Patents by Inventor David L. Shaft
David L. Shaft has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7060311Abstract: Packaged food portions, such as food slices, consisting of two or more food items, such as peanut butter and jelly, and processes for making them. The food portion is provided with sufficient viscosity and textural properties to enable its formation into a cohesive mass which can be extruded while maintaining the individual identity and organoleptic attributes of each food item within the food portion. The food portion may be shaped into a slice or other configuration prior to or during its encasing within a flexible packaging material. Product formulations which provide for minimal moisture migration between the different food items within the food portion and for optimum product stability, as well as processes and methods for providing and processing these formulations, are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2000Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.Inventors: Franco X. Milani, Susan Frinak, Donn S. Theuerkauf, Francis J. Parker, Robert Olsen, Daniel P. Shannon, David L. Shaft
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Patent number: 6395321Abstract: A method for packaging food items, such as processed cheese, into a plastic film package that entirely encloses the food item with peelable heat seals, such as hermetic peelable heat seals. The heat of the food item is used to activate a sealant within the plastic film. Plastic film formulations are provided for this purpose.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1999Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Schreiber Foods, INCInventors: David L. Shaft, George O. Schroeder
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Patent number: 6058680Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a hermetically sealed package for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a hermetic longitudinal seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into V-folded condition and for continuously forming a hermetic seal along the open longitudinal edge of the V-folded web. The hermetic seal is formed between the inner surfaces of the front and rear faces of the web to define a tubular web member. The food item which has been formed into a soft mass, is then inserted into the tubular member and the tubular member is flattened to form a thin film tube. Means are provided for forming a hermetically sealed cross-seal which are disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1997Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.Inventors: Vincent A. Meli, Michael A. Matharani, Ted A. Brzezinski, David L. Shaft, James L. Urmanski
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Patent number: 5800851Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a package with heat tack seals for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a longitudinal heat tack seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into a tube and for continuously forming a heat seal along the longitudinal face of the folded web. The food item which has been formed into a soft mass, is then inserted into the tubular member and the tubular member is flattened to form a thin film tube. Means are provided for forming a heat tack cross-seal which is disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1997Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.Inventors: Vincent A. Meli, David L. Shaft
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Patent number: 5701724Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously forming hermetically sealed packages of a food item. A continuous web of thermoplastic material is folded and continuously formed with a hermetic longitudinal seal. The food item is inserted between inner surfaces of the tubular web member, which is then flattened to form a thin slice. A hermetic cross-seal is continuously formed transverse to the longitudinal seal. The web can be cooled before the cross-seals are formed.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Schreiber Fodds, Inc.Inventors: Vincent A. Meli, Michael A. Matharani, Ted A. Brzezinski, David L. Shaft, James L. Urmanski
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Patent number: 5637342Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for cooking bacon bits which uses a continuous cooker. Bacon and bacon fat are delivered to the cooker which uses an auger to move the bacon from one end of the cooker to the other. The cooker is heated, for example, using a steam supply to heat a jacket on the outside of the cooker. The auger moves the bacon and bacon fat from the beginning point of the cooker to the exit point of the cooker. The heated jacket provides the heat needed to cook the bacon. Steam is injected in the casing to bubble through the oil and product.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: June 10, 1997Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.Inventors: Coralie G. Brooks, David L. Shaft
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Patent number: 5619844Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a package with heat tack seals for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a longitudinal heat tack seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into a tube and for continuously forming a heat seal along the longitudinal face of the folded web. The food item which has been formed into a soft mass, is then inserted into the tubular member and the tubular member is flattened to form a thin film tube. Means are provided for forming a heat tack cross-seal which is disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1994Date of Patent: April 15, 1997Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.Inventors: Vincent A. Meli, David L. Shaft
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Patent number: 5440860Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a hermetically sealed package for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a hermetic longitudinal seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into V-folded condition and for continuously forming a hermetic seal along the open longitudinal edge of the V-folded web. The hermetic seal is formed between the inner surfaces of the front and rear faces of the web to define a tubular web member. The food item which has been formed into a soft mass, is then inserted into the tubular member and the tubular member is flattened to form a thin film tube. Means are provided for forming a hermetically sealed cross-seal which are disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1993Date of Patent: August 15, 1995Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.Inventors: Vincent Meli, Michael A. Matharani, Ted A. Brzezinski, David L. Shaft, James L. Urmanski
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Patent number: 5347792Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a package with heat tack seals for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a longitudinal heat tack seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into a tube and for continuously forming a heat seal along the longitudinal face of the folded web. The food item which has been formed into a soft mass, is then inserted into the tubular member and the tubular member is flattened to form a thin film tube. Means are provided for forming a heat tack cross-seal which is disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1993Date of Patent: September 20, 1994Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.Inventors: Vincent A. Meli, David L. Shaft
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Patent number: 5114307Abstract: A stacker is provided for stacking the slices from the forming, sealing and cutting machines into a plurality of stacks. The stacker includes a conveyor belt, which includes a plurality of apertures, onto which the slices of product are disposed. A vacuum system provides vacuum through the apertures to hold the slices on the belt. Apparatus are provided for moving the belt in order to advance the slices to the stacking locations. The vacuum is sufficient to hold the slices on the belt even when the slices are disposed on the bottom of the belt. A plurality of stacking locations are sequentially provided. Each of the stacking locations includes ejectors for providing positive air pressure at the leading edge of the slice as it is being moved on the belt. As the slice travels on the belt, the positive air pressure "peels" the slice off of the belt and the force of gravity causes the slice to fall into the predetermined stacking location.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 1991Date of Patent: May 19, 1992Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.Inventors: Vincent A. Meli, Michael A. Matharani, Ted A. Brzezinski, David L. Shaft, James L. Urmanski
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Patent number: 5112632Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for forming a hermetically sealed package for a slice of a food item. A web of thermoplastic material is first formed into a tubular arrangement with a hermetic longitudinal seal. To form the tubular arrangement, means are provided for folding a continuous web of thermoplastic material into V-folded condition and for continuously forming a hermetic seal along the open longitudinal edge of the V-folded web. The hermetic seal is formed between the inner surfaces of the front and rear faces of the web to define a tubular web member. The food item which has been formed into a soft mass, is then inserted into the tubular member and the tubular member is flattened to form a thin film tube. Means are provided for forming a hermetically sealed cross-seal which are disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal forward moving direction of the web.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1989Date of Patent: May 12, 1992Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.Inventors: Vincent A. Meli, Michael A. Matharani, Ted A. Brzezinski, David L. Shaft, James L. Urmanski