Receptacle for sterilized perishable substances.

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No. 645,569. Patented Mar. 20, 1900.

. . ROBERTS.

RECEPTACLE FOR (Application

STERILIZED PERISHABLE subsTANCEs.

(No Model.)

WZZzzasses, 224-72 Asada/2 2.7éadevas Zve?evza7 ?ay (0. (24- 4-7(44. (and 7 17% ow Tir Nrops Peters co. PHoro-LTHo. washington. D. C.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAIAH L. ROBERTS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RECEPTACLE FOR STERILIZED PERSHABLE SUBSTANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,569, dated March 20, 1900, Application filed November 18, 1896, Serial No. 612,566, (No model.)

To cut, tufton, it ind? concern. interstices of the can should be filled with Be it known that I, ISAIAH L. ROBERTS, a some liquid, such as sugar and Water, which 55 citizen of the United States, residing at New will conduct the current to all parts of the York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and contents. I then place the can, assuming it State of New York, have invented certain to be of metal, on a metallic plate H, which new and useful Improvements in Receptacles is provided with a metallic connector B. One for Containing Sterilized Perishable Sub wire from a source of alternating current 6o stances, of which the following is a specifica powerful enough to kill or destroy the bac tion, reference being had to the drawing ac teria within the can, but not to burn or in d companying and forming a part of the same. jure its contents in the period of its applica The invention which forms the subject of tion, is connected to connector B and the my present application is an improved recep other wire to a connector B' on the Wire Sup- 65 tacle or can for containing and preserving porting the strip C. The can thus becomes perishable substances which have undergone one electrode and the strip C the other, and sterilization by the action on them of an al the current is passed through the conducting ternating electric current. contents for a few seconds. After the lapse It is known that the living germs or organ of about an hour the current is again passed, isms in any substance capable of conducting and this is repeated at intervals of an hour, an electric current may be destroyed or their more or less, for several hours or until the development arrested without altering or im entire contents of the can are thoroughly pairing the natural quality of such substances sterilized. The wire is then cut off in the de bypassing through them an alternating elec pression and a plate E, of tin, is soldered on 75 tric current or one possessing similar physio over the depression to permanently seal the logical properties. can and exclude bacteria of any kind. 25 The object of my invention is to provide a By the use of this device I have been able practical means for utilizing this knowledge to preserve for long periods in a perfectly in the process of canning or preserving foods natural state various foods and perishable 86 and perishable articles; and to this end the products. The cans when completed by the invention consists in a vessel or receptacle of addition of the sealing device are in condi special construction in which the substances tion to be handled, packed, and transported may be inclosed and sterilized by the electric without liability to injury. current under temporary seal, which excludes Having now described my invention, what 85 air, and then permanently sealed up. I claim is

The improvement is shown in the accom 1. A vessel or receptacle for preserving elec 35 panying drawing, in which A represents a trically-sterilized meats, fish, fruits and other can, the bottom and sides of which are of the articles of food, composed of a conducting ma usual construction; but in the center of the terial and provided with an interior insulated top E, I make a depression. E", with a small electrode with a connector extending there hole in its center, through which is inserted from through the wall of the receptacle, and 40 a short piece of rubber tubing E. a sealing device, as set forth. I solder to a short length of wire a strip of 2. The combination with a can or vessel of tin C and force the wire up through the rub conducting material having a depression in 95 ber tube until the end of strip C is about one of its walls, an insulated conductor ex two-thirds of the height of the can from the tending through a perforation in said depres 45 top. sion, an electrode within the can connected When the can is prepared, it is filled with with said conductor, and a plate or cap for meat, fish, fruit, or the like to as near the covering the depression and sealing up the Ioo top as practicable. The top is then soldered can, as set forth.

on, the strip C being pushed down into the ISAIAHL, ROBERTS, substance filling the can. The can is thus made air-tight and is ready for the treatment Witnesses:

of the substance in it. If this substance, as M. LAWSON DYER, shown in the drawing, is fruit or the like, the DRURY W. COOPER.