초록 ▼

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a material, such as a plastic film, is used to separate independent food elements. The independent food elements and the separation material are packaged together using a unifying outer package. At a point in time when the customer decides to eat the f

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a material, such as a plastic film, is used to separate independent food elements. The independent food elements and the separation material are packaged together using a unifying outer package. At a point in time when the customer decides to eat the food, the outer package is opened and the film that separates the different food elements is removed, either manually or automatically. This marks the first point in time that the separate elements come into contact with each other. Therefore, the food product is maintained at the highest level of integrity until the time of usage by the customer. Methods and a machine for layering the contents of the packages so as to form a completed assembly for the packaged elements is also described.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A separable pouch for containing food items therein, comprising: a pouch having opposed ends and first and second barrier sheet members positioned one on top of another for forming said pouch therebetween, a portion of said first and second barrier sheet members positio

The invention claimed is: 1. A separable pouch for containing food items therein, comprising: a pouch having opposed ends and first and second barrier sheet members positioned one on top of another for forming said pouch therebetween, a portion of said first and second barrier sheet members positioned between said opposed ends of the pouch including a separation structure, said separation structure functioning to allow said pouch to separate into at least two pieces, each piece including one of said first and second opposed ends of the pouch when said separation structure is activated, and further including additional barrier sheet members positioned inside the pouch for keeping food items stored between the additional sheet members from coming in contact with each other while inside the pouch, thereby creating separation zones inside the pouch for holding food items, and wherein, said additional barrier sheet members are connected to at least one of said opposed ends of the pouch, so that when the ends of said pouch are separated, said additional barrier sheet members remain connected to said at least one end of the pouch, thereby removing the separate zones between the food items inside the pouch. 2. The separable pouch of claim 1, wherein at least one of said additional barrier sheet members comprises at least two further sheet barrier members, each of the further barrier sheet members extend inside the pouch from one opposed end toward the other opposed end. 3. The separable pouch of claim 1, further including: a machine for automatically opening a plurality of the separable pouches for forming a layered product of food elements as each of said pouches is separated. 4. The separable pouch of claim 1, wherein at least one of said additional barrier sheet members comprises a further barrier sheet member that starts at a point connected to one end of the pouch and extends inside the pouch toward the other end of the pouch to a point that establishes a distal end for a separation zone created thereby, said further barrier sheet member then folds back on itself and ends near the one end of the pouch. 5. The separable pouch of claim 4, wherein two further barrier sheet members, each folded back on itself, are positioned one on top of another, for defining one side of a separation zone inside said pouch, said folded back on each other two further barrier sheet members forming four barrier sheet members, where the two inside barrier members are connected to the one end of the pouch. 6. The separable pouch of claim 5, wherein the further barrier sheet member which forms a bottom of one separation zone extends inside the pouch so as to form a top barrier sheet member for a separation zone that is positioned thereunder. 7. The separable pouch of claim 1, wherein said separation structure is connected to a portion of said first and second barrier sheet members which form said pouch, between said opposed ends of the pouch. 8. The separable pouch of claim 7, wherein said separation structure comprises a weakness built into the first and second barrier sheet members, so that when the opposed ends are pulled in opposite directions, said pouch separates into at least two portions. 9. The separable pouch of claim 8, wherein said weakness is formed by perforations in said first and second barrier sheet members.