AU661268B2 - Packaging - Google Patents

Description

i AUSTRALIA 61268 PATENTS ACT 1952 Form COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: 9 999@ 41 i t Si 4 I: I Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Ir 4* 1 I It 04 1 Name of Applicant: SEAWELL CORPORATION N.V.

Address of Applicant: 6 JOHN B. GORSIRAWEG

CURACAO

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES Actual Inventor: Address for Service: GRIFFITH HACK CO., 601 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled:

PACKAGING

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:e a I 2

PACKAGING

i f Field of the Invention This invention relates to improved packaging and u relates particularly, but not exclusively, to improved packaging for containing meat, fish, poultry, vegetables or other food products.

Description of the Prior Art Hitherto, in the art of packaging meat, fish, poultry, vegetables or other food products, it has been a problem to provide for relatively long shelf life of the packaged goods, to provide a package which will not affect the appearance or keeping qualities of the packaged goods, to provide a package which is relatively simple to manufacture, to provide an inexpensive yet sufficiently strong package and to

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1 3 provide a package wherein fogging of the package from moisture carried in the packaged goods will be inhibited.

Packaging has been known which includes certain gases to enhance the keeping qualities of the contents.

For example, it has been known to use packaging such as disclosed in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/AU84/00131, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The shelf life of the packaged goods can thereby be enhanced. Typically these packages are made from a plastics material and the plastics material provides a partial barrier to the ingress of unwanted gases. Some of the plastics material is such that it allows gases which may generate within the package to escape. Other known plastics materials allows certain gases to permeate to enhance the keeping qualities of the packaging goods.

Statement of the Invention The present invention attempts to overcome one or more of the aforementioned problems by including a skin wrapping in the total package. Skin packing is a known technique where goods are tightly packaged within a wrapping material and where substantially all of the atmospheric air is excluded. This known technique has been utilised to provide a different packaging method and structure than hitherto known.

25 According to a first broad aspect of the present invention there may be provided an improved package for perishable goods comprising a base over which goods are placed, a gas permeable flexible web of packaging material S° covering said goods and a lid positioned over the top of said base and sealed to said base over said flexible web; a 4 space being formed between said lid and said flexible web and a gas being retained in said space, said gas being Sselected for enhancing preservation of said goods by permeating said flexible web characterised in that said flexible web is sealed relative to said base and in that the gak pressure below said flexible web is less than that i

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4in said space between said lid and said web whereby said flexible web is caused at least to partially skin pack said goods and hold said goods relative to said base.

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there may be provided a method of packaging goods comprising providing a base, placing goods ovnr said base, applying a flexible web of gas permeable skin packagin! material over said goods, and applying a lid over said web; characterised by the steps of heatinj said web and evacuating air or gas from between said base and web so as to allow said web to flexibly displace onto said goods and to at lest partially skin pack said goods relative to said base, sealing said lid to said base with a space between said lid and said web, and charging said space with a gas which can permeate said web, said gas being selected for enhancing preservation of said goods by permeating said web.

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there may be provided apparatus for packaging perishable goods comprising: o means for carrying a base over which goods are :placed, means for applying a first flexible gas permeable web over said goods, .means for applying a second web over said first O web, said goods and said base, means for sealing said second web to said base, and means for charging a gas between said first web and said second web, characterised in that there is provided heating •means for heating said first web and said means has means for establishing a reduced pressure below said first web relative to that above said first web to effect at lest partial skin packaging of said first web over said goods and relative to said base so that said good are held 0 iO ,i i 5 relative to said base by said at least partial skin packing, and in that said means seals said second web to said base so as to provide a space between said second web and said first web so that a gas will be retained in said space charged from said means, said gas being selected for permeating said first web to enhance preservation of said goods said second web serving as a lid retaining said gas in said space.

Brief Description of Preferred Embodiments In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained the construction of preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figures 1 through 5 diagrammatically represent side views of six different types of packaging within the scope of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic side view of one preferred machine used for performing a preferred method of the present invention; 20 Figure 7 is a close-up side cross-sectional view of a station of the machine where a web of plastics material is skin packaged over goods on the base; Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 7 but showing a gas flushing station; 25 Figure 9 is a diagrammatical side view of a 4(tE I t I, I rI I

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Ca i i' 6different type of packaging within the scope of the present invention; Figure 10 is a diagrammatic side view of a preferred machine for making the package shown in Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a plan view of a preferred insert for use in the package produced by the machine of Figure 9.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments i0 Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown packaging made of plastics materials. The packaging comprises a generally rectangular shaped base 1 with a bottom of the base being somewhat lower than a top surface of the base. The base 1 is preferably made by a thermo forming process as will be described later. Typically the base 1 is made from a plastics material which may be gas permeable or it may be a partial gas barrier material.

r Examples of gas permeable materials are a multi-layer web ~comprising one layer of P.V.C. and another layer of P.E.

The P.V.C. can have a thickness of about 400 microns 7 L whilst the thickness of the P.E. can be about 70 microns.

Throughout this specification the term micron is to ii

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7 be understood as a dimension equal to 1/1000 of a millimetre.

Micron is sometimes referred to as micrometre. Alternatively, the material may be a multi-layered web of P.V.C. with a heat sensitive coating which will enable heat bonding to other plastics components in the package. The P.V.C. can be of a thickness of 450 microns and the coating can be of a thickness of about 5 microns. When a partial gas barrier material is provided, then it may be comprised of multi-layered web of The overall thickness of the plastics o material is preferably about 450 microns. If desired, the base may be of a single web of plastics material such as P.V.C. of about 450 microns. Other suitable materials can be chosen if desired. It should be understood that polyethylene Sr" will provide for a relatively low gas barrier, P.V.C. will provide for a high gas barrier and P.V.C. in a multilayered form such as will provide an even higher gas barrier. Aluminium materials such as of about 20 micron t thickness will provide for an even higher gas barrier material. All of these materials are suitable for any of the webs of any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

I Goods 3 are provided in the base 1. The goods 3 are typically meat, fish, poultry or fresh vegetables although other types of goods such as foodstuffs can be packaged if S' desired. Typically the goods 3 have about the same shape and are of the same size as the bottom of the base 1 so that the base 1 is substantially filled with goods over the bottom of the base 1.

A web of flexible plastics material 5 skin packages INA the goods 3 to the base 1. The flexible plastics material is typically of polyethylene/E.V.A. of 50-100 micron thickness. Alternatively, it may comprise a plasticized P.V.C. of 50-100 micron thickness which is preferably heat sealable to the base 1. It may be otherwise sealable to the base if desired. The above described web 5 is a gas permeable web. If a partial gas barrier web is required then it may

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1 I 8 comprise a multi-layered web of of about JO micron thickness overall. Other suitable plastics materials for the web can be used if desired.

A lid 7 is fitted over the top of the base 1 so as to provide a free space 9 between the web 5 and the lid 7.

The lid 7 and the web 5 are sealed to the base 1 around a peripheral lip 11 of the base 1. Conveniently the sealing is by way of a heat sealing although other forms of sealing are envisaged. The free soace 9 can contain air if desired and/or p 10 a suitable gas which will enhan a the keeping of the packaged *t S, goods. Typically the volume of the free space 9 is arranged to be at least equal to the volume of gas necessary to maintain the keeping of the packaged goods for several days or several weeks depending on the nature of the goods and,.the sale time conditions applicable following packaging.

The lid 7 is typically of 80-120 microns in thickness. If it is of a gas permeable material it may comprise a multi-layer of Alternatively, it may S comprise a multi-layer of P.V.C. with a heat sensitive coating such as an adhesive to effect sealing to the flexible web which is, in turn, sealed to the peripheral lip 11 of the base 1. Alternatively, it may be a single web of plastics material such as P.V.C..

S.

If the lid material is to b" a partial gas barrier, then one suitable form may comprise polyester/P.V.D.C./P.E. or other suitable materials. If a very high gas barrier is required then the lid can be aluminium which may be coated with a plastics material to enhance bonding to peripheral lip In a further variation of the container referred to in Figure 1, the materials may be as follows. The base 1 may be of P.V.C. whilst the web 5 may be of a plasticized P.V.C.

and the lid may be The thicknesses of the plastics materials may be generally of the same thickness as previously described.

