Abstract: A method of enclosing a surgical item identification tag in a fluorinated shrink wrap, including cutting one or more elongated pieces from a shrink wrap tube to form cut shrink wrap pieces, placing cut shrink wrap pieces into cavities in a tray, inserting an identification tag into each of the cut shrink wrap pieces, heating the cut shrink wrap pieces to cause the cut shrink wrap pieces to shrink and wrap around the identification tag, sealing an upper end and lower end of the cut shrink wrap pieces.

Abstract: A sheet interleaver is provided for a slicing machine that includes a slicing plane for slicing an elongated food product and a sheet of web material beneath the elongated product. The interleaver includes a supply of web material, a drawing station, and a feed station. A tensioning station is disposed between the supply of web material and the drawing station to maintain the tension of the web material at a pre-determined tension. A web accumulation station is between the drawing station and the feed station to provide a slackened length of web material within an acceptable range of slack between the drawing station and the feed station. The supply of web material is disposed on a spool which rotates about a cylindrical shaft. The cylindrical shaft has a braking mechanism which protrudes from the shaft to generate a frictional force against the spool.

Abstract: A system for preparing food product minimizes bacterial contamination and outgrowth within the packaged food product, includes a powered slicer to sequentially separate slices of food product to create a stack of food product slices. The system also includes a first spray nozzle for depositing a first predetermined amount of the antimicrobial preparation onto the first face of the log or other food product piece each time a slice is removed as well as a a second spray nozzle for depositing a second predetermined amount of the antimicrobial preparation into a vacuum pouch prior to reception of a stack within the pouch. In an embodiment, the spray system is implemented with respect to a mixer/blender to pretreat a mix prior to further processing.

Abstract: A system for producing and transporting portions of food includes a filling machine for continuously transporting a stream of food, a separating device for dividing portions from the transported food stream, and a transport device for delivering the portions to a subsequent processing device. To prevent fluctuations in portion size and weight, the system further includes a sensor unit for generating a portion request signal in response to a portion request from the subsequent processing device. The sensor unit outputs the portion request signal to the filling machine, which is designed to control the continuous transportation of the food stream using the portion request signal. The system is operable to synchronize the entire line, including the filling machine, the separating device, the transport device, and the subsequent processing device.

Abstract: A feeding and cutting structure of stuffing machine includes a hopper assembly and a transmission device. The hopper assembly includes a base having a top to which a plurality of inclined feeding tubes is mounted and a plurality of funnel-like feeding hoppers. The transmission device includes a first cutting/feeding module, a second cutting/feeding module, and a motor assembly. The motor assembly is mounted on the feeding hopper. The first cutting/feeding module includes a hollow tubular shaft coupled to the motor assembly and at least one first blade mounted to the tubular shaft. The second cutting/feeding module includes a spindle composed of upper and lower segments, a rotor coupled between the upper and lower segment, and a plurality of second blades mounted to the spindle. The spindle is received in and in operative coupling with the tubular shaft. The cutting/feeding modules are rotatably received in the hopper assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic preparation of portions of a plurality of food products of different types comprises a conveying device which is configured to convey at least one product carrier from a product slice placement zone of a first cutting apparatus in which a part portion of at least one product slice of a first type is formed on the product carrier to a product slice placement zone of a second cutting apparatus in which a part portion of at least one product slice of a second type is formed on the product carrier which, together with the first portion, forms a desired total portion no longer to be complemented or a part portion still to be complemented by means of a further cutting apparatus.

Abstract: A method of packing and, for purposes of extending its shelf-life, heat treating a food product in a packaging container of paper or paperboard. The packaging container is first filled wholly or at least partly with foam containing a non-oxidizing gas, such as nitrogen, whereafter the wholly or partly filled packaging container is filled with the pertinent food product. After this filling, the packaging container is, where necessary, filled with additional foam to ensure the headspace above the product level in the packaging container is entirely filled with foam when the packaging container is closed and sealed by thermosealing. The closed packaging container filled with product and foam is thereafter subjected to the heat treatment for purposes of extending its shelf-life at a treatment temperature of at least 115° C.

Abstract: A tofu packing apparatus for packing plural tofu blocks in individual packs for sales includes a conveyor for conveying the plural tofu blocks cut to a predetermined size and arrayed at predetermined intervals, and a paired grasp plates be driven in the direction to approach each other. The tofu blocks cut to a predetermined size are grasped with the paired grasp plates, moved to predetermined positions above packaging packs conveyed to predetermined positions with the packaging pack conveyance apparatus, and dropped and packed in the packaging packs through release of grasp by the paired grasp plates. The tofu blocks may be dropped and housed in the packaging packs while at least maintaining the tofu blocks in a holding state by the paired grasp plates.

Abstract: A sheet interleaver is provided for a slicing machine that includes a slicing plane for slicing an elongated food product and a sheet of web material beneath the elongated product. The interleaver includes a supply of web material, a drawing station, and a feed station. A tensioning station is disposed between the supply of web material and the drawing station to maintain the tension of the web material at a pre-determined tension. A web accumulation station is between the drawing station and the feed station to provide a slackened length of web material within an acceptable range of slack between the drawing station and the feed station. The supply of web material is disposed on a spool which rotates about a cylindrical shaft. The cylindrical shaft has a braking mechanism which protrudes from the shaft to generate a frictional force against the spool.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for forming a pouch having an evacuated headspace containing a flowable material. The process relates to optimizing both, the evacuation of the headspace in the pouch and the accuracy of the flowable material filled in the pouch. Specifically, the present invention employs a process that includes a multiple-step or a continuous compression of the pouch headspace to accomplish the goals. Also disclosed is a vertical form-fill-seal apparatus for forming a pouch containing a flowable material and having an evacuated headspace.

Abstract: A tuna fish canning apparatus is provided wherein each can has a premium cake appearance. The machine has first and second turrets adjacent each other which rotate around a common axis. Fish slugs loaded into a shared pocket by the adjacent turrets are severed along a plane between the turrets to produce first and second cakes with each cake having a cut surface and each cake adapted to be transferred into a can. The present invention provides first and second knock-out plungers for ejecting the first and second cakes into cans, wherein the first and second knock-out plungers are positioned on opposite sides of the plane between the first and second turrets so that each cake has its freshly cut surface at the top of the can to provide a premium appearance. A method for achieving the same result is also disclosed.

Abstract: Proposed are a method and a device for consolidation of a number n of items, whose weight varies within predefined limits, in a container to a single unit with a predefined target weight. For this purpose, n-1 portions are combined and the weight of all of the n-1 portions is determined. Then the difference between the target weight of the n portions on the one hand and the weight of the n-1 portions on the other is determined. Ultimately, an nth portion with a precise weight is cut-off from a piece, where the weight equals the weight of the nth portion of the difference. For this purpose, the device is provided with a first and a second insertion station, a scale, a computer, and a portioning and cutting device.

Abstract: A slicing machine has a deposition surface adapted to support a fusible bottom sheet. Slices are cut from a foodstuff and deposited as a stack on the bottom sheet on the surface between edges of the surface so that a fusible top sheet can be placed atop the stack. Respective bars at the surface edges have bar edges and are each pivotal between a working position projecting over the surface with the bar edges aligned vertically with the respective surface edges and rest positions retracted from above the sheet on the surface. Actuators can pivot the bars from their rest positions into their working positions. Heaters are provided in at least some of the edges. In the working positions the sheet edges are pinched between the bar edges and the heated surface to bond the edges together.

Abstract: A plant (10) for the continuous packing of food products in modified atmosphere (11), comprises a machine (12) for continuous packing of food products in modified atmosphere and conveyor (13) for the continuous sequential feeding of food products to the machine. A device (21) is present at the entrance of the machine (12) that temporarily submits a product fed by the conveyor (13) to vacuum and to a modified atmosphere before being packed in modified atmosphere in the machine.

Abstract: An installation for slicing whole loaves and packaging each sliced loaf in its entirety or in halves after splitting of the loaf that has been sliced in its entirety. The installation comprises a slicing device for slicing whole loaves, and a packaging device which is disposed downstream of the slicing device and is suitable both for packaging a sliced loaf in its entirety and for packaging sliced half loaves. Splitting means are disposed downstream of the slicing device, for splitting a sliced whole loaf into a first and a second half. Adjacent and separate first and second conveyor paths are provided between the slicing device and the packaging device, for conveying the first half and the second half respectively of a sliced loaf.

Abstract: In a process for the manufacture of packs, for a product in portions, with a paste-like product that is to be packaged, especially sausages, in a foil tube (15), starting from a band-shaped flat foil (1), which has been provided unilaterally with a connecting layer, this flat foil is unwound from a stock supply (2) and bent in the longitudinal direction to form the tube in such a way that the connecting layer is located on the outside, and the longitudinal sides (10) of the longitudinal edges (9) are located opposite one another, after which a strip (12), which is capable of forming a connection or which is provided with a connecting layer, is placed in the longitudinal direction over both longitudinal edges (9) and is connected to them, after which the foil tube (15), which is formed in this way, is then filled directly with the product that is to be packaged.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning a mark to a plurality of individual pieces of food product to be divided from a sheet of food product before the individual pieces of food product are at least partially divided from the sheet of food product. In an aspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of providing a sheet of food product, transferring the sheet of food product to an intermittently movable conveyor, marking the sheet of food product, feeding the marked sheet of food product to a cutting plate, and dividing, at least partially, the sheet of food product into individual pieces of food product.

Abstract: A slicing machine has a main housing having a horizontal conveyor surface and a subassembly in the main housing for cutting slices from a foodstuff and depositing them on the conveyor surface. A supply housing immediately upstream of the main housing carries a supply roll of flexible strip and mechanism for feeding the flexible strip downstream toward the main housing. A cutter on the supply housing can sever a sheet from a leading end of the flexible strip. A gripper above the surface is displaceable between an upstream and downstream positions of the surface. The gripper is closable to grip and openable to release the leading end of the flexible strip so as it moves into its downstream positions it pulls the strip downstream above the surface and, once the cutter has operated, the gripper opens to drop the sheet severed from the strip down onto the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for slicing food products and for conveying portions (11) of a plurality of imbricated or stacked slices of the product (12), comprising a slicing device and an additional processing unit (14) arranged below the slicing device, especially a packaging machine, in addition to a transfer device (15) which is arranged between the slicing device and the processing unit whereby portions are transferred to the transfer device from the slicing machine and from there said portions are transported to the packaging machine. The transfer device comprises a product support with at least one substantially horizontally extending support area for at least one respective portion which is to be transported.

Abstract: A slicing machine has a main housing having a horizontal conveyor surface and a subassembly in the main housing for cutting slices from a foodstuff and depositing them on the conveyor surface. A supply housing immediately upstream of the main housing carries a supply roll of flexible strip and mechanism for feeding the flexible strip downstream toward the main housing. A cutter on the supply housing can sever a sheet from a leading end of the flexible strip. A gripper above the surface is displaceable between an upstream and downstream positions of the surface. The gripper is closable to grip and openable to release the leading end of the flexible strip so as it moves into its downstream positions it pulls the strip downstream above the surface and, once the cutter has operated, the gripper opens to drop the sheet severed from the strip down onto the surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portioning device for packaging in containers such as trays a pre-established amount of foodstuff such as ground meat, supplied through an extrusion plate of a grinder, which lays down a mass of ground meat in a continuous strip on a belt conveyor. The portioning device generates metered portions of ground meat by a cutting element which operates in cooperation with a fixed element located above the belt conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic tortilla cutter (10) able to cut stacked tortillas utilizing an openable housing (12) having a left housing (12L) and a right housing (12R) pivotally mounted on a housing bracket (12F) therebetween. The cutter (14) is positioned over the housing (12). Both the openable housing (12) and cutter (14) are preferably powered by a piston.

Abstract: A slicing machine that deposits foodstuff slices in a stack atop a support in a stacking station has a sheet-interposing device provided with a supply roll of sheet material and a feed roller for feeding a leading end of the sheet material in a direction to the stacking station. a guide between the station and the roller imparts to the sheet leading end an upwardly concave U-shape to stiffen the sheet leading end so it projects horizontally stiffly from the guide above the station. A cutter movable between the guide and the station cuts off the sheet leading end so that the cut-off end drops down in the station.

Abstract: A tablet packing apparatus is provided which can split a tablet into halves and wrap each of the half tablets automatically. Tablet supply section 1 supplies tablets housed therein kind by kind. Tablet cutting section 2 cuts a tablet supplied from the tablet supply section 1 into two parts. Tablet accumulating section 3 temporarily accumulates each tablet cut at the tablet cutting section. Tablet packing section 4 packs tablets stored in the tablet accumulating section 3.

Abstract: A cold cut slicer having a packaging device is comprised of a sheeting roll having a pulling-out device, and a cutting device for supporting sheets or covering sheets, which are grasped by a swivel arm having evacuatable suction heads and which are brought to the setting-down location of the cold cut slicer. If the swivel arm is extendable, telescope-like, it can additionally grasp and swivel a tray. The cold cuts are stacked or fanned out on the sheeting or the tray. The goods are conveyed by a conveyor belt to a sealing station having a lifting frame and a sealing frame. The lifting frame raises the package made up of sheeting and cold cuts and presses it against the sealing frame. The result is a sealing that is tight all around the package, or is interrupted at the comers, or that is open on one side, like a sack. A short conveyor belt provided in the lifting frame ejects the sealed goods.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced patterns each formed including depressions (196, 198) and/or grooves (24). Food (14) is simultaneously fed by a saddle (36, 36') between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). In the preferred form, the food items include one or more continuous strings (14e, 14f) and one or more continuous, thin strips (14c, 14d) of food adhered to the support material (16).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced patterns each formed including depressions (196, 198) and/or grooves (24). Food (14) is simultaneously fed by a saddle (36, 36') between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). In a preferred form, the saddle (36') is in the form of a block having a trough (24) supplied by food under pressure. Radially disposed barriers (132) divide the trough (24) into axial portions.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves (24) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food (14) is simultaneously fed between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). After extending partially around the periphery of the first forming roller (18), the materials (16, 66) and the food therebetween pass around an adjustable idler roller (70) to between a second abutment nip of the second forming roller (21) and the anvil roller (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing packages containing sliced food products, in which the slices are rolled up into individual rolls by a rolling facility and deposited in a package.

Abstract: A multi-lane extended product transfer filling machine for filling multiple lanes of containers simultaneously. The machine fills pockets with a sized portion at a product sizing station. The pockets are mounted to a chain which transfers the filled pockets from the product sizing station to a remote container filling station. Multiple tampers eject the food product from multiple filled pockets into multiple lanes of containers simultaneously. A programmable operating control unit controls the operation of the machine.

Abstract: The apparatus and method relates to an automatic dispenser for dispensing portions of a product such as ice cream from a supply comprising a coiled tubular casing in which the ice cream is encased. The end of the casing is fed into the apparatus and, as the apparatus operates, moves through to the exit. The casing with its encased ice cream is pulled through the apparatus and pinched at uniform intervals by a first pinching mechanism following which utilizing a second pinching mechanism, the casing with its encased ice cream is further pinched to a thickness of only the casing at the same uniform intervals. The casing with the encased ice cream is then drawn past a cutting device which opens the casing so that a portion defined by sequential pinched segments is dispensed and the casing removed by a scrap spool mechanism.

Abstract: A rolled food item is fabricated by advancing food (14) and a sheet of support material (16) between the rollers (18, 20) of a strip sheeter (12) where the food (14) fills grooves (24) of the first roller (18) to deposit the food (14) in continuous strips on the support material (16). After passing through a cooling tunnel (58), the support material (16) is also cut into strips between the strips of food (14) in a first cutting section (62). The multiplicity of strips are then cut to lengths in a second cutting section (64). Labels (68) are secured to the trailing ends of the strips and the trailing ends of the strips are pressed by a label presser (70) to adhere the labels (68) to the strips. The strips are simultaneously rolled in a roll-up section (74) including a rotatable fork (76). Specifically, after the leading ends of the strips are inserted between the legs (78, 80) of the fork (76), the fork (76) is rotated to roll the strips on the fork (76).

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing and bagging substantially flat food products comprising a frame and a holder conforming to the shape of the food product to be sliced for holding the food in vertical stacked alignment and removably attached to the frame and having at least one slicer faced toward the food product to be sliced and mounted across the holder; and a ram having recessed sections conforming with the slicer for completely driving the food products through the slicer and completely slicing the food products without contacting the slicer, and a coordinated follower positioned below the slicer, a small but effective distance from the slicer for receiving the food products as they are sliced and for preventing the food products from being flayed out of the vertical stacked alignment as the food is sliced and a bagging apparatus for progressively bagging the food as it is sliced and received from the slicer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting debris from the flange area of a can includes directing a pressurized jet onto the flange area while rotating the can about its longitudinal axis. A plunger carries an anvil which is inserted into the can and shields its contents from the spray of the water jet while providing a back up for the cutting action.

Abstract: A method for the preparation and packing of food products, in particular fish products of long keeping quality, includes disintegrating and sterilizing the fish and allowing the sterilized fish mass to coagulate under pressure in a forming and filling pipe. An inside cross-section of the filling pipe corresponds to the cross-section of the packing container wherein the product is to be packed. The forming and filling pipe is provided, moreover, with cut-off elements and flaplike shut-off elements to make possible the separation and feeding out of the product from the forming and filling pipe to the packing containers.