Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for forming and hermetically sealing slices of food items

US5112632A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
24References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 1989
Grant dateMay 12, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 5, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB29C66/91423
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.