Abstract: A recloseable package has discrete, multiple product portion enclosures between first and second package films. Each product portion enclosure is separated from its adjacent product portion enclosure by a package central web portion. A recloseable seal is provided on the central web portion for each multiple product portion enclosure, and the product is hermetically sealed in its portion enclosure by a hermetic seal extending around the periphery thereof and interior of each recloseable seal.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring multiple individual slices of a food product material from a food material supply source which includes a plurality of food product supply sources to a support substrate without substantially altering the predesignated pattern includes a rotating hollow drum disposed on and rotating around a stationary inner core member. The rotating member is disposed between a slicing blade in substrate, negative air pressure is applied to the rotating transfer member to cause individual material slices to adhere to the outer surface of the transfer member in the same pattern in which they are slices from the food supply and to leave the outer surface of the transfer member in the same pattern thereby permitting, in effect, the "printing" of alternating layers of food slices on the substrate. The apparatus has particular utility in the production of premade food set ups having a plurality of alternating layers.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for detecting leaks in sealed packages. The apparatus and method are particularly well-suited for an on-line system wherein each package filled and sealed on a commercial packaging line is inspected for possible leaks or seal defects. A force transducer arrangement is used, and the package is maintained at substantially constant volume while positive wall pressure over time is monitored. Diagnostic properties can be included whereby it is possible to precisely detect exactly which compartment of a multiple-compartment package and exactly which package station, has an excessive incidence of defects.

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 of congealing surface batter materials. 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 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. An elongated ribbon or flow of proteinaceous batter material is extruded or otherwise formed and treated to have a proteinaceous skin made by congealing surface batter materials with a treating arrangement. This flow is then severed into a plurality of blanks, followed by forming unfinished ends of the blanks into shaped links. The shaped links are then cooked and typically packaged as desired to provide a finished sausage product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the slicing of bacon bellies or the like in a manner such that each draft of bacon is of the same weight, irrespective of the topography and density of the belly from which the draft is sliced. A dimensioner assembly has a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers having one end which engages the belly and another end which is a cam surface for transmitting movement of the fingers to a receptor such as an electromicrometer. The finges engage the top, bottom and both longitudinal sides of the belly, and the data thus collected are then transformed into a topography schematic which is particular for each specific belly passing through the dimensioner assembly. These topography data and data concerning the make-up of the particular belly are used for controlling movement of feed into a bacon slicer. Included is a feed assembly which positively and precisely feeds the belly into the slicer.

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. 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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. 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-like.

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: A flexible, bag-like package which includes an access opening containing a reclosable seal at or near its top edge, is encompassed by a tamper-evident band. The band is bonded to the front and back wall panels of the package and extends across the access opening. Attempts to remove the band in order to open the package will result in disruption of the band or the wall panels.

Abstract: A line is provided for assembling a product including proteinaceous patties having a filling therebetween. All components of the line are mechanically synchronized to maintain a consistent pitch throughout the assembling procedure. Included is a patty forming means that deposits proteinaceous patties such as ground meat patties onto a moving conveyor assembly to thereby define the desired pitch. Edible filling materials such as sauces, condiments and/or cheeses are deposited onto this patty at the given pitch. Another patty is deposited thereover while the product being formed continues to flow on the generally straight-line conveyor assembly. Thereafter, a knitting station impresses projections or pins through the outer periphery of the upper patty and into the lower patty such that, after removal of the pins by the device, the patties are knitted together, and the filling is encapsulated therewithin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for staging a plurality of products into a grouping of a desired number of the products having a given center-to-center spacing therebetween. The staging assembly includes an endless track that indexes in order to feed, without gaps, a desired number of products thereonto, which endless track off-feeds in a generally constant manner in order to provide, in association with the takeaway speed of a receiving conveyor, the desired center-to-center spacing.

Abstract: A line is provided for assembling a product including proteinaceous patties having a filling therebetween. All components of the line are mechanically synchronized to maintain a consistent pitch throughout the assembling procedure. Included is a patty forming means that deposits proteinaceous patties such as ground meat patties onto a moving conveyor assembly to thereby define the desired pitch. Edible filling materials such as sauces, condiments and/or cheeses are deposited onto this patty at the given pitch. Another patty is deposited thereover while the product being formed continues to flow on the generally straight-line conveyor assembly. Thereafter, a knitting station impresses projections or pins through the outer periphery of the upper patty and into the lower patty such that, after removal of the pins by the device, the patties are knitted together, and the filling is encapsulated therewithin.

Abstract: A high volume food loaf slicing machine in which a rotating and orbiting knife slices the loaf as it advances through a slicing station. The turbulent air generated by the rotating and orbiting knife is reduced in the vacinity of the stacking slices by baffles and is redirected through a vent port and away from the stacking slices.

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.