U.S. patent application number 16/353367 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-19 for pack containing a food product and method for packaging food products.
The applicant listed for this patent is G.MONDINI S.P.A.. Invention is credited to GIOVANNI MONDINI.
Application Number | 20190283950 16/353367 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63014754 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-19 |
![](/patent/app/20190283950/US20190283950A1-20190919-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20190283950/US20190283950A1-20190919-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20190283950/US20190283950A1-20190919-D00002.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20190283950 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MONDINI; GIOVANNI |
September 19, 2019 |
PACK CONTAINING A FOOD PRODUCT AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING FOOD
PRODUCTS
Abstract
A pack comprising a supporting tray (3), a protective film (4)
fixed to the supporting tray (3), and a food product (2) placed on
the supporting tray (3) and covered by the protective film (4),
wherein the supporting tray (3) is constituted of a flat sheet of
multi-layer material and comprises at least one paper-based lower
layer and one plastic material upper layer, wherein the protective
film (4) is sealed to the upper layer of the flat sheet and
together with it delimits an inner space (6) of the pack (1) in
which the food product (2) is inserted, and wherein a protective
atmosphere is present in the inner space (6).
Inventors: |
MONDINI; GIOVANNI; (COLOGNE,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
G.MONDINI S.P.A. |
COLOGNE (BRESCIA) |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
63014754 |
Appl. No.: |
16/353367 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/34 20130101; B65D
81/2053 20130101; B65B 25/06 20130101; B65D 81/2076 20130101; B65B
31/028 20130101; B65D 65/40 20130101; B65D 81/24 20130101; B65D
65/22 20130101; B65D 65/10 20130101; A23L 3/3418 20130101; B65B
31/025 20130101; A23C 19/097 20130101; A23B 4/16 20130101; B65D
75/305 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/24 20060101
B65D081/24; B65D 65/40 20060101 B65D065/40; B65D 65/10 20060101
B65D065/10; B65D 65/22 20060101 B65D065/22; B65D 81/20 20060101
B65D081/20; B65D 1/34 20060101 B65D001/34; B65B 31/02 20060101
B65B031/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 19, 2018 |
IT |
102018000003747 |
Claims
1. A pack containing a food product comprising: a supporting tray
(3); a protective film (4) fixed to the supporting tray (3); and a
food product (2) placed on the supporting tray (3) and covered by
the protective film (4); wherein the supporting tray (3) is
constituted of a flat sheet of multi-layer material and comprises
at least one paper-based lower layer and one plastic material upper
layer, wherein the protective film (4) is sealed to the upper layer
of the flat sheet, wherein the supporting tray (3) and the
protective film (4) delimit, in an oxygentight way, an inner space
(6) of the pack (1) in which the food product (2) is inserted, and
wherein a protective atmosphere is present in the inner space
(6).
2. The pack according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the inner
space (6) of the pack (1) is equal to an atmospheric pressure.
3. The pack according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the inner
space (6) of the pack (1) is greater than the standard atmospheric
pressure.
4. The pack according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer is
constituted of polypropylene or polyethylene, and wherein both the
multi-layer sheet and the protective film (4) comprise at least one
layer of material suitable for constituting a barrier to
oxygen.
5. The pack according to claim 2, wherein the upper layer is
constituted of polypropylene or polyethylene, and wherein both the
multi-layer sheet and the protective film (4) comprise at least one
layer of material suitable for constituting a barrier to
oxygen.
6. The pack according to claim 3, wherein the upper layer is
constituted of polypropylene or polyethylene, and wherein both the
multi-layer sheet and the protective film (4) comprise at least one
layer of material suitable for constituting a barrier to
oxygen.
7. The pack according to claim 1, wherein the supporting tray (3)
and the protective film (4) delimit the oxygentight inner space
(6).
8. The pack according to claim 2, wherein the supporting tray (3)
and the protective film (4) delimit the oxygentight inner space
(6).
9. The pack according to claim 3, wherein the supporting tray (3)
and the protective film (4) delimit the oxygentight inner space
(6).
10. The pack according to claim 4, wherein the supporting tray (3)
and the protective film (4) delimit the oxygentight inner space
(6).
11. The pack according to claim 5, wherein the supporting tray (3)
and the protective film (4) delimit the oxygentight inner space
(6).
12. The pack according to claim 6, wherein the supporting tray (3)
and the protective film (4) delimit the oxygentight inner space
(6).
