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US 3,939,287 AGranted
Sterilizing apparatus and process
AssigneeSpicecraft, Inc.
InventorsDavid F. Orwig, Robert G. Roecklein
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSpicecraft, Inc.
InventorsDavid F. Orwig, Robert G. Roecklein
Estimating the term…
An apparatus and process for sterilizing substances and particularly food products such as food spices and seasonings which are in a processed or unprocessed condition and are in a powdered, granular, flaky, leafy or similar conditions, the apparatus including means for subjecting the product while in a container such as a plastic or plastic-like bag, first to a subatmospheric condition and thereafter injecting a gaseous sterilant at a central location in the product whereby the sterilant diffuses outwardly through the product toward the walls of the container sterilizing the product in the process and gradually escaping through the container leaving the packaged product in a sealed closed and sterilized condition. The invention resides in the apparatus used for sterilizing and in sterilizing process which may include additional steps of back flushing especially when relatively large containers of products are sterilized and where it is desired to shorten the time when the packaged product is safe to handle, ship and use.
An apparatus for sterilizing spices, food seasonings and like products while in a bag-like container comprising means to support the bag-like container including a pair of relatively movable clamp members movable into engagement with opposite sides of the bag-like container to sealably close the container with the product therein, a source of gaseous sterilant and means for introducing sterilant from said source into the container, said last named means including a tubular member having an opening adjacent to one end and an opposite end, means connected to said opposite end communicating the tubular member with the source of gaseous sterilant, said tubular member being movable to a position extending into the container between the pair of clamp members to a position in which the opening in said one end of the tubular member is surrounded by the product to be sterilized.
Means for sterilizing products such as products in powder, granular and spice-like form while the product is in a bag having an open end comprising a source of sterilizing substance and a vacuum pressure source, a probe having a first end including means for connecting said first end to a conduit, said probe having an opposite free end with an opening therein, the probe being insertable into the product in the bag through the bag opening to a position such that the free end of the probe is at an intermediate location in the product, means to clamp the bag adjacent to the open end thereof with the probe extending therein, said clamp means including means to seal the bag closed around the probe, multi-position valve means connected to the opposite end of the conduit from the probe, other conduit means connecting the valve means to the source of sterilizing substance and to the vacuum pressure source, and means to change the condition of the valve means to selectively establish communication between the probe, the vacuum pressure source and the source of sterilant substance.
An apparatus for sterilizing spices, food seasonings and other like products of a powdery, granular flaky, leafy or similar characteristic, said product being in a bag-like container comprising a pair of relatively movable clamp members for engaging and sealably closing the bag-like container with the product to be sterilized therein, means to selectively establish a subatmospheric condition or for introducing a gaseous sterilant into the bag-like container, said last named means including a hollow probe member having a free end with an opening therethrough and an opposite end, a conduit and valve means connected to the opposite end of the probe member, a source of gaseous sterilant and vacuum pump means connected to the valve means, said valve means including means to selectively communicate the probe member with the sterilant source and the vacuum pump means, said probe member being insertable into the bag-like container and into the product to be sterilized therein between the clamp members.
A process fpr sterilizing food products packaged in bags comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.