CONTAINER AND FITMENT FOR USE IN HIGH PRESSURE PROCESSING

• US 20170006899A1
• Filed: 03/25/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIPE BAR Juice LLC
• Original Assignee: Freshbev Craft Juicery, Co.
• Inventors: Boissy, Michel
• Granted Patent: US 9,849,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/0155 using sub- or super-atmospheric pressures, or pressure variations transmitted by a liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/45 using flow mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7176 using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/02 Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/12 having removable closures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/121 Stoppers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/283 between tubular parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/1611 by means of an orifice, capillary or labyrinth passage B65D51/1616, B65D51/1622 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5877 connected to a planar surface of the package wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/72 for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials

Abstract

A container assembly configured for use in a high pressure process (HPP) includes a container defining a container cavity and a fitment assembly coupled to the container. The fitment assembly defines a passageway arranged in fluid communication with the container cavity. The fitment assembly further defines a chamber within the passageway isolated from the container cavity. A pressure relief mechanism is operably coupled to the fitment assembly to relieve pressure within the chamber.

Claims

1. A container assembly configured for use in a high pressure process (HPP), comprising:

a container defining a container cavity;

a fitment assembly coupled to said container, said fitment assembly defining a passageway arranged in fluid communication with said container cavity, wherein said fitment assembly further defines a chamber within said passageway isolated from said container cavity; and

a pressure relief mechanism associated with said fitment assembly to relieve a pressure within said chamber during HPP.

2. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said container has a flexible shape.

3. The container assembly according to claim 2, wherein said container includes a bag.

4. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said container cavity is configured to store a single serving of a consumable material.

5. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein said container cavity is configured to store a plurality of servings of a consumable material.

6. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein during HPP, the pressure relief mechanism is configured to elastically deform.

7. The container assembly according to claim 6, wherein said pressure relief mechanism includes a sealing element configured to deform when a pressure in said chamber exceeds a threshold.

8. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein during HPP, said pressure relief mechanism is configured to vent fluid from said chamber to maintain a pressure within said chamber such that no damage occurs to the fitment assembly.

9. The container assembly according to claim 8, wherein said pressure relief mechanism is a hole.

10. The container assembly according to claim 8, wherein said fitment assembly further includes:

a gland connected to said container;

a fitting arranged within said gland; and

a sealing element coupled to at least one of said gland and said fitting.

11. A method of pasteurizing a consumable material in a container assembly, comprising:

filling an internal cavity of a container of said container assembly with a consumable material;

sealing said internal cavity;

applying a uniform pressure to said container assembly at a certain temperature for a specific period of time; and

maintaining a pressure within a chamber of a passageway arranged in fluid communication with said internal cavity below a predefined threshold via a pressure relief mechanism during said applying of said uniform pressure, said chamber being isolated from said internal cavity.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said predefined threshold is defined as a pressure where catastrophic damage occurs.

13. The method according to claim 11, maintaining said pressure below said predefined threshold occurs as via elastic deformation of a pressure relief mechanism of said container assembly.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein said pressure is maintained below said predefined threshold by venting fluid from said chamber via a pressure relief mechanism formed in at least one of said fitting and said sealing element.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said pressure relief mechanism includes a hole.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein said container assembly includes a fitment assembly having:

a gland connected to said container;

a fitting arranged within said gland; and

a sealing element coupled to at least one of said gland and said fitting, said chamber being defined between said fitting and said sealing element.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein sealing said internal cavity further includes:

installing said fitting to said gland; and

attaching said sealing element to at least one of said fitting and said gland.

18. A system for providing a pre-mixed beverage from a single distribution device, comprising:

a container assembly including a first consumable material, said first consumable material being pasteurized via application of a high pressure to said container assembly;

a container including a second consumable material;

a mixing block arranged in fluid communication with both said first consumable material and said second consumable material to form a mixture thereof and supply said mixture to said distribution device; and

at least one pump operably coupled to said distribution device and at least one of said container assembly and said container.

25. The system according to claim 18, wherein said first consumable material is a mixer and said second consumable material is an alcohol complementary to said mixer.

26. The system according to claim 18, wherein said container assembly is configured to store a plurality of servings of said first consumable material.

19. The system according to claim 218, wherein said first consumable material is provided to said mixing block at a first flow rate and said second consumable material is provided to said mixing block at a second flow rate.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said first flow rate and said second flow rate are different.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein said first flow rate and said second flow rate are the same.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein at said first flow rate and said second flow rate are independently controllable.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein at least one of said first flow rate and said second flow rate is controlled by a flow regulation device.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said flow regulation device includes a set screw.

27. A mixing block of a beverage dispensing system, comprising:

a first inlet for receiving a first fluid;

a second inlet for receiving a second fluid such that the first and second fluids are mixed within the mixing block to form a mixture; and

a flow regulation device configured to control a flow of the first fluid through the first inlet, the flow regulation device being operable to adjust a ratio of the first fluid to the second fluid within the mixture.

28. The mixing block according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the first inlet and the second inlet includes a turbulence-enhancing feature.

29. The mixing block according to claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the mixing block is configured as a venturi.

30. The mixing block according to claim 27, wherein the flow regulation device is a set screw.