Method and apparatus for forming and hermetically sealing slices of food items
US5440860A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C66/81457
- WIPO fieldHandling
- 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.