Granted Patent B2

US 12,503,257 · App. 18/436,590 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Inventor: Curtis S. Koontz (Signal Mountain, TN)

B65B1/06B65B7/2857B65B37/02B65B43/54B65B61/00

Abstract

Claims (45)

1 . A method to fill and seal a container for smoking food on a grill, the method comprising:

positioning a container on a conveyor system;

receiving the container in a vent hole applicator system, the vent hole applicator system comprising a plurality of hole applicators and a housing having a plurality of concave pockets positioned circumferentially along a surface of the housing;

placing a vent hole in the container with a hole applicator of the plurality of hole applicators while the container is received by a pocket of the plurality of pockets;

receiving the container in a filling system;

positioning the container adjacent to a tube from the filling system;

dispensing a smoke fuel from a hopper into the container through the tube;

receiving the container in a seam sealing system;

positioning a lid onto the container;

curling the lid and container top to form a double seam;

receiving the container in a packaging system; and

packaging the container into sale packs for distribution.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the container in a labeling system; and

applying a label to the container.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor system moves the container to the vent hole applicator system, the filling system, the seam sealing system, and the packaging system.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vent hole is placed before the container is filled with the smoke fuel.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vent hole is placed after the container is filled with the smoke fuel.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the container is cylindrical.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the container holds equal to or greater than 12 oz.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the smoke fuel is wood chips.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the smoke fuel is wood pellets.

10 . A method to fill and seal a container, the method comprising:

positioning a container on a conveyor system;

receiving the container in a vent hole applicator system, the vent hole applicator system comprising a plurality of hole applicators and a housing having a plurality of concave pockets positioned circumferentially along a surface of the housing;

placing a vent hole in the container with a hole applicator of the plurality of hole applicators while the container is received by a pocket of the plurality of pockets;

receiving the container in a filling system;

positioning the container adjacent to a tube from the filling system;

dispensing a dry material from a hopper into the container through the tube;

receiving the container in a seam sealing system;

positioning a lid onto the container;

curling the lid and container top to form a double seam;

receiving the container in a packaging system; and

packaging the container into sale packs for distribution.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving the container in a labeling system; and

applying a label to the container.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the conveyor system moves the container to the vent hole applicator system, the filling system, the seam sealing system, and the packaging system.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the vent hole is placed before the container is filled with the dry material.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the vent hole is placed after the container is filled with the dry material.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the dry material includes a non-liquid material.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the dry material is in pellet form.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the dry material comprises baker's yeast, dehydrated bouillon, freeze-dried goods, dried fruit, powdered food, instant coffee, coffee beans, coffee grounds, spices, oatmeal, soup stock, seeds, beans, grain, dried meat, dried seafood, candy, or a combination thereof.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the dry material comprises a cannabis product, a tobacco product, or a combination thereof.

19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the dry material comprises a powder, granules, pellets, briquettes, pills, tablets, capsules, beads, or a combination thereof.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (20)