Patent ID: 6280787
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: B65B,B67C

Abstract:
A method of removing undesirable gas from a container having an interior cavity and an opening for providing access to the interior cavity of the container, the container having a food product disposed within the interior space of the container, said method comprising the steps of:providing a displacement member including a piston portion that is sized and shaped to permit the piston portion to pass through the opening of the container, the piston portion also comprising at least one flushing gas supply passage having an outlet that opens through a surface of the piston portion;positioning the displacement member relative to the container so that the container opening is aligned with the piston portion of the displacement member;moving the displacement member and the container relatively toward one another so that the piston portion is inserted through the container opening and at least partially within the interior space of the container until a surface portion of the piston portion contacts the food product within the interior space, said step of moving the displacement member and the container relatively toward one another thereby causing a positive displacement of a quantity of undesirable gas from within the interior space of the container by forcing undesirable gas out of the interior space of the container by gas flow about the piston portion;moving the displacement member and the container relatively away from one another so that the piston portion is moved along the interior space of the container; andsupplying flushing gas under a positive pressure within the flushing gas supply passage during the step of moving the displacement member and container relatively away from one another and while the outlet of the flushing gas supply passage is within the interior space of the container so that flushing gas is ejected into the interior space of the container.