Patents Assigned to Sargento Foods, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6416798
    Abstract: A package and a process is provided for packaging a perishable product and providing a tamperproof visible date code on the resultant package. The process includes the steps of providing form, fill and seal package making process equipment; and providing to that equipment a supply of plastic film in strip form having opposed first and second lateral edges and a thermally sealable side. A date code is printed adjacent to the first edge on the sealable side. The film is then conveyed through a folding device to cause the printed date code to be overlaid by the opposite or second lateral edge of the plastic film. The lateral edges of the film are then thermally sealed together with the second edge overlying the imprinted area thereby forming a tube. The tube is then formed into a series of individual packages which are filled with the perishable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Sargento Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Gentine, Matthew J. Wusterbarth, Barry M. Blatz, Thomas J. Spaeth
  • Patent number: 6360513
    Abstract: A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product. The reclosable bag generally includes at least one sheet of web material having at least two areas of structural weakness. At least one fold structure is located between and defined by the two areas of structural weakness. An opening is located generally opposite the fold structure. The reclosable bag further includes a reclosable fastener structure having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom. The integral skirt structure includes a distal margin. The distal margin is coupled to the web material at, at least one location between the areas of structural weakness and the opening. The reclosable fastener structure extends past the areas of structural weakness and into the fold structure. The reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Sargento Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Strand, Karl L. Linck, Judy Fischer, Thomas J. Spaeth, Jerry D. Kolbe
  • Publication number: 20020015537
    Abstract: A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product. The reclosable bag generally includes at least one sheet of web material having at least two areas of structural weakness. At least one fold structure is located between and defined by the two areas of structural weakness. An opening is located generally opposite the fold structure. The reclosable bag further includes a reclosable fastener structure having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom. The integral skirt structure includes a distal margin. The distal margin is coupled to the web material at, at least one location between the areas of structural weakness and the opening. The reclosable fastener structure extends past the areas of structural weakness and into the fold structure. The reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: Sargento Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Strand, Karl L. Linck, Judy Fischer, Thomas J. Spaeth, Jerry D. Kolbe
  • Publication number: 20010017950
    Abstract: A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product. The reclosable bag generally includes at least one sheet of web material having at least two areas of structural weakness. At least one fold structure is located between and defined by the two areas of structural weakness. An opening is located generally opposite the fold structure. The reclosable bag further includes a reclosable fastener structure having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom. The integral skirt structure includes a distal margin. The distal margin is coupled to the web material at, at least one location between the areas of structural weakness and the opening. The reclosable fastener structure extends past the areas of structural weakness and into the fold structure. The reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: Sargento. Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Strand, Karl L. Linck, Judy Fischer, Thomas J. Spaeth, Jerry D. Kolbe
  • Publication number: 20010017947
    Abstract: A reclosable bag for filling with at least one food product. The reclosable bag generally includes at least one sheet of web material having at least two areas of structural weakness. At least one fold structure is located between and defined by the two areas of structural weakness. An opening is located generally opposite the fold structure. The reclosable bag further includes a reclosable fastener structure having an integral skirt structure of skirt web material extending therefrom. The integral skirt structure includes a distal margin. The distal margin is coupled to the web material at, at least one location between the areas of structural weakness and the opening. The reclosable fastener structure extends past the areas of structural weakness and into the fold structure. The reclosable bag capable of being filled with at least one food product through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: Sargento Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Strand, Karl L. Linck, Judy Fischer, Thomas J. Spaeth, Jerry D. Kolbe
  • Patent number: 6143334
    Abstract: An pasta filata method of making cheeses that is capable of producing traditional hard and semi-hard cheeses of the Swiss and Baby Swiss varieties is described. Pursuant to the method, cheese milk at between 84.degree. F.-96.degree. F. and 0%-4% milk fat is inoculated with a bacterial culture appropriate to the variety of cheese being made. A milk coagulant is added to the cheese milk to form curd, which is cut. The temperature of the curd and whey mixture is raised a total of between 0.degree. F.-18.degree. F. over a period of time ranging from 20 minutes to 60 minutes. A portion of whey is removed from the curd. When the pH of the curd and whey mixture drops to between pH 5.80-6.20 the remaining whey is removed and the pH of the curd is allowed to drop to between pH 5.10-5.30. The curd is washed with fresh water at 45.degree. F.-75.degree. F. and dry-salted. The curd is fed into a pasta filata cheeses mixer/molder and cooked under hot water, thereby raising the temperature of the curd to between 120.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sargento Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Reinbold, Richard R. Willits, Kim M. DeSmidt
  • Patent number: 6007852
    Abstract: A natural cheese having at least 210 milligrams of calcium per 28 grams of said natural cheese. The calcium enriched natural cheese comprising: a calcium material suspended in a natural cheese by dispersing the calcium material generally throughout a cheese milk and processing the cheese milk into a natural cheese. The natural cheese has at least 0.0075 grams of calcium material per each gram of natural cheese. The method of producing a predetermined natural cheese enriched with a dispersible calcium material includes the steps of adding the calcium material to a predetermined processing liquid to form a slurry, agitating the slurry for a predetermined period of time, dispersing the slurry in a cheese milk prior to setting the cheese milk, and completing a cheese manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Sargento Foods Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Reinbold, Richard E. Willits, Kim M. DeSmidt
  • Patent number: D432287
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Sargento Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Faley, Thomas J. Spaeth