Food package having wrapped stack of food products and method for packaging

Abstract

A food package and method for forming the same are provided, where the food package includes an outer wrapper surrounding a stack of food products and a pair of end backers, one at each end of the stack, are enclosed within the wrapper. The end backers or sealing backers each provide a backing or sealing surface for use in forming the end seals in the outer wrapper. Pressure can be applied against the backers during formation of the end seals.

1 . A food package having a flexible outer wrapper enclosing a plurality of generally circular discrete food items, the package comprising:
 a stack of circular food items, the food items each have substantially the same diameter;   a pair of circular end discs disposed at opposite ends of the stack of circular food items, the discs having a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the circular food items; and   a flexible outer wrapper enclosing the stack of circular food items, the outer wrapper having a longitudinal seal and a pair of end seals, the pair of end seals being formed between overlapping portions of the outer wrapper immediately adjacent the end discs.   
   
   
       2 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wrapper has an inner sealing layer with a greater propensity for sealing to the outer wrapper than to the end discs. 
   
   
       3 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the discs have a planar, generally smooth surface facing the end seals of the outer wrapper to provide a backing for use during formation of the seals. 
   
   
       4 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the discs has a slot for receiving the outer wrapper for reclosing the outer wrapper after the package has been opened. 
   
   
       5 . The food package of  claim 4 , wherein the slot is radially extending. 
   
   
       6 . The food package of  claim 5 , wherein an enlarged cut out is positioned at a radially inward end portion of the slot. 
   
   
       7 . The food package of  claim 6 , wherein the cut out is disposed generally at the center of the disc. 
   
   
       8 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the discs includes means for reclosing the package after opening. 
   
   
       9 . The food package of  claim 8 , including means for opening the package. 
   
   
       10 . The food package of  claim 1 , wherein the end seals are envelope seals. 
   
   
       11 . A method of forming a food package containing a plurality of discrete food items, the method comprising:
 arranging a plurality of discrete food items into a stack;   placing a sealing backer at each end of the stack;   wrapping the stack in a film;   applying heat and pressure at each end of the film and against the adjacent sealing backer to seal the ends of the film to itself to enclose the stack of food products and the sealing backers in the film.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of wrapping the stack in a film further comprises the step of forming the film into a tubular wrapper surrounding the stack. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming the film into a tubular wrapper further includes the step of sealing a longitudinal portion of the film to another longitudinal portion of the film. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of sealing longitudinal portions of the film occurs prior to the step of applying heat and pressure to seal the ends of the film. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of applying heat and pressure to seal the ends of the film further includes the step of forming envelope seals. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , including the step of providing at least one of the sealing backers with an opening for receiving a portion of the film after opening of the package. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the food products are generally circular and the sealing backers are generally circular, having a diameter substantially corresponding to a diameter of the food products. 
   
   
       18 . A method of opening and reclosing a food package, the package comprising a stack of food items, the food items each have substantially the same diameter, a pair of end backers disposed at opposite ends of the stack of food items, the end backers having a footprint substantially corresponding to the a footprint of the food items and at least one of the end backers having a slot, and a flexible outer wrapper enclosing the stack of food items, the outer wrapper having a longitudinal seal and a pair of end seals, the pair of end seals being formed between overlapping portions of the outer wrapper immediately adjacent the end backers, the method comprising:
 opening an end portion of the flexible outer wrapper adjacent the one of the end backers having a slot;   removing one or more of the food items from the wrapper; and   inserting a portion of the wrapper into the slot of the one of the end backers to close the wrapper.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the food products are generally circular and the end backers are generally circular, having a diameter substantially corresponding to a diameter of the food products. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of opening an end portion of the flexible outer wrapper adjacent the one of the end backers having a slot further includes the step of tearing the end portion of the flexible wrapper from a remainder of the wrapper using tear tape.