Figure cutter for food slices

Details Figure cutter for food slices Figure cutter for food slices

1999-08-24

2001-04-17

Pyon, Harold (Department: 1722)

Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus

Sets of press couples comprising registering female mold...

Coacting cutting; edges on female mold sections

C425S237000, C425S294000, C425S298000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06217309

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to food products sold in slice form, and more particularly to a sliced food product having a design formed therein, and a method and apparatus for forming the design in the food slice.
In the past, sliced cheese products such as natural cheese, process cheese, process cheese food, and process cheese spread, as well as sliced meat products such as ham, bologna, salami, and other cold cuts, have typically been packaged and sold in unadorned, simple rectangular or circular shapes.
One of the problems in attempting to provide designs or patterns on slices of food products such as those referred to above is that these products generally have a relatively low tensile strength and therefore are generally susceptible to separating, tearing, and/or breaking during handling. As mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,719, this problem is particularly notable in process cheese spread, due to its high moisture content. Slices of these cheese products are often individually wrapped for consumer sale, and packaged in stacks with a plastic film overwrap.
In any operation involving formation of designs on a slice of one of the above-mentioned products, care must be taken to avoid unduly high stresses and strains which would result in loss of slice integrity, and to avoid creation of tears, cracks, or other discontinuities which could propagate under the stresses associated with later handling and packaging. It is desirable that the slices be capable of withstanding packaging operations which may entail individual wrapping of slices as well as separating, stacking and overwrapping, and that the slices also be capable of withstanding handling by the consumer, i.e., removal of overwrap and individual wrap, without loss of integrity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a sliced food product such as a cheese product or meat product having a design cut or otherwise formed therein. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the design is cut entirely or substantially through the slice so that the design or figure may be removed from a surrounding peripheral portion of the slice.
The invention also comprises a method and apparatus for forming the design. The preferred method and apparatus employ a rotary figure cutter which cuts entirely through the slice to outline the design, and which cuts or penetrates partially through the slice to form details of the figure by embossing or indenting interior design components on the slice. The rotary figure cutter may comprise a pair of rotary dies between which the slice passes. In the preferred method, the slice is wrapped in film prior to the figure cutting operation, and the figure cutter performs its function without cutting or tearing the film wrap.


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