An apparatus for sterilising a packaged product (16) such as food or drink comprises a pair of gas filled electrodes (1, 2) connected to a power supply (18) for generating a high voltage pulses between the electrodes (1, 2) sufficient to ionise the gas therein and to create a high electromagnetic field therebetween. A reflector (7) is provided for directing the generated field towards the package (16), such that the electromagnetic field penetrates through the wall of the package (16) and forms cold plasma from the trapped air inside the package (16). This cold plasma comprises ozone and other reactive oxygen based species which have a high oxidizing potential and kill all microorganisms in contact with the ozone and reactive species resulting in the disinfection of the product as well as the interior of the sealed package.
A23L 3/3445 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with chemicals in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor in a controlled atmosphere comprising other gases in addition to CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
B65B 55/02 - Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
A23L 3/3409 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with chemicals in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
A23L 3/26 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by irradiation without heating
B65B 55/08 - Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by irradiation
B65B 55/16 - Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging by irradiation
A method of disinfecting a packaged article is provided. The method comprises providing a first electric field extending into the package 100 of the packaged article 10 such that, in use, the first electric field causes a discharge producing ozone within a disinfection region 107 of the package. The method also comprises providing a second electric field extending into the package of the packaged article such that, in use, the second electric field drives an electric potential difference across the packaged article into the disinfection region of the packaged article.
A23L 3/32 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with electric currents without heating effect
A23L 3/3445 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with chemicals in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor in a controlled atmosphere comprising other gases in addition to CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
A method of packaging an article, the method comprising providing an article in a packet with a gas comprising oxygen; closing the packet so that the gas is adjacent a wall of the packet and subjecting the gas to an alternating electric field through the wall of the packet to generate ozone therein whilst at least the interior surface of the wall of the packet is dry.
A23L 3/00 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
A23L 3/02 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating materials in packages which are progressively transported, continuously or stepwise, through the apparatus
A23L 3/26 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by irradiation without heating
A packet steriliser for sterilising packaged articles (110), comprising: a working surface arranged for receiving a packaged article to be sterilised; a first electrode and a second electrode (104, 106); wherein the first electrode and the second electrode extend behind a portion of the area of the working surface and the first electrode is disposed between the second electrode and the working surface and the first electrode comprises a plurality of gaps arranged so that, in use, when a voltage difference is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, the associated electric field is able to extend through the gaps beyond the working surface and into a package of said packaged article to be sterilised, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode comprise adjacent extended surfaces which lie substantially along the direction of the working surface that provides a capacitance (120) related to the adjacent spatial extent of the first electrode and the second electrode and an inductance (118) is provided, wherein the inductance is selected based on that spatial extent to modify the resonant frequency of the electrode arrangement.
A23L 3/32 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with electric currents without heating effect
An apparatus for generating ozone inside packaged articles comprises an electrode assembly in which coplanar electrodes are supported along a contact surface. The electrodes are solid state conductive electrodes. These electrodes may be interdigitated and/or arranged with uniform spacing therebetween along a portion of their length. Where the electrodes are straight they may be parallel, but other shapes can also be evenly spaced. In some examples the electrodes are partially insulated and partially exposed. In some examples the electrodes are embedded/potted in an insulator to exclude air spaces from around the electrodes.
B65B 55/02 - Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
A23L 3/3409 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with chemicals in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
An apparatus for sterilising a packaged product (16) such as food or drink comprises a pair of gas filled electrodes (1, 2) connected to a power supply (18) for generating a high voltage pulses between the electrodes (1, 2) sufficient to ionise the gas therein and to create a high electromagnetic field therebetween. A reflector (7) is provided for directing the generated field towards the package (16), such that the electromagnetic field penetrates through the wall of the package (16) and forms cold plasma from the trapped air inside the package (16). This cold plasma comprises ozone and other reactive oxygen based species which have a high oxidising potential and kill all micro organisms in contact with the ozone and reactive species resulting in the disinfection of the product as well as the interior of the sealed package.
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