Package making – Methods – With contents treating
Patent
1996-09-30
1999-05-11
Moon, Daniel B.
Package making
Methods
With contents treating
53122, 53526, B65B61/24
Patent
active
059015292
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for shaping a viscous substance within a pliable casing.
Similar devices for example are known in the field of food processing technology for portioning of cheese into slices and stacks. The presented innovation however does not only apply to cheese but also other materials that may not necessarily fall into the food processing area, but which have similar characteristics as cheese.
The substance being shaped will be funneled into a flexible casing. The mass is formed into a flat, plate-like condition by pinching the mass inside the wrapping at predetermined regions to bring the upper and lower surface of the wrapper into contact with each other. The wrapping is then fixed or sealed in the piched regions, so that the mass cannot flow back into its initial, continuous form.
There are two known procedures:
The substance may be shaped while still warm. Due to the high temperature this causes less friction and has a relative good free-flow. The re-shaping can therefore take place relatively easy. The problem however is that the setting has to take place quickly since the substance may flow back to the portion setting position, for example due to gravitational force. An additional problem is that the substance has not solidified and will change its shape in general during the cooling process. This results in shapes that are not very esthetic, since no set substance thickness has been achieved which causes problems during the transport and the packaging.
A second possibility is the deformation of the substance in rather cool condition which is described in DE 42 04 396. The viscosity of the material is much higher and more force is needed for the deformation. In addition due to the high viscosity a high release force of the substance has developed. As a result the substance may flow back to the portion setting points if the setting of the casing is not done immediately after the displacement.
This back-flow may cause big problems during the setting since the substance once again has to be displaced from the portion setting position. If the setting has not been completed or if it is not stable it may result in loosing the setting altogether and therefore may distribute the substance from its intended shape.
As a rule, both processes are using a control system, where the substance including the casing is transported in a controlled direction through a proper portion- and setting-device.
The purpose of the provided innovation is to achieve a reliable deformation during the cold-shaping process. This way a better and more reliable shaping as well as faster processing of portioning will be achieved.
The cold shaping process described in this innovation is a shaping process where the substance which has to be shaped has a rather high viscosity due to its low temperature. This temperature is approximately 10-14.degree. C. for cheese.
The shaping method according to the present invention is carried out by applying a force to the wrapping, with the direction and/or amount of the force periodically changing. The change in force depends on the distance between each individual portion of the material being packaged, or the spacing between adjacent pinch regions, as well as the properties and thickness of the mass to be shaped, and the wrapping material. The forces act in such a way that the mass inside its wrapping is pinched out from the pinching or sealing region. The direction of pinching is preferably opposite to the feeding direction of the mass.
In the prior art method the casing was simply pressed together at the predetermined sealing or pinch regions separating adjacent portions. This new innovation utilizes outside influences to the casing which may change it's direction and amount periodically. The change depends on the distance between the portion setting points, the material data and the thickness of the substance and its casing. The mass within the casing will be displaced from the pinch regions, preferably in a direction opposite to the general direction
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Moon Daniel B.
Natec Reich, Summer GmbH & Co. KG
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