The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 02, 2013
Filed:
Jul. 28, 2010
James W. Finkowski, Andover, MN (US);
Craig E. Gustafson, Bloomington, MN (US);
Mark E. Arlinghaus, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Ralph Stenvik, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
Dennis B. Usgaard, Crystal, MN (US);
James W. Finkowski, Andover, MN (US);
Craig E. Gustafson, Bloomington, MN (US);
Mark E. Arlinghaus, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Ralph Stenvik, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
Dennis B. Usgaard, Crystal, MN (US);
General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A method and system for packaging products provides for initially, vertically stacking a plurality of products during production in a transfer canister, simultaneously removing a stack of the products from the transfer canister, reorienting the stack and horizontally loading the stack into a final product package cavity. The invention has applicability to a wide range of products, particularly food products, such as refrigerated dough products. In one embodiment of the invention, the product package cavity is thermoformed as part as an overall horizontal form, fill and seal system.