U.S. patent application number 13/648133 was filed with the patent office on 2013-04-11 for bag for sterilisation.
The applicant listed for this patent is Marianne Baret. Invention is credited to Marianne Baret.
Application Number | 20130089647 13/648133 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46963628 |
Filed Date | 2013-04-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130089647 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baret; Marianne |
April 11, 2013 |
BAG FOR STERILISATION
Abstract
The invention relates to a packaging bag for the sterilisation
of food, comprising walls on which a closing device is arranged
comprising complementary closing profiles, said bag being
characterised in that: the material constituting the walls has a
softening point above 100.degree. C., and the complementary closing
profiles are adapted to hermetically seal the bag when it is placed
in an atmosphere of temperature above 80.degree. C. The invention
also relates to a method of sterilising food products by use of
such a bag.
Inventors: |
Baret; Marianne; (Paris,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Baret; Marianne |
Paris |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
46963628 |
Appl. No.: |
13/648133 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/412 ;
383/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/2541 20130101;
B65D 33/2508 20130101; B65D 33/2566 20130101; A23L 3/10
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/412 ;
383/63 |
International
Class: |
B65B 55/14 20060101
B65B055/14; B65D 33/16 20060101 B65D033/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 10, 2011 |
FR |
1159133 |
Claims
1. Packaging bag (1), for the sterilisation of food, comprising
walls (10,11) on which a closing device (20) is arranged,
comprising complementary closing profiles (21, 22), said bag (1)
being characterised in that: the constituent material of the wall
has, at a temperature of 100.degree. C., sufficient resistance to
retain its confinement properties, and the complementary closing
profiles (21, 22) are adapted to hermetically seal the bag (1) when
it is placed in an atmosphere (A) of temperature above 80.degree.
C.
2. Packaging bag according to claim 1, wherein the walls (10, 11)
of the bag (1) are made of a material forming oxygen barrier.
3. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 2, wherein the walls (10,
11) of the bag (1) are made of a material from the following group:
polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate-polypropylene complex, or
polypropylene-polyamide complex.
4. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that
the walls (10, 11) have a melting temperature above
120.degree..
5. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 1, comprising several pairs
of complementary closing profiles (21, 22, 23, 24), arranged at
different distances from the mouth (E) of the bag (1).
6. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one
pair of complementary closing profiles (21, 22, 23, 24) has several
locking levels.
7. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one
pair of complementary closing profiles (21, 22, 23, 24) is at least
partially covered by an adhesive activatable from a temperature of
50.degree. C., said bag (1) being hermetically sealed by melting of
the adhesive when it is placed in an atmosphere (A) of temperature
above 50.degree. C.
8. Packaging bag (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at
least one female profile (22) has an engaging part (222) in the
form of a cavity, in which is arranged a strip of adhesive (C)
activatable from a temperature of 50.degree. C.
9. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one
pair of complementary closing profiles (21, 22) has engaging parts
(212, 222) having a melting temperature comprised between
60.degree. C. and 80.degree. C., said bag (1) being hermetically
sealed by melting of the engaging parts (212, 222) when it is
placed in an atmosphere (A) of temperature above or equal to the
melting temperature of the engaging parts (212, 222).
10. Packaging bag (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein
said engaging parts (212, 222) are composed of a polymer of
ethylene vinyl acetate or ethylene ethyl acrylate, coextruded on
the walls (10, 11) of the bag (1).
11. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 1, wherein the
complementary closing profiles (21, 22) are profiles of revolving
cylinder section.
12. Packaging bag (1) according to claim 1, wherein the closing
device (20) is positioned near to the mouth (E) of the bag (1)
formed by the upper edges (12) of the walls (10, 11), but set back
with respect to said upper edges (12) of the walls (10, 11) of the
bag (1).
13. Use of a packaging bag (1) according to one of the preceding
claims for the sterilisation and the preservation of food products
(P).
14. Method of sterilising food products (P), comprising the steps
consisting in: inserting, into a bag (1) according to one of claims
1 to 12, a quantity of food products (P) to be sterilised, closing
the bag (1) by means of the closing device (20), heating the bag
(1), filled and closed in an atmosphere (A), to a temperature above
or equal to 100.degree. C., maintaining the bag (1) at temperature
until the closing device (20) hermetically seals the bag (1) and
until the food products (P) are sterilised.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of packaging
bags, in particular packaging bags made of thermoplastic
materials.
[0002] The invention also relates to the field of the sterilisation
and the preservation of foods.
