Abstract: A microwave heating construct includes a first compartment and a second compartment joined to one another. The first compartment and the second compartment each include microwave energy interactive material operative for generating heat in response to microwave energy. In a first configuration, the first compartment and the second compartment are side by side, and in a second configuration, the first compartment overlies the second compartment.

Abstract: A synthetic bacon board does not wick and may be printed on both the inside of the package, with direct food contact, and on the outside of the package. The synthetic bacon board is lighter than conventional bacon boards, reducing freight costs, and is recyclable (#5 recyclable polypropylene, for example). Since it does not wick, the synthetic bacon board may be more appealing to the consumer. Moreover, consumer messages, such as coupons with optional varying background colors, may be printed on the inside of the packaging.

Abstract: Resealable packaging for food products is provided with a flexible container having a top face and side faces. A container aperture is disposed in the top face and a flexible closure flap extends from a base portion to a gripping member, and is provided with a movable portion covered of repositionable adhesive to cover the aperture and adhere to a peripheral area thereof in a closed position. The packaging comprises a stiffening band device made of a flexible material longer than the closure flap, which is bonded to the container through the top face and over two side faces and arranged to cover at least the portions of the peripheral area comprised between the longitudinal sides of the closure flap and the facing sides of the aperture. The aperture and the band device are delimited by continuous cut out lines. A method of manufacturing is also disclosed.

Abstract: Fuel and transportation cost saving standardized cubicle and improved consumer meat and cheeses mechanically mass produced convenience food products and food packaging and improved unique ingredient mixtures and processes for improved mature established market startup fair competition and financial products viability. Also new types of package seals, also tear apart and fold over packaging, also new meat, cheese, and baked product, sizes and configurations, also new hotdog and sausage buns in various configurations, also condiment and garnish stuffed and mixed versions, also the same for new filled meat donuts sandwiches, Stromboli's, and exterior meat sandwiches, also bacon shorter length and weight, also bacon singeing process, and products used in retail, grocery, restaurants, and vending sales.

Abstract: Rapid, efficient, and systematic processes and apparatuses for making repeatable imprints on multiple, individual sweet dough pieces are provided. An advantage of the process is the ease of making uniform imprints that are aligned with the individual dough pieces as formed and deposited. Such provides the ability to create a three-dimensional pattern on the surface of a sweet dough piece, particularly a soft cookie dough piece. The methods can be accomplished by high-speed wire cutting production methods as well as other dough piece depositing apparatuses, such as roller-type depositors.

Abstract: A compact and stackable package for displaying and protecting products including a transparent platform member having a planar portion on which a product may be placed, and a base portion at right angles to the planar portion on which the product is supported and which has a cavity or well therein in which an absorbent material, anti-microbial agent or atmosphere modifying agents may be placed, an overwrap of plastic film unitizing the platform member and product, and a sleeve member at least partially surrounding the periphery of the unitized platform member and product and on which indicia may be printed.

Abstract: Disclosed are microwave popcorn articles comprising any conventional microwave popcorn bag, and a food charge disposed therein comprising kernel popcorn, fat, salt and sufficient amounts of a calcium ingredient to provide a total calcium content of about 360 to 3600 mg per 100 grams of unpopped popcorn. Preferably the salt and calcium ingredients are essentially characterized by having a mean particle size of less than 25 &mgr;m. Methods of preparing such microwave popcorn articles are disclosed wherein some of the salt and/or calcium ingredient is added to the fat slurry while the balance is added in particulate form in a separate step after the fat and kernel popcorn have been added to the bag.

Abstract: A rice ball wrapper comprises an outer film, an inner film and a sheet of food sandwiched between the two films. The inner film comprising two film pieces having opposed sides lapping over each other at an approximate widthwise midportion of the wrapper. The outer film is provided at an approximate longitudinal and widthwise central portion thereof with tabs for tearing the film from the central portion to longitudinal opposite ends thereof. The tabs are formed by an incision made in the film through the thickness thereof.

Abstract: A microwave popcorn article comprising any conventional microwave popcorn bag, and a food charge disposed therein including kernel popcorn, fat, salt and sufficient amounts of a calcium ingredient to provide a total calcium content of about 360 to 3600 mg per 100 grams of unpopped popcorn is provided. The salt ingredient includes at least a portion in coarse form having a particle size larger than 250 microns. Methods of preparing such microwave popcorn articles are disclosed wherein some of the salt and/or calcium ingredient is added to the fat, while the balance of the salt is added in particulate form in a separate step after the fat and kernel popcorn have been added to the bag.

Abstract: Packaging for food products is provided which combines a flexible pouch within a stand-up tent-style carton which effects display of the product in an upright orientation within a divided merchandiser. The carton has a non-uniform width. The bottom portion of the carton is narrower than the top portion of the carton, as a result of which the carton, and thus the entire package, complies with a very strict display face dimension limit of the merchandiser.

Abstract: Polymerized liposome particles which are linked to a targeting agent and may also be linked to a contrast enhancement agent and/or linked to or encapsulating a treatment agent. The targeting imaging enhancement polymerized liposome particles interact with biological targets holding the image enhancement agent to specific sites providing in vitro and in vivo study by magnetic resonance, radioactive, x-ray or optical imaging of the expression of molecules in cells and tissues during disease and pathology. Targeting polymerized liposomes may be linked to or encapsulate a treatment agent, such as, proteins, drugs or hormones for directed delivery to specific biological sites for treatment.

Abstract: Packaging for food products is provided which combines a flexible pouch with a tent-style paperboard carton which effects display of the product in an upright orientation, such as suspended from a merchandiser peg. The flexible pouch has a folded-over mouth portion which provides a folded width that is less than the width of the tent-style carton and preferably also less than the width of the pouch along its unfolded portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of preparing lowfat and reduced fat popcorn microwave popcorn articles using cold kernel popcorn (60.degree. F.) such as from winter storage. The methods employ low levels (1% to 20%) of an oil ingredient having a melting point of .ltoreq.60.degree. F. to minimize the congealing of the oil by and onto the cold kernel popcorn thereby providing a more pliable bag, which does not jam in the filling equipment. The microwave popcorn articles comprise any conventional microwave popcorn bag, and a food charge disposed therein comprising kernel popcorn, 1% to 20% oil, and 0% to 4% salt.

Abstract: Disclosed are microwave popcorn articles comprising any conventional microwave popcorn bag, and a food charge disposed therein comprising kernel popcorn, fat, salt and sufficient amounts of a calcium ingredient to provide a total calcium content of about 360 to 3600 mg per 100 grams of unpopped popcorn. Preferably the salt and calcium ingredients are essentially characterized by having a mean particle size of less than 25 .mu.m. Methods of preparing such microwave popcorn articles are disclosed wherein some of the salt and/or calcium ingredient is added to the fat slurry while the balance is added in particulate form in a separate step after the fat and kernel popcorn have been added to the bag.

Abstract: Microwave popcorn articles which upon microwave heating provide popcorn having enlarged salt particles that provide popped popcorn more reminiscent of at-home, stove-top prepared popped popcorn. The articles comprise any conventional microwave popcorn bag, kernel popcorn, fat and salt. At least 50% of the salt is essentially characterized by an enlarged particle size having a mean particle size of >400 .mu.m. Included are methods of preparing such microwave popcorn articles are disclosed wherein the coarse salt is added in a separate step after the fat and kernel popcorn have been added to the bag.

Abstract: A package for shingled food slices (e.g., sliced bacon), including:a. a substantially flat support member supporting thereon a group of shingled food slices;b. a flexible film enclosing the food slices on the support member, the film being sealed to the support member outside the periphery of the food slices and substantially conforming to the shape of the food slices; andc. one or more printed images on at least one of the support member and the flexible film.

Abstract: A recloseable package has discrete, multiple product portion enclosures between first and second package films. Each product portion enclosure is separated from its adjacent product portion enclosure by a package central web portion. A recloseable seal is provided on the central web portion for each multiple product portion enclosure, and the product is hermetically sealed in its portion enclosure by a hermetic seal extending around the periphery thereof and interior of each recloseable seal.

Abstract: The invention provides a container and a method which includes substantially encasing a long thin pile of meat in a separator sheet defining a meat packet. Meat packets filled with a similar meat or a preselected combination of meats are placed, on edge, in groups into a container. Rigid members are placed between groups of packets of similar meat packet type. The container has sides which define an angle. The rigid members have edges which define a similar angle such that the rigid members are kept from falling over in the container in a self-locking way. The method minimizes the tendency of the meat packets to sag in the container by pressing the meat packets against an end wall of the container via one of the rigid members thereby imparting stress to the meat packets. The self locking of the rigid members tend to maintain the stress.

Abstract: A cookie flipping apparatus (23) for conveying a series of cookies (31,33) along a processing path from an upper level surface conveyor (51) to a main lower level surface conveyor (24), and for inverting, or flipping, selected cookies of the series with a flip plate (54) as they drop from the upper level surface conveyor to the lower level surface conveyor, so that a predetermined quantity of cookies can be packaged in an edge-standing upright stacked relationship with the top surface of the endmost cookies facing outwardly from the quantity of cookies.

Abstract: A composite integral sheet of wrap material which includes a first layer of absorbent material, a second layer of printable material and an impermeable pigmented polymer layer interposed between the first and second layers. The composite wrap material has a plurality of air pockets formed between at least one of the first or second layers and the polymer layer, by discontinuously bonding the first or second layers to the polymer material. A method of making the composite integral sheet.

Abstract: A plastic film bag for foodstuffs or the like having opposed film bag walls joined at their edges and forming a mouth between the walls and at one side reclosable fastener strips between the walls at the bag mouth having facing releasably interlocking profiles thereon with a sealing strip extending from one profile to the wall of the other profile with the sealing strip being sufficiently broad to avoid stress thereon and preferably with the sealing strip having a frangible fracture line extending substantially parallel to the profile to be torn when the profiles are first separated with the fracture line formed in various ways including perforations, or a score line, or an insert in the sealing web defining the frangible fracture line or the web being formed of multiple parts joined by a portion that fracture more easy than the sealing web.

Abstract: A flexible recloseable package wherein the enclosed product is supported on a rigid backing board and the package includes a recloseable seal strip mounted on an access edge of the backing board. Two sheets of packaging film surround the backing board and the packaged product. The film is sealed to opposite surfaces of the recloseable seal strip and is further sealed hermetically around the periphery of the backing board.

Abstract: A cyclic crimping mechanism for producing coherent plural-layer food products from food assemblies, each food assembly including a bottom patty covered by a top patty (other patties, food slices, or condiments are usually positioned between the top and bottom patties), uses a cyclically, intermittently actuated conveyor to locate each food assembly at a crimping position for a predetermined crimping interval; in sequence, a confinement tool is moved down to an actuated position to define peripheral limits for the food product, a tamping tool is pressed down onto the food assembly to reduce air entrapment, and a crimping tool presses the periphery of the top patty into the bottom patty to seal them together in a coherent food product, after which these tools are all elevated to rest positions clear of the crimping position and the conveyor operates to move the finished food product away and position a new food assembly at the crimping position to start the crimping cycle anew.

Abstract: A plastic film bag for foodstuffs or the like having opposed film bag walls joined at their edges and forming a mouth between the walls at one side, reclosable fastener strips between the walls at the bag mouth having facing releasably interlocking profiles thereon with a base for each of the strips, each base web having an outer portion and an inner portion which is adjacent the contents of the bag, one inner portion bonded to the wall of the bag and the other inner portion substantially unattached, the inner portions of the webs being continuous with a perforate tear line therethrough, a sealing strip over the tear line, the outer edges of the film at the mouth bonded to each other above the fastener strips so that the outer edge can be cut leaving pull flanges with the inner portions of the base webs sealing the interior of the bag until the tear lines are torn.

Abstract: A flexible plastic film reclosable package for foodstuffs or the like having opposed plastic film walls joined to each other completely around their circumference and having a bag mouth between the walls at one side, fastener strips between the walls in the bag mouth having reclosable pressure interlocking rib and groove profiles joined to close the bag with a peel seal material in the base of the groove to initially hermetically seal the bag and lock the rib in the groove, the fastener strips having outwardly extending base webs to form pull flanges with one of the strips having an inwardly extending base web laminated to the film and either no base web or a very short protective base extending inwardly from the other fastener strip and a protector board inserted in the bag between the profiles and the contents.

Abstract: In a package for holding and partially displaying a plurality of bacon slices arranged lengthwise in partially overlapped relation on a relatively thin, flat, opaque, backing member having a window opening for viewing the bacon and overwrapped with a transparent film, an improved backing member that includes a wax saturated paperboard coated on both sides with a layer of low density extruded polyethylene film and having a third layer of film laminated to the entire inner surface of the backing member and covering the window.

Abstract: An improved L-type backing board insert for supporting food, such as shingled bacon slices, in a film wrapped package is disclosed comprised of a two-ply laminate. An opaque flexible base ply of pigmented plastic material, such as high density polyethylene, is printed on one side and is provided with a mat finish on the other side. A window aperture is formed in the opaque base ply for viewing both sides of a portion of the packaged bacon. A ply of transparent polyolefinic film, such as polypropylene film, is adhered to the base ply, substantially covering the entire printed face and forming a window over the window aperture formed in the base ply. Use of the polypropylene film provides the backing board with a high gloss finish.The improved two-ply backing board reduces the amount of ink necessary for printing on the backing board, captures the printing between the two layers of the laminate, and yields an inexpensive, flexible and high quality backing board.

Abstract: An improved bacon package is disclosed. The stiffening packaging element, commonly known as a bacon board, has full width top and bottom panels which support the bacon from the bottom and cover it over the entire top. Cover flaps on the ends of the top panel are defined by lines of weak bending resistance, and function to cover the ends of the array of bacon when the packaging element and bacon are enclosed in plastic films in a vacuum packaging operation.

Abstract: New bacon packaging is disclosed. The stiffening packaging element, commonly known as a bacon board, has full width top and bottom panels which support the bacon from the bottom and cover it on the top. Special cover flaps on the ends of the top panel are defined by transverse lines of weak bending resistance. The cover flaps, which function to cover the ends of the array of bacon, have segmental arcuate lines of weak bending resistance extending from the free edge of the cover flaps to the corresponding transverse line, and back to the free edge.

Abstract: An improved package for containing a slab of sliced comestible product disposed in overlapping array, the package including a backing board having rounded and upwardly disposed corners with a smooth radius and lateral edges all of which are covered by the overlapping array of sliced comestible, and a film of transparent flexible material snugly enclosing the backing board and the overlapping array of sliced comestible product with the overlapping array of sliced comestible product interveningly cooperating with the lateral edges and rounded corners of the backing board to prevent puncturing of the film by the lateral edges and upwardly extending rounded corners of the backing board.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and a method for processing edibles, such as fruit, which are sliced and then sectioned. Watermelon is one of such edibles or fruit which is first sliced generally transverse of its long axis. These sliced pieces are automatically fed and moved to apparatus for sectioning the fruit. These sliced portions with their ends removed are then fed by automatic means into a sectioning apparatus where these circular portions of fruit are then cut into pie-shaped sections. After sectioning, a stick may be inserted into each sectional piece. The sectioned pieces may be wrapped and/or frozen, if desired. The apparatus and method steps are automatically and repetitively produced with appropriate high speeds that deliver shaped segments to further processing such as wrapping and/or freezing.

Abstract: A generally rectangular window container, i.e., folder, comprising a bottom wall, end walls in the form of a isosceles trapezoid or two of the same abutting each other along their major base to form a flattened hexagon, side walls connected to the bottom wall along longitudinal edges thereof, said end walls hingedly connected to said bottom wall along the transverse edges thereof, top end panels attached to said end walls, end flaps attached to said top end panels, said top end panels and said side walls being secured in juxtaposition by securing said end flaps to the side walls or to the container bottom wall. Integral blanks for the erection of such type of window containers therefrom. Packages comprising bacon or the like contained in vacuum-packed transparent pouches within window containers of the invention produced by forming the containers around the desired content from said integral blanks. Method of erecting the window containers of the invention and of packaging bacon or the like therein.

Abstract: A folding carton having a partially detachable, reclosable panel section for viewing contents of the carton.

Abstract: A folding paperboard carton having an improved window construction in an elongated rectangular side panel. A preferred embodiment is a rhomboidal carton for sliced and shingled bacon. The side window construction comprises an elongated rectangular piece of non-wrinkling clear plastic which is adhered to the inner surface of the window aperture-containing side panel. The non-wrinkling plastic piece has one edge aligned with a score line between the side panel and top panel. The score line is discontinuous because of the presence of the window openings in the side panel having partitions therebetween hinged to the top panel at the score line. The combined stiffness provided by the apertured side panel and adhered plastic piece serves to cause the discontinuous score line to fold when the tubular carton is erected for filling from its manufactured flat condition.

Abstract: A sealed package comprising a cup-shaped container of relatively heavy-gauge, semi-rigid (form-retaining) plastic, with a protective member of relatively stiff material over the opening. Between the container and the protective member is a hermetic sealing closure member in the form of a relatively thin (flexible) plastic film secured around the rim of the cup. The package interior is evacuated and atmospheric pressure stretches the flexible film into the cup to engage the packaged article(s) across the full width thereof, i.e., up to the side walls of the cup. A relatively rigid and planar paper board sheet overlies the flexible film and is secured thereto by an adhesive stronger than the bond between the flexible film and the semi-rigid cup.

Abstract: A package is disclosed herein that includes a plurality of individual product slices positioned in face abutting engagement with one another, with the lateral edges of adjacent slices being offset relative to one another, and with the lateral edges of alternating slices being positioned in alignment with one another. All of the edges are parallel with one another, and the stack of staggered slices is enclosed within a wrapping material.The package is produced by interleaving a first group of product ribbons within a second group of product ribbons, with the lateral edges of all of the ribbons parallel, and with the lateral edges of the first group of ribbons being offset with respect to the lateral edges of the second group of ribbons. The stack of offset ribbons is severed in longitudinally spaced locations to segregate the stack of ribbons into individual stacks of staggered product slices, which are subsequently wrapped to provide individual packages.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for packaging sliced bacon and the like comprises placing a shingle of bacon strips on a tray formed of a unitary sheet of thin, semi-rigid, impervious plastic material having an integral flap along one side, heating said material along a fold line between the flap and tray, folding the integral flap over an edge portion of the shingle of sliced bacon on the tray, and applying a permanent set to the folded flap to permanently overlie said edge portion of said shingle of bacon.

Abstract: A support member, for inclusion inside a film-wrapped package of moist and greasy food, comprising a semi-rigid thermoplastic core member printed on both sides with opaque ink distributed in substantially equal amounts on the two sides of the core and having a transparent protective overcoating of a polyolefinic resin or a varnish superposed on the printed core layer.

Abstract: A paperboard carton and blank therefor for displaying a product such as bacon having a top panel with a cut-out viewing area and hinged inspection flap adjacent a reinforced edge portion formed by a glue flap overlapping the edge section of the top panel.