APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FILLING AND CLOSING A CONTAINER IN TWO STAGES

Abstract: A wide mouthed container (2) filled with beer (20) has a first closure member (12) applied thereto and held in position. The container is then moved along the filling line to a cleaning station at which the exterior thereof is subjected to high pressure jets of water to clean any contaminants therefrom. After drying, a second closure member (14) is screwed over the first closure member (12) to seal the container. In this manner, it is ensured that there are no contaminants on the exterior of the container near the mouth opening so that it is safe to drink from the container after opening.

Description: APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FILLING AND CLOSING A CONTAINER IN TWO STAGES The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for closing a filled container, and to such a container when closed and filled. Containers such as cans, bottles, or wide mouthed containers for beer and other carbonated beverages, for example, are generally filled and closed on automated filling lines. During the filling process, particularly where the container is wide-mouthed, that is, has a mouth opening with a diameter of 45mm or more, some of the content may spill, slop or foam onto the exterior of the container. Sometimes foam is deliberately produced during filling to purge the headspace at the opening of the container of oxygen and/or other contaminants. When the container is a can and has an end member seamed thereon after filling, the can can be washed to remove any residues or other contamination. However, if the closure is to be mechanically engaged on the opening of the container, for example, is a screw closure, then the area around the opening which is contacted by the interior of the closure will be hidden from any subsequent cleaning process. Any area on the exterior of the container which has been contacted with the beverage, but cannot be subsequently cleaned, could create a bio- hazard as the carbonated beverage provides nutrients for microbial growth. It is particularly important to prevent the chance of any such contamination where the container is specifically designed to be drunk from. European patent 0578711 , for example, describes a wide mouthed plastics material container for beer, having external screw threads, which is specifically designed for use as a drinking vessel after opening. With such a container, therefore, there is a clear need to ensure that the external screw threads are clean and uncontaminated after the filling and closing processes. Beer, and other carbonated beverages, contain sugar. If the sugar remains on screw threads or other engaging means on the exterior of a container it will act as an adhesive when a closure is engaged thereon. This can make it subsequently very difficult for the consumer to open the container. This is particularly significant with a wide mouthed drinking vessel as shown in European patent no. 0578711. European patent 0975527 shows a two-part screw closure for such a container which is designed to keep the opening torque low. However, if the screw threads of the closure become adhered to those of the container, even that closure becomes unopenable. The present invention seeks to overcome or reduce the problems which can arise on the filling of containers, as outlined above. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of closing a filled container, the method comprising the steps of: temporarily closing the filled container by holding a first closure member in position to close the container opening; cleaning the exterior of the container whilst it is temporarily closed, and applying a second closure member to said container opening to seal the filled container. With a method of an embodiment of the invention, the temporary closure protects the contents of the container from contamination by the cleaning process whilst enabling the exterior of the container to be cleaned. Once cleaning has been completed, the container opening may be sealed. It is possible to have a temporary closure which is not intended to remain on the container. Once the cleaning process has been completed, therefore, said second closure member is applied to said container opening to replace said first closure member. The first closure member, which is to be subsequently discarded, may be a plate or other closure which is held in position on the container opening by pressure applying means such as an arm. Alternatively, the temporary closure may be part of the arm and subsequently reused. Where there is reuse of the first closure member, of course, it will be necessary to arrange for the first closure member to be cleaned. The second closure member, which is used to seal the container opening, may be of any type and/or configuration required. For example, the second closure member may be a one part closure, or may be a two-part or a multi-part closure. Currently it is preferred that the closure used to seal the filled container is a two-part closure, for example, as described in European patent 0975527. The closure in this patent specification has a first part which extends across the opening and a second depending rotatable part which screws onto the container to hold the first closure member in position to seal the container. Such an arrangement is particularly suited to a method of an embodiment of the invention where the temporary closure of the container may be by way of the first part of the two-part closure, which is subsequently retained in position to seal the container by the second part of the two-part closure. Specifically, in an embodiment of the invention, said second closure member is applied to the container to hold said first closure member in position, such that said first and second closure members together seal the filled container. As noted previously, it is possible to have a closure which has more that two parts. For example, the multi-part closure may incorporate a jetting device and/or an oxygen scavenging part. Generally, such a multi-part closure is assembled, and is applied to the container, when the container opening is to be sealed. In this case, part of the multi-part closure forms said second closure member. Whilst the filled container is temporarily closed, the container is cleaned in any appropriate manner. For example, the exterior of the container may be cleaned by spraying a fluid at that exterior. The fluid may be water or air. For example high pressure jets of water and air may be used as alternatives or in sequence. Additionally