CA2177557A1 - Packing for a good such as a foodstuff which may be easily opened and method of making such a packing - Google Patents

Packing for a good such as a foodstuff which may be easily opened and method of making such a packing

Info

Publication number
CA2177557A1
CA2177557A1 CA 2177557 CA2177557A CA2177557A1 CA 2177557 A1 CA2177557 A1 CA 2177557A1 CA 2177557 CA2177557 CA 2177557 CA 2177557 A CA2177557 A CA 2177557A CA 2177557 A1 CA2177557 A1 CA 2177557A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
film
heat
packing
article
zone
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2177557
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jean-Pierre Faivre
Guy Desveaux
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WR Grace and Co Conn
Original Assignee
Jean-Pierre Faivre
Guy Desveaux
Grace, S.A.
Grace S.A.
W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jean-Pierre Faivre, Guy Desveaux, Grace, S.A., Grace S.A., W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn. filed Critical Jean-Pierre Faivre
Publication of CA2177557A1 publication Critical patent/CA2177557A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52Details
    • B65D75/58Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to the packing for an article such as a foodstuff.
The packing is characterized in that it comprises a tongue (8) facilitating the opening of the packing, formed by making a cut (7) in a zone hermetically isolated from the remainder of the film (1) and extending from one edge of the film (1) in the initial state.
The invention is applicable to packings under vacuum or with a modified atmosphere for foodstuff.

