EP1912877B1 - Sealed, flexible, high-temperature-resistant packaging for food products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of packaging of food products in the general sense and more specifically relates to the technical field of the packaging of food products at their point of sale and / or packaging and in particular food products sold at retail, in particular big or half big.

In the state of the art, there are many types of packaging especially for the packaging of food products. For example, the patent FR 2,775,252 proposed to use a sheath composed at least partly of a heat-sealable material. This sheath is made from two composite sheets superimposed and assembled by bonding or welding, for example, at their longitudinal edges. Each composite sheet has an outer layer of aluminum, an inner layer of low density polyethylene and a layer of paper covered with a layer of low density polyethylene. This sheath packaged in roll is intended to be cut at the place of use in a length slightly greater than that of the product to be packaged. Preferably, one end of the sheath is cut and closed simultaneously by heat sealing in order to produce a bag. Then, after introduction of the product to be packaged in the bag thus produced, the other end of the sheath is heat sealed so as to obtain a sealed package.

Such a flexible package is particularly useful for packaging fresh or frozen food products such as fish or meat at the retail sale, wholesale or semi-wholesale. Such a package has a completely sealed character and particularly easy to achieve by heat sealing. However, for the consumption of such a food product, it is necessary to open the packaging and to transfer the food product in a suitable container for cooking or re-heating the food product. It thus appears the need to have a suitable packaging to allow the rapid and easy packaging of a food product while offering the advantage of also allowing the cooking or re-heating of the food product thus conditioned.

Moreover, it is known from the patent application FR 2,669,605 a packaging intended to ensure the vacuum packaging of a food product. This package is made from a sheet having an outer layer of polymer, a metal interlayer and an inner layer of food polymer.

The patent US 5,273,797 discloses a packaging for food products made from a composite sheet comprising between a thermoplastic structure layer and a heat-sealable layer, a barrier layer including aluminum.

The patent application EP-A-470771 discloses a food package according to the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a flexible package adapted to allow the simple and fast packaging of food products while allowing the cooking or re-heating of the food product packaged by such packaging.

To achieve such an objective, the present invention relates to a flexible sealable packaging for food products according to the subject of claim 1.

According to one aspect of the invention, each composite sheet comprising at least the aluminum layer, the plastic layer and the binder layer is heat-sealable at a temperature between 100 ° C and 200 ° C and advantageously between 160 ° C and 190 ° C.

According to one characteristic of the invention, each composite sheet comprising at least the aluminum layer, the heat-sealable plastic layer and the binder layer is capable of withstanding a temperature of at least 120 ° C. and advantageously at 140 ° C. C for a period of at least 25 minutes.

According to an alternative embodiment, the flexible packaging according to the invention also comprises a layer of paper resistant to high temperature interposed between the heat-sealable plastic layer and the heat-sealable binder layer.

Advantageously, the high temperature resistant heat-sealable binder layer is produced by extrusion of high temperature resistant polymers or by coextrusion of high temperature resistant polymers.

Advantageously, the heat-resistant plastic layer resistant to high temperature is made of polypropylene and preferably polyethylene terephthalate.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the heat-sealable plastic layer comprises, on the side of the binder layer, a non-heat-sealable face and, on the side of the food product contact face of the sheet, a heat-sealable face.

Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible package having a window for viewing the packaged food product before and during cooking.

To achieve such an objective, the flexible packaging according to the invention comprises at least one composite sheet or each composite sheet is formed in two parts interconnected by a plastic film at least translucent resistant to high temperature and fixed on the contact surface food product of each of the parts of the composite sheet so as to constitute a viewing window, said film having on the side of the heat-sealable plastic layer, a non-heat-sealable side and on the other side of the sheet, a heat-sealable side which constitutes with the face of the plastic layer of the sheets, a food product contact face.

According to a feature of the invention, the plastic film is welded to both parts of the composite sheet and is made of polypropylene or preferably polyethylene terephthalate.

According to an alternative embodiment, the two composite sheets comprise a plastic film for each presenting a window display, at least a portion of the films forming the windows being arranged superimposed to facilitate the opening of the flexible packaging.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the two superposed composite sheets form a sheath.

According to another exemplary embodiment, two superimposed composite sheets are obtained by a sheet folded on itself in one or two layers.

According to another embodiment, the two superposed composite sheets are assembled at their edges to form a bag having an access opening to its internal volume.

According to another aspect of the invention, the access opening is closed by heat sealing, after the introduction of a food product into the internal volume of the package, to form a closed sealed package.

• La Figure 1 est une vue de dessus montrant un exemple de réalisation d'un emballage souple conforme à l'invention.
• La Figure 2 est une vue en coupe à grande échelle montrant la structure d'un exemple de réalisation d'un emballage souple conforme à l'invention.
• La Figure 3 est une vue en coupe à grande échelle montrant la structure d'un autre exemple de réalisation d'un emballage souple conforme à l'invention comportant une fenêtre de visualisation sur l'une de ses faces.
• La Figure 4 est une vue de dessus d'un emballage souple tel qu'illustré à la Fig. 3 .
• Les Figures 5 et 6 sont des vues schématiques en perspective d'un emballage souple conforme à l'invention comportant une fenêtre de visualisation sur les deux faces et réalisé à partir respectivement d'une gaine et d'une feuille repliée.

Various other characteristics appear from the description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of non-limiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention.

• The Figure 1 is a top view showing an embodiment of a flexible package according to the invention.
• The Figure 2 is a large-scale sectional view showing the structure of an exemplary embodiment of a flexible package according to the invention.
• The Figure 3 is a sectional view on a large scale showing the structure of another embodiment of a flexible package according to the invention comprising a viewing window on one of its faces.
• The Figure 4 is a top view of a flexible package as shown in FIG. Fig. 3 .
• The Figures 5 and 6 are schematic perspective views of a flexible package according to the invention comprising a window of visualization on both sides and made respectively from a sheath and a folded sheet.

The Fig. 1 represents an exemplary embodiment of a flexible package in the form of a sheath cut from a sheath 2 packaged generally in roll. In the example shown, the sheath 2 comprises two composite sheets 4 and 5 superimposed which in the illustrated example are assembled together at their longitudinal edges 6 by heat sealing or heat sealing. This sheath 2 is cut to the desired length to contain a food product 7 such as fish. Preferably, during the cutting of the sheath 2 to constitute the flexible packaging 1, a transverse weld connecting the two longitudinal edges 6 is formed on an end 11 of the flexible packaging 1 which is thus in the form of a bag that can be opened by the other transverse end 12 having an opening giving access to the internal volume of the bag.

In the example described above, the sheath forming the flexible packaging 1 is formed from two composite sheets 4, 5 placed in superposed position one against the other and assembled along their two longitudinal edges 6. Of course , it may be envisaged to produce the flexible package 1 in the form of a seamless sheath or a sheath with a single weld obtained by folding a sheet on itself and welding the free edges opposite to the fold. Similarly, the flexible package 1 can be made from a sheet folded on itself in one or two layers to obtain the two superimposed composite sheets 4 and 5 which are assembled at their edges to form a bag having an access opening to its internal volume which is closed by heat sealing after introduction of the product to be packaged inside the flexible packaging. In general, the flexible packaging 1 according to the invention is intended to comprise at least two superimposed composite sheets 4, 5 assembled at their edges by heat sealing or heat sealing or gluing to form a bag with a opening for the introduction of the product to be packaged. The opening of the bag is then closed by heat sealing or heat sealing.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated more particularly in the Fig. 2 , Each composite sheet 4, 5 comprises at least between a layer of aluminum 15 and a layer of heat sealable plastic material resistant to high temperature 16, a layer 17 of high temperature resistant binder. Each composite sheet 4, 5 thus has two outer faces constituted by the aluminum layer 15 and the heat-sealable plastic layer 16. As is more particularly apparent from the Fig. 2 The composite sheets 4, 5 are arranged so that the heat-sealable plastic layers 16 are facing each other to constitute the inner surface of the flexible package intended to be in contact with the food product to be packaged . Thus, each plastic layer 16 has a surface 16a so-called food product contact.

Each composite sheet 4, 5 has a heat-sealable plastic layer 16 facing each other by their food product contact surfaces 16a thus allowing heat-sealing or heat-sealing of the two composite sheets 4, 5 between them. Thus, since the heat-sealable plastic layers 16 are arranged against each other, the application of a localized pressure on the composite sheets 4, 5 for example at the transverse edges of the sheath, completed by a heating localized allows to obtain a weld composite sheets 4, 5 between them.

According to a feature of the invention, each composite sheet 4, 5 comprising at least the aluminum layer 15, the plastic layer 16 and the binder layer 17 is heat-sealable at a temperature between 100 ° C and 200 ° C and advantageously between 160 ° C and 190 ° C.

