Patent Publication Number: US-8541037-B2

Title: Packaged bottle beverage having an ingredient release closure with improved additive release and method and apparatus thereof

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS REFERENCES 
     The present application is a national phase patent application corresponding to international patent application serial no. PCT/US09/40767 entitled “A PACKAGED BOTTLE BEVERAGE HAVING AN INGREDIENT RELEASE CLOSURE WITH IMPROVED ADDITIVE RELEASE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREOF” and filed on Apr. 16, 2009, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/103,916 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,142,827 entitled “A PACKAGED BOTTLE BEVERAGE HAVING AN INGREDIENT RELEASE CLOSURE WITH IMPROVED ADDITIVE RELEASE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREOF” filed on Apr. 16, 2008, the subject matter of both of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to packaged bottled beverages, and, more particularly, to such packaged bottled beverages having closures which contain compartments therein with additives for release into the bottles upon latter opening of the bottles by consumers and methods and apparatuses for same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Consumers have become increasingly particular with respect to the freshness of food and beverage products. As a result, food and beverage manufacturers have developed packaging which provides such freshness by allowing consumers to mix additional ingredients immediately prior to consumption. For example, yogurt containers are provided with lids having sealed compartments for storing additives such as granola, dried fruit, sugared confections and the like. The consumer opens the sealed compartment and mixes the additives with the yogurt immediately prior to consuming. 
     Beverage manufacturers are desirous of providing the same experience for consumers with respect to incorporating additives, such as flavors, vitamins, natural ingredients and the like, to base components of beverages immediately prior to consumption. Numerous closures for packaged bottled beverages have been developed which contain a compartment for storing additives. These ingredient release closures have various mechanisms to release the additives. For example, some ingredient release closures contain a frangible seal which may be broken, such as by puncturing, cutting or tearing, to release the ingredient. The frangible seal is typically designed to be broken before the closure is detached from the container, thus allowing the additive stored within the ingredient release closure to combine with the base component of the beverage with minimal spillage of the additive onto a nearby surface or the consumer. Other ingredient release closures utilize plunger type mechanisms which seal an opening between the body of the container and the compartment containing the additive. Upon moving the plunger, the additive is released into the base component of the beverage. 
     Regardless of the mechanism for releasing the additive into the container, the additive must be sufficiently and quickly eliminated from the ingredient release closure to insure a quality product for the consumer. Sufficient elimination depends in part on construction of the ingredient release closure. The ingredient release closure should be designed to have minimum obstructions between the opening of the compartment and the body of the container, allowing for open flow of the additive from the ingredient release closure into the container. The viscosity of the additive also plays a role in elimination because of its effect on the flow of the additive. Higher viscosity additives, such as those with a syrupy consistency, may have a slower flow rate as compared to lower viscosity additives, such as those with a watery consistency. Problems in managing the flow rate are complicated if the ingredient release closure has an obstructive configuration. 
     Thus, there exists a need in the art to develop a solution for improving the flow rate of additives such that, when released from an ingredient release closure, such additives may be sufficiently and quickly eliminated so as to immediately mix with the base components in containers. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present device overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need by providing a packaged bottled beverage with superior additive delivery having a base component of the beverage in a container under vacuum and separate from an additive in a sealed compartment of an ingredient release closure. Upon opening of the sealed compartment, suction is created forcing the additive to quickly and thoroughly exit the ingredient release closure, a region of higher pressure, and flow into the base component in the container, a region of lower pressure. 
     Accordingly, one feature and advantage of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a method of improving the delivery of an additive contained within a sealed compartment of an ingredient release closure into a base component of a beverage contained within a vessel of a container by applying compression to the outer surface of the vessel during the capping process to create a vacuum in the container. 
     Another feature and advantage of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a container closing apparatus in a filling plant that efficiently applies compression to a container during capping, thus creating vacuum within the sealed container. 
     Yet another feature and advantage of the present disclosure is its ability to provide a system and method for sanitizing of a container cap, wherein cleanliness of a pre-filled cap is assured without any adverse affect to the quality or taste of a packaged bottle beverage. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will become more apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reading the following Detailed Description and Claims in light of the accompanying drawing Figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Accordingly, the present disclosure will be understood best through consideration of, and with reference to, the following drawing Figures, viewed in conjunction with the Detailed Description referring thereto, in which like reference numbers throughout the various Figures designate like structure, and in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a side view of a container of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of a packaged bottled beverage of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view at line  2 - 2  of the container of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view at line  3 - 3  of the packaged bottled beverage of  FIG. 1B ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a capper star wheel mechanism employed in the apparatus and method of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a container entering a container closing apparatus according to the apparatus and method of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of an adjustable rail employed in the apparatus and method of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a container in contact with the adjustable rail of the container closing apparatus according to the apparatus and method of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a cut away view of an ingredient release closure sealed to the top of a container; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of a metering pump and treatment storage unit for use with the cap treatment mechanism of  FIGS. 10 and 11 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic illustration of a cap treatment mechanism employed in the apparatus and method of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of a portion of the cap treatment mechanism of  FIG. 10 , showing treatment being dispensed into a cap. 
     
    
    
     It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the invention to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     To the fullest extent permitted by law, the present application claims priority to and the benefit as a patent cooperation treaty application to U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/103,916, entitled A PACKAGED BOTTLE BEVERAGE HAVING AN INGREDIENT RELEASE CLOSURE WITH IMPROVED ADDITIVE RELEASE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREOF, and filed Apr. 16, 2008, on behalf of inventor James Clayton Bell and Assignee Georgia Crown Distributing Co. 
     In describing preferred embodiments of the present device and method illustrated in  FIGS. 1-11 , specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     The present disclosure addresses the performance of packaged bottled beverages that have the additional feature of ingredient release closures containing additives providing consumers with freshly mixed beverages immediately prior to consumption. To insure quality performance of such packaged bottled beverages, the delivery outcome should result in sufficient and quick elimination of the additive from ingredient release closures. Regardless of the structure of ingredient release closures, this outcome may be achieved by providing in one preferred embodiment of the invention a packaged bottled beverage comprising: (a) a beverage comprising a base component and an additive; (b) a container comprising an opening for receiving an ingredient release closure and a vessel containing the base component; (c) the ingredient release closure comprising a sealed compartment containing the additive, a release mechanism for dispensing the additive and attaching means for attachment to the opening of the container; and (d) the attaching means of the closure attached to the opening of the container to form a packaged bottled beverage; wherein the base component is contained under vacuum in the container. In operation, the vacuum in the container creates a pressure differential between the base component and the additive in the ingredient release closure. Upon releasing the additive from the ingredient release closure using the release mechanism and prior to opening the packaged bottle beverage for drinking, the vacuum sufficiently and quickly pulls or draws the additive out of the ingredient release closure to provide a freshly mixed beverage with no spilling or leaking of the base component or additive. A pressure differential between a region of relatively higher pressure, i.e. the additive in the ingredient release closure, and a region of relatively lower pressure, i.e. the base component under vacuum in the container, enables a suction force between the ingredient release closure and the container to pull or draw the additive from the ingredient release closure into the base component in the container. Further, the additive preferably efficiently discharges from the ingredient release closure whereby minimal residual additive remains in the ingredient release closure. 
     The base component of the beverage may be water, tea, juice, energy drink or the like. The additive may be one or more flavors, vitamins, energy enhancements, natural ingredients or the like and may be in liquid or powdered form. The container may be metal, glass, plastic or the like. Preferably, the container is made from a flexible plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate, commonly referred to as PET. The ingredient release closure may be of any construction having a sealed compartment for containing the additive and a release mechanism such as a plunger, a frangible seal, or the like. Further, the ingredient release closure may be a sports type closure. The attaching means may be a crimped seal, a threaded seal or the like which provides a sufficient seal to prevent ingress of external gases; thereby, undesirably reducing the vacuum in the container. The vacuum may be formed by applying compression to an outer surface of the vessel, by a vacuum pump, by a vacuum chamber, or the like. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , packaged bottled beverage  10  comprises container  11  and ingredient release closure  12 . Container  11  preferably is made of flexible plastic, such as polyethylene terephthalate or the like. Container  11  has vessel  13  for holding the base component of a beverage and opening  14  for receiving ingredient release closure  12 . Best seen with reference to  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 8 , ingredient release closure  12 , as shown, is preferably a sports closure having sealed compartment  15 , release mechanism  16  and spout  20 .  FIG. 1A  represents container  11  when filled with the base component and prior to application of ingredient release closure  12 . Vessel  13  has a circular cross-sectional shape in label panel area  17  along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1A , as shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1B  represents packaged bottled beverage  10  with ingredient release closure  12  attached to container  11  under vacuum. Under vacuum, in one method of the present disclosure as more fully described below, the cross-section in label panel area  17  is altered by vacuum pressure forces which transform the circular cross-sectional shape into a square cross-sectional shape along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1B , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the cross-sectional shape may take one of a variety of different forms, such as oval. 
     In use, the consumer activates ingredient release closure  12  by pulling up spout  20  to engage release mechanism  16  and transfer the additive into the base component of the beverage. With other ingredient release closures available in the art, consumers may activate the release mechanism by twisting, applying pressure, or the like depending on the mechanical function of the release mechanism. 
     In one example, a 0.5 liter lightweight container  11 , which is made from 15 to 20 grams of PET, has a pre-vacuum diameter in label panel area  17  along line  2 - 2  of 6.35 centimeters. Under vacuum, the diameter is reduced to between 5.84 to 4.57 centimeters depending on the viscosity of the additive in ingredient release closure  12 . Using a correlation in percentages, the diameter of vessel  13  in packaged bottled beverage  10  is 95% to 65%, preferably 92% to 72%, of the original size diameter of vessel  13  prior to attaching ingredient release closure  12  to container  11 . For a 0.7 liter container with circular diameter of 6.92 centimeters, the diameter of packaged bottled beverage  10  would be preferably set to between 6.35 to 4.82 centimeters. 
     When using a 0.5 liter container  11  made from 20-25 grams of PET, the wall thickness of the vessel  13  is greater. As such, the cross-sectional shape of the vessel  13  may be oval rather than square. The resulting cross-sectional shape of vessel  13  depends upon the amount of compression applied during the capping process as further discussed below. For applications wherein container  11  is made of flexible plastic, the vacuum is preferably created by application of compression to the outer surface of vessel  13 , which effectively reduces the diameter of vessel  13 . Alternatively, the vacuum is created utilizing a vacuum pump or vacuum chamber, which is effective for flexible and rigid containers alike. 
     In another preferred embodiment, a method for improving delivery of an additive contained within a sealed compartment of an ingredient release closure into a base component of a beverage contained within a vessel of a packaged bottled beverage comprises the steps of providing a container, a closure and a vacuum means. The container comprises (i) an opening for receiving a closure and (ii) a vessel containing a base component of a beverage. The closure comprises (i) a sealed compartment containing an additive, (ii) a release mechanism for dispensing the additive, and (iii) attaching means for attachment to the opening of the container. Preferably, in one simultaneous operation, the closure is attached to the opening of the container and a vacuum is created with the vacuum means to form a packaged bottled beverage with a container under vacuum. Preferably, the container is a flexible container and the vacuum means is provided by applying compression to an outer surface of the vessel of the container. The compression is preferably applied to the outer surface of the vessel by an adjustable rail having a decreasing arc from a point of initial contact with the container to a point of final contact with the container. Other structures, such as plungers, projectors, opposing plates, rollers or the like, may be used to apply to the outer surface of the vessel. Alternatively, the vacuum means is provided by a vacuum pump or vacuum chamber. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-7 , another preferred embodiment of the invention shows container closing apparatus  40  in a bottled beverage filling plant, which conventionally includes rotatable capper star  41 , rotatable capper mechanism  42  (partially shown), and fixed rear guide  43  spaced radially outwardly from capper star  41  for retaining containers  11  within capper star  41 . Additional star wheel mechanisms are strategically situated to assist movement of containers  11  into and out of the capper star  41 . A transfer star  44  is mated to capper star  41  and feeds filled containers  11  into capper star  41  at inlet  45 . Discharge star  46  is mated to capper star  41  and transfers sealed containers  11   a  from outlet  47  of capper star  41 . Both transfer star  44  and discharge star  46  have a rotatable star wheel mechanism having a plurality of pockets adapted to receive containers. 
     Capper star  41  is a rotatable star wheel mechanism having a plurality of capper pockets  48  adapted to receive containers  11  fed in an assembly line fashion thereto. Overlying capper star  41  is capper mechanism  42 , such as a turret capper head, which rotates in synchronism with wheel  49  of capper star  41 . Capper mechanism  42  has a plurality of capper heads  50 , designed to apply ingredient release closures  12  to threaded neck  18  of containers  11  as shown in  FIG. 1A . Best seen with reference to  FIG. 7 , capper heads  50  may employ a clutch mechanism whereby capper head  50  is rotated and driven axially downward at a predetermined force and torque limiting value to tighten ingredient release closures  12  onto threaded neck  18  of container  11 . Fixed rear guide  43  extends between inlet  45  and outlet  47  of capper star  41 . Fixed rear guide  43  is spaced radially outwardly from capper star  41  and functions to retain containers  11  in capper pockets  48  and in axial alignment with capper mechanism  42  as capper star  41  rotates. Capping mechanism  42  is preferably used to apply, ingredient release closures  12  of the type having threading onto threaded neck  18  of containers  11 , such as plastic PET is containers. Plastic container  11 , shown in  FIG. 1A , is preferably of the type that has flange  19  extending radially outwardly from threaded neck  18  and positioned a spaced distance below threaded neck  18 . 
     In the operation of container closing apparatus  40 , filled containers  11  are rotated in a first direction by transfer star  44  to inlet  45  on capper star  41 , which rotates in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of transfer star  44 . Ingredient release closures  12  are supplied to filled containers  11  preferably through supply channel  100 , partially seen in  FIG. 8 , of capper mechanism  42 , but may also already be placed on threaded necks  18  prior to entering capper mechanism  42 . Capper mechanism  42  has rotation means to attach ingredient release closures  12  to filled containers  11 . Sealed containers  11   a  with tightened ingredient release closures  12  thereon are rotated out of capper star  41  at outlet  47  to discharge star  46  rotating in the same direction as transfer star  44  and from thence to a conveyor leading to further processing or handling equipment. 
     Upon entering container closing apparatus  40 , container  11  is received by capping star  41  in specially contoured capper pocket  48 , which is preferably semi-circular in shape and of a diameter similar to that of the diameter of container  11  which it engages. Best seen with reference to  FIG. 5 , container  11  is preferably held and suspended at threaded neck is  18 , in which the underside of flange  19  rests on top on upper ledge  51  of capper pocket  48 . Panel  17  of container  11  is supported by fixed rear guide  43  of capper star  41  to hold container  11  in vertical alignment during the capping operation. 
     Adjustable rail  60 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , has arcuate member  61  having proximate end  62 , distal end  63 , curved inner wall  64 , and straight outer wall  65 . Fixed fastening means  66  is located at distal end  63  and adjustable fastening means  67  is located at proximate end  62 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , adjustable rail  60  is attached to fixed rear guide  43  with an arc of decreasing radius relative to fixed rear guide  43 . The radius is decreased by securing fixed fastening means  66  near inlet  45  of capper star  41  and securing adjustable fastening means  67  near outlet  47  of capper star  41 . Fixed fastening means  66  preferably is a nut and bolt that passes through a hole of substantially the same diameter. Adjustable fastening means  67  preferably is a nut and bolt that passes through a slot, which allows for adjustment of arcuate member  61  at a decreasing radius relative to the radius of fixed rear guide  43 . Adjusting the radius of arcuate member  61  is desirable for use with different size containers  11  or the need to vary the compression applied to containers  11 . Any type of fastening means well known in the art may be used for either adjustable fastening means  67  or fixed fastening means  66 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , as filled container  11  rotates in capper star  41 , adjustable rail  60  comes in contact with filled containers  11  at point A. Upon rotation of filled container  11  by capper star  41 , the radius of arcuate member  61  decreases causing adjustable rail  65  to exert compression on outer wall  21  of filled container  11 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . While compression is being applied, filled container  11  is capped with ingredient release closure  12  to form packaged bottled beverage  10  with container  11  under vacuum. Packaged bottled beverage  10  comes off adjustable rail  60  at point B and continues its rotation in capper star  41  until exiting at outlet  47  to discharge star  46 . Upon exiting outlet  47 , container  11  of packaged bottle beverage  10  changes in shape to adjust to the vacuum created therein. A standard packaged bottle beverage without internal vacuum has a circular cross-sectional shape as shown in  FIG. 2 . As the internal vacuum in container  11  of packaged bottled beverage  10  exerts negative pressure, the shape of container  11  adjusts preferably to a square cross-sectional shape as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, ingredient release closures  12  are sanitized prior to placement on threaded necks  18 , preferably while in supply channel  100 . As generally depicted in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , ingredient release closures  12  are delivered to capper mechanism  42  by cap chute  102  of supply channel  100 . In this preferred embodiment, and as representatively depicted in  FIG. 9 , supply channel  100  is adapted with metering pump system  104  and storage unit  105 , wherein one or more spray nozzles  106  is installed proximate cap chute  102  to spray a metered dose of sanitizer  108  into ingredient release closures  12 . According to the preferred embodiment, sanitizer  108  comprises peracetic acid (peroxyacetic acid, PAA); however, other antimicrobial agents with similarly high oxidizing potential, similar effectiveness against microorganisms, and/or other similarly desirable and food safe characteristics may alternately be utilized. The metered delivery of sanitizer  108  by one or more spray nozzles  106  to ingredient release closures  12  proximately prior to placement on threaded necks  18  prevents the inclusion of any undesirable progenerate in packaged bottle beverage  10 , effectively sanitizing ingredient release closure  12 , yet without affecting taste of packaged bottle beverage  10 . Previously known cap sterilization systems, such as ozonated water baths, have not facilitated such an end result, but have been limitingly successful at dust removal from empty caps; nonetheless, such systems would disadvantageously impact the additive of ingredient release closure  12  if employed subsequent to complete assembly of ingredient release closure  12  and proximate to the time of capping of packaged bottle beverage  10 . 
     Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein.