# US 12,030,680 B2 · Systems and methods for oxygen free packaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,030,680 B2 - Document ID: US12030680B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/328,439 - Filed: 2021-05-24 - Published: 2021-11-25 - Granted: 2024-07-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-22 - Assignees: Protocol Lab, LLC - Applicants: Protocol Lab, LLC - Inventors: Tyler Gaul; Thomas Wolverton Gaul; Davis Finlay Gaul - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12030680B2 ## CPC - B65B 31/025: {specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers (B65B31/021, B65B31/022 take precedence)} - B65B 1/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles - B65B 57/00: Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices (registering wrapping or container-forming material fed from rolls B65B41/18) - B65B 31/04: Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied - B65B 55/027: {Packaging in aseptic chambers} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A method for packaging products in a substantially oxygen free environment. The method includes providing a containment environment with a main chamber formed by main chamber walls, gloves connected to the main chamber walls, an exhaust portion for removing ambient air, an intake portion for introducing inert gas, and selectively sealable access points for providing access into and out of the main chamber. The method includes providing a bulk product dispenser and individual bottles into the main chamber and sealing the main chamber. The method includes purging ambient air from the main chamber through the exhaust portion and filling the containment environment with inert gas. The method includes transferring a product from the bulk product dispenser to each of the individual bottles and sealing the bottles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for packaging products in a substantially oxygen free environment, the system comprising: a bulk product dispenser including a product; one or more individual bottles; one or more pressurized gas tanks containing an inert gas; a vacuum pump; and a containment environment including: a main chamber formed by main chamber walls, the main chamber configured for housing the bulk product dispenser and the one or more individual bottles, an exhaust portion in fluid communication with the main chamber, the exhaust portion including at least one exhaust valve and configured to be removably connected to the vacuum pump so as to provide for removal of gas from the main chamber through the exhaust portion using the vacuum pump, an intake portion in fluid communication with the main chamber, the intake portion including at least one intake valve and removably connected to the one or more pressurized gas tanks so as to provide for entry of the inert gas into the main chamber through the intake portion, one or more nozzles connected to the one or more pressurized gas tanks, each of the one or more nozzles disposed within the containment environment so as to apply jets of the inert gas directly to at least one surface of the one or more individual bottles, and wherein at least one of the one or more nozzles is a dual nozzle additionally connected to the bulk product dispenser and configured to both apply the jets of the inert gas directly to at least one surface of the one or more individual bottles and to dispense the product into the one or more individual bottles simultaneously. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the product includes at least one oxygen-sensitive ingredient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising: a target gas sensor disposed within the containment environment, the target gas sensor configured to detect a concentration of a target gas present within the containment environment; one or more processors in communication with the target gas sensor, the vacuum pump, and the one or more pressurized tanks of inert gas; and a memory containing processor-executable instructions to: receive readings from the target gas sensor indicating the concentration of the target gas within the main chamber, compare a concentration of the target gas to a predetermined maximum target gas concentration, and deactivate the vacuum pump and the one or more pressurized tanks of inert gas when the concentration of the target gas is determined to be less than or equal to the maximum target gas concentration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the memory also contains processor-executable instructions to: receive additional readings from the target gas sensor after the one or more nozzles has applied jets of inert gas directly to surfaces of at least one of the bulk product dispenser or the one or more individual bottles; compare the concentration of the target gas to the predetermined maximum target gas concentration; and re-activate the vacuum pump when the concentration of the target gas exceeds the predetermined maximum target gas concentration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein the maximum target gas concentration is about 0.2%. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the inert gas is one of nitrogen, argon, or helium.