Method and Apparatus for Inerting Head Space of a Container by Way of Chute Attachment

Abstract

A process to reduce oxygen in the head space of containers includes introducing an inert gas into the container head space. This may be accomplished during a capping process. A cap chute attachment may be incorporated to transfer gas from an inert gas source to a body portion of the attachment. The gas may be directed into the body portion to pressurize the body portion. The inert gas may then flow through a gas exit end to be directed toward one or both of a cap and a container opening as the cap and container are brought into contact with each other. The inert gas displaces at least a portion of the oxygen from the head space.

1 . A method for extending shelf life of a potable liquid in a container sealed by a cap enclosing an opening of the container, the container and cap cooperating to define a head space above the potable liquid, comprising the step of: 
 changing the relationship between the cap and opening from a first position to a second position, wherein a distance between the cap and opening is smaller at the first position than at the second position;    introducing an inert gas toward at least one of the cap and opening when the cap and opening are at the second position; and    sealing the cap on the container with the inert gas enclosed in the head space,    wherein the inert gas is delivered from an attachment coupled to a chute, the chute delivering the cap toward the container, the attachment having a body portion pressurized with the inert gas.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing the inert gas toward a closed distal end of the body portion to achieve pressurization within the body portion.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the attachment to direct a first portion of the inert gas from the body portion toward the cap, and a second portion of the inert gas from the body portion toward the container opening.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the attachment to direct inert gas from the body portion into the chute, wherein an interior space of at least one cap within the chute is inerted and remains at least partially inerted as the at least one cap is attached to a container.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the attachment to have at least one opening in a side of the body portion adjacent the chute, wherein inert gas is transferable through the at least one opening, through at least one corresponding opening in the chute, and into an interior space within the chute.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing a direction of flow of the inert gas from a supply into the attachment based at least in part on a target gas pressure within the body portion.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap is in contact with the container when the inert gas is introduced.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a direction of flow of at least a first portion of the inert gas from the attachment is angularly offset from a direction of movement of the container at the time the inert gas is introduced.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inert gas exiting the attachment comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein both a flow direction of both the first and second portions is angularly offset from a direction of movement of the container at the time the inert gas is introduced.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inert gas exiting the attachment comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein a flow direction of the first portion is angularly offset from a flow direction of the second portion.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , the attachment further comprising a coupling portion for coupling the attachment to an inert gas supply, the method further comprising redirecting a flow of inert gas within the coupling portion from a first flow direction to a second flow direction.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining an exit area from which the inert gas exits the attachment based at least in part on the size of the opening of the container.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising introducing the inert gas at a flow pressure and velocity determined not to displace the potable liquid from the container.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing a plurality of containers, each of the containers having an opening, and wherein an inert gas exit opening of the attachment is remote from spaces defined by projections of each of the container openings during the processing step.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for introducing an inert gas into a head space of a container, the container and cap cooperating to define the head space above a potable liquid in the container, the apparatus comprising: 
 an inert gas source;    a cap chute for transporting a cap from a cap source to the container; and    an inert gas attachment coupled to the inert gas source and to the cap chute, the inert gas attachment comprising a coupling section for coupling to the inert gas source and a body portion having a space defined therein, the body portion being coupled to the cap chute,    wherein inert gas from the gas source is directable into the body portion to pressurize the space therein with inert gas,    the inert gas transferable from the body portion toward at least one of the cap and container as the cap and container are brought into contact with each other to form the head space.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the body portion has a distal and a gas exit end, the gas exit end being located closer to the cap and container than the distal end, the distal end being closed and the gas exit end having an opening formed therein, the inert gas being first directed from the coupling section toward the distal end to achieve pressurization of the body portion, the inert gas then flowing from the gas exit end of the body portion toward the cap and container.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the coupling section directing inert gas from the gas source into the body portion in a direction at least partially determined according to a target pressure for the gas within the space defined by the body portion.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the body portion has an end opening located in proximity to the cap and container, and wherein the end opening is configured to direct a first portion of the inert gas from the body portion more toward the cap than the container, and to direct a second portion of the inert gas more toward the container than the cap.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the body portion has a distal end and a gas exit end, the gas exit end having an opening defined by a first open portion and a second open portion.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first open portion is defined by first plane and the second open portion is defined by a second plane.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first open portion faces the cap chute and wherein the second open portion faces a direction substantially parallel to the cap chute.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the body portion has a plurality of openings therein, and wherein the cap chute has at least one opening in a side portion thereof and corresponding to at least one of the plurality of openings in the body portion of the attachment.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the cap chute has an opening formed in a wall thereof and remote from an exit end of the cap chute, and wherein the body portion of the attachment has a corresponding opening to allow inert gas to be transferred from the interior space of the body portion to an interior space of the cap chute, wherein at least a portion of the inert gas so transferred may be moved by one or more caps toward an exit end of the cap chute to at least partially displace oxygen in the head space as the cap and container are brought into contact with each other.