Patent · US Expired

Modified atmosphere package

US6183790A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
200References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 1999
Grant dateFeb 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65D81/268
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A modified atmosphere packaging method creates a modified atmosphere in a package including an inner package and an outer package. The inner package is composed at least partially of a polymeric material substantially permeable to oxygen, while the outer package is composed of a polymeric material substantially impermeable to oxygen. After a food product such as raw meat is placed within the inner package, the inner package is flushed with a desired mixture of gases to substantially remove oxygen from the inner package. The flushed inner package is then sealed and inserted into the outer package without sealing the outer package. Next, the outer package is flushed with the desired mixture of gases to substantially remove oxygen from the outer package. After flushing the outer package, the outer package is sealed. An oxygen scavenger is provided in the package to substantially absorb any residual oxygen within the package. The oxygen scavenger is activated with an oxygen uptake accelerator to increase the rate at which the residual oxygen is absorbed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.