Patents Represented by Attorney Roger Aceto

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  • Cooked food product package
    Patent number: 5328705
    Abstract: A meat product package including an enclosing film having an EVA-containing inside surface and an in situ aqueous medium-cooked meat product in adhering relation to the film inside surface as the meat contacting and adhering surface. Starch particles are preferably dispersed across the meat contacting surface which has been both irradiated and subjected to corona treatment. A method for corona treating a thermoplastic tube inside surface in which small particles within the flat tube separate opposite surfaces providing voids, and the electric discharge crosses the flat tube through the voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Darrell L. Wilhoit, Vincent J. Dudenhoeffer
  • Food containing package with integral handle and method of making same
    Patent number: 5286503
    Abstract: A food product package includes a bulky food product hermetically sealed in a bag of heat shrunk film. The package has an integral self-supporting handle which is formed from plies of the film and which extends out from an end of the package in a conventional handle shape. The handle is formed by causing a skirt portion of the bag to heat shrink about a rigid member positioned to maintain the skirt portion spaced from an end of the package during shrinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Vytautas Kupcikevicius
  • Method of making a cellulose food casing
    Patent number: 5277857
    Abstract: A cellulosic food casing formed by extruding a nonderivatized cellulose solution composed of cellulose pulp and an amine solvent into a seamless tube, contacting the inner and outer surfaces of the seamless tube with a nonsolvent liquid to precipitate a tube of nonderivatized cellulose and thereafter contacting the same with a water soluble softener. Apparatus for forming the food casing and a food casing of nonderivatized cellulose also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignees: Viskase Corporation, Courtaulds Fibres Limited
    Inventors: Myron D. Nicholson, Edward M. Kajiwara, Paul E. Ducharme, Jr., Merlan E. McCallister, Joseph R. Walta
  • End closures for shirred casing sticks and method and apparatus for making them
    Patent number: 5238443
    Abstract: An end closure for a shirred casing stick is formed by compacting an inturned portion of the casing within the stick bore. During compaction a portion of the end closure is formed by pressing directly against the stick bore while an opposite portion is formed by pressing against a member inserted between the inturned portion and the stick bore. The member is then removed to provide a space between a portion of the end closure surface and the bore surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Beardsley
  • Method and apparatus for severing shirred tubular food casing, and article
    Patent number: 5230651
    Abstract: Severing a shirred stick of sausage casing from casing feed stock joined to the stick is accomplished by cutting a longitudinal slit in the feed stock adjacent the shirred stick. A tear is initiated at some point spaced around the casing from the slit and the tear is allowed to propagate in opposite directions from that point around the casing and into the slit. The result is that the severed ends of casing are each free of loose shards of casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: John Farkonas, Michael P. Kazaitis
  • Vacuum packaging method and apparatus
    Patent number: 5209043
    Abstract: Vacuum packaging apparatus and method for evacuating and heat sealing bags employs a clamp, swingable over substantially the full length of the bagged product, to effect a temporary air-tight seal of an evacuated bag during transport of the evacuated bag from an evacuating zone to a heat sealing zone. The apparatus also includes a platen having a shallow V-shaped configuration to cradle the bagged product and the V-shaped being flattened to a plane and the platen being elevated to facilitate automatic removal of the bagged product from the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Vytautas Kupcikevicius
  • Method and apparatus for severing shirred tubular food casing, and article
    Patent number: 5173074
    Abstract: Severing a shirred stick of sausage casing from casing feed stock joined to the stick is accomplished by perforating a section of the casing across its flat width prior to moving the section through a shirring zone. The section is then moved to a shirring zone where longitudinal movement of the casing is restrained while shirring rolls continue to pull on the casing. The resulting tension tears the casing apart along the line of perforations and the shirring rolls incorporate a torn end of the casing into the shirred stick by gathering the torn end up into a pleat at the last-shirred end of the stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: John Farkonas, Michael P. Kazaitis
  • Stuffing method and apparatus
    Patent number: 5152712
    Abstract: A stuffing apparatus and method which avoids the smearing of fat just under the casing surface by using a stuffing horn which discharges food product in an axial stream and a plurality of radial streams so the food product swirls as it enters the casing. The horn extends into the casing during stuffing so that the casing is in an expanded and substantially fully stuffed condition as it traverses the radial streams being discharged into the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph A. Nausedas
  • Heat sealing member for making contoured heat seals
    Patent number: 5149943
    Abstract: The heat sealing wire of an impulse heat sealer is held against an operating face of a support bar by an insulating fabric which is draped over the wire and secured in a slot formed in the support bar. The securing drape of fabric allows unrestricted expansion and contraction of the hot wire. Also if the slot lies in a curved plane which extends perpendicular to the plane of the support bar operating face, the drape of insulating fabric and consequently the sealing wire follow the same curve so the heat sealer can make seals of a non-linear configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Vytautas Kupcikevicius, Philip F. Cilia, Darrell L. Burkeen
  • Method and apparatus for severing shirred tubular food casing
    Patent number: 5145449
