Abstract: A unitary multi-compartment package includes a package body member which partially encloses a formed product tray having multiple product compartments. The product tray is attached to the package body member and the multiple product compartments depend downwardly therethrough through one or more openings. Package flap panels are folded around and underneath the product tray to partially enclose the product compartments between opposing package panels. A cover film is attached to the product tray to seal individual distinct product portions in multiple product compartments.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating the meat from a meat carrying bone of an animal, wherein said bone is characterized by being elongated with a longitudinal axis and first and second opposite ends.

Abstract: A new and improved integrating indicator system operable to signal the attainment of one or more preselected time-temperature integrals which monitor the temperature and time history of a product utilizes a dual system of specific reaction pairs which simultaneously generate acid and alkali from two neutral substrates. One of the substrates is present in excess of the other. The preferred dynamic indicator system generates a constant pH buffer in the alkali range that is maintained until one of the substrates is depleted. At that time, a rapid pH change in the indicator solution to the acid range occurs, resulting in a very sharp visual color change in a pH-sensitive dye. In preferred embodiments, the specific reaction pairs are enzyme/substrate pairs, preferably urease/urea and yeast/triacetin.

Abstract: Freshly killed meat carcasses are processed in a manner by which meat products prepared therefrom do not exhibit the pale, soft and exudative characteristics which are undesirable in meat products. Each fresh carcass is subjected to a conditioning procedure. In that conditioning procedure, at least a portion of the carcass, such as the ham portion of a hog, is slit in order to form a pocket therewithin. In the preferred embodiment, the pocket is formed generally between the primary hind leg muscles of a hog and generally along its femur. Then, a quantity of solid carbon dioxide is inserted into the pocket area formed by the slit, preferably while the carcass is within a meat cooler environment. During the relatively short time that the solid carbon dioxide is fully sublimed, the temperature within the inside and throughout the area treated is reduced. This procedure is accomplished rapidly enough so that the onset of pale, soft and exudative characteristics is substantially prevented.

Abstract: A recloseable, peggable package wherein the enclosed product is packaged between first and second package panels includes two package extensions and a recloseable seal strip interior of the package extensions. The package panels are hermetically sealed around their periphery and further sealed to the recloseable seal strip exterior of the hermetic seal. The first and second package panel extensions are sealed exterior of the recloseable seal strip and the extensions contain at least one opening extending therethrough which enables the package to be vertically displayed on a display member.

Abstract: A recloseable package is disclosed wherein the enclosed product is packaged between first and second package panels in which one of the two package panels has a recloseable seal element integrally formed therein. The other package panel contains a complementary and opposing, recloseable seal element which engages the formed recloseable seal element to define a recloseable seal. The two package panels are further hermetically sealed around their periphery interior of the recloseable seal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for injecting bacon bellies or the like with a brine solution or other treatment fluid. A parameter of the belly or the like to be injected is determined at a location upstream of the injection site. This parameter is used to vary the amount of brine or the like which is injected into the belly or the like. By this approach, the quantity of fluid injected is tailored to the particular belly being injected, which achieves an improvement in the extent that bellies being processed deviate from a target fluid pickup value.

Abstract: A continuous and automatic system and method for packing a container with a utensil applied thereto in a carton forms a finished package. Initially, the containers travel along an infeed conveyor and are transferred by a transferring device to flighted belt. The transferring device includes a first sensor for sensing the presence of a backlog of the containers at the transferring device and for enabling the transferring device when the backlog is sensed. After being placed on the flighted belt, the containers have a respective wrapped utensil applied thereto. The applying device includes a second sensor which senses a presence of each successive container. A feedback device is also used for matching a selected line speed of the containers on the flighted belt with a transferring speed of the transferring device. Finally, each container with the utensil applied thereto is placed in a carton by a suitable cartoning device.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for slicing food product sticks such as loaves or chubs or the like of meat and cheese. A blade assembly is utilized which includes a plurality of, typically two, blade members, each of which has a curved cutting surface that terminates at a trailing tip. A non-slicing mode is achieved by having the blade assembly exhibit a substantial gap between the trailing tip of one blade member and the curved cutting surface leading edge of another blade member. The apparatus is particularly well suited for enhancing the throughput of a food processing line and for improving the quality of sliced products processed therethrough.

Abstract: A package is provided which incorporates a peel seal area or areas that provide readily detectable evidence that the package has been opened or tampered with. Message indicia are provided at or near the peel seal, and the appearance of the message indicia changes when the peel seal area, which has a contact clarity condition when sealed, is broken resulting in the onset of an opacity condition in a background area but not in an indicia area in order to inform a consumer or potential purchaser that the peel seal has been broken. The peel seal area is provided by impressing onto the package a heat seal bar having message indicia engraved thereinto.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for shaping bacon bellies or similar generally compressible materials in order to impart a greater three-dimensional uniformity to such bacon bellies or the like. Parameters of individual bellies, including dimensional parameters and temperature when desired are determined. Data on these parameters are stored in an ordered fashion, which stored data are utilized to vary the extent that walls of a pressing apparatus move during a pressing operation. By this method and apparatus, each individual belly or the like is pressed and reshaped in accordance with its own specific parameters, while provision is made for avoiding overpressing due to irregularities in shape of the bacon bellies and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing batter materials, such as food batter, including sausage batter for wieners and the like, without incorporating the use of any casing for the batter. The apparatus forms a blank having a proteinaceous skin made by congealing surface batter materials with a treatment fluid. Each thus formed blank is ejected onto a conveyor that includes a device for completing the formation of congealed skin on the blank. The thus shaped items can then be packaged and cooked within the package in order to provide an aseptic product. If desired, the items can be cooked and then packaged in order to provide a product having an acceptable shelf-life.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for combing bacon bellies or similar generally compressible items in order to transform a conveyed flow of those items into a stream of those items, each of which is suspended from a comb which impales the item. The thus combed items are then suitable for transport along track means to subject the item to treatment conditions such as transporting them into smoking and flavoring environments. The apparatus and method are particularly well suited for combing pork bellies and as a component of a commercial line in which pork bellies are processed into sliced and packaged bacon products.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring individual strips of material which are sliced from a material supply to a support web includes two counterrotating rollers. The first roller is disposed proximate to a slicing station and material supply while the second roller is disposed proximate to the first roller. Both of the first and second rollers have hollow inner cores which are encircled by rotatable outer shells. A vacuum is drawn in the inner cores of the first and second rollers which causes individual material strips to adhere to the outer shell of the first roller and the support web to the outer shell of the second roller. Bands which encircle the first roller urge the material strips off onto the support web.

Abstract: A reclosable package comprising interlocking closure strips positioned outside of a hermetic seal or seal area and the method for producing same. The hermetic seal is of the easy-open or peelaway type so as to not destroy the integrity of the package or closure strips upon opening of the package.

Abstract: A package of the type having a tray with recessed compartments for receiving food products or the like, the tray being covered by a thin flexible and preferably transparent film which seals the products in their respective compartments. The outer enclosure is formed by a stiff collar which completely encircles the tray with the sides of the collar turned downwardly and inwardly to provide frictional and resilient engagement of the collar with the sides of the tray. The collar also includes a stiff support flap which enables it to stand on end.

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: This invention pertains to a reclosable package having a body member, a base, a hermetic seal between the body member and base and snap locking projections in the side walls of the body member and base.

Abstract: This invention pertains to poultry or fish foodstuffs wherein lactate salt is added in an amount effective to delay Clostridium botulinum growth.