Patent US3872196A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3872196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for plasticizing and partially drying tubular film casings for edible products
Assignee: Continental Group Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-04
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract An improvement in simultaneously plasticizing and drying tubular food casings of hydrophilic film comprises passing gel tubular film continuously through a hygroscopic solution containing a hygroscopic plasticizer at a rate sufficient to remove a predetermined amount of water therefrom without reaching equilibrium distribution of water and plasticizer between said gel film and said solution.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas J Bridgeford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:39
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/18; B; B29; B29D; B29D7/00; B29C; B29C71/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
IN A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING TUBLAR FOOD CASINGS OF A HYDROPHILIC POLYMERIC FILM IN WHICH THE TUBULAR FILM IS CONTINUOUSLY FORMED IN A GEL STATE AND DRIED THE IMPROVEMENT FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DRYING AND PLASTICIZING SAID CASING WHICH COMPRISES PASSING GELL TUBLAR FIL, CONTAINING ABOUT 40-90% WATER CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH A HYDGROSCOPIC LIQUID CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A HYDROSCOPIC AND PLASTICIZING AGENT FOR SAID GEL FILM OR AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A HYGROSCOPIC AND PLASTICIZING AGENT CONTAINING UP TO ABOUT 75% WATER AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE ABOUT 25-70% OF THE WATER THEREFROM WITHOUT REACHING EQUILIBRIUM DISTRIBUTION OF WATER AND PLASTICIZING AGENT BETWEEN SAID GEL FILM AND SAID LIQUID AND WITHOUT ALLOWING THE PLASTICIZING AGENT IN SAID FILM TO EXCEED ABOUT 30%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
IN A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING TUBLAR FOOD CASINGS OF A HYDROPHILIC POLYMERIC FILM IN WHICH THE TUBULAR FILM IS CONTINUOUSLY FORMED IN A GEL STATE AND DRIED THE IMPROVEMENT FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DRYING AND PLASTICIZING SAID CASING WHICH COMPRISES PASSING GELL TUBLAR FIL, CONTAINING ABOUT 40-90% WATER CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH A HYDGROSCOPIC LIQUID CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A HYDROSCOPIC AND PLASTICIZING AGENT FOR SAID GEL FILM OR AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A HYGROSCOPIC AND PLASTICIZING AGENT CONTAINING UP TO ABOUT 75% WATER AT A RATE SUFFICIENT TO REMOVE ABOUT 25-70% OF THE WATER THEREFROM WITHOUT REACHING EQUILIBRIUM DISTRIBUTION OF WATER AND PLASTICIZING AGENT BETWEEN SAID GEL FILM AND SAID LIQUID AND WITHOUT ALLOWING THE PLASTICIZING AGENT IN SAID FILM TO EXCEED ABOUT 30%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of regenerated cellulose, cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl ester-polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, alginate polymers, amylose, and collagen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said hygroscopic liquid containing a plasticizing agent is a polyhydric alcohol or polymeric polyhydric alcohol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said polyhydric or polymeric polyhydric alcohol is an admixture with water and the concentration of polyhydric alcohol is from 25 to 100%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said film is passed through said admixture of polyhydric alcohol and water for a time to reduce the water content in said film to about 5-30%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said polyhydric alcohol is selected from glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and sucrose or mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 4 wherein there is included the steps of regenerating the hygroscopic solution after the water concentration exceeds about 75% and then recycling the regenerated solution for contact with another portion of film.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US2273636A
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US2399970A
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US2460400A
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US2917397A
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US3408917A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |