Method for packaging a comminuted composition susceptible to degradation by oxygen

Abstract

An improved method of packaging compositions susceptible to degradation by oxygen comprises: (1) providing a composition to be comminuted in premixed form in a first vessel; (2) transferring the premixed composition through a hollow first transfer means from the first vessel to a second vessel; (3) comminuting the composition in the second vessel, the second vessel including at least two sets of multiple spaced inlets for inert gas such that the inert gas backflows into at least the hollow first transfer means, and such that the first set of spaced inlets is located closest to the hollow first transfer means; (4) transferring the comminuted composition to a second transfer means, the second transfer means including an inlet for an inert gas so that inert gas permeates the second transfer means and the comminuted composition within the second transfer means; (5) transferring the comminuted composition from the second transfer means to an opaque, oxygen impermeable pouch; (6) expelling oxygen from the pouch by introducing an inert gas from an inlet for an inert gas in communication with the pouch; and (7) sealing the pouch. The inert gas is typically nitrogen. A variety of compositions can be packaged, including foodstuffs.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for packaging a composition susceptible to degradation by oxygen comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a composition to be packaged in a first vessel;    (b) transferring the composition through a hollow first transfer means from the first vessel to a second vessel;    (c) transferring the composition to a second transfer means;    (d) transferring the composition from the second transfer means to an opaque, oxygen impermeable container via a filler, where at least two of the second vessel, the second transfer means, and the filler include an inlet for the inert gas to purge oxygen from the composition; and    (e) sealing the container.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the second vessel includes an inlet for the inert gas.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1    wherein both the second transfer means and the filler include an inlet for the inert gas.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the filler includes an inlet for the inert gas and the filler further includes a fritted diffusor.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the second vessel includes at least two inlets for the inert gas.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5    wherein the second vessel includes multiple sets of inlets for the inert gas, each set being spaced equidistantly around the perimeter of the second vessel.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 6    wherein the second vessel includes two sets of four inlets for the inert gas.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the second vessel includes means for performing size reduction and blending of the composition.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 8    wherein the means for performing size reduction and blending of the composition is a comminutor.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the second transfer means includes an auger.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the inert gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium, argon, neon, and xenon.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11    wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.  
     
     
         13 . A method for packaging a comminuted composition susceptible to degradation by oxygen comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a composition to be comminuted in premixed form in a first vessel;    (b) transferring the premixed composition through a hollow first transfer means from the first vessel to a second vessel;    (c) comminuting the composition in the second vessel, the second vessel including at least two sets of multiple spaced inlets for inert gas such that the inert gas backflows into at least the hollow first transfer means, and such that the first set of spaced inlets is located closest to the hollow first transfer means;    (d) transferring the comminuted composition to a second transfer means, the second transfer means including an inlet for an inert gas so that inert gas permeates the second transfer means and the comminuted composition within the second transfer means;    (e) transferring the comminuted composition from the second transfer means to an opaque, oxygen impermeable container;    (f) expelling oxygen from the pouch by introducing an inert gas from an inlet for an inert gas in communication with the container; and    (g) sealing the container.    
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the inert gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium, argon, neon, and xenon.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14    wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the process is carried out at a temperature of less than about 100° F. and in the presence of light of a wavelength not greater than that of red light and of an intensity not greater than that of a darkroom light to thereby inhibit oxidation of the components of the comminuted composition.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the ingredients of the composition are reduced to a size where about 5% to about 35% of the components can pass through a #30 U.S. Standard Screen.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 17    wherein the ingredients of the composition are reduced to a size where about 8% to about 25% of the ingredients can pass through a #30 U.S. Standard Screen.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the second transfer means comprises an auger.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the first set of multiple spaced inlets for an inert gas comprises four inlets spaced equidistantly around the perimeter of the second vessel.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the second set of multiple spaced inlets for an inert gas comprises four inlets spaced equidistantly around the perimeter of the second vessel.  
     
     
         22 . A method for packaging a comminuted composition susceptible to degradation by oxygen comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a composition to be comminuted in premixed form in a first vessel;    (b) transferring the premixed composition through a hollow first transfer means from the first vessel to a second vessel;    (c) comminuting the composition in the second vessel, the second vessel including: 
 (i) a first set of multiple spaced inlets for nitrogen that includes four inlets spaced equidistantly in the perimeter of the second vessel; and  
 (ii) a second set of multiple spaced inlets for nitrogen that includes four inlets spaced equidistantly in the perimeter of the second vessel;  
 such that the nitrogen backflows into at least the hollow first transfer means, and such that the first set of spaced inlets is located closest to the hollow transfer means;  
   (d) transferring the comminuted composition to a second transfer means, the second transfer means including an auger, the second transfer means further including an inlet for nitrogen so that nitrogen permeates the second transfer means and the comminuted composition transferred to the second transfer means;    (e) transferring the comminuted composition from the second transfer means to an opaque, oxygen impermeable container;    (f) expelling oxygen from the container by introducing nitrogen from an inlet for nitrogen in communication with the container; and    (g) sealing the container.    
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for packaging a composition comprising: 
 (a) a first vessel;    (b) a hollow first transfer means communicating with the first vessel and a second vessel;    (c) a second transfer means communicating with the second vessel; and    (d) a filler to transfer the composition from the second transfer means to an opaque, oxygen impermeable container, where at least two of the second vessel, the second transfer means and the filler includes an inlet for the inert gas to purge oxygen from the composition.    
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of    claim 23    wherein the second vessel includes an inlet for the inert gas.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of    claim 23    wherein both the second transfer means and the filler include an inlet for the inert gas.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of    claim 23    wherein the filler includes an inlet for the inert gas and the filler further includes a fritted diffusor.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of    claim 23    wherein the second vessel includes at least two inlets for the inert gas.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of    claim 27    wherein the second vessel includes multiple sets of inlets for the inert gas, each set being spaced equidistantly around the perimeter of the second vessel.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of    claim 28    wherein the second vessel includes two sets of four inlets for the inert gas.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of    claim 23    wherein the second vessel includes means for performing size reduction and blending of the composition.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of    claim 30    wherein the means for performing size reduction and blending of the composition is a comminutor.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of    claim 23    wherein the second transfer means includes an auger.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of    claim 23    wherein the inert gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, helium, argon, neon, and xenon.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of    claim 34    wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.