Process and machine for making clipless chub package containing viscous product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11738894-B2
Application number	US-201615761930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2016
Priority date	Sep 21, 2015
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A cyclic packaging process, such as VFFS or HFFS, packages a product with a viscosity of ≥100,000 centipoise without leaving substantial air pockets in the package, by utilizing a means (38) for restricting upstream flow of viscous product in the strand of tubing (24). The result is that packages of uniform weight of the viscous product can be made without substantial air pockets therein, and without having to use metal clips. An apparatus (10) for carrying out the process is disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the film tubing travels vertically downward from the forming collar during packaging of the viscous meat product.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the downstream end of the supply pipe remains submerged in the viscous meat product throughout the repeating of the cycle of steps (F) through (M) in the making and severing of the second package and the preparation of the third package.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation of at least one of the squeeze rollers is powered.

5. The process according claim 1 , wherein the viscous meat product has a viscosity of from 100,000 centipoise to 5,000,000 centipoise at standard conditions, and the viscous meat product is.

6. An apparatus for packaging a product having a viscosity of ≥100,000 centipoise at standard conditions, the apparatus comprising:
(A) a forming collar for configuring a flat film into a tubing configuration, the forming collar providing a first passageway therethrough;
(B) a longitudinal heat sealer for making a longitudinal seal of the flat film to itself while the flat film is in the tubing configuration, to form a longitudinally sealed tubing;
(C) first and second pairs of powered wheels in nip relationship for forwarding the sealed tubing, with a second passageway between the first and second pairs of powered wheels;
(D) an upper transverse heat sealer for making a package bottom transverse seal, and a lower transverse heat sealer for making a package top transverse seal;
(E) a transverse tubing cutter between the upper transverse heat sealer and the lower transverse heat sealer;
(F) a means for restricting upstream flow of viscous meat product pumped into the tubing, the means for restricting upstream flow of the viscous meat product being between the powered rollers and the upper transverse heat sealer, the means for restricting upstream flow of the viscous meat product providing a third passageway therethrough,
(G) a supply pipe for pumping viscous meat product into the sealed tubing, the supply pipe extending through the first passageway, the second passageway, and the third passageway, the supply pipe having an open downstream end which is downstream of the means for restricting the flow of the viscous meat product;
(H) a pair of squeeze rollers transverse to the sealed tubing, the squeeze rollers being moveable toward and away from the tubing, the squeeze rollers being downstream of the downstream end of the supply pi

Assignees

• Cryovac Inc
• Cryovac Llc

Inventors

• Caudle Timothy Gray
• Ellis Matthew F
• Kiss Csaba F
• Moon Joseph E
• Smith Dwight H
• Daly Michael P

Classifications

• B65D75/48

  containing liquids, semiliquids, or pastes, e.g. cushion-shaped packages · CPC title

• B65B9/12 Primary

  Subdividing filled tubes to form two or more packages by sealing or securing involving displacement of contents · CPC title

• A22C11/00

  Sausage making {(chemical aspects A23L13/00); Apparatus for handling or conveying sausage products during manufacture} · CPC title

• B65B3/02

  Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B65B3/12

  mechanically, e.g. by pistons or pumps · CPC title