Process for packaging liquid food products
AssigneeTetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
InventorCharles E. Sizer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid food product packaging process and apparatus is disclosed. The process may be employed for filling gable top cartons with high acid liquids such as orange juice. The product is heated to a sufficiently high temperature to sterilize the product for a short period of time and then cooled to an intermediate temperature that is sufficiently high to avoid the growth of bacteria, and at the intermediate temperature, the product is placed in unsealed gable top cartons. The cartons are sealed and allowed to cool to room temperature. This process produces a food package that has high seal integrity and relatively low carton distortion.
Claims17
A process for packaging liquid food products in containers having an open top through which they may be filled with liquid food products, the process comprising the steps of:
- (a) sterilizing the liquid food product by heating the product to a temperature sufficient to render the product commercially sterile;
- (b) cooling the product to a temperature between about 65.degree. C. and 72.degree. C.;
- (c) filling a container under aseptic conditions with the liquid food product at a temperature of between about 65.degree. C. and 72.degree. C.;
- (d) closing and sealing the top opening of the container;
- and
- (e) subsequently cooling the product to room temperature.
A process for packaging a liquid product into a container, the process comprising the following steps:
- providing a quantity of liquid product;
- providing an unsealed, open container;
- heating the liquid product to a temperature sufficiently high to kill microorganisms that cause spoilage;
- bringing the product to a temperature of between 65.degree. C. and 72.degree. C.;
- introducing the liquid product into the unsealed, open container under aseptic conditions while maintaining the temperature of the product substantially between 65.degree. C. and 72.degree. C.;
- closing and sealing the container after introducing the liquid product into the container;
- and
- allowing the product to cool to ambient temperature after the container has been closed and sealed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.