Patent ID: 7721644
Filing Date: 2010-05-25
Classification: A23L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for substantially retaining the position of a plurality of individual packages inside the drum of an agitating retort when the agitation process is applied to the plurality of individual packages, the apparatus comprising: (a) a first tray capable of supporting a plurality of individual packages, the individual packages arrangeable on the first tray in a plurality of rows, with each row consisting of a plurality of individual packages; (b) a second tray capable of supporting a plurality of individual packages, the individual packages arrangeable on the second tray in a plurality of rows, with each row consisting of a plurality of individual packages; (c) a first positioning system comprising a plurality of individual positioning structures each said positioning structure being of a bulbous, deformable construction for bearing a against a plurality of individual packages positioned either along a row of packages or against a plurality of individual packages positioned laterally to the rows of packages to hold all of a plurality of individual packages in a desired fixed positions, wherein the first positioning system is associated with one or both of the first and second trays; (d) the first tray stackable on the second tray; (e) a volume is formed between the first and second trays when the first tray is stacked on the second tray; (f) wherein the first positioning system is located within the volume, and a plurality of individual packages are positioned between the plurality of positioning structures and one or both of the first and second trays within the volume; and (g) the stacking of the first tray on the second tray causes the individual positioning structures to impose a resilient holding load on a plurality of individual packages, arranged in a row or arranged laterally to the plurality of rows including when the individual packages are in nominal position, whereby the holding load acts between the first and second trays to retain all of a plurality of individual packages between the first and second trays.