US2874523A - Method and apparatus for aseptically canning under pressure - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1959 J. F. RYAN, JR 2,874,523 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASEPTICALLY CANNING UNDER PRESSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fil ed March e, 1956 INVENTOR. @Q JI? Qj Jamaszfil 1959 J. F. RYAN, JR 2,874,523

METHOD AND AP ATUS FOR ASEPTICALLY CANNING ER PRESSURE Filed March e 1956 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent "ice METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASEPTICALI JY CANNING UNDER PRESSURE James F. Ryan, Jr., Castro Valley, Calif., assignor to W. F. and John Barnes Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 6, 1956, Serial No. 569,873

22 Claims. (Cl. 53-22) packaging of cream or the like in a pressurized dispensing container. Systems heretofore in use for packaging in pressurized dispensing containers milk or cream products which are to be foamed or whipped upon dispensing have usually included a relatively large and complicated apparatus in which a container is filled, then charged with dispensing gas under pressure and then agitated to disperse the gas throughout the product. As will be understood, it is necessary to mix the gas and product so as to provide a generally uniform solution in order to obtain proper whipping or foaming during the dispensing operation. In addition to requiring relatively large and complicated apparatus, such heretofore proposed methods have a disadvantage in that the milk or cream product may be churned during the violent shaking or agitation which is used to mix the gas in the product whereby the quality of the dispensed product may be impaired.

In aseptic canning systems heretofore in use, it has been the practice generally to provide separate apparatus for sterilizing containers and closures and some means for conveying the containers and closures to a filling and closing machine while maintaining a sterile atmosphere need for shaking the product within the container andwhich also eliminates the need for separate container and closure sterilizing and container filling apparatus.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus wherein a container is sterilized, filled and sealed at one location within the apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus as set forth in the preceding paragraph whereby a gas such as a dispensing-gas under pressure is dispersed and maintained in the product before and during discharge of the product into a container.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above described type which is efiicient in operation and may be easily manufactured and maintained. I

'Other objects and advantages 'of the present invention tainer and sterilized along with the container.

2,874,523 Patented Feb. 24, 1959 M will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus embodying the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1 partially broken away to show details of the construction;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the position of certain elements during a container filling operation.

In accordance with the method of the present invention, a container is associated with pressure chamber means. Then a sterilizing fluid such as saturated steam under super-atmospheric pressure is delivered into the container and maintained for a sufiicient length of time. to effect sterilization of the container. Subsequently, a dispensing gas is delivered under a predetermined pressure into the container While the container is associated with the above mention pressure chamber means. In addition, the container is preferably evacuated both before and after the sterilizing fluid or steam is delivered thereto. The first evacuation of the container facilitates subsequent entry of the sterilizing fluid or steam into the container and promotes intimate contact of the steam with all portions of the interior container surface to insure proper sterilization thereof. The second evacuation step causes the steam to condense on the container whereby the container is cooled and also serves to remove the steam and any oxygen from the container to facilitate subsequent entry of the dispensing gas into the container. The dispensing gas is preferably freefrom air or oxygen when milk products or the like which can be adversely effected by oxygen are to be packaged. Furthermore, When milk or cream products are being packaged the dispensing gas should be soluble therein to obtain proper whipping or foaming of the product during a dispensing operation, and the dispensing gas, for example, may be nitrous oxide or a mixture of nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. In accordance with the preferred practice, a cap or closure for the container is introduced into the pressure chamber with the con- Then after the container is filled, the cap or closure is applied directly thereto.

While the-container and closure are being sterilized in the manner described above, the product to be packaged is thoroughly subjected to dispensing gas under pressure. A quantity of the resulting pre-gassed product is then directed into the container after the container has been sterilized and filled with dispensing gas under pressure. sterilized container is maintained substantially the same as the pressure of the gas mixed with the product, and this pressure is maintained while the cap or closure is applied to the filled container so as to prevent premature whipping or foaming of the product.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, an apparatus 10 is shown which incorporates features of the present invention and which is adapted to process and package a product in the above described manner. The apparatus 10 is provided with means 12 for pre-gassing a product, or, in other words,

for dispersing a dispensing gas or the like under pressure:

sterilizing, filling and sealing or capping assembly 14.

The pre-gassing means 12 comprises a pressure reser- The pressure of the gas introduced into the es ate voir 16 into which a product that has been previously sterilized by any suitable means, not shown, is introduced through a pipe 18. Sterile gas under a predetermined super atmospheric pressure is introduced into the chamber 16 through a conduit 20. Bafiie means 22 is disposed within the chamber 16 for receiving the product from the conduit 18 and repeatedly spreading and collecting the product to promote uniform exposure of all portions of the product to the atmosphere of gas maintained in the chamber. In the embodiment shown, the bafile means comprises a plurality of superposed dished baffles 24 having central opening means 26 therein and a plurality of generally conical baffles 28 disposed between the baifies 24 and having peripheral opening means 30 therein. With this structure the product is repeatedly mixed without violent agitation which might cause churning thereof.

The pre-gassed product collects in the bottom of the chamber 16 and is preferably withdrawn therefrom and recirculated to the upper end of the chamber in a continuous manner so as further to promote uniform distribution of the gas throughout the product. In order to accomplish this, the inlet side of a pump 32 is connected with an outlet conduit 34, and the discharge side of the pump is connected by conduits 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 with a pipe 48 entering the upper end of the chamber above the battle means. An electric motor 50 or any other suitable means is provided for driving the pump.

The assembly 14 comprises a valve body 52 mounted on a base plate 54. An annular member 56 is mounted in the base plate and combines with an aperture 58 in the valve block to provide pressure chamber means adapted to receive an upper end portion of a container 60 to be sterilized and filled. As shown best in Fig. 4, the inner wall of the annular member 56 is shaped so as to conform with the upper end portion of the container, and a pair of annular seal rings 62 and 64 are disposed in axially spaced recesses in the member 56 for engaging the container and thereby sealing the lower end of the pressure chamber means. In order to preclude the entry of contaminated air into the chamber means in the event that the seal rings 62 and 64 become worn or damaged, a steam seal is provided between the seal rings 62 and 64. More specifically, steam is supplied to an annular recess 66 in the member 56 between the rings 62 and 64 from a steam line 68 which communicates with an annular manifold 70 formed in the valve block. The steam passes from the manifold 70 into the recess 66 through a plurality of passageways 72 in the annular member 56. Annular seal rings 74 and 76 are disposed between the member 56 and the valve block and at opposite sides of the manifold 70 so as to preclude the escape of steam between the valve block and member 56.

A lifterpad 78 is provided for supporting the container and holding the container firmly against the seal rings 62'and 64, which lifter pad is adapted to be raised arid lowered to permit the container to be placed thereon and removed therefrom. Any suitable means may be provided for actuating the lifter pad, and in the embodiment shown, the lifter pad is mounted on the end of a piston rod 80 actuated by an air cylinder 82.

The upper end of the aperture or pressure chamber 58 is closed and substantially sealed by means including an annular fitting 84 secured to the valve block and an elongated cylinder 86 having its lower end secured and sealed to the fitting as by welding. The fitting 84 is sealed with respect to the valve block by means of a seal ring 88, and the upper end of the cylinder 86 is closed by a member 90 which is sealed with respect thereto by a seal ring 92. A cap or closure applying head 94 is slidably disposed 'in the pressure chamber and cylinder'86 and'is connectableto a piston rod 96 extending through a sealed aperture in the member 90 and actuated by any suitable means such as an' air cylinder 98. The head $4 may be of any suitable construction for applying or crimping a closure 100 to the container.

The closure is initially loosely assembled on the apertured end of a container'and is inserted into the pressure chamber means along with the upper end of the container. Means such as permanent magnets 102 is provided on the head 94 for picking up the closure in order to permit the container to be sterilized and filled. In order to accomplish removal of the closure'from the container, the air cylinder 98 is actuated to lower the head 94 sufficiently to enable the magnets or other retaining 'means to engage the closure but insufiiciently to crimp or otherwise secure the closure to the container. Then the head 94 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 5 until the sterilizing and filling operations have been completed whereupon it is lowered sufiiciently to secure the closure to the container. Any suitable control means, not shown, may be provided for actuating the air cylinder 98 in this manner.

A pipe 104 is connected with a passageway 106 in the valve block which communicates with the opening 58, and the pipe 104 is also connected with a pipe 108 which, in turn, is connected with a vacuum line 110, a steam line 112, a gas line 114 and a vent conduit 116. Solenoid actuated valves 118 and 120, 122 and 124 are connected in the lines or conduits through 116 respectively. Suitable control means, not shown, is provided for actuating the valves 118 through 124 in timed relationship with each other and with other elements of the assembly 14 so that after a container has been assembled with the pressure chamber means and the closure has been lifted from the container, the valves are operated in the follow} ing manner. The valve 118 is opened to connect the pressure chamber with a source of vacuum or reduced pressure, not shown, in order to draw air from the chamber and the container. Then the valve 118 is closed and the valve 120 is opened to admit steam into the pressure chamber and the container for sterilizing the container and closure. Preferably, saturated steam under super-atmospheric pressures is supplied from a source, not shown, which pressures may, for example, range up to about 150 p. s. i. gauge. The saturated steam under pressure will elfect sterilization of the container and closure in a short period of time. For example, saturated steam at 300 Fahrenheit and 52 p. s. i. gauge will substantially effect sterilization of the container and closure in about one second. After the sterilizing step has been completed the valve 120 is closedand the valve 118 is again opened to evacuate and cool the container. Then the valve 118 is closed and the valve 122 is opened so that the dispensing gas under pressure is introduced into the pressure chamber and the container. The pressure of the gas admitted through the line 114 should be substantially the same as the pressure of the gas in the pressure chamber 16 and this may be conveniently accomplished by connecting the lines 20 and 114 to the same manifold, not shown. The valve 122 is subsequently closed and the vent valve 124 is opened as will be described below.

The valve body 52 is provided with a transverse passageway 126 therethrough which is connected at its opposite ends with the pre-gased product pipes 36 and 38. The passageway 126 also intersects a bore 128 extending longitudinally in the valve body, which bore slidably receives a valve 130. The slide valve 130 is provided with an elongated channel 132 so that when the valve is in a retracted position as shown in Fig. 3, communication is established between the product passageway 126 and an opening 134 in the valve body. The opening 134 also communicates with a measuring cylinder136 having its lower end sealed with respect to the valve body and its upper end closed by amember 138 and sealed by means of suitable's'eal rings. A piston 140 is' slidably disposed in the cylinder and is connected to a rod 142 which is actuated by any suitable means'such as an air cylinder 144. As will be understood, the pre-gassed product will be drawn into the cylinder 136 when the slide valve 130 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the piston 140 is raised. In order to maintain a backpressure in the upper end of the cylinder 136, a gas line 146 is connected with a passageway 148 through the member 138. The gas line 146 ispreferably' connected to the same source of gas under pressure as the-conduits 20 and 114 sothat the pressure in the upper end of the cylinder 136 is substantially the same as the pressure in the lower end whereby to prevent leakage orpremature foaming or whipping of the pro-gassed product. Seal rings 150 and 152 are provided adjacent opposite ends of the slide valve so as to prevent the pre-gassed product from leaking past the slide valve.

The slide valve 130 is connected to and actuated by any suitable means such as an air cylinder 154 so that the valve may be shifted to and from the cylinder charging position shown in Fig. 3 and the container filling. position shown in Fig. 5. When the valve is in the Fig. 5 position the channel 132 no longer communicates with the passageway 126. Thus, uponthe downward stroke of the piston 140 the pre-gassed product is forced through the channel and a discharge passageway 156 communieating therewith and into the container. Preferably, a check valve assembly 157 is mounted in the passageway 156 to prevent dripping of the product after the piston has completed its downward or filling stroke. As will be understood, suitable control means, not shown, is provided for actuating the air cylinders 144 and 154 in timed relationship with the other elements of the apparatus so that the slide valve is retracted during sterilization of the container and closure and the slide valve is advanced and the piston 140 is lowered for filling the container only after the container has been preeharged with dispensing gas.

