US2027342A - Packaging coffee - Google Patents

Description

Jam 7, 1936. A. G. HOPKINS PACKAGING COFFEE Filed Feb. 5, 1935 G; HOPKINS gmmf aufm @4mm/13d.

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED vSTATES PATENT "or-FICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to the packaging of coffee or other granular or pulverulent products in which the conservation of the aroma or ilavor is of prime importance.

One of the objects of the invention is to package the product in a iiexible impervious wrapper and to create and maintain a vacuum in the wrapper so that it will be drawn together into intimate contact with the product holding it firmly as a substantially rigid unit notwithstanding its granular constituency, and at the same time excluding atmospheric air which ordinarily causes, through oxidation, deterioration in the flavor and aroma.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum package as described, in which the nexible impervious envelope is larger than the volume of coffee or similar product therein enclosed, so that while originally the wrapper is drawn into close engagement with the product by the atmospheric pressure on the outside, room is afforded for the aromatic gases which escape from the coiee and which in the absence of such room, would burst the package and escape.

A further object of the invention relates to the packaging of coiee or the likeinto individual packages as described so that for a single serving, only one sample need be opened, the vacuous condition of the other packages being perpetuated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container enclosing a plurality of the individual packages, each comprising the iiexible impervious envelope and each maintained under individual vacuum, and the container itself being under vacuum so as to relieve the individual packages from the stress of atmospheric percolation until the container is opened by the con- Sllmer.'

A further object of the invention is to provide the individual evacuated packages in the form of a continuous series or chain sealed between the individual units and being adapted to be cut oi one at a time as required for use without destroying the vacuum in the remaining units.

Still another object of the invention relates to the method of packaging the coiee as above described.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following-description of exemplary embodiments of the invention proceeds.

Y In the drawing, throughout the several gures of which, the same characters of references have been used to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of coiee and the gas impervious envelope prevents (Cl. 20G-46) apparatus more or less theoretical in its concept which might be used in practicing the method of the package of coiee or the like in a continuous series of links or individual packages, such as are shown in the container in Figure 5 Figure 2 is a cross section taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diametrical cross section through a container showing a plurality of individual packages;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation showing a single package; and

Figure 5 is a cross section of the container enclosing a plurality of individual packages ar= ranged in a connected series.

Referring now in detail to the several gures, and rst adverting to that form of the invention shown in Figure 4, the numeral I represents an envelope or Wrapper formed of any suitable gas impervious and preferably non-hygroscopic material and of transparent character, such for example as certain grades of cellophane or the like. This envelope is presealed at the bottom as at 2 and is charged with a quantity of coffee represented by the reference character 3 slightly less than enough to ll the envelope, leaving the space 4 shown in Figure 4, between the full and broken lines near the top. This envelope with its contents is placed in a vacuum chamber and sealed. When it is withdrawn from said chamber, the atmospheric pressure on the outside pushes the envelope in against the contents at all points, and particularly at the top, obliterating the space 4,

so that the coffee is held in rigid relation notwithstanding its granular character and will not shift about in the package, possibly wearing its way through, and in any event producing a quantity of dust. The vacuum pump has withdrawn atmospheric air from the interstitial spaces of the acce ss of the outer air thereto, so that the coiee is fully protected from oxidation of its aromatic principles or escape of its aroma.

It is known that coiee loses its aroma by diffusion if exposed to atmosphere, and even in the presence of vacuum, the aroma escapes in the form of a gas probably through breathing of the coffee, due to temperature iiuctuations. If the impervious envelope I fitted themass of cofa fee snugly in the rst instance, the pressure developed by the aromatic gases evolved from the coffee might be enough to rupture the envelope. It is essential that the space 4 be provided which when the gases have been evolved, distends the bottomonly, ando1'.l.sumdmtlengthtobeeon strlctedatsphlnlityotpomtstoformumany unitmtorexampleadmusretobepked 'inoneeonteinexn 'Ihisenvelopeisprealedst itslowerendl. Aspoutllleadingfromxeotlee. 4laomusnexlaendawithinthetubelmndilouxeuough 2 E E ges sg g 'z; E HE g @E w sgzsea a s s s if E s gg a 5 E5'- gag ssa tethernndtmndne Heln'he, openedandeulteelldhchulmg sectienabovethenidlmedmne.

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