Method and device for increasing the shelf life of an oxygen sensitive product
US6685549B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA22C11/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and a device is provided for increasing the shelf life of an oxygen sensitive product such as ground meat by injecting an inert gas or blend of inert gases into the ground meat through a stopper as meat is being pushed toward the stuffer outlet and a conveyor to a chub packager. By introducing the inert gas at this early stage in the chub packaging operation, the oxygen content within each chub is reduced to 0.5% and less using the present invention. The inert gas forces substantially all of the ambient air away from the entire surface area of the ground meat as it is being circulated in the lower portion of the stuffer hopper and prior to being forced out through the stuffer outlet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.