Description

~ 1 2177~7 Packing for a good such as a foodstuff which may be easily opened and method of making such a packing.
The present invention relates to a packing for an article 5 such as a foodstuff which may be easily opened.
It is also directed to a method permitting to make such a product packing.
One knows a packing under vacuum of a foodstuff of the type comprising a film of heat-shrinkable material in the 10 shape of a bag into which the foodstuff is brought. This unit is then brought into a machine permitting to make the vacuum within the bag before closing the latter by a transverse line of heat-sealing and to cut it off in the vicinity of this line. The unit under vacuum then passes into a hot air tunnel 15 or a hot water bath at a determined temperature to form the packing the film shrinked by heat of which fully tightly encloses the foodstuff.
One also knows a foodstuff packing with a modified atmosphere therein and made in a machine by which a flat film 20 of a heat-shrinkable material is shaped into a tube by a longitudinal heat-sealing while at the same time the foodstuf f is inserted into this tube which is heat-sealed transversely at one end. A gas of modified atmosphere comprising for example a mixture of oxygen, of carbon dioxide 25 and of nitrogen is then fed into the film wrapping the foodstuff prior to hermetically closing the tube through transverse heat-sealing of the opposite end of the tube. At last this unit is inserted into a tunnel with air heated to a determined temperature for shrinking the film which thus 30 tightly encloses the foodstuff.
The packings of the kind described hereinabove have the major inconvenience of being difficult to be opened.
The present invention proposes an article packing permitting an easy opening thereof while preserving the 35 vacuum or the modified atmosphere therein as long as the packing is not opened.
2 2I775~7 For that purpose according to the invention the packing for an article such as a foodstuff comprising a film of a heat-shrinkable material wrapping the article and which is heat-sealed and cut over at least one part of its periphery and then heat-shrunk so as to tightly enclose the article is characterized in that it comprises a tongue facilitating the opening of the packing, formed by providing a notch in a zone hermetically isolated from the rr~-tn-lrr of the film and extending from one edge of the wrapping film in the initial state.
The hermetically isolated zone is distinct from each heat-sealed and cut portion of the film and is preferably located near one heat-sealed and cut portion of this film.
The zone is hermetically isolated by heat-sealing of the latter over its whole surface.
According to an alternative embodiment the zone is hermetically isolated by heat-sealing along its periphery only .
The invention also proposes a method of making a packing for an article such as a foodstuff, comprising the steps of wrapping the article in a film of a heat-shrinkable material, heat-sealing and severing the f ilm over at least one portion of its periphery and then heat-shrinking the film and which is characterized in that it also comprises the steps of hermetically isolating from the ~ ;n-1Pr of the film, a zone extending from one edge of the film in the initial state and forming a notch in the hermetic zone so that a tongue permitting to facilitate the opening of the packing is formed .
The invention will be better understood and further objects, characterizing features, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the course of the explanatory description which will follow, made with reference to the attached diagrammatic drawings given by way of example only illustrating two embodiments of the invention and ln which:
3 2~ 775~7 - figure 1 is a top view of an article packing bag arranged according to the invention;
- figure 2 is a perspective view showing the packing bag of figure 1 ready to receive an article;
- figure 3 is a partial top view of a packing bag according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;
- figure 4 is a perspective view showing the article packed under vacuum within the packing bag prior to heat-shrinking the packing film;
- figure 5 is a perspective view showing the heat-shrunk packing bag; and - figure 6 shows the application of the invention to a packing of the type with a modified atmosphere.
The invention will be described as applied to a packing of an article ur,der vacuum but it is~ well understood that it also applies to any other type of article packing such as the one with a modified atmosphere as one will see it subsequently .
Referring to figures 1 to 5, the reference numeral 1 designates a packing bag made from a synthetic film of a heat-shrinkable thermoplastic material one end of which is hermetically closed by a transverse seam of heat-sealing 2.
An article 3 such as a food product is inserted into the packing bag 1 and the whole is brought into a machine for providing the vacuum within the bag 1 and the other end of the bag 1 is hermetically closed by a second seam of transverse heat-sealing 4 and cut off for being put to the desired length of the bag 1. The whole thus formed is then brought into a hot air tunnel or a hot water bath at a determined temperature for heat-shrinking the film of the bag 1 so that the latter tightly wraps the article 3.
According to the invention the packing bag 1 in its initial state, i . e . before being heat-shrunk comprises a zone 5 hermetically isolated from the remainder of the film of the bag 1 and extending from a longitudinal edge la of the bag 1.
As shown in particular on figures 1 and 2, the zone 5 is hermetically isolated through heat-sealing of the latter over 4 2~77$S7 its whole surface whereas according to an alternative embodiment shown on figure 3 this zone is hermetically isolated through heat-sealing along its periphery 6 only.
Moreover a cut 7 is made in the hermetically isolated 5 zone 5 by also starting from the edge la of the bag 1.
The hermetically isolated zone 5 is preferably distinct from a heat-sealed portion 2, 4 of the bag 1 and preferably this zone is located near a seam of heat-sealing, in the present case the seam 2.
The hermetically isolated zone 5 and the cut 7 are described hereinabove as being formed in the packing bag 1 intended to subsequently receive an article 3 but they may be made during or after the steps of evacuating the bag 1 and of heat-sealing and severing the latter, the essential point 15 being that they be formed before the step of heat-shrinking the film forming the bag 1. In addition the cut 7 may be carried out by any suitable means for example by a mechanical cutting means either automatically during the making of the bag 1 or the steps of packing the article 3 prior to the 20 heat-shrinking operation or manually with the assistance of a cutting tool before the heat-shrinking step.
When the unit constituted by the packing bag 1 and the article 3 such as shown on figure 4 is heated in order that the film of the bag 1 shrinks through heat, the hermetic zone 25 5 is deformed so that a tongue 8 intended to facilitate the opening of the packing under vacuum be formed near the seam of heat-sealing 2 as shown on figure 5. This tongue 8 constituted by the heat-sealed zone 5 fully and hermetically isolates the cut 7 from the ro~~; n~lPr of the packing so that 30 no outward vacuum leakage in the packing is to be feared.
To open the packing, it suffices to pull on one portion of the tongue 8 so as to tear the packing along the seam of heat-sealing 2.
The invention described hereinabove may also apply to the 35 type of packing with a modified atmosphere diagrammatically shown on f igure 6 .
-5 21 77~5~
As known, such packings are made ln a horizontal filming machine from a heat-shrinkable film 1 shaped into a tube by a longitudinal welding S1 while at the same time the article to be packed, such for example as a foodstuff placed upon a tray or a small boat-shaped trough is inserted into this tube under a modified atmosphere comprising for example a mixture of oxygen, of carbon dioxide and of nitrogen. Then after withdrawal of the excess gaseous mixture the tube is closed at its two ends by two hermetic trarsverse heat-sealings 52 and S3, respectlvely, to preserve the modified atmosphere within the packing thus made. Figure 6 shows that a zone 5 hermetically isolated from the remainder of the packing film has been provided by heat-sealing in the same conditions as that of figure 1 or that of figure 3 while being preferably located near one of the transverse welds S2 and S3.
When the film 1 wrapping the modified atmosphere of the corresponding article is brought ir,to a hot air tunnel, the latter would heat-shrink to tightly enclose the article and during the deformation of the film a tongue is formed in the same manner as the tongue 8 of figure 5 to afterwards permit the easy opening of the packing along the weld line S3.
The films used for this type of packing preferably are of the barrier film type known per se with a core layer forming an oxygen barrier and based upon a copolymer of ethylene and of vinyl alcohol, of polyvinyl alcohol or of PVDC.
The method allowing to make the packing of an article whether it is of the type under vacuum or ur,der a modified atmosphere clearly appears from the foregoing description and needs not to be described in detail.
The packing which has just been described therefore permits to facilitate the opening of the latter while guaranteeing a total protection of the vacuum or of the modified atmosphere in the packing as long as the latter has not been opened.

