Patent EP0101613A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0101613A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Aseptic flexible walled container
Assignee: FRANRICA Manufacturing Inc
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Filing: 1983-08-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-08-17
Abstract
Abstract @ There is disclosed an aseptic flexible walled container having a rigid fitment member cooperative with an associated aseptic filling apparatus. The container includes a neck, outer flanges surrounding the neck, a frangible membrane and an outer end rim receptive of an hermetically sealed lid. The neck is formed with an internal chamferred seating shoulder for fluid-tight engagement with a fill tube. One outer flange cooperates with clamping jaws of the aseptic filling apparatus for detachably sealing the fitment to a sterilizing chamber and placing it in position for insertion of the filling tube which ruptures the membrane and permits the aseptic introduction of product to the container's interior. The other outer flange is secured to an opening in a wall of the flexible container. The joined fitment and container are presterilized prior to filling. Selected materials I for the multi-ply container walls and the fitment permit the container to withstand gamma ray and other sterilization treatment, heat and pressure while maintaining required strength. After the container is aseptically filled, such as with flowable food product, the fill tube is withdrawn and a lid is hermetically sealed onto the rim of the fitment. A heat f shield adjacent a container wall surrounds the fitment to protect the container from excessive heat generated by the associated filling apparatus during filling.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Davis
- 👤 Ronald J. Reiss
- 👤 Albert F. Rica
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:08
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D37/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1334; Y10T428/1341; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1379; Y10T428/1383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An aseptic container for the storage of flowable food product comprising: gas impermeable walls, a rigid fitment member sealed to one of said walls and detachably receptive in the opening of an associated aseptic filling chamber to effect sealed connection therebetween; a rupturable membrane closing said fitment member and located axially inwardly of the outer end thereof, and seal means to effect sealed connection with the filling means during the filling of said container, said membrane being rupturable by an associated filling means for the introcution of flowable food product to the container's interior, and said fitment member being capable of gamma ray sterilization without substantial embrittlement or loss of strength.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
An aseptic container for the storage of flowable food product comprising: gas impermeable walls, a rigid fitment member sealed to one of said walls and detachably receptive in the opening of an associated aseptic filling chamber to effect sealed connection therebetween; a rupturable membrane closing said fitment member and located axially inwardly of the outer end thereof, and seal means to effect sealed connection with the filling means during the filling of said container, said membrane being rupturable by an associated filling means for the introcution of flowable food product to the container's interior, and said fitment member being capable of gamma ray sterilization without substantial embrittlement or loss of strength.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said walls are capable of withstanding gamma ray sterilization without loss of strength.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said aseptic container is a pre-sterilized flexible pouch having walls comprising multiple layers of flexible plastic materials productive of a gas impermeable barrier and joined to effect a sealed interior chamber receptive of food product.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The container of claim 1, including lid means adapted to be sterilized and sealed over the outer end of said fitment member within the associated filling chamber prior to detaching said fitment member from the filling chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said fitment member is made of high density polyethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said fitment member comprises a rigid, open top cylindrical neck, an external first flange extending radially outwardly of said neck to effect said sealed connection with the filling chamber, and a second external flange extending radially outwardly of the lower end of said neck to provide a sealed connection with said one wall of said container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said fitment member comprises a rigid, open top cylindrical neck, a chamfered and radially inwardly projecting portion formed axially inwardly of the open top of said neck and forming said seal means, said rupturable membrane being joined to said chamfered portion and extending across said neck, an external first flange extending radially outwardly of said neck to effect said sealed connection with the filling chamber, and a second external flange extending radially outwardly of the lower end of said neck to provide sealed connection with said one wall of said container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The container of claim 7, wherein said membrane is formed integrally with said neck and chamfered portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container of claim 7, wherein said membrane comprises a polyethylene foil disc member heat sealed to the underside of said chamfered portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container of claim 8, wherein said integral membrane is provided with plural radially extending indentations to effect its rupture into arcuate segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The container of claim 1, including a heat shield attached in surrounding relation to said fitment member and protectively insulating and overlying adjacent wall portions of said container and the sealed junction thereof with said fitment member from temperatures generated within the associated filling chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said walls are constructed of three separate, superposed plies, the outermost ply forming a multilayer, high oxygen permeation resistant barrier consisting of an outer layer of Nylon; a second layer of ethyl vinyl alcohol film; a third layer of Nylon; a fourth tie layer of linear, low density polyethylene; a fifth layer of linear low density polyethylene film; a sixth tie layer, and a seventh layer of linear low density polyethylene film; said tie layers operatively interjoining the layers contactingly adjacent thereto; and intermediate and innermost plies constituting linear low density polyethylene films.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
The container of claim 1, wherein said walls are constructed of three separate superposed plies; the outermost ply being a five layer gas and light resistant barrier consisting of a first layer of Nylon film, a second tie layer of linear low density polyethylene, a third layer of metal foil aluminum, a fourth tie layer of linear low density polyethylene, and a fifth layer of linear low density polyethylene film; and second and third plies of linear low density polyethylene film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
159 words
A fitment member adapted for use in an internally aseptic container and attachable with a sealed connection to an associated aseptic filling chamber of a filling apparatus having aseptic fill tube means for introducing flowable product to the interior of the container, said fitment member comprising: a rigid, open top neck; a chamfered inwardly projecting seal portion formed axially inwardly of the open top of said neck for sealed connection with an associated aseptic fill tube means; aseptic rupturable membrane means joined to said chamfered portion and extending across said neck to block the interior thereof, said membrane being ruptured by the passage of the associated fill tube means therethrough; an external first flange extending radially outwardly of said neck and operable to effect sealed connection with the associated aseptic filling chamber; and a second external flange extending radially outwardly of the lower end of said neck and operable to effect sealed connection with one wall of the container.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
A fitment member adapted for use in an internally aseptic container and attachable with a sealed connection to an associated aseptic filling chamber of a filling apparatus having aseptic fill tube means for introducing flowable product to the interior of the container, said fitment member comprising: a rigid, open top neck; a chamfered inwardly projecting seal portion formed axially inwardly of the open top of said neck for sealed connection with an associated aseptic fill tube means; aseptic rupturable membrane means joined to said chamfered portion and extending across said neck to block the interior thereof, said membrane being ruptured by the passage of the associated fill tube means therethrough; an external first flange extending radially outwardly of said neck and operable to effect sealed connection with the associated aseptic filling chamber; and a second external flange extending radially outwardly of the lower end of said neck and operable to effect sealed connection with one wall of the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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