13. A method for packaging food products (2) comprising the
operating steps of: taking a supporting tray (3) constituted of a
flat sheet of multi-layer material which in turn comprises at least
one paper-based lower layer, one plastic material upper layer and,
optionally, one middle layer suitable for constituting a barrier to
oxygen; positioning a food product (2) on the upper layer of the
supporting tray (3); positioning a protective film (4) over the
food product (2) and the supporting tray (3); creating a protective
atmosphere at an inner space (6) located between the protective
film (4) and the supporting tray (3); and maintaining the
protective atmosphere between the protective film (4) and the
supporting tray (3), sealing the protective film (4) to the upper
layer of the supporting tray (3) at least along an annular frame
(5) that completely surrounds the food product (2).
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein, during the steps of
creating a protective atmosphere and of sealing the protective film
(4), an atmospheric pressure is maintained in the inner space
(6).
15. The method according to claim 13 wherein, during the steps of
creating a protective atmosphere and of sealing the protective film
(4), a pressure greater than the standard atmospheric pressure is
maintained in the inner space (6).
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a pack containing a food product
and a method for packaging food products. In particular, this
invention is preferably intended for the sector of packaging fresh
and perishable food products such as meat, cold cuts, etc.
[0002] As is known, in the food packaging sector widespread use is
made of very many types of packs as well as various packaging
methods.
[0003] In particular, in recent years ever increasing use has been
made of vacuum packs and those in a protective atmosphere which,
compared with packaging in air, guarantee improved and longer
preservation of fresh food products.
[0004] A first particularly innovative technology for packaging
food products, provided by the same Applicant and marketed under
the Slimfresh.RTM. trademark comprises the combined use of a
completely flat supporting tray and of the skin technology, in
which a plastic film is applied using a vacuum to the product
resting on the supporting tray and the film is made to adhere to
the shape of the food product. The supporting tray is usually
constituted of a multi-layer sheet comprising a paperboard main
lower layer which gives the tray stiffness, combined with a plastic
material upper layer (such as polypropylene or polyethylene) and if
necessary a middle layer made of a material able to act as a
barrier to oxygen.
[0005] That technology has proved particularly advantageous for
packaging meat, but has also been successfully used for other
applications.
[0006] Moreover, it has proved particularly advantageous since
recycled paper can be used to make the paperboard layer. This,
together with the fact that the tray can in turn easily be
recycled, minimizes the environmental impact of that packaging
technology.
[0007] Despite all of the good points outlined above, the
Slimfresh.RTM. system has proved non-optimal for some applications,
in particular those relative to packaging delicate products such as
sliced meats, cold cuts or cheeses, for which the crushing caused
by the film may ruin the slices inside the pack.
[0008] In contrast, for packaging of sliced meats, cold cuts,
cheeses or other foods which guarantees their optimum preservation,
use is known of packs which comprise a thermoformed plastic tray
equipped with a raised perimetric edge to which the sealing plastic
film is fixed. The height of the perimetric edge is such that it
prevents contact with the plastic film and there is a protective
atmosphere present inside the pack.
[0009] However, even this solution is not without disadvantages,
since it involves both considerable dimensions and the need to use
plastic trays which require the use of a relatively large quantity
of plastic.
[0010] In this context the technical purpose which forms the basis
of this invention is to provide a pack containing a food product
and a method for packaging food products which overcome the
above-mentioned disadvantages.
[0011] In particular the technical purpose of this invention to
provide a pack containing a food product and a method for packaging
food products which allows optimum packaging of sliced meats, cold
cuts, cheeses or other foods which involve reduced use of material
compared with the solutions currently adopted.
[0012] The technical purpose specified and the aims indicated are
substantially achieved by a pack containing a food product, and a
method for packaging food products, as described in the appended
claims.
[0013] Further features and the advantages of this invention are
more apparent in the detailed description, with reference to the
accompanying drawings which illustrate several preferred,
non-limiting embodiments of a pack containing a food product and a
method for packaging food products, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a pack containing a food
product which is made according to this invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the detail II of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a vertical section of a detail of FIG. 1 at the
moment of completion of the packaging method according to this
invention.
[0017] With reference to the above-mentioned figures the numeral 1
denotes in its entirety a pack containing a food product 2
according to this invention.
[0018] As shown in the accompanying figures and similarly to many
prior art packs, the pack 1 comprises a supporting tray 3, a
protective film 4 fixed to the supporting tray 3 (a non-heat shrink
protective film 4), and a food product 2 placed on the supporting
tray 3 and covered by the protective film 4. Although this
technology may be used for various types of food products 2, it
particularly advantageous when the food product 2 is constituted of
meat, cold cuts, cheeses or other foods in slices.
