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 aseptic closure assembly for a fluid container that includes a cap connectable to an opening of the fluid container and a fluid dispenser connectable to an outer surface of the housing of the cap. The fluid dispenser includes a main body and fluid lines provided within the main body, a shell housing provided around the main body, and an insert connectable to a second end of the main body. The main body includes apertures nearer the second end that are connected to the fluid lines and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid container when the fluid dispenser is connected to the cap. The fluid dispenser is configured such that a downward directed force towards the fluid container fits the insert into the support of the cavity and disconnects the insert from the main body of the fluid dispenser to seal the fluid container.

An aseptic closure assembly for a fluid container that includes a cap connectable to an opening of the fluid container and a fluid dispenser connectable to an outer surface of the housing of the cap. The fluid dispenser includes a main body and fluid lines provided within the main body, a shell housing provided around the main body, and an insert connectable to a second end of the main body. The main body includes apertures nearer the second end that are connected to the fluid lines and configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid container when the fluid dispenser is connected to the cap. The fluid dispenser is configured such that a downward directed force towards the fluid container fits the insert into the support of the cavity and disconnects the insert from the main body of the fluid dispenser to seal the fluid container.

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.

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.

The water, cleaner, and wipe supply station includes multiple, related functions. Specifically: cleaning and refilling bottles with drinking water; cleaning and refilling cleaning product containers; and cleaning and refilling containers with pre-moistened wipes. The result is a reduction of waste introduced into landfills, and a means of centrally distributing clean water, cleaning products, and wipes without the need for additional containers.

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.

Method for processing hot-filled plastic containers are provided. In some embodiments, the method may include hot-filling a plastic container, sealing the container, and conveying the sealed container, each with an inner annular wall and a push-up portion in a first position. In some embodiments, the method may further include creating a vacuum pressure in the hot-filled and sealed container and repositioning the push-up portion from the first position to a second position under a mechanical force.

A filling machine configured to fill containers with a pourable product having a conveyor configured to receive containers to be filled at an input station, and a plurality of filling devices carried by the conveyor and each configured to fill one container at a time with a predetermined amount of pourable product during its advancement along the filling path. Each filling device includes a filling valve controllable between an open position and a closed position. The machine also includes a control unit configured to generate a signal for triggering the opening of the filling valves and to sequentially send said signal to each filling device. Each filling device is configured to receive one container at a time at the input station, and the control unit is configured to send the signal to each filling device with an advance time before the filling device receives the container to be filled.