Container for hot fill food packaging applications

Abstract

A plastic container suitable for hot-fill food packaging applications is disclosed which is characterized by walls of proportionately decreasing thickness from the mouth of the container to a predetermined collapsible point. The wall thickness is designed such that the container walls will collapse, or deform, only at the collapsible point during cooling after hot-filling of food product or during transportation of the container between locations of varying altitudes and pressures. The container preferably collapses in the base area such that the collapse is not visible to the consumer and also the collapse does not affect stability of the container while in use or during loading and storage. The container of the invention is advantageous in that it requires less plastic material to form than other known hot-fill containers, and also can be formed out of any suitable food-grade plastic material or by any process.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a plastic container suitable for hot-fill food packaging applications, and a method of making the container. The container is manufactured in a manner such that the walls have a sufficient strength to withstand collapse upon cooling of the container after sterilization, or during the transport of the filled container between locations of varying altitude. A collapsible point, preferably the bottom of the container, is manufactured to selectively deform to compensate for the pressure differentials experienced between the interior of the container and atmospheric pressure after hot-filling, and during transport of the container between locations of different altitudes. Also disclosed is a method of forming a container having a selectively deformable collapsible point, and walls that do not deform, after hot-filling and during other pressure changes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The storage of food products in plastic contain...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The container effectively reduces the likelihood of wall deformation, maintains stability, and appears undamaged, even after deformation, using less material and reducing raw material costs by up to 50% compared to traditional designs.

Problems solved by technology

This reduction in air volume results in a corresponding reduction in pressure within the container, and can cause the container to collapse due to the head space remaining between the food product and the seal of the container after sealing and cooling.

In addition, any changes in the altitude of the location of the packed container can cause similar expansion and / or contraction of the container due to changing pressure differentials between the interior of the container and the atmospheric pressure at the different locations.

Container deformation typically can occur at any location in the container where the container wall cannot withstand the experienced pressure differential between the inside of the container and the atmospheric pressure.

Although container deformation does not necessarily affect the sterility and stability of the packed food product, consumers tend to shy away from such products based on the appearance that the containers are perhaps damaged or otherwise spoiled.

In addition, container deformation causes the containers to be difficult to load and store due to the nonuniformity of the walls or bases.

Also, container deformation can make a container unstable when used by the consumer, when for example the base is deformed such that the container is not steady when placed on a surface.

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