Long-term packaging of food for consumer use
Long-term packaging using a combination of an induction seal and a reseal without release layers, both of which are activated by the induction heating process. The exemplary induction seal comprises a laminate of a heat-sealing layer, an aluminum foil layer, and a foam backing. The exemplary reseal comprises a low-density polyethylene foam core sandwiched between first and second layers of solid low-density polyethylene film. The reseal deforms during the induction heating process to be shaped to engage the outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the finish, so that the reseal is hermetic even after the induction seal is removed. Preferred containers are PETE with PP compression closures. Replaceable desiccant and oxygen scavengers may be used with food or other contained material. Precise timing of induction heating is required to achieve the desired result.
1. A method of making a hermetically sealed and hermetically resealable long-term storage container comprising the steps of:
a. providing a three-layer induction seal on a finish of a container;
b. providing a three-layer reseal in a compression closure for said container;
c. closing said compression closure on said container; and
d. applying induction heating to said three-layer induction seal to transfer heat to said three-layer reseal for a predetermined time responsive to a size of said container.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing food in said container prior to said step of closing said compression closure on said container.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing an oxygen scavenger in said container prior to said step of closing said compression closure on said container.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing a desiccant in said container prior to said step of closing said compression closure on said container.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing an electromagnetic induction sealer prior to said step of applying induction heating to said three-layer induction seal to transfer heat to said three-layer reseal for a predetermined time responsive to the size of said container.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing a material to be stored in said container prior to said step of closing said compression closure on said container.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said predetermined time is sufficient to cause said reseal to deform to form an annular groove operable to engage at least a portion of an outer perimeter surface of said finish of said container after removal of said induction seal by a user.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said predetermined time is sufficient to cause said reseal to deform to form an annular groove operable to engage at least a portion of an inner perimeter surface of said finish of said container after removal of said induction seal by a user.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said induction heating is applied using a 600-watt induction sealer and said predetermined time is one of:
a. 1.0 seconds +/−0.2 seconds for 110 mm lids on 128 oz. & 64 oz. containers;
b. 0.9 seconds +/−0.3 seconds for 89 mm lids on 32 oz. containers; and
c. 0.85 seconds +/−0.25 seconds for 63 mm lids on 16 oz. containers.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein;
a. said container comprises polyethylene terephthalate;
b. said compression closure comprises polypropylene;
c. said three-layer induction seal comprises a heat-sealing layer, a metallic foil layer, and a foam backing; and
d. said three-layer reseal comprises a low-density polyethylene foam core sandwiched between first and second layers of solid low-density polyethylene film.
11. A hermetically sealed and hermetically resealable long-term material storage container comprising:
a. a hermetic induction seal on a finish of a container, wherein said hermetic induction seal consists of only three layers;
b. a heat-shapeable hermetic reseal in a compression closure for said container, wherein said heat-shapeable hermetic reseal consists of only three layers;
c. said compression closure closed upon said container;
d. a heat induction seal between said three-layer induction seal and said finish of said container; and
e. an induction heat-shaped portion of said reseal.
12. The hermetically sealed and hermetically resealable long-term material storage container of claim 11 , wherein said induction heat-shaped portion of said hermetic reseal comprises an annular groove in said hermetic reseal operable to hermetically engage at least a portion of at least one of an outer perimeter surface of said finish of said container and an inner perimeter surface of said finish of said container after removal of said induction seal.
13. The hermetically sealed and hermetically resealable long-term material storage container of claim 11 , further comprising at least one of a replaceable oxygen scavenger and a replaceable desiccant in material receiving chamber of said container.
14. The hermetically sealed and hermetically resealable long-term material storage container of claim 11 , further comprising a material to be stored in said container.
15. The hermetically sealed and hermetically resealable long-term material storage container of claim 11 , wherein;
a. said container comprises polyethylene terephthalate;
b. said compression closure comprises polypropylene;
c. said three-layer induction seal comprises a heat-sealing layer, a metallic foil layer, and a foam backing; and
d. said three-layer reseal comprises a low-density polyethylene foam core sandwiched between first and second layers of solid low-density polyethylene film.
16. A kit for assisting in making a long-term storage container, the kit comprising:
a. at least one three-layer induction sealing material comprising a laminate of a heat-sealing layer, a metallic foil layer, and a foam backing;
b. at least one three-layer resealing material comprising a laminate of low density polyethylene foam core sandwiched between first and second layers of solid low-density polyethylene film; and
c. a set of instructions for using said three-layer induction sealing material and said three-layer resealing material together.
17. The kit of claim 16 , wherein said at least one three-layer induction sealing material and said at least one three-layer resealing material comprise a plurality of discs sized to be used on at least one size of container.
18. The kit of claim 17 , further comprising at least one compression closure sized to be used with said plurality of discs.
19. The kit of claim 18 , further comprising at least one container sized to be used with said plurality of discs and said at least one compression closure.
20. The kit of claim 19 , further comprising at least one induction sealer.