Method and apparatus for packaging meat
AssigneeMarlen Research Corporation
InventorsMichael P. Gorlich, Robert F. McPherson, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for packaging meat involves the steps of evacuating air entrained in the meat or between the meat and tray at a station prior to the packaging covering station. When a rotary conveyor is used, this may involve an additional station. However, parallel processing allows low oxygen contents to be achieved inside packages containing food products, which naturally include entrained air, without unduly extending processing time.
Claims17
A packaging method using a plastic film cutting tool, said tool including a closed cutting blade for cutting a web of plastic film, said cutting blade being supported on a blade support for movement towards and away from said film and said blade support being insulated from said cutting blade, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. heating a portion of said blade to a temperature between about 600° F. to 900° F.;
- b. causing the temperature of said cutting blade to exceed the temperature of said support;
- c. allowing said blade to heat expand relative to said blade support;
- d. bringing said film and said heated portion of said cutting blade into close proximity;
- e. non-linearly severing said film by heating the film adjacent said cutting blade;
- f. causing said severed film to shrink away from said cutting blade;
- and
- g. cutting a closed shape out of said web of plastic film with said cutting blade.
A packaging machine including an apparatus for cutting a film portion from a plastic film web, said apparatus comprising:
- a blade arranged in a substantially closed geometrical shape;
- a heating element for heating said blade;
- a mechanism for moving said blade towards and away from the web to be cut;
- and
- a blade mounting device connecting said mechanism to said blade, said device adapted to permit heat expansion of said blade relative to said mechanism.
A packaging method using a plastic film cutting tool having a cutting blade supported on a blade support assembly, said blade arranged to cut a shape from a web of plastic film, said method comprising the steps of:
- heating a portion of said blade to temperatures sufficient to vaporize the film around the shape to be severed from the web;
- bringing the film and said cutting blade into close proximity above the shape to be severed from the web;
- allowing said heated portion of said blade to heat expand relative to said blade support assembly;
- supporting said heated portion with said blade support assembly at at least two locations;
- fixing said heated portion of said blade to said support assembly to prevent relative heat expansion at one location where said heated portion is supported by said blade support assembly;
- and
- allowing said heated portion to heat expand relative to said blade support assembly at another location where said heated portion is supported by said blade support assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.