9 In a further variation of materials, if the lid 7 and the web 5 are to be peeled off the base 1 as a single unitary structure, then the base 1 may be either P.V.C./E.V.A.

which is co-extruded or an extrusion laminate or a laminate.

The flexible web 5 may be plasticized P.V.C. and the lid 7 may be The thicknesses of the base 1, the web 5 and the lid 7 may be as previously described.

In a further embodiment where the lid only is to be S peeled off leaving the flexible web 5 intact with the base 1, then the base 1 may be of the flexible web 5 of a S plasticized P.V.C. whilst the lid 7 is of a laminate which can be formed as a co-extrusion S or an extrusion laminate. When the lid 7, or the lid 7 and the flexible web 5 are peeled off, oxygen can contact the goods 3 within the base 1 by-either directly contacting the goods or by passing through the flexible web 5. It is known Sthat red meat turns dark brown when oxygen is depleted from S the blood. The red colour can be restored by allowing oxygen to contact the blood on the surface of the meat by removing 20 the lid 7, or the lid 7 and the flexible web 1 t r I

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Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a construction very similar to that of Figure 1 and accordingly like numerals have been given to the same components. In this construction, the goods 3 are received on a further web 13 of plastics material which may be the same material as web 5. In this embodiment the goods 3 are completely skin packed around their external surface by the web 5 of plastics material and the further web of plastics material 13. It is noted that a further free space 15 is provided underneath the goods 3 below the further web 13 of plastics material. This free space may be filled with gas such as air and/or other gas to enhance the keeping of the packaged goods 3. This gas may be the same as or different to the gas in the free space 9.

-I I 10 Figure 3 shows an embodi;nent similar to that of Figure 2 but wherein there are a plurality of layers of packaged goods 3. In this embodiment, each of the layers of goods 3 is individually skin wrapped by its own individual web of plastics material designated generally by numeral 17. Each of the webs of plastics material 17 may comprise the same materials as that proposed for the webs 5 and 13. In this embodiment the lid 7 may include a pouch 9 into which condiments can be provided. Typically r f 10 the condiments can be sauces for the packaged goods. The pouch 9 can have a removable cover 21 which may conveniently comprise a web of paper or the like with a suitable adhesive medium on the underside to bond to the lid material around the periphery of the pouch 19.

t 15 Figure 4 shows an embodiment similar to that of Figure 2 but wherein there is additionally provided an upper lid 23 which contains eating implements such as a knife, fork or spoon Figure 5 shows an embodiment similar to that of Figure 1 but wherein there is additionally provided an ovenable tray 27. The ovenable tray 27 may conveniently S be comprised of metal foil or of a plastics material such as crystallizable polyethylene terephthalate C.P.E.T. of about 400 microns in thickness. This material C.P.E.T. is Ir 25 known for its dual ovenable qualities i.e. thermal and microwave, and is used in the food packaging industry.

In the case of embodiments shown in Figures 1 through 5 the base 1 may be of a semi rigid construction whilst the webs 5, 13 and 17, 7 are relatively flexible.

In the case of the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lid 7 or lid 23 may be of a semi rigid construction.

If desired punched openings may be made through the various webs 5, 13 and 17 around the peripheral sides of the goods 3 in such a manner that the goods 3 are still sealed within the webs, but so that there are openings extending therethrough but not into the spaces therebetween. This will allow the gas which is in the L I I- -I ii free spaces 9 and 15 to freely circulate around the webs covering the goods 3.

Referring now to Figure 6 there is shown a side view in diagrammatic form of a preferred packaging machine which performs a preferred packaging method in accordance with the present invention. The machine is arranged so that a web of plastics material 31 can nass underneath a heating member 33, be heated and then pass to a thermo forming station 35 where trays 1 can be produced by inserting a male die member 37 into a female die cavity 39. The so formed bases 1 then move to a goods loading station 41. The bases 1 are loaded with the goods such as food and then pass into a skin packing station 43. At the t skin packing station 43, a web of plastics material 45 is 15 arranged to run parallel with the web 31. Figure 7 shows a close up view of the skin packing station 43. Here there is an upper chamber 47 and a lower chamber 49. The lowor chamber 4:9 has a cavity 51 into which the bases 1 are received. The upper chamber 47 contains a heated .20 member 53 which is used to heat the web 45 to a deformable temperature for skin packing. The upper chamber 47 and r the lower chamber 49 are then closed and air is evacuated via gas passageways 55 and 57. The web 45 is maintained separate from the top of the base 1 during this evacuation 25 process. The web 5 is then caused to move towards the heated member 53 to heat it to a deformable temperature.

The undersurface of heated member 53 could be scollaped upwardly i.e. concavely shaped so as to mirror imitate, at least to a small degree, the displacement required for the web 5 to skin pack to the goods 3. When the air has been evacuated, the heated member 53 is moved downwardly to then heat seal the web 45 around the periphery of the base 1 to the lip 11. Air or a gas is then reintroduced through passageway 55, at least, and this, in

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12 turn, causes the web 45 to skin pack the goods 3 to the base 1. The reason that it skin packs the goods 3 is that there is substantially no air between the web 45 and the base 1.

Accordingly, when the air or gas is introduced through the passageway 55 the flexible web 45 skin packs the goods 3 by being displaced onto the upper surface of the goods 3.

The bases 1 then move to a lid sealing station 59.

At this station, a web of plastics material 61 is provided over the top of the base 1, over the web 45. Figure 8 shows a 10 detailed cross-sectional view of the lid sealing station 59.

The lid sealing station 59 comprises an upper chamber 63 and a lower chamber 65. It also includes a heated platen 67. The f platen 67 is conveniently heated only around the lip 11 region of the base 1. In use, the upper chamber 63 and the lower chamber 65 are closed together and air is evacuated through the air passageway 69. If desired a desired flushing gas can then be admitted into the closed upper chamber 63 and lower chamber 65 so as to provide a desired gas between the lid and the base, i.e. between the web 61 arnd web 31. The platen 67 can then be lowered to heat seal the lid to the lip 11 of the base 1.

It should be appreciated that when the lid 7 is sealed to the base 1, there will be provided a free space, as shown by 9 in Figure 1, and the free space contains a desired gas such as 02, N 2 or CO 2 or other like gases which will enhance the keeping qualities of the packaged goods. If desired it may simply comprise atmospheric air.

The package is then removed from the lid sealing station 59 and separated from the web 31 by suitable means.

If desired, the skin packing station 43 can also include the step of admitting a desired flushing gas through the gas passageways 55 or 57 immediately prior to the sealing of the web 45 to the lip 11 of the base 1. This will provide a desired flushing gas within the space between the base 1 and the web Patent Attorney for and on behalf of the applicant(s) j j I II Ii; II -13- A It can be appreciated that by adding various stations to the apparatus shown in Figure 6, any one of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 through 5 can be produced. For example, to produce the embodiment of Figure 2 a further web of plastics material 13 need be provided prior to loading of the goods 3 into the base 1. The web 13 and 5 can be simultaneously welded to the peripheral lip 11 by a single heated platen. In producing the embodiment of Figure 3 each of the webs 17 and goods 3 can be individually layered and 10 then heat sealed to the peripheral lip 11. By appropriate Cm, additions, any one of the embodiments of Figures 1 through can be produced. Such production is relatively economic and will yield a high throughput of packages.

When packaging goods such as fish, it is possible to r 15 retain the usual drip liquid with the fish but to allow for controlled atmosphere or gas to permeate through the skin webs. This, in turn, will allow for freezing of the contents without the growth of ice crystals or the like as is normal in frozen fish packaging. The appearance of the package is 20 particularly enhanced by the double glazing effect provided by the lid 7 and the web 5 and 13 or webs 17. In the embodiments V of Figures 2, 3 and 4 the goods 3 are effectively within an inner pouch. If desired the goods 3 can be frozen in a separately filled and sealed frozen pouch or in a jig of the ,25 same size as the semi rigid ovenable tray 27 see Figure Thus the goods 3 may be maintained in a separate pouch of plastics material prior to the freezing.

All the plastics materials from which the packaging is made may individually or collectively restrict and/or inhibit or control or allow selected atmosphere or gases to flow into or out of the package.

Referring now to Figure 9 there is shown a preferred form of an alternative embodiment of packaging.

Here there is provided a P.V.C. base 1 with a skin packing 71.

The skin packing 71 may be a partial gas barrier material of the type previously described. Goods 3 are placed within the base 1 above the skin packing 71. A further web of skin

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1 i r 1 i if i i 14 packing 77 is provided over the goo., 3. The further web 77 is bonded to the web 71 and therefore a unitary package is provided by the base 1, the skin packing 71 and the further skin packing 77. Preferably, the web of skin packing 77 is a partial gas barrier material of the type previously described.

If desired a lid 81 can be provided over the top of the base 1 as shown. Preferably the lid 81 is a gas barrier material and an gas such as 02, N 2

CO

2 or like gas which will assist the keeping of the goods is provided in the space 83 which is formed between the skin packing material 77 and the peripheral lip 85 of the base 1 under the lid 81.

I Referring now to Figure 10 there is shown a diagrammatic side view of a preferred machine for producing the package shown in Figure 9. Here a web of plastics material 87 is produced with a number of depressions therein to form bases 1. Typically the web of plastics material 87 is P.V.C. which is relatively inexpensive. A heater 33 is 11 provided for heating the web 87 wheretpon the web 87 passes to a thermo forming station 35 where the- bases 1 are produced by inserting a male die member 37 into a female die cavity 39.

The bases 1 are then passed to a skin packing station 73 where a web of skin packing plastics material 71 skin packs to the base 1. The skin packing station 73 is of a type similar to that shown in Figure 7 and therefore has not been described in detail here. When the plastics material 71 is skin packed to the base 1, the base 1 is then passed to a station 74 where goods 3 are provided onto the base i. The bases 1 and goods 3 then pass to a further skin packing SJ station 75 where a web of plastics material 77 is skin packed to the top of the goods 3 and to the peripheral lip 85 around each of the bases 1. The bases 1 then advance to a lid sealing station 79 where lid material 81 is applied and bonded around the peripheral lip of the bases 1. If the webs 71, 77 F and 81 are of a gas barrier material or selected ones of those -I webs is a gas barrier material and suitable gases are employed c^si a are mtra n utbegae r mlydj i

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in the packaging either between the webs 71 and 77 and/or between webs 77 and 81, then the shelf life of the packaged goods 3 may be able to be enhanced.

Figure 11 shows an insert 89 which can be placed into the bases 1 prior to the web 71 being skin packed thereto. In this connection the insert 89 is shaped, so as to closely follow the contour of the bases 1. Thus when the skin packing material 71 is skin packed to the base 1, the insert 89 will be held firmly thereto. The insert 89 can have 10 advertising material printed thereon so r.s to obviate the need for subsequent labeling of the package. Typically the insert 89 can be of a cardboard material and/or a paper and/or a plastics and/or a metal or foil or waxed material. By i appropriate choice of the material of insert 89 it may.be possible to avoid the necessity for skin packing a web of skin pack material 71 to the base 1. Accordingly, by providing the insert 89, the web 71 may be dispensed with.

.Suitable gases for use in any of the embodiments herein are a combination of gases, or a single gas, including such atmospheric gases as Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen, as well as other suitable gases.

Modifications may be made to the invention as would be apparent to persons skilled in the packaging and/or fooastuff art. These and other modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the appended claims.

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Claims (47)

1. An improved package for perishable goods comprising a base over which goods are placed, a gas permeable flexible web of packaging material covering said goods and a lid positioned over the top of said base and sealed to said base over said flexible web; a space being formed between said lid and said flexible web and a gas being retained in said space, said gas being selected for enhancing preservation of said goods by permeating said flexible web characterised in that said flexible web is sealed relative to said base and in that the gas pressure below said flexible web is less than that in said space between said lid and said web whereby said flexible web is caused at least to partially skin pack said goods and hold said goods relative to said base.

2. The improved package of claim 1 in which the base is made of a gas permeable plastic material.

3. The improved package of claim 1 in which the base is formed of a material that creates a partial gas barrier. *I C I I'(I The improved package of claim I formed of a high gas barrier material. in which the base Ilbl The improved package base is bout 450 microns thick.

6. The improved package forms a partial gas barrier.

7. The improved package is from 50-100 microns thick.

8. The improved package is gas permeable.

9. The improved package forms a very high gas barrier. The improved package forms a partial gas barrier.

11. The improved package is from 80-120 microns thick.

12. The improved package of claim 1 in which said of claim 1 in which said web of claim 1 in which said web of claim 1 in which said lid of claim 1 in which said lid of claim 1 in which said lid of claim 1 in which said lid of claim 1 in which the r I-icE Ipermeating said flexible web characterised in that said flexible web is sealed relative to said base and in that the gas pressure below said flexible web is less than that i <I 17 space between said lid and said web contains an amount of gas needed to preserve the goods for an extended period, the nature of the goods determining the gas selected.

13. The improved package of claim 12 in which said gas is oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, atmospheric air or another gas, or combinations thereof, selected for its preservation characteristics.

14. the improved page of claim 1 in which said lid is affixed to said base so that it may be removed from the package separately from said web. The improved package of claim 1 in which said lid and said web are peelable as a unit from said base.

16. The improved package of claim 1 in which said base is made of PVC, said flexible web is made of plasticised PVC and said lid is made of PVC.

17. The improved package of claim 1 in which said base is made of PVC/EVA laminate, said web is made of plasticised PVC and said lid is made of PVC.

18. The improved package as in claim 1, in which said base is made of PVC, said web is made of plasticised PVC and said lid is made of a PVC/EVA laminate.

19. The improved package of claim 1 including a 0° further gas permeable flexible web sealed relative to said I base, said further web underlying and, in cooperation with 'said first web, substantially completely skin packing said goods. The improved package of claim 19 in which said further web is dimensioned so as to form a space between it and the base, said space being filled with a gas selected 1 .o for enhancing preservation of the packed goods.

21. The improved package of claim 19 in which the gas between said further web and said base is different from 1 4' that between said first web and said lid.

22. The improved package of claim 1 or claim 19 in which said lid provides a containing space for an eating implement. ALI 23. The improved package of claim 1 or claim 19 I CO 18 further including an oven-microwave usable tray positioned between said base and said skin packed goods.

24. The improved package of claim 19 in which said base contains a plurality of skin packed goods, said goods being arranged on said base one on top of the other, said goods each being individually skin packed. The improved package of claim 19 in which the lower-most of said skin packed goods are so positioned as to provide a gas retaining space between said base and said goods, said space being filled with a gas selected to enhance the preservation of the goods.

26. The improved package of claim 25 in which said gas may be oxygen, nitrogen, 7arbon dioxide, atmospheric air or other suitable gas.

27. A method of packaging goods comprising providing a base, placing goods over said base, applying a flexible web of gas permeable skin packaging material over said goods, and applying a lid over said web; characterised by the steps of heating said web and evacuating air or gas from between said base and web so as to allow said web to flexibly displace onto said goods Sand to at lest partially skin pack said goods relative to said base, sealing said lid to said base with a space between said lid and said web, and charging said space with a gas which can permeate said web, said gas being selected I for enhancing preservation of said goods by permeating said web.

28. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said lid and said flexible web are jointly sealed to said base.

29. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27 wherein said base has a cup shaped depression in which S' said goods are placed and a peripheral lip around the perimeter of said cup, and wherein said step of displacing effects movement of said web towards said base to a position below said lip. /j4\ 30. The method o£ claim 29, wherein at least a r :i j- B:~ Li t i r I 19 portion of said web displaced below said lip engages and is skin packed to side walls of said cup.

31. The method of claim 27 further including the step of placing a further flexible web over said base prior to placing said goods over said base wherein said goods are enveloped by said webs.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said base has a generally cup shaped depression, and wherein said further flexible web is displaced into said cup.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said further flexible web engages with the bottom of said cup.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said further flexible web engages at least a portion of the side walls of said cup, and said first recited web overlies said further web in skin packing relation. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said lid is semi-rigid, and said method includes the further step of placing a utensil in said lid.

36. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said flexible web is urged by positive gas pressure thereabove into skin packing conformat r with its associated goods.

37. The method of patkaginig goods according to claim 27, in which said lid is sealed to said base in a manner that renders said lid peelable from said base separately from said flexible web.

38. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said base is made from a gas permeable material.

39. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said base is made of a partial gas barrier material.

40. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said base is made of a high gas barrier material.

41. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said lid is made of a gas permeLule material. Si. 1(4t I 7. 4(4( S S 4 4 *r a or o o i oi <r I II 4 1 I i r I 20

42. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said lid is made of a partial gas barrier material.

43. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said lid is made of a high gas barrier material.

44. The method of packaging goods according to cl.aim 27, including the further step of placing a removable insert on said base prior to the placement thereon of goods or a flexible web. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, including the further sep of placing an oven useable container on said base prior to the placement of goods therein.

46. The method of packaging goods according to claim 27, in which said lid and said flexible web are heat sealable to said base.

47. Apparatus for packaging perishable goods comprising: means for carrying a base over which goods are placed, o means for applying a first flexible gas permeable oe web over said goods, means for applying a second web over said first ao web, said goods and said base, So means for sealing said second web to said base, and means for charging a gas between said first web and said second web, 9 characterised in that there is provided heating means for heating said first web and said means has means for establishing a reduced pressure below said first web :i relative to that above said first web to effect at lest partial skin packaging of said first web over said goods and relative to said base so that said good are held relative to said base by said at least partial skin *packing, and in that said means seals said second web to i.4 j oase ir aesirec. ine aiove cescriue weo a is a gas permeauie I 35 web. If a partial gas barrier web is required then it may -21 said base so as to provide a space between said second web and said first web so that a gas will be retained in said space charged from said means, said gas being selected for permeating said first web to enhance preservation of said goods said second web serving as a lid retaining said gas in said space.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, further including heating means for heating said first web to a deformable temperature to assist said at least partial skin packaging.

49. The apparatus of claim 47 in which the heating surface of said heating means is profiled so as to resemble, in general contour, the upper surface of the skin packed goods. The apparatus of claim 47 further including means for applying an additional flexible plastic web under said goods to be skin packed and over said base, whereby said additional web affects further skinpacking of said goods.

51. The apparatus of claim 47 further including means for charging said space between said web and said base with a gas selected to enhance the preservation of said goods,

52. The apparatus of claim 51 further including means for lowering the atmospheric pressure between said base and tss said additional plastic web to facilitate the placement of said additional web in said base.

53. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said means tit .*includes a heated platen and upper and lower movable chambers, said lower chamber having a peripheral lip on which the outer regions of said lid and said first web overlie, said heated platen being movably positioned in S°said upper chamber and said base being poTitioned in said lower chamber, and means for urging said heated platen Sagainst the lip of said lower chamber to seal said lid and Sweb to said base.

54. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said base comprises an elongate web from which individual bases are formed, and said first web similarly comprises an elongate S web. plastics materials may be generally of the same thickness as previously described. i I 22- The apparatus of claim 54 wherein said second web similarly comprises an elongate web.

56. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said means for establishing a reduced air pressure comprises a skin packaging station upstream of said means for sealing said second web to said base.

57. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said means for establishing a reduced air pressure comprises a skin packaging station upstream of said means for sealing said second web to said base.

58. An improved package for perishable goods substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the examples in Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.

59. A method of packaging goods substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the examples in Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings. Apparatus for packaging perishable goods substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the examples in Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 16TH DAY OF MAY 1995 SEAWELL CORPORATION N.V. By Its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO., Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia A 0 A