CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2018/014939, filed on Jan. 24, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for simultaneously forming and filling a container from a preform with fluid, adjusting a fill point of the fluid, and removing foam and/or air from within the container.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.

As a result of environmental and other concerns, plastic containers, more specifically polyester and even more specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers, are now being used more than ever to package numerous commodities previously supplied in glass containers. Manufacturers and fillers, as well as consumers, have recognized that PET containers are lightweight, inexpensive, recyclable and manufacturable in large quantities.

Existing container forming and filling methods and systems are suitable for their intended use, but are subject to improvement. For example, there is a need for improved systems and methods for forming and filling a container with fluid, adjusting a fill point of the fluid, and removing air and/or foam from within the container. The present disclosure advantageously includes improved methods and systems for simultaneously forming and filling a container from a preform with fluid, adjusting a fill point of the fluid, and removing air and/or foam from within the container, which provides numerous advantages as explained herein and as one skilled in the art will recognize.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

The present disclosure includes methods and systems for simultaneously forming and filling a container from a preform with fluid, adjusting a fill point of the fluid, and removing air and/or foam from within the container. One of the methods includes injecting fluid from a fill source into the preform through a nozzle passage defined between the nozzle and a seal pin of the forming and filling system to simultaneously form the container from the preform and fill the container. After the container is formed and filled, the seal pin is actuated to close the nozzle passage and prevent fluid and air from exiting the container through the nozzle passage, thereby trapping fluid and air within the container under pressure. Air, fluid, and/or foam is extracted out from within the container through a passageway defined within a stretch rod to adjust a fill point of the container.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

