Patent ID: 7644902

Claim:
A clamping fixture for a container used in a retort thermal process, comprising: a clamping fixture having a clamping fixture plate and a spring biased plunger extending through said clamping fixture plate; said spring biased plunger adapted to compressively engage a container; said clamping fixture having a plurality of stop posts depending from a lower surface of said clamping fixture plate; said clamping fixture having a slide plate said slide plate slidably connected to said stop posts said slide plate having a plurality of apertures therein said apertures having taper walls; said clamping fixture having a plunger collar having a flange at a lower end, said plunger collar receiving a plunger shaft affixed to said plunger; and said plunger collar having a helical thread circumferentially extending about an upper inner surface of said collar.