| CPC B65B 9/12 (2013.01) [A22C 11/00 (2013.01); B65B 3/02 (2013.01); B65B 3/12 (2013.01); B65B 3/14 (2013.01); B65B 3/16 (2013.01); B65B 9/2007 (2013.01); B65B 9/207 (2013.01); B65B 9/213 (2013.01); B65B 41/12 (2013.01); B65B 51/303 (2013.01); B65B 61/06 (2013.01)] | 8 Claims |
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1. A cyclical process for packaging a viscous meat product in a clipless package, comprising:
(A) forwarding a flat film from a rollstock, the flat film having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge;
(B) passing the flat film over a forming collar to configure the film into a tubing;
(C) heat sealing together first and second portions of the flat film with a longitudinal heat sealer to form a longitudinally sealed tubing, the first and second portions being along the first and second lateral edges, respectively, with the forming collar having a first passageway therethrough;
(D) forwarding the longitudinally sealed tubing to a transverse heat sealer and a transverse tubing cutter;
(E) heat sealing across the longitudinally sealed film tubing with a transverse heat sealer, to make a package bottom transverse heat seal;
(F) pumping the viscous meat product through a supply pipe extending through the first passageway, the supply pipe having a downstream end inside the longitudinally sealed film tubing, the viscous meat product emerging from the downstream end of the supply pipe and into the tubing, the viscous meat product having a viscosity ≥100,000 centipoise at standard conditions;
(G) filling a portion of the longitudinally sealed film tubing with the viscous meat product during the pumping of the viscous meat product into the longitudinally sealed film tubing, the viscous meat product filling the tubing above the package bottom transverse heat seal to a point upstream of the downstream end of the supply pipe so that the downstream end of the supply pipe is submerged in the viscous meat product in order to minimize trapped air within the viscous meat product inside the film tubing;
(H) restricting upstream movement of the viscous meat product at a point upstream of the downstream end of the supply pipe but downstream of the longitudinal heat sealer, the restricting being carried out by providing a means for restricting upstream flow of viscous meat product, with the means for restricting assisting in (i) minimizing air pockets inside the portion of the tubing filled with the viscous meat product, and (ii) minimizing the weight variation between a plurality of packaged products made using the tubing;
(I) squeezing a meat-filled portion of the tubing with a pair of squeeze rollers, the squeeze rollers being moveable toward and away from the viscous meat product-filled tubing, the squeeze rollers contacting the viscous meat product-filled tubing between the downstream end of the supply pipe and the transverse heat sealer, the squeeze rollers being moved toward and contacting the outer surface of a meat-filled portion of the tubing and squeezing the viscous meat product-filled tubing into a lay-flat configuration with no viscous meat product between the lay-flat sides of the tubing where the squeeze rollers are in nip relationship, the squeeze rollers separating the viscous meat product into a package portion of viscous meat product downstream of the squeeze rollers, and a supply portion of viscous meat product upstream of the squeeze rollers;
(J) forwarding the tubing while the squeeze rollers are in nip relationship with the tubing in lay-flat configuration between the squeeze rollers, to provide a portion of the tubing in lay-flat configuration below the squeeze rollers but above a package portion of viscous meat product which is in contact with the first transverse heat seal;
(K) making a second transverse heat seal and a third transverse heat seal in the portion of the tubing in lay-flat configuration below the squeeze rollers but above the package portion of viscous meat product in the portion of the tubing below the squeeze rollers;
(L) making a transverse cut across the tubing between the second transverse heat seal and the third transverse heat seal, thereby disconnecting a first viscous meat product-filled package from a remainder of the tubing;
(M) moving the squeeze rollers away from the film tubing, with the supply portion of viscous meat product moving toward and contacting the third heat seal, with the supply portion of the viscous meat product being replenished by pumping additional viscous meat product through the supply pipe;
(N) repeating a cycle of steps (F) through (M) in the making of a second package and the preparation of a third package
wherein the means for restricting upstream flow of viscous meat product comprises a first restriction roller mounted on a frame in nip relationship with a second restriction roller mounted on the frame, with the lay-flat tubing therebetween, with at least one of the restriction rollers having a section of reduced diameter to allow passage of the supply pipe between the restriction rollers while the restriction rollers are in nip relationship the supply pipe being within the lay-flat tubing both upstream and downstream of the restriction rollers; at least one of the restricting rollers is moveable along an opening in the frame toward and away from the lay-flat tubing so that if any viscous meat product squeezes upstream past the restriction rollers, at least one of the restriction rollers is movable away from the lay-flat film tubing to allow the viscous meat product upstream of the restriction rollers to be forwarded as the film tubing is forwarded.
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