Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for sealing food containers using a sealing film. The apparatus includes a base, a container holder for holding a food container; a heater platen positioned within the base, and a pressure applicator positioned on a surface of the heater platen, the pressure applicator applies pressure to the heater platen causing the heater platen to move into engagement with the sealing film to thereby seal the sealing film to portions of the food container.

Abstract: A tray lid for covering a food tray having at least one food pocket therein. The tray lid includes a substantially flat tray covering section including a wall covering portion and at least one pocket covering portion formed thereon. The tray lid can include at least one pocket covering portion having a peripheral channel configured to abut against an associated wall of a food pocket of the food tray to seal food within the at least one food pocket.

Abstract: A dough divider including a hopper with a lid, latch assembly and press plate. The lid has an open and closed position. The latch assembly is adapted to maintain the lid in the closed position when activated and to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position when deactivated. The press plate is vertically slidable within the hopper, with the hopper being adapted to accept dough between the lid and the press plate. The press plate is adapted to be driven towards the lid in order to compress the dough between the press plate and the lid within the hopper. The latch assembly is automatically activated to maintain the lid in the closed position while the press plate is being driven towards the lid. The latch assembly is automatically deactivated to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position after the dough has been compressed and divided within the hopper.

Abstract: A controlled temperature food carrier for carrying a plurality of meal trays includes an insulated housing constructed of flexible fabric and having a closed bottom, an open top and a front wall having an opening adjacent the bottom of the housing, wherein the opening is sized to preclude simultaneous removal of all of a plurality of meal containers, thereby limiting heat transfer from within the housing. The food carrier also including a lid constructed of a flexible fabric and operably connected with the housing by a living hinge between an open position and a closed position. The carrier further includes a door constructed of flexible fabric and operably connected with the housing by a living hinge and operable between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus includes a frame structure including a base and an actuator support extending upward from the base, a container support including a container receiver, and a heater platen suspended from the actuator support above the container support. The heater platen is shiftable between a load/unload position wherein a container can be loaded into and unloaded from within the container receiver and an associated lid can be positioned over the container, and a sealing position wherein the heater platen presses the container and the lid on the container support. The sealing apparatus also includes an actuator that includes a support structure pivotally attached to the frame and supporting the heater platen, and an L-shaped handle having a first end, second end and a pivot point located between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: A proofer includes an enclosure defining a chamber. An air circulation system includes a passageway having an air inlet and an air outlet connected to the chamber. A first fan pulls air into the air inlet from the chamber, and expels air from the outlet into the chamber. A fluid reservoir is positioned adjacent the air circulation system, such that air contacting fluid in the reservoir upon actuation of the first fan is humidified. A heating element heats fluid in the fluid reservoir, and a second fan flows air over at least a portion of the reservoir outside the chamber and cools fluid in the reservoir. A controller selectively actuates the heating element and the second fan based upon the temperature and/or humidity in the chamber to control the temperature of the fluid in the reservoir and thereby reduce fluctuations in temperature and humidity within the chamber.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus includes a frame structure including a base and an actuator support extending upward from the base, a container support including a container receiver, and a heater platen suspended from the actuator support above the container support. The heater platen is shiftable between a load/unload position wherein a container can be loaded into and unloaded from within the container receiver and an associated lid can be positioned over the container, and a sealing position wherein the heater platen presses the container and the lid on the container support. The sealing apparatus also includes an actuator that includes a support structure pivotally attached to the frame and supporting the heater platen, and an L-shaped handle having a first end, second end and a pivot point located between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: A container and lid sealing apparatus comprising a frame structure including a sealing position, support beams, a shiftable container support which includes a container retainer and shiftable on drawer rails from a position for loading and unloading a container into and out of the retainer, to the sealing position for sealing a lid on the tray, an upper heater platen suspended above the tray support, and an actuator actuable to force the upper heater platen downwardly with force onto a container and lid on the support. The force is equally distributed on all portions of the platen to seal a lid onto a container. The actuator may be either a manual actuator or an air actuator. The actuator is multi-axially pivotally coupled to the platen to thereby allow the platen to rock and seek and obtain a parallel relation with the container flange and lid.

Abstract: A dough divider including a hopper with a lid, a latch assembly and a press plate. The lid has an open position and a closed position. The latch assembly is adapted to maintain the lid in the closed position when activated and to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position when deactivated. The press plate is vertically slidable within the hopper; with the hopper being adapted to accept dough between the lid and the press plate. The press plate is adapted to be driven towards the lid in order to compress the dough between the press plate and the lid within the hopper. The latch assembly is automatically activated to maintain the lid in the closed position while the press plate is being driven towards the lid. The latch assembly is also automatically deactivated to discontinue maintaining the lid in the closed position after the dough has been compressed and divided within the hopper.

Abstract: A dough divider including a hopper with a lid and a press plate vertically slidable within the hopper. The hopper is adapted to accept dough between the lid and the press plate, and the press plate is adapted to move towards the lid in order to compress the dough between the press plate and the lid within the hopper. The dough divider further includes a two part pressure relief system including a reversible cylinder assembly and at least one pressure relief opening. The reversible cylinder assembly is connected to the press plate and adapted to move downward in order to allow the press plate to move towards a bottom of the hopper when pressure applied to a top of the press plate from the dough within the hopper reaches a predetermined level. The pressure relief opening is adapted to relieve pressure within the hopper between the press plate and the lid by allowing the dough to escape from the hopper through the pressure relief opening when the press plate has reached the bottom of the hopper.

