Method for effective de-oxygenation of product containers for use as containers for oxygen sensitive products

Abstract

The invention generally relates to the use of liquid nitrogen to displace air, or other water and/or oxygen containing atmospheres, from containers prior to filling with a highly sensitive product. The process in general has two steps: a) depositing a volume of liquid nitrogen into the cavity of an empty container and b) applying a vacuum to the cavity of the container. The vacuum will accelerate vaporization and thereby shorten the liquid nitrogen vaporization time frame. This procedure results in a highly effective one step de-oxygenation and/or de-humidification of the container cavity. Further, the evacuation ensures complete liquid nitrogen vaporization prior to product filling.

1 . A process for the removal of an atmosphere within a container cavity comprising the steps of:
 a) dispensing a volume of liquid nitrogen into the container cavity prior to any step of a product addition,   b) permitting the liquid nitrogen to vaporize completely, and   c) filling a product into the container cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a sufficient vacuum to the container cavity having the volume of liquid nitrogen to thereby accelerate the vaporization of the liquid nitrogen. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein step c) is filling the container with a highly sensitive product and further comprising step d) sealing the container closed to produce a packaged highly sensitive product. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein the product is a highly oxygen sensitive product. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3  wherein the product is a highly water sensitive product. 
     
     
         6 . The process of any  claim 1  wherein the product is a liquid nitrogen intolerant product. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the container is sterilized prior to step a). 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein volume of liquid nitrogen is the amount capable of producing a volume of vaporized nitrogen gas that is at least equal to the volume of the container cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the volume of vaporized nitrogen gas is at least 5% greater than the volume of the container cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein step a) is repeated at least once. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein steps a) and b) are repeated at least once. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 3 , further comprising step d) adding an additional volume of liquid nitrogen to the container cavity with the highly sensitive product to flush out a headspace of the container cavity above the highly sensitive product, with the proviso that the product is not a liquid nitrogen intolerant product. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein a final enclosed atmosphere with the container comprises less than 1.5% oxygen and/or less than 40% relative humidity. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein a final enclosed atmosphere with the container comprises less than 1% oxygen and/or less than 20% relative humidity. 
     
     
         15 . A packaged product produced by the process of  claim 3  and having a final enclosed atmosphere with the container comprises less than 1.5% oxygen and/or less than 40% relative humidity. 
     
     
         16 . A product packaging apparatus comprising:
 a) a product container conveyance line,   b) a liquid nitrogen dispensing device configured to add a measured amount of liquid nitrogen into an empty product container cavity,   c) a product filling station configured to draw a measured amount of a product from a product stock supply and fill the product container cavity with the product, and   d) a product container sealing device to seal the product container closed,   wherein the measured amount of liquid nitrogen is sufficient to completely displace a pre-existing container cavity atmosphere when the liquid nitrogen completely vaporizes, and   wherein the liquid nitrogen dispensing device and the product filling station are spatially arranged along the product container conveyance line to ensure the measured amount of liquid nitrogen will fully vaporize prior to product filling during operation of the apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the volume of vaporized nitrogen gas is at least 5% greater than the volume of the container cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a liquid nitrogen dispensing device configured to add a measured amount of liquid nitrogen into a filled product container cavity with an amount of liquid nitrogen that is sufficient to flush out a headspace of the filled product container cavity, with the proviso that the product is not a liquid nitrogen intolerant product.