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US 2003/0116450 A1Published application
Open cell tray and method of foodstuff packaging
OwnerRichard Grant Hoddinottinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packaging system includes a packaging member adapted to support a foodstuff in use. The packaging member includes a container or tray formed from an open celled material. The container or tray has an interior for contacting the foodstuff in use and an outside. The tray containing a foodstuff is wrapped in plastic and then placed in an oxygen barrier bag for evacuation, charging and sealing in a chamber to decrease the oxygen content in the barrier bag to prolong the shelf life of the foodstuff.
Claims8
A packaging system for storing oxygen sensitive foodstuff comprising:
- an open celled tray for holding the foodstuff;
- a plastic material over-wrapping or lidding the tray to form a covered tray having an enclosed space for the foodstuff, the plastics material having micro-perforations;
- a chamber having at least one vent and snorkel;
- and
- an oxygen barrier bag for enclosing the over-wrapped or lidded tray and foodstuff, said barrier bag being enclosable in the chamber,
- wherein a normal atmosphere within the barrier bag and chamber is evacuatable, the barrier bag is chargable with gas and sealable so that the oxygen content within the over-wrapped or lidded tray is less than 200 ppm.
3 more elements
A method of packaging oxygen sensitive foodstuff comprising the steps of:
- placing at least one over-wrapped or lidded, open celled tray containing a foodstuff into an oxygen barrier bag;
- placing the barrier bag in a vented chamber having a snorkel;
- evacuating both the chamber and the barrier bag via the snorkel to reach a vacuum level corresponding to a vapour pressure of the foodstuff so that a pressure inside the barrier bag increases to ensure that the barrier bag is expanded, and so that vapour coming off the foodstuff is expanding and displacing the oxygen in the barrier bag so that a very low partial pressure of oxygen is left inside the barrier bag;
- injecting gas into the barrier bag and simultaneously venting the chamber to atmosphere so that no undue pressure is placed on the barrier bag;
- and
- sealing the barrier bag.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.