Method for packing free-flowing materials

Claim 1

A METHOD FOR PACKING FREE-FLOWING MATERIALS INTO A TIGHTLY SEALED AND PACKED FORM, SAID MATERIALS BEING GRANS OR BEANS WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF ADSORBING GASEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE WHEN EXPOSED TO CARBON DIOXIDE AND OF RELEASING THE CARBON DIOXIDE WHEN EXPOSED TO AIR, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PLACING THE MATERIALS IN A FLEXIBLE BAG WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERMEABLE TO AIR AND GASEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE INTRODUCING GASEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE IDE INTO THE BAG THEREBY DISPLACING AIR FFROM THE BAG, DIOX-

Claim 2

A METHOD FOR PACKING FREE-FLOWING MATERIALS INTO A TIGHTLY SEALED AND PACKED FORM, SAID MATERIALS BEING GRANS OR BEANS WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF ADSORBING GASEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE WHEN EXPOSED TO CARBON DIOXIDE AND OF RELEASING THE CARBON DIOXIDE WHEN EXPOSED TO AIR, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PLACING THE MATERIALS IN A FLEXIBLE BAG WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERMEABLE TO AIR AND GASEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE INTRODUCING GASEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE IDE INTO THE BAG THEREBY DISPLACING AIR FFROM THE BAG, DIOX-

Claim 5

A method for packing free-flowing materials into a tightly sealed and packed form having a block shape, said materials being grains or beans which are capable of adsorbing gaseous carbon dioxide when exposed to carbon dioxide and of releasing the carbon dioxide when exposed to air, comprising the steps of placing the materials in a flexible bag which is substantially impermeable to air and gaseous carbon dioxide, introducing gaseous carbon dioxide into the bag and thereby displacing air from the bag, sealing the bag to form a package wherein the partial pressure of gaseous carbon dioxide is in the range of 0.7 to 0.95 and the total volume of all gas is less than that of grains or beans contained therein, and maintaining the bag sealed during the period in which the gaseous carbon dioxide is adsorbed by the materials so that the space volume between the bag and the materials is reduced, shaping the package within said period into a block shape when the package reaches a semi-rigid state by compressing and passing the package through two-rollers, and allowing additional gaseous carbon dioxide to be adsorbed by the materials after shaping and during said period so that the flexible bag is drawn tightly about the materials to compress the materials into a tightly sealed and packed form in the block shape which is convenient for handling, transportation or storage, whereby the materials adsorb a relatively large quantity of gaseous carbon dioxide so long as the bag is kept sealed and may release substantially all of the adsorbed gaseous carbon dioxide after the bag is opened so as to realize preservation of the materials without degeneration thereof.

Claim 6

A method for packing free-flowing materials into a tightly sealed and packed form having a block shape, said materials being grains or beans which are capable of adsorbing gaseous carbon dioxide when exposed to carbon dioxide and of releasing the carbon dioxide when exposed to air, comprising the steps of placing the materials in a flexible bag which is substantially impermeable to air and gaseous carbon dioxide, introducing gaseous carbon dioxide into the bag and thereby displacing air from the bag, sealing the bag to form a package wherein the partial pressure of gaseous carbon dioxide is in the range of 0.7 to 0.95 and the total volume of all gas is less than that of grains or beans contained therein, and maintaining the bag sealed during the period in which the gaseous carbon dioxide is adsorbed by the materials so that the space volume between the bag and the materials is reduced, shaping the package within said period into a block shape when the package reaches a semi-rigid state by compressing and passing the package through two-rollers, and allowing additional gaseous carbon dioxide to be adsorbed by the materials after shaping and during said period so that the flexible bag is drawn tightly about the materials to compress the materials into a tightly sealed and packed form in the block shape which is convenient for handling, transportation or storage, whereby the materials adsorb a relatively large quantity of gaseous carbon dioxide so long as the bag is kept sealed and may release substantially all of the adsorbed gaseous carbon dioxide after the bag is opened so as to realize preservation of the materials without degeneration thereof.

Claim 7

The method of claims 4, wherein the sealed bag is maintained at 5* to 30*C until the tightly sealed and packed form is completed.