Lubricants formulated and qualified for contact with food compositions and related business methods

Abstract

A food container conveyor device having improved lubricant properties can be lubricated using a lubricant composition that can become ingested by a user from a food or a container for the food, can come into incidental contact or direct content with a food composition, can be incorporated at measurable concentrations into the food, or can be used generally on food conveyor surfaces wherein the food is exposed to the lubricant. Such lubricant compositions can be formulated in aqueous or non-aqueous compositions containing approved lubricant ingredients. Food containers lubricated using the compositions of the invention can be distributed to the public even in the substantial occurrence of contact between the food composition and the approved lubricant materials.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of lubricating a surface at the interface between a container and a moving conveyor, the method comprising: 
 (a) forming a continuous thin coating of a liquid lubricant composition on a container contact surface of a conveyor; and    (b) moving a container, the container adapted for a food composition, on the container contact surface in order to transport the container from a first location to a second location;    wherein during the method of lubricating, the food composition, coming in direct, incidental or indirect contact with the lubricant, obtains a measurable concentration of the lubricant composition but remains fit for human consumption.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the food comprises a liquid food in an open bottle.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the food comprises a liquid food in an open can.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricated container surface can come into direct contact with a user.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the food comprises a solid food in an open can.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the food comprises a complex food composition having an aqueous phase and a solid phase in an open carton.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the food is in the form of a frozen food in an open carton.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous composition comprising a foodgrade lipid.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous solution comprising a foodgrade emulsifier.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant comprises a foodgrade polymeric thickener composition.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous composition comprising a foodgrade chelating agent.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant composition comprises an aqueous composition comprising a foodgrade surfactant.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous composition comprising a silicone oil, a mineral oil or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant composition comprises an effective amount of glycerin and a silicone polymer.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant composition comprises glycerin and a white oil.  
     
     
         16 . The lubricant of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant composition comprises glycerin and a natural oil.  
     
     
         17 . The lubricant of  claim 1  wherein the natural oil comprises a fatty acid.  
     
     
         18 . The lubricant of  claim 16  wherein the fatty acid is neutralized by sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.  
     
     
         19 . The lubricant of  claim 16  wherein the natural oil comprises a fatty acid ester.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the lubricant comprises an (EO) x (PO) y  (EO) z  surfactant block copolymer wherein EO represents ethylene oxide residue, PO represents propylene oxide residue, x equals an integer of about 2 to about 100, y equals an integer of about 2 to about 100 and z equals an integer of about 2 to about 100.  
     
     
         21 . A business method of food packaging, the method comprises lubricating a surface at the interface between a container and a moving conveyor, the business method comprising steps of: 
 (a) forming a continuous thin film of a liquid lubricant composition on a container contact surface of a conveyor; and    (b) moving a container, the container having a food composition, on the container contact surface in order to transport the container from a first location to a second location wherein during the method of lubricating, the food composition in direct, incidental or indirect contact with the lubricant, obtains a measurable concentration of the lubricant composition but remains fit for human consumption; and    wherein the use of food grade materials in the lubricant reduces business risk, cost of product replacement or insurance cost.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the food comprises a liquid food in an bottle.  
     
     
         23 . The lubricant of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant composition comprises glycerin and a natural oil.  
     
     
         24 . The lubricant of  claim 21  wherein the natural oil comprises a fatty acid.  
     
     
         25 . The lubricant of  claim 23  wherein the fatty acid is neutralized by sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.  
     
     
         26 . The lubricant of  claim 23  wherein the natural oil comprises a fatty acid ester.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the food comprises a beverage in an can.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the food comprises a complex food composition having an aqueous phase and a solid phase in an open carton.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the solid food is in the form of a frozen food in an open carton.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous composition comprising a foodgrade lipid.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous solution comprising a foodgrade emulsifier.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant comprises a foodgrade polymeric thickener composition.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous composition comprising a foodgrade chelating agent.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant composition comprises an aqueous composition comprising a foodgrade surfactant.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous composition comprising a silicone oil, a mineral oil or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant composition comprises an effective amount of glycerin and a silicone polymer.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant composition comprises glycerin and a white oil.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the lubricant comprises an (EO) x (PO) y (PO) z  surfactant block copolymer wherein EO represents ethylene oxide residue, PO represents propylene oxide residue, x equals an integer of about 2 to about 100, y equals an integer of about 2 to about 100 and z equals a integer of about 2 to 100.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 1  or  21  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous solution comprising a major proportion of water and from about 0.1 to about 10 wt % of a potassium salt of a fatty acid, about 0.1 to about 10 wt % of a polyethylene glycol and about 0.1 to 20 wt % of a polysorbate surfactant comprising fatty acid ester of sorbic acid having from about 5 to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 1  or  21  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous solution comprising a major proportion of water and from about 0.1 to about 10 wt % of a surfactant comprising (EO) x (PO) y (EO) z  wherein x, y and z are independently selected from the group of numbers that range from about 2 to about 100; and about 0.1 to 10 wt % of a sorbate surfactant comprising a fatty acid ester of sorbic acid having from about 2 to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 1  or  21  wherein a residue of the lubricant remains in the food or on the container such that the residue can be ingested by a consumer.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 1  or  21  wherein the foodgrade lubricant comprises an edible oil.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 1  or  21  wherein the lubricant composition comprises a silicone oil.  
     
     
         44 . A business method of food packaging, the method comprises lubricating a surface at the interface between a container and a moving conveyor, the business method comprising steps of: 
 (a) forming a continuous thin film of a liquid lubricant composition on a container contact surface of a conveyor; and    (b) moving a container, the container adapted for a food composition, on the container contact surface in order to transport the container from a first location to a second location wherein during the method of lubricating, the container in direct, incidental or indirect contact with the lubricant, obtains a measurable concentration of the lubricant composition but the container remains suitable for use in conjunction with human consumption; and    wherein the use of food grade materials in the lubricant reduces business risk, cost of product replacement or insurance cost.    
     
     
         45 . The lubricant of  claim 44  wherein the lubricant composition comprises glycerin and a natural oil.  
     
     
         46 . The lubricant of  claim 44  wherein the natural oil comprises a fatty acid.  
     
     
         47 . The lubricant of  claim 45  wherein the fatty acid is neutralized by sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.  
     
     
         48 . The lubricant of  claim 45  wherein the natural oil comprises a fatty acid ester.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the container comprises an open can.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44  wherein wherein the container comprises a carton.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein wherein the container comprises an carton.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous composition comprising a foodgrade lipid.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous solution comprising a foodgrade emulsifier.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the lubricant comprises a foodgrade polymeric thickener composition.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous composition comprising a foodgrade chelating agent.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the lubricant composition comprises an aqueous composition comprising a foodgrade surfactant.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the lubricant comprises an aqueous composition comprising a silicone oil, a mineral oil or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the lubricant composition comprises an effective amount of glycerin and a silicone polymer.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the lubricant composition comprises glycerin and a white oil.