[0019] However, according to this invention, the supporting tray 3
is constituted of a flat sheet of multi-layer material and
comprises at least one paper-based lower layer (usually made of
paperboard) and one plastic material upper layer. Moreover,
advantageously, the upper layer is constituted of polypropylene or
polyethylene or another food-safe plastic material. Depending on
requirements, the multi-layer sheet may also comprise a middle
layer made of material suitable for constituting a barrier to
oxygen, such as a layer of EVOH, or other middle layers. Moreover,
depending on requirements, the paperboard layer may also be printed
on one or both sides with information about the food product 2 or
with simple promotional graphics.
[0020] Also according to this invention, the protective film 4 is
sealed to the upper layer of the flat sheet at least along a frame
5 that surrounds the food product 2.
[0021] Depending on requirements, the protective film 4 may also be
single-layer or multi-layer and may comprise, in addition to a
layer of food-safe plastic material facing the food product 2, at
least one layer of material suitable for constituting a barrier to
oxygen (EVOH).
[0022] Furthermore, the supporting tray 3 and the protective film 4
delimit, in an oxygentight way, an inner space 6 of the pack 1 in
which the food product 2 is inserted. According to one of the main
aspects of this invention, in the inner space 6 there is a
protective atmosphere, preferably a protective atmosphere at
atmospheric pressure, although packaging may also be created with a
pressure different to the atmospheric pressure.
[0023] As is usually the case in the packaging sector, in the
context of this invention too the definition "protective
atmosphere" means a mixture of gases containing less oxygen than
atmospheric air or even no oxygen.
[0024] Therefore, in the pack 1 according to this invention, the
protective film 4 may either be resting on the food product 2 or
may have a dome shape relative to the flat supporting tray 3 (in
other words, it may be more or less "inflated"--see FIG. 3 where
the product is not illustrated).
[0025] Finally, as shown in FIG. 2, the protective film 4 may have
at least one tab 7, projecting relative to the tray and suitable
for being gripped by the fingers of the user in order to detach the
film from the tray at the moment of opening the pack 1.
[0026] The pack 1 described up to now may advantageously be
obtained with the method for packaging food products 2 according to
this invention.
[0027] That method comprises first the operating step of taking a
supporting tray 3 of the type described above, that is to say, in
general, a supporting tray 3 constituted of a flat sheet of
multi-layer material which in turn comprises at least one
paper-based lower layer, one plastic material upper layer and, in
case, one middle layer made suitable for constituting a barrier to
oxygen.
[0028] Then the method comprises the operating steps of positioning
a food product 2 on the upper layer of the supporting tray 3 and of
positioning the protective film 4 over the food product 2 and the
supporting tray 3 so as to cover them.
[0029] Before, during or after positioning the protective film 4,
the method comprises the operating step of creating a protective
atmosphere at the inner space 6 of the pack 1, that is to say, at
the area between the protective film 4 and the supporting tray 3
(usually that can advantageously be achieved by working in a
fluidtight chamber isolated from the outside and in which the
protective atmosphere is created).
[0030] Whilst the protective atmosphere is maintained between the
protective film 4 and the supporting tray 3, the method comprises
sealing the protective film 4 to the upper layer of the supporting
tray 3 at least along an annular frame 5 that completely surrounds
the food product 2 (FIG. 1).
[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, in order to perform the sealing step it
is possible to use a suitable apparatus which comprises two parts
8, 9 at least one of which is movable relative to the other between
an apart position (FIG. 3) and a clamping position in which in use
they clamp the protective film 4 and the supporting tray 3 between
them at the sealing frame 5 (at least one of the two parts 8, 9 is
equipped with heating means which allow them to operate as a
sealing unit for sealing the protective film 4 to the supporting
tray 3).
[0032] Moreover, the protective film 4 may be obtained by cutting a
larger sheet, advantageously a continuous sheet, by means of a
shaped blade 10 joined to the apparatus and in turn movable between
a projecting cutting position (not illustrated) and a withdrawn
home position (FIG. 3).
[0033] This invention brings important advantages.
[0034] In fact, thanks to this invention it has been possible
provide a pack containing a food product and a method for packaging
food products which allow optimum preservation even of sliced food
products, such as meat, cold cuts, cheeses or other foods.
[0035] Finally, it should be noticed that this invention is
relatively easy to produce and that even the cost linked to
implementing the invention is not very high.
[0036] The invention described above may be modified and adapted in
several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the
inventive concept.
[0037] All details may be substituted with other technically
equivalent elements and the materials used, as well as the shapes
and dimensions of the various components, may vary according to
requirements.
* * * * *