Claims (12)

1. Packing for an article such as a foodstuff comprising a film (1) of a heat-shrinkable material wrapping the article and which is heat-sealed and severed over at least one portion of its periphery and then heat-shrunk so as to tightly enclose the article (3), characterized in that it comprises a tongue (8) facilitating the opening of the packing, formed by providing a cut (7) in a zone (5) hermetically isolated from the remainder of the film (1) and extending from one edge (1a) of the wrapping film in the initial state.
2. Packing according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid hermetically isolated zone (5) is distinct from each heat-sealed and cut-off portion (2; 4) of the film (1).
3. Packing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the aforesaid hermetically isolated zone (5) is located near a heat-sealed and cut portion (2; 4) of the film (1).
4. Packing according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the aforesaid zone (5) is hermetically isolated by heat-sealing thereof over its whole surface.
5. Packing according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the aforesaid zone (5) is hermetically isolated by heat-sealing along its periphery (6) only.
6. Packing according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the film (1) constitutes a bag for packing the article (3) under vacuum.
7. Packing according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the film (1) is made from a material permitting to pack the article under a modified atmosphere.
8. Packing according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the aforesaid film (1) is of the barrier film type with a core layer forming a barrier against oxygen based upon a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, of polyvinyl alcohol or of PVDC.
9. Method of making a packing for an article such as a foodstuff consisting in wrapping the article (3) in a film (1) of a heat-shrinkable material, heat-sealing and cutting the film (1) over at least one portion of its periphery and then heat-shrinking the film (1), characterized in that it also comprises the steps of hermetically isolating from the remainder of the film (1) a zone (5) extending from one edge of the film (1) in the initial state and forming a cut (7) in the hermetically isolated zone (5) so that a tongue (8) permitting to facilitate the opening of the packing is formed.
10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the aforesaid hermetically isolated zone (5) is formed by heat-sealing.
11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises the steps of evacuating the film (1) prior to the aforesaid heat-sealing and cutting steps.
12. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises the steps of modifying the atmosphere within the film (1) prior to the aforesaid heat-sealing and cutting steps.
CA 2177557 1995-05-29 1996-05-28 Packing for a good such as a foodstuff which may be easily opened and method of making such a packing Abandoned CA2177557A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9506325A FR2734792B1 (en) 1995-05-29 1995-05-29 PACKAGING OF ARTICLE, SUCH AS FOOD PRODUCT, THAT CAN BE EASILY OPENED AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SUCH A PACKAGING.
FR9506325 1995-05-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2177557A1 true CA2177557A1 (en) 1996-11-30

Family

ID=9479436

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2177557 Abandoned CA2177557A1 (en) 1995-05-29 1996-05-28 Packing for a good such as a foodstuff which may be easily opened and method of making such a packing

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0745539B1 (en)
BR (1) BR9602512A (en)
CA (1) CA2177557A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69618714T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2734792B1 (en)
MX (1) MX9602024A (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0957044B1 (en) * 1998-05-11 2007-02-14 Cryovac, Inc. Easy opening system for shrunk hermetic bags
EP1081060A1 (en) * 1999-08-20 2001-03-07 Elsaesser Verpackungen Ag Bag with a tear notch
US6260705B1 (en) 1999-11-15 2001-07-17 Cryovac, Inc. Heat shrinkable pouch
EP1291292A3 (en) * 2001-08-31 2003-12-10 Huhtamaki Ronsberg Zweigniederlassung der Huhtamaki Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG. Tubular bag made of film with internal and/or external sealing capabilities
US6889483B2 (en) 2002-10-31 2005-05-10 Cryovac, Inc. Easy-opening feature for flexible packages and process and apparatus for forming same
WO2007082347A1 (en) * 2006-01-18 2007-07-26 Amcor Limited A polymer bag
US8021049B2 (en) 2008-07-18 2011-09-20 Cryovac, Inc. Bag of a heat-shrinkable gas-barrier thermoplastic film
EP2810894A1 (en) * 2013-06-03 2014-12-10 Philip Morris Products S.A. Sheet material with tab

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1557778A (en) * 1967-11-28 1969-02-21
DE1586766A1 (en) * 1967-12-21 1970-05-21 Kalle Ag Bag packaging
US3641732A (en) * 1970-03-05 1972-02-15 Masaaki Fujio Method of packaging packs or articles with a heat-shrinking material
FR2142833A1 (en) * 1971-06-25 1973-02-02 Ims Ltd Sealed flexible bag - for aseptic storage esp hypodermic syringe and accessories
AU597130B2 (en) * 1986-12-23 1990-05-24 David Graham Ellis Improvements in packages
GB8710135D0 (en) * 1987-04-29 1987-06-03 Du Pont Canada Easy-open pouches
US5060803A (en) * 1991-01-17 1991-10-29 Beer Jeffrey S Gussetted flexible package with tear notch to form pour spout

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69618714T2 (en) 2002-06-13
MX9602024A (en) 1997-08-30
FR2734792B1 (en) 1997-07-18
EP0745539A1 (en) 1996-12-04
EP0745539B1 (en) 2002-01-23
FR2734792A1 (en) 1996-12-06
BR9602512A (en) 1998-09-08
DE69618714D1 (en) 2002-03-14

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