[0003] The sterilisation and the preservation of foods is a
technique well known in itself, and practised for many years by
private individuals and by professionals.
[0004] Preserves are traditionally produced in glass pots or jars,
which are resistant to high temperature and make it possible to
protect their contents hermetically from the exterior
environment.
[0005] Few innovations have been proposed to date to renew this
practice of preservation of foods. However, glass jars have certain
drawbacks: in particular, they are heavy, fragile and bulky. As a
result, they moreover require particular precautions by the users
thereof, as well as by the producers thereof.
[0006] Bags have moreover been proposed, such as for example in the
document U.S. 20060285778, which describes a flexible bag
re-closable by means of closing profiles, and, the internal walls
of which are covered, below said profiles and at the level of the
lateral ends of the bag, with a material adapted to locally seal
the walls of the bag when heat is applied.
[0007] The bag described in this document is thus not suited to the
sterilisation of food, since it cannot be hermetically sealed.
[0008] The document DE19951050 describes a bag provided with
closing profiles, the profiles of which are covered with an
adhesive layer to increase their adherence and simplify their
shape.
[0009] Such a bag is not suited to the sterilisation of food, since
the adhesive layer does not enable a hermetic seal.
[0010] The document WO91/01927 describes a method of industrial
sterilisation of food in dedicated bags, sealed beforehand with the
exception of an opening for escaping steam, which closes during
sterilisation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The aim of the present invention is thus to renew this offer
with regard to the sterilisation and preservation of foods, while
overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.
[0012] In this respect, the invention proposes a packaging bag for
the sterilisation of food, comprising walls on which a closing
device is arranged comprising complementary closing profiles, said
bag being characterised in that: [0013] the constituent material of
the walls has, at a temperature of 100.degree. C., sufficient
resistance to retain its confinement properties, and [0014] the
complementary closing profiles are adapted to hermetically seal the
bag when it is placed in an atmosphere of temperature above
80.degree. C.
[0015] Advantageously, but optionally, the packaging bag according
to the invention moreover comprises at least one of the following
characteristics: [0016] The walls of the bag are made of a material
forming oxygen barrier. [0017] The walls of the bag are made of a
material from the following group: polypropylene, polyethylene
terephthalate polypropylene complex, or polypropylene-polyamide
complex. [0018] The walls of the bag have a melting temperature
above 120.degree.. [0019] The bag comprises several pairs of
complementary closing profiles, arranged at different distances
from the mouth of the bag. [0020] At least one pair of
complementary closing profiles has several locking levels. [0021]
At least one pair of complementary closing profiles is at least
partially covered with an adhesive activatable from a temperature
of 50.degree. C., said bag being hermetically sealed by melting of
the adhesive when it is placed in an atmosphere of temperature
above 50.degree. C. [0022] At least one female profile has a cavity
shaped engaging part, in which is arranged a strip of adhesive
activatable from a temperature of 50.degree. C. [0023] At least one
pair of complementary closing profiles has engaging parts having a
melting temperature comprised between 60.degree. C. and 80.degree.
C., the bag being hermetically sealed by melting of the engaging
parts when it is placed in an atmosphere of temperature above or
equal to the melting temperature of the engaging parts. [0024] The
engaging parts are composed of a polymer of ethylene vinyl acetate
or ethylene ethyl acrylate, coextruded on the walls of the bag.
[0025] The complementary closing profiles are profiles of revolving
cylinder section. [0026] The closing device is positioned near to
the mouth of the bag formed by the upper edges of the walls, but
set back with respect to said upper edges of the walls of the
bag.
[0027] The invention moreover relates to the use of a packaging bag
according to the invention for the sterilisation and the
preservation of food products.
[0028] To this end, the invention proposes a method of sterilising
food products, comprising the steps consisting in: [0029]
inserting, into a bag according to the invention, a quantity of
food products to be sterilised, [0030] closing the bag by means of
the closing device of the bag, [0031] heating the bag, filled and
closed in an atmosphere, to a temperature above or equal to
100.degree. C., [0032] maintaining the bag at temperature until the
closing device hermetically seals the bag and until the food
products are sterilised.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0033] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the present
invention will become clearer on reading the description that
follows, and by referring to the appended figures, given by way of
non-limiting examples and in which:
[0034] FIG. 1 represents a packaging bag, seen in perspective,
according to the invention.
[0035] FIGS. 2a to 2e illustrate different embodiments of closing
devices used in the packaging bag according to the invention.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment wherein the closing device has
several locking stages.
[0037] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment wherein the closing device
comprises several pairs of profiles, at least one adapted to make
it possible to seal the bag.
