Method and apparatus for handling sterilized food product

Abstract

A method is for handling a sterilized food product and includes sterilizing an intermodal container including a rigid shell having an elongate shape with opposed closed ends and a discharge port in one of the closed ends. The intermodal container also includes at least one support frame assembly supporting the rigid shell and configured to permit rotation between a generally horizontal orientation and a generally upright orientation. The method may also include aseptically filling the intermodal container with the sterilized food product; and transporting the filled intermodal container in the generally horizontal orientation via at least one of rail, truck, and ship and while maintaining the sterilized food product in aseptic conditions. The method may also include rotating the intermodal container to the generally upright orientation, and emptying the sterilized food product from the discharge port.

1 . A method for handling a sterilized food product comprising:
 sterilizing an intermodal container comprising a rigid shell having an elongate shape with opposed closed ends and a discharge port in one of the closed ends, and at least one support frame assembly supporting the rigid shell and configured to permit rotation between a generally horizontal orientation and a generally upright orientation;   aseptically filling the intermodal container with the sterilized food product;   transporting the filled intermodal container in the generally horizontal orientation via at least one of rail, truck, and ship and while maintaining the sterilized food product in aseptic conditions; and   rotating the intermodal container to the generally upright orientation, and emptying the sterilized food product from the discharge port.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the sterilized food product comprises a viscous sterilized food product having an absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the sterilized food product comprises sterilized citrus pulp. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein rotating comprises engaging the at least one support frame assembly with a lifting device. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the intermodal container has a capacity greater than 10,000 liters. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the generally upright orientation is at an angle greater than 40° from horizontal. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the generally horizontal orientation is less than 40° from horizontal. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the discharge port is in a medial portion of the closed end of the intermodal container. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the closed end of the intermodal container having the discharge port therein has a conical shape; and wherein the discharge port is at an apex of the conical shape. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising supplying a sterile gas to maintain a positive pressure within the intermodal container. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising maintaining at least one of a desired pressure and desired temperature within the intermodal container during transporting. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising recording at least one of the desired pressure and desired temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising wireless transmitting at least one of the desired pressure and desired temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein sterilizing comprises sterilizing using at least one of steam and a chemical sterilant. 
     
     
         15 . A method for handling a sterilized food product having an absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise comprising:
 sterilizing an intermodal container comprising a rigid shell having an elongate shape with opposed closed ends and a discharge port in one of the closed ends, and at least one support frame assembly supporting the rigid shell and configured to permit rotation between a generally horizontal orientation and a generally upright orientation;   aseptically filling the intermodal container with the sterilized food product having the absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise;   transporting the filled intermodal container while maintaining the sterilized food product having the absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise in aseptic conditions; and   rotating the intermodal container to the generally upright orientation, and emptying the sterilized food product having the absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise from the discharge port.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the sterilized food product having the absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise comprises citrus pulp. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein rotating comprises engaging the at least one support frame assembly with a lifting device. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the intermodal container has a capacity greater than 10,000 liters. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the generally upright orientation is at an angle greater than 40° from horizontal. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the generally horizontal orientation is less than 40° from horizontal. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the discharge port is in a medial portion of the closed end of the intermodal container. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the closed end of the intermodal container having the discharge port therein has a conical shape; and wherein the discharge port is at an apex of the conical shape. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising supplying a sterile gas to maintain a positive pressure within the intermodal container. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising maintaining at least one of a desired pressure and desired temperature within the intermodal container during transporting. 
     
     
         25 . A method for handling a sterilized food product having an absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise, the method comprising:
 rotating an intermodal container filled with the sterilized food product having the absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise to a generally upright orientation from a generally horizontal orientation, the intermodal container comprising a rigid shell having an elongate shape with opposed closed ends and a discharge port in one of the closed ends, and at least one support frame assembly supporting the rigid shell and configured to permit rotation between the generally horizontal orientation and the generally upright orientation; and   emptying the sterilized food product having the absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise from the discharge port while the intermodal container is in the generally upright orientation.   
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the sterilized food product having the absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise comprises sterilized citrus pulp. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein rotating comprises engaging the at least one support frame assembly with a lifting device. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the intermodal container has a capacity greater than 10,000 liters. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the generally upright orientation is at an angle greater than 40° from horizontal. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the generally horizontal orientation is less than 40° from horizontal. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the discharge port is in a medial portion of the closed end of the intermodal container. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the closed end of the intermodal container having the discharge port therein has a conical shape; and wherein the discharge port is in a center of the closed end. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 25  further comprising supplying a sterile gas to maintain a positive pressure within the intermodal container. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 25  further comprising transporting the filled intermodal container in the generally horizontal orientation via at least one of rail, truck, and ship and while maintaining the sterilized food product having the absolute viscosity of greater than 500 centipoise in aseptic conditions. 
     
     
         35 . An intermodal container for handling a sterilized food product comprising:
 a rigid shell for maintaining the sterilized food product in aseptic conditions and having an elongate shape with opposed closed ends and a discharge port in a medial portion of one of the closed ends; and   at least one support frame assembly supporting said rigid shell and configured to permit rotation of said rigid shell between a generally horizontal orientation for transporting and a generally upright orientation for emptying the sterilized food product through the discharge port.   
     
     
         36 . The intermodal container according to  claim 35  wherein said rigid shell has a capacity greater than 10,000 liters. 
     
     
         37 . The intermodal container according to  claim 35  wherein the closed end of said rigid shell having the discharge port therein has a conical shape; and wherein the discharge port is at an apex of the conical shape. 
     
     
         38 . The intermodal container according to  claim 37  wherein the conical shape defines an included angle of less than 90°. 
     
     
         39 . The intermodal container according to  claim 37  wherein the conical shape defines an included angle of greater than 45°. 
     
     
         40 . The intermodal container according to  claim 35  wherein said at least one support frame assembly comprises respective first and second rectangular frames connected to respective ones of said opposed closed ends. 
     
     
         41 . The intermodal container according to  claim 35  wherein said rigid shell further has a gas port permitting a flow of sterile gas to maintain a positive pressure within said rigid shell. 
     
     
         42 . The intermodal container according to  claim 35  wherein said rigid shell further has a sterilized food product filling port therein. 
     
     
         43 . The intermodal container according to  claim 35  wherein said rigid shell further has a manway port therein. 
     
     
         44 . The intermodal container according to  claim 35  further comprising a thermal insulation layer adjacent said rigid shell. 
     
     
         45 . The intermodal container according to  claim 35  further comprising a refrigeration unit coupled to said rigid shell. 
     
     
         46 . The intermodal container according to  claim 35  further comprising at least one of a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor associated with said rigid shell. 
     
     
         47 . The intermodal container according to  claim 46  further comprising a data recorder to record at least one of the temperature and pressure. 
     
     
         48 . The intermodal container according to  claim 46  further comprising a wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit at least one of the temperature and pressure. 
     
     
         49 . An intermodal container for handling a sterilized food product comprising:
 a rigid shell for maintaining the sterilized food product in aseptic conditions and having an elongate shape with opposed closed ends and a discharge port in a medial portion of one of the closed ends, the rigid shell having a capacity of greater than 10,000 liters;   the closed end of the intermodal container having the discharge port therein having a conical shape defining an included angle between 45° and 90° and the discharge port being at an apex of the conical shape; and   at least one support frame assembly supporting said rigid shell and configured to permit rotation of said rigid shell between a generally horizontal orientation for transporting and a generally upright orientation for emptying the sterilized food product through the discharge port.   
     
     
         50 . The intermodal container according to  claim 49  wherein said at least one support frame assembly comprises respective first and second rectangular frames connected to respective ones of said opposed closed ends. 
     
     
         51 . The intermodal container according to  claim 49  wherein said rigid shell further has a gas port permitting a flow of sterile gas to maintain a positive pressure within said rigid shell. 
     
     
         52 . The intermodal container according to  claim 49  wherein said rigid shell further has a sterilized food product filling port therein. 
     
     
         53 . The intermodal container according to  claim 49  wherein said rigid shell further has a manway port therein. 
     
     
         54 . The intermodal container according to  claim 49  further comprising a thermal insulation layer adjacent said rigid shell. 
     
     
         55 . The intermodal container according to  claim 49  further comprising a refrigeration unit coupled to said rigid shell. 
     
     
         56 . The intermodal container according to  claim 49  further comprising at least one of a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor associated with said rigid shell. 
     
     
         57 . The intermodal container according to  claim 56  further comprising a data recorder to record at least one of the temperature and pressure. 
     
     
         58 . The intermodal container according to  claim 56  further comprising a wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit at least one of the temperature and pressure.