General Mills Marketing, Inc.

General Mills, Inc.

David A Kirk

David J Domingues

Gary Stacey

Craig A Dowd

Thomas M Hockenberry

Scott Kackman

Susan Hall

Matthew Woodard Lorence

Mark E Arlinghaus

Todd Purkey

Joanne J Garbe

William E Archibald

Claire Thurbush

David Jordan

Diane Phillips

Richard Freeman

Matthew C White

Kay Sinclair

The present invention relates to a compartment container that includes one or more secondary reservoir package(s). More specifically, the present invention relates to a tubular containers, such as containers made of composite material (e.g. paperboard) with end caps for packaging refrigerated dough products. The tubular containers house one or more reservoir package(s) that are formed from one or more flexible materials (e.g. polymeric films) and are used to retain condiments, fruits, icings, spices, nuts, candies or any other ancillary ingredient(s).

Compartment container including a secondary reservoir package

Described are dough packages and packaged dough products, wherein the package includes microvents.

Dough product and vented package

Packaging for dough product

A method for packaging products, such as any solid or semi-solid product, utilizes a horizontal form, fill and seal (HFFS) system, coupled with a method for subjecting the packages to positive pressure differential while packaging. In the HFFS system, product receiving cavities are formed in a lower film, with each product being arranged in a respective cavity. The loaded product receiving cavities are positioned in a sealing unit, with an upper film above the product cavities. The sealing unit is closed and a lower chamber of the sealing unit is pressurized to force the lower film against the product, while the product abuts a standoff member, in order to remove existing headspace. After minimizing the headspace, a sealing head seals the upper film to the lower film about the product receiving cavities. Thereafter, the pressure is released, the sealing unit is opened and the package can be further processed.

Method for packaging products by employing positive pressure differential

Package for a dough product

Packaged dough products

Packaged dough product

Growing community of inventors

Coon Rapids, MN, United States of America

David A Kirk