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US 9,095,152 B2Granted
Method for disinfecting, sanitizing, and packaging ready-to-eat produce
AssigneeMunger Bros., LLC
InventorKewel Munger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention generally relates to a method for efficiently disinfecting, sterilizing, and packaging produce so that it is Ready-To-Eat by a consumer. The claimed method removes dirt, soil, pathogens, and renders produce with a longer shelf life. The claimed method is a multi-step sanitizing process that is designed to not cause bruising or other physical harm to produce. Ultimately, this method yields produce disinfected, packaged, and ready-for-sale on the market shelf.
Claims14
A berry washing method comprising the following steps:
- providing a plurality of berries;
- providing a berry preparation device;
- loading said plurality of berries into said berry preparation device;
- wherein said berry preparation device comprises a first washing portion, a second washing portion, a third wash portion, and a drying portion;
- washing said berries in an oxidizer sanitizer wash by said first washing portion of said berry preparation device;
- washing said berries in a surfactant sanitizer wash by said second washing portion of said berry preparation device;
- washing said berries in a final rinse sanitizer combined with a potable water rinse by said third wash portion of said berry preparation device;
- wherein said second washing portion and said third wash portion comprise a plurality of sprayers;
- drying said berries by said drying portion of said berry preparation device without increasing a temperature of said berries;
- wherein said drying portion is separated between two separate rooms, such that a wall separates a first drying portion in a first room and said second drying portion in a second room;
- wherein said first drying portion comprises one or more of vacuums and one or more air knife dryers;
- wherein said second drying portion comprises one or more vacuums and one or more air knife dryers;
- wherein a conveyor belt moves said berries through said first drying portion, then passes through a hole in said wall that separates said first drying portion from said second drying portion, and then moves said berries through said second drying portion;
- wherein each of said one or more vacuums are configured to be below said conveyor belt and each of said one or more air knife dryers are configured to be above said conveyor belt, such that said one or more air knife dryers blow air down onto said berries and said one or more vacuums sucks air down, such that bruising of said berries is minimized;
- packaging said berries;
- and
- wherein said washed and dried, berries are ready-to-eat and have a shelf life of at least 21 days.
14 more elements
A method of washing berries comprising the steps:
- providing a plurality of berries;
- providing a berry preparation device;
- sorting said berries by color and quality;
- lowering a temperature of said plurality of berries to approximately 1.1-4.4 degrees Celsius;
- loading said plurality of berries into said berry preparation device;
- wherein said berry preparation device comprises a first washing portion, a second washing portion, a third wash portion, and a drying portion;
- washing said berries in a surfactant sanitizer wash by said first washing portion of said berry preparation device;
- washing said berries in an oxidizer sanitizer wash by said second washing portion of said berry preparation device;
- washing said berries in a final rinse sanitizer combined with a potable water rinse by said third wash portion of said berry preparation device;
- wherein said second washing portion and said third wash portion comprise a plurality of sprayers;
- drying said berries by said drying portion of said berry preparation device;
- wherein said drying portion is separated between two separate rooms, such that a wall separates a first drying portion in a first room and said second drying portion in a second room;
- wherein said first drying portion comprises one or more of vacuums and one or more air knife dryers;
- wherein said second drying portion comprises one or more vacuums and one or more air knife dryers;
- wherein a conveyor belt moves said berries through said first drying portion, then passes through a hole in said wall that separates said first drying portion from said second drying portion, and then moves said berries through said second drying portion;
- wherein each of said one or more vacuums are configured to be below said conveyor belt and each of said one or more air knife dryers are configured to be above said conveyor belt, such that said one or more air knife dryers blow air down onto said berries and said one or more vacuums sucks air down, such that bruising of said berries is minimized;
- packaging said berries;
- wherein said packaging is covered with an Oxygen Transmission Rate film;
- and
- wherein said washed and dried, berries are ready-to-eat and have a shelf life of at least 21 days.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.