Apparatus for providing overriding pressure in heat processing sealed containers

A system for heat processing sealed containers having a head-space and a first liquid therein which vaporizes during processing, the containers being of the type capable of maintaining an internal pressure that is different than the pressure acting on the exterior of the containers, comprising:

• a sealed heat treatment chamber adapted to receive a plurality of containers,
• an evaporator for vaporizing a processing liquid and for providing the vapors to the sealed chamber at the processing temperature,
• control means including a temperature sensor communicating with the heat treatment chamber for providing a temperature indicative output,
• control means including a pressure sensor communicating with a heat treatment chamber for providing a pressure indicative output,
• means for storing a quantity of a second liquid having a vapor pressure higher than the first liquid,
• means responsive to said pressure indicative output for controlling the flow of said second liquid between said means for storing and the evaporator, and
• means responsive to said temperature indicative output for controlling heat applied to said processing liquid at the evaporator for maintaining the processing temperature constant and for providing a pressure that is greater within the heat treatment chamber than the pressure within the sealed containers.

A system for heat processing sealed containers having a head-space and a first liquid therein which vaporizes during processing, the containers being of the type capable of maintaining an internal pressure that is different than the pressure acting on the exterior of the containers, comprising;

• a sealed heat treatment chamber adapted to receive a plurality of the containers,
• an evaporator for vaporizing a processing liquid and for providing the vapors to the sealed chamber at the processing temperature,
• control means including a temperature sensor communicating with the heat treatment chamber for providing a temperature indicative output,
• means for storing a quantity of a second liquid having a higher vapor pressure than the first liquid, and
• means responsive to said temperature indicative output for controlling the flow of said second liquid between said means for storing and the evaporator so that an overriding pressure is provided in the treatment chamber that is higher than the pressure generated within the sealed containers.