Freeze Dryers And Drying Processes For Materials With Low Water Content
Patent No. US12225914 (titled "Freeze Dryers And Drying Processes For Materials With Low Water Content") was filed by Harvest Right Llc on May 8, 2024.
What is this patent about?
’914 is related to the field of freeze-drying , specifically addressing the challenge of efficiently drying materials with low water content and/or high sugar content, such as candies and confections. Traditional freeze-drying processes often involve freezing the material before drying, which may not be necessary or optimal for these types of materials. The invention aims to improve the speed and effectiveness of drying such materials.
The underlying idea behind ’914 is to modify the conventional freeze-drying process for materials with low water content. Instead of always freezing the material first, the process can skip the freezing step altogether and proceed directly to drying under vacuum. Furthermore, the material can be warmed before drying to enhance the final product characteristics. This approach leverages the low water content to enable efficient drying without the need for initial freezing.
The claims of ’914 focus on a freeze dryer equipped with a controller that can execute a drying process. This process involves reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber below ambient pressure to dry the material, while also collecting water vapor as ice on the chamber walls. A key aspect is the option to repeat this drying process with a second batch of material without defrosting the ice accumulated from the first batch.
In practice, the freeze dryer operates by first cooling the interior walls of the vacuum chamber to facilitate water vapor collection. The material, such as candy, is then placed inside. The controller can then either initiate a warming phase to heat the material or proceed directly to the drying phase by activating the vacuum pump. The drying phase continues for a set duration, after which the dried material is removed. The ability to skip defrosting between batches significantly reduces the overall processing time.
This approach differs from traditional freeze-drying, which always includes a freezing step and typically requires defrosting between batches. By eliminating the freezing step and allowing for consecutive drying cycles without defrosting, the invention provides a more efficient method for drying materials with low water content. The option to warm the material before drying further differentiates it, enabling optimization of the drying process for specific materials like candies, resulting in improved texture and other desirable characteristics.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2020s when ’914 was filed, freeze-drying technology was well-established, at a time when electronic controllers were commonly used to manage temperature, pressure, and cycle times in industrial equipment. These systems commonly relied on programmable logic controllers (PLCs) or embedded microcontrollers to automate processes, and when user interfaces were typically implemented using dedicated display panels or networked computer systems.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the claimed freeze dryer and its associated method, which include independently claimed features and a processor and memory, were not found in the prior art, either individually or in combination.
Claims
This patent includes 31 claims, with independent claims 1, 13, and 20. The independent claims focus on a freeze dryer and a method for using it to dry materials sequentially without defrosting. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features, components, and steps related to the freeze dryer and the drying method.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
Patent Family
File Wrapper
The dossier documents provide a comprehensive record of the patent's prosecution history - including filings, correspondence, and decisions made by patent offices - and are crucial for understanding the patent's legal journey and any challenges it may have faced during examination.
Date
Description
Get instant alerts for new documents
US12225914
- Application Number
- US18658827
- Filing Date
- May 8, 2024
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- May 8, 2044
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents