Schreiber Foods, Inc.

Sargento Foods Inc.

Michael A Matharani

David L Shaft

Vincent A Meli

Ted A Brzezinski

James L Urmanski

Karl L Linck

Peter Affolter

Thomas R Hiti

A cheese slice product and a method of making such a cheese slice product are disclosed wherein the cheese slice product contains an array of relatively smaller pieces which are linked together by one or more unslit connecting segments, with the method being directed to incising a standard cheese loaf and subsequently slicing the incised cheese slice loaf into such an array of smaller pieces. Incision patterns are applied to a typical cheese loaf prior to the loaf entering the slicer and line conveying systems. After slicing the incised cheese loaf, an unslit portion in each slice holds the multiple segments in the slice in the dimensional shape of the cross section of the loaf.

Method and apparatus for slicing small cheese portions and preparing cheese loaves for slicing

An apparatus and method are provided for forming a hermetically sealed package for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a hermetic longitudinal seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into V-folded condition and for continuously forming a hermetic seal along the open longitudinal edge of the V-folded web. The hermetic seal is formed between the inner surfaces of the front and rear faces of the web to define a tubular web member. The food item which has been formed into a soft mass, is then inserted into the tubular member and the tubular member is flattened to form a thin film tube. Means are provided for forming a hermetically sealed cross-seal which are disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.

Method and apparatus for forming and hermetically sealing slices of food

An apparatus and method for continuously forming hermetically sealed packages of a food item. A continuous web of thermoplastic material is folded and continuously formed with a hermetic longitudinal seal. The food item is inserted between inner surfaces of the tubular web member, which is then flattened to form a thin slice. A hermetic cross-seal is continuously formed transverse to the longitudinal seal. The web can be cooled before the cross-seals are formed.

A stacker is provided for stacking the slices from the forming, sealing and cutting machines into a plurality of stacks. The stacker includes a conveyor belt, which includes a plurality of apertures, onto which the slices of product are disposed. A vacuum system provides vacuum through the apertures to hold the slices on the belt. Apparatus are provided for moving the belt in order to advance the slices to the stacking locations. The vacuum is sufficient to hold the slices on the belt even when the slices are disposed on the bottom of the belt. A plurality of stacking locations are sequentially provided. Each of the stacking locations includes ejectors for providing positive air pressure at the leading edge of the slice as it is being moved on the belt. As the slice travels on the belt, the positive air pressure 'peels' the slice off of the belt and the force of gravity causes the slice to fall into the predetermined stacking location.

Growing community of inventors

DePere, WI, United States of America

Michael A Matharani