Patent ID: 9132929
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: A47G,B65B,B65D

Abstract:
1. A method of filling and sealing a beverage container of the kind from which a user may drink, the method comprising the following steps in order: a) dispensing a predetermined amount of beverage into an open-topped container having a rim to leave a headspace above the beverage in the container; b) placing a flexible film lid flat on top of the container touching the entire rim of the container, the film lid having a tab extending beyond the rim of the container; c) temporarily tacking the film lid to the rim of the container at at least one position around the rim while leaving the remainder of the rim free; d) engaging the tab of the tacked lid by relative vertical movement between the container and a ring an inner boundary of which defines an area slightly larger than an area defined by an external boundary of the container at its rim to cause flexure of the lid from its flat state to create a gap between the lid and the rim; e) dispensing an inert gas or substantially oxygen free gas or gases through the gap so created and into the headspace to displace air therefrom; and f) bringing a heat sealer into engagement with the lid to heat seal the lid to the rim about its entire circumference, thereby trapping the inert gas or substantially oxygen free gas or gases within the headspace; wherein the sealed lid is adapted for subsequent manual removal using the tab to open the sealed container to allow a user to drink from the container.