Continuous production and packaging of perishable goods in low oxygen environments

• US 20030152679A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SafeFresh Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: SafeFresh Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Garwood, Anthony J.M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/392
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/16 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/00 Meat products; Meat meal; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/067 combined with its conservation
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/062 the movable parts being attached or integral and displaceable into a position overlying the top of the container, e.g. bails, corner plates covers B65D21/064
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/066 the movable parts being supports or feet, e.g. retractable feet, pivotable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2024 the cover being welded or adhered to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/2076 in an at least partially rigid container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/267 the absorber being in sheet form
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/268 the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/28 Applications of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants

Abstract

Processing and packaging for perishable goods, such as beef, in a conduit wherein oxygen is substantially excluded and suitable gases such as carbon dioxide are provided at a suitable pressure and in such a manner as to increase the quantity of the gases dissolved in the perishable goods to extend the shelf life of the goods and decontaminate the goods.

Claims

1. A method for tracing, comprising:

associating information to a tagged animal carcass and a division of the animal'"'"'s carcass by transferring the information to a carrying means for carrying a division.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing an animal carcass division in a container having a device capable of storing the information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising slicing an animal portion and associating the slice with the information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a packaged division with the information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising grading the animal carcass division before transferring the division to an operator.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising grinding the animal division and associating the ground division with the information.

7. A system for tracing, comprising:

means used for carrying animal carcasses and any carcass divisions, said means having a device capable of storing information; and

means for reading the information to direct the destination of the carrying means.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the means used in carrying animal carcasses and any carcass division is a hook assembly.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the means used in carrying animal carcasses and any carcass division is a carrier plate.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the means used in carrying animal carcasses and any carcass division is a container.

11. A method of tracing a good harvested from an animal, comprising:

associating information pertaining to the animal on a carrying means for the animal or its divisions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information is stored on an RF ID tag.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the information includes the country of origin, place, or originating location of the animal.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising packaging the animal or its divisions into a package, wherein said package includes a mark, said mark being used to associate the information pertaining to the animal with the package.

15. A method of tracing a good harvested from an animal, comprising:

chilling the animal prior to disassembly of the animal into divisions.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising molding and then chilling the animal divisions.

16. A method of tracing a good harvested from an animal, comprising:

disassembling the animal into divisions prior to chilling the animal divisions.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising adding a decontaminating agent during molding the animal divisions.

19. A method of labeling a good harvested from an animal, comprising:

tracing the good as it is processed and applying the origin of the good on the label.

20. A method of locating the origin of a good harvested from an animal, comprising:

applying a read/write tag to a packaged good.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said read/write tag is an RF ID tag.

22. A method for disassembling a carcass, comprising:

grading the carcass and disassembling the carcass based on a best-fit model, and comparing the model to the final disassembly of the carcass.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising packaging the carcass or its divisions into a package, wherein said package includes a mark, said mark being used to associate the information pertaining to the animal with the package.

24. A method for tracking meat to a carcass from which the meat was harvested, comprising:

obtaining a carcass having a tag with information associated therewith;

transferring the information from the tag to a storage device located on a first carrier for transporting the carcass;

processing the carcass into one or more portions;

placing the portions into second carriers; and

transferring the information from carrier to carrier each time carcass portions or divisions are transferred from carrier to carrier.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first or second carriers are hooks or containers.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising transferring the information from a carrier to a central storage location, transferring the carcass portions from the carrier to a conveyor, indexing the portions removed from the carrier, and associating the information from the central storage location with each portion.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising transferring the information to a central location, associating the information from the central location with packages, and transferring the carcass portions to the packages.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising packaging the carcass in an environment having an oxygen content lower than the oxygen content of air.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the environment comprises carbon dioxide or nitrogen.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising placing a mark on the package wherein the information is associated with the package through the mark.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising transferring the carcass portions to a conduit from a carrier, monitoring the amount of carcass portions entering the conduit, monitoring the amount of carcass portions leaving the conduit, and associating the information from the carrier to the portions leaving the conduit.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing a gas in the conduit, wherein the gas has an oxygen content lower than the oxygen content of air.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising grinding the portions in the conduit to provide ground meat.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising packaging the ground meat in a package.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising marking the package with a mark, said information being associated with the package through the mark.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising testing the meat for the presence of bacteria.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the carcass is from a grouping of carcasses, each carcass having information particular to the carcass associated therewith.

38. A method for tracking meat to an animal from which the meat was harvested, comprising:

providing an animal having information associated therewith;

processing the animal into animal portions;

transferring the animal portions from location to location; and

associating the information with the animal portions when the portions are transferred from location to location.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising testing the animal portions for the presence of bacteria.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising packaging the animal portions into packages in a gas having an oxygen content lower than the oxygen content of air.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising placing a mark on the packages, wherein the information is associated with the packages through the mark.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising vacuum packaging the animal portions.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the animal is from a grouping of animals, each animal having information particular to the animal associated therewith.

44. A method for tracking ground meat to an animal from which the meat was harvested, comprising:

obtaining animal portions having information associated therewith;

transferring the portions to a conduit, said conduit including a meat grinder;

monitoring the amount of portions entering the conduit;

grinding the portions to provide ground meat;

monitoring the amount of ground meat leaving the conduit; and

associating the information with the ground meat leaving the conduit.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising packaging the ground meat into packages.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the packaging is done in a gas having an oxygen content lower than the oxygen content of air.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising testing the meat for the presence of bacteria.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising placing a mark on the packages, wherein the information is associated with each package through the mark.

49. A method for tracking ground meat to an animal from which the meat was harvested, comprising:

obtaining animal portions having information associated therewith;

transferring the portions to a vessel, the vessel including a meat grinder;

monitoring the amount of meat entering the vessel;

grinding the meat to provide ground meat;

monitoring the amount of ground meat leaving the vessel;

associating the information with the ground meat leaving the vessel; and

packaging the ground meat in at least one package having a mark, said information being associated with the package through the mark.

50. A method for associating packaged meat with information about an animal from which the meat is harvested, comprising:

providing an animal having information associated therewith;

transferring said information to a central location;

processing the animal into animal portions;

transferring the animal portions from location to location; and

associating the information with the animal portions when the portions are transferred from location to location.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising testing the animal portions for the presence of bacteria.

52. The method of claim 50, further comprising packaging the animal portions into packages in a gas having an oxygen content lower than the oxygen content of air.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising placing a mark on the packages, wherein the information is associated with the packages through the mark.

54. The method of claim 50, further comprising vacuum packaging the animal portions.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein the animal is from a grouping of animals, each animal having information particular to the animal associated therewith.

56. A method for associating packaged meat with information about an animal from which the meat is harvested, comprising:

providing an animal having information associated therewith;

transferring said information to a location that is accessible to one or more users of the information;

harvesting meat from the animal;

providing packages containing a mark on each package;

associating the information with the packages through the mark; and

placing the meat in the packages to associate packaged meat with the information about the animal from which the meat is harvested.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising testing the meat for the presence of bacteria.

58. The method of claim 56, further comprising grinding the meat before placing it into the packages.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein the animal is from a grouping of animals, each animal having information particular to the animal associated therewith.