After the container has been filled, the slide valve 130 is retracted and the head 94 is lowered to securely apply the closure to the container. The valve 122 is then closed, or if it is desired that the gas within the container be slightly compressed as a result of the displacement of the head 94, the valve 122 may be closed before the head is lowered. Upon completion of the closure applying step, the vent valve 124 is opened to relieve the pressure in the chamber 58 and the container is subsequently lowered and removed from the apparatus.

Prior to the introduction of a sterile product into the chamber 16, the apparatus is sterilized by circulating steam or hot gases through the chamber 16 and the various pipe conduits and by introducing the steam or sterilizing gases into the cylinder 136 through the line 146, and into the cylinder 86 through a line 160 connected therewith and into a substantially sealed housing 162 provided around the valve block and the cylinders 86 and 136 through a conduit 164. After the initial sterilization of the apparatus has been accomplished, a sterile atmosphere is maintained within the housing so as to prevent contamination of the reciprocable slide valve and the rods 96 and 142. The sterile and preferably cool gas is supplied to the housing 162 from any suitable source of supply, not shown, through the conduit 164. While the apparatus shown for the purpose of illustrating the present invention includes a single sealing, filling, and closure applying assembly 14 associated with the product pre-gassing means, it is understood that a plurality of assemblies 14 might be provided and that the assemblies may be fixed or may be mounted on a movable conveyor means or turret, not shown, so as to receive containers from and discharge containers to suitable transfer devices. It will alo be understood that various'other details of the disclosed embodiment of the present invention may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

, The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An apparatus for aseptically packaging a product under pressure in an apertured dispensing container, comprising a first pressure chamber means for receiving a product anda dispensing gas under apredetermined superatmospheric pressure for distributing the gas throughout the product,a second pressure chamber means receiving the container and a closure therefor with the container aperture disposed within the pressure chamber means, means for successively introducing a sterilizing fluid and a dispensing gas under substantially said predetermined pressure into said second chamber means and the container associated therewith, means for transferring a portion of the product with gas dispersed therethrough from said first mentioned chamber means and into the sterilized container asosciated with said second chamber means while maintaining said product portion under a pressure substantially at least as great as said predetermined pressure, and means for applying a sterilized closure in said second chamber means to the filled container.

2. An apparatus for packaging a product under pressure in an apertured container comprising means for dispersing a gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a product, pressure chamber means receiving the container with the aperture thereof disposed within the pressure chamber means, means for directing a con- .tainer processing fluid under pressure into said chamber means and the container associated therewith, and means for delivering a portion of said product having gas distributed therethrough from said first mentioned means and into the processed container associated with said chamber means while continuously maintaining said product por tion under substantially said predetermined super-atmospheric pressure. p

3. An apparatus for aseptically packaging a product under pressure in an apertured dispensing container comprising means for dispersing a dispensing gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a product, pressure chamber means receiving the container and a closure therefor with the container aperture disposed within the pressure chamber means, means for directing a container sterilizing fluid into said chamber means and the container associated therewith, means for delivering a portion of said product having gas distributed therethrough from said first mentioned means and into the sterilized container associated with said chamber means while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said predetermined super-atmospheric pressure, and means for applying the sterilized closure in said chamber means to a filled container.

4. An apparatus for packaging a product in a pressurized container comprising means for dispersing gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a product, pressure chamber means for engaging and enclosing only an end portion of the container having an opening therein, means for directing a container processing fluid into said chamber means and the container associated therewith, and means for subsequently delivering a portion of said product having gas distributed therethrough from said first mentioned means and into the processed container associated with said chamber means while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said predetermined pressure.

