US3401043A - Aseptic packaging of fluid food products - Google Patents

Aseptic packaging of fluid food products Download PDF

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Publication number
US3401043A
US3401043A US440829A US44082965A US3401043A US 3401043 A US3401043 A US 3401043A US 440829 A US440829 A US 440829A US 44082965 A US44082965 A US 44082965A US 3401043 A US3401043 A US 3401043A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sterile
chamber
filled
containers
filling
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US440829A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Roy D Finley
James D Flanigan
Eldred W Bowen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CHALLER FOODS Inc
Original Assignee
Pet Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pet Inc filed Critical Pet Inc
Priority to US440829A priority Critical patent/US3401043A/en
Priority to GB11597/66A priority patent/GB1136011A/en
Priority to CH383566A priority patent/CH474411A/de
Priority to ES0324329A priority patent/ES324329A1/es
Priority to SE3551/66A priority patent/SE345838B/xx
Priority to NL6603626A priority patent/NL6603626A/xx
Priority to LU50690A priority patent/LU50690A1/xx
Priority to AT263566A priority patent/AT284709B/de
Priority to DE19661642110 priority patent/DE1642110A1/de
Priority to BE678061D priority patent/BE678061A/xx
Priority to US738742*A priority patent/US3542567A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3401043A publication Critical patent/US3401043A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Assigned to CHALLER FOODS, INC., reassignment CHALLER FOODS, INC., ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: PET INCORPORATED
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/027—Packaging in aseptic chambers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/10—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by liquids or gases
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/58—Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture
    • B65D75/5861—Spouts

