Method of forming and setting headspace within a container

A method for forming and filling a container with liquid and setting the headspace of the liquid within the container, the container being formed from a preform located within a mold and the method utilizing a hydraulic blow molding device that is coupled to a source of a liquid blow medium, the hydraulic blow molding device having an injection nozzle, a pressurized liquid source and a headspace setting member, the method comprising:

• engaging the injection nozzle in fluid tight engagement with an open end of the preform;
• extending the headspace setting member from a retracted position to an extended position within the preform;
• injecting the liquid blow medium into the preform under a pressure of the pressurized liquid source so as to form the container;
• retracting the headspace setting member from the extended position to a first headspace position within the container;
• with the headspace setting member in the first headspace position, establishing a closing pressure of the liquid blow medium inside the formed container that is independent from the pressure of the pressurized liquid source;
• breaking the fluid tight engagement by disengaging the injection nozzle from the preform while the pressure inside the container is still independent from the pressure of the pressurized liquid source thereby providing a predetermined final fill level of the liquid within the container,
• wherein the closing pressure is different from the ambient pressure and is above the ambient pressure and the method further comprises that after establishing the closing pressure inside the container and before breaking the fluid tight engagement, exerting a force on the headspace setting member after being placed in the first headspace position to reduce the pressure of the liquid blow medium inside the container from the closing pressure to a disengaging pressure that is one of a pressure lower than ambient pressure or a pressure equal to ambient pressure.

A method for forming and filling a container with liquid and setting the headspace of the liquid within the container, the container being formed from a preform located within a mold and the method utilizing a hydraulic blow molding device that is coupled to a source of a liquid blow medium, the hydraulic blow molding device having an injection nozzle, and a pressurized liquid source, the method comprising:

• engaging the injection nozzle in fluid tight engagement with an open end of the preform;
• injecting the liquid blow medium into the preform under a pressure of the pressurized liquid source so as to form the container;
• establishing a closing pressure of the liquid blow medium inside the formed container that is independent from the pressure of the pressurized liquid source and from ambient pressure;
• breaking the fluid tight engagement by disengaging the injection nozzle from the preform while the pressure inside the container is still independent from the pressure of the pressurized liquid source and from ambient pressure thereby providing a predetermined final fill level of the liquid within the container,
• wherein the closing pressure is different from the ambient pressure and is above the ambient pressure and the method further comprises that after establishing the closing pressure inside the container and before breaking the fluid tight engagement, reducing the pressure of the liquid blow medium inside the formed container from the closing pressure to a disengaging pressure that is one of a pressure lower than ambient pressure or a pressure equal to ambient pressure, said reducing the pressure taking place while said the pressure of the liquid blow medium inside the formed container is still independent from the pressure of the pressurized liquid source and from ambient pressure.

A method for forming and filling a container with liquid and setting the headspace of the liquid within the container, the container being formed from a preform located within a mold and the method utilizing a hydraulic blow molding device that is coupled to a source of a liquid blow medium, the hydraulic blow molding device having an injection nozzle, a headspace setting member and a seal pin, the method comprising:

• engaging the injection nozzle in fluid tight engagement with an open end of the preform;
• extending the headspace setting member from a retracted position to an extended position within the preform;
• injecting the liquid blow medium into the preform so as to form the container;
• repositioning the headspace setting member from the extended position to a first headspace position within the container;
• closing the seal pin while the liquid blow medium is at a closing pressure;
• breaking the fluid tight engagement by disengaging the injection nozzle from the preform while the seal pin is still closed thereby providing a predetermined final fill level of the liquid within the container,
• wherein the closing pressure is different from the ambient pressure and is above the ambient pressure and the method further comprises that after closing of the seal pin and before breaking the fluid tight engagement, exerting a force on the headspace setting member in the first headspace setting position to reduce the pressure of the liquid blow medium inside the container from the closing pressure to a disengaging pressure that is one of a pressure lower than ambient pressure or a pressure equal to ambient pressure.