The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 23, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 12, 1996
Andrew H Bushnell, San Diego, CA (US);
Hang.kan Moller, Lund, SE;
R Wayne Clark, Del Mar, CA (US);
Miriam Gersten, San Diego, CA (US);
Don Meader, San Diego, CA (US);
Lars-ANG.ke Naslund, Furulund, SE;
Hang.kan Mellbin, Horby, SE;
Par Olanders, Genarp, SE;
Olof Stark, Ystad, SE;
Purepulse Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are described for food product preservation by deactivation of microorganisms and enzymes by applying high-intensity, short-duration pulses of polychromatic light in a broad spectrum to packaging material surfaces. In some embodiments, a photodiode is employed for detecting the intensity of the light, and a control circuit is used to adjust power delivered to a flashlamp if the intensity of the light needs adjustment. In some embodiments, an outer safety glass is employed to protect the flashlamps. The outer safety glass may include coating materials at ends thereof. In addition, several variations of lamp assembly geometries accommodate small diameter packaging material tubes by, for example, using an fill pipe having offset first and second portions with a transitional region thereinbetween, or be eliminating the water jackets and using an outer safety glass to contain water as it is passed over flashlamps. In another additional embodiment, a lamp holding device includes a holding cylinder with a first flange, which, together with a compression cylinder, compresses the first O-ring into the flashlamp. In yet another embodiment, a lamp holding device is positioned in a receptacle into which an electrode of a U-lamp is inserted. The lamp holding device allows a proximal portion to move relative to a distal portion thereof. In yet a further embodiment, a light guide is positioned to receive light emitted from a linear flashlamp and to transmit such light into a packaging material cup.