Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of producing and pre-distribution preparing unfrozen, expanded ice cream mix with superior storage and shelf-life properties. Starting ingredients necessary for producing the ice cream mix are mixed together, whereafter the mix is heat-treated or otherwise treated so as to exterminate micro-organisms, in particular pathogenic bacteria, present in the mix. The thus treated mix is expanded and subsequently packed in packages ready for distribution. Ice cream mix produced according to this method has extended shelf-life and can be stored in the unfrozen state for long periods of time with retained pristine freshness qualities, without any requirement of cold storage at extremely low storage temperatures.

Abstract: A UHT-treated or sterilized or ultrapasteurized milk base product is obtained without the presence of thickening or gelling agents by adding calcium glycerophosphate and a calcium chelating agent to a milk base, the pH of the calcium-enriched milk base product is adjusted to a pH of between 6.6 to 7.2 and then the pH-adjusted product is subjected to UHT treatment and that product is packaged, or alternatively, calcium glycerophosphate and a chelating agent are added to water to obtain a mixture, the pH of the mixture is adjusted to a pH of between 6.6 to 7.2 to obtain a solution, the solution is heat-treated to sterilize it, and then the sterilized solution is metered into a milk base which has been sterilized or ultrapasteurized.

Abstract: A container having a base and a sidewall portion extending upwardly therefrom is characterized by striations in the sidewall which define removable strips of the sidewall portion. A shoulder adjacent the opening of the container improves handling of the container, prevents or restricts undesired rotation of the container, restricts or preventing the flow of gas or liquid or solid from above the shoulder means to below the shoulder or vice versa, and stabilizes the containers when, for example, a plurality of them is arranged appropriately. A method of use of such containers is disclosed, including the steps of providing a plurality of such containers and arranging them appropriately.

Abstract: A method of salting a cheese in a water-impermeable packing, where the desired amount of salt is applied on one or more of the outer surfaces of the cheese and/or in the used packing material, whereafter a water-impermeable packing is provided by means of said packing material, said packing surround the cheese and the salt. The method renders it possible to avoid the complicated and cost-intensive brining in brine and to control the content of salt to an optimal degree.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a package with heat tack seals for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a longitudinal heat tack seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into a tube and for continuously forming a heat seal along the longitudinal face of the folded web. 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 heat tack cross-seal which is disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.

Abstract: A process for the final containerization of bulk cheese discharged from a vertical cheese forming tower operates with variant methods to accommodate direct filling of the final container or preliminary filling for transfer to the final container. In accordance with both methods, initial filling utilizes a false bottom container which allows the cheese section to be lowered into the container for sealing and either final closure or inversion and transfer to another final container such as a fixed bottom steel barrel. Both methods utilize a step of placing a closure over the open top of the initially filled container, and an inverting step to expose the opposite end of the container for a final closure. Common apparatus may be used in the system of the present invention to accommodate either embodiment of the containerization method.

Abstract: A single use cereal and milk or other dry food and beverage container comprises an integral package formed of a first container of plastic or paperboard laminate construction containing a supply of liquid in a hermetically sealed condition, a second container of plastic or plastic coated paperboard construction for holding a supply of cereal having a removable cover for maintaining the cereal in a sealed condition, and a user operable valve on the first container and disposed opposite an orifice in the second container. The user first opens the second container by breaking the stay fresh seal to access the cereal and the valve. A spoon is disposed within the second container for ready use after accessing the cereal and before opening the valve. In one embodiment, an end portion of the spoon is specifically formed to break the aseptic seal and open the valve. The container is shelf storable, product displayable and readily disposable after single use.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly polymer film pouch made from a polyethylene film structure for the packaging of flowable materials, for example, milk. The film may be a monolayer or multilayer structure, such as two-layer or a three-layer coextruded film containing at least one layer of a blend of an ultra low density polyethylene and a high pressure low density polyethylene as a seal layer having high melt strength. Also disclosed is a process for making the pouch for packaging flowable materials using a film structure described hereinabove.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously forming hermetically sealed packages of a food item. A continuous web of thermoplastic material is folded and continuously formed with a hermetic longitudinal seal. The food item is inserted between inner surfaces of the tubular web member, which is then flattened to form a thin slice. A hermetic cross-seal is continuously formed transverse to the longitudinal seal. The web can be cooled before the cross-seals are formed.

Abstract: A container apparatus formed having a main wall section that can be selectively, and repeatedly perforated at different regions to form a plurality of detachable wall sections that can be detached and discarded to reduce the size of the container according to graduated amounts of the contents being used. The container is useable in the storage of food product and helps maintain the freshness of foods, such as ice cream, by virtue of the container structure that facilitates reduction of the internal volume of the container, and hence the amount air space above the surface of the remaining food product in the opened container. The container structure includes a body having a bottommost container portion connecting to the main wall section from which the plurality of detachable wall sections can be formed. The main wall section includes an uppermost wall section member that connects to a container lid.

Abstract: Disclosed is an artificial multilayer in which ferromagnetic layers and nonmagnetic layers are alternatively laminated, wherein a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy is introduced into the ferromagnetic layers in a predetermined direction, thereby controlling the gradient of the relative change of resistivity to the change of external magnetic field. The uniaxial magnetic anisotropy is introduced into the ferromagnetic layers by applying a magnetic field along the surface of ferromagnetic layers during the formation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packaging material for reduced transfer from a package to its content of substances causing undesirable taste and/or hazardous substances, this reduction being due to the packaging material containing a hydrophobic zeolite. More specifically, the invention concerns paperboard, in which case the substances causing undesirable taste mainly are naturally occurring extractive substances, oxidation products thereof and, to a lesser extent, the paper chemicals present. Further, the presence of a hydrophobic zeolite in the paperboard enhances the water-repellent (hydrophobic) capacity. Also, the present invention concerns a method for production of a packaging material of paper, board or paperboard by forming and dewatering a suspension of lignocellulose-containing fibres, where the dewatering takes place in the presence of a hydrophobic zeolite.

Abstract: A multi-seal flexible recloseable package having a tapered product cavity formed in one of the package sidewalls has a generally wedged-shaped cavity into which a doubled-over shingled stack of the food product slices are sealed. The package has a first, peelable hermetic seal located next to an access edge of the product cavity and a second, recloseable seal positioned directly above the peelable seal. Vertical extensions of the package sidewalls are sealed together at their tops to form a third package seal which has a tamper-evident tear strip. One or more openings in the vertical package extensions allow the package to be supported on a display hook.

Abstract: A coextruded film suitable for packaging a flowable material, particularly milk, in a form, fill and seal machine comprises a core layer of a blend of high density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene and skin layers of a blend of linear low density polyethylene and ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer.

Abstract: Barrier materials for reducing the permeability of plastic packaging materials are provided, characterized as containing at least about seven percent by weight amine nitrogen, or a total of at least about 17 percent amine nitrogen plus hydroxyl groups. The barrier materials exhibit oxygen permeability of less than about 1.5 cc-mil/100 in.sup.2 -day-atmosphere and a carbon dioxide permeability of less than about 15 cc-mil/100 in.sup.2 -day-atmosphere at 23.degree. C. and zero percent relative humidity. The barrier material can be formed from polyepoxide and polyamine. Optionally the polyamine may comprise prereacted polymeric resin formed from a polyepoxide and a polyamine. Multilayer packaging materials and multilayer containers including the polyamine-polyepoxide barrier material are part of the invention.

Abstract: A pouch for containing a food product such as shredded cheese, and a novel method and apparatus for forming, filling and sealing the pouch. The method involves providing one or more webs of material to define a pair of walls for the pouch, orienting the web material so that the walls are substantially vertical, with the web having a horizontal longitudinal axis; providing interengageable strips of reclosable fastener material along the web adjacent the lower edges of the walls; forming vertical side seals; filling the pouches through their open bottoms while in inverted orientation; and sealing the bottoms of the pouches. Each of the strips of reclosable fastener material has one or more fastener members thereon. A peelable seal is provided between the product contained in the interior of the pouch and the reclosable fastener members. The peelable seal is preferably formed on the fastener strip material.

Abstract: Combination of at least two different food components for consumption in the freshly mixed state and packed in a sealable beaker or cup, comprising an aqueous, creamy or pasty fresh milk product and a hydrophilic, granular or flake-like dry cereal product. Both the aqueous fresh milk product and the hydrophilic dry cereal product are packed in the same cup. A premature softening of the dry cereal product is prevented by a hydrophobic fat barrier between the fresh milk product and the dry cereal product.

Abstract: A packaging assembly allows two substances, such as cereal and milk, to be held in separate compartments and then mixed when desired by applying hand pressure to the packaging assembly. The packaging assembly is provided with a compressible side wall portion and an impervious membrane having a frangible portion. The membrane separates the compartments such that applied pressure on the top of the package compresses the side wall portion and the downward pressure of the substance in the upper compartment causes the frangible portion of the membrane to rupture and thus allow the two substances to mix together. A partial wall may also be employed adjacent to the membrane to prevent regurgitation of the cereal and milk back into the upper compartment upon mixture in the lower compartment. The lower compartment may be opened to allow consumption directly from the package.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly polymer film pouch made from a homogeneously branched substantially linear ethylene interpolymer film structure for the packaging of flowable materials such as milk, the pouch includes, for example, a multilayer film structure such as a two-layer or a three-layer coextruded film containing at least one seal layer of a homogeneously branched substantially linear polyethylene. A process for making a pouch for packaging flowable materials using a homogeneously branched substantially linear ethylene interpolymer film structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A barrier film composition can comprise a thermoplastic web comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a dispersed cyclodextrin composition having substituents that compatibilize the cyclodextrin in the film. The thermoplastic/cyclodextrin film obtains substantial barrier properties from the interaction between the substituted cyclodextrin in the film material with a permeant. The substituents on the cyclodextrin molecule causes the cyclodextrin to be dispersible and stable in the film material resulting in an extrudable thermoplastic. Such materials can be used as a single layer film material, a multilayer film material which can be coated or uncoated and can be used in structural materials wherein the thermoplastic is of substantial thickness resulting in structural stiffness.

Abstract: A single use cereal and milk container is formed of a first container of paperboard laminate construction containing a supply of milk in an aseptically sealed condition, and a second container of plastic coated paperboard construction for holding a supply of cereal in a sealed stay fresh condition, and a user operable valve on the first container and disposed to an orifice in the second container for selectively breaking the aseptic seal to allow the supply of milk to gravity flow from the first container through the orifice into the second container and onto the cereal. A paperboard box holds the first and second container in juxtaposition and as an integral unit. The user first opens the second container by breaking the stay fresh seal to access the cereal and the valve. A spoon is disposed within the second container for ready use after accessing the cereal and before opening the valve. In one embodiment, an end portion of the spoon is specially formed to break the aseptic seal and open the valve.

Abstract: A multilayered food product, which has an upper component which has a density which is at least 0.2 kg/dm.sup.3 greater than a density of a lower component, is prepared by introducing a first food component into a container and within 30 seconds after introduction of the first food component applying a CO.sub.2 snow to a top surface of the first food component in the container for frosting the surface and removing residual CO.sub.2 snow from the surface and introducing a second food component into the container onto the frosted surface of the first food component.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pack for food, in particular cheese. The pack is obtained by folding and gluing a single blank, e.g. made of card. The blank comprises a wedge-shaped base zone which has two transverse cuts formed therein and which is connected to two rectangular lateral zones via respective first score lines. The ends of the cuts extend into the lateral zones and are interconnected within the lateral zones by respective second score lines. The zone between the two cut lines constitutes a strip that lies on top of the cheese once it has been inserted into the pack.

Abstract: A multi-seal flexible recloseable package having a tapered product cavity formed in one of the package sidewalls has a generally wedged-shaped cavity into which a doubled-over shingled stack of the food product slices are sealed. The package has a first, peelable hermetic seal located next to an access edge of the product cavity and a second, recloseable seal positioned directly above the peelable seal. Vertical extensions of the package sidewalls are sealed together at their tops to form a third package seal which has a tamper-evident tear strip. One or more openings in the vertical package extensions allow the package to be supported on a display hook.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly polymer film pouch made from a homogeneously branched substantially linear ethylene interpolymer film structure for the packaging of flowable materials such as milk, is disclosed. A pouch made from a multilayer film structure such as a two-layer or a three-layer coextruded film containing at least one seal layer of a homogeneously branched substantially linear polyethylene is also disclosed.A process for making a pouch for packaging flowable materials using a homogeneously branched substantially linear ethylene interpolymer film structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for producing yogurt in a small container and in a manner by which the formed yogurt may have undesirable serum drained therefrom to dehydrate the yogurt prior to consumption thereof, all through the use of a single container and internal sieve and independent of removal of the yogurt from the original container subsequent to consumption of the yogurt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a package with heat tack seals for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a longitudinal heat tack seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into a tube and for continuously forming a heat seal along the longitudinal face of the folded web. 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 heat tack cross-seal which is disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.

Abstract: A float maker of the preferred embodiment consists of a mug and a removable mixing cap which is connectable to and detachable from the mug. The mixing cap covers a mug opening to define a lower chamber for containing carbonated soda pop. The mixing cap has detachable interlocking upper and lower sections which can be alternately assembled to define an upper chamber or disassembled. The lower section has a cylindrical sleeve which fits within and sealingly abuts against an interior surface of the mug. The lower section has a floor which separates the upper and lower chambers, and an entrance aperture formed along the periphery thereof to provide fluid passage between the upper and lower chambers. Similarly, an exit aperture is provided in the periphery of the upper section to provide fluid passage from the upper chamber. The entrance and exit apertures are offset from a central axis to facilitate flow of the beverage and to help reduce the melt rate of the ice cream contained in the mixing cap.

Abstract: A food package container including a base and a body in alignment with and peelably sealed to each other is provided. At least one of snap closure assembly is provided on the respective peripheral flanges of the base and body, and this snap closure assembly provides an audible snapping signal when the consumer recloses the food packaging container. The closure assembly includes an insertion projection and an opening in general registry therewith which is undersized with respect to the projection.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly polymer film pouch made from a polyethylene film structure for the packaging of flowable materials, for example milk, including, for example, a pouch made from a multilayer film structure such as a two-layer or a three-layer coextruded film containing at least one layer of ultra low density linear polyethylene, as a seal layer.

Abstract: Food packaging-use formed articles including at least one layer of a 3 to 90 microns thickness which comprises a composition consisting of (A) polyvinyl alcohol resin having a degree of saponification of 60 to 95 mole % (A) and (B) a hydroxy containing compound falling within the range of from 3 weight parts of (B) to 100 weight parts of (A) to the saturated solubility of (B) in (A) and having a carbon dioxide/oxygen solubility ratio (SCO.sub.2 /SO.sub.2) of 30 or higher.

Abstract: A reclosable package consists of an inner peripheral seal around a product cavity within which the products is disposed, and an outer seal around the inner seal. The area inside the inner seal, containing the product, is preferably evacuated. The outer seal is defined in part by a reclosable assembly which, after breaking of the inner seal, provides access to the interior of the package and reclosability of the package. A method of constructing a package and of packaging a product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polymeric container for a sliced food product comprising a bottom wall, a peripheral wall structure extending upward therefrom, a lid, and an integral hinge connecting the lid to the peripheral wall structure, wherein the hinge biases the lid toward an open position. Locks are provided to maintain the lid in closed position. The locks are configured that may that may be released by application of inward pressure to the front wall of the container, without application of external manual force to the lid.

Abstract: A reclosable container for sliced food products having a one-piece container body and integral hinge and lid. The front wall of the container body is provided with a forward protrusion to facilitate removal of a desired number of slices. A locking mechanism enables the lid to be locked in closed position, and provides an audible indication when the lid is locked. The container is reusable and may be made from a polymeric material having sufficient transparency to enable the consumer to count slices viewed through the front wall as they are being removed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ice confectionery comprising a fist layer of only crushed ice particles, a second layer including crushed ice particles and impregnated with a syrup and a third layer of ice cream disposed between the first and second layers, the third layer effectively separating the second layer from the first layer such that the syrup will not move from the second layer into the first layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a wrapped food material in single slice form. The apparatus comprises means to conduct the food material into a wrapping film to form a wrapped food material, a slice forming assembly to press the wrapped food material at spaced intervals to form a continuous strip of connected, wrapped food material slices, and a cutting assembly to cut that continuous strip at the spaced intervals to produce individually wrapped and sealed food material slices. The apparatus also includes a guide plate to guide the continuous strip of wrapped food material slices from the slice forming assembly to the cutting assembly along a predetermined path of travel; a partial vacuum is developed between the continuous strip of wrapped food material slices and at least a portion of the guide plate to draw that strip thereagainst as the strip of connected slices passes to the cutting assembly.

Abstract: A ice cream cone drip catching wrapper made from a single sheet which is folded to create an upper conical section, and a lower cylindrical section to fit closely around an ice cream cone. The wrapper is held in place either by tabs and slots or by adhesive material, and provides a way to control melting dripping ice cream coming off of an ice cream cone. The wrapper enables an ice cream cone to be easily inserted therein for delivery in a suitable manner to the user.

Abstract: A food container includes a tubular container with a piston therein. The piston has a first guiding platform secured to a stick and a second sealing platform secured to the stick. The first platform has a tapered edge with a diameter slightly less than a diameter of the tubular container. Below the first platform is a second platform having a diameter slightly larger than the tubular container.

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.

Abstract: There is disclosed an integrated cheese package and grater of cylindrical form having a grating screen secured at the bottom of the cylindrical package and means freely rotatable within the package for engaging and turning a cylindrical block of cheese within the package to cause it to be grated with the granules passing through the grating screen. The package is provided with removable sealing strips on the top and/or bottom for enhanced shelf life. Top and bottom caps are provided for resealing the package after use to maintain freshness. One cheese rotating unit comprises a plastic disc having blades on the bottom surface and finger grippable projections on the top thereof. In a variation of the package, the cheese has a central axial hole and the top cap has a shaft extending downward which cooperates with a disc having spikes to engage the cheese block thereby forming a cheese rotating unit; when the top cap is closed the extending shaft resides in the central hollow of the cheese.

Abstract: A pizza snack kit is disclosed which contains a slice of thermoreversible C-gel pizza sauce, a prepackaged cheese topping and at least one prepackaged baked pizza crust.

Abstract: A method of controlling the cooling in green cheese blocks wherein the blocks are rectangular and are placed in identically oriented layers in a rigid rectangular container and wherein the dimensions of the blocks and the interior of the container are directly related so that the blocks can be placed in each layer so as to completely occupy the area provided for the layer and so that a corresponding surface of each block will be free of contact with adjacent blocks and then directing cooling onto the said corresponding surfaces.

Abstract: A beverage composition is provided which contains a beverage vehicle containing milk protein, a beverage base of coffee or tea, kappa carrageenan and buffering and chelating agents including a phosphate and at least one of sodium alginate and propylene glycol alginate. The beverage composition is heat treated for sterilizing it and may be aseptically packaged for a long shelf life at room temperature.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the aseptic packaging of fluid dairy products having improved stability and flavor. A selected gas is injected into the sterile milk or other fluid dairy product. The resulting milk-gas mixture is then filled into a container under aseptic conditions. The fill volume of the mixture is such as to leave no free space in the container when it is closed. However, on standing the gas and the milk separate, to form a gas-filled headspace. The injection gas is preferably nitrogen. For taste improvement, the gas may be selected so that the oxygen content of the fluid dairy product, when the container is closed, is up to 4 ppm to 5 ppm. The headspace is preferably from about 2% to about 6% of the total volume of the container.

Abstract: A mass of cheese which is not mature or only slightly mature, and excluding processed cheese, is provided with a semi-permeable outer envelope wherein the envelope is a food gel selected to regulate the exchange of elements such as enzymes, ions, gas, salts and amino acids between the interior and exterior of the mass of cheese for the purpose of obtaining controlled maturing of the cheese product and prolonging its life.

Abstract: A multi-layer highly moisture and gas permeable packaging film comprising a core layer of a butadiene-styrene copolymer with a styrene content of 60 to 80% by weight and at least two outer layers having heat sealable and gas permeability properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to packaging edible solid fats, and more particularly to a two-piece packaging system comprising an outer casing of container or similar rigid material, defining the overall shape of the package, and an inner sealed bag of a thin, flexible packaging material. In the practice of the present invention, the fats are heated to a molten state, introduced into the inner sealed bag, and allowed to cool and harden in the bag.

Abstract: Shelf-stable aerosol dispensable yogurt products are disclosed. These products contain a stabilizer system comprising a preponderant amount of microcrystalline cellulose together with carboxymethylcellulose and a hydrophillic gum or colloid such as xanthan gum, and can be used as desserts and as toppings for other dessert items.

Abstract: A packaged frozen food product is provided which is housed in a package which includes a first, substantially microwave permeable portion having a first frozen food component housed therein, and a second, microwave reflective portion having a second frozen food component retained therein. The package also includes a void space between the first frozen food component and the second frozen food component. Upon microwave heating, the first frozen food component will be thawed and the second frozen food component will remain substantially frozen.