Abstract: A candy holding device which is used to hold a piece of candy such as a sucker in a covering to protect the candy from dirt, etc. The cover is formed in two halves which in a folded condition encloses the candy. The two halves of the cover are connected at one end on swivel drums so that in use, the half covers are pulled apart and rotated from an upper position to a lower position. As the two half covers are rotated to the lower position the two halves are rotated about the swivel drums 180 degrees so that the two halves can be secured together to form a handle. In order to protect any candy that is left, the handles are moved upwardly and rotated 180 degrees to enclose the candy within the two half covers.

Abstract: The method of forming a microwaveable package, generally from a plurality of liners of material, and incorporating a heat-assist layer preferably intermediately of the liners of material, which said heat assist material comprising powdered carbon, that is originally applied to the inner surface of one of the intended liners, and in register at that location where the layer is desired within the formed microwave package. The material may be imprinted by a gravure or other roller application onto the inner surface of one of said liners of material, or adhesive applied or added onto that adhesive that laminates the liners together, in order to assure that proper and convenient registration of the layer within the laminate material, and provide for its location within the formed package preferably at a lower position where the food or other product is arranged, during microwaving, to attain that necessary heat assist desired from its addition.

Abstract: A method of automatically thawing a food in a microwave oven, is disclosed. The method of optimally thawing the food and preventing a phenomenon that the food is partially boiled. The method includes by primarily heating the food for a predetermined time where the food is large in amount, turning the primarily heated food and then additionally heating the turned food, while eliminating the step of turning the food where the food is small in amount.

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: A flexible film and flexible food storage bag for packaging produce such as vegetables and fruits wherein the film or bag has plurality of microholes specifically designed to allow the produce to breath in a controlled rate such that localized condensation and weight loss is minimized, which in turn reduces microbial (bacteria and mold) growth and reduces produce mushiness (softness) respectively.

Abstract: An infusible pouch and cover assembly assembly comprises an infusible pouch containing an infusible substance, and a cover having a first leaf and a second leaf joined along a pair of adjacent edges. Each of the leaves has a hinge line adjacent to and spaced from the joined pair of edges, and the pouch is joined along a central portion of one of the adjacent edges to the first leaf below its hinge line so that the pouch can be inserted down the inside of a container with a wedging action on the pouch as it conforms to the inside shape of the container with the first leaf extending down the outside of the container. The two leaves are joined together over an area extending from the hinge lines to the joined edges of the leaves to thus form a portion in the form of a handle to be grasped by the user.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition for and method of producing a supplemental dietary fiber fortified fructose-based chewy confection which can be stabilized to produce a long textured taffy-like candy or a short textured nougat-like candy, which confection has an acceptable mouthfeel and exhibits a reduced adherence to a consumer's teeth through incorporation of a unique emulsifier blend.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing solid bodies from an array of reaction vessels includes a frame and a plurality of lifters, each lifter for holding a solid body disposed within a reaction vessel for removal therefrom. The lifters are mounted on the frame in an array corresponding to the array of reaction vessels such that the array of lifters is positionable within the array of vessels in a manner which permits placement of a solid body in each vessel on each lifter while the lifters are positioned in the vessels.

Abstract: When in use, the sealed cartridge (1) containing a certain amount of a substance intended for the preparation of a bewerage by dissolution or extraction with a liquid, is placed inside a liquid collector member comprised of a frusto-conical beaker (9). The assembly thus formed is placed inside a housing (21) of a "spoon" of a coffee machine. The top of the cartridge (1) is perforated by a perforator and injector member which injects a liquid under pressure inside the cartridge (1). The lower membrane (2) of the cartridge undergoes a deformation under the effect of the pressure thus generated and is pressed against perforator tips (13) at the bottom of the beaker (9). The liquid flows into the housing (21) and can be collected in cups. The invention makes it possible to optimize the contact time of the substance contained inside the cartridge with the liquid supplied for its dissolution or its extraction.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a novel process for preserving the quality attributes and ascorbic acid content of fresh fruit juices and fruit juice blends. The process involves sanitizing the outer surface of a fruit, extracting the juice from the edible portion of the fruit, gasifying the juice with an oxygen-containing, carbon dioxide-containing gas mixture, filling a high gas-barrier container with the juice; hermetically sealing the container and rapidly cooling the juice in the container. Alternatively, the extracted juice may be filled into the high gas barrier container and then gasified prior to hermetically sealing the container.

Abstract: A traveling web (11) having adjacent rows of infusion containing pockets (7) has a strip of web material (20) removed from between these rows to produce strips (19) of pockets (7) which are then attached to a cover member. The strip removal is achieved by co-rotating cutting wheels (26, 36) having co-operating shearing edges (32, 33, 34, 37). Removed strips (20) are guided into vacuum ducts (40) by fingers (41).

Abstract: An improve heat-sealable cook-in package for meat products capable of providing excellent adherence with minimal purge loss comprised of interfacing sealable wall portions the interfacing layers of which consist of a high strength, high shrink, low melt index ethylene acid copolymer for adhering contact with the product and itself.

Abstract: This invention provides a powder-form foaming creamer for beverages, such as coffee, and soups, said creamer containing fat, carbohydrate and protein; said protein is chicken's egg-albumen which shows a superior foam-stabilizing activity, while the use of egg-albumen also confers to the foam a good stability upon stirring and an improved appearance.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for the automatic examination of blood samples with one test station, in which blood is taken from a supply vessel and is fed through an aperture in a part held in an aperture holder. At least one test head is provided, to which is fed from a first magazine holder, supply vessels with blood, and from a second magazine holder, aperture holders are fed. After performance of at least one measurement on one aperture holder, the used aperture holder and the used supply vessel are removed from the test head and the test head is cleaned by a cleaning device.

Abstract: An expandable collapsed bag, preferably made of paper, suitable for cooking corn in a microwave oven. The bag of the invention has front and back panels and two side panels, each side panel having two or more gussets. These gussets permit relatively free upward movement of the corn and fuller expansion of the bag during cooking. In its collapsed configuration, the back panel is folded to expose a portion of each side panel that forms one gussets. The collapsed bag thereby forms strips extending along each side edge in which the bag is four layers thick. Since a conventionally folded, two gusseted bag has six layers along its edges, the reverse folded bag is thinner and, therefore, advantageous from handling, shipping and storage viewpoints.

Abstract: A process for preparing a fatty acid calcium salt ruminant feed supplement product which contains an incorporated methionine hydroxy analog calcium salt additive. The dietary product can function as a rumen bypass feed supplement, and permit a beneficial increase in the nutrient fat content of the feed.

Abstract: A method is provided to ascertain the total number of cells per unit volume of a cell specimen in an apparatus which does not measure the volume of a suspension containing the specimen as it is being analyzed. The method includes mixing a suspension of a known quantity of particles having a first light scatter signal with a known volume of a cell specimen having a second light scatter signal different from the first light scatter signal to obtain a suspension having a concentration of particles per specimen volume, passing each of said particles and each cell in said cell specimen, in turn, through a light beam, each of said particles and cells producing at least one forward light scattering pattern, counting the number of cells and the number of particles in a portion of said suspension, and determining the total number of cells per unit volume of the specimen.

Abstract: A method of packaging a food product employing a tray having side walls defining a cavity in an outwardly directed flange extending around the perimeter of the tray, the flange being adapted to receive a pair of membranes to enclose the tray. The lower membrane is the more permeable of the two. It may be attached to a first surface of the flange. The second membrane is attached to a second outer surface of the flange without direct connection except through the tray to the more permeable membrane. The two connection surfaces may be separated by a depression to facilitate the cutting away of the material forming the more permeable membrane in a continuous manufacturing process. With the less permeable membrane in place, a desired gaseous environment may be maintained within the package. When it is desired to change the gaseous environment, the upper less permeable membrane may be peeled away allowing gaseous communication through the lower more permeable membrane.

Abstract: The present invention is a beverage device. The beverage device comprises a beverage pack for adding flavor to a liquid, such as water. The beverage pack can be a tea bag but is not limited thereto. For instance, the beverage pack can also have coffee or mulling spices, as examples. The beverage device also comprises shield means for encapsulating the beverage pack within a bottom of a cup. The shield means is preferably connected to the beverage pack with a string. In one embodiment the shield means is collapsible from an open orientation to a closed orientation. In the open orientation the shield means provides flow channels for allowing the beverage pack to steep. In the closed orientation the flow channels are closed. Preferably the shield means comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is slidably connected to the second portion to allow the shield means to be moved from the open orientation to closed orientation.

Abstract: A sandwich wrapper is formed from a substantially rectangular sheet by providing a plurality of overlapping folds which are positioned into a substantially pleated arrangement. Two substantially parallel lines of adhesive, glue, or adhesive tape are used to attach spaced apart zones of the folded areas to each other. The dimensions of the sheet with respect to an article to be wrapped, spacing between the adhesive lines, and dimensions of the fold can be calculated to provide an efficient and cost-effective food wrapper.