Processing and packaging system for flexible containers

Abstract

An improved heating, packaging and sterilization system for pumpable particulate food product (e.g., soups, stews, fruits) is provided which makes use of an upstream pump and an automated packaging chamber maintained at superatmospheric pressure to achieve precise processing control without deleterious overcooking or flashing of the food product. The upstream pump is coupled to the chamber via a constant diameter conduit, and the open delivery end of the latter is in direct communication with the pressurized interior of the packaging chamber; in this way the easily controllable chamber pressure provides back pressure within the product conduit, so that a substantially uniform decreasing pressure gradient and essentially plug product flow are established throughout the length of the conduit from the pump to the chamber. Moreover, the chamber pressure is of sufficient magnitude to prevent flashing throughout the system. In practice, the packaging chamber is relatively small inasmuch as it is not intended to normally house plant personnel, and can accommodate either flexible web form, fill and seal packaging equipment or conventional canning units. The product pump is advantageously a dual piston food pump coupled with downstream steam-fed scraped surface heat exchangers.