Patent US4568921A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3889009A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for continuous electromagnetic sterilization of food in a pressure zone
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-09-11
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Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1994-09-11
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for sterilizing food in a continuous process with the aid of electromagnetic energy. A conveyor conducts food into and out from a pressure vessel that encloses and pressurizes an electromagnetic sterilizing tunnel and a cooling means, through both of which the conveyor conducts the food. The pressure vessel has pressure retaining means at the loci where the conveyor enters and leaves the tank. The food may be either in or out of containers; if in containers, the containers may be either open or closed and sealed, so long as the containers are of a type transparent to the electromagnetic energy being used. If the containers are not closed, a container sealing device is interposed between the sterilizing tunnel and the following cooling means. If the food has not been put in containers at all when it enters the pressure vessel, it is packaged inside the pressure vessel. Having the sterilizing and cooling done under pressure enables the use of high temperature sterilization and enables prevention of overcooking as well as preservation of the basic texture and shape of the food being treated. Superheated steam may be used in the sterilization step.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel P Lipoma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:55
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B55/00; B65B55/02; B65B55/12; B65B55/16; A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/05; A23B2/055; A23B2/08; A23B2/40; A23B2/42; A23B2/425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A METHOD FOR STERILIZING FOOD AT HIGH TEMPERATURES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: CONVEYING THE FOOD ON CONVEYING MEANS THROUGH PRESSURERETAINING MEANS AT THE ENTRANCE TO A PRESSURE ZONE DEFINED BY A TANK AND CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH THE PRESSURE ZONE AND CONDUCTING THE STERILIZING PROCESS THERE UNDER PRESSURE ABOVE ATMOSPHERIC, CONDUCTING SAID FOOD ON THE CONVEYING MEANS THROUGH A STERILIZING TUNNEL CONTAINED FULLY WITHIN THE PRESSURE ZONE AND SEPARATE FROM THE TANK DEFINING THE PRESSURE ZONE WHEREBY DISSIPATION OF HEAT IN THE TANK WALLS CAN BE AVOIDED AND HEAT ENERGY CONFINED TO THE TUNNEL INTERIOR, WHILE KEEPING THE TUNNEL UNDER THE SAME PRESSURE AS APPLIES TO THE LATER PROCESS STEPS CARRIED ON IN SAID PRESSURE ZONE, AND ALSO WHEREBY FLEXIBILITY IS OBTAINED AS TO THE TIME OF SEALING THE FOOD IN A CONTAINER, SAID TUNNEL HAVING AN ENTRANCE AND AN EXIT WITH SAID CONVEYOR MEANS PASSING THROUGH SAID TUNNEL VIA SAID ENTRANCE AND EXIT, SUBJECTING SAID FOOD TO ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY EMITTED WITHIN SAID STERILIZING TUNNEL AND THEREBY STERILIZING THE FOOD, COOLING THE FOOD BEYOND SAID STERILIZING TUNNEL AND WITHIN SAID PRESSURE ZONE IN A COOLING UNIT SEPARATE FROM AND FULLY WITHIN THE TANK DEFINING THE PRESSURE ZONE AND WHILE STILL UNDER SAID PRESSURE TO A TEMPERATURE AT LEAST BELOW THE BOILING POINT OF WATER AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, AND THEN CONVEYING THE FOOD ON THE CONVEYING MEANS THROUGH PRESSURE-RETAINING MEANS AT THE OUTLET FROM THE PRESSURE ZONE AND WHEREIN THE FOOD IS SEALED IN THE CONTAINER PRIOR TO THE TIME THE FOOD IS CONVEYED THROUGH THE PRESSURERETAINING MEANS AT THE OUTLET FROM THE PRESSURE ZONE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
262 words
A METHOD FOR STERILIZING FOOD AT HIGH TEMPERATURES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: CONVEYING THE FOOD ON CONVEYING MEANS THROUGH PRESSURERETAINING MEANS AT THE ENTRANCE TO A PRESSURE ZONE DEFINED BY A TANK AND CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH THE PRESSURE ZONE AND CONDUCTING THE STERILIZING PROCESS THERE UNDER PRESSURE ABOVE ATMOSPHERIC, CONDUCTING SAID FOOD ON THE CONVEYING MEANS THROUGH A STERILIZING TUNNEL CONTAINED FULLY WITHIN THE PRESSURE ZONE AND SEPARATE FROM THE TANK DEFINING THE PRESSURE ZONE WHEREBY DISSIPATION OF HEAT IN THE TANK WALLS CAN BE AVOIDED AND HEAT ENERGY CONFINED TO THE TUNNEL INTERIOR, WHILE KEEPING THE TUNNEL UNDER THE SAME PRESSURE AS APPLIES TO THE LATER PROCESS STEPS CARRIED ON IN SAID PRESSURE ZONE, AND ALSO WHEREBY FLEXIBILITY IS OBTAINED AS TO THE TIME OF SEALING THE FOOD IN A CONTAINER, SAID TUNNEL HAVING AN ENTRANCE AND AN EXIT WITH SAID CONVEYOR MEANS PASSING THROUGH SAID TUNNEL VIA SAID ENTRANCE AND EXIT, SUBJECTING SAID FOOD TO ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY EMITTED WITHIN SAID STERILIZING TUNNEL AND THEREBY STERILIZING THE FOOD, COOLING THE FOOD BEYOND SAID STERILIZING TUNNEL AND WITHIN SAID PRESSURE ZONE IN A COOLING UNIT SEPARATE FROM AND FULLY WITHIN THE TANK DEFINING THE PRESSURE ZONE AND WHILE STILL UNDER SAID PRESSURE TO A TEMPERATURE AT LEAST BELOW THE BOILING POINT OF WATER AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, AND THEN CONVEYING THE FOOD ON THE CONVEYING MEANS THROUGH PRESSURE-RETAINING MEANS AT THE OUTLET FROM THE PRESSURE ZONE AND WHEREIN THE FOOD IS SEALED IN THE CONTAINER PRIOR TO THE TIME THE FOOD IS CONVEYED THROUGH THE PRESSURERETAINING MEANS AT THE OUTLET FROM THE PRESSURE ZONE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said conveying step is preceded by packaging the food in a container transparent to the electromagnetic energy to be used and sealing said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said conveying step is preceded by placing the food in a container and wherein said sterilizing step is followed by sealing said container within said pressure zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 comprising packaging said food in a container, after it has been conducted through said sterilizing zone, and sealing said container while the food is still in said pressure zone.
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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) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |