Patent US3643586A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3643586A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aseptic packaging of foods
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-07-08
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1990-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for producing an aseptically packaged food product in which the food is sterilized and then packaged under aseptic conditions in presterilized containers. An apparatus for carrying out the method is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 David V Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:14
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B55/00; B65B55/02; B65B55/027; A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/20; B65B55/04; B65B55/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
441 words
Apparatus for the aseptic packaging of food comprising means for sterilizing the food prior to packaging, means for moving the sterilized food to a presterilized reservoir; a walled pressure-sealed clean room in which the sterilized food is packaged, a filling machine in said room having a filling zone in which is disposed filling means to which said reservoir is connected, a tranSparent cover enclosing the filling zone; an air filter adjacent the clean room, an air conduit connecting said filter to air inlet means disposed in an upper portion of the clean room, a second air conduit connecting the filter to said enclosed filling zone; spray means in the air filter for spraying a micro-organismkilling solution over all surfaces of the filter, a second spray means in an upper portion of the clean room for spraying said solution over all surfaces therein, a third spray means in said second conduit for spraying said solution over all surfaces therein including the surfaces within said filling zone; a blower in the air filter for passing air through said conduits into said clean room and filling zone, air exit means in a lower portion of the clean room substantially diagonally opposite said air inlet means for removing air from the clean room, the location of said air inlet and exit means providing for the flow of air over the surfaces of the filling machine then over an attendant for the same and finally out of the clean room, thereby picking up any micro-organisms from the attendant and carrying the same away from the machine, said air exit means permitting the air pressure in the clean room to be slightly superatmospheric, thereby to prevent entry of microorganisms into the clean room, and an opening in the product discharge end of the filling zone for removing air therefrom; a closable opening in said filling zone cover through which said attendant may introduce presterilized containers and lids into the filling zone in stacked form, and a plurality of spaced openings in one side of said cover each having sealed to the wall margins thereof a flexible glove which extends into the filling zone and which enables the attendant to position said containers and lids in an aseptic manner; means in the filling zone for advancing containers to said filling means then to a lid-applying means then to a lidsealing means and then out of said zone through said product discharge opening, closable discharge means in a wall of said clean room opposite said last-mentioned opening for removing sealed containers from the clean room, and means for receiving said containers as they are removed from the clean room.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
441 words
Apparatus for the aseptic packaging of food comprising means for sterilizing the food prior to packaging, means for moving the sterilized food to a presterilized reservoir; a walled pressure-sealed clean room in which the sterilized food is packaged, a filling machine in said room having a filling zone in which is disposed filling means to which said reservoir is connected, a tranSparent cover enclosing the filling zone; an air filter adjacent the clean room, an air conduit connecting said filter to air inlet means disposed in an upper portion of the clean room, a second air conduit connecting the filter to said enclosed filling zone; spray means in the air filter for spraying a micro-organismkilling solution over all surfaces of the filter, a second spray means in an upper portion of the clean room for spraying said solution over all surfaces therein, a third spray means in said second conduit for spraying said solution over all surfaces therein including the surfaces within said filling zone; a blower in the air filter for passing air through said conduits into said clean room and filling zone, air exit means in a lower portion of the clean room substantially diagonally opposite said air inlet means for removing air from the clean room, the location of said air inlet and exit means providing for the flow of air over the surfaces of the filling machine then over an attendant for the same and finally out of the clean room, thereby picking up any micro-organisms from the attendant and carrying the same away from the machine, said air exit means permitting the air pressure in the clean room to be slightly superatmospheric, thereby to prevent entry of microorganisms into the clean room, and an opening in the product discharge end of the filling zone for removing air therefrom; a closable opening in said filling zone cover through which said attendant may introduce presterilized containers and lids into the filling zone in stacked form, and a plurality of spaced openings in one side of said cover each having sealed to the wall margins thereof a flexible glove which extends into the filling zone and which enables the attendant to position said containers and lids in an aseptic manner; means in the filling zone for advancing containers to said filling means then to a lid-applying means then to a lidsealing means and then out of said zone through said product discharge opening, closable discharge means in a wall of said clean room opposite said last-mentioned opening for removing sealed containers from the clean room, and means for receiving said containers as they are removed from the clean room.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clean room is defined by walls which retain air therein at slightly superatmospheric pressure but which yield and leak air if the pressure increases appreciably thereover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein means are present for preparing said solution including a tank of micro-organism-killing agent, a supply of water, a proportionometer for receiving said agent and water and mixing the same in predetermined amounts to form said solution, a chamber for receiving said solution, inlet and outlet means in the chamber for passing pressurized air therethrough, thereby to entrain said solution, and valve-controlled lines for passing entrained solution to said spray means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus of claim 3 wherein additional valved lines are provided through which a portion of said pressurized airstreams is sent to each of said spray means, thereby to aid in atomizing said solution through said spray means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein an anteroom is disposed adjacent the clean room and across an entrance to the latter, said anteroom being pressurized at a pressure slightly lower than that prevailing in the clean room so that the atmosphere in the clean room may pass into the anteroom, said anteroom being useful to permit said attendant to change clothing before entering the clean room.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
247 words
Apparatus for the aseptic packaging of materials comprising a walled pressure-sealed clean room in which the material is packaged, a filling machine in said room having a filling zone in which filling means is disposed, a transparent cover enclosing the filling zone; an air filter adjacent the clean room, air conduits connecting the filter to said room and to said enclosed filling zone; spray means in the air filTer for spraying a micro-organism-killing solution over the surfaces of the filter, spray means for spraying said solution in the clean room and filling zone; a blower for passing air through said conduits into said clean room and filling zone, means for removing air from the clean room and filling zone, said air entraining any micro-organisms and carrying the same away from the filling machine, means for establishing a slightly superatmospheric pressure in the clean room, thereby to prevent entry therein of micro-organisms; means in said filling zone cover for introducing presterilized containers and lids to the zone, a plurality of spaced openings in said cover each having attached to the margins thereof a flexible glove which extends into the filling zone and which enables an attendant to position said containers and lids in an aseptic manner; means in the filling zone for advancing containers to said filling means then to lid-applying means then to lid-sealing means and then out of said zone, and means in a wall of the clean room for removing sealed containers from the room.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
247 words
Apparatus for the aseptic packaging of materials comprising a walled pressure-sealed clean room in which the material is packaged, a filling machine in said room having a filling zone in which filling means is disposed, a transparent cover enclosing the filling zone; an air filter adjacent the clean room, air conduits connecting the filter to said room and to said enclosed filling zone; spray means in the air filTer for spraying a micro-organism-killing solution over the surfaces of the filter, spray means for spraying said solution in the clean room and filling zone; a blower for passing air through said conduits into said clean room and filling zone, means for removing air from the clean room and filling zone, said air entraining any micro-organisms and carrying the same away from the filling machine, means for establishing a slightly superatmospheric pressure in the clean room, thereby to prevent entry therein of micro-organisms; means in said filling zone cover for introducing presterilized containers and lids to the zone, a plurality of spaced openings in said cover each having attached to the margins thereof a flexible glove which extends into the filling zone and which enables an attendant to position said containers and lids in an aseptic manner; means in the filling zone for advancing containers to said filling means then to lid-applying means then to lid-sealing means and then out of said zone, and means in a wall of the clean room for removing sealed containers from the room.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
335 words
In a filling machine for filling preformed containers with food, capping them with precut lids, sealing the lids thereon, and discharging the finished containers from the machine, wherein said machine has a filling zone incorporating a holder for stacked containers, a container depositor, a movable conveyor for holding deposited containers and intermittently advancing the same through said zone, a valved food discharge tube assembly for accurately filling the containers with food, a holder for stacked precut lids, a lid depositor, and sealing means for sealing the lids on the containers, the improved combination therewith of aseptic means for filling said containers comprising a transparent cover resting over and enclosing the filling zone, an opening in the wall of the cover for placing said zone in communication with a conduit through which micro-organism-killing solution may be sprayed over the zone and through which a stream of filtered presterilized air may be introduced, a second opening in a wall of said cover at the container discharge end of the zone for removing air therefrom and for permitting finished sealed containers to be discharged from the machine, the location of said first and second openings providing for the establishment of a stream of air through the zone effective to remove particulate matter, including micro-organisms, from the zone atmosphere, a closable opening adjacent said first opening through which an attendant for the machine may introduce presterilized stacked containers and lids, a food inlet opening in the cover adjacent said closable opening for receiving a food transfer line for connection to said food discharge tube assembly, a plurality of spaced openings in a sidewall of the cover each having sealed to the wall margins thereof a flexible glove which extends into said zone and which enables an attendant to position said containers and lids in an aseptic manner, and the inner surfaces of the cover being flush and smooth and free of holes, boltheads, screwheads, and the like, thereby to reduce any tendency of micro-organisms to deposit on said surfaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
335 words
In a filling machine for filling preformed containers with food, capping them with precut lids, sealing the lids thereon, and discharging the finished containers from the machine, wherein said machine has a filling zone incorporating a holder for stacked containers, a container depositor, a movable conveyor for holding deposited containers and intermittently advancing the same through said zone, a valved food discharge tube assembly for accurately filling the containers with food, a holder for stacked precut lids, a lid depositor, and sealing means for sealing the lids on the containers, the improved combination therewith of aseptic means for filling said containers comprising a transparent cover resting over and enclosing the filling zone, an opening in the wall of the cover for placing said zone in communication with a conduit through which micro-organism-killing solution may be sprayed over the zone and through which a stream of filtered presterilized air may be introduced, a second opening in a wall of said cover at the container discharge end of the zone for removing air therefrom and for permitting finished sealed containers to be discharged from the machine, the location of said first and second openings providing for the establishment of a stream of air through the zone effective to remove particulate matter, including micro-organisms, from the zone atmosphere, a closable opening adjacent said first opening through which an attendant for the machine may introduce presterilized stacked containers and lids, a food inlet opening in the cover adjacent said closable opening for receiving a food transfer line for connection to said food discharge tube assembly, a plurality of spaced openings in a sidewall of the cover each having sealed to the wall margins thereof a flexible glove which extends into said zone and which enables an attendant to position said containers and lids in an aseptic manner, and the inner surfaces of the cover being flush and smooth and free of holes, boltheads, screwheads, and the like, thereby to reduce any tendency of micro-organisms to deposit on said surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Filling machine of claim 7 wherein said food discharge tube assembly is constructed of a resistant metal to facilitate sterilization of the assembly, said metal being resistant to heat, hot air, hot water, steam, hydrogen peroxide, and the like.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a filling machine having a filling zone for filling preformed containers, capping them with precut lids, sealing the lids thereon, and discharging the finished containers from the machine, the improved combination therewith of aseptic means for filling said containers comprising a transparent cover resting on and enclosing said filling zone, means in a wall of the cover for enabling micro-organism-killing solution to be sprayed in the zone, means for passing a stream of filtered presterilized air through the zone to remove any particulate matter, including micro-organisms, from the zone atmosphere, means in said cover for introducing presterilized stacked containers and lids to the zone, a plurality of spaced openings in a wall of said cover each having sealed to the wall margins thereof a flexible glove which extends into said zone and which enables an attendant to position said containers and lids in an aseptic manner, and the inner surfaces of said cover being flush and smooth and free of holes, boltheads, screwheads, and the like, thereby to reduce any tendency of micro-organisms to deposit on said surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a filling machine having a filling zone for filling preformed containers, capping them with precut lids, sealing the lids thereon, and discharging the finished containers from the machine, the improved combination therewith of aseptic means for filling said containers comprising a transparent cover resting on and enclosing said filling zone, means in a wall of the cover for enabling micro-organism-killing solution to be sprayed in the zone, means for passing a stream of filtered presterilized air through the zone to remove any particulate matter, including micro-organisms, from the zone atmosphere, means in said cover for introducing presterilized stacked containers and lids to the zone, a plurality of spaced openings in a wall of said cover each having sealed to the wall margins thereof a flexible glove which extends into said zone and which enables an attendant to position said containers and lids in an aseptic manner, and the inner surfaces of said cover being flush and smooth and free of holes, boltheads, screwheads, and the like, thereby to reduce any tendency of micro-organisms to deposit on said surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |