Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inserting food products into packages are disclosed, and in particular apparatus and methods for inserting generally thin or planar food products from a stack of such food products into a package. A stacker assembly includes a pusher mechanism for advancing a bottommost food product or products from the stack toward an opening or edge disposed above a package so that the food product or products can fall into the package.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inserting food products into packages are disclosed, and in particular apparatus and methods for inserting generally thin or planar food products from a stack of such food products into a package. A stacker assembly includes a pusher mechanism for advancing a bottommost food product or products from the stack toward an opening or edge disposed above a package so that the food product or products can fall into the package.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inserting food products into packages are disclosed, and in particular apparatus and methods for inserting generally thin or planar food products from a stack of such food products into a package. A stacker assembly includes a pusher mechanism for advancing a bottommost food product or products from the stack toward an opening or edge disposed above a package so that the food product or products can fall into the package.

Abstract: A forming apparatus is provided for forming a film into a sleeve around a filling tube. The forming apparatus has contact surface geometry that is contacted by the film as it travels thereacross configured to ensure smooth forming of the film into the sleeve. Smooth forming of the film into the sleeve is achieved, in part, by reducing longitudinal tensile forces in the film, by selecting the contact surface geometry to minimize transverse variations in tensile forces in the film, and by having contact edges of the contact surfaces shaped to reduce unnecessary stresses in the film.

Abstract: A forming apparatus is provided for forming a film into a sleeve around a filling tube. The forming apparatus has contact surface geometry that is contacted by the film as it travels thereacross configured to ensure smooth forming of the film into the sleeve. Smooth forming of the film into the sleeve is achieved, in part, by reducing longitudinal tensile forces in the film, by selecting the contact surface geometry to minimize transverse variations in tensile forces in the film, and by having contact edges of the contact surfaces shaped to reduce unnecessary stresses in the film.

Abstract: A forming apparatus is provided for forming a film into a sleeve around a filling tube. The forming apparatus has contact surface geometry that is contacted by the film as it travels thereacross configured to ensure smooth forming of the film into the sleeve. Smooth forming of the film into the sleeve is achieved, in part, by reducing longitudinal tensile forces in the film, by selecting the contact surface geometry to minimize transverse variations in tensile forces in the film, and by having contact edges of the contact surfaces shaped to reduce unnecessary stresses in the film.

Abstract: A forming apparatus is provided for forming a film into a sleeve around a filling tube. The forming apparatus has contact surface geometry that is contacted by the film as it travels thereacross configured to ensure smooth forming of the film into the sleeve. Smooth forming of the film into the sleeve is achieved, in part, by reducing longitudinal tensile forces in the film, by selecting the contact surface geometry to minimize transverse variations in tensile forces in the film, and by having contact edges of the contact surfaces shaped to reduce unnecessary stresses in the film.

Abstract: A forming apparatus is provided for forming a film into a sleeve around a filling tube. The forming apparatus has contact surface geometry that is contacted by the film as it travels thereacross configured to ensure smooth forming of the film into the sleeve. Smooth forming of the film into the sleeve is achieved, in part, by reducing longitudinal tensile forces in the film, by selecting the contact surface geometry to minimize transverse variations in tensile forces in the film, and by having contact edges of the contact surfaces shaped to reduce unnecessary stresses in the film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking slices of food products such as wrapped cheese slices and the like at high speeds. The apparatus comprises a vacuum conveyor for supporting slices from above, and at least one transfer bridge for mechanically peeling the slices sequentially from the conveyor and directing them downward into one or more stacking locations. The transfer bridge preferably comprises a plurality of downwardly sloping surfaces disposed beside the belts. To assist the transfer bridge in separating the slices from the belts, and to control slice position after separation, fluid pressure is applied to the slices during and after separation from the belts.

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.