Patent ID: 6557319
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
A food preparation and packaging system for preparing and packaging a food product wherein the product comprises a plurality of food components including at least one susceptible component subject to heat degradation from thermal processing, the system comprisinga food component preparation line comprising at least one controlled travel food processing line configured to heat process at least one of the plurality of food components to a precise degree of cooking and controlled temperature as the at least one of the plurality of food components travels along the food component preparation line, a pressurized aseptic packaging station including a package handling, filling and sealing assembly for placing the at least one of the plurality of food components in a package and sealing the package, the packaging station being maintained at an elevated pressure and temperature, means for sterilizing the package, the package being sterile prior to placing the at least one of the plurality of food components therein, such that packaging occurs under sterile conditions, and a holding stage operative to controllably cool the sealed package and pass it out of the system, wherein said food component preparation line delivers the at least one of the plurality of food components to the pressurized aseptic packaging station coordinating filling and sealing with the holding stage such that a filled and sealed package of the food product passing out of the system is sterilized without thermal degradation of the susceptible component, said food component preparation line being configured to perform essentially all cooking treatment of the at least one of the plurality of food components traveling in that line before reaching the packaging station and to attain a sterile temperature level.