Preserving products in sealed containers

Claim 1

IN THE CANNING OF FOOD PRODUCTS WITH OPEN MOUTH GLASS CONTAINERS WHICH WHEN HEATED ARE SUBJECT TO CRACKING UPON BEING FILLED WITH A COOLED PRODUCT AND WHEREIN THE CONTAINERS ARE CONTINUOUSLY MOVED IN UPRIGHT POSITION THROUGH AN ENCLOSED SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDED AN ENCLOSED CONTAINER STERILIZING ZONE HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF 212* F. FOR EFFECTING STERILIZATION OF THE CONTAINERS AND AN ENCLOSED STERILE FILLING ZONE FOLLOWING SAID CONTAINER STERILIZING ZONE IN WHICH SAID STERILIZED CONTAINERS ARE FILLED WITH A PRESTERILIZED COOLED FOOD PRODUCT, THE METHOD OF MINIMIZING CRACKING OF GLASS FROM THERMAL SHOCK WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE RESULT FROM THE COOLED PRODUCT CONTACTING THE SAME WHICH COMPRISES PRIOR TO THE TIME SAID GLASS CONTAINERS ENTER SAID FILLING ZONE EFFECTING BOTH REDUCTION IN TEMPERATURE OF THE CONTAINERS AND TRANSFER OF HEAT BETWEEN PORTIONS OF THE CONTAINERS OF UNEQUAL TEMPERATURE BY PROVIDING AN ENCLOSED CONDITIONING PASSAGEWAY BETWEEN AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID STERILIZING AND FILLING ZONES, MOVING SAID CONTAINERS THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY AND INTO SAID FILLING ZONE WITH THE CONTAINERS UPRIGHT AND THEIR OPEN MOUTHS POSITIONED UPPERMOST, AND PROVIDINGIN SAID PASSAGEWAY A GASEOUS STERILE COOLING MEDIUM IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH SAID GLASS INTRODUCED INTO SAID PASSAGEWAY FROM A SOURCE EXTERIOR THERETO AND WHICH IS CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAINED IN SAID PASSAGEWAY TO MAINTAIN STERILE CONDITIONS THEREIN AND TO GIVE RAPID COOLING WITH REDUCTION IN TEMPERATURE OF SAID GLASS TO BELOW THAT AT WHICH BREAKAGE DUE TO THERMAL SHOCK UPON CONTACT WITH COOL PRODUCT IS SUBSTANTIALLY ELIMINATED.