# US 8,783,002 B2 · Method for providing a regulated atmosphere for packaging perishable goods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,002 B2 - Document ID: US8783002B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/839,460 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2013-08-15 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 1998-09-10 - Assignees: The Bowden Group - Applicants: The Bowden Group - Inventors: Lisa A. Bowden; R. Craig Bowden; James Nagamine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783002B2 ## CPC - A23B 2/708: in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O - B65B 11/025: {by webs revolving around stationary articles} - B65B 25/041: {combined with their conservation} - B65B 31/00: Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers - B65B 31/04: Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied - B65B 55/00: Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging (by packaging under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions B65B31/00; devices for placing protecting sheets, plugs, or wads over contents B65B61/22) - B65B 67/085: {using hand-held dispensers for stretch films} - B65B 2210/20: the web dispenser being mounted on a rotary arm - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A method for introducing at least one substance into a sealed enclosure holding at least one product. At least one conduit may be provided through which one of gas or fluid may flow into or out of the sealed enclosure. Air may be evacuated from the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit to create a predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure and a predetermined quantity of the at least one substance may be injected into the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for providing a desired atmosphere within a sealed enclosure, wherein at least one product is disposed within the sealed enclosure, the method comprising: evacuating air from the sealed enclosure through at least one conduit to create a first predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure, wherein the evacuating is controlled by a controller programmed with target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions to provide a desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure; injecting a predetermined quantity of at least one substance into the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit, wherein the injecting of the substance is controlled by the controller in accordance with the target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions; monitoring the atmosphere inside the sealed enclosure by sampling the atmosphere and comparing at least one sampled parameter to the target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions; and maintaining and/or adjusting the atmosphere inside the sealed enclosure based on the monitoring, wherein the maintaining and/or adjusting of the atmosphere is controlled by the controller in accordance with target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: injecting a gas into the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit to create a second predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure, wherein the injecting of the gas is controlled by the controller in accordance with the target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the injecting the gas facilitates the application to, coating of, absorption into, or infusion into the at least one product by the at least one substance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: injecting a second predetermined quantity of the at least one substance into the sealed enclosure through the at least one conduit, wherein the injecting of the second predetermined quantity of the at least one substance is controlled by the controller in accordance with the target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: maintaining the predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure for a first predetermined period of time, wherein the maintaining the predetermined pressure is controlled by the controller in accordance with the target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions; and maintaining the second predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure for a second predetermined period of time, wherein the maintaining the second predetermined pressure is controlled by the controller in accordance with the target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one substance is at least one of a gas, a powder, a micro- or nano-particle, a fluidized compound, a liquid, or a vaporized liquid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one substance comprises at least one of a sanitizing substance, a flavoring substance, a preservative substance, a food additive substance, a coating substance, a coloring substance, a nutritional substance, a sealing substance, a mineral substance, a vitamin substance, an essence and/or essential oil substance, or a biological substance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the sanitizing substance includes at least one of ozone, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, nitrous oxide, peracetic acid, nitrite, nitrate compound, iodine, benzoate, propionate, nisin, sulfate, and sorbate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the biological substance comprises a probiotic. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the essence and/or essential oil substance comprises Thymol. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the substance includes at least one of a food grade acid, a mineral salt, a mineral salt solution, a nutritional additive, a sweetener, or a flavor enhancer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure comprises: a pallet with goods stacked on the pallet; and wrapping wrapped around the pallet to enclose the pallet of goods. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure comprises: a pallet with goods stacked on the pallet; and a bag covering the pallet of goods. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure includes a cooling tube apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure includes a rigid chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure is a shipping unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure is a bin. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one product is a perishable food product. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the sealed enclosure comprises an individual consumer package and the at least one product is pre-packaged in the individual consumer package. ### Claim 20 A method for providing a desired atmosphere within a sealed enclosure, wherein at least one product is disposed within the sealed enclosure, the method comprising: evacuating air from the sealed enclosure through at least one conduit to create a first predetermined pressure within the sealed enclosure, wherein the evacuating is controlled by a controller programmed with target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions to provide a desired atmosphere within the sealed enclosure; introducing a predetermined quantity of at least one substance into the sealed enclosure, wherein the introduction of the at least one substance is controlled by the controller in accordance with the target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions; monitoring the atmosphere inside the sealed enclosure by sampling the atmosphere and comparing at least one sampled parameter to the target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions; and maintaining and/or adjusting the atmosphere inside the sealed enclosure based on the monitoring, wherein the maintaining and/or adjusting of the atmosphere is controlled by the controller in accordance with target parameters, set-points and/or operating instructions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: sanitizing the at least one product via the at least one substance. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one substance comprises at least one of a sanitizing substance, a flavoring substance, a preservative substance, a food additive substance, a coating substance, a coloring substance, a nutritional substance, a sealing substance, a mineral substance, a vitamin substance, an essence and/or essential oil substance, or a biological substance. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one substance includes at least one of ozone, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, nitrous oxide, peracetic acid, nitrite, nitrate compound, iodine, benzoate, propionate, nisin, sulfate, or sorbate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the evacuating facilitates the application to, coating of, absorption into, or infusion into the at least one product by the at least one substance.