GB2192170A - Separating stacked items - Google Patents

Abstract

Naturally sticky foodstuffs, such as cheese, can be kept from adhering together by interleaving an insert between each portion 10 thereof. The insert is made up of a plurality of layers of sheet material. In one form the layers 13 and 15 are formed by folding a single sheet 12 back on itself between each of the portions 10. In an alternative methods double strip of separating material is laid between successive portions 10 and thus takes up a zig-zag formation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Separating stacked items The present invention relates to the stacking of items, such as foodstuffs, which tend to adhere to one anotherandthe use ofinsertsto separate the items in the stack and preventthem sticking together.

Foodstuffs, such as cheese, are often sold to retailers in large blocks. These blocks are cutto suitable sizes by the retailer and stored as a su b-divided block before sale. Pressure caused, for example, by vacuum packing the sub-divided block, encourages the pieces to become stucktogether. To prevent the constituent parts ofthe sub-divided blockfrom sticking together, or even reconstituting into a solid lump a dividing separator is placed between adjacent portions.

However, with particularly sticky goods, such as cheese and butterfor example, the insert is only partially successful in that the portions tend to stick to eithersideoftheinsertinstead.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of stacking items which tend to adhere to one another in which a sheet of separating material is interposed between each pairofadjacent items characterised in that a double layer of separating material in strip form is placed over each item in the stack before the next item is placed in position, whereby parting of the layers of separating material facilitates removal of individual items.

The items are thus prevented from sticking together and can be separated by lifting the top item or in some cases by pulling on the separatorstrip.

While particularly sticky items, such as foodstuffs, may still adhere to the separator strip, it is an easier and less messy job to remove the strip when the item has been lifted from the stack.

The invention will now be described in more detail with the aid of examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic side view of a stack formed in accordance with the method ofthe invention; and Figure 2 is a sim ilar view of a stackformedwith a double strip of separating material.

In the form ofthe method illustrated by Figure 1 portions 10 of a product such as cheese are stacked and are separated by means of a continuous strip 12 of separating sheet. The strip 12 is laid across the top of each portion 10 to form a first layer 13 and then folded back on itself at 14toform a double layer consisting of a lower layer 13 in contactwiththe lower portion 10 and an upper layer 15 which lies in contact with the layer 13 and receives the next portion 10 to be placed in the stack. Thus when the top portion 10 is lifted, either by gripping it directly or by lifting the strip 12, that portion will separate easily from the one below it because the layers 13 and 15 are not stuck together and will separate easily.The portion 10 can then be released from the layer 15 or the layers 13 and 15 can be parted by cutting or tearing at the bend 14.

In the arrangement of Figure 2 the separating sheet is in the form of a double strip 16 consisting of unbonded layers 18 and 20. The double strip is placed across the top of one portion 10 and the next portion is then placed on top. The double strip is bent back at 22 to lie across the top ofthe second portion 10 before a third portion is placed in position. Thus the double strip 16 adopts a zig-zag formation in its passage through the stack. Again the portions 10 are easily separated because the layers 18 and 20 will separate easily and each portion can thus be removed from the stack with a minimum of disturbance to the rest ofthe stack.

It will be apparent that the method described is particularly applicable where the portions 10 are cut from a larger block as is usually the case with cheese and butter. When the cut portions have been stacked with the interleaved separating strip or insert the stack can be enclosed in an outer packaging.

1. A method of stacking items which tend to adhere to one another in which a sheet of separating material is interposed between each pair of adjacent items characterised in that a double layer of separating material in strip form is placed over each item in the stack before the next item is placed in position, whereby parting of the layers of separating material facilitates removal of individual items.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which a double strip of separating material is laid over successive items in the stack and bent back around one side of each item in a zig-zag formation.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the double layer between each pair of items informed by a single strip folded back on itself and this strip is similarly folded back on itself to form a double layer between one or more other pairs of items.

4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the items are portions of a larger piece of foodstuffs.

5. A method as claimed in anyvof the preceding claims in which the stack is enclosed in an outer packaging after formation.

6. The product of the method of any ofthe preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Separating stacked items The present invention relates to the stacking of items, such as foodstuffs, which tend to adhere to one anotherandthe use ofinsertsto separate the items in the stack and preventthem sticking together. Foodstuffs, such as cheese, are often sold to retailers in large blocks. These blocks are cutto suitable sizes by the retailer and stored as a su b-divided block before sale. Pressure caused, for example, by vacuum packing the sub-divided block, encourages the pieces to become stucktogether. To prevent the constituent parts ofthe sub-divided blockfrom sticking together, or even reconstituting into a solid lump a dividing separator is placed between adjacent portions. However, with particularly sticky goods, such as cheese and butterfor example, the insert is only partially successful in that the portions tend to stick to eithersideoftheinsertinstead. According to the present invention there is provided a method of stacking items which tend to adhere to one another in which a sheet of separating material is interposed between each pairofadjacent items characterised in that a double layer of separating material in strip form is placed over each item in the stack before the next item is placed in position, whereby parting of the layers of separating material facilitates removal of individual items. The items are thus prevented from sticking together and can be separated by lifting the top item or in some cases by pulling on the separatorstrip. While particularly sticky items, such as foodstuffs, may still adhere to the separator strip, it is an easier and less messy job to remove the strip when the item has been lifted from the stack. The invention will now be described in more detail with the aid of examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic side view of a stack formed in accordance with the method ofthe invention; and Figure 2 is a sim ilar view of a stackformedwith a double strip of separating material. In the form ofthe method illustrated by Figure 1 portions 10 of a product such as cheese are stacked and are separated by means of a continuous strip 12 of separating sheet. The strip 12 is laid across the top of each portion 10 to form a first layer 13 and then folded back on itself at 14toform a double layer consisting of a lower layer 13 in contactwiththe lower portion 10 and an upper layer 15 which lies in contact with the layer 13 and receives the next portion 10 to be placed in the stack. Thus when the top portion 10 is lifted, either by gripping it directly or by lifting the strip 12, that portion will separate easily from the one below it because the layers 13 and 15 are not stuck together and will separate easily.The portion 10 can then be released from the layer 15 or the layers 13 and 15 can be parted by cutting or tearing at the bend 14. In the arrangement of Figure 2 the separating sheet is in the form of a double strip 16 consisting of unbonded layers 18 and 20. The double strip is placed across the top of one portion 10 and the next portion is then placed on top. The double strip is bent back at 22 to lie across the top ofthe second portion 10 before a third portion is placed in position. Thus the double strip 16 adopts a zig-zag formation in its passage through the stack. Again the portions 10 are easily separated because the layers 18 and 20 will separate easily and each portion can thus be removed from the stack with a minimum of disturbance to the rest ofthe stack. It will be apparent that the method described is particularly applicable where the portions 10 are cut from a larger block as is usually the case with cheese and butter. When the cut portions have been stacked with the interleaved separating strip or insert the stack can be enclosed in an outer packaging. CLAIMS

1. A method of stacking items which tend to adhere to one another in which a sheet of separating material is interposed between each pair of adjacent items characterised in that a double layer of separating material in strip form is placed over each item in the stack before the next item is placed in position, whereby parting of the layers of separating material facilitates removal of individual items.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which a double strip of separating material is laid over successive items in the stack and bent back around one side of each item in a zig-zag formation.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the double layer between each pair of items informed by a single strip folded back on itself and this strip is similarly folded back on itself to form a double layer between one or more other pairs of items.

4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the items are portions of a larger piece of foodstuffs.

5. A method as claimed in anyvof the preceding claims in which the stack is enclosed in an outer packaging after formation.

6. The product of the method of any ofthe preceding claims.