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.

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 millimeters, and preferably exceeds 45 millimeters.  
     
     
         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 millimeters.  
     
     
         42 . A container as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said unrestricted mouth opening has a diameter which exceeds 45 millimeters.  
     
     
         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