and/or alternatively, the exterior of the container may be cleaned by brushing. It is also possible with a method of the invention to perform any further treatments required on the exterior of the container whilst it is temporarily closed. For example, the further treatments performed may apply fungicides, and/or antibacterial agents to the exterior of the container. In an embodiment, the exterior of the container is dried whilst the container is temporarily closed. Preferably, the container has been filled with a foodstuff, such as a carbonated beverage. A method of the invention finds particular utility where the carbonated beverage is beer. In an embodiment, a method of the invention further comprises the step of applying nitrogen into the container by way of its opening before said first closure member is held thereon. The nitrogen may be used, for example, to purge the headspace of oxygen. Preferably, a jetting device is inserted into said container before the container opening is sealed by the application of said second closure member. The nitrogen is taken into the jetting device to charge it ready for subsequent use. Although a method of the present invention is not restricted to use with any particular type of container, it does find particular usefulness where the container opening is an unrestricted mouth opening and has a diameter which exceeds 30mm, and generally exceeds 45mm. The 45mm size can generally be taken to divide bottles with narrow mouths from containers with wide mouths. Where a container has a wide, unrestricted, mouth opening, there is likely to be a larger problem of spillage of the container contents than with narrow necked containers. The second closure member may be seamed, bonded, clipped, push fitted, screwed onto or otherwise appropriately engaged on the container to seal the filled container. In an embodiment, first interengaging means are provided on said second closure member, and second interengaging means are provided on said container, said first and second interengaging means being engaged when the second closure member is applied to the container, and wherein said first closure member is held in position during cleaning such that the second interengaging means are accessible and thereby subject to the cleaning. The present invention also extends to apparatus for closing a filled container, the apparatus comprising: means for cleaning the exterior of a container, 5 means for temporarily closing the opening of a filled container whilst the container is cleaned by said cleaning means, and closure means for sealing the container opening of the filled and cleaned container. 0 Preferably, said means for temporarily closing the opening of the filled container comprises means for applying a first closure member to the opening, and means for holding the first closure member in position to close the container opening. 5 For example, said holding means comprises a pressure applying arm arranged to engage the first closure member and hold it in position against any pressure from the contents of the filled container. Alternatively, said means for temporarily closing the container and said 0 holding means comprise a pressure applying arm carrying a first closure member at one end thereof, said pressure applying arm being arranged to locate the first closure member in position to close the container opening and then to hold the first closure member in position against any pressure from the contents of the filled container. 5 In an embodiment, said cleaning means comprises means for spraying a fluid against the exterior of the container to effect cleaning thereof. The fluid sprayed may be water and/or air. 30 The spray means is preferably arranged to provide a high pressure jet of the fluid used. Additionally and/or alternatively, said cleaning means comprises means for brushing the exterior of the container. j:> To facilitate cleaning, the cleaning means may comprise means to rotate the container during cleaning thereof. In an embodiment, said closure means comprises means for applying a second closure member to the opening of the container, and means for securing the second closure member to the container to seal the container opening. For example, the securing means may be arranged to seam or bond the second closure member to the container after the first closure member has been removed therefrom. In an alternative embodiment, said securing means applies the second closure member to the container by clipping, engaging, or by screwing. Preferably, in this case, said first closure member is maintained on the container and is retained in position by said applied second closure member. The first and second closure members may constitute a two-part closure for the container or may be two parts of a multi-part closure. Apparatus of the invention may further comprise further treatment means for performing further treatments on the exterior of the container whilst said means for temporarily closing the opening maintains the container opening temporarily closed. For example, said further treatment means may comprise means for drying the container exterior. Additionally and/or alternatively, said further treatment means comprises means for applying fungicides and/or antibacterial agents to the exterior of the container. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for moving a container from the means for temporarily closing the container, to the cleaning means, and then to the closure means. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the shared moving means comprises either a linear conveyor or a rotatable carousel provided in a substantially conventional filling line. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a filled and closed container which has been closed by a method as defined above or has been closed by apparatus as defined above. A filled and closed container of the invention preferably has an opening, and a closure secured to the container to seal the opening, wherein said opening is an unrestricted mouth opening. In an embodiment, said unrestricted mouth opening for the container has a diameter which exceeds 30 millimetres, and preferably, exceeds 45 millimetres. A headspace is defined within the container opening between the contained product and the closure, and preferably the container and/or closure are configured to reduce the volume of the headspace. For example, said closure is inwardly deformed to extend into the headspace, and may be inwardly domed, or inwardly indented. In an embodiment, a jetting device is provided within the container. To reduce the amount of oxygen in the headspace, an inner surface of the closure may be coated with, or carry, an oxygen scavenging material. Preferably the contained product within the container is a foodstuff. In a preferred embodiment, a filled and closed container of the invention contains a carbonated beverage, preferably beer. The container has a body member within which the product is contained, and on which the container opening is defined. In one embodiment, the body member is metal, in an alternative the body member is glass, and in a further alternative, the body member is plastics material. The closure for the container may be a two-part or a multi-part closure. Where the closure is a two-part closure, the first part thereof may constitute the first closure member which temporarily closed the container, with the second part of the closure constituting said second closure member. Alternatively, the closure may be a single part closure and comprise said second closure member. A multi-part closure or a two-part closure may be made of metal and plastics material, of metal, or of plastics material. Similarly, a single part closure may be made of metal or of plastics material. Preferably the closure is secured to the container by engaged screw threads on the container and on the closure. However, alternative means to secure the closure on the container, such as seaming, clipping or crimping, may be employed. Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with a reference to the accompanying drawings, in it: Figure 1 shows schematically a carbonated beverage container with a rotatable two-part closure: Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through the container of Figure 1 to illustrate steps in a method of the invention, and Figure 3 shows a plan view from above of apparatus for closing a container in accordance with the present invention. The invention described herein is, as set out above, applicable to any containers which are to be sealed to retain a contained product. However, for clarity, the container will be described further below with specific reference to containers for containing beer and other beverages. Beer is commonly contained in plastics or glass, thin-necked bottles having screw closures or crown corks. Beer is also commonly contained in aluminium cans which have a wide mouth opening to which an end closure is seamed. The present invention is clearly applicable to these types of containers, and it's also applicable to any other containers it may be required to use. Figure 1 illustrates an example of a beverage container of plastics material for beer or other beverages having a rotatable closure, as described in WO98/46493. The container of Figure 1 comprises a substantially cylindrical body member 2 of plastics material having closed end 4 and a generally circular mouth opening 6 at the end thereof opposed to said a closed end 4. An interrupted external screw thread 8 is provided on the body member 2 and surrounds, but is spaced from, the mouth opening 6. The container of Figure 1 is also provided with a closure 10 having an internal screw thread (not visible in Figure 1 ) arranged to engage the screw thread 8 of the container. Thus, when the body member 2 has been filled with beer, the closure 10 can be engaged thereon by engaging the screw threads of the closure 10 and of the body member 2, and then rotating or screwing the closure 10 to its position. Containers, such as that illustrated in Figure 1 , are filled on conventional filling lines which may comprise linear conveying means or rotatable carousels effective to place each container in its turn under a filling head so that the container can be charged with beer. Particularly where the container is wide mouthed as that illustrated, it is likely that there will be fobbing or slopping of the beer out of the container and onto the exterior thereof. Spillage will continue as the container is moved from the filling head to a closure station. In addition, foam may be deliberately produced during the filling process to purge the headspace of oxygen. The container of Figure 1 is provided, as shown in Figure 2, with a two part closure 10 comprising a first closure member 12 which engages with the mouth opening 6, and a second closure member 14 which has internal screw threads 16 for engagement with the external screw thread 8 provided on the exterior of the body member 2 of the container. The first and second closure members 12, 14 are configured such that the second closure member 14, when screwed onto the external thread 8 of the container, holds the first closure member 12 across the mouth opening 6 whereby the container is sealed. In this respect, the configuration of the two-part closure may be chosen as required and may be, for example, as described in European patent 0975527. During a filling operation, beer, indicated at 20, is charged into the body member 2. Then the first closure member 12 is positioned across the mouth opening 6 to close the mouth opening. The closure member 12 is held in position against the pressure of the carbonation in the beer 20 by way of a pressure applying arm (not shown) of the filling line which contacts the exterior of the first closure member 12 and applies pressure to keep it in place. With the container thereby closed, its exterior can be subject to cleaning. For example, high pressure jets of air and water may be used to remove contaminants from the exterior of the container. Where the cleaning is carried out by water, the container may subsequently be subjected to a drying process. The container can be brushed, or subjected to other mechanical processes. To facilitate the cleaning, the container may be rotated about its longitudinal axis. All of these processes can be arranged to take place as the container is moved along a filling line from the filling head to the closure station. The filled and cleaned container arriving at the closure station already has the first closure member 12 in position. At the closure station, therefore, the second closure member 14 is engaged over the first closure member and screwed into place. During this process, the pressure applying arm holding the inner closure 12 in position is removed. In this respect, the arm may comprise a forked member which co-operates with the second closure member in any suitable manner. It would alternatively be possible to close the container by a single part closure after cleaning. In this circumstance, the first closure member 12 is removed from the container after the cleaning process, and the second closure member is then applied to the container to seal it. Apparatus for cleaning and closing a filled container is preferably incorporated in a filling and closing line for the containers as indicated in Figure 3. Figure 3 shows a filling head or station 30 in the form of a carousel. Filled but open containers, as indicated at 32, are discharged from the filling station 30 and are fed to apparatus of the invention generally indicated at 34. As shown schematically, the apparatus 34 generally comprises a carousel 36 arranged to receive containers and convey them around an annular path between an input 38 and a discharge exit 40. The apparatus 34 is provided with means 42 for temporarily closing an arriving, filled container 32. These means 42 may comprise arms to move a first closure 12 into engagement at the top of a filled container and to hold that closure in position. The temporary closure arrives in place to close the container at closure station 44, and remains held in place by the pressure applying arm until the container is subsequently sealed. The container is then moved to a washing station 46, and then to a drying station 48, at which the temporarily sealed container is first cleaned and then dried. This may be by spray high pressure jets of water, and then air, against the container exterior. At a sealing station 50 the filled and cleaned container 32 is then sealed by way of closure means. As indicated at 52, closure means pick up a second closure member and are effective, at sealing station 50, to engage that closure member over the first closure member and screw it onto the container. The filled, cleaned and sealed container is then discharged at exit 40. As indicated, variations in and modifications to the embodiments as described and illustrated may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of closing a filled container, the method comprising the steps of: temporarily closing the filled container by holding a first closure member in position to close the container opening; cleaning the exterior of the container whilst it is temporarily closed, and applying a second closure member to said container opening to seal the filled container. 2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein said second closure member is applied to said container opening to replace said first closure member. 3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein said second closure member is applied to the container to hold said first closure member in position, such that said first and second closure members together seal the filled container. 4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said second closure member is secured to said container to maintain the opening thereof sealed. 5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the exterior of the container is cleaned by spraying a fluid at the exterior. 6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the fluid sprayed to effect cleaning is water. 7. A method as claimed In Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the fluid sprayed to effect cleaning is air. 8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the exterior of the container is cleaned by brushing the exterior. 9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising the step of performing further treatments on the exterior of the container whilst it is temporarily closed. 10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the further treatments performed apply fungicides, and/or antibacterial agents to the exterior of the container. 11. A method as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the exterior of the container is dried whilst the container is temporarily closed. 12. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container has been filled with a foodstuff. 13. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container has been filled with carbonated beverage. 14. A method as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the carbonated beverage is beer. 15. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising the step of applying nitrogen into the container by way of its opening before said first closure member is held thereon. 16. A method as claimed in Claim 15, wherein a jetting device is inserted into said container before the container opening is sealed by the application of said second closure member. 17. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said container opening is an unrestricted mouth opening. 18 A method as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said unrestricted mouth opening has a diameter which exceeds 30 millimetres, and preferably exceeds 45 millimetres. 19. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said second closure member is seamed, bonded, clipped, push fitted and/or screwed onto said container to seal the filled container. 20. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein first interengaging means are provided on said second closure member, and second interengaging means are provided on said container, said first and second interengaging means being engaged when the second closure member is applied to the container, and wherein said first closure member is held in position during cleaning such that the second interengaging means are accessible and thereby subject to the cleaning. 21. Apparatus for closing a filled container, the apparatus comprising: means for cleaning the exterior of a container, means for temporarily closing the opening of a filled container whilst the container is cleaned by said cleaning means, and closure means for sealing the container opening of the filled and cleaned container. 22. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 21 , wherein said means for temporarily closing the opening of the filled container comprises means for applying a first closure member to the opening, and means for holding the first closure member in position to close the container opening. 23. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 22, wherein said holding means comprises a pressure applying arm arranged to engage the first closure member and hold it in position against any pressure from the contents of the filled container. 24. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 22, wherein said means for temporarily closing and said holding means comprise a pressure applying arm carrying a first closure member at one end thereof, said pressure applying arm being arranged to locate the first closure member in position to close the container opening and then to hold the first closure member in position against any pressure from the contents of the filled container. 25. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 24, wherein said cleaning means comprises means for spraying a fluid against the exterior of the container to effect cleaning thereof. 26. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 25, wherein said fluid is water and/or air. 27. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 25 or Claim 26, wherein said spray means is arranged to provide a high pressure jet of said fluid. 28. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 27, wherein said cleaning means comprises means for brushing the exterior of the container. 29. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 28, wherein said cleaning means comprises means to rotate the container during cleaning thereof. 30. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 29, wherein said closure means comprises means for applying a second closure member to the opening of the container, and means for securing the second closure member to the container to seal the container opening. 31. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 30, wherein said securing means seams or bonds the second closure member to the container after the first closure member has been removed therefrom. 32. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 30, wherein said securing means applies the second closure member to the container by clipping, engaging, or by screwing. 33. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 32, wherein said first closure member is maintained on the container and is retained in position by said applied second closure member. 34. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 33, further comprising further treatment means for performing further treatments on the exterior of the container whilst said means for temporarily closing the opening maintains the container opening temporarily closed. 35. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 34, wherein said further treatment means comprises means for drying the container exterior. 36. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 34 or Claim 35, wherein said further treatment means comprises means for applying fungicides and/or antibacterial agents to the exterior of the container. 37. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 36, further comprising means for moving a container from the means for temporarily closing the container, to the cleaning means, and then to the closure means. 38. A filled and closed container which has been closed by a method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 20. 39. A filled and closed container which has been closed by apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 37. 40. A filled and closed container as claimed in Claim 38 or Claim 39, having an opening, and a closure secured to the container to seal the opening, wherein said opening is an unrestricted mouth opening. 41. A container as claimed in Claim 40, wherein said unrestricted mouth opening for the container has a diameter which exceeds 30 millimetres. 42. A container as claimed in Claim 41 , wherein said unrestricted mouth opening has a diameter which exceeds 45 millimetres. 43. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 42, wherein a headspace is defined within the container opening between the contained product and the closure, and wherein the container and/or closure are configured to reduce the volume of the headspace. 44. A container as claimed in Claim 43, wherein said closure is inwardly deformed to extend into the headspace. 45. A container as claimed in Claim 44, wherein said closure is inwardly domed. 46. A container as claimed in Claim 44, wherein said closure is inwardly indented. 47. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 46, further comprising a jetting device within the container. 48. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 47, wherein an inner surface of the closure is coated with, or carries, an oxygen scavenging material. 49. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 48, wherein the contained product within the container is a foodstuff. 50. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 49, wherein the contained product within the container is a carbonated beverage. 51. A container as claimed in Claim 50, wherein the carbonated beverage is beer. 52. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 51 , wherein the container has a body member within which the product is contained, and on which the container opening is defined, and wherein the body member is metal. 53. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 51 , wherein the container has a body member within which the product is contained, and on which the container opening is defined, and wherein the body member is glass. 54. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 51 , wherein the container has a body member within which the product is contained, and on which the container opening is defined, and wherein the body member is plastics material. 55. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 54, wherein said closure is a multi-part or a two-part closure, a second part of the closure being said second closure member. 56. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 54, wherein said closure is a single part closure and comprises said second closure member. 57. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 55, wherein said closure is made of metal and plastics material. 58. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 56, wherein said closure is made of metal. 59. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 56, wherein said closure is made of plastics material. 60. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 59, wherein the closure is secured to the container by engaged screw threads on the container and on the closure. 61. A container as claimed in any of Claims 38 to 59, wherein the closure has been seamed to the container to secure the closure. 62. A container as claimed in Claims 38 to 59, wherein the closure has been clipped or crimped onto the container to secure the closure. 63. A method of closing a filled container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 64. Apparatus for closing a filled container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 65. A closed and filled container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings

Inventors: GOAR MICHAEL EDWIN, SEARLE MATTHEW JOHN, GOAR, MICHAEL, EDWIN, SEARLE, MATTHEW, JOHN
Applicants: GOAR MICHAEL EDWIN, SEARLE MATTHEW JOHN, GOAR, MICHAEL, EDWIN, SEARLE, MATTHEW, JOHN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B67C7
IPC codes: B65B55, B67C7