) a combined liquid formed by mixing the first liquid and the second liquid, and to adjust the system based upon the dissolved oxygen level of the combined liquid.

The invention relates to a method of removing headspace (3) from a filled container (1). The method comprises providing a container that is filled with a product (2) and that further holds a gas containing headspace. The container comprises a valve (100) that allows gas to be expelled from the container. The method further comprises applying a pressure difference over the one-way valve to remove gas contained in the headspace through the valve to reduce the headspace.

A liquid filling apparatus has a vertical tube with bottom opening opened and closed by a valve. The tube is insertable into a container from above and supplies liquid to the container. A flexible separating disk extends radially from the bottom end of the tube. The tube with flexible separating disk is movable toward the container bottom and air in the container escapes between peripheral rim of the separating disk and container wall as the tube moves down until the flexible separating disk rests on the container bottom. The tube with flexible separating disk then is moved upwardly so that, between flexible separating disk and container bottom, an enlarging space is formed with upward movement. Liquid is supplied into this space through the open tube opening as upward movement continues. When a targeted liquid level is reached, the valve closes and the tube is pulled from the container.

A sealing and pressure dosing apparatus, and container filling method, including a capping machine (102) which receives containers (1). Closures (80) are applied to the containers (1) immediately following the raising of pressure within the containers (1) by a pressure dosing system in a pressure sealing chamber (84). Preferably a cooling system is integrated with the capping machine.

The invention relates, inter alia, to an apparatus for dispensing a liquefied fluid into a container. The apparatus has a cooling container for receiving a cooling medium. The apparatus has a liquefaction device arranged in the cooling container for cooling and liquefying a gaseous fluid. The apparatus has a storage container which is connected to the liquefaction device for receiving the liquefied fluid from the liquefaction device and which is arranged in the cooling container for cooling the liquefied fluid. The apparatus has a dosing device for dispensing the liquefied fluid into the container, wherein the dosing device is connected to the storage container for receiving the liquefied fluid from the storage container.