Densified particulate packaged products

Abstract

A packaged product comprising a container having a container volume; and a quantity of densified particulate products having a tapped bulk density ranging from 0.08 g/cc to 0.4 g/cc disposed within the container, wherein the quantity of densified particulate products occupies more than 85% of the container volume is provided. A process for producing the packaged product includes densifying a quantity of densifiable particulate products prior to forming a closing seal in its container. In one embodiment, vibrational forces are applied to a temporary container as it is being removed from a shipping container.

1 . A packaged product comprising:
 a container having a container volume; and   a quantity of densified particulate products having a tapped bulk density ranging from 0.08 g/cc to 0.4 g/cc disposed within the container, wherein the quantity of densified particulate products occupies more than 85% of the container volume.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the quantity of densified particulate products occupies at least 90% of the container volume. 
     
     
         3 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein a difference in an initial tapped bulk density upon fabrication and a final tapped bulk density after shipping is no more than five (5) %. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the quantity of densified particulate products occupies at least 95% of the container volume. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the container volume is reduced in size as compared to a conventional container volume having an identical quantity of non-densified packaged products disposed therein. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged product of  claim 5  wherein the container volume is reduced in size by about 3.6% up to about 25%. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the container is a sealed container having a first transverse seal with a lower edge. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged product of  claim 7  wherein the quantity of densified particulate products form a bed having a top surface, and a distance between the lower edge of the first transverse seal and the top surface of the bed is no more than three (3) cm. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged product of  claim 8  wherein the distance is no more than 1.25 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the container is a flexible bag. 
     
     
         11 . The packaged product of  claim 10  wherein the flexible bag is made from polyethylene or polyester. 
     
     
         12 . The packaged product of  claim 10  wherein the flexible bag is a stand-alone container which is wider at the bottom. 
     
     
         13 . The packaged product of  claim 10  wherein the flexible bag is metalized. 
     
     
         14 . The packaged product of  claim 10  further comprising a carton surrounding the flexible bag. 
     
     
         15 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the carton has a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         16 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the carton has a substantially cubular shape. 
     
     
         17 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the carton has a substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         18 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the carton has a gable top. 
     
     
         19 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the quantity of densified particulate products is a quantity of densified particulate food products. 
     
     
         20 . The packaged product of  claim 19  wherein the quantity of densified particulate food products is frangible ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal pieces. 
     
     
         21 . The packaged product of  claim 20  wherein the cereal pieces have shapes selected from o-rings, spheres, rectangles, squares and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The packaged product of  claim 19  wherein the quantity of particulate food product is selected from uncooked pasta, dehydrated potatoes, and snack products, wherein the snack products include bugle-shaped products, loosely packed crackers, and potato chips. 
     
     
         23 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the container volume is about five (5) % to 25% smaller than a container volume for the same quantity of non-densified particulate products. 
     
     
         24 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the container has an aspect ratio of width to depth of about 3.5 to 1 and a height no more than about 20.3 cm. 
     
     
         25 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the quantity of particulate food products has a product weight and ratio of the product weight to the container volume is greater than 3.6% and less than 25%. 
     
     
         26 . The packaged product of  claim 1  wherein the product weight is at least 252 grams.