One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing sealed plastic containers having a first headspace pressure. The apparatus may include: an open entry port or tunnel for continuously receiving containers; a sanitizer configured to sanitize outside surfaces of the received containers; a perforator configured to perforate or open a cap or seal of the containers within the apparatus; a sealer configured to seal the perforation or opening formed in the cap or seal of the containers; an open exit port of tunnel for continuously exiting the processed containers; and a conveyor system configured to transporting or convey the containers from the open entry port or tunnel, through and within the apparatus, to the open exit port or tunnel and away from the sanitized environment of the apparatus. The apparatus may be further configured to maintain a sanitized environment within the apparatus, perforator, and/or sealer.

In one embodiment, a method of processing a plastic container having a longitudinal axis is disclosed. The method includes: blow-molding a plastic container having an upper portion including a finish, a sidewall, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, and a substantially transversely oriented pressure panel having an inner annular wall and a central push-up portion located in the base, wherein a base mold portion is displaced longitudinally with respect to first and second side mold portions to form the pressure panel set above the standing surface; introducing heated liquid contents into the plastic container with the pressure panel located in an outwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion; capping the plastic container; and, moving the pressure panel to an inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion.

A plastic container comprises an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis, and at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion. The pressure panel is movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container. The standing surface defines a standing plane, and the entire pressure panel is located between the standing plane and the upper portion of the container when the pressure panel is in the outwardly-inclined position.

An apparatus for hot or warm filling comprising a compression machine configured to apply an axial compression force to a collapsible thermoplastic container for liquids. The compression machine includes a lower body having a surface designed to be a resting surface for the base of the container; at least one upper body designed to contact a portion of the container above the peripheral groove, so that the container can be held in an upright position by the at least one lower body and the at least one upper body; actuating means for actuating the at least one lower body and/or the at least one upper body in order to apply said axial compression force, acting along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, in order to make the proximal straight side to come into contact with the distal straight side, thus reducing the internal volume of the container.

The invention relates to a device (1) for inverting the base (21) of a container (2), comprising: means for inverting the base (11), and at least one tool (12) for holding the container (2), each holding tool (12) having a retaining member (121), characterized in that the retaining member (121) has a bearing end (1211) that is brought to bear against a container (2), and in that each holding tool (12) also comprises: a centering member (122) mounted inside the retaining member (121), the centering member (122) being moveable inside the retaining member (121).

The invention relates to a method and a device for hot-filling a liquid product with a flash pasteurizer comprising a first and a second heat exchanger, a filling station, a cooling tunnel for cooling filled containers by means of a coolant, and a heat pump. Prior to the filling process, the product is heated to a target temperature in the flash pasteurizer. Coolant is conducted from the cooling tunnel to the second heat exchanger, so that at least a part of the thermal energy of the coolant can be transferred to the product. The product is then conducted from the first to the second heat exchanger, wherein a further part of the thermal energy can be transferred to the second heat exchanger by means of the heat pump using a heat transfer medium to heat the product to the target temperature. The heat transfer medium is additionally heated by means of a heater arranged between the heat pump and the second heat exchanger.

The invention relates to a method for inverting the diaphragm of a filled and capped container. According to the invention, the container is placed on a support ring of an inversion device, a pressing member is applied to the container and a pusher is raised through the support ring to invert the diaphragm and shape the diaphragm into an arch. While the pusher inverts the diaphragm, the seat is moved away from the upper plane of the support ring, so that when the pusher reaches the raised position, a space is opened between the seat and the support ring to enable a longitudinal expansion of the container under the combined effect of the increase in internal pressure caused by the decrease in the volume due to the inversion and the forces generated inside the container by the pusher and the support member.

A method of forming a container and filling the container with a product. The method includes heat-set blow molding the container from a preform and hot-filling the container with the product such that the product occupies about 95% or more of a total interior volume of the container. A headspace volume is defined between a top fill line of the product and a brim of the container. The headspace volume is less than about 5% of the total interior volume of the container. The container is capped and allowed to cool. The container is configured to shrink during cooling such that the total interior volume decreases by about 0.5% to 1.5% during cooling. A base of the container is displaced after hot-filling and capping to reduce the total interior volume by less than about an additional 0.5% to 4%. The hot-filling, capping, cooling, and displacing of the base creates a pressure change within the container.

In some embodiments, a sealing and pressure dosing apparatus may be provided. The sealing and pressure dosing apparatus may include a sealing machine having one or more of a driven turret, a sealing head, a pressure sealing member, and a pressure sealing chamber. The sealing and pressure dosing apparatus may also include a pressure dosing system which may be integrated with the sealing machine.

In one embodiment, a method of processing a plastic container having a longitudinal axis is disclosed. The method includes: blow-molding a plastic container having an upper portion including a finish, a sidewall, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, and a substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel having an inner annular wall and a central push-up portion located in the base, wherein a base mold portion is displaced longitudinally with respect to first and second side mold portions to form the pressure panel set above the standing surface; introducing heated liquid contents into the plastic container with the pressure panel located in an outwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion; capping the plastic container; and, moving the pressure panel to an inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion.