EP0216408B1

EP0216408B1 - Packaged foodstuff

Info

Publication number: EP0216408B1
Application number: EP86201443A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Catharina Emmy Ruoff
Original assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Current assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Priority date: 1985-08-28
Filing date: 1986-08-21
Publication date: 1991-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2006-08-21
Also published as: ATE61992T1; DE3678370D1; NL8502368A; EP0216408A3; JPS6264748A; ZA866541B; AU571789B2; EP0216408A2; AU6187286A

Abstract

A brick-shaped block (1) of fat-containing foodstuff having a tacky surface can be more easily unwrapped, and that with reduced risk of tearing the wrapper (2), if this wrapper is lengthwise wrapped around the shortest circumference of the block with two ends (3, 8) loosely overlapping. The side margins thereof are folded against the two opposite smallest surfaces (10) of the block and care is taken that the two overlapping ends are positioned against one of the side surfaces (4) of the block defined by a largest (5) and a smallest edge (6) of said block.

Description

The invention relates to a brick-shaped block of fat-containing foodstuff with a tacky surface, packaged in a wrapper of flexible packaging material lying directly against the block, which wrapper is lengthwise wrapped around the shortest circumference of the block with two ends loosely overlapping and is folded up at the two opposite smallest surfaces. Such a product is generally known, for example in the form of a packet of margarine.
In this specification and claims a "brick-shaped block" means a rectangular parallelepiped having either three clearly different main dimensions or two equal smaller dimensions and one larger main dimension. Usually the former is the preferred shape.
In the above description of the prior art wrappers the expression "loosely overlapping" is intended to exclude any connection between the overlapping ends such as by folding around each other or by an adhesive bond.
DE-C-310945 (BAHLSEN : 1917) relates to a package comprising a brick-shaped block wrapped after the manner of a normal parcel, with each opposing pair of overlapping end-flaps being folded inwards in turn against a smallest face of the block.
US-A-3094420 (JOSEFOWICZ : 1960) relates to a package wherein one end-flap is folded against a smallest face of the block, followed by the two opposed flaps adjacent the first flap and finally followed by the remaining flap.
DE-A-l586506 (BENZ & HILGERS : 1967) relates to a package wherein one elongated end-flap is folded against a smallest face of the block, to completely cover the face, followed by the two opposed flaps adjacent the first flap and finally followed by the remaining flap.
DE-U-7102287 (SIG : 1971) relates to a package wrapped by folding, in turn, each of the pairs of opposed end-flaps to rest against a largest face of the block.
Upon opening the wrapper it appears in many cases that the user gets greasy fingers or that the wrapper tears in an undesirable manner. Further it appears that, after opening and reclosing the wrapper a number of times in order to remove parts of the block from it, the remainder is in an unattractive state.
The invention aims at easier opening of the wrapper and at diminishing or removing said drawbacks.
According to the invention, there is provided a package a wrapper enclosing a brick-shaped block of fat-containing foodstuff, the foodstuff having a tacky surface, the wrapper comprising a sheet of flexible packaging material lying immediately against said block, said sheet having two wrapper ends and four side edge flaps and being wrapped around the shortest circumference of said block with one wrapper end loosely overlapping the other wrapper end adjacent of the side surfaces of said block,characterised in that said side surface is defined by a largest and smallest pair of edges of said block, and wherein the wrapper is folded against the two opposed smallest faces of the block such that the side edge flap opposing overlapping wrapper ends is intercalated between the side edge flaps which lie adjacent the largest side surfaces of the block.
A further facilitation of this opening action of the wrapper can be effected if

a) the side edges of the innermost end of both overlapping ends are first folded against the opposite smallest surfaces of the block,
b) subsequently the side edges of the part of the wrapper immediately adjoining this innermost end of the overlapping ends thereof,
c) thereafter the side edges of the following part and
d) finally the side edges of the part immediately adjoining the outermost of the overlapping ends of the wrapper are folded against these smallest surfaces of the block, while
e) the side edges of the outermost end of the overlapping ends of the wrapper are folded against the smallest surfaces after operation a) but before operation d).

Initiating the opening of the wrapper is particularly facilitated if the edge of the innermost of the overlapping ends practically coincides with one of the largest edges of the block. Moreover, in practice, in this way less oil exudation between the overlapping ends is observed.
The removal of the innermost of the overlapping ends and the separation of parts of the block can also be facilitated further if at least the largest part of the innermost of the overlapping ends, which is lying against a side surface that is defined by a largest and a smallest edge of the block, and the adjoining part of the wrapper that is lying against one of the largest surfaces of the block are strengthened with respect to the remaining part of the wrapper. As a result, the risk of damaging of the wrapper when cutting off a part of the block is also lessened.
These parts are in particular strengthened owing to a layer of material being attached thereto. In an advantageous and relatively cheap embodiment, the layer of strengthening material consists of grease-proof paper or board. A simple manner of applying the layer of strengthening material comprises printing the material of the wrapper with a fluid form of the strengthening material, for example a melt, a plastisol or a solution thereof.
The invention will hereafter be explained in connection with the drawings.

Fig. 1 and 2 show two embodiments of blocks packaged in a wrapper in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 3 shows the successive operations of applying the wrapper.
Fig. 4 shows a wrapper having indicated therein the position of the folding lines and of any possible strengthenings.

In Figures 1-3 a brick-shaped block of fat-containing foodstuff 1 is shown, packaged in a wrapper 2 of a suitable, flexible packaging material. By "brick-shaped block" is meant a rectangular parallelepiped with a rectangular or square cross-section. In Figure 3 it is shown how a rectangular wrapper 2 is applied around the block 1: first the wrapper is wrapped around the smallest circumference of the block, one end 3 being applied against one of the side surfaces 4 of the block 1, which side surfaces are defined by a largest 5 and a smallest edge 6 of the block, while the edge 7 of that end 3 practically coincides with one of the largest edges 5 of the block.
After the wrapper is wrapped like a cylinder around the smallest circumference of the block, with one end 8 overlapping the opposite end 3, subsequently both side edges 9 of the innermost end 3 of both overlapping ends 3, 8 are folded against the smallest surfaces 10 of the block 1 which are lying opposite each other, as indicated by the arrow I in Figure 3. Subsequently the side edges 11 of the part 12 immediately adjoining this innermost end 3 of the overlapping ends of the wrapper are folded in the direction of the arrow II against said smallest surfaces 10. Thereafter the side edges l3 of the following part 14 are folded in the direction of the arrow III against those smallest surfaces and finally the side edges 15 of the part 16 immediately adjoining the outermost end 8 of the overlapping ends of the wrapper are folded against those smallest surfaces (arrow IV). The side edges 17 of the outermost end 8 of the overlapping ends are folded, after operation a) but before operation d), against the smallest surfaces 10 of the block 1 (see arrow IA in Fig. 3).
If operation e) is carried out immediately after operation a), the situation shown in Figure 1 arises, while when this is carried out after operation b), the situation shown in Figure 2 arises.
In Figure 4 a spread wrapper 2 is shown with the folding lines arising from the folding described above. The relative location of the different parts is indicated with reference numbers.
At the same time it is indicated with hatching in Figure 4 which parts 3, 12 can be strengthened with respect to the remaining part of the wrapper, so that when parts of the block are cut off, there will be less chance of damaging the wrapper and that at the same time the removal from the block 1 of the innermost end 3 of the overlapping ends is facilitated.

Claims

A package comprising a wrapper enclosing a brick-shaped block (10) of fat-containing foodstuff, the foodstuff having a tacky surface, the wrapper comprising a sheet of flexible packaging material lying immediately against said block, said sheet having two wrapper ends (3,8) and four side edge flaps (11,13,15 and 17) and being wrapped around the shortest circumference of said block with one wrapper end (8) loosely overlapping the other wrapper end (3) adjacent of the side surfaces (4) of said block, characterised in that said side surface is defined by a largest and smallest pair of edges of said block, and wherein the wrapper is folded against the two opposed smallest faces of the block such that the side edge flap (13) opposing overlapping wrapper ends (3,8) is intercalated between the side edge flaps (11,15) which lie adjacent the largest side surfaces (12,16) of the block.
Package according to claim 1, characterized in that
a) the side edges (9) of the innermost end (3) of both overlapping ends (3, 8) are first folded against the opposite smallest surfaces (10) of the block (1),

b) subsequently the side edges (11) of the part (12) thereof immediately adjoining this innermost end (3) of the overlapping ends of the wrapper,

c) thereafter the side edges (13) of the following part (14) and

d) finally the side edges (15) of the part (16) immediately adjoining the outermost end (8) of the overlapping ends of the wrapper (2) are folded against these smallest surfaces of the block, while

e) the side edges (17) of the outermost end (8) of the overlapping ends are folded against the smallest surfaces after operation a) but before operation d).
Package according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the edge (7) of the innermost end (3) of the overlapping ends practically coincides with one of the largest edges (5) of the block.
Package according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least the largest part of the innermost end (3) of the overlapping ends, which is lying against a side surface (4) that is defined by a largest and a smallest edge of the block (1), and the adjoining part (12) of the wrapper (2) which is lying against one of the largest surfaces of the block are strengthened with respect to the remaining part of the wrapper.
Package according to claim 4, characterized in that the parts are strengthened owing to a layer of material being attached to it.
Package according to claim 5, characterized in that the layer of strengthening material is greaseproof paper or board.
Package according to claim 5, characterized in that the layer of strengthening material is applied by printing with a fluid form thereof.