U.S. patent application number 11/013631 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-21 for wax-coated cheese.
Invention is credited to Kempter, Klaus, Rupp, Ludwig, Westermann, Werner.
Application Number | 20050158442 11/013631 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34486252 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050158442 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Westermann, Werner ; et
al. |
July 21, 2005 |
Wax-coated cheese
Abstract
A wax-coated cheese comprising a cheese portion, a first inner
wax layer covering the cheese portion, a second outer wax layer
covering the first inner wax layer, a tear strip between the first
inner and second outer wax layers covering selected parts of the
first inner wax layer and comprising at least one portion which
protrudes from the first inner and second outer wax layers and
comprising an adhesive layer for adhering the tear strip to the
first inner wax layer. Also disclosed is a corresponding packaging
system and a packaging process.
Inventors: |
Westermann, Werner;
(Unterhaching, DE) ; Kempter, Klaus; (Freising,
DE) ; Rupp, Ludwig; (Lochau, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITCH EVEN TABIN AND FLANNERY
120 SOUTH LA SALLE STREET
SUITE 1600
CHICAGO
IL
60603-3406
US
|
Family ID: |
34486252 |
Appl. No.: |
11/013631 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/582 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23C 19/166 20130101;
B65D 75/38 20130101; B65D 75/68 20130101; B65D 85/76 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/582 |
International
Class: |
B65D 033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2003 |
EP |
03029259.3 |
Claims
1. Wax-coated cheese, comprising: (a) a cheese portion; (b) a first
inner wax layer covering said cheese portion; (c) a second outer
wax layer covering said first inner wax layer; and (d) a tear strip
between said first inner and second outer wax layers covering
selected parts of said first inner wax layer and comprising at
least one portion which protrudes from said first inner and second
outer wax layers and comprising an adhesive layer for adhering said
tear strip to said first inner wax layer.
2. The wax-coated cheese according to claim 1, wherein said tear
strip comprises a plurality of holes throughout, through which said
first inner and second outer wax layers are firmly connected.
3. The wax-coated cheese according to claim 2, wherein the cheese
is processed cheese.
4. The wax-coated cheese according to claim 3, wherein said first
inner wax layer is uncolored.
5. The wax-coated cheese according to claim 4, wherein said second
outer wax layer is colored.
6. The wax-coated cheese according to claim 5, wherein said cheese
portion has a generally triangular form.
7. The wax-coated cheese according to claim 6, wherein said tear
strip is provided on three side walls of said cheese portion and
has one protruding portion.
8. The wax-coated cheese according to claim 6, wherein said tear
strip is provided at two elongated side walls of said cheese
portion and has one protruding portion.
9. The wax-coated cheese according to claim 6, wherein said tear
strip is provided at two elongated side walls of said cheese
portion and has two protruding portions.
10. The wax-coated cheese according to claim 6, wherein the tear
strip is provided at the top and at one elongated sidewall of the
processed cheese portion and has one protruding portion.
11. A packaging system for packaging a cheese portion, comprising:
(a) a first inner wax layer covering said cheese portion; (b) a
second outer wax layer covering said first inner wax layer; and (c)
a tear strip between said first inner and second outer wax layers
covering selected parts of said first inner wax layers and
comprising at least one portion which protrudes from said first
inner and second outer wax layers, and comprising an adhesive layer
for adhering said tear strip to said first inner wax layer.
12. The packaging system according to claim 11, wherein said tear
strip comprises a plurality of holes throughout, through which said
first inner and second outer wax layers are firmly connected.
13. The packaging system according to claim 11 for packaging
processed cheese.
14. The packaging system according to claim 11, wherein said first
inner wax layer is uncolored.
15. The packaging system according to claim 14, wherein said outer
wax layer is colored.
16. The packaging system according to claim 13, wherein said
packaging system has a triangular form.
17. The packaging system according to claim 16, wherein said tear
strip is provided on three side walls of processed cheese portion
and has one protruding portion.
