Method and Apparatus for Inerting Head Space of a Capped Container

Abstract

A process to reduce oxygen in the head space of non-pressurized containers comprises injecting an inert gas into the container head space and into the cap during the capping process. In an alternative embodiment, inert gas is injected into the caps at one or more points along the conveyance rout to the capping point.

1 . A method for extending shelf life of a potable liquid in a container sealed by a cap having a top member and a skirt depending from the top member and defining a skirt volume, the container defining a head space above the potable liquid, comprising the step of: 
 bringing the container and the cap into a close relationship;    injecting an inert gas into the container head space and the skirt volume; and    sealing the cap on the container with a gas composition in the head space comprising less than about fourteen percent oxygen by volume.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gas composition comprises less than about five percent (5%) oxygen.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gas composition comprises less than about three percent (3%) oxygen.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap initially contacts the container in an inclined orientation during the sealing step, and the inert gas is injected at or near the point where the cap and the container initially come into contact during the sealing step.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gas composition in the sealed head space is less than about twelve percent oxygen by volume.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inert gas is injected by at least one injector, and the at least one injector simultaneously injects inert gas into both the container head space and the cap skirt volume.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inert gas is injected by at least a first injector and a second injector, the first injector injecting inert gas into the container head space and the second injector injecting inert gas into the cap skirt volume.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the same inert gas is injected by the first injector and the second injector.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , including a first inert gas and a second inert gas, the first and second inert gases being different, wherein the first injector injects the first inert gas and the second injector injects the second inert gas.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of injecting an inert gas into the cap skirt volume prior to the step of bringing the container and the cap into a close relationship.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a gas composition in the sealed head space is less than about twelve percent oxygen by volume.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a gas composition in the sealed head space is less than about twelve percent oxygen by volume.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for inerting the head space of a capped container, comprising: 
 a pressurized supply of an inert gas; and    at least one injector connected to the pressurized supply of the inert gas, the at least one injector operable to simultaneously inject the inert gas into a head space of a container and into a skirt volume of a cap used to seal the container such that the inert gas is directed at or below a point where the cap initially engages the container.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , the nozzle being adjustable from a first position in which gas is directed toward at least the head space at a first angle and a second position in which gas is directed toward at least the head space at a second angle.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a header block connected between the pressurized supply of the inert gas and the at least one injector.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one injector is angled from about fifteen to about forty degrees from horizontal.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one injector is angled from about twenty to about twenty-five degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for inerting the head space of a capped container, comprising: 
 a pressurized supply of an inert gas;    at least one first injector connected to the pressurized supply of the inert gas, the at least one first injector angled from about fifteen to about forty degrees from horizontal and operable to inject the inert gas into a head space of a container; and    at least one second injector connected to the pressurized supply of the inert gas, the at least one second injector operable to inject the inert gas into a skirt volume of a cap used to seal the container.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a header block connected between the pressurized supply of the inert gas and the at least one first injector.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a header block connected between the pressurized supply of the inert gas and the at least one second injector.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one first injector is angled from about twenty to about twenty-five degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one second injector is angled from about fifteen to about forty degrees from horizontal.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one second injector is angled from about twenty to about twenty-five degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus for inerting the head space of a capped container, comprising: 
 a pressurized supply of a first inert gas;    a pressurized supply of a second inert gas different than the first inert gas;    at least one first injector connected to the pressurized supply of the first inert gas, the at least one first injector operable to inject the first inert gas into a head space of a container; and    at least one second injector connected to the pressurized supply of the second inert gas, the at least one second injector operable to inject the second inert gas into a skirt volume of a cap used to seal the container.    
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 a first header block connected between the pressurized supply of the first inert gas and the at least one first injector; and    a second header block connected between the pressurized supply of the second inert gas and the at least one second injector.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one first injector is angled from about fifteen to about forty degrees from horizontal.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one first injector is angled from about twenty to about twenty-five degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one second injector is angled from about fifteen to about forty degrees from horizontal.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one second injector is angled from about twenty to about twenty-five degrees from vertical.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the first inert gas and second inert gas are nitrogen.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus for inerting the head space of a container, comprising: 
 an insert gas source;    at least one nozzle coupled to the inert gas source, the at least one nozzle operable to create a gas flow having a direction, the gas flow being directed toward a cap used to seal the container when the cap is angled relative to an opening of the container, so that the gas flow simultaneously impinges a skirt volume of the cap and a head space of the container.    
   
   
       34 . An apparatus for inerting the head space of a container, wherein a cap is used to seal the head space, the cap being conveyed along a first route and the container being conveyed along a second route, the cap and the container being conveyed toward one another to be brought into contact, the apparatus comprising: 
 an inert gas source;    at least one nozzle coupled to the inert gas source, the at least one nozzle operable to direct an inert gas to at least one of a skirt volume of the cap and the head space of the container at least two distinct points during conveyance of the respective cap and container.    
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the nozzle is operable to direct the inert gas toward the container head space at first and second distinct points during conveyance of the container.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the nozzle is operable to direct the inert gas toward the cap skirt volume at first and second distinct points during conveyance of the cap.  
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the nozzle is operable to direct the inert gas toward the container head space at a first point during conveyance of the container and toward at least the cap skirt volume at a second point during conveyance of the container.  
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the nozzle is operable to direct inert gas toward the cap skirt volume at a first point during conveyance of the container and toward at least the cap skirt volume at a second point during conveyance of the container.  
   
   
       39 . An apparatus for inerting the head space of a container, comprising: 
 an inert gas source;    at least one nozzle coupled to the inert gas source and operable to direct an inert gas to at least one of the head space and a skirt volume of a cap used to seal the container, the nozzle further operable to produce an inert gas flow at a pressure of less than about 10 psi.    
   
   
       40 . An apparatus for inerting the head space of a container, comprising: 
 an inert gas source;    at least one nozzle coupled to the inert gas source and operable to direct an inert gas to at least one of the head space and a skirt volume of a cap used to seal the container, the nozzle further operable to produce an inert gas flow at a flow rate of less than about 8 cfm.    
   
   
       41 . An apparatus for inerting the head space of a container, comprising: 
 an inert gas source;    at least one nozzle coupled to the inert gas source and operable to direct an inert gas to at least one of the head space and a skirt volume of a cap used to seal the container, the nozzle further operable to produce an inert gas flow at a pressure and flow rate to avoid drawing external oxygen into the head space to inert the head space to a gas composition level of less than about fourteen percent (14%) oxygen when the container is capped.    
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the gas composition is less than about twelve percent (12%) oxygen.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the gas composition is less than about five percent (5%) oxygen.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the gas composition is less than about three percent (3%) oxygen.