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A process of packaging aseptically a fluid food product in a flexible container wherein a supply of the containers are stacked in a chamber and sterilized with oxide ethylene gas, ⁇ the chamber is purged and filled with sterile air and the containers are filled alternately at filling stations with a sterile fluid food product and then passed through a water trap containing bactericidal material. The filled container then has a portion of the contents heat sealed from the rest of the package and this portion can be removed for testing without contaminating the remainder of the package.
  • This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for aseptically filling a sterile disposable package with a sterile food product.
  • This invention further relates to a flexible walled package containing a sterile food product, and to a process of aseptically filling the same, and removing a sample portion without opening the sealed package.
  • the present invention provides a method of filling a sterile fluid food product into a presterilized flexible walled container in an aseptic environment.
  • the present invention specifically relates to the packaging of a sterile ice cream mix into a flexible plastic bag which is filled under aseptic conditions.
  • Many states have stringent laws restricting the sale of ice cream mix and similar products, and particularly restricting the time which the products may be stored because of numerous spoilage problems in the usual non-sterile product.
  • the subject sterile product may be stored for many months and lthe food product is still maintained in sterile condition.
  • Another principal object of the present invention is to provide a package containing a sterile food product and a means for providing an attached removable representative sample which, when detached, does not impair the sterility of the remainder of the product in the package or of the sample.
  • FIG. l is a diagrammatic respective flow diagram of the present invention.
  • FIG. la is similar to FIG. 1 but showing the chamber in greater detail
  • FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. ⁇ 1 but showing a side View
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sample food package
  • FIG. 4 shows the sample portion detached
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of the detached sample
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of a germ culture package used to test the sterility of the empty packages.
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a pour spout with foil cover attached.
  • FIG. l is a flow diagram of the present process and the various steps are set out in the blocks. Various details of the process steps will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.
  • FIG. la shows the bags being stacked in the chamber which subsequently is sealed, serilized, vented, filled with sterile air, product contact surfaces sterilized, and readied for operation.
  • the separately sterilized mix is passed to a timed switch valve 10 which delivers the product alternately to two filling nozzles 11 positioned in a sterile enclosed chamber 12.
  • the sterile mix is passed to the valve 10 from a positive displacement pump (not shown) at a flow of approximately 6 gallons per 26 seconds.
  • the product is at a temperature of approximately 80 F., the lower temperature being limited by the dew point within the chamber in order to avoid condensation on the surfaces of the pipes, and the upper temperature being limited by the flash point of the product being filled.
  • the valve 10 is timed to alternate approximately every 26 seconds, since 6 gallon packages are conventionally filled in the chamber 12.
  • the timing and delivery rate vary with the size package being filled and the designed flow rate of the process.
  • the product is metered by a positive displacement pump it is important that the flow through the valve 10 not be interrupted.
  • the sterile mixture may be prepared by any conventional method according to the particular product and the type of sterilization conditions preferred by the operator. Using an ice cream mixture, conventional processing techniques are employed including mixing, standardization, preheating, HTST sterilization, and homogenization which involves heating to about 300 F. for about 3.8 seconds. Other sterilization techniques f are satisfactory, and different conditions may be used for other food products.
  • the chamber 12 is provided with operator arm holes 13 to which are attached arm length rubber gloves 14 by means of which the operator can reach into the cha-mber 12 and manipulate a sterile bag 15..
  • the bags 15 are stacked in the chamber 12 and the operator manually attaches the bags 15 to the lill nozzles 11. After a bag 15 is filled, the operator detaches the bag 15 from the first filling nozzle 11 and moves it to a heat sealing as' sembly 16, where a seal is applied to the pour spout opening on the bag 1S.
  • This assembly is shown in copending Bowen application, Ser. No. 418,723 which is hereby incorporated into the present specication.
  • the sealed filled flexible container 15 is passed through a sterile trap 17 onto a platform 18 and thereafter placed in a suitable paper board shipping container.
  • the chamber 12 is maintained with a sterile environment by the passage of sterile air under about one-half to three inches of .pressure (water) and a temperature of about 60 to 80 F.
  • the air is sterilized by heating it to approximately 600 F.
  • the air is cooled before it is passed to the chamber 12.
  • the liquid in the trap 17 is tap water having about fifty to four-hundred parts per million of chlorine. This provides a'bactericidal liquid seal and insures sterility. Another advantage of the sterile trap 17 is that sterile tools in sealed packages can be passed from outside the chamber 12 through the trap or lock 17 to the workman manning the gloves 14 to repair the inside of the chamber 12 without aecting its sterility. This is important, since it is difficult to sterilize the chamber 12 and this avoids much interruption of the process flow that might otherwise occur.
  • the chamber 12 is provided in its lower most part with an exhaust valve 20, which operates as a check valve and permits any water or product which may accumulate in the chamber 12 to be exhausted.
  • the chamber 12 and bags 15 are pre-sterilized prior to operation.
  • a sufficient supply of bags 15 is stacked in the chamber 12 through a door 22 and germ culture packages 23 are interspersed in the stacks of bags 15.
  • the chamber 12 is free of moisture and doors are placed over the water trap 17 and glove parts 13 prior to sterilization.
  • Ethylene oxide gas or other suitable sterilizing gas is applied to the chamber 12 for 3 to 15 hours (preferably 6 to 8) to sterilize the chamber 12 and its contents, including the bags 15.
  • a minimum lof 385 milligrams of pure ethylene oxide per liter of contents (unit volume of container) is added to the chamber 12. There is no free water in the ethylene oxide.
  • Moisture in the form of dry steam is introduced into the chamber to maintain 20 to 60% relative humidity and uniform chamber temperature is maintained at 6() to 120 F. and preferably at 80 to 110 F.
  • uniform chamber temperature is maintained at 6() to 120 F. and preferably at 80 to 110 F.
  • 125 F. is about the maximum temperature, although with polypropylene the gas can reach 250 F. The higher the temperature, the faster and more effective is the sterilization action of the ethylene oxide.
  • the germ culture package 23 comprises filter paper having one million bacterial spores per disc, and two discs per package 23 (the disc is about 1/2 inch in diameter). The discs are sealed in a plastic bag which is of the same material as the bags 15 to be filled. Approximately five test packets 23 are used per thousand bags 15. The bags are presumed to be sterile when all bacterial spores in the test packets are killed.
  • the chamber 12 Before the filling operation starts the chamber 12 is exhausted of ethylene oxide by pulling a 26-inch vacuum on -the chamber 12. The arm hatches 13 and the water trap 17 are covered. After the ethylene oxide is exhausted, the chamber 12 is filled with sterile air. This cycle is repeated again to assure all the ethylene oxide has been removed from the chamber 12. During filling, the sterile environment is maintained by the flow of sterile air through the chamber 12 as hereinbefore discussed.
  • the heat Sealers 16, the tape rolls 29, and the fill nozzles 11 are operated by air cylinders which use ⁇ sterile air which is exhausted into the chamber 12 to further insure sterility.
  • the preferred container 15 is of 4 mil polyethylene and is single walled. It has been found that double walled bags tend to inflate during the previously described evacuation and refilling process.
  • the seal 29 is of foil backed polyethylene.
  • Packages are randomly selected from each days production for statistical evaluation of sterility. The packages are incubated for 72 hours at 80 F., after which they are agitated by shaking and sampled as hereinafter described.
  • the sample 19 is formed by applying a double heat seal to one corner of the bag.
  • the sample portion 19 has a sealed edge 24 and the bag 15 also has a sealed edge 25.
  • a cut is made (shown by the broken lines 26 in FIG. 3) between the sealed edges 24 and 25.
  • a small. sealed sample representative of the entire contents of the primary package can be removed without impairing the integrity and value of the primary package.
  • a corner of the sample 19 is severed with a sterile hotY wire and the sample product can be removed without contamination for inoculation into nutrient broth with further incubation to determine sterility and for direct microscopic examination.
  • Another advantage of the present package is that a reclosable feature is provided, ⁇ so that the purchaser, after opening the saled package, can reclose it if all the product is not used immediately.
  • the rigid pour spout 27 is provided withthreads 28 so that the purchaser, after removing the 'heat-sealed over-wrap 29 can apply ⁇ a screw cap to reseal the container 15.
  • Other types of closures can be used, such as snap-caps, friction caps, etc.
  • the present invention provides aseptic filling process and production which achieves all the objects and advantages sought therefore.
  • a process of packaging aseptically a fiuid food product including the steps of:
  • a process of packaging aseptically a fluid ice Cream product including the steps of:
  • a process of packaging aseptically a fluid product including the steps of:
  • a process of packaging aseptically a fluid food product including the steps of:
  • the process of claim 5 including the Steps of supplying the sterile fluid food product to a plurality of filling stations in the sterile environment, and alternately filling sterilized containers at said filling Stations.
  • the process of claim 5 including the step of supplying a postive tiow of sterile air to the filiing environment.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)
US440829A 1965-03-18 1965-03-18 Aseptic packaging of fluid food products Expired - Lifetime US3401043A (en)

Priority Applications (11)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US440829A US3401043A (en) 1965-03-18 1965-03-18 Aseptic packaging of fluid food products
GB11597/66A GB1136011A (en) 1965-03-18 1966-03-16 Food package and process and apparatus suitable for making it
ES0324329A ES324329A1 (es) 1965-03-18 1966-03-17 Procedimiento de envasar asepticamente un producto fluido.
SE3551/66A SE345838B (en]) 1965-03-18 1966-03-17
CH383566A CH474411A (de) 1965-03-18 1966-03-17 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum aseptischen Verpacken eines flüssigen Nahrungsmittels
LU50690A LU50690A1 (en]) 1965-03-18 1966-03-18
NL6603626A NL6603626A (en]) 1965-03-18 1966-03-18
AT263566A AT284709B (de) 1965-03-18 1966-03-18 Verpackungsprodukt und Verfahren zu seiner Herstellung
DE19661642110 DE1642110A1 (de) 1965-03-18 1966-03-18 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum aseptischen Fuellen einer Verpackung mit einem fliessfaehigen Produkt sowie die durch dieses Verfahren hergestellte Ware
BE678061D BE678061A (en]) 1965-03-18 1966-03-18
US738742*A US3542567A (en) 1965-03-18 1968-04-29 Container for aseptic packaging of fluid food products

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US440829A US3401043A (en) 1965-03-18 1965-03-18 Aseptic packaging of fluid food products

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3401043A true US3401043A (en) 1968-09-10

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ID=23750346

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US440829A Expired - Lifetime US3401043A (en) 1965-03-18 1965-03-18 Aseptic packaging of fluid food products

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3401043A (en])
AT (1) AT284709B (en])
BE (1) BE678061A (en])
CH (1) CH474411A (en])
DE (1) DE1642110A1 (en])
ES (1) ES324329A1 (en])
GB (1) GB1136011A (en])
LU (1) LU50690A1 (en])
NL (1) NL6603626A (en])
SE (1) SE345838B (en])

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3634997A (en) * 1967-10-27 1972-01-18 Thomas Theodore Tait Method and apparatus for producing aseptically packaged sterile articles
US3899862A (en) * 1971-04-06 1975-08-19 Lever Brothers Ltd Sterilization of containers
US4581874A (en) * 1983-07-14 1986-04-15 Franrica Mfg. Inc. Apparatus and methods for filling and sealing an aseptic fitmentless pouch
WO2004011335A1 (en) * 2002-07-26 2004-02-05 Levati Food Tech S.R.L. Method and machine for filling pouch packages or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products
US20070271876A1 (en) * 2004-02-27 2007-11-29 The Waterboys Pty Ltd Distribution Methods For Distributing And Dispensing Beverages And Liquid Food Products
WO2021008986A3 (de) * 2019-07-17 2021-04-22 Behn & Bates Maschinenfabrik Gmbh & Co. Kg Abfüllsystem und verfahren zum befestigen von säcken

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2150530A (en) * 1983-11-30 1985-07-03 Enid Bedson A disposable forcing bag
FR2600975B1 (fr) * 1986-07-04 1989-04-21 Brizard & Roger Marie Int Procede de fabrication d'une poche souple pour conditionner des materiaux fluides, moyens en vue de la mise en oeuvre du procede et poches ainsi obtenues
EP1625859A1 (en) * 2004-08-13 2006-02-15 Access Group ApS A process for the preparation of a package comprising a sterilised bulk of a substance, and a package comprising a sterilised bulk of a penicilin

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3020689A (en) * 1959-04-08 1962-02-13 Allgauer Alpenmilch A G Method and apparatus for the continuous filling of plastic tubing with sterile liquids
US3063845A (en) * 1958-08-25 1962-11-13 Graves Stambaugh Corp Sterilized liquid food product packaging and package resulting therefrom
US3105335A (en) * 1960-12-30 1963-10-01 Fmc Corp Apparatus for aseptic canning of food products

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3063845A (en) * 1958-08-25 1962-11-13 Graves Stambaugh Corp Sterilized liquid food product packaging and package resulting therefrom
US3020689A (en) * 1959-04-08 1962-02-13 Allgauer Alpenmilch A G Method and apparatus for the continuous filling of plastic tubing with sterile liquids
US3105335A (en) * 1960-12-30 1963-10-01 Fmc Corp Apparatus for aseptic canning of food products

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3634997A (en) * 1967-10-27 1972-01-18 Thomas Theodore Tait Method and apparatus for producing aseptically packaged sterile articles
US3899862A (en) * 1971-04-06 1975-08-19 Lever Brothers Ltd Sterilization of containers
US4581874A (en) * 1983-07-14 1986-04-15 Franrica Mfg. Inc. Apparatus and methods for filling and sealing an aseptic fitmentless pouch
WO2004011335A1 (en) * 2002-07-26 2004-02-05 Levati Food Tech S.R.L. Method and machine for filling pouch packages or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products
US20070271876A1 (en) * 2004-02-27 2007-11-29 The Waterboys Pty Ltd Distribution Methods For Distributing And Dispensing Beverages And Liquid Food Products
WO2021008986A3 (de) * 2019-07-17 2021-04-22 Behn & Bates Maschinenfabrik Gmbh & Co. Kg Abfüllsystem und verfahren zum befestigen von säcken

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
LU50690A1 (en]) 1966-09-19
BE678061A (en]) 1966-09-19
CH474411A (de) 1969-06-30
AT284709B (de) 1970-09-25
DE1642110A1 (de) 1971-04-29
SE345838B (en]) 1972-06-12
NL6603626A (en]) 1966-09-19
GB1136011A (en) 1968-12-11
ES324329A1 (es) 1967-02-01

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Owner name: CHALLER FOODS, INC.,

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:PET INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:004529/0361

Effective date: 19851223