Patent ID: 8720163

Claim:
A system for processing a pre-formed plastic container filled with a hot product, the container having a longitudinal axis, the system comprising: hot filling means for filling a rigid container body of the pre-formed plastic container with the hot product in a production line, the rigid container body having a surface surrounding an interior of the rigid container body and having a closed base comprising a standing surface and a centrally located push-up portion configured to receive a mechanical device, the base also having pressure panel that is invertible from an outwardly inclined position to an inwardly inclined position, the pressure panel extending between the standing surface and the push-up, and wherein the pressure panel includes a portion inclined outwardly at an angle of greater than 10 degrees relative to a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis when in the outwardly inclined position; means for capping a neck of the filled rigid container body with a cap in the next operation of the production line; means for conveying through the production line the pre-formed plastic container having the pressure panel in the outward position; means for cooling the rigid container body of the pre-formed plastic container filled with the hot product; and means for pushing the pressure panel from the outwardly inclined position of the cooled rigid container body into the inwardly inclined position within the interior of the rigid container.