    Abstract: Severing a shirred stick of sausage casing from casing feed stock joined to the stick is accomplished by perforating a section of the casing across its flat width prior to moving the section through a shirring zone. The section is then moved through a shirring zone and tension applied to tear the casing apart along the line of perforations. The result is that the severed ends of casing each have an edge which has a crenellated profile for at least a portion of its length and which is substantially free of casing shards that or likely to separate from the casing during a conventional stripping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Kazaitis, John Farkonas, Raymond A. Feldt
  • Shrink bag with integral handle
    Patent number: 5120553
    Abstract: A shrink bag having one end heat sealed to form the closed end of a bag pocket and including a skirt portion at this closed end which forms a handle upon heat shrinking the bag about a food product. The bag is particularly adapted for packaging whole turkeys and the like and, to this end, the heat seal is configured so the bag pocket closed end is a deep cavity shaped to accommodate the tail end of the turkey.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Vytautas Kupcikevicius
  • Method and appartus for voiding food product from the tail of a stuffed casing product
    Patent number: 5087463
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for voiding food product from the tail of a stuffed casing including a single pair of voider gates which close after the stuffed casing is gathered and a first closure is applied. The closed voider gates move to progressively constrict casing extending from the closure to strip any food product therein back to the stuffing horn and then a second closure is affixed to the constricted and stripped casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Vytas A. Raudys, Reid A. Kennedy
  • Food casing for making indicia bearing food products
    Patent number: 5084283
    Abstract: A cellulosic casing for making skinless frankfurters has distinguishing indicia such as a pattern of grill marks on one surface of the casing. The indicia is formed by printing, for example with caramel, onto the casing surface. The caramel remains on the casing surface and is nondiffusible into the casing. During the stuffing and processing of a food product in the casing, the indicia bearing casing surface is in contact with the food product so the indicia releases and indelibly transfers to the contiguous surface of the food casing. The method of making the casing article, stuffing it and the resulting indicia bearing food product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Oxley, Myron D. Nicholson
  • Vacuum packaging method and apparatus
    Patent number: 5062252
    Abstract: Vacuum packaging method and apparatus for heat sealable bags in which a clamp is used to effect a temporary air-tight seal of an evacuated bag while the bag is transported through a region of atmospheric pressure to a heat sealer. After heat sealing to effect a permanent air-tight closure, the clamp is open and the bag removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Vytautas Kupcikevicius
  • Cored high density shirred casings
    Patent number: 5038832
    Abstract: Flexible tubular cellulosic food casing shirred and compressed onto a rigid hollow tubular core to a high compaction condition to produce a casing stick with additional stuffing length capacity, enhanced structural stability and strength, and larger stuffing horn adaptability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: George H. Mahoney, John H. Beckman, Arthur L. Sheridan
  • Article for use in making stuffed casing products having at least one flat end
    Patent number: 5027863
    Abstract: An article and method for use in making stuffed food products with at least one flat end has a plurality of annular discs connected one to another by a long tubular membrane which passes through the central opening in each disc. The membrane is transversely circumferentially perforated between each disc and stuffing pressures cause the tubular membrane to longitudinally extend and tear at the preforations so that discs can be longitudinally separated and introduced one at a time into the stuffed food product for flattening an end of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Vytautas Kupcikevicius
  • Method and apparatus for making stuffed casing products having one flat end
    Patent number: 5003666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming stuffed food products having one flat end by cutting a slit in a food casing forward of a stuffing horn and inserting an end flattening disc directly into the casing through the slit. A fixture at the end of the stuffing horn holds the disc while the slit casing is drawn forward to clear the slit away from the disc. The casing is then gathered and closed to capture the disc within the casing. On stuffing, the pressure of food product forces the disc to release from the fixture to form a flat leading end of the stuffed product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Alan D. Stall, Vytas A. Raudys
  • Stuffing method and apparatus
    Patent number: 4991260
    Abstract: A stuffing method and apparatus utilizing a trio of stuffing horns mounted on a turret. Two of the horns are in stuffing positions and the production of stuffed products alternates between these two horns wherein stuffed casing from one horn is closed while casing is being stuffed at the other. The third horn is available for receiving a supply of casing and is moved into a stuffing position by indexing the turret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph A. Nausedas
  • Stuffing method and apparatus
    Patent number: 4970758
    Abstract: A stuffing method and apparatus is disclosed which produces a stuffed log having a front end portion which is larger in diameter than the remainder of the log. This is accomplished by spacing the sizing disc and pressure ring apart when food product is first introduced into the casing and the immediately pressing the sizing disc and pressure ring together while stuffing the front end portion of the casing and then moving the sizing disc and pressure ring to a set predetermined distance apart and holding them in this position while stuffing the remainder of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel F. Naples, George O. Pehr, Vytas A. Raudys
  • Food containing package with integral handle
    Patent number: D345907
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Viskase Corporation
    Inventor: Vytautas Kupcikevicius