Method and system for processing meat products in a modified atmosphere
AssigneeJbs USA, LLC
InventorsJohn Erick Johnson, Jose Luis Montes, Brian Charles Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for wrapping meat in containers is provided. The method and system provide a modified atmosphere, other than that which exists as standard air, to a container such that a final sealed product contains an internal volume or atmosphere of modified gas. In-line processing features dispense the desired modified gas such that minimal interruption is provided in an automated or partially automated packing operation.
Claims20
A packaging machine for sealing containers, comprising:
- a first conveyor for conveying containers to be sealed;
- a second conveyor for conveying sealed containers;
- a substantially vertical planar member provided between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, the planar member adapted for preventing conveyance of a container beyond a predetermined horizontal position;
- a translator for translating containers to be closed in a substantially vertical direction along the height of the planar member;
- a closing device provided proximal to an upper terminus of the height of the planar portion;
- wherein the closing device is aligned with a transport path of containers defined by the second conveyor;
- and
- the substantially vertical planar member comprising apertures through which at least one gas is dispensed, the apertures provided such that the at least one gas is dispensed proximal a container and the closing device such that an internal volume of the container comprises the at least one gas when the container is sealed.
A packaging machine for sealing containers, comprising:
- a conveyor for conveying containers to be sealed;
- a gas dispensation device in fluid communication with at least one gas and adapted to direct the at least one gas to an environment directly surrounding the containers conveyed on the conveyor;
- the at least one gas comprising not more than approximately 10% oxygen by unit volume;
- a container closing device aligned with a transport path of containers defined by the conveyor and provided proximal the gas dispensation device such that an internal volume of containers sealed by the closing device contain the at least one gas.
A method of sealing containers, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of unwrapped containers;
- conveying the containers along a predetermined horizontal transport path;
- directing the containers toward a substantially vertical plate, the substantially vertical plate comprising a delimiting member for stopping the movement of a tray along the transport path;
- directing at least one gas from the substantially vertical plate to an area immediately surrounding the container;
- directing a container at least one of vertically upward and downward;
- wrapping the container in a substantially air-tight fashion;
- and
- conveying the wrapped container along a second predetermined horizontal path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.