Cryovac, Inc.

W. R. Grace Co.-conn.

W. R. Grace Co.

Clemson University

Sealed Air Corporation (us)

Charles Rice Barmore

Drew V Speer

Marvin Russell Havens

H Walker Stockley

David C Noel

Christopher Bull

E Susanne Troutt

Thomas Duane Kennedy

Henry G Schirmer

Charles P Kannankeril

Stephen Floyd Compton

George Dean Wofford

Thomas Andrew Blinka

Jeffrey A Thomas

Rengan Kannabiran

Timothy G Caudle

Ronald L Thomas

Narender P Luthra

Kenneth Chrisman

Alan S Weinberg

R Karina Espinel

Kathryn Diane Deibler

Steve B Garland

The invention is a method of measuring oxygen concentration in a package having an oxygen sensitive product disposed therein. The method includes exposing a luminescent compound that is disposed in an interior of the package to light having a wavelength that is absorbed by the luminescent compound so that the luminescent compound is promoted into an excited state. When the exposure of the light is terminated, the excited luminescent compound emits light that is detectable by a detector positioned outside of the package. The intensity of the emitted light is inversely proportional to the oxygen concentration and is used in conjunction with mathematical function that describes the luminescent intensity of the luminescent compound as a function of oxygen concentration and temperature to calculate the oxygen concentration. The method may be used to verify and track the oxygen concentration of a package as it moves through a distribution system.

Non-invasive method of determining oxygen concentration in a sealed package

The present invention relates to the non-invasive use of a luminescent compound to detect and measure concentrations of oxygen dissolved in a rigid container, especially a bottle, a tray, a carton, a lidstock associated with a tray, a stand up pouch, or a paperboard container. The measurement is made independent of the oxygen concentration of the surrounding atmosphere. The invention is especially useful as a quality assurance check to verify oxygen scavenger activation during the assembly of bottled products, and modified atmosphere and vacuum packages. The method according to the invention is faster and less wasteful than previous methods that rely on measuring oxygen concentration within the headspace of an assembled package.

Oxygen detection system for a rigid container

A package, which allows for butchering and packaging of fresh red meat at a centralized facility is provided which includes an impermeable tray supporting the product, a first film sealed to the tray for enclosing the product, a channel defined within the first film for exchanging gases into and out of the package, and a second impermeable film enclosing the first film, such that removal of the impermeable film provides for the exchange of gases into and out of the package. The channel for exchanging of gases may be perforations defined within the first film, a second highly permeable film sealed to the first film, or an enlarged opening formed within the first film, which is enclosed with a patch following adequate gas exchange at retail. Such gas exchange is required to release any low oxygen atmosphere and allow for the introduction of oxygen to the packaged meat product. The channel for exchanging gases having a gas transmission rate of at least about 50,000 cc/m/24 hrs./atm. at 73&#xb0; F.

Packaging film having permeable patch covering an opening in the film and package made therefrom

A reclosable pouch includes a base portion; a plurality of walls, the walls in communication with the base portion; a top portion, the top portion in communication with the walls; a discrete panel; and a reclosable zipper. An apparatus for making the pouch, and a method of making the pouch, are also disclosed.

Apparatus for making a reclosable pouch

Novel articles and packages are disclosed. Disclosed is the non-invasive use of a luminescent compound to detect and measure concentrations of oxygen dissolved in solids, particularly polymeric materials present in multi-layered packaging materials. The measurement is made independent of the oxygen concentration of the surrounding atmosphere. The invention is especially useful as a quality assurance check to verify oxygen scavenger activation during the assembly of modified atmosphere and vacuum packages. A solid article includes a film including an oxygen barrier layer; and a layer including an oxygen scavenger; and a patch including an oxygen barrier; and an oxygen indicator including a luminescent compound; wherein the patch is adhered to the film; and wherein the oxygen indicator is disposed between the oxygen barrier of the patch, and the oxygen barrier of the film. A package, and a bottle, each having the oxygen indicator, are also disclosed.

Oxygen detection system for a solid article

A package which allows for butchering and packaging of fresh red meat at a centralized facility is provided which includes a an impermeable tray supporting the product, a first film sealed to the tray for enclosing the product, means defined within the first film for exchanging gases into and out of the package, and a second impermeable film enclosing the first film, such that removal of said impermeable film provides for the exchange of gases into and out of the package. The means for exchanging gases may be perforations defined within the first film, a second highly permeable film sealed to the first film, or an enlarged opening formed within the first film which is enclosed with a patch following adequate gas exchange at retail. Such gas exchange is required to release any low oxygen atmosphere and allow for the introduction of oxygen to the packaged meat product, said means for exchanging gases having a gas transmission rate of at least about 50,000 cc/m /24 hrs./atm. at 73&deg; F.

