Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Packaged or wrapped product – Canned
Reexamination Certificate
1996-07-23
2001-05-15
Weinstein, Steven (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Packaged or wrapped product
Canned
C426S397000, C426S392000, C426S404000, C426S433000, C426S435000, C426S594000, C426S597000, C053S432000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231907
ABSTRACT:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing high-quality drinks (including liquid and fluid foods) filled in containers, in which the drinks are kept good to have their original taste, flavor and quality for a long period of time.
The present invention has resulted in the success in the employment of drastic antioxidation, which, however, no one could attain in the prior art. The drinks as filled into containers according to the present invention are kept good to have their original fresh taste, flavor, feel in the mouth and quality for a long period of time.
For example, the present invention relates to the production of high-quality coffee filled in containers, in which coffee that is easily oxidized is kept good to have its original taste, flavor and quality for a long period of time.
The present invention was the first to succeed in the employment of drastic antioxidation, which, however, no one could attain in the prior art. Coffee as filled into containers according to the present invention is kept good to have its original fresh taste, flavor and quality for a long period of time.
Prior Art
Various methods have heretofore been carried out and proposed for antioxidation of drinks. One of them is a hot filling method in which drinks are filled into containers and hermetically sealed therein, while hot at from 80 to 100° C., under ordinary pressure whereby the drinks are kept sterilized therein and the amount of oxygen in the head space in each container is reduced.
However, the reduction in the oxygen amount according to the hot filling method is limitative, and therefore the method is disadvantageous in that the deterioration of the drinks filled is inevitable due to the oxidation thereof during and after the filling.
For coffee, for example, a method of conducting all the steps of brewing, extraction, filtration, filling and sealing of coffee under inert gas pressure has been proposed (Publication of Japanese Patent Application, JP-A 51-57863) This method is good. However, the recent consumers' needs for high-quality and real-taste coffee filled in containers are great, and the products obtained by the method could not meet the needs.
Other drinks filled in containers are also problematic in that their quality is lowered, their original flavors are lost, useful components such as vitamins, etc. in them are deteriorated and/or reduced, their colors and aromas are worsened and their feel in the mouth is changed or worsened, after having been stored for a long period of time. In addition, too much oxidation of the drinks filled in containers results in the oxidation of the fats to be in the drinks thereby producing carcinogenic substances which are harmful to the health.
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The recent consumers' needs for high-quality, real-taste and healthy products are great, which shall apply even to drinks filled in containers to be drunk in a certain period of time after their production. The present invention is to meet the needs, providing a method for producing high-quality drinks filled in containers which shall have their original fresh taste, flavor, feel in the mouth, outward appearance and ingredients like those just having been brewed, extracted, squeezed and produced.
Even for coffee, for example, as filled in containers to be drunk in a certain period of time after having been brewed and extracted, consumers greatly desire to have high-quality coffee having its original fresh taste and flavor like that just having been brewed and extracted. The present invention is to meet the consumers' needs.
The costs for producing such high-quality drinks filled in containers can be reduced since the determined term within which the drinks are safely and deliciously drinkable can be prolonged. Therefore, high-quality drinks filled in containers meet the manufacturers' demand for industrial rationalization in producing them. The present invention is to satisfy both the consumers' needs and the manufacturers' needs.
Means for Solving the Problems
The present invention has attained the above-mentioned object. We, the present inventors have again specifically noted the importance of antioxidation in the maintenance of the quality of drinks filled in containers and have investigated various related matters. As a result, we have unexpectedly found that, when nitrogen gas is previously introduced into empty containers, prior to filling them with drinks, to thereby minimize as much as possible the amount of oxygen remaining in the containers and thereafter the containers are filled with drinks, then degassed and sealed, the drinks filled in the containers can maintain their original fresh taste. According to this method, therefore, it is possible to obtain high-quality drinks filled in containers.
On the basis of this valuable finding, we have further studied and, as a result, have completed the present invention.
Specifically, the fundamental technical idea of the present invention is such that the inside of empty containers is made to have a nitrogen gas atmosphere thereby to be in a substantially deoxidated condition, prior to being filled with drinks, on the basis of which high-quality drinks filled in containers while being prevented from being oxidized and deteriorated are industrially produced according to the present invention.
The present invention is described in detail hereinunder.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1361498 (1920-12-01), Ruff
patent: 2131181 (1938-09-01), Kantor
patent: 2240655 (1941-05-01), Kronqvest
patent: 2325360 (1943-07-01), Ayers et al.
patent: 2327732 (1943-08-01), Mekinnis
patent: 2333898 (1943-11-01), Stevenson et al.
patent: 2433071 (1947-12-01), Stevenson
patent: 2517569 (1950-08-01), Huzenlaub
patent: 2649671 (1953-08-01), Bartelt
patent: 2759307 (1956-08-01), Edlkin
patent: 2911308 (1959-11-01), Smith et al.
patent: 3039882 (1962-06-01), Clinton et al.
patent: 3266905 (1966-08-01), Baker et al.
patent: 3531299 (1970-09-01), Benjamins
patent: 3821448 (1974-06-01), Parker et al.
patent: 3875318 (1975-04-01), Davies
patent: 3877197 (1975-04-01), Cayton et al.
patent: 4060956 (1977-12-01), Goble
patent: 4140159 (1979-02-01), Domke
patent: 4152464 (1979-05-01), Brody et al.
patent: 4325296 (1982-04-01), Ukai et al.
patent: 4347695 (1982-09-01), Zobel
patent: 4391080 (1983-07-01), Brody et al.
patent: 4409775 (1983-10-01), Brody et al.
patent: 4703609 (1987-11-01), Yoshida et al.
patent: 5085035 (1992-02-01), Marano et al.
patent: 5384143 (1995-01-01), Koyama et al.
patent: 5417255 (1995-05-01), Sanfilippo et al.
patent: 5532011 (1996-07-01), Goglio
patent: 575517 (1959-05-01), None
patent: 2089191 (1982-06-01), None
patent: 51-57863 (1976-05-01), None
patent: 56-039134 (1981-04-01), None
patent: 63-152944 (1988-06-01), None
patent: 1-206976 (1989-08-01), None
patent: 4-40853 (1992-02-01), None
patent: 4-281773 (1992-10-01), None
patent: 4-320670 (1992-11-01), None
patent: 6-141776 (1994-05-01), None
Hagiwara Masayoshi
Hayakawa Yoshinobu
Kino Takuya
Manabe Michio
Browdy and Neimark
Pokka Corporation
Weinstein Steven
LandOfFree
Method for producing high-quality drinks filled in containers does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for producing high-quality drinks filled in containers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for producing high-quality drinks filled in containers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2492224