18. The packaging system according to claim 13, wherein said tear
strip is provided on two elongated side walls of processed cheese
portion and has one or two protruding portions.
19. The packaging system according to claim 16, wherein said tear
strip is provided on the top and at one elongated side wall of
processed cheese portion and has one protruding portion.
20. A process for packaging a cheese portion, comprising the steps
of: (a) providing a cheese portion with a first inner wax layer;
(b) placing a tear strip over selected parts of said first inner
wax layer, wherein said tear strip comprises at least one portion
which protrudes from said first inner wax layer and wherein said
tear strip has an adhesive layer for adhering said tear strip to
said first inner wax layer; and (c) applying a second outer wax
layer onto said first inner wax layer and said tear strip.
21. The process according to claim 20, wherein said tear strip has
a plurality of holes throughout, and wherein step (c) is carried
out under conditions which allow said first inner and second outer
wax layers to melt together and form a firm connection through said
holes of said tear strip.
22. The process according to claim 21, wherein said cheese portion
is a processed cheese portion.
23. The process according to claim 20, wherein said first inner wax
layer is uncolored.
24. The process according to claim 23, wherein said second outer
wax layer is colored.
25. The process according to claim 22, wherein said processed
cheese portion has a triangular form.
26. The process according to claim 25, wherein said tear strip is
provided on three side walls of said processed cheese portion and
has one protruding portion.
27. The process according to claim 25, wherein said tear strip is
provided on two elongated side walls of said processed cheese
portion and has one or two protruding portions.
28. The process according to claim 25, wherein said tear strip is
provided on the top and at one elongated side wall of the processed
cheese portion and has one protruding portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to wax-coated cheese, a new
coating/opening system and a process for making same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] In many consumer packaging applications, it is important to
prevent air or water or the like from passing out of or into the
package containing certain products. This is particularly true with
respect to cheese packages for which the contained product must be
kept in a controlled environment to prevent spoilage and
deterioration. In order to preserve the integrity and safety of
such a cheese product contained within such a package, the
periphery of the package may be hermetically sealed.
[0003] It is known from various prior art documents to protect
cheese against surface deterioration as caused principally by the
formation of mold, by means of a surrounding film consisting of an
impermeable flexible coating material such as wax, covering the
cheese to be protected and in which is embedded a strip of which
one or two ends protrude from the outer surface of the surrounding
envelope, thereby enabling the cheese to be disengaged from the
envelope after the strip has been removed.
[0004] Such cheese products and processes for making them are for
example described in French Patent No. 1,388,048.
[0005] The entire packaging process in which the cheese is covered
with the protecting wax layer and with the tear strip must take
place under the strict environmental conditions required to extend
shelf life, which is complicated and expensive.
[0006] There is a need for a system and process for packaging
cheese in a less complicated and less expensive manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One embodiment of the invention comprises:
[0008] (a) a cheese portion,
[0009] (b) a first inner wax layer covering the cheese portion,
[0010] (c) a second outer wax layer covering the first inner
layer,
[0011] (d) a tear strip between the first inner and second outer
wax layers covering selected parts of the first inner wax layer and
comprising a portion which protrudes from the first inner and
second outer wax layers and comprising an adhesive layer for
adhering the tear strip to the first inner layer.
[0012] In preferred embodiments of the invention the first inner
wax layer is uncolored and/or the second outer wax layer is
colored.
[0013] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the tear
strip comprises a plurality of holes throughout through which the
first inner and second outer wax layers are firmly connected.
[0014] The cheese may be natural cheese, processed cheese, cream or
fresh cheese or any other type of cheese. The preferred cheese is
processed cheese.
[0015] The cheese portion may have any desired form and is
preferably triangular.
[0016] The invention also may provide a corresponding packaging
system useful for packaging a processed cheese portion.
[0017] In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the tear
strip surrounds all three side walls of a generally triangular
processed cheese portion and has one protruding portion.
[0018] In another preferred embodiment, the tear strip is provided
at the two elongated side walls of the triangular processed cheese
portion and has one or two protruding portions.
[0019] In still another embodiment, the tear strip is provided at
the top and at one elongated side wall of the processed cheese
portion and has one protruding portion.
[0020] Furthermore, there is provided a process for packaging a
cheese portion that may comprise
[0021] (a) providing a cheese portion with a first inner wax
layer,
[0022] (b) placing a tear strip with its adhesive layer over
selected parts of the first inner wax layer wherein the tear strip
comprises a portion which protrudes from the first inner wax
layer,
[0023] (c) applying a second outer wax layer onto the first inner
wax layer and the tear strip.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tear strip
has a plurality of holes throughout and step (c) is carried out
under conditions which allow the first inner and second outer wax
layers to melt together and form a firm connection through the
holes of the tear strip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1a is perspective side view of a triangular cheese
portion covered with a first inner wax layer which is surrounded on
its side walls with a preferred tear strip having a plurality of
holes and one protruding tear strip portion;
[0026] FIG. 1b is a perspective side view of the embodiment of FIG.
1a which is covered with a second outer wax layer;
[0027] FIG. 1c is a perspective side view of the embodiment of FIG.
1b which is opened at two sides after tearing the tear strip;
[0028] FIGS. 2a to 2c are perspective side views of another
embodiment corresponding to FIG. 1a to 1c with a preferred tear
strip on the two elongated side walls of the cheese portion having
a plurality of holes and one protruding tear strip portion;
[0029] FIGS. 3a to 3c are perspective side views of another
embodiment of the present invention with a preferred tear strip on
top and on one elongated side wall of the processed cheese portion
having a plurality of holes and one protruding tear strip
portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The present invention relates to cheese and a new packaging
system which is useful for packaging cheese. The key advantage of
this new packaging system is the avoidance of carrying out the
entire packaging process under the strict environmental conditions
required to extend shelf life.
[0031] The cheese portions are simply covered under those strict
environmental conditions with one preferably uncolored wax layer
and all of the remaining packaging steps, i.e., fixing the tear
strip onto the first inner wax layer and applying the second outer
wax layer, can then be effected under less strict environmental
conditions, which is most advantageous.
[0032] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be explained
with respect to the drawings.
[0033] The cheese may be any known type of cheese, e.g., natural
cheese, processed cheese or cream or fresh cheese. Preferably it is
processed cheese.
[0034] As mentioned above, the cheese portion to be packaged can
have any desired form but is preferably triangular.
[0035] FIG. 1a shows in a perspective view a cheese portion 5 which
is covered with a first inner wax layer 1 and which is surrounded
on all of its three side walls with a tear strip 2 which has a
portion 3 which protrudes from the tip of the cheese portion 5 and
which has as a preferred embodiment a plurality of holes 6 along
its length. The tear strip 2 has been fixed onto the first inner
wax layer 1 by means of an adhesive.
[0036] FIG. 1b shows the embodiment of FIG. 1a which has been
covered with a second outer wax layer 4. The application of the
second outer wax layer 4 is carried out under conditions which lead
to a melting together of the two wax layers 1, 4 so that they can
easily be separated from the cheese portion 5. The two wax layers
1, 4 also melt together through the holes 6 of the tear strip 2 so
that the tear strip is firmly embedded between the two wax layers
1,4. This allows an accurate opening of the outer wax layer 4 along
the lines of the tear strip 2. The same applies to the first inner
wax layer 1 which firmly adheres to the tear strip 2 by means of
the adhesive with which it has been fixed onto the first inner wax
layer 1 and by means of the holes 6 of the tear strip 2 through
which the two wax layers 1, 4 have been melted together. As
mentioned above, the holes in the tear strip relate to a preferred
embodiment of the invention, and are not necessary to carry out the
invention. Normally, the adhesive layer on the tear strip is
sufficient to form a firm connection to the first inner wax layer
1.