According to the invention, each composite sheet 4, 5 comprising the aluminum layer 15, the plastic layer heat-sealable material 16 and the binder layer 17 is capable of withstanding a temperature of at least 120 ° C for a minimum period of at least 25 minutes. Indeed, it appears that a flexible package 1 comprising the composite sheets 4, 5 must be able to withstand a temperature of at least 120 ° C for a minimum of 25 minutes to allow to cook or reheat, a conventional mass of a food product packaged by such a flexible package.

Advantageously, each composite sheet 4, 5 according to the invention is capable of withstanding a temperature of at least 140 ° C. for a minimum duration of 25 minutes.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, each composite sheet 4, 5 comprising the aluminum foil 15, the heat-sealable plastic layer 16 and the binder layer 17 is able to withstand a temperature at most equal to 220 ° C that is to say less than or equal to 220 ° C for a maximum period of 90 minutes.

Advantageously, each composite sheet 4, 5 is capable of withstanding a temperature at most equal to 220 ° C for a maximum period of between 45 minutes and 75 minutes.

Each composite sheet 4, 5 comprising the aluminum layer 15, the heat-sealable plastic layer 16 and the binder layer 17 is thus capable of being subjected to a predetermined temperature for a period of time suitable for cooking and / or refurnishing. temperature of the food product placed inside the flexible packaging. In other words, the aluminum layer 15, the heat-sealable plastic layer 16 and the binder layer 17 are chosen to withstand the temperatures indicated above for the time indicated above, that is, to say that the technical characteristics of these layers 16, 17 are not altered by heat so that delamination, burns or blisters do not occur.

In other words, the flexible packaging 1 according to the invention retains its integrity at the end of the heating period chosen. In the conditions defined above, the flexible packaging 1 thus retains its waterproof character. The composite sheets 4, 5 are not drilled and the weld or welds made to close the bag continues (s) to perform their function of sealing the sheets together.

According to a preferred embodiment, the high temperature resistant heat-sealable binder layer 17 is made by extrusion of high temperature resistant polymers or by coextrusion of high temperature resistant polymers. For example, it can be used as a binder layer, a low density polyethylene (LDPE), a polypropylene, a polyester or glue.

According to an embodiment characteristic, the layer of heat-resistant plastics material resistant to high temperature 16 is made for example of polypropylene. Advantageously, this heat-sealable plastic layer 16 is a polyethylene terephthalate. Advantageously, the layer of heat-resistant plastics material resistant to high temperature 16 is in the form of a film consisting of the material or materials described above.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the layer of heat-resistant plastics material 16 resistant to high temperature comprises, on the side of the binder layer 17, a non-heat-sealable face and on the side of the food product contact face 16a of the sheet, one side sealable.

It should be noted that an embodiment variant may be provided in which each composite sheet 4, 5 also comprises a layer of high temperature resistant paper interposed between the heat-sealable plastic layer 16 and the heat-sealable binder layer 17. Advantageously, the layer of heat-resistant plastics material resistant to high temperature 16 is in the form of a film, an extrusion or a co-extrusion consisting of the materials described above such as polypropylene or terephthalate of polyethylene.

The Fig. 3 and 4 illustrate another alternative embodiment of a flexible package 1 implementing at least one window 20 of visualization of the food product 7 placed inside the flexible packaging to visualize the content and appreciate the cooking of the food product.

According to this variant embodiment, the flexible packaging 1 comprises at least one composite sheet 4 formed in two parts in the example illustrated, and interconnected by a plastic film at least translucent 30 resistant to high temperature and fixed on the food product contact face 16a of each of the parts of the composite sheet. The plastic film 30 is made for example of polypropylene and is advantageously a polyethene terepthalate. This plastic film 30 thus constitutes a viewing window 20 located between two parts of a composite sheet. The plastic film 30 has a non-heat-sealable face 30a , facing the food product contact face 16a of the heat-sealable plastic layer 16 so as to form in combination with the aluminum layer 15, a face of the composite sheet 4. This plastic film 30 has opposite its face 30a, a heat sealable face 30b which in combination with the food product contact face 16a of the plastic layer 16 of the sheets, the other side of the composite sheet 4 which constitutes a contact surface food product. Advantageously, the plastic film 30 is fixed by a heat-sealing or heat-sealing operation on the two parts of the composite sheet 4. In this way, a flexible package 1 can be produced from a composite sheet 4 equipped with such a window 20 and a composite sheet 5 as described in Fig. 2 . According to this variant embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 , the front of the flexible package 1 has a window 20 while the back does not.

Of course, it may be provided to produce a flexible package 1 comprising two composite sheets 4, 5 each identical to the composite sheet 4 illustrated in FIG. Fig. 3 . According to this example, each composite sheet 4, 5 is provided with a viewing window 20 as illustrated to the Fig. 5, 6 . In the example shown in Fig. 5 , the flexible packaging 1 is obtained from a sheath equipped on either side of a window 20. In the example illustrated in FIG. Fig. 6 , the flexible package 1 is obtained by a composite sheet provided along its entire length with a window 20, folded along a line perpendicular to the window 20 so as to obtain a flexible package 1 equipped with a continuous window 20 extending on both sides of the packaging.

In the examples illustrated in Fig. 5, 6 , the flexible packaging 1 comprises a duplex, a viewing window 20. Advantageously, at least a portion of the plastic films 30 forming the windows 20 are arranged so as to be superimposed to facilitate the opening of the flexible packaging . It should be noted that the presence of a plastic film 30 on a front face or vis-à-vis on the front and back sides of the flexible package facilitates the opening of the flexible packaging.

The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown since various modifications can be made without departing from its scope as defined in the claims.

Claims (13)

1. A flexible leaktight package for food products, designed to be subjected to heating for cooking or for defrosting, the package being designed to comprise two heatsealable superposed composite sheets, each composite sheet (4, 5) including at least a layer (17) of heatsealable binder that withstands high temperatures between a layer (15) of aluminum and a layer (16) of heatsealable plastics material that withstands high temperatures, the package being characterized in that each composite sheet (4, 5) including at least the layer (15) of aluminum, the layer (16) of heatsealable plastics material, and the layer (17) of binder is suitable for withstanding a temperature of at least 120°C and advantageously at least 140°C for a duration of at least 25 min, and for withstanding a temperature of at most 220°C for a maximum duration of 90 min and advantageously a maximum duration lying in the range 45 min to 75 min.
2. A flexible package according to claim 1, characterized in that for each composite sheet (4, 5) including at least the layer (15) of aluminum, the layer (16) of plastics material, and the layer (17) of binder is heatsealable at a temperature lying in the range 100°C to 200°C, and advantageously lying in the range 160°C to 190°C.
3. A flexible package according to claim 1, characterized in that it also includes a layer of paper that withstands high temperature interposed between the layer of heatsealable plastics material and the layer of heatsealable binder.
4. A flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the layer (17) of heatsealable binder withstanding high temperature is made by extruding polymers that withstand high temperature or by coextruding polymers that withstand high temperature.
5. A flexible package according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the layer (16) of heatsealable plastics material that withstands high temperature is made of polypropylene, and advantageously of polyethylene terephthalate.
6. A flexible package according to claim 5, characterized in that the layer (16) of heatsealable plastics material includes, beside the layer (17) of binder, a non-heatsealable face, and beside the food-contacting face (16a) of the sheet, a heatsealable face.
7. A flexible package according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one composite sheet (4, 5) or each composite sheet is made up of two portions connected together by a film (30) of plastics material that is at least translucent and that withstands high temperature, the film being fastened to the food-contacting face (16a) of each of the portions of the composite sheet in such a manner as to constitute a viewing window (20), said film (30) presenting, beside the layer of heatsealable plastics material, a non-heatsealable face (30a) and beside the other side of the sheet, a heatsealable face (30b) that co-operates with the face (16a) of the plastics material layer (16) of the sheets to constitute a food-contacting face.
8. A flexible package according to claim 7, characterized in that the film (30) of plastics material is welded to the two portions of the composite sheet and is made of polypropylene or advantageously of polyethylene terephthalate.
9. A flexible package according to claim 8, characterized in that the two composite sheets (4, 5) include respective films (30) of plastics material so that each of them presents a viewing window (20), at least a portion of each window-forming film (30) being arranged in superposed manner in order to facilitate opening the flexible package.
10. A flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the two superposed composite sheets (4, 5) form a sheath.
11. A flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the two superposed composite sheets (4, 5) are obtained by folding a sheet in half once or twice.
12. A flexible package according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the two superposed composite sheets (4, 5) are assembled together via their edges to constitute a bag including an opening giving access to its inside volume.
13. A flexible package according to claim 12, characterized in that the access opening is closed by heat sealing after a food product has been introduced into the inside volume of the package in order to constitute a closed package that is leaktight.

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