Patent ID: 8171701
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: B65B,B65D,B67C

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a plurality of hot-filled and sealed plastic containers, each said plastic container including a body portion and a base portion, the base portion forming a support surface for supporting the container on a substantially flat surface and the base portion having a moveable element arranged at a bottom end thereof, the moveable element being moveable substantially permanently to remove a vacuum in the container; a cooler to cool the plurality of hot-filled and sealed containers, said cooling creating a vacuum in each of the hot-filled and sealed containers, each said vacuum causing temporary deformation of the corresponding container, the temporary deformation being directed to a predetermined specified portion of the container; a conveyor to convey the containers while temporarily compensating for the vacuums created therein and maintaining stable touch points; and an activator to activate, after the containers or conveyed, the moveable element of each said container, said activating including moving the moveable element from a first position to a second position substantially permanently to remove a portion of the vacuum, wherein the body portion of each said container includes a first hoop ring, a second hoop ring, and a smooth sidewall between the first and second hoop rings, and wherein the conveyance of the containers is such that each said container is in contact with a plurality of other of said containers of said plurality, the first and the second hoop rings for each said container providing for substantially stable touch points for conveyance of the containers.