[0037] FIG. 1c shows the same embodiment which has been opened by
tearing away the tear strip 2 from two sides of the triangular
cheese portions. It can be seen that the inner side of the tear
strip 2 is covered with the first inner wax layer 1 which has been
torn away from the cheese portion 5 and the tear strip 2 can be
easily and completely separated by further tearing the tear strip 2
from the third side wall of the cheese portion 5. Finally, the top
and the bottom comprising the second outer wax layer 4 and the
attached first inner wax to layer 1 can then easily be separated,
and the cheese portion 5 is ready for consumption.
[0038] If the tear strip 2 has holes, the second outer wax layer 4
is applied under conditions which lead to a melting together of the
first inner wax layer 1 and the second outer wax layer 4 and the
melting together also takes place through the hole of the tear
strip 2, so that the tear strip 2 is firmly fixed between the first
inner and second outer wax layers 1, 4, so that the tearing away of
the tear strip 2 takes with it the corresponding parts of the first
inner wax layer 1 and the second outer way layer 4.
[0039] After detaching the top and bottom portions of the second
outer wax layer 4 to which the first inner wax layer 1 firmly
adheres, the cheese portion 5 is ready for consumption.
[0040] A similar embodiment is shown in a perspective view in FIGS.
2a to 2c. The tear strip 2 is fixed only to the two elongated aide
walls of the cheese portion 5 covered with the first inner wax
layer 1 but it has one protruding tear strip portion so that it can
be opened by pulling the tear strip portion 3 towards and around
the tip of the cheese portion 5. Then, the top and bottom portions
of the outer wax layer 4 can be opened and the cheese portion 5 is
ready for consumption.
[0041] A further preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in
FIGS. 3a to 3c. Here, the top and one side wall of the cheese
portion 5 are covered with the tear strip 2 which, again, has in a
preferred embodiment a plurality of holes 6 throughout and one
protruding portion 3.
[0042] The situation after tearing away tear strip 2 is shown in
FIG. 3c. The top portion of the cheese portion 2 and one of the
elongated side walls are separated from the package and the cheese
portion 5 can be taken out of the package and consumed.
[0043] The process for packaging cheese according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated in more
detail. The process will be described with respect to process
cheese. However, as mentioned above, the invention may be useful
for any type of cheese.
[0044] As a separate first production step hot and liquid process
cheese is filled into casings and cooled down. These casings with
process cheese can be stored for several days before proceeding
with the following production steps.
[0045] After removal of the casing the firm process cheese sausage
is cut into slices (preferably round) and each slice is cut into
portions 5 (preferably six portions 5 that are generally
triangularly shaped). Due to this cutting operation the preferred
triangle portion 5 consists of 2 straight sides and 1 rounded side.
After the cutting these cheese portions 5 are placed separately on
a conveyor belt. Automatically by transporting on belts and rolls
the portions pass a waxing station. The wax is hot and liquid and
will cover the portions 5 completely (preferably the wax is sprayed
onto the top and bottom of the portion 5) with a thin first inner
wax layer 1 which might be optionally colored. These production
steps from the removal of the casing through application of the
first wax layer 1 are preferably conducted in a clean room
environment. After these production steps it is possible to take
out the waxed process cheese portions and store the portions
(preferably under refrigeration) for several days.
[0046] The following steps can be done without clean room
conditions. The pre-waxed process cheese portions, either from the
storage or directly coming out of the first waxing step, pass a
label applicator which adds self-adhesive labels with or without
holes onto the first inner wax layer 1. Some options how to apply
the label are set forth below. Other label shapes and label
positioning on the first inner layer wax 1 are possible.
[0047] Option 1: the self adhesive label is a rectangular elongated
tear strip 2 with or without holes 6 which is applied onto the two
sides of the first inner wax layer 1 with a protruding portion 3
(opening handle) on the tip of the portion 5 (FIGS. 1a-e).
[0048] Option 2: the self adhesive label is a rectangular elongated
tear strip 2 with or without holes 6 which is applied to the two
long sides of the first inner wax layer 1 with a protruding portion
3 close to the round side of the portion 5 (FIGS. 2a-c).
[0049] Option 3: the self adhesive label, generally triangularly
shaped with or without holes 6 is applied to the top side and to
one of the long sides of the first inner wax layer 1. The
protruding portion 3 is positioned at a corner of the round side of
the portion 5 (FIGS. 3a-c).
[0050] After the label placement onto the process cheese portion,
the portion automatically by transporting on belts and rolls passes
a second waxing station. This wax is also hot and liquid and will
cover the portions completely (preferably the wax is sprayed onto
the top and bottom of the portion) with a thin second outer layer 4
which might be optionally colored. The self adhesive label is
designed such that a part of the label is a protruding portion 3
standing away from the process cheese portion and this part is
foreseen to be used as the opening handle.
[0051] After cooling each waxed process cheese portion can be
further packed. Potential options of packing are wrapping, netting,
flow packing or packing into other packaging. The preferred option
is wrapping into a thin pre-printed plastic film with an automatic
wrapping machine.
[0052] The present invention will now be illustrated by a specific
example which is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention.
EXAMPLE
[0053] Process cheese is filled into sausage casings of
approximately 1 meter length and 98 mm diameter. After cooling, the
sausage casing is removed and cheese slices with a thickness of
approximately 14 mm are cut. Six process cheese portions are cut
out of each round slice with a diameter of 98 mm. The dimension of
one generally triangular cheese portion 5 equals a segment with a
49 mm radius, an angle of 60 degrees and a height of 14 mm. The
weight per triangle is approx. 20 g. The weight of six pieces is
120 g. Each triangle passes a wax bath (white wax, at about
85.degree. C.) where the first transparent inner wax layer 1 is
added. This wax is a blend of hydrocarbon based waxes and plastics.
The triangle portion 5 is moving forward on rolls and the wax is
sprayed from the top and from the bottom side to ensure that it is
completely covered by wax. Approximately 1.5 grams of wax (about
0.1-0.2 mm thickness) is added. These operations are done in a
clean room (according to class 10.000 US Fed. Standard 209 D).
[0054] The following operations are then done at "normal
environmental conditions". After the wax bath the triangle portion
5 is cooled down to temperatures of about 20 degrees C. by passing
a cooling cell (cold air circulation). Each portion 5 is maintained
(by belts) in a defined horizontal direction on the conveyor belt.
One side of the triangle is in the direction of the tear strip
applicator. The tear strip applicator (standard equipment, PAGO
company) applies a self adhesive tear strip 2 which is made of
polypropylene and coated with an adhesive layer. The rectangular
tear strip 2 (preferred embodiment) contains holes 6 (preferably
round, but any other shape is possible). With the aid of the
adhesive one side of the tear strip 2 is fixed on the inner wax
layer 1. By passing a roll, the other side of the label is pressed
onto the inner wax layer 1. The tear strip 2 is added according to
FIG. 2 with one protruding portion 3 (opening handle). Each
triangle then passes a second wax bath (blue wax, about 75.degree.
C.) where a second outer wax layer 4 is added. This wax is a blend
of hydrocarbon based waxes, plastics and blue pigments.
Approximately 3.0 grams of blue wax (about 0.2-0.4 mm thickness) is
added. The portion 5 moves forward on rolls and the wax is sprayed
from the top and from the bottom to ensure that the portion is
completely covered by wax. As the tear strip 2 contains holes the
second outer wax layer 4 is partially melting the first inner wax
layer 1 in the area of the holes. This results in good removal of
the two wax layers 1, 4 by pulling off the tear strip 2. After the
wax bath the generally triangular portions 5 are kept refrigerated
(at about 4.degree. C.) before they will be ready for adding a
secondary packaging (e.g., a cellophane wrapper).
* * * * *