Container handling system

摘要

A system for processing a simplified plastic container (C) that is to be filled with a hot product includes the step of blow-molding parison to form a container body, where the container body has a neck, a base, a side surface relatively free of structural geometry that surrounds an interior of the container body and, prior to being filled with the hot product, a projection (12) extending from the container body. After the container body is filled with a hot product in a production line, the neck of the filled container body is capped with a cap and then, the container body is cooled. During the cooling operation, the hot product is contracted so that the projection extending from the container can be pushed (P) into the container body like a traditional push-up so that the resultant, filled and cooled container body is relatively free of structural geometry.

主权项

1. A method for handling plastic containers, each said plastic container including a neck portion, a body portion defining an interior, and a base portion, the body portion having at least one supplemental vacuum panel formed therein, wherein the base portion of the plastic container includes a standing surface for conveyance on a relatively flat surface and has a moveable element arranged at a bottom end thereof, the method comprising:
hot-filling each plastic container with a hot product; capping each hot-filled plastic container with a cap to sealingly enclose the hot product in the plastic container; creating a vacuum in each hot-filled and capped plastic container by cooling; removing a first portion of the vacuum by deflection of the at least one supplemental vacuum panel; and moving, using a compressive force, the moveable element of the base portion of the hot-filled and capped plastic container from a first position to a second position to remove a second portion of the vacuum, the first position extending away from the interior and the second position extending more toward the interior than the first position, wherein removal of the first portion of the vacuum and of the second portion of the vacuum together remove substantially the entire vacuum.