Packing perishable goods
First Claim
1. An improved method for packaging perishable goods comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a base with perishable goods over said base;
(b) aligning a flexible web of material over said base and said perishable goods;
(c) aligning a lid over said flexible web, and in alignment with said base and said perishable goods;
(d) applying a member to said flexible web to stretchingly deform said flexible web towards said perishable goods over said base;
(e) closing a gas flushing chamber means over said base and said lid;
(f) gas flushing said gas flushing chamber with a suitable gas for enhancing the keeping properties of the perishable goods;
(g) relatively moving said lid, the stretchingly deformed flexible web, and the base together within said gas flushing chamber;
(h) causing the stretchingly deformed flexible web to engage with said perishable goods and said base; and
(i) sealing said lid, said flexible web and said base together whereby said perishable goods will be held to said base and there will be said suitable gas within said packaging.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for packaging perishable goods such as red meat. The packaging contains a base (1), a lid (3), and a flexible web (5) of gas permeable material held over the goods (7) so the goods are held to the base (1). A suitable gas is retained within the packaging which can permeate the flexible web (5) to enhance the keeping properties of the goods (7). The method and apparatus provide that the flexible web (5) is held between a pair of web holding means (65) and stretched towards the goods (7) as the lid (3) is moved to close the package, all within a gas flushing chamber. Such stretching holds the goods (7) firmly to the base (1).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An improved method for packaging perishable goods comprising the following steps:
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(a) providing a base with perishable goods over said base; (b) aligning a flexible web of material over said base and said perishable goods; (c) aligning a lid over said flexible web, and in alignment with said base and said perishable goods; (d) applying a member to said flexible web to stretchingly deform said flexible web towards said perishable goods over said base; (e) closing a gas flushing chamber means over said base and said lid; (f) gas flushing said gas flushing chamber with a suitable gas for enhancing the keeping properties of the perishable goods; (g) relatively moving said lid, the stretchingly deformed flexible web, and the base together within said gas flushing chamber; (h) causing the stretchingly deformed flexible web to engage with said perishable goods and said base; and (i) sealing said lid, said flexible web and said base together whereby said perishable goods will be held to said base and there will be said suitable gas within said packaging. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for providing packaging comprising:
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a gas flushing chamber means of sufficient volume to accommodate; (i) a base with perishable goods over said base; (ii) a flexible web of material over said base and said perishable goods; (iii) a lid over said flexible web of material and in alignment with said base and said perishable goods; said base being supportable on a base support means, said flexible web being, in use, between a pair of web holding means; there being stretching means between said lid and said flexible web; and sealing means for effecting sealing of said lid, said flexible web and said base together, all within said gas flushing chamber means, the arrangement being such that said stretching means can be moved to stretchingly deform said flexible web towards said perishable goods following holding of said flexible web by said web holding means and there can be relative movement of said base support means, said web holding means, said lid and said member towards each other, whereby said base, said stretchingly deformed flexible web and said lid can be brought together and sealed together with a desired gas between at least said flexible web and said lid within said gas flushing chamber, and so said perishable goods will be held to said base by said flexible web being stretched and engaged with said goods to hold said goods to said base. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An improved method for packaging goods having the following steps:
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(a) providing a gas barrier base with goods over said base; (b) aligning a gas permeable web over said base and said goods, said gas permeable web being less rigid than said base so that said permeable web covers said goods and is not sealed to said base; (c) aligning a gas barrier lid over said gas permeable web, and in alignment with said base and said goods; (d) stretching said gas permeable web; (e) sealing closed a gas flushing chamber means about said base and said lid; (f) then gas flushing said gas flushing chamber means with a suitable gas for enhancing the keeping of the goods; (g) then sealing said lid, said stretched gas permeable web and said base together at a seal path which extends near what will be a perimeter of the resulting packaging and which extends completely around said perimeter, said sealing being effected while said stretched gas permeable web is still stretched and said gas flushing chamber means is still closed, whereby said goods and said gas will be sealed within said packaging; and (h) allowing said suitable gas to permeate said gas permeable web. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. Apparatus for providing packaging comprising:
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a gas flushing chamber means of sufficient volume to accommodate; (i) a gas barrier base with goods over said base; (ii) a gas permeable web which is less rigid than said base extending over said base and said goods, said gas permeable web not being sealed to said base; (iii) a gas barrier lid over said gas permeable web and in alignment with said base and said goods; (iv) sealing means for effecting sealing of said lid, said gas permeable web and said base together at a seal path which extends near what will be a perimeter of the resulting packaging and which extends completely around said perimeter, the arrangement being such that said base, said gas permeable web and said lid can be brought together, said gas permeable web can be stretched, the gas flushing chamber can be closed, evacuated and then gas flushed with a gas for enhancing keeping of the goods, and the sealing effected while said gas permeable web is still stretched and said gas flushing chamber is closed.
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Specification