5. An apparatus for packaging a product under pressure in an apertured container comprising means for dispersing a gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a product, pressure chamber means receiving the container with the aperture thereof disposed within the pressure chamber means, means for evacuating said chamber means and the container associated therewith, means for subsequently directing a container processing fluid into the evacuated chamber means and container, and means for subsequently delivering a portion of said product having gas distributed therethrough from said first mentioned means and into the processed container associated with said chamber means while conin an aperturedcontainer comprising means for dispersing a gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a product, pressure chamber means receiving the container with the aperture thereof disposed within.

the pressure chamber means, means for directing a condensable container processing fluid under pressure into said chamber means and the container associated therewith, means for subsequently evacuating said chamber means and container for removing said fluid from the container, and means for subsequently delivering a portion of said product having gas distributed therethrough from said first mentioned means and into the processed container associated with said chamber means while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said predetermined super-atmospheric pressure.

7. An apparatus for packaging a product under pressure in an apertured container comprising means for dispersing a gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a product, pressure chamber means receiving the container with the aperture thereof disposed within the pressure chamber means, means for directing a con densable container processing fluid into said chamber means and a container associated therewith, means for.

evacuating said chamber means and container both before and after said fluid is directed into the container for promoting intimate contact of the fluid with the container and for subsequently removing the fluid from and cooling the container, and means for subsequently delivering a portion of said product having gas distributed therethrough from said first mentioned means and into the processed container associated with said chamber means while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said predetermined pressure.

8. An apparatus for packaging a product under pressure in an apertured container comprising pressure chamber means for dispersing a gas under a predetermined superatmospheric pressure throughout a product, means for recirculating the product through said pressure chamber means to promote uniform dispersal of the gas throughout the product, a second pressure chamber means receiving the container with the aperture thereof disposed within the pressure chamber means, means for directing a container processing fluid into said'second chamber means and the container associated therewith, and means for delivering a portion of said product having gas distributed therethrough from said first mentioned pressure chamber means and into the processed container associated with said second chamber means while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said predetermined super-atmospheric pressure.

9. An apparatus for packaging a product under pressure in an apertured container comprising means for dispersing a gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a product, pressure chamber means receiving the container with the aperture thereof disposed Within the pressure chamber means, means for directing a container processing fluid under pressure into said chamber means and the container associated therewith, product measuring means for receiving a portion or" the product having gas distributed therethrough from said first mentioned means and discharging the product portion into the container associated with said chamber means, valve means for selectively establishing communication between said measuring means and said first mentioned means to permit filling of said measuring means and said chamber means to permit discharge of the product into the container, and means for maintaining the product portion removed from said first mentioned means and discharged into said con tainer continuously under substantially said predetermined super-atmospheric pressure.

10. In an apparatus for packaging a product under r pressure in a container, pressure chamber means having an opening therein for receiving an end portion of the container having an opening therein, a seal ring defining said chamber means opening for engaging said end porpn Oi the ntai e nd s a ia y c ling s i chamber means; means providing a steam seal around said chamber means opening and adjacent said seal ring for substantially eliminating any possibility of contaminated atmosphere entering said chamber means after a container has been associated with the chamber means, means for supporting the container and shifting said end portion of the container into said chamber means and into engagement with said seal ring, means for directing a container processing fluid under super-atmospheric pressure into said chamber means and the container associated therewith, and means for subsequently delivering a product into the processed container associated with said chamber means while maintaining a super-atmospheric fluid pressure within said chamber means and container,

11. A method of aseptically packaging a product under pressure in a dispensing container comprising dispersing a sterile dispensing gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a sterile product, introducing a sterilizing fluid into a container associated with pressure chamber meansand thereby sterilizing said container, and subsequently discharging a portion of said product having said gas dispersed therethrough into the sterilized container while the container remains associated with said chamber means and while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said predetermined pressure.

12 A method of aseptically packaging a product under pressure in a dispensing container, comprising dispersing a sterile dispensing gas under a predetermined superatmospheric pressure throughout a sterile product, evacuating a container associated with pressure chamber means, then introducing a sterilizing fluid into said container, and subseqently discharging a portion of'said product having said gas dispersed therethrough into the sterilized container while the container remains associated with said chamber means and while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said predetermined pressure.