[0038] FIGS. 5a to 5c illustrate steps of a method of sterilisation
during which the packaging bag according to the invention is
used.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0039] With reference to FIG. 1, a packaging bag 1 according to the
invention is represented. Said bag preferably comprises two walls
10 and 11, delimited by edges, respectively upper 12 and lower 13,
and transversal 19 edges.
[0040] The walls 10, 11 of the bag may be the subject of numerous
embodiments. They may preferably be walls made of thermoplastic
materials.
[0041] These walls 10 and 11 may be mono or multilayer and mono or
multi material. Typically, they may be made from a plastic film, or
from a sheet of complex material such as a paper support covered
with a layer of thermoplastic material or instead a thermoplastic
metallised layer.
[0042] However, they are preferably made of a material capable of
withstanding a temperature above 100.degree. C., in other words
made of a material having a sufficient resistance, at least at a
temperature of 100.degree. C., to retain its mechanical and
chemical properties of confinement of food products. For example,
the Vicat softening point of the material is strictly above
100.degree. C. Typically such a material may be an oxygen barrier
material such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) or another oxygen barrier material such as a
polypropylene/polyamide complex or a PET-PP complex, said materials
having a melting temperature above 100.degree. C.
[0043] Said two walls 10 and 11 may be obtained from a single and
same film turned back along the lower edge 13, and welded along the
two transversal parallel edges 19.
[0044] In a variant, said two walls 10 and 11 may be constituted of
two separate sheets, in other words two distinct entities,
assembled on three of their sides.
[0045] The upper edges 12 of the walls 10 and 11 form a mouth E of
the bag 1.
[0046] The bag 1 is moreover provided with a closing device 20,
arranged on the walls 10 and 11, advantageously towards the inside
of the bag. Moreover, the closing device 20 is preferably
positioned near to the mouth E of the bag 1. However, it is
advantageously positioned with a slight set back with respect to
the upper edge 12 of the walls 10 and 11 of the bag 1, in order
that the bag can be opened and closed by taking hold of it by a
part of the walls 10 and 11 positioned between the closing device
20 and the edge 12 of the walls.
[0047] According to the invention, the bag is adapted to withstand
at least a temperature of 100.degree. C., and preferably a
temperature above 120.degree. C., which is ensured by the material
constituting the walls, for example polypropylene (PP) or
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which has a melting temperature
strictly above 100.degree. C., typically 120.degree. C.
[0048] Moreover, according to the invention, the closing device 20
is adapted to hermetically seal the bag 1 when it is placed in an
atmosphere at a temperature above 80.degree. C., typically at a
temperature of 100.degree. C.
[0049] To do this, several embodiments may be envisaged, certain of
which are represented in FIGS. 2a to 2e.
[0050] Said closing device 20 may be constituted of separate
elements of the walls 10 and 11, transferred thereon for example by
welding, or formed integrally with them, for example coextruded
with the walls.
[0051] The closing device 20 may be constituted of complementary
profiles 21, 22, such as male 21 and female 22 profiles.
[0052] Moreover, to enable the bag 1 to be sealed, the closing
profiles 21, 22, may be constituted, at least in part, of a solid
material adapted to attain a sufficient level of softening to
enable the welding of the two profiles 21, 22, at a temperature of
the order of 100.degree. C.
[0053] For example, the parts 212 and 222 of the profiles and 22
forming the engagement and enabling the closing of the bag may be
constituted of a polymer of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or
ethylene ethyl acrylate (EEA), the melting temperature of which is
comprised between 60.degree. C. and 80.degree. C. This embodiment
is illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2c.
[0054] The parts 211 and 221 of the profiles 21 and 22 linked to
the walls 10 and 11 may then be made of the same material as these
(typically PP).
[0055] Alternatively, the engaging parts 212 and 222 of the
profiles 21 and 22 may be covered, partially or totally, by a heat
activatable adhesive (thermoactivatable), in other words
activatable at a temperature above 50.degree. C., typically at a
temperature of the order of 100.degree. C. This is represented in
FIGS. 2b and 2d. Thus, by placing the bag 1 in an atmosphere at a
temperature of 100.degree. C., the adhesive is activated by the
temperature and joins together the engaging parts 212 and 222, to
hermetically seal the bag 1.
[0056] Finally, and with reference to FIG. 2e, an alternative
embodiment is represented wherein an engaging part 222 of a female
profile 22, in the form of a cavity, is partially filled with a
strip of thermoactivatable adhesive, in other words heat
activatable, typically at a temperature above 50.degree. C., and
preferably at a temperature of the order of 100.degree. C.
