Mobil Oil Corporation

Pactiv Corporation

Tenneco Packaging Inc.

Tenneco Plastics Company

Darryl P Hansen

Vinod K Luthra

Gary R DelDuca

Stephen L Goulette

Raj K Mangla

Alan E Deyo

Glenn C Castner

Jill A Fritz

Daniel G Carr

Allen J Norby

Rollie H DeMay

Robert A Sloan

Jill F Thompson

Raul Matos

Dennis Oberdorf

Chris Olenski

A method and apparatus for inserting an oxygen scavenger into a modified atmosphere package for extending the shelf life of food, especially raw meats. A scavenger feeder feeds a chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. A separator separates the oxygen scavenger located at an exposed end of the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers from the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. An adhesive applicator applies adhesive to the oxygen scavenger which has been separated from the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. A conveyor conveys the separated oxygen scavenger to a position which is adjacent to a film layer which is used to form an outer package of the modified atmosphere package so that the oxygen scavenger is attached to a surface of the film layer by the adhesive. The film layer is subsequently formed into the outer package so that the oxygen scavenger that is attached to the film layer is contained within the outer package. Optionally, an injector injects the oxygen scavenger at the exposed end of the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers with an oxygen uptake accelerator to activate the oxygen scavenger prior to separating the oxygen scavenger from the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. The modified atmosphere package comprises the outer package, the oxygen scavenger, and any food-filled inner package which is inserted into the outer package.

Apparatus for inserting an oxygen scavenger into a modified atmosphere package

A unique method and apparatus for inserting an oxygen scavenger into a modified atmosphere package for extending the shelf life of food, especially raw meats. A scavenger feeder feeds a chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. A separator separates the oxygen scavenger located at an exposed end of the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers from the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. An adhesive applicator applies adhesive to the oxygen scavenger which has been separated from the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. A conveyor conveys the separated oxygen scavenger to a position which is adjacent to a film layer which is used to form an outer package of the modified atmosphere package so that the oxygen scavenger is attached to a surface of the film layer by the adhesive. The film layer is subsequently formed into the outer package so that the oxygen scavenger that is attached to the film layer is contained within the outer package. Optionally, an injector injects the oxygen scavenger at the exposed end of the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers with an oxygen uptake accelerator to activate the oxygen scavenger prior to separating the oxygen scavenger from the chain of interconnected oxygen scavengers. The modified atmosphere package comprises the outer package, the oxygen scavenger, and any food-filled inner package which is inserted into the outer package.

Method and apparatus for inserting an oxygen scavenger into a modified atmosphere package

A modified atmosphere package includes first and second compartments separated by a partition member that is substantially permeable to oxygen. The first compartment contains an oxygen scavenger activated with an oxygen scavenger accelerator. The second compartment contains a retail cut of raw meat. Various techniques are employed to rapidly reduce the oxygen level in the second compartment below pigment sensitive levels so that the growth of metmyoglobin is inhibited. Some of these techniques increase the flow of oxygen from the second compartment to the first compartment through the partition member, while other techniques directly absorb oxygen within the second compartment by locating a second oxygen scavenger within the second compartment.

Modified atmosphere package with accelerated reduction of oxygen level

A modified atmosphere package includes first and second compartments separated by a partition member that is substantially permeable to oxygen. The first compartment contains an oxygen scavenger activated with an oxygen scavenger accelerator. The second compartment contains a retail cut of raw meat. Various techniques are employed to rapidly reduce the oxygen level in the second compartment below pigment sensitive levels so that the growth of metmyoglobin is inhibited. Some of these techniques increase the flow of oxygen from the second compartment to the first compartment through the partition member to a level inhibiting the formation of metmyoglobin in the raw meat.

A container for deli food has a base and a removable lid with male and female locking members extending around the periphery thereof. Stiff tabs extend from the periphery of the base and the lid. The tabs are displaced one from the other for easy opening of the container. The tabs are embossed with visual instructions for unlocking, The base of the container is formed of opaque plastic and the lid is clear plastic. The plastic materials are suitable for placing the container in a warming oven and for reheating the food in a microwave oven.

Disposable microwavable food container

Container with releasable lock

A domed container. The container includes a receptacle and dome cover therefore having locking means for releasably locking the cover to the receptacle. The receptacle includes a bottom wall having a top surface delimited by an upstanding rib and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient rim. The dome cover includes a top wall having at least one wall depending therefrom, the depending wall having a plurality of vertical inwardly extending ribs spaced therealong, each of the vertical inwardly extending ribs having an upper end and a lower end, interspersed between the plurality of vertical inwardly extending ribs is a plurality of vertical outwardly extending ribs, each of the vertical outwardly extending ribs having an upper end and a lower end, each the upper end of the vertical outwardly extending ribs having a crush-resistant ribbed crown portion thereof, the depending wall having a lower end adapted to be received in the space formed between the upstanding rib and the rim of the receptacle, with the lower end of the inwardly extending vertical ribs of the dome relieved so as to avoid an abutting relation with the rib of the receptacle, the lower end of the depending wall terminating in an outwardly extending resilient flange adapted to underlie the shoulder in abutting locking engagement therewith.

Domed container for baked goods or the like

Container

Growing community of inventors

Shortsville, NY, United States of America

Darryl P Hansen