Gas flush high pressure pasteurization packaging and associated methods
AssigneeColumbus Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsGary DesLauriers, Paul Wolfert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for packaging perishable foods. A packaging method in accordance with several embodiments of the disclosure can include, for example, mating a tray with a product. The tray can include a compartment having a generally similar shape as the shape of the product. The method can further include gas flushing an internal atmosphere around a product, and sealing the product and the internal atmosphere between a lid and the tray. Additionally, the method can include pasteurizing the product with an application of substantially uniform high pressure to a surface area of the package (e.g., high pressure pasteurization).
Claims18
An at least partially automated method of packaging perishable products, the method comprising:
- forming a compartment in a tray, wherein the compartment is formed to have outer bounds that are substantially similar to a distinct shape of a perishable product;
- placing the perishable product into the compartment of the tray;
- gas flushing the perishable product and the compartment to provide a modified atmosphere;
- hermetically sealing a lid to the tray to form a modified atmosphere package;
- and
- pasteurizing the perishable product in the package with an application of substantially uniform high pressure to the package.
An at least partially automated method of packaging a perishable product, comprising:
- positioning a perishable product in a cavity of a container, wherein the product has a substantially distinct shape and the cavity is formed to have a shape substantially similar to the distinct shape of the product, and wherein the product has a first volume and the cavity has a second volume at least 10% greater than the first volume;
- gas flushing a modified atmosphere into a free space, the free space being defined by the difference between the first and second volumes and comprising at least 10% of the second volume;
- attaching a cover to a portion of the container, the cover and the container enclosing the product to form a package;
- sealing the cover to the container;
- and
- applying substantially uniform high pressure to an exterior surface of the package to pasteurize the product.
A packaged perishable product, comprising:
- a container having a peripheral surface and a cavity spaced below the peripheral surface, the cavity having outer bounds that define a shape, wherein the shape is selected to at least substantially match a distinct product shape;
- a perishable product positioned within the cavity, the product having a first volume and a distinct shape that is at least substantially similar to the shape of the cavity, wherein the compartment is configured to mate with the product;
- a cover sealed to the container, wherein the cover and the container form a package having a second volume, wherein the second volume is greater than the first volume, and wherein the package is configured to withstand substantially uniform pressure of at least 80,000 psi;
- and
- a modified atmosphere at least partially filling the difference between the first volume and the second volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.