US2445752A - Compressing dehydrated foods - Google Patents

Description

July 27, 1948. ADAMS 2,445,752

COMPESSING DEHYDRATED FOODS Filed April 7, 1944 j w M Patented July 27, 1948 v 2,445,752 COMPRESSIN G DEHYDRATED FOODS Nicholas M. Adams, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Wilson & Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application April 7, 1944, Serial No. 529,931

.9 Claims. (Cl. 99-111) This'invention relates to a method of compressing dehydrated foods and to the package so produced.

. Dehydrated food products have been produced for many years but one of the disadvantages thereof. has been the bulk of the material in reference to its weight. Many of these products will compress but when efforts are made to package the goods a large loss ensues because the compressed products have a property of expanding slowly after compression, as a result of which they frequently rupture or distort the containers.

In accordance with the present invention, a ver simple method of overcoming this breakage and distortion is provided, by compressing the product within a thin rigid sleeve whose outer dimension and shape is that of the ultimate container, and then extruding the material from the sleeve into the container after compression. The thickness of the sleeve is selected with reference to the product and to the container so that the expansion of the material tightly fills the con-' tainer, but does not distort or rupture.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a suitable apparatus for carrying out the method; Figure 2 is a front elevation likewise partially in section; Figure 3 is a sectional plan 'view taken along the line 3-8 in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the sleeve, container and compressed material before withdrawal of the sleeve.

The apparatus comprises a conventional hydraulic press I operated by the arm II and provided with a plunger l2. .Dehydrated material l3 to be compressed is inserted within the filling tube or sleeve H to the desired level. The sleeve is provided with a flared neck It below which is a supporting collar l6 and a handle l1. Each end of the tube is of course open. The inner diameter of the sleeve corresponds to the outer di-v ameter of the plunger l2, and the outer diameter' of the sleeve is such as to fit closely within the container It. The container is here illustrated as circular in cross-section but the invention is not limited to any particular cross-section of container. Usually the container is of metal, but with the present invention it may be made from non-ductile material as well. The container should, however, be uniform in cross-section from bottom to top. After the sleeve has been filled to the desired level (during which operation it may be placed upon a suitable table to close the bottom), it is carried by the handle I! and placed within the bracket which supports the collar ment of the plungerwill'vary with difierent types of materials. In some cases it may be necessary to heat or cool the material in order to produce proper compressive conditions, but these conditions are not part of the present invention.

After the material has been compressed within the sleeve and container, the sleeve is lifted from the bracket 20 and the pivoted bracket 22. swung into position below the plunger, and the sleeve then inserted in it, as shown by the dotted line in Figure l. The plunger is again actuated and forces the compressed material from the sleeve into the container. a

It will be observed that by this method the compressed material forms a block, smaller on each side by the thickness of the sleeve wall than the container. The space remaining, which is filled by air, is evacuated under suitable evacuating equipment, and the container hermetically sealed in suitable fashion. The compressed material then slowly expands until it comfortably fills the container without rupturing it or distorting it.

A suitable amount of space is provided in a circular cylindrical container 2% inches in intcrnaldiameter at the seam by employing a sleeve having that external diameter and an internal diameter of 2% inches. With these dimensions, such products as meat, rice, hash and potatoes may be suitably compressed under normal pressures and will then exert no substantial pressure against the tin or container.

The products herein referred to are dehydrated sufliciently so that they will normally keep in the atmosphere. Usually this means a moisture content below 10%, usually 6-7%.

The operations illustrated herein are manual but may obviously be carriedout entirely by automatic means through the use of suitable machinery.

The term cylinder is not limited to a circular cylinder.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letter Patent, is:

1. The method of packaging, compressed dehydrated food material having a substantial tendency to expand slowly to a limited degree after compression, which comprises first compressing the material within a cylindrical sleeve having a thin wall and an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of a predetermined container having substantially rigid walls, the amount of compression being of the order of 1500 lbs. per square inch. then extruding the material from the sleeve after the compressing in a block into the predetermined container, and sealing the same.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the container is placed under high vacuum immediately prior to sealing.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the compressed material is largely dehydrated meat.

4. The method asset forth in claim 1, in which the compressed material is largely dehydrated potatoes.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the compressed material is largely dehydrated rice.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, in which the bottom of the sleeve is closed by the con tainer during the compression operation.

- 7. The method of packaging compressed dehydrated food material having a substantial tendency to expand slowly to a limited degree after compression, which comprises first compressing the material within a cylindrical sleeve having a thin wall and an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of a predetermined container having substantially rigid walls, the amount of compression being such as substantially to decrease the volume of the material and 40 1,077,810

. into the predetermined container, and sealing the same.

8. The method of packaging compressed dehydrated food material having a substantial pressing the material within a sleeve having a thin wall and an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of a predetermined container having substantially rigid walls, the amount of compression being such as substantially to decrease the volume of the material and to impart thereto a substantial and powerful tendency slowly to expand after release of the pressure, then extruding the material from the sleeve after the compressing in a block, introducing the block into the predetermined container, and sealing the same.

9. The method of packaging dehydrated meat products in a container having substantially rigid walls which comprises first compressing the meat product to substantially its minimum volume within a cylindrical sleeve having a thin wall and an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the container, then extruding the compressed material from the sleeve in a block into the container, substantially removing air from the container, and sealing the same.

NICHOLAS M. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Roberts Apr. 2, 1872 Cussen' June 25, 1878 Thomsen July 27, 1897 Wiley Apr. 20, 1901 Bartholomew Apr. 24, 1906 Craggs Nov. 4, 1913 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1869 Great Britain 1881 Number Number

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