13. A method of aseptically packaging a product under pressure in a dispensing container comprising dispersing a sterile dispensing gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a sterile product, introducing saturated steam under a super-atmospheric pres sure into a container associated with pressure chamber means and thereby sterilizing the container, and subsequently discharging a portion of said product having said gas dispersed therethrough into the sterilized container while the container remains associated with said pressure, chamber means and while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said first mentioned predetermined pressure.

14. A method of aseptically packaging a product under pressure in a dispensing container comprising dispersing a sterile dispensing gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a sterile product, introducing saturated steam under super-atmospheric pressure into a container associated with a pressure chamber means and thereby sterilizing the container, subsequently evacuating said container for removing the steam therefrom, and subsequently discharging 'a portion of said product having said gas dispersed therethrough into the sterilized container while the container remains associated with said chamber means and while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said first mentioned predetermined pressure.

15. A method of aseptically packaging a product under pressure in a dispensing container comprising dispersing a sterile dispensing gas under a predetermined superatmospheric pressure throughout a sterile product, evacuating a container associated with a pressure chamber means, then introducing saturated steam under superatmospheric pressure into the evacuated container and thereby sterilizing the container, then again evacuating said container for removing the steam therefrom, and subsequently discharging a portion of said product haw ing said gas dispersed therethroughinto the sterilized container while the container remains associated with said chamber means and while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said first mentioned predetermined pressure.

16. A method of aseptically packaging a product under pressure in a dispensing container comprising dispersing a sterile dispensing gas under a predetermined superatmospheric pressure throughout a sterile product, introducing a sterilizing fluid into a container associated with a pressure chamber means and thereby sterilizing said container and subsequently substantially removing said sterilizing fluid, then introducing into said sterilized container a dispensing gas under substantially said predetermined super-atmospheric pressure, and subsequently discharging a portion ofsaid product having said gas dispersed therethrough into the sterilized and pressurized container while the container remains associated with said chamber means and while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said predetermined pressure.

17. A method of aseptically packaging a product under pressure in a dispensing container, comprising dispersing a sterile dispensing gas under a predetermined superatmospheric pressure throughout a sterile product, introducing sterilizing fluid into a container associated with pressure chamber means for sterilizing the container and subsequently substantially withdrawing said fluid from said container, then introducing a sterile gasinto said sterilized container and pressurizing said container substantially to said predetermined super-atmospheric pressure, subsequently discharging a portion of said product having said gas dispersed therethrough into the sterilized and pressurized container while the container remains associated with said chamber means and while continuously maintaining said product portion under substantially said predetermined pressure, and sealing the filled container while the container remains associated with said pressure chamber means.

18. An apparatus for packaging a product under pressure in an apertured container comprising means for dispersing a gas under a predetermined super-atmospheric pressure throughout a product, pressure chamber means receiving the container with the aperture thereof disposed within the pressure chamber means, means for (H recting the container processing fluid into said chamber means and the container associated therewith, means for subsequently filling said container with a gas under pressure at least as great as said predetermined pressure, means for thereafter delivering a portion of said product having gas distributed therethrough from said first mentioned means and into the container associated with said chamber while continuously maintaining said product portion under a pressure at least as great as said predetermined pressure, and means for subsequently sealing the filled container associated with said pressure chamber means.

19. An apparatus, as defined in claim 18, which includes means for evacuating said pressure chamber means and the container associated therewith prior to the introduction of processing fluid into said chamber means and the container.

20. An apparatus, as defined in claim 18, which includes means for evacuating said chamber means and the container associated therewith both before and immediately after the introduction of processing fluid into said chamber means and the container.

21. An apparatus, as defined in claim 18, wherein there is included means in said chamber means for retaining a container closure for exposure to processing fluid introduced into the chamber means and for subsequently applying the closure to the container after filling of the container with the product.

22. The method of claim 16 including the further steps of exposing a closure to the sterilizing fluid simultaneously with the sterilizing of the container, and

applying the closure to the container for sealing the.

same after the portion of the product has been discharged into the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,805 McBean July 27, 1954 2,689,075 Morton et al. Sept. 14, 1954 2,693,418 Smith Nov. 2, 1954

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