Beverage Container Pressure Equalization via Nitrogen Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hot filling processes for beverages, such as iced tea, face challenges due to internal pressure changes in plastic containers, which can lead to deformation and require specialized container designs or processes like 'nitro hotfill' that restrict design freedom and complicate handling.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that involve producing plastic containers by blow molding, filling them with a heated liquid, partially closing them, and then supplying a gaseous medium, particularly nitrogen, through a controlled opening in the container wall or closure to counteract falling internal pressure during cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hot filling is used to fill beverages into plastic containers, then the filling process is efficient and simple, but the container contracts after filling due to falling internal pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing a gaseous medium into the container before the cooling-induced pressure drop occurs. The gas is supplied through a penetration opening in the container wall during or after closing, creating compensating pressure that counteracts the forthcoming contraction caused by cooling, thus preventing deformation before it happens.
Solution Approach 2:
The gaseous medium acts as an intermediary substance between the container interior and the external environment. It mediates the pressure balance by being introduced through a penetration opening in the container wall, providing the necessary pressure support during cooling without requiring complex container designs or specialized handling procedures.
2Shape
If panel bottles are used to withstand negative pressure during cooling, then the container can maintain its shape, but the design freedom is restricted and the appearance may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure-stabilizing function from the container wall structure itself (panel bottles) and transfers it to an external gaseous medium introduced through a penetration opening. This separation allows the container to use standard, design-free bottom structures while the gas provides the necessary pressure compensation, thus restoring design freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The gaseous medium serves as an intermediary that provides pressure support without requiring the container structure to be specially designed. Unlike panel bottles that require specific wall deformations, the gas can be introduced through a simple penetration opening and uniformly counteracts pressure changes, preserving both shape and design freedom.
3Manufacturing precision
If deforming bottle bottoms are used to influence volume after cooling, then the final filling level can be adjusted, but the handling becomes complicated and precise shaping is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of deforming bottle bottoms (which requires complex shaping machines and precise positioning) with a pneumatic system that introduces gas through a penetration opening. This substitution simplifies the equipment needed and reduces handling complexity while maintaining control over the final filling level through pressure regulation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for efficient pressure equalization within the container without the need for pressure-stable bases, simplifying the handling and design of bottles, and maintaining the appearance by preventing unwanted deformation during temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
supplying, in particular introducing, a gaseous medium, in particular nitrogen, into the interior of the container, in particular the head space of the container, through the penetration opening
Implementation Method 2
counteract a falling internal pressure within the container
Implementation Method 3
the container filled with the liquid is at least partially closed with a container closure... during or after a recooling process
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing liquid containers and in particular beverage containers, having the steps of: -producing a plastics container (1) by way of a blow-moulding operation; -filling the plastics container (1) with a free-flowing medium, and in particular with a liquid; -at least partially closing the container (1), filled with the liquid, with a container closure (2). According to the invention, after the at least partial closing of the container (1), a gaseous medium is fed to the interior of the container (1) via at least one opening (14) introduced in at least one portion of a wall (12) of the plastics container (1) or a circumferential wall of the container closure (2) or via an intermediate space that exists between a mouth and the container closure (2).