Method of filling and sealing an aerosol dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9505509-B2
Application number	US-201414516594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2014
Priority date	May 16, 2011
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

A method of pressurizing a container usable for an aerosol dispenser. The method comprises providing a pressurizeable outer container and complementary valve cup, at least one having a channel into the container. A manifold is brought into sealing relationship with the channel of the container. Propellant is supplied from the manifold, goes through the channel and into the container. While the manifold is still sealed to the container, the channel is sealed shut to maintain the pressure. Sealing may be accomplished by sonic or ultrasonic welding.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of pressurizing a container usable for an aerosol dispenser, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a polymeric pressurizeable outer container having a neck with a neck periphery and a hole therethrough;
providing a polymeric valve cup sealable to said hole of said polymeric outer container, said valve cup having a valve cup periphery complementary to said neck periphery, at least one of said outer container and said valve cup having at least one channel therebetween, said at least one channel forming a flow path from the outside of said outer container to the inside of said outer container;
disposing said valve cup onto said neck of said outer container;
applying a manifold over said at least one channel, said manifold being in fluid communication with said at least one channel and with a supply of propellant;
dispensing propellant from said supply, through said manifold, through said at least one channel and into said outer container to internally pressurize said container;
sealing said at least one channel by laser welding, or adhesive bonding, to keep said propellant therein at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; and
removing said manifold from said at least one channel.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said pressurizable outer container is internally pressurized to a pre-determined pressure, said pre-determined pressure of said propellant being a final pressure, corresponding to depletion of substantially all product by selective dispensing.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said predetermined pressure ranges from 110 to 490 kPa.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the propellant is condensable and the predetermined pressure ranges from 270 to 420 kPa.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said sealing step, comprises sealing said valve cup to said outer container.

6. A method of pressurizing a container usable for an aerosol dispenser, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a longitudinally elongate pressurizeable polymeric outer container having a neck with a hole therethrough, said neck having a neck periphery, and providing an anvil circumjacent said outer container;
providing a polymeric valve cup sealable to said hole of said outer container and having a flexible bag depending longitudinally therefrom, said valve cup having a periphery complementary to said neck periphery, wherein said valve cup has a valve assembly therein for selectively dispensing product from said bag, at least one of said valve cup and said neck having a plurality of channels therethrough;
disposing said valve cup onto said neck of said outer container, so that at least one channel of said plurality of channels forms a flow path from the outside of said outer container to the inside of said outer container;
applying a manifold over said valve cup and in sealing engagement with said anvil of said outer container, said manifold being in fluid communication with a supply of propellant and with at least one channel of said plurality of channels;
dispensing propellant from said supply, through said manifold, through at least one channel of said plurality of channels and into said outer container to internally pressurize said container;
opening said valve assembly during said step of dispensing propellant from said supply into said outer container to allow concomitant evacuation of air from said product delivery device;
sealing said valve cup to said outer container to keep the said propellant therein at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; and
removing said manifold from said anvil.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of channels are radially oriented.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said valve cup has a bottom edge, said plurality of channels circumscribing said valve cup being disposed on said bottom edge of said valve cup.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said channels comprise a plurality of equally sized, and equally shaped channels.

10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising disposing said bottom edge of said valve cup in an annular groove, said annular groove being juxtaposed with said neck of said outer container.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising charging product through said valve assembly into said flexible bag.

12. A method according to claim 6 wherein said anvil comprises a shoulder, said shoulder having a shoulder diameter, and said neck has a neck diameter, said shoulder diameter being greater than said neck diameter to thereby form an anvil which is integral with said outer container.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Smith Scott Edward

Classifications

• B65D83/76

  for dispensing fluent contents by means of a piston · CPC title

• B65D83/62

  by membranes, bags or the like · CPC title

• B65B31/025

  specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers (B65B31/021, B65B31/022 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05B9/0838

  supply being effected by follower in container, e.g. membrane or floating piston, or by deformation of container · CPC title

• B65D83/38

  Details of the container body (pressure relief devices B65D83/70) · CPC title