The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 26, 1995
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1994
Gerald A Marano, Mobile, AL (US);
Donald Evans, Mobile, AL (US);
Edwin D Lomax, Satsuma, AL (US);
James C Harbison, Fairhope, AL (US);
International Paper Company, Purchase, NY (US);
Abstract
A method for substituting inert gas for ambient air in the headspace of a container prior to closing of an opening of the container. The container is displaced along a straight path in a predetermined horizontal direction from a first position to a second position, e.g., by a conveyor. A stream of inert gas is injected generally downward from an outlet toward the headspace via an inverted recess as the container travels from the first position to the second position along the path. The inverted recess has a peripheral edge which is a closed contour lying in a horizontal plane. The exit velocity of the inert gas at the outlet and the dimensions of the outlet are such that the flow of inert gas from the outlet into the headspace is generally laminar. A portion of the inert gas enters the headspace to displace gases inside the headspace until less than 1% oxygen remains in the headspace. The gas which has been displaced out of the headspace is then channeled to flow in the predetermined horizontal direction through a volume located at an elevation which is higher than the elevation of the headspace. The channeled gas is thereafter redirected in a generally downward direction.