Dual web package having improved gaseous exchange

A forensic evidence container includes a first flexible panel, the first flexible panel including a material having a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 10 gm/24 hours-100 square inches; a second flexible panel, the second flexible panel including a material having a moisture vapor transmission rate of equal to or less than 5 gm/24 hours-100 square inches; an opening capable of providing access to the interior of the forensic evidence container; an adhesive, applied to the first panel or second panel, having a free surface so arranged as to seal the opening on superposition of the first panel and the second panel; and a tamper evident device arranged on the first or second panel. A peelable flexible third panel, including a material having a moisture vapor transmission rate of equal to or less than 5 gm/24 hours-100 square inches, can optionally be peelably adhered to the first flexible panel.

Forsenic evidence container

A packaging cushion is disclosed for supporting and protecting objects during shipment. The cushion has upper and lower surfaces and one or more compartments for supporting the objects in positions so that the objects are higher than the lower surfaces of the cushions. The cushions may include upper and lower nodes which increase the separation distance between the objects when the cushions are stacked one on top of another. The cushions may be held in a stack by an outer box, or by wrapping the stack of cushions in a protective film, eliminating the need for an outer box.

Packaging cushion and packaging assemblies incorporating same

A method of verifying the authenticity of a packaged product involves providing a package that includes a product, a packaging material covering at least one surface of the product, and at least two fluorescent materials, which (a) each can be disposed in or on the packaging material, (b) each can be disposed in or on at least one surface of the product, or (c) can be separated so that at least one of them is disposed in or on the packaging material and at least one of them is disposed in or on at least one surface of the product. The package is exposed to excitation radiation including one or more wavelengths in the range of from about 250 to about 400 nm, the luminescent radiation emitted by said fluorescent materials is spectroscopically detected in the wavelength range of about 300 to about 475 nm, and an intensity versus wavelength plot of the emitted radiation over at least a portion of the range of wavelengths detected is compiled. This compiled plot is compared against a previously measured, stored emitted radiation intensity versus wavelength plot from an authenticated standard so as to determine whether the packaged product is authentic.

Method of determining authenticity of a packaged product

The present invention is directed to a process for extracting pigments, namely carotenoids, from plant material. The process includes the step of combining shredded plant material with an enzyme. The enzyme breaks down the plants cellular walls releasing the carotenoids contained within the plant cells. The enzyme added to the plant material can be pectinase, cellulase, hemicellulase, or mixtures thereof.

Extraction of pigment from plant material

A package which allows for butchering and packaging of fresh red meat at a centralized facility is provided which includes a an impermeable tray supporting the product, a first film sealed to the tray for enclosing the product, means defined within the first film for exchanging gases into and out of the package, and a second impermeable film enclosing the first film, such that removal of said impermeable film provides for the exchange of gases into and out of the package. The means for exchanging gases may be perforations defined within the first film, a second highly permeable film sealed to the first film, or an enlarged opening formed within the first film which is enclosed with a patch following adequate gas exchange at retail. Such gas exchange is required to release any low oxygen atmosphere and allow for the introduction of oxygen to the packaged meat product. Said means for exchanging gases having a gas transmission rate of at least about 50,000 cc/m.sup.2 /24 hrs./atm. at 73.degree. F.

A method of detecting the permeability of an article to oxygen is disclosed. A fluorescent redox indicator, preferably riboflavin, is dispersed in a carrier and placed on an impermeable substrate. The article to be measured is placed adjacent to the carrier. Residual oxygen is removed, the redox indicator is photoreduced, the article and carrier are exposed to oxygen, and the indicator is exposed to UV light.

Method of detecting the permeability of an object to oxygen

A device for use in a method of detecting the permeability of an article to oxygen is disclosed. A redox indicator and test object are vacuum sealed between a support and a peelable barrier film.

A multilayer laminate comprises a machinable inner component perforated film, preferably of a propylene homopolymer or copolymer, a first outer component film bonded to one side of the inner component film, and a second outer component film bonded to the opposite side of the inner component film, each of the first and second outer component films providing high gas permeability and low moisture transmission and including a bonding layer of ethylene copolymers and an outer heat sealable layer.

Growing community of inventors

Moore, SC, United States of America

Charles Rice Barmore