U.S. patent application number 11/342981 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-02 for apparatus and method for separating stacks of food products slices.
This patent application is currently assigned to Schreiber Foods, Inc.. Invention is credited to Galen Wayne Carter.
Application Number | 20070178196 11/342981 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37057228 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070178196 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carter; Galen Wayne |
August 2, 2007 |
Apparatus and method for separating stacks of food products
slices
Abstract
A system for separating multiple stacked slices of food slices
includes a plurality of overlying food slices that are arranged in
at least two columns, with a first column having a side adjacent to
a side of a second column. Each of the plurality of food slices are
separated by a divider that includes a weakened region between the
sides of the first and second columns of food slices. A method of
separating multiple stacks of food slices includes stacking a
plurality of food slices into at least two columns of food slices,
placing a divider between each food slice in each of at least two
columns, wherein the divider includes a weakened region located
between the at least two columns of food slices, and separating the
at least two columns of food slices by separating the plurality of
dividers along the weakened region of each divider.
Inventors: |
Carter; Galen Wayne;
(Clinton, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Assignee: |
Schreiber Foods, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
37057228 |
Appl. No.: |
11/342981 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/119 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 35/50 20130101;
B65B 25/068 20130101; B65B 25/08 20130101; B65D 57/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/119 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/50 20060101
B65D005/50 |
Claims
1. A system for separating multiple food slices comprising: a
plurality of overlying food slices that are arranged in at least
two columns, with a first column having a side adjacent to a side
of a second column; wherein each of the plurality of food slices in
each of the first and second columns are separated by a divider;
and wherein each of the dividers includes a weakened region located
between the sides of the first and second columns of food
slices.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the dividers comprise a
sheet of paper.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the dividers further
comprise a top and a bottom surface having a non-stick coating.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the weakened region in each of the
dividers comprise a plurality of horizontal cuts along the weakened
region.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the weakened region in each of the
dividers comprise a thinner cross-section than remaining portions
of the dividers.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the weakened region in each of the
plurality of dividers are substantially parallel to each other and
are substantially aligned in a vertical plane that extends through
a boundary region between the first column and the second
column.
7. A method for separating multiple stacks of food slices
comprising: providing a plurality of food slices; stacking the
plurality of food slices into at least two columns of food slices,
while placing a divider between each food slice in each of the at
least two columns, wherein the divider includes a weakened region
located between the at least two columns of food slices; and
separating the at least two columns of food slices by separating
the plurality of dividers along the weakened region of each
divider.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of placing a divider
between each food slices further comprises placing a sheet of paper
between the food slices.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of placing a divider
between each food slices comprises placing a plurality of dividers
with a top and a bottom surface that includes a non-stick
coating.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of placing the a divider
between each food slice comprises placing dividers in which the
weakened region comprises a plurality of horizontal cuts along the
length of the weakened region.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of placing a divider
between each food slice comprises placing dividers in which the
weakened region in each of the dividers comprise a thinner
cross-section than remaining portions of each of the dividers.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein placing a divider between each
food slice in which each of the plurality of dividers are
substantially parallel to each other and are each substantially
aligned with a vertical plane that extends through a boundary
region between the first column and the second column.
13. A system for organizing a plurality of food product slices
comprising: a plurality of food product slices organized to form a
plurality of adjacent columns with a plurality of levels of food
slices within each of the plurality of columns; a plurality of
dividers positioned between the plurality of food product slices
within each of the plurality of adjacent columns, wherein each of
the dividers are positioned to establish a dividing point between
the plurality of levels of food slices; wherein each of the
plurality of dividers further comprise a weakened region, wherein
each of the weakened regions are substantially aligned in a
vertical plane that extends through a boundary region between the
adjacent columns.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the weakened region comprises a
plurality of horizontal cuts along the weakened region.
15. The system of claim 13 wherein the weakened region comprises a
thinner cross-section than remaining portions of the dividers.
16. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of food product
slices further comprise a plurality of slices of cheese.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of
dividers comprise a sheet of paper.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein each of the sheets of paper
further comprise a top and a bottom surface having a substantially
non-stick coating.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the weakened region comprises a
plurality of horizontal cuts along the weakened region.
20. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of adjacent
columns comprises two adjacent columns.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates, generally, to food product packaging
and, more specifically, to an apparatus to maintain separation
between multiple food products, such as slices of cheese, that are
stored, shipped, and used with the slices of food products placed
in stacks and to a method of using
BACKGROUND
[0002] Traditionally, many food products, such as cheese, are made
and then formed into thin slices to facilitate their use by the end
user. Often for ease of storage and shipment, the cheese slices are
stacked into vertical columns. A known problem with this
arrangement of cheese is that the stacked cheese slices tend to
stick together, which makes it difficult for a user, such as a
commercial food vendor whose preparation time and efficiency is at
a premium, to separate the cheese slices without damaging the slice
being removed from the column of cheese or the slices remaining in
the column. A solution that has been used in the art is to place a
thin sheet of paper, or interleaf, between each slice that can
easily manipulated by the user to remove the piece of paper and the
slice resting on the paper from the column of cheese.
[0003] When interleaf paper is used to separate slices of cheese in
a column, it is often advantageous to organize the slices of cheese
to form multiple adjacent vertical columns of cheese slices, with a
single sheet of interleaf paper used to separate each layer of
cheese in the neighboring columns. This formation of cheese slices
provides efficient shipment and storage of the stacks of cheese
slices, and reduces packaging costs by separating the cheese slices
in the neighboring columns with single sheets of interleaf
paper.
[0004] Although it is often advantageous to form two neighboring
columns of cheese, this arrangement of cheese slices is often
problematic for end users of stacked cheese slices. This is because
their facilities or preparation areas are often only designed with
enough space to accept one column of cheese. Therefore, the users
separate the two columns of cheese slices so that only one column
of cheese is used at a time. Often, the end user must cut the
multiple interleaf sheets that interconnect the two columns of
cheese slices with a knife or with another similar cutting
apparatus, which is a time consuming and labor intensive
process.
[0005] Therefore, a need existed for a structure that can be used
to separate multiple slices of food products in neighboring columns
and that can allow for easy separation of neighboring columns so
that an end user can use only one column of food products at a
time.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention provides a system for separating
multiple food product slices. The system includes a plurality of
overlying food product slices that are arranged in at least two
columns, with a first column having a side adjacent to a side of a
second column. Each of the plurality of food product slices in each
of the first and second columns are separated by a divider that
includes a weakened region disposed between the sides of the first
and second columns of food product slices.
[0007] The present invention also provides a method for separating
multiple stacked food product slices. The method includes the steps
of providing a plurality of food product slices, stacking the
plurality of food product slices into at least two columns of food
product slices, while placing a divider between each food product
slice in each of the at least two columns. The divider includes a
weakened region between the columns of food product slices. The
method additionally includes the step of separating the at least
two columns of food product slices by separating the plurality of
dividers along the weakened region of each divider.
[0008] Advantages of the present invention will become more
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description
of the preferred embodiments of the invention that have been shown
and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the
invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its
details are capable of modification in various respects.
Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as
illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two parallel columns of food
slices showing a perforated interleaf paper in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the perforated interleaf paper of
FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the two parallel columns of
food slices showing the two parallel columns of FIG. 1 being
separated; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a roll of perforated
interleaf paper in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a plurality of food slices 20 and 40
can be arranged into adjacent columns 30 and 32. Specifically, as
best shown in FIG. 1, columns 30 and 32 may be formed within close
proximity to each other with an edge 22 of a first stack 30
arranged in parallel with an edge 42 of a second stack 32. In other
embodiments, more than two columns of food slices can be formed in
close proximity to the other stacks of food slices, with
neighboring edges either parallel to each other or arranged in
another manner to limit the space between the columns of food
slices. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the system
and method described herein can apply to a variety of food
products. For example, process cheese, meat, jelly, condiments, and
the like can be arranged in accordance with this invention.
[0014] Each of the multiple food slices 20 and 40 in each column
are separated by a divider, such as an interleaf 60. Preferably,
interleaf 60 is formed as a sheet of paper, although in other
embodiments interleaf 60 can be formed by other materials, such as
aluminum foil, thin plastic film, or other materials that are known
in the art to be flexible, strong, and provide a moisture barrier.
Preferably, a top surface 66 and a bottom surface (not shown) of
interleaf 60 each include a non-stick coating, such as a thin
coating of wax, to prevent the interleaf 60 from sticking to the
food. In other embodiments, interleaf 60 may be formed so that each
of its top surface 66 and bottom surface (not shown) inherently do
not stick to other objects.
[0015] Because food slices 20 and 40 are preferably formed to a
uniform thickness, a single sheet of interleaf 60 can be used to
separate the food slices located in the same layer in each of the
columns 30 and 32. Columns 30 and 32 are placed in close proximity
to each other, however the columns 30 and 32 are positioned so they
do not touch each other. Thus, a boundary region 64 on the
interleaf 60 resides between adjacent columns 30 and 32 of food
slices.
[0016] In the illustrated embodiment, each column 30 and 32 of food
slices is formed of a plurality of food slices 20 and 40.
Accordingly, multiple interleafs 60 are used to separate the
multiple food slices 20 and 40 in the columns 30 and 32.
[0017] After the columns 30 and 32 are formed with interleafs 60
separating each layer of the multiple food slices, the columns of
food slices can be easily separated by manipulating the Interleaf
60 at the desired position and lifting interleaf 60 from columns 30
and 32.
[0018] To facilitate manipulating and separating the columns of
food slices, each interleaf 60 is provided with a weakened region
70 formed along the boundary between the columns 30 and 32. The
weakened region 70 permits interleaf 60 to be easily torn along
weakened region 70. In some embodiments, weakened region 70 is
formed as a series of horizontal cuts through interleaf 60 along
weakened region 70. In other embodiments, weakened region 70 can be
formed with a plurality of fine holes positioned along length of
weakened region 70. Finally, in still other embodiments, weakened
region 70 can be formed by manufacturing interleaf 60 with a
smaller thickness along weakened region 70.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, when interleaf 60 is positioned between
each of the plurality of food slices 20 and 40 such that each
interleaf 60 extends to each of the neighboring columns 30 and 32,
weakened region 70 is positioned along boundary region 64 between
columns 30 and 32. Preferably, each of interleafs 60 are located in
the columns 30 and 32 so that each of weakened regions 70 are
aligned along the same vertical line, such that a vertical plane 80
extends through the weakened regions.
[0020] When the columns of food slices and interleafs are arranged
as described above, columns 30 and 32 can be separated by tearing
each interleaf 60 that separates the multiple food slices along
each of weakened regions 70. Columns 30 and 32 are separated by
tearing each interleaf 60 along weakened regions 70. Because each
of the interleafs 60 that are provided to separate the plurality of
slices of cheese are formed with a weakened region 70, columns 30
and 32 can be separated by holding each column 30 and 32 and
manipulating each of the columns to twist the columns with respect
to each other and tear interleafs 60 along their weakened region
70. Alternatively, columns 30 and 32 can be separated by cutting
each of the interleafs 60 along the weakened regions 70 with a
knife or other cutting tool.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, for ease of shipment, interleafs 60 can
be provided in a roll of material 110. When interleafs 60 are
manufactured, the weakened region is formed along the length of
interleafs 60, such that weakened region 70 bisects interleaf 60
into two sections 102 and 104 along the length of the interleafs
60. When columns 30 and 32 are formed, the required length of
interleaf 60 is unrolled and cut by a manufacturing step known in
the art to allow interleaf 60 to be positioned between slices 20
and 40 in each of the columns 30 and 32.
[0022] Thus, it is apparent that there has been described, in
accordance with the invention, a system and method for separating
stacks of food products that fully provides the advantages set
forth above. Although the invention has been described and
illustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is
not intended that the invention be limited to those embodiments.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention. For example, the plurality of food slices 20 and 40 can
be formed into three or more neighboring columns with each layer of
food slices in the multiple columns being separated by a single
interleaf 60 that is formed with multiple weakened regions to allow
the columns to be easily separated. Additionally, the interleafs 60
can be formed with a non-stick coating that is selectively applied
only on the interleaf 60 surface that will contact the food product
slices 20 and 40. The boundary region 64, including the weakened
region 70, does not receive any coating. In some embodiments
depending on the type of non-stick coating used with the interleafs
60, the boundary region 64 of the interleaf 60 is comparatively
weaker than the remainder of the interleaf 60 that is covered with
the non-stick coating. The relative difference in strength along
the surface of the interleaf 60 enhances the ease of separation of
the columns of food slices because any force applied to the columns
to separate them will be directed toward the weakened region 70 to
separate the columns. It is therefore intended to include within
the invention all such variations and modifications as fall within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *