Lorin Industries, Inc.

John W Beamer

A spacer to facilitate cooling, stacking, and handling of meat includes first and second channels, preferably of identical cross-sectional shape, placed transverse to each other so as to define multiple interconnected passageways for conducting conditioned air therethrough when placed in a stack of alternating layers of boxed meat and spacers. The channels include lateral flanges which are bonded to each other at a plurality of intersections by adhesive, and may also be joined by pressing a section of material from one lateral flange through the thickness of a section of the other lateral flange followed by clinching the sections together. The clinched sections hold the intersections together until the adhesive cures, and also contribute to the ultimate joint strength. The first channels further include outwardly protruding embossments and the second channels include apertures for receiving the embossments, the apertures and embossments acting as locaters to locate adjacent spacers when stacked on each other for storage while awaiting use.

Spacer assembly

A spacer to facilitate cooling, stacking, and handling of meat includes first and second channels, preferably of identical cross-sectional shape, placed transverse to each other so as to define multiple interconnected passageways for conducting conditioned air therethrough when placed in a stack of alternating layers of boxed meat and spacers The channels include lateral flanges which engage one another at a plurality of intersections where they are joined by pressing a section of material from one lateral flange through the thickness of a section of the other lateral flange followed by clinching the sections together, and further include a web that is spaced from the lateral flanges and positioned to support the edges of boxes of meat thus preventing the boxes from sagging during cooling. The flanges include a hemmed edge and rounded corners that permit safe use by eliminating sharp corners, the hemmed edge also providing a grip to facilitate use of the spacer. The channels are preferably roll-formed from type 3005 aluminum sheet having a thickness of about 0.040 thickness, the aluminum being chosen for its thermal conductivity, strength, workability, low weight, and recycleability. The aluminum also permits cleaning and sanitizing by conventional methods.

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Grand Haven, MI, United States of America

John W Beamer