US 2012/0267264 A1 · Adaptive Packaging for Food Processing Systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a re-closable package, wherein at least one layer of said package is derived and fabricated essentially from a single piece of packaging material, has at least an inner and outer chamber, each capable of holding one or more separate or mixed solid or liquid food components. It also relates to one or more mechanisms within said package design and configuration preferentially allowing controlled movement of gas but not liquid and/or solids both within the package and/or from within the package to the outside. It further relates to a method for controlling and selectively modifying a number of processing conditions within said packaging, particularly pack pressure, gas volume and gas composition. It also relates to package design capability to accelerate and/or optimize product processing within any food sterilization or pasteurization system and its subsequent handling, storage and transportation without further modification.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Packaging assembly for both flowable and non-flowable foodstuffs capable of withstanding sterilization temperatures and pressures, comprising at least two layers wherein at least one layer forms an enclosure having at least two separate openings, each leading from the outside to a internal chamber;

wherein the inner chamber being connected to the outer chamber or to the outside by means of an internal capillary, said inner and outer chambers each containing at least one mechanism for controlling the movement of solids, the flow of liquid, the flow of gas, the volume of gas and the composition of gas both within the chambers of the package and/or between the package and the outside both during and after sealing of the package, said packaging design and structure retaining the contents of each chamber continuously separate until use and said packaging features and properties affecting reduced product processing time, accelerated rates of thermal transfer and enhanced product organoleptic properties.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adaptive Packaging for Food Processing Systems

Life of this patent

Adaptive Packaging for Food Processing Systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20