[0057] In FIG. 2e may be observed a particular embodiment wherein
the male profile 21 has, on the engaging part 212 thereof, a point
shape of triangular section, and the engaging part 222 of the
female profile 22 is a complementary shape thereof. Then the strip
of adhesive C arranged in the cavity 222 formed by the female
profile may take a revolving cylinder section shape.
[0058] According to an alternative embodiment, the closing device
20 of the bag 1 may comprise two complementary profiles, at least
one of which comprises more than one locking stage.
[0059] A particular example of such a closing device is represented
in FIG. 3, wherein the closing comprises a male profile 21 and a
female profile 22, the male profile being provided with a stem 213
equipped with two levels of protrusions 214, and the female profile
22 comprising two levels of ribs 223 adapted to cooperate with the
protrusions 214 of the male profile. The female profile 22,
respectively the male profile 21, may thus have one level of ribs
or more, respectively one level of protrusions or more, which
enables numerous embodiments to be envisaged.
[0060] Reference may also be made to the patent application
n.degree.FR1156444 for other embodiments.
[0061] If necessary, the profiles 21 and 22 are adapted to have at
least one locking stage making it possible to hermetically seal the
bag at a temperature above 80.degree. C. or even 100.degree. C.,
the corresponding locking stage being formed according to the
embodiments described with reference to FIG. 2.
[0062] For example, several locking stages may be adapted to seal
the bag, which makes the user more confident with regard to the
hermeticity of the bag once it has been sealed than if the profiles
only comprise one locking stage. According to another embodiment,
the closing device 20 of the bag 1 may comprise two levels of
profiles 21, 22, 23, 24, or more, each level comprising a male
profile 21, 23, and a corresponding female profile 22, 24, and the
pairs of profiles being positioned at different distances from the
mouth of the bag. This example is illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0063] Moreover, one or more pairs of profiles may be adapted to
seal the bag by the embodiment explained with reference to FIG.
2.
[0064] For example, with reference to FIG. 4, only the pair of
profiles 31, 32, the closest to the mouth may be adapted to make it
possible to seal the bag. Thus, once the bag is sealed, it can be
re-opened later by cutting its walls between two levels of
profiles, and the remaining profiles may be used to re-close and
re-open the bag later.
[0065] All or part of the pairs of profiles may be provided with
several locking levels according to the embodiment of which an
example is illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0066] Finally, for a greater contact surface area between the
engaging parts 212 and 222 of the profiles 21 and 22, these may be
revolving cylinder sections, as illustrated in FIGS. 2c and 2d.
[0067] The bag 1 having the aforementioned characteristics may thus
be used for the sterilisation and the preservation of food
products. In fact, it withstands a temperature of 100.degree. C.,
to which the products are heated to sterilise them, and thanks to
this temperature its closing means hermetically seal the bag,
thereby protecting it from any contamination or oxidation by the
exterior atmosphere.
[0068] With reference to FIG. 3, a method of sterilisation of food
products P, by use of a bag 1 according to the invention, will now
be described.
[0069] In FIG. 3a, food products P to be sterilised and preserved
are inserted into a bag 1.
[0070] In FIG. 3b, the bag 1 is closed by means of the closing
device 20, preferably by engaging the parts 212 and 222 of the
complementary closing profiles 21 and 22. Then the bag 1 filled
with food products P is placed in an atmosphere A, the temperature
of which is raised to 100.degree. C. Typically, in traditional
culinary applications, the atmosphere A is a water bath, in other
words a recipient of water heated to boiling or in an autoclave at
115.degree. C.
[0071] Finally, as in FIG. 3c, thanks to the temperature of the
atmosphere A, or to vapours therefrom or from food products P, the
engaging parts 212 and 222 of profiles 21 and 22 are allowed to
melt, partially or totally, in order that they hermetically seal
the bag 1. Alternatively, the heat activatable adhesive on the
engaging parts 212 and 222 is activated by the temperature of the
atmosphere.
[0072] The bag 1 is moreover kept in the atmosphere A sufficiently
long so that the sterilisation of the food products P takes place,
typically between several tens of minutes and several hours for
traditional food preserves.
[0073] Once this method has been completed, a hermetically closed
bag 1 is obtained, containing sterilised food products P, which can
be preserved as long as traditional preserves.
[0074] Obviously, the present invention is in no way limited to the
embodiments described above and represented in the drawings, but
those skilled in the art will know how to make numerous variants
and modifications.
* * * * *