Fresh Food Packaging with Microwave Pasteurization and One-Way Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fresh food packaging fails to effectively exclude enclosed bacteria, leading to rapid deterioration and short shelf life, particularly in foods like sweet corn with cut ends that are prone to bacterial infection.
Innovation Solution
A packaging method involving pasteurization of fresh food using microwaves within a package with a one-way valve, which automatically opens to release steam and then closes to create a vacuum, combined with the addition of a predetermined amount of liquid and weighing to ensure consistent pasteurization, effectively extending the shelf life without compromising taste or texture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional packaging methods are used to seal fresh food, then bacteria are excluded from reaching the food, but enclosed bacteria cause rapid deterioration and short shelf life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary pasteurization treatment to the fresh food before sealing in the package. This preliminary action eliminates enclosed bacteria that would otherwise cause deterioration, while the packaging then maintains the pasteurized state to extend shelf life without compromising the food's fresh appearance or requiring heating for consumption
2Reliability
If pasteurization is applied to extend shelf life, then bacterial contamination is reduced, but taste and texture of the food deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses microwave radiation with specific parameters (frequency, power level, treatment time) to achieve pasteurization at lower temperatures and shorter durations than conventional methods. This parameter optimization kills bacteria while minimizing thermal damage to the food's taste and texture, and the food remains in its original state without requiring heating for consumption
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional packaging sealing is used, then the package is sealed, but enclosed bacteria remain and cause rapid deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs pasteurization treatment before the final sealing operation. This preliminary action eliminates bacteria that would be trapped inside the sealed package, allowing simple sealing methods to be used while achieving extended shelf life. The sequence is: pasteurize → seal → store, maintaining both manufacturing simplicity and product longevity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method significantly extends the shelf life of fresh sweet corn from a few days to weeks or months, maintaining freshness and ease of heating for consumption while preventing bacterial contamination.
Implementation Method 1
pasteurising the fresh food by applying microwaves to the package
Implementation Method 2
The one-way valve covering the aperture is configured to automatically open when an overpressure occurs within the package. The overpressure occurs by the exposure of the package to the microwaves, which creates steam.
Implementation Method 3
The one-way valve is configured to close immediately based on the reduction of internal overpressure and the lowering of the ambient temperatures, which develops a vacuum.
Implementation Method 4
The overpressure occurs by the exposure of the package to the microwaves, which creates steam.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of packaging fresh food, comprising the steps of: inserting the fresh food in a package, which comprises an aperture and a one-way valve covering the aperture, sealing the package, pasteurising the fresh food by applying microwaves to the package, and cooling the package.