Continuous production and packaging of perishable goods in low oxygen environments
AssigneeSafeFresh Technologies, LLC
InventorAnthony J.M. Garwood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Processing and packaging for perishable goods, such as beef, in a conduit wherein oxygen is substantially excluded and suitable gases such as carbon dioxide are provided at a suitable pressure and in such a manner as to increase the quantity of the gases dissolved in the perishable goods to extend the shelf life of the goods and decontaminate the goods.
Claims59
A method for tracing, comprising:
- associating information to a tagged animal carcass and a division of the animal's carcass by transferring the information to a carrying means for carrying a division.
A system for tracing, comprising:
- means used for carrying animal carcasses and any carcass divisions, said means having a device capable of storing information;
- and
- means for reading the information to direct the destination of the carrying means.
A method of tracing a good harvested from an animal, comprising:
- associating information pertaining to the animal on a carrying means for the animal or its divisions.
A method of tracing a good harvested from an animal, comprising:
- chilling the animal prior to disassembly of the animal into divisions.
A method of tracing a good harvested from an animal, comprising:
- disassembling the animal into divisions prior to chilling the animal divisions.
A method of labeling a good harvested from an animal, comprising:
- tracing the good as it is processed and applying the origin of the good on the label.
A method of locating the origin of a good harvested from an animal, comprising:
- applying a read/write tag to a packaged good.
A method for disassembling a carcass, comprising:
- grading the carcass and disassembling the carcass based on a best-fit model, and comparing the model to the final disassembly of the carcass.
A method for tracking meat to a carcass from which the meat was harvested, comprising:
- obtaining a carcass having a tag with information associated therewith;
- transferring the information from the tag to a storage device located on a first carrier for transporting the carcass;
- processing the carcass into one or more portions;
- placing the portions into second carriers;
- and
- transferring the information from carrier to carrier each time carcass portions or divisions are transferred from carrier to carrier.
A method for tracking meat to an animal from which the meat was harvested, comprising:
- providing an animal having information associated therewith;
- processing the animal into animal portions;
- transferring the animal portions from location to location;
- and
- associating the information with the animal portions when the portions are transferred from location to location.
A method for tracking ground meat to an animal from which the meat was harvested, comprising:
- obtaining animal portions having information associated therewith;
- transferring the portions to a conduit, said conduit including a meat grinder;
- monitoring the amount of portions entering the conduit;
- grinding the portions to provide ground meat;
- monitoring the amount of ground meat leaving the conduit;
- and
- associating the information with the ground meat leaving the conduit.
A method for tracking ground meat to an animal from which the meat was harvested, comprising:
- obtaining animal portions having information associated therewith;
- transferring the portions to a vessel, the vessel including a meat grinder;
- monitoring the amount of meat entering the vessel;
- grinding the meat to provide ground meat;
- monitoring the amount of ground meat leaving the vessel;
- associating the information with the ground meat leaving the vessel;
- and
- packaging the ground meat in at least one package having a mark, said information being associated with the package through the mark.
A method for associating packaged meat with information about an animal from which the meat is harvested, comprising:
- providing an animal having information associated therewith;
- transferring said information to a central location;
- processing the animal into animal portions;
- transferring the animal portions from location to location;
- and
- associating the information with the animal portions when the portions are transferred from location to location.
A method for associating packaged meat with information about an animal from which the meat is harvested, comprising:
- providing an animal having information associated therewith;
- transferring said information to a location that is accessible to one or more users of the information;
- harvesting meat from the animal;
- providing packages containing a mark on each package;
- associating the information with the packages through the mark;
- and
- placing the meat in the packages to associate packaged meat with the information about the animal from which the meat is harvested.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.