Abstract: An adhesive composition that is specifically formulated for use in packaging medical products such as catheters between a spun-bonded polyolefin non-woven fabric and an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer film includes from about 5 to about 65 percent by weight of a low density polyethylene; from about 35 to about 90 percent by weight of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers; and from about 5 to about 65 percent by weight of a linear block copolymer having at least one vinyl substituted aromatic hydrocarbon polymer block and at least one polyolefin polymer block made from an aliphatic conjugated diene.

Abstract: A bagel slicer generally comprising a base, a flexible connector, a lid and a knife. The base has upwardly projecting bagel retention protrusions and two end walls attached to opposing ends of the base which define a bagel receiving space. Between the walls there is a first plurality of elongated side members in a parallel spaced relationship to each other, and a second plurality of elongated side members in a parallel spaced relationship to each other and to the first plurality of elongated side members. Each elongated member is engaged with the walls such that there remains slots between them to insert a knife. A flexible connector is attached to the lid and one of the walls.

Abstract: A bread slicing machine having blade frames and blades readily removable without wrenches or other tools, clamps between the blade frames and drive mechanism for removably securing the blade frames to the drive mechanism, the clamps each comprising a T-shaped cam stud, a pivotal cam receiving the cam stud, and an actuator handle; cam-engaging members on the blade frames adjacent the cam studs and engaged by the pivotal cams, the actuator handles being shiftable to pivot the cams relative to the cam engaging members to cause the cam studs to secure or release the blade frames. The pivotal cams each have a vertical slot and a cross slot to receive the T-shaped cam stud.

Abstract: A sterilizable package for medical objects or the like, comprising, a first layer of material, a second layer of film on said first layer, a third layer having a preformed blister formed from film on said second layer, the layers being sealed together in a peripheral seal to form a space between the second and third layers for an object, the seal between the first layer and the second and third layers being releasable by tensile separation of the first layer from the second and third layers, and the second layer having a breakable perforation line at the space whereby the second layer can be broken at the perforation line to expose a portion of the object for direct presentation of the object from one person to another person.

Abstract: A sterilizable pouch package for medical objects or the like, comprising, a first layer of material, a second layer of film on said first layer, a third layer of film on said second layer, the layers being sealed together in a peripheral seal to form a space between the second and third layers for an object, the seal between the first layer and the second and third layers being releasable by tensile separation of the first layer from the second and third layers, and the second layer having a breakable perforation line at the space whereby the second layer can be broken at the perforation line to expose a portion of the object for direct presentation of the object from one person to another person.

Abstract: A container and lid sealing apparatus comprising a frame structure including a sealing position, support beams, a shiftable container support which includes a container retainer and shiftable on drawer rails from a position for loading and unloading a container into and out of the retainer, to the sealing position for sealing a lid on the tray, the drawer rails being vertically depressible with the container support, when under vertical force, to move it down onto the support beams, an upper heater platen suspended above the tray support, and an air actuator actuable to force the upper heater platen downwardly with force onto a container and lid on the support. The force is equally distributed on all portions of the platen to seal a lid onto a container. A cam switch is positioned to be actuated by the support in the sealing position for controlled activation of an air logic system to the actuator.

Abstract: A peripheral resilient seal, and seal and platen, the platen having a container tray receiving cavity and a peripheral groove around the cavity and receiving the seal. The seal has side ribs deformable upon insertion into the groove, and a shoulder extending beyond the groove to abut the platen.

Abstract: A container and lid sealing apparatus comprising a frame structure including a sealing position, support beams, a shiftable container support which includes a container retainer and shiftable on drawer rails from a position for loading and unloading a container into and out of the retainer, to the sealing position for sealing a lid on the tray, the drawer rails being vertically depressible with the container support, when under vertical force, to move it down onto the support beams, an upper heater platen suspended above the tray support, and an air actuator actuable to force the upper heater platen downwardly with force onto a container and lid on the support. The force is equally distributed on all portions of the platen to seal a lid onto a container. A cam switch is positioned to be actuated by the support in the sealing position for controlled activation of an air logic system to the actuator.

Abstract: A food cooker/rethermalizer especially suited for cooking or for reheating of prepared, packaged meat and sauce entree items, and optionally for cooking vegetables. The apparatus includes a multiple of food item receiving locations defined by a locator rack, and fluid ejecting tubes beneath the locations to eject fluid such as air therefrom, which rises over the package surfaces for bath mixing and efficient and uniform heat transfer. The tubes include a pair of upwardly sloped conduits oriented in opposite directions and which eject fluid at the upper ends of the tubes, on opposite sides of the bath, to cause circulation of the heated liquid bath. The bath is heated by resistance coils embedded in rubber bonded to the outside of the vessel. The bath level is controlled by a dual temperature sensor device, one sensor above the other, to detect a predetermined temperature differential and activate a water supply valve to inject only small quantities of water.