Granted Patent B2

US 8,741,366 · App. 13/725,112 · Granted Jun 3, 2014

Abstract

Claims (29)

1. A combination food product and interleaver comprising:

(a) a food product comprising aqueous and fatty foods provided as slices or patties, wherein:

(i) the slices or patties are separated by interleavers so that an interleaver separating adjacent slices or patties is provided between and in contact with the adjacent slices or patties so that both sides of the interleaver contact the adjacent slices or patties;

(ii) the interleavers have sufficient release to allow the interleavers to peel away from the slices or patties without fibers in the interleavers transferring to the slices or patties; and

(iii) the interleavers peel away from the slices or patties without disintegrating;

(b) the interleaver comprises a result of applying a water based emulsion to both sides of a paper base sheet to provide an impregnated paper product, and drying the impregnated paper product to a water content of less than about 8 wt. % to provide the interleaver, wherein the paper base sheet has a weight of about 10 lb/3,000 ft 2 to about 55 lb/3,000 ft 2 , wherein the interleaver exhibits hydrophobic and oleophobic properties;

(c) the paper base sheet comprises wood fiber;

(d) the interleaver exhibits a wet tensile strength (CD) according to TAPPI T456 of at least about 2 lb./in.; and

(e) the interleaver does not contain polyvinyl alcohol.

2. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 1 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of slices of cheese, slices of meat, slices of butter, and meat patties.

3. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 1 , wherein the interleaver comprises about 3 wt. % to about 5 wt. % solids resulting from the water based emulsion.

4. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 1 , wherein the interleaver further comprises a wet strength resin selected from the group consisting of urea formaldehyde and polyamide.

5. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 1 , wherein the interleaver comprises a cheese interleaver exhibiting a MacBeth brightness according to TAPPI T452 of at least about 83%; a wet tensile strength (CD) according to TAPPI T456 of at least about 2 lb./in.; a wet tensile strength (MD) according to TAPPI T456 of at least about 6 lb./in.; a Tear CD-Elmendorf according to TAPPI T-414 of less than about 55 gr; a Tear MD-Elmendorf according to TAPPI T-414 of less than about 45 gr; a short span compressive strength (STFI)-CD according to TAPPI T-426 of at least about 10 lb./in.; a short span compressive strength (STFI)-MD according to TAPPI T-826 of at least about 4 lb./in, and the food product comprises slices of cheese.

6. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 1 , wherein the interleaver absorbs fluid as a result of contact with the slices or patties.

7. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 1 , wherein the interleaver exhibits a Cobb Size (2 min. felt) according to TAPPI T441 of 15-25 g/m 2 .

8. A combination food product and interleaver comprising:

(a) a food product comprising aqueous and fatty foods provided as slices or patties, wherein:

(i) the slices or patties are separated by interleavers so that an interleaver separating adjacent slices or patties is provided between and in contact with the adjacent slices or patties so that both sides of the interleaver contact the adjacent slices or patties;

(ii) the interleavers have sufficient release to allow the interleavers to peel away from the slices or patties without fibers in the interleavers transferring to the slices or patties; and

(iii) the interleavers peel away from the slices or patties without disintegrating;

(b) the interleaver comprises a result of applying a water based emulsion to both sides of a paper base sheet to provide an impregnated paper product, and drying the impregnated paper product to a water content of less than about 8 wt. % to provide the interleaver, wherein the paper base sheet has a weight of about 10 lb/3,000 ft 2 to about 55 lb/3,000 ft 2 , wherein the water based emulsion comprises a barrier and/or release forming component selected from the group consisting of stearylated melamine, polyethylene wax, paraffin wax, isoparaffin wax, microcrystalline wax, alkyl ketene materials, octyl succinic anhydride, Werner chrome complex, natural wax, and mixtures thereof;

(c) the paper base sheet comprises wood fiber and wet strength resin; and

(d) the interleaver does not contain polyvinyl alcohol.

9. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 8 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of slices of cheese, slices of meat, slices of butter, and meat patties.

10. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 8 , wherein the interleaver comprises about 3 wt. % to about 5 wt. % solids resulting from the water based emulsion.

11. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 8 , wherein the wet strength resin comprises a wet strength resin selected from the group consisting of urea formaldehyde and polyamide.

12. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 8 , wherein the interleaver absorbs fluid as a result of contact with the slices or patties.

13. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 8 , wherein the interleaver exhibits a Cobb Size (2 min. felt) according to TAPPI T441 of 15-25 g/m 2 .

14. A combination food product and interleaver according to claim 8 , wherein the interleaver exhibits hydrophobic and oleophobic properties.

Assignments (10)