US3584569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for the sterilization of filled packages having pressure sensitive closures and filled with material,especially foodstuffs or condiments or the like
Assignee: Ursina AG
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Filing: 1969-08-14
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1989-08-14
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an apparatus for the sterilization of filled packages equipped with pressure-sensitive closures and filled with materials, especially foodstuffs and semiluxurious products such as condiments or the like, which comprises feed channel means provided with infeed or inlet means and discharge means. The feed channel means pass through a preheating zone, a sterilization zone and a cooling zone. A fluid medium serves as the energy transfer agent for conveying the packages through the feed channel means. The infeed means and discharge means are situated at a greater height than said sterilization zone of the feed channel means. According to an important aspect of the invention, the preheating zone and cooling zone are also situated at a greater height than the sterilization zone, with said feed channel means at said preheating zone and cooling zone possessing a greater slope than at said sterilization zone. Further, energy transmission means are provided at the feed channel means at least along the greatest portion of such feed channel means. The feed channel means at the lowest region of the preheating zone and cooling zone, respectively, merging with the sterilization zone. Moreover, the system operates such that the pressure of the fluid medium in the feed channel means at least from the infeed means up to the region of the cooling zone corresponding to the infeed temperature is greater than the internal pressure of the package.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner Wieser
- 👤 Peter Haerry
- 👤 Josef Stocker
- 👤 Ivo Hauser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:29
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B11/00; A23B11/10; A23B11/12; A23B11/123; A23B11/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the pressure of said fluid medium along the entire feed channel means is greater than the internal pressure of the packages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet means comprises a lock mechanism incorporating a housing sealed in fluidtight fashion to both sides, a pocket wheel having pockets rotatably mounted in said housing and capable or receiving said packages to be processed, an inlet stud and an outlet stud for said packages provided at said housing, and means defining a feed path from said inlet stud to said outlet stud incorporating regions of increasing fluid medium pressure, said pocket wheel moving along said feed path from said inlet stud to said outlet stud and passing through said regions of increasing pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said means defining said regions of increasing pressure also defines regions of increasing fluid medium temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said means defining regions of increasing pressure further defines regions of varying pressure, said last-mentioned means incorporating fluid medium delivery means cooperating with said housing and spanning at least the region oF one pocket of said pocket wheel and fluid medium withdrawal means spanning at least the region of one pocket of said pocket wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said energy transmission means comprises jacket means provided for said feed channel means, a heat-exchange fluid medium agent flowing through said jacket means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said heat-exchange fluid medium agent flows in counterflow relationship through said jacket means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said energy transmission means for said preheating zone and sterilization zone comprise electrical heating means surrounding regions of said feed channel means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further including means for controlling said energy transmission means in predetermined zones.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said controlling means includes connection location means provided for said jacket means along the conveying path for the controlled admixture of a heat-exchange fluid medium containing an energy content which deviates from the energy content of said heat-exchange fluid medium agent flowing through said jacket means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including means for varying the feed velocity of said fluid medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including means enabling said fluid medium to pass through the apparatus in a closed cycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said inlet means is located lower than said discharge means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said feed channel means possesses a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the height of said cross section of said feed channel means is dimensioned such that fresh packages located in said feed channel means can tilt in lengthwise direction through an angle in the range of about 11* to 14* .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said angle of tilt is preferably about 12*50'' .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the packages which are treated are controlled serving portion packages.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said inlet means possesses a temperature in the range of about 50* C. to 90* C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said temperature range is preferably between 60* C. to 80* C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said inlet means operated with an overpressure of said fluid medium in the range of about 1.3 to 1.8 kp/cm.2.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said lock mechanism is provided between said inlet stud and said outlet stud with a first region having a fluid medium overpressure in the range of about 0.5 to 0.8 kp/cm.2, a second region wherein the fluid medium overpressure is in a range of about 0.8 to 1.2 kp/cm.2, and a third region wherein the fluid medium overpressure is in a range of about 1.2 to 1.4 kp/cm.2.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said sterilization zone operates at a temperature in the range of about 100* C. to 130* C. and with a fluid medium overpressure which is in the range of about 2.3 to 2.7 kp/cm.2.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said temperature range is preferably between about 110* C. and 120 * C. and said fluid medium overpressure is preferably in the range of about 2.4 to 2.6 kp/cm.2.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said discharge means operates in a temperature range of about 30* to 50* C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said operating temperature of said discharge means is preferably about 40* C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein saId discharge means is situated at a greater elevation than said infeed means. 27 Apparatus for the sterilization of filled packages having pressure-sensitive closures and filled with materials, comprising feed channel means provided with inlet means and discharge means, said feed channel means having predetermined regions defining and passing through a preheating zone, a sterilization zone and a cooling zone, a fluid medium for conveying said packages through said feed channel means, said inlet means and discharge means being situated at a greater height than said sterilization zone of said feed channel means, said preheating zone and said cooling zone being situated at a greater height than said sterilization zone, and energy transmission means provided for said feed channel means at least along the greatest portion of said feed channel means, said feed channel means at the lowest region of said preheating zone and cooling zone, respectively, merging with said sterilization zone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |