Fluid injection system and method for scavenging oxygen in a container

Abstract

A method and system for injecting fluid into a sealed container that contains a consumable product is provided. The container is filled with a consumable product and then sealed with a closure. A fluid is injected through the closure into the container cavity after filling and sealing. The fluid increases the internal pressure of the container and scavenges oxygen in the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid injection method for a container that contains a consumable product comprising:
 providing a container including a cavity and an opening providing access to the cavity;   providing a closure, wherein at least one of the container and the closure contains a redox catalyst;   filling the container cavity through the opening with a consumable product;   sealing the container opening with the closure; and   injecting a fluid through the closure into the container's cavity after sealing, wherein the fluid acts to pressurize the container and to scavenge oxygen from the contents of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the injected fluid has a percentage composition of hydrogen greater than 0.1%. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the injected fluid is pure hydrogen. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the injected fluid is a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the container is permeable to molecular oxygen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the container is made from blow-molded thermoplastic. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the injection of a fluid occurs via a nozzle, the method further comprising:
 piercing the closure with the nozzle prior to injection of the fluid; and 
 removing the nozzle from the closure after the injecting the fluid. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein piercing the closure creates a hole through the closure, and the method further comprising:
 sealing the hole in the closure. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein a material of the closure is configured to self-seal, wherein the sealing of the hole is accomplished by the self-sealing of the material of the closure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the redox catalyst includes a compound containing a Group VIII metal or a molecule containing a Group VIII metal. 
     
     
         13 . A fluid injection method for a sealed container that is permeable to molecular oxygen and that contains a consumable product comprising:
 providing a container permeable to molecular oxygen including an opening providing access to the contents of the cavity of the container;   providing a thermoplastic closure including a top panel, a skirt extending downward away from the top panel and a thermoplastic elastomer liner coupled to a lower surface of the top panel, wherein at least one of the container, closure and liner includes a catalyst material;   filling the cavity of the container through the opening with a consumable product;   sealing the opening of the container with the closure; then inserting a nozzle through the closure and through the thermoplastic elastomer liner into the cavity of the plastic container;   injecting a fluid via the nozzle into the container's cavity after filling and sealing; and   removing the nozzle from the closure and thermoplastic elastomer liner, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer liner self-seals forming a hermetic seal, and wherein the fluid acts to pressurize the container and to bind oxygen from the contents of the container.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the injected fluid has a percentage composition of hydrogen greater than 0.1%. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the injected fluid is pure hydrogen. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the injected fluid is a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the insertion of the nozzle includes piercing at least one of the closure and the liner. 
     
     
         18 . A system for injecting fluid into a container that contains a consumable product and that is sealed by a closure, the system comprising:
 an injection nozzle;   a pressurized fluid source containing a fluid;   a conduit coupling the injection nozzle to the fluid source; and   an actuator coupled to the injection nozzle and configured to move the injection nozzle toward and away from the closure sealing the container;   
       wherein the injection nozzle is configured to inject the fluid through the closure into the container, and wherein the fluid is configured to change the internal pressure of the container and react to bind oxygen in the cavity of the container. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the injected fluid has a percentage composition of hydrogen greater than 0.1%. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the injected fluid is a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen.