Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation

Kraft Foods, Inc.

Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC

Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.

Terry L Holmes

Gary R Skaar

Dennis G Flisram

Jay I Gust

James E Anderson

Donald E Lucke

Orestes Rivero

Larry C Gundlach

Norman C Abler

James A Rattmann

Cory Jay Painter

Gerald R Popenhagen

Daniel A Thiemann

Charles Schroeder, Deceased

William N Barron, Iii

William G VanDyke

Dean F Schwarz

A method and system are provided for forming sliced cheese directly from a quantity of cheese, without the need to thermally process the cheese. In general, cheese slices are formed from a quantity of cheese in which at least one discrete cheese piece is introduced into an elongated chamber having a longitudinal interior surface and housing a conveyor. Resulting cheese mass is transported forwardly and longitudinally of the chamber via the conveyor to a discharge outlet of the chamber and into a funnel. The cheese mass is extruded at a temperature of less than about 50&#xb0; F. as a plurality of cheese extrudate sheets through a plurality of elongated orifices of a die plate which receive cheese mass exiting from the outlet of the funnel. The cheese extrudate sheets are cut along their lengths to provide discrete cheese slices.

Method and system for making sliced cheese

A method and system are provided for portioning a cheese mass to be sliced and shredded directly from a quantity of bulk cheese, without the need to thermally process the cheese. The cheese extrudate strands and sheets are cut to provide discrete cheese shreds and slices, and can be automatically portioned and deposited in packages.

Method and system for making extruded portions of cheese

A method apparatus for removing a casing, particularly a casing with a clip end embedded in the product, is disclosed where the clipped end is clamped and gas is injected into this end to blow out the clip and casing end while the clamped portion prevents the entire casing from being inflated. The air or gas, such as HEPA filtered air, is injected into the product with a needle, for instance, to balloon out the casing in the clamped area to free the previously embedded clip. The clip is then gripped, certain cuts are made in the casing, and the casing is pulled from the product. An injector such as a needle is inserted into the end portion of the product and pressurized gas, such as HEPA filtered air, is injected into the end portion. The injection of the gas causes the casing to balloon out from the product thereby freeing the previously embedded clip. The freed clip is then gripped while the casing is then cut for removal. The casing may be cut in a Y-shape with two cuts beginning approximately at two corners of one side of the square end and angled towards each other along a side of the product. The two cuts meet, and a third cut is made longitudinally along the length of the product beginning at the meeting point of the two angled cuts. The gripped clip and casing are pulled causing the casing to separate from the product along the cut lines.

Automated extraction of casing clips from cooked meat products

An apparatus and method for honing, sharpening or grinding a curved peripheral cutting surface of a slicer blade are provided. Included is the use of one of a set of interchangeable cams that generally follows the curved shape of the blade cutting surface, whether same has a constant radius or varying radii. The honing is accomplished off-line of the slicer equipment, and the movement of two honing or grinding wheels is closely controlled so as to provide honed or ground cutting edges which are of substantially uniform width throughout their respective peripheries. The two honing or grinding wheels operate independently of each other on opposing edges of the blade, a large blade load area is provided therebetween, precision gib adjustments are provided between the wheel and the cam follower, and a single tool is needed to make adjustments of the apparatus.

Off-line honing of slicer blades

An assembly and method are disclosed for separating the muscle tissue of meat from sinew. A plurality of elongate pins which are spaced from each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the pins pierce the meat from which the sinew is to be removed to restrain the sinew against movement, and a compressive force is imparted to the muscle tissue by a compression assembly while the sinew is being restrained against movement. The force which is imparted to the muscle tissue separates the muscle tissue from the sinew and causes the muscle tissue to move away from the restrained sinew and through the spaces between the pins. With the assembly and method of the invention it is possible to remove significant and substantial portions of the sinew from the meat being processed, and to reduce the fat in the muscle tissue to as little as less than 1-11/2 wt %.

Desinewing of boneless trim

An apparatus and method for honing, sharpening or grinding a curved peripheral cutting surface of a slicer blade are provided. Included is the use of one of a set of interchangeable cams that generally follows the curved shape of the blade cutting surface, whether same has a constant radius or varying radii. In order to minimize downtime and sanitation operations, the honing is accomplished off-line of the slicer equipment. Preferably, the slicer blade remains perfectly flat during honing, and the movement of one or more honing or grinding wheels is closely controlled so as to provide honed or ground cutting edges which are of substantially uniform width throughout their respective peripheries. Honing is accomplished in accordance with objectively measured sharpness standards by which superior sharpness levels are attained.

Method and apparatus for off-line honing of slicer blades

Charges of solid coolant granules are automatically inserted into a fresh animal carcass or a portion of an animal carcass by the use of an inserting tool. The granular solid coolant charge is contained within a chamber of the tool which also includes a flat spear blade. When the blade forms a slit in a selected muscle area, the granular solid coolant charge is positively, rapidly and consistently positioned within the pocket that had just been opened by the spear blade. The insertion tool and process are especially well-adapted for use in reducing the development of pale, soft and exudative meat, while accomplishing this in a manner that is rapid and minimizes variations from carcass to carcass.

Granular solid coolant inserter

A device for regulating the discharge of bones and other hard, objectionable material from processed food includes a flow control device contained within a housing applied to the discharge line downstream of a grinding apparatus. The device has a reciprocating valve element having an elongated cylindrical valve head with a groove formed therein at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the valve element. This groove is constantly contacted by the discharge product flow stream in open and closed positions of the valve.

Bone eliminator discharge regulator

Method and apparatus for improved slicing of large food sticks, loafs and the like are provided. A slicing blade having a flat top surface or top flat land width along its cutting edge provides generally longitudinal forces on the food product being sliced, which forces are in a direction generally opposite to the direction through which the food products are fed through a slicing apparatus. The slicing apparatus includes an orifice assembly or other arrangement for imparting generally laterally directed forces on the food products being sliced. The invention is particularly important in improving handling of the butt ends of those products. Fast feed rates can be practiced without experiencing jamming, yields are increased, slicing line utilization is enhanced, and sanitary conditions are more easily maintained.

Yield improving food slicing method and slicing apparatus

An objective measurement of the relative sharpness of a slicing blade is made in accordance with the apparatus and method of this invention by making a test cut in a test specimen in a controlled manner in a sharpness tester device which records the peak force required to cut a standard test specimen 44.

Measurement of cutting edge sharpness

Yield improving continuous food slicing method and apparatus

An apparatus and method are provided for assembling composite labels including a label or a seal at least partially covering a ribbon segment. A stream of ribbon segments are severed from a length of ribbon, are spaced from each other, and are transported to a location at which they are positioned at least partially under a seal or label and onto a moving web of backing material in order to form the composite product.

Apparatus for assembling a continuous stream of composite labels

An apparatus for the application of coating material onto elongated food products wherein the applicator nozzle and nozzle opening portion of the apparatus correspond to the side surfaces of the elongated food product. The food product to be coated is passed before nozzles discharging impelled coating material from a coating material supply source that meters desired amounts of coating material to the blower device.

Apparatus for coating materials onto elongated foodstuffs

Improved vacuumizing apparatus and method for dispensing uniform volumes of ham products. The apparatus comprises a hydraulically actuated knife and an improved spring biased check valve. The method is concerned with making sectioned and formed ham products from pre-tumbled chunks of ham.

Growing community of inventors

Monona, WI, United States of America

Terry L Holmes