Applying food colorant to the inside of a food packaging material and/or the outside of a food product

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatuses for applying a fluid to the inside of a product packaging material and/or to the outside of a product during packaging of the product. The present invention incorporates a sprayer system into the design of a packer tube and allows the inside surface of the product packaging material and/or the outside surface of the product to be contained within the packaging material to be coated with a fluid. The fluid is applied simultaneously with the packaging of the product. As such, separate steps for applying the fluid and also for packaging the product are not required. In one embodiment, methods and apparatuses for applying a food colorant to the inside of a food packaging material and/or to the outside of a food product during packaging of the food product are provided.

1 . A product packaging system comprising: 
 a packer tube comprising an elongate body having a product inlet and a product outlet, wherein a flowable product enters through the product inlet and exits through the product outlet; and    a fluid sprayer system having a fluid outlet disposed approximate the packer tube for discharging a fluid, wherein the fluid sprayer system is capable of simultaneously providing the fluid as the flowable product passes through the packer tube and into a packaging material.    
   
   
       2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid provided from the fluid sprayer system is applied directly to the flowable product as the flowable product passes through the packer tube and into said packaging material.  
   
   
       3 . The packaging system of  claim 2 , further comprising an applicator, wherein the fluid is applied to the flowable product by said applicator.  
   
   
       4 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid provided from the fluid sprayer system is applied to an interior surface of the packaging material as the flowable product passes through the product outlet and into the packaging material.  
   
   
       5 . The packaging system of  claim 4 , wherein the fluid is applied to the interior surface of the packaging material by an applicator.  
   
   
       6 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further including a product shaping portion having an internal cavity for shaping the flowable product, wherein the product shaping portion is disposed between the product inlet and the product outlet.  
   
   
       7 . The packaging system of  claim 6 , wherein the product shaping portion includes a loaf shaped cavity.  
   
   
       8 . The packaging system of  claim 6 , wherein the product shaping portion is adapted to shape the product to a uniform size and weight.  
   
   
       9 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet is disposed approximate the product outlet of the packer tube.  
   
   
       10 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a food product and the fluid is a food colorant adapted to give the food product a cooked appearance.  
   
   
       11 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a food product and the fluid is a food seasoning adapted to give the food product a flavored taste.  
   
   
       12 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a part and the fluid is a lubricant.  
   
   
       13 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the product is a medical device and the fluid is a medicine.  
   
   
       14 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a coating adapted to give the product a desired appearance.  
   
   
       15 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid sprayer system includes a plurality of nozzles disposed around a perimeter of the product outlet of the packer tube.  
   
   
       16 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump for feeding the flowable product to the product inlet of the packer tube.  
   
   
       17 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a packaging material feeder device adapted to position the package material over the product outlet.  
   
   
       18 . The packaging system of  claim 17 , wherein the packaging material feeder device is adapted to store the packaging material.  
   
   
       19 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealer positioned downstream of the product outlet, wherein the sealer is adapted to seal a filled product package.  
   
   
       20 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the sprayer system is detachably connected to the packer tube.  
   
   
       21 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum system adapted to remove air during the product packaging process from one or more of: the flowable product; the packer tube; and the product packaging material.  
   
   
       22 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of fluid provided is predetermined.  
   
   
       23 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging material comprises a material suitable for high temperature cooking applications.  
   
   
       24 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the sprayer system further comprises: 
 a fluid reservoir;    a pump operably coupled to the fluid reservoir; and    one or more fluid passages  138  operably coupling the pump  134  to the fluid outlet.    
   
   
       25 . A method for applying a fluid to a flowable product, the method comprising: 
 providing a packer tube comprising an elongate body having a product inlet and a product outlet;    feeding a flowable product into the product inlet of the packer tube;    passing the flowable product through the product outlet;    applying a fluid to the flowable product; and    packaging the flowable product in a packaging material, wherein the fluid is applied simultaneously with the packaging of the product.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising shaping the flowable product as the flowable product passes through the packer tube.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising sealing the packaging material once the packaging material has been filled with the flowable product.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising removing air during the product packaging process from one or more of: the flowable product; the packer tube; and the product packaging material.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the sep of applying a fluid to the flowable product further comprises spraying the fluid onto the flowable product.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the product is a food product and the fluid is a food colorant adapted to give the food product a cooked appearance.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 disposing the packaging material about the product outlet of the packer tube; and    withdrawing the packaging material from the packer tube as the product being discharged from the product outlet fills the packaging material.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the packaging material further comprises a bag, and further comprising fitting the bag over the product outlet of the packer tube, wherein a downstream end of the packer tube is adapted to receive the bag.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the packaging material comprises a material suitable for high temperature cooking applications.  
   
   
       34 . A method for applying a fluid to a flowable product, the method comprising: 
 providing a packer tube comprising an elongate body having a product inlet and a product outlet;    feeding a flowable product into the product inlet of the packer tube;    applying a fluid to an interior surface of a packaging material; and    packaging the product exiting the product outlet in a packaging material, wherein the fluid is applied simultaneously with the packaging of the product.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising shaping the flowable product as the flowable product passes through the packer tube.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising sealing the packaging material once the packaging material has been filled with the flowable product.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising removing air during the product packaging process from one or more of: the flowable product; the packer tube; and the product packaging material.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the product is a food product and the fluid is a food colorant adapted to give the food product a cooked appearance.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising withdrawing the packaging material from the packer tube as the product being discharged from the product outlet flows into the packaging material.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising fitting a bag comprising the packaging material over the product outlet of the packer tube, wherein a downstream end of the packer tube is adapted to receive the bag.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the application of the fluid further comprises spraying the fluid onto the interior surface of the packaging material.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the packaging material comprises a material suitable for high temperature cooking applications.